August 17, 2014 - Peace is the Path

ACIM Workbook Lesson #229

“Love, which created me, is what I am."

Few of us have no regrets when we look back on our lives. Sometimes it's tempting to replay instances in our minds and think of ways we could have done things differently. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese man who lost his family during the war in the 60s. He has spent his life practicing peace and showing others how to do the same. He helps American Viet Nam veterans forgive themselves. He tells them that no matter how badly they feel, it will never bring back the lives that were lost, but that there are many ways in which to help people today, right here and now. He shows us how to be the Love which we are. Peace Is the Path, he tells us. I want to follow that Path, without looking back.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must 'have her perfect work.'" 

Science & Health Page 454:18-24

August 16, 2014 - No Condemnation

photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #228

“God has condemned me not. No more do I."

Imagine growing up in a home with a  parent who was very solid in his belief in God and faithfully attended a church based in traditional theological dogma. This way of thought included a belief in original sin and all the ritual you must go through in order to try to win the grace of God. Now let's imagine that your other parent is a Christian Scientist who teaches you that God is Love and you don't have to do anything to earn that Love, because you are an emanation of it. We have two parents whose views of spirituality are as opposed as they can be when talking about the exact same thing from different perspectives. I think it's very possible that you might turn away from both of these teachings, perhaps declaring that there is no God. This was Robin Williams' situation. I would love to know more about it!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Now is the time for so-called material pains and material pleasures to pass away, for both are unreal, because impossible in Science. To break this earthly spell, mortals must get the true idea and divine Principle of all that really exists and governs the universe harmoniously. This thought is apprehended slowly, and the interval before its attainment is attended with doubts and defeats as well as triumphs.”

Science & Health Page 39:23-30

August 15, 2014 - Holy Instant of Release

"Glacier National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #227

“This is my holy instant of release.”

Why do some people seem to have an emptiness which can't be filled? We see beautiful, talented people who fall into depression and can't seem to find the way out. To think an actor like Robin Williams can be anything other than happy is beyond my imagination. I wish I could give him a "holy instant of release", but that's something which must be found individually. To a mind as busy as his must have been, it would be very difficult to see past his thoughts to that holy instant. Once again, dear Robin, you inspire me. I will double my times of quietness and think of you while I release the illusions of my existence. I acknowledge I know nothing, I ask to be empty, and filled with Love.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“If Life or Soul and its representative, man, unite for a period and then are separated as by a law of divorce to be brought together again at some uncertain future time and in a manner unknown, — and this is the general religious opinion of mankind, — we are left without a rational proof of immortality. But man cannot be separated for an instant from God, if man reflects God. Thus Science proves man’s existence to be intact."

Science and Health Page 306:11-20

August 14, 2014 - Hurry Home!

ACIM Workbook Lesson #226

“My home awaits me. I will hasten there.”

What does it mean that "my home awaits me"? How does this affect my existence? Accepting the Truth of my being has many surprising consequences. One side effect is a heightened sense of Oneness, evidenced by a refinement in communication. We see this sharing of thought in the animal kingdom. It can be observed when watching birds fly in formation, or your dog expecting you home five minutes before you get there, or any number of observations we allow into our awareness. With each stretching past our accepted limitations, fresh insights will appear. Many of us are frightened by this new/old way of living.  Most people I know well are embracing these changes and reveling in the synchronistic events and enhanced perceptions. We are changing out thought about the purpose of the world, and living in the kingdom of God, which is within. Therein lies the safety of home.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Take heart, dear sufferer, for this reality of being will surely appear sometime and in some way. There will be no more pain, and all tears will be wiped away. When you read this, remember Jesus' words, "The kingdom of God is within you." This spiritual consciousness is therefore a present possibility.”

Science & Health Page 573:27-2

August 13, 2014 - One Thing

ACIM Workbook Lesson #225

“God is my Father, and His Son loves Him.”

The Biblical quote which advises me to love God above all else and seek nothing other than to know divine Love is the basis for the way I want to live. Recently, I've re-dedicated myself to this way of life by resolving to only see, speak, hear, and repeat good. I knew this would be challenging. Today, while at the farmers' market, I overhead someone say something which I deemed to be horribly bigoted and ignorant. While it's not a temptation for me to repeat the story to anyone else, it has been a challenge to keep from repeating it to myself! In analyzing this scenario, I see that if I weren't judging it to be awful, I wouldn't feel the need to keep condemning him for saying it. Hence, it's my judgment of the situation which wants to keep it alive in my thought. No judgment, no condemnation, no need to replay it for myself or anyone else! Sounds simple, huh?

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"All nature teaches God’s love to man, but man cannot love God supremely and set his whole affections on spiritual things, while loving the material or trusting in it more than in the spiritual."

Science & Health Page 140:7-14

August 11, 2014 - Shifting Thought

photo from Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #223

“God is my life. I have no life but His.”

We've recently started Part 2 of these ACIM workbook lessons. The first 220 days were exercises in giving up beliefs, habitual thoughts, inane or destructive actions, and numerous other things which have held us captive to sense. We now know how to differentiate between ego thoughts and the ideas of Mind. We're not afraid to listen and trust what we hear in that silence between the words. We've been exercising our spiritual sense, while quieting our physical senses. And now we want the "direct experience of Truth". Now we are ready to shift attention within ourselves, to the source Itself, letting go of any ritualistic words and dogma we have been harboring. We now understand what forgiveness is about: it's the understanding that there is nothing to forgive. We have also reached the point where we don't need specific times during the day to remind us to think about our nature as the expression of God. This shift from habitual, material thought to inspired, divine ideas is feeling more natural to us now. And so, today I see us as quietly devoted to the peace of God. Every time we silently turn whole-heartedly to God -- knowing that all is Mind, Truth, Love -- we remember more of our original Being. We feel a perfect peace which allows our actions and words to be those of divine Mind, without worry, with total trust, knowing that our lack of expectation frees us. To quote from today's lesson: "This year has brought us to eternity."

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God is divine Life, and Life is no more confined to the forms which reflect it than substance is in its shadow. If life were in mortal man or material things, it would be subject to their limitations and would end in death. Life is Mind, the creator reflected in His creations. If He dwelt within what He creates, God would not be reflected but absorbed, and the Science of being would be forever lost through a mortal sense, which falsely testifies to a beginning and an end.”

Science & Health Page 331:1-10

August 12, 2014 - One Love Unifies

ACIM Workbook Lesson #224

“God is my Father, and He loves His Son.”

Today's Course in Miracles lesson tells me that God is my Father and He loves His Son. When we take away material gender-related terms, it's easier for some of us to know this is telling us that we are all reflections of creative Mind (God), and that divine Love is equally ever-present for all. There is no division by religion or any other so-called standard. There is no Love more readily bestowed on someone who fits the requirements to be called saint or sinner. This perfect Love is available to all, simply for the accepting of it. We really are all created equally!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed. "

Science & Health Page 340:21-29