Living Life to the Fullest!

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #233

“I give my life to God to guide today."

Live life to the fullest! What exactly does that mean? I was watching a cooking show where the host, a well-known hedonist, was in Greece. As he is over-drinking and eating he declares that he’s living life to the fullest. It made me start thinking about what a full life is, and then when seeing this topic requesting us to allow divine Mind, God, to guide me today — well, you can imagine how I laughed when I thought of the idea of gluttony being an indication of a full life! I suppose we can ask ourselves what it is we value. Do we value things we have, things we do? Or is valuable substance made up of ideas and the purity of our actions when they are led by divine Love? Giving ourselves to the Unity of All that Is does not limit our actions and enjoyment of the moment. I feel that it intensifies the joy and excitement of living. Being led by Spirit allows me to stop worrying about what my next steps will be and relax into a surety that I’ll be in the right place at the right time. What an adventure life is!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When we fully understand our relation to the Divine, we can have no other Mind but His,--no other Love, wisdom, or Truth, no other sense of Life, and no consciousness of the existence of matter or error. The power of the human will should be exercised only in subordination to Truth; else it will misguide the judgment and free the lower propensities. It is the province of spiritual sense to govern man.”

Science & Health Page 205:32-7

Be My Mind

photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #232

“Be in my mind, my Father, through the day."

Certain words cause me to cringe and so (at this point in my releasing of belief and learned behavior) I simply leave them out or change them. For instance, in today’s topic I prefer to leave out the words ”in" and “my Father”. With the word “in”, I immediately think there is something missing that I need to bring into me, so I prefer to say “be my mind”. Changing the wording allows me to feel more at One with this ever presence I am acknowledging. I’ve also left out the word "Father" for much the same reason. The human connotations which have been given to this term overwhelm some people, perhaps even me, although I've worked hard to give up any idea of a man in the clouds giving out favors or throwing lightning bolts! I urge you to not worry about semantics and other word games we tend to play with ourselves. But when something causes me discomfort in the wording of these spiritual exercises, I have no problem with thinking of it in another way, until my thinking about the words has changed. After all, this is what it's all about: changing our thought!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“IN:  A term obsolete in Science if used with reference to Spirit, or Deity.”

Science & Health Page 588:22-23

Remembering Love

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #231

“Father, I will but to remember You."

God is Love. Today as I remember Love, I also remember a lovely documentary entitled, "Wings of Life". At one point, it's described as a love story from flowers to pollinators. Adding to my love affair with this movie is its narration by Meryl Streep. The flowers multiply in beauty, with gratitude to the bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and bats. I pause to think of what spurs me to express more goodness and Love. There are so many things which fill my heart: people, music, nature -- movies like this one! In line with my quest to be with those who help my being, I will stay with entertainment which brings beauty and grace to life, turning away from inanities and programing designed to disturb the senses. Following the law of divine Love satisfies -- and I am grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Jesus aided in reconciling man to God by giving man a truer sense of Love, the divine Principle of Jesus' teachings, and this truer sense of Love redeems man from the law of matter, sin, and death by the law of Spirit,--the law of divine Love.”

Science & Health Page 18:6-11

Peace, Joy, Happiness

"Aaron in Utah"
photo by Kailey Jones

ACIM Workbook Lesson #230

“Now will I seek and find the peace of God."

I read about an interesting experiment. Two people were placed face to face. One was instructed to smile as happily as possible, and the other was asked to retain a neutral look. In most of the cases, the person who was supposed to stay neutral couldn't keep from smiling, too. Happiness, joy, and peace are all spiritual attributes which shine forth through us as the experience of divine Love. They are infectious, don't you think? Let's broadcast this seed far and wide today and watch it grow!

 Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.”

Science & Health Page 264:24-27

Pure Love

"Well-Loved Child"
creations of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #229

“Love, which created me, is what I am."

Many of us have a hard time seeing ourselves as Love. We may feel there are events in our lives so unlovely that we couldn't possibly be the reflection of divine perfection. Many great sages have taught us how to save ourselves from the horror of past events. Thich Nhat Hanh and Mahatma Gandhi have given us ways to rise above our feelings of guilt. No matter how this advice is worded, it comes down to one basic concept: extend Love to others, to every thing and every one. This is our atonement, to see the Oneness of all that Is and realize that nothing can ever occur which will separate us from divine Love. By giving it to the world, we give it to ourselves and feel major changes within. We can forgive ourselves even as we are forgiven, because we were never condemned.

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. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must 'have her perfect work.'" 

Science & Health Page 454:18-24

No More Condemnation

photo by Alden Stallings

ACIM Workbook Lesson #228

“God has condemned me not. No more do I."

If I condemn another, I condemn myself — and it happens so easily! When condemning others, I always feel like I've "fallen off the wagon".  I remember a time when I found myself in a conversation wherein I was condemning the motorcycle riders who visit our town, and the woman I was chatting with was blaming another segment of our society for other things. Was my face red when I realized what I was doing! Pointing a finger always leaves three pointing back at myself. To counter these events, I will practice loving actively. Or maybe it's gratitude that triggers a return to Love. Whatever the case, I will hasten to drop inflammatory words and thoughts I sometimes experience. And when they happen, I will choose again!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Man is the idea of Spirit; he reflects the beatific presence, illuming the universe with light. Man is deathless, spiritual. He is above sin or frailty. He does not cross the barriers of time into the vast forever of Life, but he coexists with God and the universe.” Science & Health Page 266:27-32

Every Moment a Meditation - August 15, 2015

"Aaron in Sequoia National Park"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #227

“This is my holy instant of release.”

Seeing today’s topic concerning a “holy instant of release” reminded me of a conversation I recently had with an old friend who tells me he is very nervous and anxious. It has gotten to the point where it’s affecting his life and he cannot do the things he enjoys. I recommended yoga and/or tai chi along with mediation of some sort. This led to a discussion of meditation and how he feels he will never be able to do it because his mind is so busy. I assured him it wasn’t necessary to totally stop thought at first, but simply to notice his thoughts as he sits quietly, acknowledging them and releasing them, not allowing one to lead into another until a state of agitation is reached.  Every moment is a holy instant and every thing is a meditation! Every time I have an attack thought and turn it around into a loving, non-judgmental one, I am in meditation. When someone says something which could send me into a tirade of condemnation or defense, but I calmly think and say something like “you may be right”, it’s a holy instant acknowledged. One moment of slipping between the thoughts is “a foretaste of eternity!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity.”

Science and Health Page 598:23-24