Peace Abides

photo credit: Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #93

“Light and joy and peace abide in me.”

So-called hate groups have increased by 14% in this country over the past year. A man named Tony McAleer describes himself as being beaten and bullied as a child; bitter and isolated as a teenager. He became involved in one of these groups while seeking a connection with others. To quote him: "When you're starving and somebody keeps feeding you what you think are your favorite foods, even though it's junk food, there's going to be a while where you're not going to get up from the table." He continued to practice violence and anger until after the birth of his daughter. He said that was the first time in his life he had felt connected to another human being, and he started to want to change. He has now organized  a group called "Life After Hate" and is helping others to build relationships with people. He says if we are to counter these groups, we must get to a place where empathy outweighs fear. That is what we are realizing through these studies, too. "Light and joy and peace abide in me" -- and in everyone!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Light is a symbol of Mind, of Life, Truth, and Love, and not a vitalizing property of matter. Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony.."

Science & Health Page 510:27-1

The Dawn of Sight

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #92

“Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one.”

I saw a clip from a morning show in which they were asking people questions about spirituality and religion. Most people they asked thought of themselves as spiritual but not religious, and the few self-proclaimed religious people were mainly looking for a sense of community and fellowship. A sense of inclusiveness was often mentioned in the answers. People are looking for a spiritual group which will accept them as they are, without trying to change them. Many spoke of doubt and said they needed groups of like-minded people to help them in times of loss and fear. It seems so simple for everyone to live together in Love, being kind, helping each other. Apparently it is not. Long-held beliefs cloud our vision and we fearfully try to pull others into our illusion. Today I will see the light of miracles everywhere I look, refusing to be pulled into darkness, even in jest.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“As a material, theoretical life-basis is found to be a misapprehension of existence, the spiritual and divine Principle of man dawns upon human thought and leads it to 'where the young child was,' --even to the birth of a new-old idea, to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes. Thus the whole earth will be transformed by Truth on its pinions of light, chasing away the darkness of error."

Science & Health Page 191:7-15

Live In Light!

Photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #91

“Miracles are seen in light.”

Material vision is dimmed by any number of events and circumstances which may cause us to believe that darkness is as real as light. I love the first paragraph of today's workbook lesson and quote it here: "The miracle is always there. Its presence is not caused by your vision; its absence is not the result of your failure to see. It is only your awareness of miracles that is affected. You will see them in the light; you will not see them in the dark." I'm sure you can think of a circumstance which you see as wonderful and someone else does not. We all know people who find fault with everything no matter what. Then there are those of us who are accused of having a Pollyanna attitude because we insist on seeing the good in situations. Albert Einstein described this well: "There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as if everything is a miracle." Come on, fellow Pollyannas -- Let's go forth and scatter Light!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Divine Science rolls back the clouds of error with the light of Truth, and lifts the curtain on man as never born and as never dying, but as coexistent with his creator."

Science & Health Page 596:11-19

Problems Solved!

Part of Our Book Club

ACIM Workbook Lesson #90

Review: “Let me recognize the problem so it can be solved.” and “Let me recognize my problems have been solved.”

I’ve mentioned my book club a number of times in past writings. We are a group of women who have met for over twelve years with a book as the center of our monthly discussion, but really that’s just a reason to get together and enjoy each others’ company. We have some who think logically from the standpoint of science, and some who live intuitively from the heart. We have teachers, a yoga instructor, a veterinarian, businesswomen, cattle and turkey farmers, a librarian — actually, a single definition isn’t enough for any one of these women. They are multi-talented and diverse. We have incredible discussions and enjoy one another more than I can say. While I feel that this group of women could solve all the problems of the world — and actually feel like we do that every time we get together! — I believe this feeling comes because despite our various opinions, we all live from Love. Everything we do is guided by something larger than what our human reason can encompass. And so as I bask in the glow of being with them, I will remember that the only problems comes from a belief in separation, and I thank these women for helping me to feel whole. Namastè ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Human reason and religion come slowly to the recognition of spiritual facts, and so continue to call upon matter to remove the error which the human mind alone has created.”

