February 8, 2015 - Remembering Wholeness

"Wyoming"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #39:

"My holiness is my salvation."

"No one needs practice to gain what is already his." We tend to forget that holiness is and always has been ours simply for the acknowledgement of it. Many things in our daily life teach us the opposite. I’m sure there are many people sitting in churches this morning listening to a preacher telling them that they are sinners and must repent — or variations on that theme. Perhaps some of you were taught this interpretation of Jesus’s words, too. Let's not put our attention on trying to forget these beliefs, but instead let's concentrate on remembering our wholeness as the image and experience of God! Seeing everything as complete leaves no room for missing pieces or lack of any kind. Where there is no blame, there is no guilt. No guilt equals salvation!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Who would stand before a blackboard, and pray the principle of mathematics to solve the problem? The rule is already established, and it is our task to work out the solution. Shall we ask the divine Principle of all goodness to do His own work? His work is done, and we have only to avail ourselves of God's rule in order to receive blessing, which enables us to work out our own salvation.”

Science & Health Page 3:4-11

February 7, 2015 - No Restrictions in Time and Place

Yannick Nezet-Seguin

ACIM Workbook Lesson #38:
"There is nothing my holiness cannot do"

"Your holiness reverses all the laws of the world. It is beyond every restriction of time, space, distance and limits of any kind." This is easy enough to know intellectually, but some days it just seems impossible to experience. Today has been one of those days when I'd just as soon stay in bed. I'm feeling a bit down, perhaps because I had hopes of being able to travel to either Chicago or Ann Arbor to see the Rotterdam Symphony in a couple of weeks. Through these writings, I've become friends with a wonderful man who plays the violin for this orchestra in The Netherlands. They have a conductor who is so dynamic that his passion bursts forth even on youTube videos.  I can only imagine the feeling of facing this group of musicians in person! Today I shall ponder what this lesson is telling me. I will study the works of Mary Baker Eddy and open myself to the field of all possibilities, trusting that I am exactly where I need to be at all times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk5Uturacx8

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"Lulled by stupefying illusions, the world is asleep in the cradle of infancy, dreaming away the hours. Material sense does not unfold the facts of existence; but spiritual sense lifts human consciousness into eternal Truth."

Science & Health Page 95:28-32 

February 6, 2015 - We Are the World

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #37

"My holiness blesses the world."

Have you seen the movie, “The Hundred-Foot Journey”? It’s very beautiful for many reasons. We are shown lovely French countryside, exquisite food, and a wonderful acceptance of and by people who are learning of our Oneness. When we accept our holiness, we do so by realizing that we are the expression of God. When we see this Truth, we understand that we are not alone as that reflection of divine Mind. How can we express racial prejudice or any other form of hatred and fear when we know these things? I am freed by the understanding that the act of seeing everything in its spiritual reality is my function. It is everyone's function. By our realization of spiritual Truth, we see that everything is already complete and whole. I look forward to seeing more of this expanding vision which awaits us, just beyond the horizon of our material views.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought. What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model?" "We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives." 

Science & Health Page 248:15-17 and 26-29

February 5, 2015 - What Do I See?

unknown photographer

A Coures in Miracles Lesson #36

"My holiness envelopes everything I see."

Markawasi, Peru is found high in the Andes Mountains in South America. This is the site where there are hundreds of figures, faces, and various shapes which may be seen in the living stone. There is much speculations concerning the origins of these fabulous monuments, yet some people cannot see them. As shown by time-lapse photography, these illusive figures are more obvious at some times of the day than at others. I would suppose it also is predicated (as so many things are) on whether we want to see or not. While watching a documentary on this subject, I was repeatedly reminded of its metaphorical relationship with our spiritual study. The very first Wayne Dyer book I read jumped out at me because of its title: When You Believe It, You'll See It. This is the exact opposite of our material basis of truth: When I see it, I'll believe it! These stone faces are the same way. They are easily overlooked if you don't want to see. So as I go through this day seeing my holiness enveloping everything, I shall keep in mind that many things are beyond my ability to see. But that's okay, because knowing they're there is enough for now.
Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"As mortals gain more correct views of God and man, multitudinous objects of creation, which before were invisible, will become visible. When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness."

