January 4, 2015 - Levels of Pain

"Bird at Heart"
created by Sandy Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #4
“These thoughts do not mean anything. They are like the things I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].”

A nurse recently asked me if I really didn't have any pain associated with my current physical condition or if I simply had a high pain tolerance. I assured him that I knew what pain was, as I've given birth twice -- once while being tortured in a hospital and once at home. I haven't had any significant pain during this amputation and recovery. They insisted I rate pain while in the "big" hospital, and the highest I ever rated it was 5 out of 10. When pain appears, I acknowledge it, move around, change thought from fear to simply feeling the experience, and then rejoice at its disappearance. Perhaps it's because I've always been a student of Mary Baker Eddy. Even when I didn't think about the teachings for 25 years, I knew them and understood something about my spiritual origin and nature. Now that I'm making a conscious effort to live in Truth, everything seems easier. No matter what the circumstance, I can move through it with joy!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Thought will finally be understood and seen in all form, substance, and color, but without material accompaniments. The potter is not in the clay; else the clay would have power over the potter. God is [Its] own infinite Mind, and expresses all."

Science & Health  Page 310:6-10

January 3, 2015 - Phantom Pain

"Thai Jungle"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #3
“I do not understand anything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].”

Most of us have heard about "phantom pain", but not many have experienced this phenomenon. I'm finding it fascinating to feel the twinges of a foot which no longer exists. It is truly showing me the unreality of matter, the belief of mind, and the power of Mind. While it is memory which brings a feeling to a foot which is no longer there, it is mind which takes the feeling away, and I'm beginning to understand that it is Mind which keeps it away. I recently slid off the bed and landed on the stump of my leg. While this wasn't particularly painful, it did set off a series of pains in my phantom foot! Experimenting with different thoughts, I found that what stopped the pain was repeating the "Scientific Statement of Being" and pondering its meaning. I am most grateful to the great metaphysicians I follow: Mary Baker Eddy and Jesus the Christ. These studies are bearing fruit, and I am most grateful!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Question. — What is the scientific statement of being?
Answer. — There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." Science & Health Page 468:8-15

January 2, 2015 - True Gifts

"Thailand Mokney"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #2
I have given everything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] all the meaning that it has for me.

Isn't it wonderful that we have the ability to interpret events in any way we choose? Many people think of a rainy day as bad weather; others see it as the beauty of water returning to the earth to perform its function. Christmas is seen by many as a stressful time when they spend too much money and are involved with gatherings that they would rather not be in. Others relax and enjoy the beauty of lights and decorations while enjoying their family and rejoicing in the meaning of Christmas. We have choices. I was amazed today when I realized that my children and I hadn't even given a thought to giving each other gifts. It truly never crossed my mind, and as far as I know, it didn't theirs either. Wow! I feel as though we've passed some portal of material belief. When I woke up on Christmas morning, I didn't wonder what anyone had bought me. When I saw my son walk through the door, unexpectedly, that same morning, I certainly didn't look at his hands to see if he was bringing me anything. He had brought me the gift of his Love. What more could anyone want?

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." Science & Health Page 261:4-7

January 1, 2015 - A Meaningless Day!

"Yield"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #1
“Nothing I see in this room [on this street,
from this window, in this place] means anything.”

At the start of this new year, with its many possibilities and prospects, I reaffirm the desire to release preconceived meaning which I have placed on everything. I love that in today's application of this practice they say "This foot does not mean anything"! Having recently had my foot amputated, this is a wonderful exercise for me, reminding me that everything only has the meaning we have placed on it. I'm finding this foot is not necessary to move around, it's not necessary for acceptance by society, it's not even necessary for balance -- which I'm learning slowly, for sure! As we practice letting go of long-held beliefs about everything, we learn to see Truth. We are learning to allow ourselves to see through the illusions we have accepted as reality. What a beautiful new day!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"The enslavement of man is not legitimate. It will cease when man enters into his heritage of freedom, his God-given dominion over the material senses." Science & Health Page 228:11-13

Hiatus

Due to being in the hospital, there is a break mid-December until January 1 in these writings. We are now back on track!

December 12, 2014 - Eternity

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #346

"Today the peace of God envelops me,

And I forget all things except His Love."

Have you ever felt a moment when it seemed that time stood still? These sentences from today's ACIM lesson brought back a remembrance in me: "What I seek today transcends all laws of time and things perceived in time. I would forget all things except Your Love." A number of years ago I experienced a breach of time when I first saw a man who later became my very good friend. I was playing the organ at a Sunday morning service when he walked in and sat down. As I looked over at him, it was as though time didn't exist. Everything was still, and yet it felt like eons rushed through me. My material interpretation of this event was that I knew this man from forever; that he was the one I'd been waiting for. I see the event today as something different. Our meeting opened a portal, if you will. I became aware of a doorway I could step through where nothing existed other than the Love which is God. What a gift! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized."

Science & Health Page 468:26:30

December 11, 2014 - Reciprocol Miracles

Photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #345

"I offer only miracles today,

For I would have them be returned to me."

When I first began reading ACIM writings, the word "miracle" bothered me very much. As a student of Christian Science, I had learned that a miracle, as we think of it, is non-existent, because all these wonderful things are natural occurrences. And so there are actually no such things as miracles, only a revealing of the perfection that Is. But, as with many words, it is only the meaning we have placed upon them that makes them good or bad. Now I choose to think of miracles as anything which reveals the omnipresence of God, good. By this I can freely offer miracles to others and accept them in turn. God's goodness is reflected in my actions and everyone else's. This I embrace whole-heartedly. Giving and receiving; receiving and giving. What a lovely cycle!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Christian marvels (and marvel is the simple meaning of the Greek word rendered miracle in the New Testament) will be misunderstood and misused by many, until the glorious Principle of these marvels is gained."

Science & Health Page 474:11-15