Reflected Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #234

“Father, today I am Your Son again.”

Love, today I Am your reflection! This topic addresses seeing ourselves as we are. My memories are turned to a dear little old lady who lived up the street. Margaret had been alone for more than a decade and she had taken all the mirrors out of her house. When some other neighbors and I began to help her with housekeeping chores and other things, someone put a mirror on the wall in her bathroom. When she first saw it, she got very upset and began trying to pull it off the wall and, when that didn’t work, she tried to break it. She had not seen herself in so many years that she couldn’t face what she saw. Many of us feel the same way about viewing ourselves in the light of Spirit. We have become so accustomed to thinking of ourselves as less than, as separate from, the beauty of Love, that it may not be easy to accept our spiritual Self. We may have a tough time releasing our beliefs and allowing ourselves to Be. Please, let’s be gentle with ourselves and savor the glimpses we see upon the release of what we think we are! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 569:3-4

A Full Life

"14,000 Feet Up"
photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #233 “I give my life to God to guide today."

Live life to the fullest! What exactly does that mean? I remember watching a cooking show where the host, a well-known hedonist, was in Greece. As he is drinking too much and over-eating, he declares that he’s living life to the fullest. His words caused me to think about what a full life is, and upon seeing this topic requesting us to allow divine Mind, God, to guide me today — well, you can imagine how I laughed when I thought of the idea of gluttony being an indication of a full life! I ask myself: Do I value things I have or things I do, or is valuable substance made up of ideas and the purity of my actions when they are led by divine Love? Giving myself to the Unity of All that Is does not limit my actions nor enjoyment of the moment. I feel it intensifies the joy and excitement of living! Being led by Spirit allows me to stop worrying about what my next step will be and relax into a surety that I’ll be in the right place at the right time. What an adventure life is!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The power of the human will should be exercised only in subordination to Truth; else it will misguide the judgment and free the lower propensities. It is the province of spiritual sense to govern man.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures, Page 206:2-7

A Freeing Concept

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #232

“Be in my mind, my Father, through the day."

Someone once told me hopes hold us captive, and that if we don't accept the "reality" of what we see around us, we are lost in dreams of what could be, giving up any chance of changing what is. I’m coming to see that the opposite is true. The material picture of good and evil warring with each other is what we have decided is truth, hence we hope and strive for good to win. With the burgeoning knowledge that divine Mind is the reality and mortal mind is the illusion, we are freed to do more than hope. The divinely-endowed, spiritually-scientific consciousness within us is opened, and like a fountain the ideas we need flow forth. This consciousness is realized when we see that God is our Mind, not just in our mind. Our reality is the divine Mind which we reflect. What a freeing concept!

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 channels where selfishness reigns.”

Science & Health Page 227:22-25

What Else, Indeed!

photo credit: Randal Thompson

ACIM Workbook Lesson #231

“Father, I will but to remember You.

Today we begin a series of lessons which fall under the overview, “What is Salvation?”. One phrase which hit me where I live is: "Salvation is undoing in the sense that it does nothing, failing to support the world of dreams and malice.” I pause to contemplate why it is such a difficult task to release the past. We apparently love to support illusions rather than allowing them to disappear into the ethers. Tonight I ask myself: Do I really believe the story I’ve made up for myself? Why do I believe it to be true, rather than an illusive belief I’m holding on to? Must it always come back to cause pain and fear and sorrow, or can I really, truly allow eternity to reign supreme over limited storytelling? We are asked in the last sentence of Lesson 21: “What else could I desire but the truth about myself?” What else, indeed!! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Man should renew his energies and endeavors, and see the folly of hypocrisy, while also learning the necessity of working out his own salvation.” Page 426:13-15 Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures

Peace Grows!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #230

“Now will I seek and find the peace of God."

I read about an interesting experiment. Two people were placed face to face. One was instructed to smile as happily as possible, and the other was asked to retain a neutral look. In most of the cases, the person who was supposed to stay neutral couldn't keep from smiling, too. Happiness, joy, and peace are all spiritual attributes which shine forth through us as the experience of divine Love. They are infectious, don't you think? Let's broadcast this seed far and wide today and watch it grow!

 Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.”

Science & Health Page 264:24-27

No Separation in Love - August 17, 2016

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #229

“Love, which created me, is what I am."

Many of us have a hard time seeing ourselves as Love. We may feel there are events in our lives so unlovely that we couldn't possibly be the reflection of divine perfection. Many great sages have taught us how to save ourselves from the horror of past events. Thich Nhat Hanh and Mahatma Gandhi teach us ways to rise above our feelings of guilt. No matter how this advice is worded, it comes down to one basic concept: extend Love to others, to everything and everyone. This is our atonement, to see the Oneness of all that Is and realize that nothing can ever occur which will separate us from divine Love. By giving it to the world, we give it to ourselves and feel major changes within. We can forgive ourselves even as we are forgiven, because we were never condemned.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. 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. Patience must 'have her perfect work.'" 

Science & Health Page 454:18-24

Pointing Fingers

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #228

“God has condemned me not. No more do I."

If I condemn another, I condemn myself — and it happens so easily! When condemning others, I always feel like I've "fallen off the wagon".  I remember a time when I found myself in a conversation wherein I was condemning the motorcycle riders who visit our town, and the woman I was chatting with was blaming another segment of our society for other things. Was my face red when I realized what I was doing! Pointing a finger at someone else always leaves three pointing back at myself. Rather than engaging in this type of verbal judgment, I will practice loving actively. Or perhaps it's gratitude which triggers a return to Love. Whatever the case, I will hasten to drop the inflammatory words and thoughts I sometimes experience. But if and when they happen, I will choose again!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Man is the idea of Spirit; he reflects the beatific presence, illuming the universe with light. Man is deathless, spiritual. He is above sin or frailty. He does not cross the barriers of time into the vast forever of Life, but he coexists with God and the universe.” Science & Health Page 266:27-32