What Do I Want To Be?

Utah Sunset
photo courtesy of Nick Franchi

ACIM Workbook Lesson #257

“Let me remember what my purpose is.”

What is my purpose? I'm sure we were taught as young children to have goals, to want to "be" something, to have a life plan. I never did very well at that, and I'm sure many of you didn't either. It never felt right to decide what should be and then do everything possible to make that happen. So when I'm told that my purpose is to discard all my beliefs and listen inwardly, to allow myself to know God and have that as my one goal -- well, I'm just delighted!! My purpose is to know God, and thereby to know myself as an expression of divine Mind. I want to understand what it means to be animated by Spirit, led by Soul, guided by Principle, and to shine forth with Life, Truth, and Love. What a lofty, yet simple, goal! One thing have I desired ...

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.”

Science & Health Page 506:18-21

Quiety Notice Insanity - September 13, 2015

Mr. Timpanogos Goat
photo taken by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #256

“God is the only goal I have today.”

We are learning to differentiate between Love and fear. Sometimes we’ve become so accustomed to thinking in fearful ways that it’s difficult to see it. We may want to keep fear-filled behaviors, perhaps thinking that they serve a necessary purpose.  When we realize erroneous thought within ourselves, often we’ll start trying to talk ourselves out of it and attempt to change our minds. This seldom works for anyone. Many end up with guilt because they can’t change their thought; some may even turn away from a spiritual path because they feel like failures. Don’t!! It’s sort of like meditation. If we try to stop all thought and can’t, we may become agitated and give up a very worthwhile activity. But if we can quietly accept that thoughts we don’t want are running amok in our head, acknowledge them and let them go — well, we have a chance of attaining our goal of quietude. So it goes with this study, too. Let's not beat ourselves up or try to force a particular way of thinking.  Let’s quietly notice when we’re slipping into the insanity, laugh at ourselves, and go forward with joy!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“There is but one primal cause. Therefore there can be no effect from any other cause, and there can be no reality in aught which does not proceed from this great and only cause.”

Science & Health Page 207:20-22

I Have a Choice!

photo courtesy of Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #255

“This day I choose to spend in perfect peace."

Have you noticed that some people’s thoughts seem to go to the worst case scenario in any given situation? There is a planned electrical outage scheduled for maintenance to the system in our small town. It’s to be between 3 and 5 a.m. to cause the least possible disruption for everyone. I have heard people expressing fear for their businesses and homes. There is talk of staying up all night with a shotgun to insure safety. I can’t even imagine thinking this way, but I know many people do. This perfect peace we speak of in today’s ACIM topic is an impossibility to anyone who concentrates on fear and the myriad of what-ifs which come from that thought. When I choose peace, I send it out to others. When someone chooses fear, they don’t spread it to the world because erroneous illusions die on the vine. Divine Mind spreads like wildfire because it is the Oneness of which we are learning. Mortal belief can go no farther than our material thoughts. Choose peace today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace.” 506:11-12

Setting Intention for a Good Result

"Moon Over Utah"
photo from Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #254

“Let every voice but God's be still in me.”

"Let's set our intention for a good result!" These were the unexpected words I heard over the telephone while working with a tech person in a far-away country. At their best, these types of phone calls can be stressful, so I was particularly delighted to hear this! And it has stuck with me.  I find this thought helpful while assimilating today's topic. Telling ourselves that we want to still all voices other than divine Mind, but not really knowing what that is, can be confusing and perhaps frightening. So I choose to set the intention for a good result, without dictating what that result might be. This eternal, all-knowing Mind which I will listen for will show forth in Life, Truth, Love. I neither know how this will happen, nor do I want to. Trusting as the plants trust the sun to shine on them is my goal. I know nothing and everything. As nature flows, so may I!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens,--all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful, and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light.”

Science & Health Page 240:1-9

From self to Self

photo from Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #253

“My Self is ruler of the universe.

For today’s topic to make sense, we must differentiate between self and Self. The self perceives things in an illusory way, colored by beliefs and propaganda left over from our education and mass media. It may be difficult for us to believe that we want the drama we sometimes seem to experience, but it’s part of the ego’s dream of specialness, and it’s something we don’t even realize we’re doing. The Self, with a capital S, is the One Self, of which we are an inseparable, even integral, reflection. I’m not sure the change from self to Self realization can be made by a simple decision. To live as a creation of divine Mind requires an overwhelming desire to do so, along with yielding to Love at every moment. I had a dear friend who insisted on believing that vehemently declaring spiritual truths, closing her eyes and almost yelling, was the way to change thought and live as the experience of God. Watching her was a wake-up call to me (one of many!) and this journey of realization is unfolding even as I write these words. What a trip!

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. Science & Health Page 588:11-15

Identical Identities

Courtesy of Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #252

“The Son of God is my Identity."

I find that it’s much easier to see myself as the experience and expression of divine Love than it is to see others as such! I may find myself being glad I’m not like that “Samaritan over there”, or I may think someone’s actions are foolish and unnecessary, or — well, I don’t think I’ll go on with these examples. I’m sure you get where I’m going with this. The secret, if you will, of realizing Oneness is accepting that there is really, truly no difference in anyone who is the idea of divine Mind — and that means you and me and that guy over there, too. I love the picture I’m using today to illustrate these thoughts. It perfectly shows how easy it is to look at another with judgmental eyes and unloving thoughts. If these thoughts try to jump into my head today, I think I’ll just say “no”!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love."

Science & Health Page 472:20-22

What Do I Need?

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #251

“I am in need of nothing but the truth."

How reassuring it is to know I need nothing but the Truth! All worry and anxiety disappear when I'm not chasing something illusive which I can't quite name. Oh, sure, we may put lots of names on these things we seek in good faith, totally believing they will bring us the happiness we crave -- names like success, fame, marriage. The list of personal fulfillments we desire can be quite long. We are even encouraged to make lists of these goals, to create affirmations surrounding them, to hold them in thought until they become realities in our existence. At this point, I must quote a Bible verse: "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all these things shall be added unto you." And this kingdom is found within, in the understanding and acceptance of our Source!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Truth not error, Love not hate, Spirit not matter, governs man.”

Science & Health Page 420:3-4