Joyous Contagion!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #166

“I am entrusted with the gifts of God.”

Laughter is contagious, don’t you think? Most of us have “gotten the giggles” and been unable to stop laughing. There are numerous videos on the internet where people are sharing laughter in the most joyous of ways. I particularly like one which shows people’s reactions when someone tells them they are beautiful. The sheepish grins which emerge, the eyes which light up, are sure to bring a smile to my face and an expansion of my heart no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Joy, laughter, happiness — these are given freely to us as a part of our divine heritage. Today I will make the most of every opportunity I have to give these gifts, freely, joyously, with no reservations or restrictions!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Happiness is spiritual, born of truth and love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it." Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 57:18-21

Climbing the Heights

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #165

“Let not my mind deny the Thought of God.”

I love this line from today's workbook lesson: “Sureness is not required to receive what only your acceptance can bestow." How cool is that??! We don't have to be sure of anything, we don't have to know anything, all we need do is be open to the Thought of God. There is no requirement, other than a desire to expand our thought and a willingness to live Truth. When we actively set aside all supposititious material laws, another way of living opens to us. We experience divine Love as a palpable force, and it shows us a peace deeper than we ever imagined. A single glimpse of eternity is sufficient to show us what's been missing in our existence. Today I want to “climb the heights of holiness” and glory in its every manifestation!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Mind, joyous in strength, dwells in the realm of Mind. Mind's infinite ideas run and disport themselves. In humility they climb the heights of holiness.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 514:6-9

Many of One

photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #164

“Now are we one with Him Who is our Source."

“Conscious human individuality is not individual as one of many but infinite as many of One.” [Margaret Laird] The enormity of Oneness may seem more than we can fathom, but knowing we are an individual reflection of goodness, and united therein, seems much more manageable! Realizing our spiritual nature as the experience of divine Love opens a new world in which I am not a victim of mortal mind and its manifestations. I am unafraid to take a stand for harmony and peace, knowing that it is our birthright as reflections of Mind.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: 

"As mortals gain more correct views of God and man, multitudinous objects of creation, which before were invisible, will become visible.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 264:13-16

Timeless Being

ACIM Workbook Lesson #163  

"There is no death. The Son of God is free."

My first thought, upon reading today's topic was of the death we are said to we experience when we are born into this existence. Suddenly, our spiritual sense is deadened by the deluge of materialistic stimuli which constantly bombards us. In this forgetting of Truth, life becomes very uncertain. We are victims of inharmonious circumstances, until we recognize ourselves as expressions of divine Mind, then we see glimpses of eternity. We know there's something more to life, and we keep grasping for freedom from the belief that we are victims of circumstance. We have the choice of waking up! Today's lesson speaks to waking from this dream of erroneous thought, switching on the light of Truth, and beginning to understand that we may be thinking of everything backwards. We have hung a veil of illusion to hide Truth, and the sight we’re gaining allows the understanding of Life as timeless!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Death is but another phase of the dream that existence can be material. Nothing can interfere with the harmony of being nor end the existence of man in Science.”

 Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 427:13-16

Image and Likeness of Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #162

“I am as God created me."

In reading the lesson which goes with the topic above, I was stopped by this statement: “It will mean far more to you as you advance.” As I think back to being a small child and pondering the meaning of “I am as God created me”, I have vague recollections of the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve frolicking in this perfect environment. As years went by, I would often wonder how the world we live in could have been created so imperfectly by perfect Love. Today I’m catching glimpses of Truth, beginning to understand that God did not create an imperfect world, but we have. These ideas have been the basis for many pages in many books, so I won’t attempt to go deeper with this thought today. But I will leave you with an all-encompassing passage by Mary Baker Eddy:

"What is the scientific statement of Being? There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is [Its] image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 468:8-15

Blessings Unlimited!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #161

“Give me your blessing, holy Son of God.”

“Today we…take a stand against our anger, that our fears may disappear and offer room to love.” This is the first line of today’s workbook lesson. I like to think that I don’t get angry any longer, but I’ll be happily enjoying life in my rose-colored glasses and them wham! — someone like my gun-toting, martial arts practicing, politically and religiously ultra-conservative cousin will say something and I find myself falling into a long-ago surrendered mode of judgmental anger. It’s a never-ending exercise to keep thought in the Oneness which we all share in the unity of divine Mind. I am grateful for these workbook lessons which help me lasso rampant feelings and bring them into the corral of Love. Namastè, blessings, zegan, muchas bendiciones ! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established." Science & Health Page 467:16-20

Antidote to Rhetoric

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #160

“I am at home. Fear is the stranger here.”

“Fear is a stranger to the ways of love.” This beautiful statement is the first line in today’s workbook lesson. At the weekly Course in Miracles meeting, one of the attendees read a statement from a past lesson which had stuck with him: “Love cannot judge.” These two statements seem to fit perfectly as an antidote to the barrage of rhetoric which is being thrown at us daily during the seemingly-eternal political campaigns. As I steadfastly turn from judgment, rather seeing myself as the embodiment of divine Love, I cannot feel fear as it is impossible when living the ways of love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures  495:16-20