May 12, 2015 - I Loose the World

"Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #132

"I loose the world from all I thought it was."

I’m the type of person who will happily invite the Jehovah Witnesses in to chat when they knock on my door seeking to spread their beliefs. I’m not afraid of varying opinions and enjoy finding out how others view the things of the world and spirit. And so I’m very surprised at my reaction to a group of people who are seeking to promote fundamentalist christian views by way of fear about silly things. They shouldn’t be a blip in my radar, but the hair on the back of my neck stands up when I’m around them. One came to the door today and it was all I could do to keep my mouth shut. Thanks to my dog, I didn’t have to make that decision. Sweet Chili Dog was barking and snarling in a most menacing way, so we had a difficult time hearing each other speak and the man wasn’t willing to get too close in his attempts to hand me his propaganda. Ideas leave not their source, and that source is in my head — unless I’m willing to let these go and listen to divine Mind as the source and Principle of all. In examining my reactions, I am very much willing to release the world of illusions and grasp the truth of our being. This Truth will embrace all, simply by my acceptance of it. How selfish to withhold that!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Reasoning from cause to effect in the Science of Mind, we begin with Mind, which must be understood through the idea which expresses it and cannot be learned from its opposite, matter. Thus we arrive at Truth, or intelligence, which evolves its own unerring idea and never can be coordinate with human illusions."

Science & Health Page 467:29-3

May 11, 2015 - Seeking and Finding Truth

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #131

"No one can fail who seeks to reach the truth."

Releasing of beliefs involves, in part, allowing the need to know answers to fall by the wayside. I’ve started to think I’m the least inquisitive person I know. When I’m told something is going to happen, I’m fine with it. I don’t wonder if it’s a good or a bad thing, or if it will or will not happen, if it should or should not happen, or whether I want it to happen. I don’t do chants or affirmation to facilitate my wishes, nor do I pass petitions to rally folks to take sides. I don’t like to give political opinions and people think I’m wishy-washy when they push me to do so and I say I really have no strong opinions about such things. I strive to hold thought to Truth which is brought to my thought by divine Mind. I try to live as Love lives. Now, I’m not always successful in this quest, but I’m not going to stop seeking and finding the truth which is brought to me by the Principle of all being. It’s nice to not wonder how I’ll spend my days, but rather to know I’ll be led in paths which will be fruitful!

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

May 10, 2015 - One World

photo courtesy of Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #130

"It is impossible to see two worlds."

There is a world of Love, and there is a world of fear. I cannot see them both at the same time. This seems like an easy choice, but fear is often insidious and I may not realize that's what's guiding my choices. I can't know the world of Spirit when I'm thinking from the standpoint of mortal sense. I can't love my neighbors when I'm judging them. I can't hear that "still, small voice" when my thought is full of chaotic chatter. These dualities represent the two worlds we wish to embrace simultaneously, but find we cannot. Everything I do, or say, or think, places me firmly in one world or the other. Moment by moment, I choose what to accept as truth. By consistently turning thought away from mortal concepts and looking to spiritual interpretations, I am choosing the world I want to see. And if I'm not comfortable with what I'm seeing, guess what? I can choose again!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The visible universe and material man are the poor counterfeits of the invisible universe and spiritual man.”

Science & Health Page 337:22-24

May 9, 2015 - Imagine

photo by Jodie English

ACIM Workbook Lesson #129

"Beyond this world there is a world I want."

Wouldn't it be great if we lived in a world where losing is impossible, where love lasts forever, where hate does not exist, and vengeance has no meaning? It would be grand if we never had misunderstandings because communication was clear and precise, without the burden of forming words to tell others what we mean. There would be no hard feelings between people as we wouldn't blame others for thinking differently than we do, because we know that at our core all of us are One. This world is wonderful in many ways, but there are also horrors beyond words, and this is what causes people to lose faith in this thing we call God. We have created an un-God-like world and blame an unknown deity for what we think we cannot change. What if we're wrong and what we see is not true creation? Imagine that!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“That which material sense calls intangible, is found to be substance. What to material sense seems substance, becomes nothingness, as the sense-dream vanishes and reality appears."

Science & Health Page 312:3-6

May 8, 2015 - Looking Through the Illusion

"No Looking Back"
created by Sandy Starbird

ACIM Lesson #128

"The world I see holds nothing that I want."  

The topic of today's ACIM lesson is one which could cause you to say, "Thanks, but no thanks!!" But before you turn away, really think about what this means. It isn't asking you to give up enjoyment of everyday life. On the contrary! It's asking you to look past the world which is the illusion of mortal mind, and see the creation of divine Mind. In looking through the unreality of beliefs, we are breaking the same kind of thought barriers which had to be set aside for humanity to realize the world was round. When asked to see everything with new eyes, to dare to stretch past belief and learned behavior, we may be frightened or confused. In this state of mind, our "ego" can tell us that it's all just nonsense and it's better to stay with what is well-known. But is it? If you feel -- really feel, deep inside, that there must be more to this existence than meets the human eye, then you will want to know what that is. We are capable of so much more than we realize. The veil which hides reality is getting thinner! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Belief in a material basis, from which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from matter to Mind as the cause of every effect." 

Science & Health Page 268:6-9

May 7, 2015 - One Love

from the garden of Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #127

“There is no love but God's”

Self-help books talk of the many faces and facets of love. In divine metaphysics, there is no division in Love. Love does not judge. No one is more worthy of receiving than another. No one is more able than another when it comes to expressing Love. Love may not appear to be a factor in the world we witness daily. We see love which is variable and hate that is solid, but we are learning the unreality of changing love and abiding hate. Reality is the Love which is God. Today's ACIM workbook lesson asks us to affirm this often today: "I bless you, brother, with the Love of God, which I would share with you. For I would learn the joyous lesson that there is no love but God's and yours and mine and everyone's." My awareness of this true Love allows me to experience it. It is always present, and I'm learning to be, too.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Love is infinite. Therefore all that really exists is in and of God, and manifests His love.”

Science & Health Page 340:12-14

May 6, 2015 - What Am I Giving?

"Self and self"
by Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #126

"All that I give is given to myself."

Today brings an examination of what it is I’m giving. I would hope I’m giving happiness, peace, love, compassion — but sometimes I give judgment, condemnation, self-righteous thoughts, and false forgiveness. It’s all too easy to forgive in a way which is nothing more than a way of thinking that I’m superior and, in some way, better than the forgiven one. This is akin to the “back-handed compliment”, the way people may say “thank you very much” when they are not thanking someone but, rather, making a point of feeling slighted in some way by another’s actions. The forgiveness I give may be a charitable act on my part, an act I may withhold as punishment to them and self-aggrandizement for myself. I am working toward understanding this thing called forgiveness. I ask myself, How would Love look on this? What would Mind think about this? Today I will strive to see through the veil of belief which dictates how I should interpret others’ actions. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We must reverse our feeble flutterings--our efforts to find life and truth in matter--and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the God-like man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being.” Science & Health Page 262:11-16