Inspiration Rather Than Erudition

"Utah Fall"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #296

“The Holy Spirit speaks through me today.”

There are many ego-busters in this Course which may ruffle our feathers. I should start making a list of ones which do this to me, then I could mention a few of them, as there are certainly too many to put in one daily writing! I like to think I’m quietly listening for Spirit to speak through me today and everyday, but I’m sure that’s not always true. All too often I have an uneasy feeling somewhere around the solar plexus, or perhaps an odd, tired feeling in my spine, and I’ve learned to recognize these as symptoms of an errant ego making itself known. Sometimes I may be self-righteous in a response to a situation, or perhaps I feel defensive as I’m not absolutely sure about my position. But when these things happen, I have the choice to back up, perhaps say I’m sorry to someone, change my mind because it was coming from my mind rather than the one Mind, and start over with a fresh perspective. And so, dear Reader, please feel free to tell me if you think I’m wrong, or perhaps that I was insensitive. I promise not to take it personally! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Eloquence re-echoes the strains of Truth and Love. It is due to inspiration rather than to erudition."

Science & Health Page 88:26-27

Never Fear the Light

"Central Park NYC"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #295

“The Holy Spirit looks through me today.”

“The Holy Spirit looks through me today.” I think that means to allow ourselves to drop the cloak of belief we perceive everything through and open ourselves to seeing with the eyes of God. I recently went to the movies and saw a film called “The Martian.” Imagine being stranded on Mars and finding ways to survive for more than 500 days. Seems impossible? To limiting human thought it probably would be, but to a quiet mind seeing never-before-thought-of ideas about how to do things — well, nothing is impossible in that sight! The main character reminded me that we never know what’s going to happen in our lives, but what we do in response to events is the life-changer. We aren’t trying to stop dreadful things, but we’re working toward changing our perception of and knee-jerk reactions to events. And it’s a brand new world!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“But eyes accustomed to darkness are pained by the light. When outgrowing the old, you should not fear to put on the new.” Science & Health Page 452:8-11

All Form is Neutral

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #294

“My body is a wholly neutral thing.”

We are learning that everything in form is wholly neutral except for the meaning we give to it. Although we feel defined by our bodies, we are learning that this is not true. Most of us can accept that the body is not truly who we are, and we don’t worry that our true self will be buried in the ground or burned to ash. In this lesson we’re being asked to put aside all thoughts of what we think our body is for, letting divine Love lead us in our purpose. Not being confined to this flesh and bone body, we experience an expansion in thought, seeing ourself as an Idea of Mind, and serving as a communication device for Spirit. As we serve this purpose, we are awakened from the ego dream and find another reality, right here and now, without having to leave this body.  We needn’t split ourselves into body, mind, spirit, as we are whole!   

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The elements and functions of the physical body and of the physical world will change as mortal mind changes its beliefs. What is now considered the best condition for organic and functional health in the human body may no longer be found indispensable to health. Moral conditions will be found always harmonious and health-giving."

Science & Health Page 124:32-6

All-Absorbing Love

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #293

"All fear is past and only love is here."

I love to watch the television show, Master Chef. In it, home cooks are called upon to compete in cooking a variety of dishes. They may be asked to cook something as basic as perfect sunny-side-up eggs, or maybe they are given a box of exotic food and must come up with a palatable dish using ingredients they may never have worked with before. Now there is a show called Master Chef Junior, where children aged 8 to 13 compete in the same format. These fearless children are amazing! Recently they were given a box with "bad" foods in it. There was liver, kidneys, snails, brussel sprouts, blue cheese, and a few other smelly things. As they were making interesting creations from the ingredients, one 9-year-old was asked if she was afraid of the ingredients and cooking them. No, she most definitely was not. When asked if she was afraid of anything, she answered yes, that she was afraid of clowns! What a perfect illustration of trusting yourself and, alternatively, the fear of illusion! Love and fear are opposites. Which do you choose?

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

Happy Outcome to All Things

photo from Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #292

“A happy outcome to all things is sure.”

The sky is falling!! I'm often reminded of the proverbial Chicken Little and his worries about everything. Many people I know remind me of him, with their certainty that something awful is going to happen. A dear woman came to me asking for advice. She told me that she was afraid to go outside her home, and so she would drink alcohol before she went out to have the courage to leave. She had been drinking heavily when she came to talk to me. She related many concerns she had about life in general and a few things in specific. I mentioned Wayne Dyer's words about worry: If you can do something about a situation, you will; if you can't, why worry?? She was very excited by this because she has heard him on television and she really wants to think this way, too. I told her she can, that all it takes is practice and applying the ideas to daily life. Replacing practiced, circular thought with realized spiritual Truth may seem difficult, but a happy outcome is sure!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success.” Science & Health Page 405:9-11

What is the Real World?

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #291

“This is a day of stillness and of peace.”

What is the real world? This is the question we are exploring for the next few days in the ACIM workbook lessons. While we think we are seeing the real world, with all its pain, sorrow, fear, and horror, we are not. The unreal world, which is reported on the news and purported to be reality by those who scoff at anything unseen to human eyes, is not the reality of spiritual creation. After years of believing that this world of duality will in some way bring us peace and happiness, most of us are ready to release that perception and see with purer eyes, looking beyond the illusion toward the true substance of Life as created by divine Mind and interpreted through Love. Today I will look past the chaotic thoughts presented through outside sources and find the still, small voice of peace which is always present within mySelf. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Certain moods of mind find an indefinable pleasure in stillness, soft, silent as the storm's sudden hush; for nature's stillness is voiced with a hum of harmony, the gentle murmur of early morn, the evening's closing vespers, and lyre of bird and brooklet." 

Christian Science versus Pantheism Page 3:8-13

Encouraging Happiness

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #290

“My present happiness is all I see.”

Our town has a lovely deep-woods lake within our city limits. One day Chili-dog and I were walking and enjoying the brisk fall weather when I saw a young family with a small child fishing close to the water's edge. The mother was in one spot and the man was 30 feet or so away, with much underbrush between them  Their little boy had been with his dad and was attempting to walk back to where his mother was. He was about halfway in between them, on a steep incline, when he fell down and was afraid to get up. As I walked up to the scene, his mom and dad were yelling at each other, neither one wanting to leave their fishing poles to rescue the child. The little boy was screaming and crying. From my vantage point, I could see him and so I went to the top of the incline and, much like I would call a dog, said, "Come on, you can do it! Crawl up this way. It's all right.", all the while clapping my hands and speaking in that odd way we do when we're coaxing an animal or, in this case, a small child. The little guy immediately started smiling and, as he crawled toward me, he started giggling. It occurred to me how many of us simply need a little encouragement in order to be happy. I know I appreciate a slight nudge toward feeling the spiritual happiness which is so often hidden by material circumstance. And I love the reminders which show up daily!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Earth has little light or joy for mortals before Life is spiritually learned. Every agony of mortal error helps error to destroy error, and so aids the apprehension of immortal Truth. This is the new birth going on hourly, by which men may entertain angels, the true ideas of God, the spiritual sense of being.”

Science & Health Page 548:9-16