The Heartbeat of Peace

"First Snow, Utah"
photo credit, Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #267

“My heart is beating in the peace of God"

Living the "peace of God" may seem like a fantasy to those who abide by the laws of materiality. Some think that in order to live this way they would have to be delusional, or stick their heads in the sand, or deny reality in favor of wishful thinking. But many of us see this state of mind in another way! As we learn about the peace which is the Truth of being, we are able to live it in all of daily life, and thereby we see that our ”heart is beating in the peace of God". That state of mind does more for the world than all the preaching we may be tempted to do!

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 With Key to the Scriptures Page 264:24-27

The Epitome of Peace

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #266

“My holy Self abides in you, God's Son.”

Peace is a state of mind. We can feel the epitome of peace in the midst of turmoil, or we may be in an outer oasis of stillness but, due to our tumultuous state of mind, be anxious and upset. It helps me to know that we are all the reflection of Spirit. With this realization, I am able to see everything through the eye of divine Love. This is not to say that I'm always calm. Sometimes I forget I am the idea of God, and that everyone else is, too. At those times, who knows how I may be interpreting events! In a state of forgetfulness, I am at the mercy of material belief, being swayed by thought systems which were put in place long before my appearance in this world. But when I remember the spiritual Truth of creation, things appear differently to me -- and there is peace.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.”

Science & Health Page 506: 11-14

Gentleness is All I See

Dylan , Harry, Kapoochie

ACIM Workbook Lesson #265

"Creation's gentleness is all I see."

Creation's gentleness is all around us, but often it's not noticed because of the universal belief in harshness. More and more we're seeing animals showing us the way of gentleness in their interactions with each other. With our realizations of Oneness, we're starting to see that if violence is done to or by one, it's done to or by All. We're allowing our thought to change from fear and anger to Love and gentleness. Many people are holding with the old paradigm, and some say it's necessary for heinous acts to be committed, and also retaliation in kind. On the other hand, more people are realizing the error of this way, and know that it is possible for the lion to lay down with the lamb.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The fowls, which fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven, correspond to aspirations soaring beyond and above corporeality to the understanding of the incorporeal and divine Principle, Love.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 511:28-3

Surrounded by Love

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #264

“I am surrounded by the Love of God.”

I don’t usually listen to mainstream radio, but there was an occasion where I was bombarded by it for a couple of hours. This forced exposure graphically brought into focus how insane the content was! The songs were totally inane and yet mesmerizing, the commercials were mostly for drugs and disease, the news -- yikes!! It may seem that we are being brainwashed from every direction, including collective consciousness, but this is the illusion. This illusion is not the consciousness of Love which is God. Love permeates everything, leaving no room for anything else to intrude. Nothing but this Love truly has power.  "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach me." (MBE) "I am surrounded by the Love of God." (ACIM) When I am tempted to be mesmerized by material sense, I will remember what is True: I am surrounded by the Love that is God, which is my essence, my essential Being. So I needn't try to see or feel this Love, because it is what I Am!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares.”

Science & Health Page 574: 27-30

Pure Perceptions

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #263

“My holy vision sees all things as pure.”

I recently discovered that one of my best bridge partners holds radically different political views from mine. I vowed to keep my mouth closed on such issues, but then saw a post to social media in which she was bashing one of my favorite presidents. It took about a day to stop mentally hearing the remarks when I thought of her, accepting that I do not need to agree nor disagree, I do not need to correct anything other than my perception. If someone appears to be angry, I needn’t attempt to change that or to love that, but I do need to change my thought and remember that they are, in truth, only Love and Its reflection. “I do not need to love the appearance, I need to love the reality beyond the appearance.” (ACIM) There is a lovely innocence involved in seeing through the eyes of Spirit!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The divine Principle, or Spirit, comprehends and expresses all, and all must therefore be as perfect as the divine Principle is perfect.” Science & Health Page 492:2-8

Mutual in Divine Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #262 “Let me perceive no differences today.”

William Blake says it well: "I am in you and you in me, mutual in divine Love". I understand this to mean that the perfection we are learning to see as ourselves also is everyone else. I often tell people “We’re all in this together”, but I think I’ll change it to “We are all this – together!” I love the study of the Science of Being! Every day, every moment, revelations of thought bring me to a deeper understanding of how this Truth sets us free. I am learning more of what it means that God is Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. It's joyous to expand understanding to include myself in that definition, as a reflection of All that Is!

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 Page 469:30–5

What is Body?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #261 “God is my refuge and security." 

This lesson begins a series of topics addressing the question, “What is the Body?” Metaphysically, this is an intriguing question and many of my favorite authors have written articles which examine it. A favorite, of course, is from Mary Baker Eddy, written in 1886 — although it is found in no book, it is filed in the Library of Congress and may be read in its entirety at this site: http://www.christianscience.org/index.php/unpublished-items/103-body This is the first sentence of the treatise: “The term Mind and body literally means God and man, for man is the expression of Mind and the manifestation of Mind is the embodiment of Mind.” I’m looking forward to an informative few days of delving into this rich subject by way of the ACIM Workbook topics, examining how they come into play in our daily life!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Mortal body and mind are one, and that one is called man; but a mortal is not man, for man is immortal.” Science & Health Page 250:14-15