June 5, 2015 - I Give Up Nothing

photo courtesy of Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #156

“I walk with God in perfect holiness.”

I've always had a resistance to yielding. Walking with God in perfect holiness implies a yielding, don't you think? How else could you walk this walk without giving up what you think of as yourself? You can't. What finally got through to me was the realization that what I was giving up was NOT myself, but a mishmash of everything I had ever been told was true, combined with an erratic belief system I had decided was me. Add to that the hypnotism of media and the pull of mass consciousness and we're left with a pretty convoluted idea of what we are. Little by little, I'm letting go of beliefs and learned behaviors. Being present in the moment, giving my full attention to whatever may be in front of me, loving myself and all in Its oneness -- this is what I see as walking with God. Accepting myself and everything as holy becomes easier when viewed without judgment. Simply witnessing events, perhaps with amusement, is certainly more fun!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from [It] in whom we have our being.”

Science & Health Page 264:10-12

June 4, 2015 - Smile and Enjoy Peace

"Strawberry Full Moon"
photo from Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #155

“I will step back and let Him lead the way.”

When to speak, when to act, when to remain silent and listen? It’s not always easy to stay quiet about something we have passionate feelings toward. Sharing what we’ve learned is a good thing, but pushing our attitudes on others, particularly if they’re not ready to hear them, serves no purpose other than furthering conflict. I recently had a lovely day with old friends who have very strong opinions about a number of things in this life. It was quite an opportunity to step back and ask myself what I’m looking for. If I want a life of strong opinions and sport-arguing, I could join in the banter. If I choose to be led by divine Mind, I can enjoy listening to the conversations of strong-minded individuals and still maintain inner peace. I don’t feel the need to make my views known or to correct what I feel is wrong. What fun to smile and enjoy the peace!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual sense, contradicting the material senses, involves intuition, hope, faith, understanding, fruition, reality." Science & Health Page 298:13-15

June 3, 2015 - Simple Seekers For Truth

photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #154

“I am among the ministers of God.”

As I ponder what it means to be a minister of God, many thoughts come to mind. First I think of my half-brother, Little George Havens, traveling evangelist. He was quite short and very flamboyant! I can still hear him singing, to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic, "The circuit ridin' preacher traveled through the mire and mud; preached about the fiery furnace and of Noah and the flood". What a character he was! He spend his life spreading the Word of God as he knew it. And he helped countless people find hope along the way. But did he ever listen for the voice for God, or did he just recite what he had come to believe as Truth? That, I can't say. We can only know our own heart, not others'. And so today I will examine my motives in my interactions. Am I truly listening for that still, small voice when I respond to life's situations? That's a question I'll ask more than once today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Millions of unprejudiced minds--simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert--are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences.”

Science & Health Page 570:14-17

June 2, 2015 - Offering the Light of Peace

photo from Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #153

“In my defenselessness my safety lies.”

Defenselessness is strength; defensiveness is weakness. This is probably backwards from what we have always thought, and it may feel wrong because we’ve been taught to defend ourselves as thoroughly as possible. Ask yourself how you felt, what you did, the last time someone disagreed with you, perhaps vehemently. If you began a verbal defense, listing all the reasons you were right, you may have been left feeling many negative emotions such as anger. On the contrary, any time I’m able to witness events and calmly watch and listen, I’m able to say something simple such as, You may be right — and walk away, happily and peacefully. We are told in this workbook lesson that we will not see the light until we offer it to others and they take it; then we will recognize it as our own. How lovely is that! I look forward to the opportunities for seeing peace today.

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

June 1, 2015 - You Decide

photo by Gerry Toler

ACIM Workbook Lesson #152

“The power of decision is my own.”

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." How many times have we heard that saying or something similar? But what about if it IS broken? We certainly don't want to admit any of our time-honored traditions are broken, maybe because we have no idea how to "fix" them. It seems religion has been broken since its inception, but no one will admit it. I suppose it's a power trip which keeps everyone stuck in dogma and ritual, repeating mistaken thought because leaders tell us to do so. Fear holds us bound to these ways of life, too. I know some think they need to go through the rituals just in case there is a hell they would burn in forever if they fail to be baptized or follow some other ritualistic act. I'm not picking on Christianity here -- at least not only it! All religions seem to rely on fear to perpetuate their beliefs, and even the more gentler disciplines are suspect at times. So what is the truth about these things? One of the statements in today's lesson says: "Truth can have no opposite. Nothing but the truth is true, and what is false is false." As I go through this day, I shall listen for Truth with no counterpart. What an interesting day this shall be!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The point for each one to decide is, whether it is mortal mind or immortal Mind that is causative. We should forsake the basis of matter for metaphysical Science and its divine Principle.”

Science & Health Page 195:11-14

May 31, 2015 - Echoes of Truth

from the garden and camera of
Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #151

“All things are echoes of the Voice for God.”

What is truth? Everywhere we look, it seems we have been and are being told lies. Religion, science, politics, the news media, advertisements, history — the list goes on. If these things are lies, why do we cling to them so adamantly?? It seems we prefer to live in a world of lies rather than to take a step into the great unknown world of Truth. And then we ask, How do we know what is Truth in a world of lies? That, dear Ones, is why we must listen within. Today’s Course in Miracles workbook lesson describes this as “echoes of the Voice for God”. We are told that all things are these echoes. But what of the lies we just spoke of? Those are all material, mortal, ego-based beliefs. The reality of our existence is covered up so thoroughly we have forgotten how to experience it. But we’re remembering, aren’t we? Infinite Mind never hides Its voice. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.”

Science & Health Page 516:4-8

May 30, 2015 - There Is No Spoon

"New Dawn Rose"
photo from Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #150

Review of: #139 "I will accept Atonement for myself." #140 "Only salvation can be said to cure." The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God."

In the movie, "The Matrix", there were some profound metaphysical principles addressed. I particularly liked when Neo is in what appears to be some sort of center for extraordinary behavior. He goes up to a person bending a spoon without touching it. Neo tries to bend the spoon with his mind, but cannot. He is told that the way to do this is through knowing the truth: The spoon is not there. This is what metaphysical healing is all about. Today's ACIM review tells us that the only cure is the understanding that there is no place where sickness can abide. In other words, the spoon is not there. If we are attempting to change a material condition through metaphysical practice, it's just like trying to bend the spoon with the power of your mind. Only by the knowledge of its unreality is it seen for what it actually is: an idea. We are all ideas of divine Mind. In that metaphysical reality, we are all One. What will this realization unfold in experience today? I am open to everything with no expectations whatsoever!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“What to material sense seems substance, becomes nothingness, as the sense-dream vanishes and reality appears.”

Science & Health 312:5-7