February 22, 2015 - We're Ready!

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #53

Today is the third of a ten-day review of the first lessons. 

The Age of Aquarius. Harmonic Convergence. The Shift. Ascension. Activating DNA Strands. What do these things have in common? They are events which herald the change in thought which has been happening for as long as I can remember. We have been seeking and hoping that a way will open for us to understand, to experience the meaning of Life, and to demonstrate this Reality. In today's ACIM workbook five-lesson review, there is much talk of seeing a "meaningless world". You may wonder why anyone would want to see a meaningless world.  I'm not sure we would want to see a meaningless world, but that's certainly what we're doing! As we begin to glimpse the difference in spiritual realities and material illusions, we see that the world we hold in place through belief and misperception is a meaningless world. God did not create a meaningless world, and to see the world as God did create it, we must give up the beliefs and illusions we have created. These exercises we're doing are designed to prepare us to accept the knowledge which wakes us up to this unseen Reality. A single glimpse of this is enough to make me want to throw open wide the door! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Spiritual attainments open the door to a higher understanding of the divine Life." Science & Health Page 10:15-16

February 21, 2015 - House Rules

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #52

Today is the second in a ten-day review of the first lessons. For a guide to this review, and a short description, go to this link: 

Having just finished a novel entitled House Rules, written by Jodi Piccoult, I am taken to that world when thinking about today’s topics. In the book, we are taken into the world of a young man who is diagnosed with a syndrome known as Asperger’s, which is a form of functional autism. I particularly enjoy insights into his literalism — or taking words verbatim with no interpretations. For instance, if you tell him to go fly a kite, that’s exactly what he thinks you want him to do. In looking over the five lessons for review, a few sentences jump out as points of beauty: “I am always upset by nothing.” “I will look with love on all that I failed to see before.” Let me learn to give the past away, realizing that in so doing I am giving up nothing.” “The choice is not whether to see the past or the present; the choice is merely whether to see or not.” “I have no private thoughts.” Many comparisons come to mind, correlating and juxtaposing these thoughts with the things in the book I just read. But that would be enough for a  book in and of itself! So I will simply say — Namastė.

 Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Spiritual causation is the one question to be considered, for more than all others spiritual causation relates to human progress. The age seems ready to approach this subject, to ponder somewhat the supremacy of Spirit, and at least to touch the hem of Truth's garment."

 Science & Health Page 270:22-27

February 20, 2015 - A Blank Page

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #51:

Today we begin a ten-day review of the first lessons. For a guide to this review, and a short description, go to this link: http://A Course in Miracles.org/Lessons/lesson.html?lesson=51 

     

Today we begin a review of the first 50 topics we have covered in A Course in Miracles workbook. I'm very happy to be doing this as I have chosen to reinvent myself this year. I made this choice because my physical circumstances have changed, but I am happy about it because I want my mind to be guided by the all-knowing Mind rather than just wandering around in confusion. Recently, I experienced symptoms of either food poisoning or a terrible "bug", although I had not eaten anything questionable nor been out in public to be exposed to any of these diseases I hear are running rampant. I'm very happy that I needn't examine the cause or prognosis for this malady. As it's a snow day, bitterly cold, and I don't have a business to open, I have the luxury of hanging out in my pajamas, reading and listening to wonderful music. I am free to explore the ideas for this review:  (1) Nothing I see means anything. (2) I have given what I see all the meaning it has for me. (3) I do not understand anything I see. (4) These thoughts do not mean anything. (5) I am never upset for the reason I think. These five ideas leave me pondering spiritual Truth, the reality of my being as a reflection of God, Love. I look forward to what this will reveal!

Mary Baker Eddy quotes

“Spiritual perception brings out the possibilities of being, destroys reliance on aught but God, and so makes man the image of his Maker in deed and in truth.” 

Science & Health Page 203:13-16

February 19, 2015 - The Greatest Thing ...

photo by Steve Shogren

ACIM Workbook Lesson #50:

“I am sustained by the Love of God.”

