Bad Luck/Good Luck - Who Knows?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #131

"No one can fail who seeks to reach the truth."

There is a story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields. One day, the horse ran away and when the farmer's neighbors sympathized with the man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?" A week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, "Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?" The farmer's son attempted to tame one of the wild horses, fell off, and broke his leg, Everyone thought this very bad luck, but not the farmer, whose only reaction was, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?" Then war broke out and the son didn't have to fight because of his broken leg. Bad luck, good luck -- who knows? It's wonderful to be open to Life with no expectations, not thinking in terms of good and bad, letting Love live through us!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Harmony is produced by its Principle, is controlled by it and abides with it.” Science & Health Page 304:16-17

Choices

"Self and self"
creation of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #130

"It is impossible to see two worlds."

There is a world of Love, and there is a world of fear. I cannot see them both at the same time. You would think the choice between these two would be simple, but fear is often insidious and I may not realize it’s guiding my choices. I can't know the world of Spirit when I'm thinking from the standpoint of mortal sense. I can't love my neighbors when I'm judging them. I can't hear that "still, small voice" when my thought is full of chaotic chatter. These dualities represent the two worlds we wish to embrace simultaneously, but find we cannot. Everything I do, or say, or think, places me firmly in one world or the other. Moment by moment, I choose what to accept as truth. By consistently turning thought away from ego-based concepts and looking to spiritual interpretations, I am choosing the world I want to see. And if I'm not comfortable with what I'm seeing, guess what? I can choose again!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The visible universe and material man are the poor counterfeits of the invisible universe and spiritual man.”

Science & Health Page 337:22-24

Imagine That!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #129

"Beyond this world there is a world I want."

To the uninitiated in this way of thought, the above sentence may appear to refer to a world experienced at the change we call death. The "beyond" spoken of here is made manifest through the death of old beliefs and a rebirth in new thought. Wouldn't it be great if we lived in a world where loss is impossible, where love lasts forever, where hate does not exist, and vengeance has no meaning? What if we had no misunderstandings, nor hard feelings between people, because we didn't blame others for thinking differently than we do? Our world is wonderful in many ways, but there are also horrors beyond words, and this is what causes people to lose faith in this thing we call God. We have created an un-God-like world and blame an unknown deity for what we think we cannot change. What if we're wrong and what we see is not true creation? Imagine that!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“That which material sense calls intangible, is found to be substance. What to material sense seems substance, becomes nothingness, as the sense-dream vanishes and reality appears."

Science & Health Page 312:3-6

The Veil is Thinning

"Bryce Canyon"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Lesson #128

"The world I see holds nothing that I want."  

The topic of today's ACIM lesson is one which could cause you to say, "Thanks, but no thanks!!" But before you turn away, really think about what this means. It isn't asking you to give up enjoyment of everyday life. On the contrary! It's asking you to look past the world which is the illusion of mortal mind, to see the creation of divine Mind. In looking through the unreality of beliefs, we are breaking the same kind of thought barriers which were set aside for humanity to realize the world was round. When asked to see everything with new eyes, to dare to stretch past belief and learned behavior, we may be frightened or confused. In this state of mind, our "ego" may tell us that it's all just nonsense and it's better to stay with what is well-known. But is it? If you feel -- really feel, deep inside -- that there must be more to this existence than meets the human eye, then you will want to know what that is. We are capable of so much more than we realize. The veil which hides reality is getting thinner! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Belief in a material basis, from which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from matter to Mind as the cause of every effect." 

Science & Health Page 268:6-9

Love is Infinite

ACIM Workbook Lesson #127

“There is no love but God's”

Self-help books talk of the many faces and facets of love. In divine metaphysics, there is no division in Love. Love does not judge. No one is more worthy of receiving than another. No one is more able than another when it comes to expressing Love. Love may not appear to be a factor in the world we witness daily. We see love which is variable and hate that is solid, but we are learning the unreality of changing love and abiding hate. Reality is the Love which is God. Today's ACIM workbook lesson asks us to affirm this often today: "I bless you, brother, with the Love of God, which I would share with you. For I would learn the joyous lesson that there is no love but God's and yours and mine and everyone's. Every instant when I catch a glimpse of this true Love is a moment to treasure!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Love is infinite. Therefore all that really exists is in and of God, and manifests His love.”

Science & Health Page 340:12-14

What Am I Giving?

creation by
Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #126

"All that I give is given to myself."

Today’s topic brings an examination of what it is I’m giving. I would hope I’m giving happiness, peace, love, compassion — but sometimes I give judgment, condemnation, self-righteous thoughts, and false forgiveness. It’s all too easy to forgive in a way which is nothing more than a way of thinking that I’m superior and, in some way, better than the forgiven one. This is akin to the “back-handed compliment”, the way people may say “thank you very much” when they are not thanking someone but, rather, making a point of feeling slighted in some way by another’s actions. The forgiveness I give may be a charitable act on my part, an act I may withhold as punishment to them and self-aggrandizement for myself. I am working toward understanding this thing called forgiveness. I ask myself, How would Love look on this? What would Mind think about this? Today I will strive to see through the veil of belief which dictates how I should interpret others’ actions. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We must reverse our feeble flutterings--our efforts to find life and truth in matter--and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the God-like man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being.” Science & Health Page 262:11-16

Silencing Material Sense

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #125

"In quiet I receive God's Word today."

Listening can be difficult, even under the most conducive of circumstances. I have a dear friend who has had such a hard time listening that she would often interrupt me (and others) in mid-sentence to say something totally unrelated to the topic -- or, perhaps, to ask about the same thing that you were explaining when she interrupted. One day I decided she needed to know how difficult it was to have a conversation with her, and so I told her what I had observed. The results have been marvelous! Not only has she begun to listen to what's going on around her, she has noticed that many people do not, and she is happy to have changed herself. Yippee!!  So I shall follow my own lead and tell myself that I'm often interrupting divine Mind with my busy brain. Let's hope I'm as good of a student as my sweet friend!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We must silence this lie of material sense with the truth of spiritual sense.”

Science & Health Page 318:12-13