May 23, 2015 - Still, Small Voice

photo courtesy of Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #143:

Review of: #125 "In quiet I receive God's Word today." #126  "All that I give is given to myself." And the main thought to hold to in these review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

Two things which, in reality, do not exist -- mortal mind, as termed by Mary Baker Eddy, and ego as it's called in ACIM -- want you to think you would no longer be you with the admission that you are One with all that Is. What if free will does not exist unless you DO give up what you think of as individuality and embrace Oneness? I'm beginning to see that I have no will of my own if I'm simply regurgitating well-rehearsed lines from the history of my life. I'm starting to glimpse the freedom which comes from throwing off the chains I have bound myself with through a lifetime of fears and learned behavior. A dear friend related a story about thinking his stepmother had never liked him. Then one day he found out she was practically deaf, and the actions he had interpreted as slights to him were actually moments of confusion on her part. He now sees their relationship with the freedom of understanding. Today I will quietly listen for that still, small voice which frees me.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“There is but one I, or Us, but one divine Principle, or Mind, governing all existence; man and woman unchanged forever in their individual characters, even as numbers which never blend with each other, though they are governed by one Principle. All the objects of God's creation reflect one Mind, and whatever reflects not this one Mind, is false and erroneous, even the belief that life, substance, and intelligence are both mental and material.”

Science & Health Page 511:11-19

May 22, 2015 - Let Me Remember ...

"Dancing With The Shadow Self"
creation of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook lesson #142: Review of: #123 "I thank my Father for His gifts to me." #124 "Let me remember I am one with God."

I love “Dancing With The Stars”! I only started watching it a couple of years ago, and have found it to be not only entertaining, but a lovely reminder that we all have the same fears and insecurities, and the same possibility of greatness. Through this twice-yearly show which lasts a number of weeks, I have gotten to know some of the most amazing people. There is a beautiful 72-year old singer, a woman who dances like no one’s watching and exhibits the joy of a young child. I’ve recently been particularly inspired by a man missing an arm and a leg who has made it to the finals of this demanding show. This season we have also been introduced to the child of well-known movie stars, a young woman who was convinced by the media that she wasn’t pretty. They said horrid things about her and she had no idea how beautiful and graceful she was, but she has discovered her gifts through dancing in this show. What a heart-expanding experience it is for these participants and all of us who watch them discover more about their true Self. I know I’m ready to dance!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The human sense of Deity yields to the divine sense, even as the material sense of personality yields to the incorporeal sense of God and man as the infinite Principle and infinite idea, — as one Father with His universal family, held in the gospel of Love.”

Science & Health Page 576:31-4

May 21, 2015 - Love, Happiness, Forgiveness

photo courtesy of Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #141: Today begins a review of the last 20 lessons. Our main theme is: “My mind holds only what I think with God"  Review of: #121 “Forgiveness is the key to happiness” #122 “Forgiveness offers everything I want.”

I’ve been spending time in the offices of a prosthetic company, getting fitted and adjusted and learning how to use this interesting appendage. While sitting in the waiting room, I’ve met a number of angry and sad people. One woman blames her husband for wrecking the motorcycle she was riding on, another woman blames herself for a lifestyle which brought about the loss of a limb, a man is angry because he can’t continue his former lifestyle. I never ask anyone questions; these stories come pouring forth. Of course, not everyone is unhappy. There’s the man who is using this circumstance as a way to find another wife. He’s been married five times and is looking forward to the sixth!  I sit there smiling and doing my best to think loving thoughts. They all probably think I’m on heavy drugs — haha! Forgiving is the undoing of the denying of Love. Forgiving clears the false image and opens my mind to Love. If I can manage to live this forgiveness within myself, I am extending it to a world in need of Love. Namastè!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“God creates all forms of reality. His thoughts are spiritual realities.”

Science & Health Page 514:8-9

May 20, 2015 - Celebrate!

photo from Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #140:

“Only salvation can be said to cure.”

Every instance of turning away from material illusion and seeing with the spiritual sense we're developing is a cause for celebration! Each revelation is a step toward salvation from the trap of victimhood. The knowledge of what is Truth and what is illusion lifts us past the thoughts which hold us trapped in sickness and disharmony. It's not by trying to rid ourselves of illusion that we are freed; it's by knowing what Truth is. With Truth as the only reality in our thought, error has no room to take hold and it disappears into the nothingness which is its only reality. Now that's something to celebrate!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural."

Science & Health Page xi:9-15

May 19, 2015 - One Cause

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #139:

"I will accept Atonement for myself."

Atonement is one of those words which often triggers uncomfortable feelings. Visions of atoning for sins can be pretty creepy, especially when it's possible we may have committed said sins, possibly without even knowing it!  That's the way the concept of atonement has come to be interpreted by many. Some have decided that we're all born sinners and we must spend our life finding ways to atone for that. We are learning that sin is anything which separates us from the Love which is God. Simple, huh? Atonement is accepting our Oneness as the expression and experience of God. It may sound like a form of sacrilege to say you're one with God. I say it's sacrilege not to! To acknowledge God as the only Cause, and to see ourselves as the effect of that Cause, is to accept our at-one-ment with All that Is. What could be more humble? I will accept this reality today, and see everyone I meet in this light. Namaste' ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Atonement is the exemplification of man’s unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love."

Science & Health Page 18:1-3

May 18, 2015 - No Choices in Truth

photo by Chris Fischer from his garden

ACIM Workbook Lesson #138

“Heaven is the decision I must make.”

Years ago, I knew a young woman who would often fall to her knees and beg God to forgive her and not send her to hell. At the slightest transgression, she would verbally do this! She wouldn’t always fall to the ground, but even a simple verbal request was always a surprising event for everyone in her presence. She also would tell me I was going to hell for numerous reasons, one of which was because I didn’t believe in it. She told me that was the devil’s greatest victory, convincing people there was no such place. I remember mentioning that Jesus told us the kingdom of heaven was within, and she said yes, that it was within Jesus; not us. Nowadays, I would probably tell her this was the ego’s biggest victory to think this was so! I’d probably have a discussion with her about there being no choice because we have made up hell believing there must be an opposite for everything. I might even tell her that the acceptance of Truth obviates any need for choosing heaven, because there is only Truth with no opposite. Hum — maybe I should just decide this for myself and let it Be!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man.” Science & Health Page 560:12-15

May 17, 2015 - All You Need Is Love

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #137

“When I am healed I am not healed alone.”

Love heals. We hear this so often, it's probably become somewhat of a cliché. We may think that nothing can heal the ills of the world, much less something as intangible as love. What if love were the most powerful force in the universe? Not just an emotion called love, but an omnipotent, gentle presence which is a synonym for Source. What if experiencing this Love was sufficient to heal every thought of evil or sickness or misery which has ever been imagined? Then we'd all be lining up to get some of this stuff, don't you think? And it's even easier than that. We only need get out of our own way to see what has always been there. Love heals.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity.”

Science & Health Page 598:23-25