October 14, 2014 - One Goal

"Basin Spring Fantasy" photo by Gerry Toler

ACIM Workbook Lesson #287

“You are my goal, my Father. Only You.”

In the early 1900s, people flocked to Eureka Springs for the healing waters. Thousands of people in need found their way here, as they still do today. People are drawn to our town, often without knowing why. I love watching transformation of circumstance as people's thought changes from focusing on the problem to relaxing into Truth. In varying degrees, we are all realizing that true healing comes when we release our beliefs in things and open ourselves to feeling the presence of Love. When this is our only desire, when there is no other need or want, new perceptions become visible and viable. Often it takes extreme conditions to cause us to seek the understanding of our unity with God. But isn't it sweet when we skip that step and fall straight into the Love!

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 326:8-11

October 12, 2014 - Scatter Joy

ACIMWorkbook Lesson #285

“My holiness shines bright and clear today.”

I have a friend who visits our town once a year with the intent of experiencing joy in every activity. He lives in Los Angeles and often tells me how much more fun our town is than his big city. I'm sure this is a matter of perception, but he brings something unusual with him when he comes to our town: pink nylon gowns and robes. He enjoys wearing these items and wanted to do so in public. After checking around on the internet, he found that Eureka Springs, Arkansas is one of the most accepting places in the country and so he visits us and enjoys expressing himself in a unique way. Although I don't know him in his natural habitat (so to speak!), I know he wakes up every day in our town expecting nothing but happy things and joy. And he receives them! Here's to everyone who is willing to live and love and allow themselves to express joy in whatever manner they are led to do so!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives. Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love—the kingdom of heaven—reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear”

Science & Health Page 248:25-32

October 11, 2014 - Upper-Case Living!

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #284

“I can elect to change all thoughts that hurt.”

Today I pay tribute to all of you who practice Upper-Case LIving! If you're been reading these writings for a while, you may remember that a dear friend of mine wrote an essay by this title years ago. In that writing, he inspired me to think of living as Living, loving as Loving, and to examine each and every activity to see if I'm taking it to the level of upper case-ness. Every day I witness people living Life, feeling Love, helping others to see Truth, and leading grand and noble lives. Every time we leave pain behind, looking past the illusion of ugliness and grasping beauty, we are experiencing Upper-Case Living! When we refuse to repeat gossip or anything unlike Good, we are raising the bar for everyone! What we experience, everyone experiences, by virtue of the One consciousness which we share. Give yourself a pat on the back and be proud of your accomplishments!  Mazel Tov! Namaste! Woo-hoo!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“It is self-evident that we are harmonious only as we cease to manifest evil or the belief that we suffer from the sins of others. Disbelief in error destroys error, and leads to the discernment of Truth”

Science & Health Page 346: 13-16

October 10, 2014 - True Identify

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #283

“My true Identity abides in You.”

A few days ago, I mentioned an incident where a neighbor was taken to the hospital and her daughter admonished me for not visiting and/or checking up on her mother more often. Looking back on the incident, listening to intuition, and examining my motives, I am feeling freedom in all aspects of the situation. And I've found a good deal of humor looking back on it -- mainly because of what I was wearing! I had just gotten out of the shower and had a pink towel wrapped around my head -- and to set the outfit off in style, I had unthinkingly picked up a pair of pink sunglasses on my way out the door. Ha! Can you imagine? And so I laugh right now as I recreate the the scene in my mind. I have no guilt over my actions, and I will continue to listen to know my true Identity as a reflection of  

God.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Human thought never projected the least portion of true being. Human belief has sought and interpreted in its own way the echo of Spirit, and so seems to have reversed it and repeated it materially; but the human mind never produced a real tone nor sent forth a positive sound.”

Science & Health Page 126:8-14

October 9, 2014 - Peace, Love, Now

"Peace in Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #282

“I will not be afraid of love today.”

"Imagine" by John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today... 

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace... 

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one 

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world... 

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“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.”

Science & Health Page 454:21-23

October 8, 2014 - Divine Thought

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #281

“I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts.”

When an ambulance pulled up to my 90-year-old neighbor's door, I didn't rush outside. Her daughter's car was there, so I knew she was with her. As they brought her out of the house and loaded her up, I went outside to give her hand a squeeze and tell her to come home soon. As the vehicle pulled away taking her to the hospital, her daughter rushed up to me and shook her finger in my face, admonishing me for not visiting her mom more often. As she continued her tirade towards me, I said, "Oh Jeannie", in a sad tone, and turned and went back in my house. I will admit I shed a few tears. But I also sat down and examined her words. Yes, I could visit more often. In my defense, I don't visit anyone -- ever! So should I be visiting and giving more of myself in person? This, I don't know. Today's lesson tells us, "The Holy Spirit mediates between illusions and the truth". And so I examine my motives in visiting or not visiting, and I turn it over to the Holy Spirit. Have I done something wrong that should be righted? I don't know, but God does. So I'll let my little ego worries go, and listen with spiritual sense.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear." 

Science & Health Page 506:18-21

October 7, 2014 - Unlimited

photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #280

"What limits can I lay upon God's Son?"

We all know of instances which seem miraculous to material sense. The most profound one which comes to me is of a woman born without eyes, yet she could see. We are able to understand this phenomena on many levels. Materially we could say that she is mind reading, "seeing" what others think about colors and placement of furniture and such things. Spiritually we know that we are all One, and hence know everything because we reflect all that Is. Both of these concepts can seem impossible while we're stuck in the day-to-day illusions we accept as real. Let's start out with small practice sessions to see where expansion of thought can take us. I enjoy giving my dog commands without speaking or gesturing. This is much easier than trying to open my thought to what he has to say! Animal communication is one of my daily goals as I work towards the clarity which comes with letting go of erroneous thought. Kinship with all Life. Namaste ~~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The everlasting I AM is not bounded nor compressed within the narrow limits of physical humanity, nor can He be understood aright through mortal concepts. The precise form of God must be of small importance in comparison with the sublime question, What is infinite Mind or divine Love?"

Science & Health Page 256:13-18