Science & Health Page 492:7-11

February 4, 2015 - Immortal Ideas

"Ozark Winter Sunset"
photo by Arthus Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook lesson #35

"My mind is part of God. I am very holy."

A good friend has struggled with depression all her life. She feels her existence has been a series of horrible events, occasionally interrupted by happy times which inevitably end in pain. In an attempt to escape this existence, she has turned to alcohol, drugs, and God. But the judgmental God she sees makes deals with her, and never deems her worthy of favor. Repetition of the past seems to be in her thought constantly, affecting her every action. By accepting today's lesson, which tells us that we are actually holy as a reflection of God,  feelings of hopelessness and sadness can disappear in an instant! By releasing our material history, we are free to learn the reality of our spiritual Self, which is unending, uninterrupted good. It's a beautiful thing to see someone realize the nothingness of their personal history and to see the wondrous peace which lies within. I think of God as defined by Mary Baker Eddy: Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. Divine Mind is a palpable presence, realized when we release false belief. To misquote a well-known Bible verse: Let this Mind be you, which was also Christ Jesus. This Mind is you, and me, and everyone, because it is God, which is omnipresent, omniscient, always.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Immortal ideas, pure, perfect, and enduring, are transmitted by the divine Mind through divine Science, which corrects error with truth and demands spiritual thoughts, divine concepts, to the end that they may produce harmonious results."

Science & Health Page 259:26-31

February 3, 2015 - Peace Within and Without

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #34:
"I could see peace instead of this."

Peace is inherent in every seemingly volatile situation​. Ask someone who has been involved in a violent attack and they will scoff at you at the very least. I was told today that one in every three calls to the police in our little county involve domestic abuse. I can only assume that this is a woman calling concerning a man's actions, although I know this isn't always the case. Alcohol, anger, and a strong sense of right can be a deadly combination when they come together against someone or some thing. I am reminded that I can't change anyone other than within my own thought. By a change in thought, I may be guided to take particular actions in my world, or I may be led to quietly know the Truth about us all and by that knowing facilitate peace. I wish I could force everyone to live by The Four Agreements. I wish I could quiet everyone's mind so they wouldn't need to lash out at others. Hum -- maybe I can, right here within me! Do I really understand Oneness? I sure do want to. 
  
Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Truth and Love enlighten the understanding, in whose 'light shall we see light;' and this illumination is reflected spiritually by all who walk in the light and turn away from a false material sense.” Science & Health Page 510:9-12

February 2, 2015 - Shifting Perceptions

painting by Carol Dickie

ACIM Workbook Lesson #33:
"There is another way of looking at the world."

Everywhere we look, huge changes are occurring. I love that we are not afraid to look at traditional values in a new light! New ways of looking at old words, such as The Lord's Prayer give us new insights and understanding. Some fear these interpretations are sacrilegious, and perhaps they are. Religion should be about spirituality, but often it is no more than dogma and tradition, which is perpetuated from fear. In the late 1800s, Mary Baker Eddy gave us a spiritual interpretation of the prayer which Jesus gave us (or at least the interpretation offered through translation in our modern-day bible). Today I saw a beautiful modern-day interpretation by Peter Russell, which I'd like to include here. I feel these words are very helpful in facilitating our shifting perception.
Peter Russell's Contemporary Lord's Prayer

Our essential Being, that dwells within,

'I am' is thy name.

May thy true nature be revealed.

May thy knowing inform our daily lives,

As it does our inner Being.

Nourish us today with thy Presence.

Release us from any judgment we have held against ourselves,

As we release others from judgments we've held against them.

Let us not be tempted to seek solace in worldly things.

Liberate us from that which veils the truth.

For it is in our Being that we find your Presence,

The Source of all good, the home of all joy,

Eternally, and without change.

So be it.

http://www.peterrussell.com


Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Our Father-Mother God, all harmonious, Adorable One. They kingdom is come; thou art ever present. Enable us to know, -- as in heaven, so on earth, -- God is omnipotent, supreme. Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections. And Love is reflected in love. God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death. For God is infinite, all power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All." Science & Health, Page 16:27-15