Oh, The Changes We've Seen!

Eureka Springs, Arkansas
unknown photographer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #145

Review of: #129 "Beyond this world there is a world I want." #130 "It is impossible to see two worlds." The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

The changes we have witnessed in our lifetime have been exciting and (to take a phrase from the ‘70s) mind blowing! Decades ago, when we were told about the Age of Aquarius and recently when 2012 was explained as a shift in consciousness, I'm not sure we thought there would be any real change in our lives. Those who are looking for purely material reasons to explain the huge changes in everything from politics to weather are feeling helpless and overwhelmed. Looked at from a different perspective, we see that changes are necessary in order to facilitate the realization of this new earth we are ready to embrace. As with any shift in thought, some are afraid and working to keep the old ways. But it is impossible to "see two worlds" and, once again, I choose Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“During this final conflict, wicked minds will endeavor to find means by which to accomplish more evil; but those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection.”

Science & Health Page 96:31-4

A World of Love

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #144 Review of:

#127 "There is no love but God's."

#128 "The world I see holds nothing that I want.”

And the main thought to hold to in this review:

“My mind holds only what I think with God.”

Thinking about love and perception brings to mind the story a friend once told about a relative who had been married seven times. This man seemed to feel he was a  failure at love for having been divorced so many times, so he was very much surprised when an uncle told him it was a wonderful thing! Why would you say that?, everyone wanted to know. The uncle said, How wonderful that seven women have loved you enough to marry you! This is an example of a slight shift in perception making a huge difference to everyone involved, don't you think? Seeing the world through the love of God shows us reality which looks nothing like what we've become accustomed to seeing. A world of judgment and fear is not one which holds an interest for me.  If "my mind holds only what I think with God", that world doesn't exist -- and I see a world of Love.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“God is individual, incorporeal. He is divine Principle, Love, the universal cause, the only creator, and there is no other self-existence.” 

Science & Health Page 331:18-20

Non-existent Dictators

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #143: Review of:

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

#126  "All that I give is given to myself."

And the main thought to hold to in these review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

Two things which, in reality, do not exist -- mortal mind, as termed by Mary Baker Eddy, and ego as it's called in A Course in Miracles -- want you to think you would no longer be you if you admit that you are unified in Oneness. What if free will does not exist unless you DO embrace this unity and give up what you think of as individuality? I'm beginning to see that I have no will of my own if I'm simply regurgitating well-rehearsed lines from the history of my life. I'm starting to glimpse the freedom which comes from throwing off the chains I have bound myself with throughout a lifetime of fears and learned behavior. The false beliefs which dictate our actions was illustrated by a story told me by a dear friend. He thought his stepmother had never liked him, then one day he found out she was almost deaf. With this realization, he saw that the actions he had interpreted as slights to him were actually moments of confusion on her part. He now sees their relationship in a totally different way, viewed from this new understanding. Today I will quietly listen for that still, small voice which frees me from long-held beliefs!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Man is tributary to God, Spirit, and to nothing else. God’s being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss.” 

Science & Health Page 480:2-4

Living Love

Creation of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook lesson #142: Review of: #123 "I thank my Father for His gifts to me." #124 "Let me remember I am one with God."

I rarely leave the beautiful, liberal-thinking village in which I live, but occasionally I must, and recently was one of those times. As I sat in a waiting room with dilated eyes, the other five or six patients began a conversation which quickly turned to politics and related subjects. At one point, it was revealed that everyone in the room had a gun and that most of them carried them on their person. As I already had my eyes closed, I didn't open them. I'll just say the conversation deteriorated to the point of my almost running from the room when my name was called to proceed down the hall! We are in the midst of a great shift in consciousness, which also means a good deal of holding on to the past and a fear of the future. My daily work toward recognizing and living Love is called into practice often in this time of political drama. Let's all be grateful that we are one with Love, while knowing that our only mind is divine. By doing so, the fear of change will banish as quickly as the fear of falling off the edge of the earth did centuries ago!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

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

Science & Health Page 477:20-22

Thinking With Divine Mind

photo credit: Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #141:

Today begins a review of the last 20 lessons. Our main theme is: “My mind holds only what I think with God"  Review of:

#121 “Forgiveness is the key to happiness”

#122 “Forgiveness offers everything I want.”

There is a delightful little book called, The Holy Man, by Susan Trott. It is comprised of numerous scenarios recounted through a group of people who are waiting in line to see The Holy Man. They feel all their questions will be answered, all their problems solved, if only they can meet and speak with him. The irony is that when they are finally admitted to his home, he simply leads them through the house and out the back door. The beauty of the book is that everyone sees what they need to see from their interactions with others while waiting in the long line. We, too, have these aha moments while going about our day-to-day activities. The realization that our true thoughts are those we think with divine Mind brings a newness to everyday life. By releasing our by-rote reactions, we are free to practice forgiveness with every blameless thought we have. With this clean slate, who knows what insights will be ours? Like those people waiting to speak to The Holy Man, whom they believed had all the answers, we will be finding insight in every moment, simply by allowing ourselves to accept that we are One!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited.”

Science & Health Page 469:4-5

Remembering Who We Really Are

photo credit: Heather Peters

ACIM Workbook Lesson #140:

“Only salvation can be said to cure.”

Almost everyone has something they wish could or would be cured. Perhaps it’s an addiction to cigarettes, or maybe you have a relationship which is painful and you wish for resolution. Of course, there are the myriad of physical maladies which we are bombarded with daily, many of which are manifest in us or those we love. The multitude of magic potions given us to deal with these conditions are proof that none of them are a healing cure, only a temporary stop-gap put into place while we falter towards salvation. And this salvation spoken of is “the day when separation ends and we remember Who we really are.” (ACIM) Today let’s remember that illusions are not true, and we needn’t feel guilty for denying their veracity!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Salvation: Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all.” Science & Health Page 593:20-21

United in the Oneness of Love

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #139:

"I will accept Atonement for myself."

Life is an unfoldment of consciousness. As today’s Course in Miracles workbook lesson tells us: “We have a mission here. We did not come to reinforce the madness that we once believed in. Let us not forget the goal that we accepted. It is more than just our happiness alone we came to gain. What we accept as what we are proclaims what everyone must be, along with us. Fail not your brothers, or you fail yourself. Look lovingly on them, that they may know that they are part of you, and you of them…Today accept Atonement, not to change reality, but merely to accept the truth about yourself, and go your way rejoicing in the endless Love of God.” As this day unfolds, with all its beauty and wonder, I shall allow myself to be the individual expression of divine Love, knowing what I see in others is what I see in myself and vice versa.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Atonement is the exemplification of man’s unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love."

Science & Health Page 18:1-3