Everywhere I turn, I seem to be pointed back to basics. The Love that is God is a cornerstone of most spiritual study, and I find it to be particularly palatable reading right now. I have reread Marianne Williamson’s “A Return to Love”. I’m reading Henry Drummond’s “The Greatest Thing in the World”, which examines well-known words from First Corinthians which begin, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Love, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” In this book, he reminds me how very important it is to be kind. Living a solitary lifestyle seems well-suited to me. Perhaps it began when I was an only child of older parents. It certainly continued during three short marriages which only lasted as long as they did because the husbands were away from home working most of the time. Whatever the case, I am happy to have these reminders of the pure essence of Love, and I look forward to sowing Its seeds along with the herbs and flowers of spring!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Psalm XXIII 

[DIVINE LOVE] is my shepherd; I shall not want. [LOVE] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [LOVE] leadeth me beside the still waters. [LOVE] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [LOVE] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for [LOVE] is with me; [LOVE'S] rod and [LOVE'S] staff they comfort me. [LOVE] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: [LOVE] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever.

Science & Health" Page 578: 3-18

February 18, 2015 - Divine Mind Speaks

"Milky Way"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #49:

"God's Voice speaks to me all through the day."

I love the water warming my hands as I wash dishes. The susserence of the snow outside reminds me of the softness of the blanket I'm snuggled under. The perfectness of a love seat recently given to me holds me snugly in its arms. With the understanding that divine Mind is the creator of all things spiritual, and that ideas are a product of this Mind, then it is easier to hear everything as “God’s Voice”. The cacophony in our thought often drowns out the voice of the divine Mind. By training ourselves to quiet this constant chatter -- which we have become accustomed to accepting as a normal aspect of our material existence -- we allow peaceful inner knowing to be heard. Seeing our spiritual nature as an idea of divine Mind is to know that the intelligence of the universe is ours for the listening. Listening with spiritual sense is to hear Truth all the day long!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Infinite Mind creates and governs all, from the mental molecule to infinity. This divine Principle of all expresses Science and art throughout creation, and the immortality of man and the universe. Creation is ever appearing, and must ever continue to appear from the nature of its inexhaustible source. Mortal sense inverts this appearing and calls ideas material. Thus misinterpreted, the divine idea seems to fall to the level of a human or material belief, called mortal man. But the seed is in itself, only as the divine Mind is All and reproduces all--as Mind is the multiplier, and Mind's infinite idea, man and the universe, is the product." Science & Health Page 507:24-4

February 17, 2015 - No Fear in Love

Aaron in Mongolia
unknown photographer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #48:

"There is nothing to fear."

Fear stems from the idea that we can be separated from joy and love, from peace and security. I remember when my son left home for a boarding school at the age of fourteen. I was so sad that I felt I'd never laugh again. I literally couldn't imagine happiness, as everything I looked at reminded me he was gone. After a week or so of living in this maudlin state, I realized I was thinking of him as though he were dead. This led me to examine that avenue. What if he was dead? Wouldn't the love we felt still be alive? Of course, I would miss being around him, enjoying his company -- just as I was missing him with 300 miles of physical separation. A Rumi quote helped break this illusion: "Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. For those who love with heart and soul there is no separation." What is it which allows us to be together no matter where we seem to be? The Love which we are as the reflection of the one God is a connection which cannot be broken by any set of material circumstance. When I'm really feeling the security of divine Love, I'm reminded of the way a baby is swaddled in a blanket. Divine Love swaddles us in its ever-present protection. While we may seem to face uncertainties and losses, "Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God." (ACIM text)

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The Apostle John says: 'There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out fear. . . . He that feareth is not made perfect in Love.' Here is a definite and inspired proclamation of Christian Science."

Science & Health Page 410:17-21

February 16, 2015 - Birthing New Thought

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #47:

"God is the strength in which I trust."

Freezing rain and sleet has just begun to fall on this cold, February night. What exquisite perfection to be sitting in a cozy home listening to the wisdom of the ages being spoon fed to me through a DVD. This series features a learned and perceptive man telling me "Great Scientific Ideas That Changed the World." He says that Aristotle tells us that knowledge is validated by using it. Paramenides has a substance metaphysics view of reality: the ultimate reality is a thing -- or things. Heraclitus said that ultimate reality is change, but laws of change are timeless -- hence process metaphysics. I find these thoughts fascinating and fun, but I'm not going to take any of it too seriously. Throughout time we have tried to understand how everything works, and that has been an evolution of thought. We are still moving through this tapestry of illumination and it is a delightful journey. I'm so pleased to be on it!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The revelation of Truth in the understanding came to me gradually and apparently through divine power. When a new spiritual idea is borne to earth, the prophetic Scripture of Isaiah is renewedly fulfilled: 'Unto us a child is born, . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful.'"Science & Health Page 109:22-27