Claiming Grace

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Lesson #168

“Your grace is given me. I claim it now.”

I know you all will have the grace to forgive my blunder of transposing topics. Lessons 168 and 169 speak to grace and what it means to claim it as ours, live it, and be freed by it. By practicing kindness when faced with hardness of heart, meekness when those around us are aggressive, loving those who seem unlovable, and paying it forward at every opportunity, we acknowledge the grace which is our true heritage. When I feel less than at ease with my actions, whatever they may be, I will take that as an indicator that I’ve let something other than the grace of Love rule my thought. I shall not be afraid to admit I was wrong and choose again!

“Grace and Truth are potent beyond all other means and methods.”

Science & Health Page 67:24

The Miracle of Grace

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #169

“By grace I live. By grace I am released.”

“Jesus had long hair!” As a young woman, I remember shouting this at an older relative who was complaining about the trend in hairstyles for men. I would enter into political arguments gleefully, even looking forward to opportunities to do such. Today I am grateful for the gift of grace which allows me to keep my mouth shut. While going about my business and running errands,  there were at least five statements made in my presence which would have set me off on a tirade of pontification in days gone by. I was not tempted to try to refute these statements, or join in with my own strong opinions. In claiming the grace of Love, it’s natural to witness these discussions, perhaps with sadness or amusement, without having the desire to participate. For this, I am thankful!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love.” 

Science & Health Page 494:15

The Thought of Life

photo credit: Gerald Wesson Dupy

ACIM Workbook Lesson #167

“There is one life, and that I share with God.”

I’m so grateful this is the topic for today’s lesson. A short while ago, I came home from a meeting of our local Course in Miracles group and found a message that one of my closest friends had suddenly died. There is so much in this lesson I would like to share, but right now I shall simply quote this bit: “The opposite of life can only be another form of life. As such, it can be reconciled with what created it, because it is not opposite in truth. Its form may change; it may appear to be what it is not. Yet mind is mind, awake or sleeping.”

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Question: What is Life?

Answer: Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit. Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of matter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited. Death and finiteness are unknown to Life. If Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending.”

Science & Health Pages 468:26-6

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