Paths of Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM  Workbook Lesson #173

Central Theme: “God is but love and therefore so am I.”

Review of:

#155 "I will step back and let Him lead the way."

#156 "I walk with God in perfect holiness."

Often we realize change is necessary in our lives, but various reasons keep us from moving forward. There may be factors of fear, stubbornness, or hedonistic desires involved in our reluctance. Over 20 years ago, I was prompted to make some major changes. I brought my children to Eureka Springs and started a new life. We changed everything from our furniture to our way of thinking and daily activities. The cleansing effect of this change brought happiness and peace where drama and turmoil had been before. Recognizing that "God is Love and so am I" helped me to begin walking on the path of "perfect holiness", for which I am most grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"… we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives."

Science & Health Page 247:25-29

Safely Living Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #172

Central Theme: “God is but love and therefore so am I”

Review of: #153 “In my defenselessness my safety lies.” #154 “I am among the ministers of God.”

People often talk about childhood experiences of playing freely in their yards, streets, and parks, with no fear of dangerous people or circumstances. It is thought by many that those days are gone, never to be revisited. I am reminded of an international news reporter who stated that in many war-torn countries life goes on peacefully outside of particular areas where violence is occurring. We all have the desire to be safe, to be happy, to be secure and loved. We cannot change others, but we can change ourselves. By replacing fear with the armor of Love, we can live without defense. By living Love, we are acting as the ministers of God, spreading truth with our actions. It all comes back to Love. "God is but Love, and therefore so am I". I will be led by this Love throughout this day. Namaste ---

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“People go into ecstasies over the sense of a corporeal Jehovah, though with scarcely a spark of love in their hearts; yet God is Love, and without Love, God, immortality cannot appear.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 453:14-15

Reflecting Love

unknown photographer

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #171

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I."

Review of: #151 "All things are echoes of the Voice for God." #152 "The power of decision is my own."

The central theme of our review is that God is Love and we are a reflection of that Love. We may wonder how these ideas fit into our daily life. Feeling the warm, fuzzy love which comes when holding a puppy or seeing a newborn baby with its mother — from that point, it's an easy leap to open my heart to omniscient Love. Today let's concentrate on the Love which is God and the infinite ways in which we reflect that. The understanding that all things are echoes of the Voice for God is a wonderfully comforting knowledge to relax into. There are no decisions to be made when listening to this Voice which leads us in paths of peace and harmony. There can be nothing inharmonious when surrendering my personal will, my so-called ego, to the perfection of divine Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can 'run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint,' who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement.”

Science & Health Page 254:1-5

No Cruelty in Love

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #170

“There is no cruelty in God and none in me.”

The belief in separation fosters fear, and fear and cruelty go hand in hand. We think we’re defending ourselves, our loved ones, values which are of importance to us, our way of life. To this defensive end, we are willing to attack others in our words and actions, not listening to the voice of sanity which divine Mind is forever supplying. This sentence from today’s workbook lesson explains many actions: “It is their enemies who are unreasonable and insane, while they are always merciful and just.” As I witness attack thoughts around me today, I will remember that those propounding such ideas believe they are justified in their defenses, and I will see them as a child of Love, knowing it is true, and praying they realize it, too.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.”

Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures, Page 497:24-28

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