Science & Health Page 173:25-28

Held in Place by Thought

ACIM Workbook Lesson #89

Review: “I am entitled to miracles.” and “Let miracles replace all grievances.”

"The Dog Whisperer", (whom I mention often in these writings) Cesar Millan, tells us he rehabilitates dogs and trains people. He observes that dogs live in the moment. When he is helping people to understand a dog which seems maimed by past experiences in its life, he always tells us that feeling sorry for the animal is of no benefit. How can this be? The dog is hurting and we're being asked to deny that? Yes!! This is why we are learning that it's necessary to give up all beliefs -- not just those we deem to be "bad", but all material beliefs. By letting them go and replacing them with an openness of thought which allows us to hear the Truth of our Being, we experience the miracle which is the natural order of Life. It may not seem logical to say that we can simply release feelings of fear and anger. They can appear very real to us, but if we stop and examine them, do they have any purpose other than to bind us to the past? One dog Cesar worked with had slid into a glass door. The dog was now afraid to walk on any floor without a carpet. Upon investigation of its people's reactions, they had immediately reinforced the dog's fears by petting, and commiserating, and talking about what a horrible experience it had been. They held the dog in fear by acts they thought of as compassion. What Cesar explains is that dogs live in the moment, unless they're held in the past by everyone around them. I’m so grateful for every experience which helps me to discern between belief and reality -- especially when it's shown to me by a dog!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When an accident happens, you think or exclaim, 'I am hurt!' Your thought is more powerful than your words, more powerful than the accident itself, to make the injury real."

Science & Health Page 397:12-16

Put the Big Rocks in First

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #88:

Review -- "The light has come." and "I am under no laws but God's"

Many of you have probably heard the story of the teacher who fills a pail with rocks and asks his student if it is full. Yes, says the student. Then the teacher pours gravel into it until it can hold no more. Is it full? Yes. Then he does the same with sand, then water. The moral of the story? Put the big rocks in first! I remembered this tale today when a series of events began to unfold which left me a bit flustered. I won’t go into detail, but I am getting ready for my book club to meet here in two days, and I had planned a leisurely two days of cooking and cleaning and arranging. After returning home from a fun day of bridge, there were phone messages which brought unexpected news, the most surprising was that I needed to take part in a memorial service and it would involve some rehearsal in preparation for the actual service on Wednesday. I had a few moments of panic until I reminded myself to sit down and breathe and remember that the reason I don’t make plans is because I don’t know what the future may hold. And as I tell you all often, we must simply face whatever is happening and do what we need to do! I welcome the guidance of divine Mind and the laws of Love which shall guide me through the activities of the next two day — and I’ll remember to put the big rocks in first!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“To suppose that God constitutes laws of inharmony is a mistake; discords have no support from nature or divine law, however much is said to the contrary.” Science & Health Page 183:4-7

Led By Love

"After the Metafizzie Meeting - 2007"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #87

Review: “I will there be light.” and “There is no will but God’s.”

I recently came into possession of the recordings from metaphysical meetings we had 8 or 9 years ago. Today I listened to a discussion which included people telling how they  came to live in Eureka Springs. In this joyous conversation everyone had a different story, but they had a common denominator: they had not consciously made the decision, but had been led, in various ways, to be here. There was something at work which had nothing to do with human will. People talked about divine guidance, serendipity, blind luck — it all involved a will which had nothing to do with logic or human understanding. The events which led to us being in the same room talking about metaphysics, God, Life, Love — all the while laughing and expressing joy openly — was also something which came about seemingly by chance. Life is so wonderful when we don’t have to know what’s going to happen next!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Will, as a quality of so-called mortal mind, is a wrong-doer; hence it should not be confounded with the term as applied to Mind or to one of God’s qualities.”

Science & Health Page 597:24-26