Am I Attacking Myself?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #216

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #196 “It can be but myself I crucify.”

Years ago, I jokingly told someone that my neighbor was so upset with me that I thought he might tie himself to a cross in my front yard and set it on fire. In today’s review we are told that, “…you will realize that to attack another is but to attack yourself. You will be free of the insane belief that to attack a brother saves yourself. And you will understand his safety is your own, and in his healing you are healed.” Thinking about these past events, I wonder if I am attacking us by not forgiving. And how do I know I haven’t forgiven these things? Because I remember them.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “When we realize that there is one Mind, the divine law of loving our neighbor as ourselves is unfolded; whereas a belief in many ruling minds hinders man’s normal drift towards the one Mind, one God, and leads human thought into opposite channel where selfishness reigns.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures  Page 205:22-27

Putting One Foot in Front of the Other

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #215

Central theme: "I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me." Review: #195 "Love is the way I walk in gratitude."

A year ago, I was re-learning to walk. Having spent six months in a wheelchair after an amputation, I was eagerly putting one foot in front of the other with the aid of a prosthetic device. It was odd because, in that short time, I had forgotten some of the finer points of walking. I would watch other people to see what I was or wasn’t doing right, as it didn’t feel natural. this unnaturalness can also be observed in people who know something is missing in their lives, but aren’t sure what it is. When we meet someone who shines forth with goodness, has a spark in their eyes, a feel-good energy emanating from their being, we naturally want to emulate that person. As I walk through this day, I shall do so in gratitude, thankful to recognize that “certain something” and follow it!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“As the crude footprints of the past disappear from the dissolving paths of the present, we shall better understand the Science which governs these changes, and shall plant our feet on firmer ground.”

Science & Health Page 224:4-7

Emptying Vessels

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #214

Central theme: "I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me." Review: #194 "I place the future in the Hands of God."

I’ve had a shift in thought toward my parents. They were beautiful, kind, generous people; this I've always acknowledged and appreciated. But those memories seemed to be dimmed by the stronger remembrances of their latter days. I had feelings of anger and betrayal, and guilt concerning my part in it all. I've realized that many things they did came from their love, although their actions were influenced by strong opinions about the way things should be. My regrets come from actions based in selfishness and fear. In acknowledging these memories (which may not be at all the way they actually occurred, as that’s how our ego remembers!) I feel as though they are falling out of me and I’m sweeping them away into the ethers. With every release of well-rehearsed past events, or the quiet recognition of rarely-remembered guilt and pain, peace becomes reality for me. It doesn't matter if anyone was right or wrong, it doesn't make any difference what motives were involved, part of me has been emptied to be filled with the only reality: Love.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We cannot fill vessels already full. They must first be emptied. Let us disrobe error. Then, when the winds of God blow, we shall not hug our tatters close about us.”

Science & Health Page 201:13-15

Forgive and See Differently

ACIM Workbook Lesson #213

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #193 “All things are lessons God would have me learn.”

Today's review reiterates, "Forgive, and you will see this differently." Most everything which comes to mind, I would like to see differently. And so I shall forgive. Letting go of belief, misunderstanding, learned behavior, guilt, blame, the past, the future -- what's left to see? Now, with no expectations or interpretations!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual sense, contradicting the material senses, involves intuition, hope, faith, understanding, fruition, reality.”

Science & Health Page 298:13-15

Fulfilled Function

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #212

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #192 “I have a function God would have me fill.”

In our early years we are often asked the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" We are encouraged to choose a profession as our function in life. Many of us were never comfortable with that, and didn't manage to do it. For instance, I graduated from high school a year early because I wanted to get out into the world. I went to college because that's what everyone was supposed to do. I majored in music because everyone expected me to. I changed my major numerous times, never finding anything I could imagine doing all my life. What if, rather than choosing what we "want to be", we are instead taught to love ourselves and the world around us, with no preconceived notion of what we plan to do with our lives? What if, by living and expressing Love, we find ourselves drawn to our true purpose, the "function God would have us fill"? Just imagine how happy everyone would be! When the expression of Love is our purpose, our function becomes obvious. And it's never too late to see it!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as [It] opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.”

Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 506:18-21

Healing Effect of Humility

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #211

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #191 “I am the holy Son of God Himself.”

Humility is the word which jumps out at me from the lesson review today. Combine that with the central theme for this review and we see that it is the ultimate humility to accept our true identify as a reflection of God. It seems all the disagreements between people stem from not realizing this Truth of our being. Placing our idea of self in a certain nationality, or gender, or religion, is to set up an us-against-them mentality with which we've been shooting ourselves in the foot for far too long. We all have a song to sing and these melodies are all part of the grand symphony of Life. To rejoice in being One with everyone, to live from Love rather than fear and its imaginings, is to humbly accept the inherent goodness within. I will turn away from the illusion of material problems as I wholeheartedly accept my function as a reflection of Love, seeing that image mirrored in everyone I meet!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfills the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself;' annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed."

Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 340:23-29

Choose Joy

Photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.”

Review: #190 “I choose the joy of God instead of pain.”

Today I had a conversation with a long-time friend. She is feeling extreme emotional pain. I love her dearly and want to hold her close and hug the pain away. But that is impossible. I would love it if I could take today’s workbook lesson and inject her with a heavy dose of its wisdom, but that is impossible. I can’t choose for her, I can’t change her mind, I can’t do anything but speak Truth to error. I can’t force her to listen, but I can love her. I love her enough that I don’t want to hurt her with telling her what I see to be her “problem”, and so I will choose joy rather than pain when I think of my dear friend. We can all see the best of ourselves, along with our loved ones, and the world.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“As vapor melts before the sun, so evil would vanish before the reality of good. One must hide the other. How important, then, to choose good as the reality!”

Science & Health Page 480:31-2