October 19, 2014 - Happy Outcomes

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #292

“A happy outcome to all things is sure.”

The sky is falling!! I'm often reminded of the proverbial Chicken Little and his worries about everything. Many people I know remind me of him, with their certainty that something awful is going to happen. A dear woman came to me asking for advice. She told me that she was afraid to go outside her home, and so she would drink alcohol before she went out to have the courage to leave. She had been drinking heavily when she came to talk to me. She related many concerns she had about life in general and a few things in specific. I mentioned Wayne Dyer's words about worry: If you can do something about a situation, you will; if you can't, why worry?? She was very excited by this because she has heard him on television and she really wants to think this way, too. I told her she can, that all it takes is practice and applying the ideas to daily life. Replacing  practiced, circular thought with realized spiritual Truth may seem difficult, but a happy outcome is sure!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done.”

Science & Health Page 203:3-5

October 18, 2014 - Peaceful Stillness

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #291

“This is a day of stillness and of peace.”

What is the real world? This is the question we are exploring for the next few days. While we think we are seeing the real world, with all its pain and sorrow and fear and horror, we are not. The unreal world, which is reported on the news and purported to be reality by those who scoff at anything unseen to human eyes, is not the reality of spiritual creation. I'm often drawn to the first chapter of the Bible for affirmation of Truth, but if we read on into the next chapter, things begin to get muddy. By the time we reach the third chapter, we're deeply lost in the material version of creation -- the illusion which is so difficult to shake. We are no longer a spiritual creation, but made from dirt with all the oddness that goes along with talking serpents and guilt and blame and such. So when life seems riddled with chaos, I will remember our true creation as peaceful stillness in the Mind of God.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Certain moods of mind find an indefinable pleasure in stillness, soft, silent as the storm's sudden hush; for nature's stillness is voiced with a hum of harmony, the gentle murmur of early morn, the evening's closing vespers, and lyre of bird and brooklet." 

Christian Science versus Pantheism Page 3:8-13

October 17, 2014 - Happy Days

ACIM Workbook Lesson #290

“My present happiness is all I see.”

Our town has a lovely deep woods lake within our city limits. Recently Chili-dog and I were walking and enjoying the brisk fall weather. A young family with a small child was fishing close to the water's edge. The mother was in one spot and the man was 30 feet or so away, with much underbrush between them  The little boy had been with his dad and was attempting to walk back to where his mother was. He was about halfway in between them, on a steep incline, when he fell down and was afraid to get up. As I walked up to the scene, his mom and dad were yelling at each other, neither one wanting to leave their fishing poles to rescue the child. The little boy was screaming and crying. From my vantage point, I could see him and so I walked to the top of the incline and, much like I would call a dog, said, "Come on, you can do it! Crawl up this way. It's all right.", all the while clapping my hands and speaking in that odd way we do when we're coaxing an animal to obey. The little guy immediately started smiling and, as he crawled toward me, he started giggling. It occurred to me how many of us simply need a little encouragement in order to be happy. I know I appreciate a slight nudge toward feeling the spiritual happiness which is so often hidden by material circumstance. And I love the reminders which show up daily!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Earth has little light or joy for mortals before Life is spiritually learned. Every agony of mortal error helps error to destroy error, and so aids the apprehension of immortal Truth. This is the new birth going on hourly, by which men may entertain angels, the true ideas of God, the spiritual sense of being.”

Science & Health Page 548:9-16

October 16, 2014 - Adventures in Now

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #289

“The past is over. It can touch me not.”

I've always been fascinated by high school class reunions. The reasons people enjoy them are as varied as the people, but it seems most are wondering who is the most successful, or has been married the longest, or has managed to look pretty. It's a perfect opportunity to think of today's topic, "The past is over. It can touch me not." In my observations of these get-togethers, we tend to revert into whatever we were umpteen years ago. The mean girls are still that way, the flirty girls are still flipping their skirts, and the cool kids are still hiding their feelings. While I've always enjoyed these observations, I tend to either wander away with an old friend or, perhaps, drink a bit too much and ask the cowboys to dance. I love this line from today's ACIM workbook lesson: "Unless the past is over in my mind, the world must escape my sight." I want to live in the present, in a world full of divine Love and Truth. Reliving illusions can be fun, much like watching a movie. But I'd rather wake up in a new world everyday, excited about the adventures it holds!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“As the crude footprints of the past disappear from the dissolving paths of the present, we shall better understand the Science which governs these changes, and shall plant our feet on firmer ground. 

Science & Health Page 224: 4-7  

October 15, 2014 - Holier Than Thou?

ACIM-Workbook Lesson #288

“Let me forget my brother's past today.”

There are many situations which bring on knee-jerk reactions which I think of as  "holier-than-thou". I'm sure you have a few of them, too! If someone is rude or mean, we may feel superior in our kindness. When politicians or others in the public eye display ignorance (lack of knowledge), we can easily have a sense of self-righteous judgment. These situations remind me that we are all One and no one is more special or learned or enlightened than another. It's simply a matter of what we're willing to see. I will admit I'm a food snob. There are numerous things I don't eat and it's always interesting to watch how I try to impose my beliefs on others. It is yet another example of feeling superior over a belief. Eckhart Tolle often puts things in perspective for me and he did, once again, when he was asked if we should be vegetarian. He said it was purely a personal preference, and if we had strong opinions about this we should remind ourselves that the Dalai Lama eats meat and Hitler didn't! Namaste'~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One infinite God, good, unifies men and constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfills 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 340:23:30

October 13, 2014 - Silence Leads the Way

ACIM Workbook Lesson #286

“The hush of Heaven holds my heart today.”

On this rainy morning, I am happy to reaffirm in thought that I need do nothing but listen in order for things to fall into place. I need not rush about trying to figure out how to make everything happen in its correct order. I need only know that it will, and quietly open my heart to know what to do in order to facilitate each happening. As I've already been to a board meeting of our Chamber of Commerce, and have been told that my landlords are examining my business building to see if there are things which need fixing -- well, both of these events have brought to mind a multitude of tasks which need to be done. So I am taking a few moments to sit quietly, asking only that my awareness will be filled with the hush of heaven wherein all answers are waiting.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Having no other gods, turning to no other but the one perfect Mind to guide him, man is the likeness of God, pure and eternal, having that Mind which was also Christ."

Science & Health Page 467:13-16

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