Be Love

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #209

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #189 “I feel the Love of God within me now.”

To feel Love from a source outside ourselves is impossible. To express a material sense of love is an illusion. But to BE the Love which is God, that is Truth. God is Love, and we are Its manifestation. Hence, we are Love. The recognition that we are Love is liberation in and of itself. Mary Baker Eddy tells us, "Love looseth me and lifteth me a'yont hate's thrall". Can you guess she was a fan of Shakespeare? Old-fashioned language aside, she's saying that Love sets us free, lifting us above and beyond any hate we may perceive. I’ve mostly given up trying to change anyone, and usually I can resist the urge to want to fix others, but I've come to see that it's my purpose to show them the way to freedom is through living Truth. By actions and words we bring ourselves, and thereby everyone, to the realization that Love is the only reality. To live Love allows a release from past habitual thought and the pain we've chosen. Then there is no need for blame, guilt, nor forgiveness — and we are free!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science.” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 469:30-5

Making Peace With Myself

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #208

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #188 “The peace of God is shining in me now."

Recent interactions with my neighbor have caused me to think about a tale told by Eckhart Tolle in A New Earth. He tells of two monks walking down the road. They see a young woman, dressed in white, trying to cross the road which is a sea of mud. One of the monks picks her up and carries her to the other side and they go on their way. A few hours later, the other monks says, You shouldn’t have carried that woman across the road; we don’t do that. The carrier responds: I put her down hours ago, but it looks like you’re still carrying her! Numerous things my neighbor has said over the years have been yokes around my neck, which I carry constantly and look at repeatedly at the slightest provocation. Every time I try to make peace with him, he says something else which sends me back into the old thought patterns. And so I shall stop trying to make peace with him and, rather, make it with myself. Namastè ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The metaphysician, making Mind his basis of operation irrespective of matter and regarding the truth and harmony of being as superior to error and discord, has rendered himself strong…” Science & Health Page 423:18-21

Calm Assurance

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #207

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #187 “I bless the world because I bless myself.”

My oldest son called yesterday saying that he and his significant other were going on a five-day trek on the John Muir Trail. He has always been a world traveler and I love seeing the world vicariously through him — and Rick Steves, of course! As he embarks on this adventure, I look back on other times he’s gone to places such as Mongolia and South Africa. I told a friend recently I had never worried about my children, and I don’t think I’m exaggerating the calm assurance I’ve always felt in connection with them. Loving blessings to all!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Divine Love blesses its own ideas, and causes them to multiply, — to manifest [Its] power.” Science & Health Page 501:13-18

Young @ Heart

ACIM Workbook Lesson #206

Central theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #186 “Salvation of the world depends on me.”

Today's lesson, in part, tells me that I have the gifts of God and I must give them where they are intended to be given. This is why it's essential that I allow myself to receive: I cannot give what I do not have. This giving may take many forms. A documentary comes to mind about a group of people whose average age is 80. These delightful people sing in live performances all over the world. Their songs are surprising and joyous, bringing happiness to all who hear them. This ever-changing group of joyful givers call themselves "Young @ Heart", and the film bears the same name. These people inspire me to give of what I have been given, to be willing to share the salvation which is mine -- and yours! Whenever I forget my true Self, the memory of these resplendent people will remind me that we're all here for each other, and that with giving we receive, and with receiving we give.

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

“Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures  Page 454:21-23

Peace in Every Situation

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #205

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #185 "I want the peace of God.”

I met a woman who had lived in our mountain town for about a year. She wasn't happy here in any way. She told me how she couldn't stand the weather, her job, her apartment, the lack of public transportation, our farmers' market. For most of her diatribe, I calmly listened to her and agreed that she should probably go back to Houston where she was happier. But when she started to put down our local farmers' market, I verbally retaliated in a fashion more vehement than expected! Looking back on the situation, I realize the "peace of God" which we are contemplating today has nothing to do with degrees. Divine Love doesn't stay calm and then get upset if someone says something derogatory about a cause close to Its heart. Today my focus will be on experiencing peace in every situation, not just the ones I have no emotional connection towards! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace."

Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 506:11-12

Inherent Idea of Mind

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #204

Central theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #184 “The Name of God is my inheritance.”

We, as humans, make up thousands of designations in order to separate ourselves. We may be proud of our heritage, putting plaques on our walls telling that our ancestors came over on the Mayflower. We teach our children “where they came from" and tell them reasons they should be proud of this. We proclaim what state we hail from, what school we attended, which football teams we cheer for — the list goes on and on. Today’s lesson says, “Learning that stops with what the world would teach stops short of meaning.” I want to see past tribes and nations. I don’t want to think of myself as a Razorback or a woman. I don’t want to think of myself at all, but would rather rest in the knowledge that I am an Idea of God, individually expressing that in whatever way is my function! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The eternal Truth destroys what mortals seem to have learned from error, and man's real existence as a child of God comes to light.”

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 288:31–1

Be Still and Go ...

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #202 

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #182 “I will be still an instant and go home.”

Many of us are resistant to change. We like the security of things staying the same and often rebel against changes even though we innately sense they would be wonderful. And the changes which aren't always so pleasant -- the loss of a loved one, being fired from a job, losing a home to fire or other devastating circumstance -- those things are feared and dreaded and worried about. I'm sure you know people who have faced such seeming loss and appear to be serene and happy, accepting whatever may come. They know what it means to”be still and go home". Once we realize that home is within, that nothing can change in our true home where divine Love is always constant, then we can rest assured that all is well, no matter what the circumstance may be in form. For this I am very grateful!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Erase the figures which express number, silence the tones of music, give to the worms the body called man, and yet the producing, governing, divine Principle lives on,--in the case of man as truly as in the case of numbers and of music,--despite the so-called laws of matter, which define man as mortal." Science & Health Page 81:19-24