Illusion or Reality?

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #51:

Today we begin a ten-day review of the first lessons. For a guide to this review, and a short description, go to this link: http://A Course in Miracles.org/Lessons/lesson.html?lesson=51 

The first 50 lessons in A Course in Miracles workbook show us how to determine the difference in reality and illusion. We have learned that what we see with material sense is colored with belief and judgment. We have been experimenting with dropping the meanings placed on things, thereby allowing spiritual facts to become evident.  Everything I see is colored with judgment, both my own and that of others. This judgment has given me whatever meaning I've placed on anything. As these meanings make no sense  -- because they have been interpreted through erroneous thoughts and beliefs -- they cannot be understood. When we learn to look through these illusions, we free ourselves to see Truth. If we accept that our thoughts mean nothing, we allow ourself to release the self-importance we've attached to things. When we are able to release these thoughts, we can replace them with the ideas of Mind. We also have been asked to see that when we become upset, it is never for the reason we think. In order to justify these incomprehensible beliefs which we have set up, we make up a complex defense system of attacks and retreats, which only serve to leave us in a state of disharmony. I don't want this crazy fantasy to be my life! I want to follow the leadings of Love, to hear through Spirit, to see with Soul, to live Life!

Mary Baker Eddy quotes

“The universe of Spirit reflects the creative power of the divine Principle, or Life, which reproduces the multitudinous forms of Mind and governs the multiplication of the compound idea man.” 

Science & Health Page 507:15-18

Sustained by Love

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #50:

“I am sustained by the Love of God.”

Do you recall a time when you felt swaddled in Love? Perhaps it was immediately following the birth of a child or grandchild, or maybe it was watching a sunset, or seeing whales in the ocean — well, there are many times when we feel totally encompassed in the Love which is more than the everyday I-love-this-dessert kind of love. The images our ego projects and calls love are a shadow of the divine Love of which we speak today. We all have believed the false image of love which this life has taught us. The songs we sing, the movies we watch, the things we expect from love, these do not begin to tell us what it means to be sustained by Love. To quote today’s lesson: “Put not your faith in illusions. They will fail you. Put all your faith in the Love of God within you; eternal, changeless and forever unfailing. This is the answer to whatever confronts you today. Through the Love of God within you, you can resolve all seeming difficulties without effort and in sure confidence. Tell yourself this often today. It is a declaration of release from the belief in idols. It is your acknowledgment of the truth about yourself.” ACIM

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Truth fosters the idea of Truth, and not the belief in illusion or error. That which is real, is sustained by Spirit.” Science & Health" Page 555:32-2

Listening Deeply

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #49:

"God's Voice speaks to me all through this day."

I’ve noticed in the past few years that many people want others to tell them what to do. We seem to flock to those who are willing, even eager, to guide us through the maze of life. I think it’s because if we’re doing what someone else tells us, then we can blame them if it doesn’t work out! I’m only partly joking about that. Sometimes we are afraid to make decisions for ourselves because we don’t trust that we are informed enough to do so. At that point, we either throw up our hands and don’t do anything, or ask someone else what they’re going to do so we can do the same. Perhaps we don’t trust our own inner guidance because we have so often mistaken our busy little mind for the calm voice of divine Mind. We are told in the textbook of A Course in Miracles that “His voice is as loud as I am willing to listen.” Let’s not expect a big, booming human voice to come down from above, but a still, small certainty in the deepness of ourselves, leading us as the expression of Life, Truth, and Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Infinite Mind creates and governs all, from the mental molecule to infinity. This divine Principle of all expresses Science and art throughout creation, and the immortality of man and the universe." Science & Health Page 507:24-28

Nothing But Peace

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #48:

"There is nothing to fear."

Fear stems from the idea that we can be separated from joy and love, from peace and security. Imagine telling someone in the middle of a war zone that there is nothings to fear. Or perhaps you've known someone who has just been attacked in some violent way and you tell them that there is nothing to fear. This would seem to be a case of sticking your head in the sand and denying reality. At this stage of our evolution, perhaps it's best to think this truth silently, affirming within that illusions are not facts and there is, in reality, nothing to fear. Let's take a case which could be thought of as minor, one where a friend has been in a car accident and is now afraid to drive outside of her small hometown. While I did not make light of her fear, I also steadfastly refused to reinforce her fears by agreeing with them. I can no longer pretend compassion by agreeing with error, but must insist on dispelling erroneous thought by asserting the truth of our being as an expression of  God. I pray  for the grace which will guide me to silence or action!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.” Science & Health Page 506:11-14

Unchanging Spirit

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #47:

"God is the strength in which I trust."

We are told by almost every avenue in this material life that we are weak mortals who are victimized by everything from germs to sunshine and food. I have an acquaintance who spends most days in a state of near-panic as she hears tales of incurable air-borne disease and other horror stories which keep her on the edge of her sanity. She feels uncertain about everything due to the changing nature of the world around us, and this frightens her. I urged her to find something which is unchanging and to hold to that thought. She told me she didn’t know anything which was unchanging. I assured her that I couldn’t think of a single material thing which did not change either, and suggested some YouTube videos for her to watch with some of my favorite spiritual seers. I, personally, would prefer to trust intuition brought to me from divine Mind rather than the so-called facts fed to me by the nightly news! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.” Science & Health Page 393:12-15

Love is the Answer

photo credit: Stephen Shogren

ACIM Workbook Lesson #46:

“God is the Love in which I forgive.”

We are asked to close our eyes and search our mind for things which we have not forgiven. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small unforgiven experience or a great, big unforgivable event — we are asked to examine ourselves and identify these instances. We are preparing to forgive ourselves! Divine Love is the love which we are giving and getting in this forgiveness, not the human love which puts parameters on its flow. What we extend, we are. When I see the people I am withholding forgiveness from, I don’t want to think of their actions which I feel justify my feelings. I find I still blame someone from 50 years ago, a sweet woman who gave my pet turtle a bath and it died. I don’t want to think of that incident every time I see her or hear her name! I want to release my mind from these illusions, extending Love because I am Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

 "'God is Love.' More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go." Science & Health Page 6:17-18

Celebrate Love!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #45:

“God is the Mind with which I think.”

On this day when we celebrate love, I am reminded of the amazing ways people are expressing Love all over the world. It's wonderful to hear stories of individuals who see a need and find a way to meet it! I read a story of a man who started a website to track refugees, in order to let those who want to help know what needs to be done and where to find people in need. Another man has dedicated his life to saving dogs by transporting them to areas of the country where they can find homes. I have vowed to find at least one incidence of good every day -- and good news is everywhere! I'm going to take time today to think of all the people I know personally who are expressing divine Mind, reflecting Love and living a life of grace. This grace doesn't have to be expressed in large ways, it only needs to be heartfelt and sincere. Happy Valentine's Day to us all!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“No wisdom is wise but His wisdom; no truth is true, no love is lovely, no life is Life but the divine…”  Science & Health Page 275:17-19