May 15, 2015 - No Defense

"Artrageous Parade"
photo from Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #135

"If I defend myself I am attacked."

The last topic we pondered had to do with forgiveness. In my discourse on this, I opened with the words “righteous indignation”. It occurred to me that this topic was pertinent to some of the happenings in our town which centered around an election having to do with  discrimination and civil rights. So I posted my words to Facebook to see what reactions might come back to me. In rereading the post, I see that either “side” could think I was pointing a finger at them. I was actually pointing a finger at myself. I don’t feel the need to defend my way of thought with anyone who thinks I’m wrong. It’s an interesting experience, witnessing events without blame or excuses. The main thing I need be mindful of is thinking I have answers, as this will close my mind to hearing Truth!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The time for thinkers has come. Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity.” 

Science & Health Page vii:13-15

May 14, 2015 - As It Is

"Chris & Mary's Garden"
photo by Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #134

"Let me perceive forgiveness as it is."

Righteous indignation: There's a lot of it going around, don't you think? Maybe I notice it so much because it's alive and well-established within me. Maybe I'm too quick to jump on my high horse and adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. It seems there are so many injustices which need righting. We have been told that forgiveness is looking the other way and doing nothing. I see forgiveness as looking past the illusion of separation from others to the realization of our unity. With this view, I can set aside my stories of right and wrong and open thought to the reality of Love as a palpable healing force. How wonderful to feel a kinship with everyone and everything, knowing that minus illusions of belief, we are all the same. What a joy to be finding our voice!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action.”

Science & Health Page 454:18-21

May 13, 2015 - Shared Value

City Art in Eureka
photo by Richard Quick 

ACIM Workbook Lesson #133

"I will not value what is valueless."

To quote Joel Goldsmith: ”Groups of people who have shared spiritual Love are bound together for eternity." These words float into my mind often. There are so many people who live in our little town whom I feel I've always known. People are drawn here, usually having no idea why, wondering if their friends are right and they’ve lost their minds. And perhaps they have. When we quit listening to the practiced beliefs of our mind and begin to hear what seems to be an other-worldly calling, we have lost a material outlook in exchange for a spiritual perception. I value every bit of lovingkindness I feel and see expressed. Anything else is valueless, a call for love, unrequited until the way is cleared for the flow to reach it. Let’s scatter joy today!!

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

“Everything good or worthy, God made. Whatever is valueless or baneful, He did not make,--hence its unreality.”

Science & Health Page 525:20-22

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