The Choice

photo credit: Gerry Toler

ACIM Workbook Lesson #335

"I choose to see my brother's sinlessness."

Forgiveness is a choice. I remember years ago, during a metaphysical society meeting, someone saying, "Evil is a choice". She said this in relation to years of sexual abuse and psychological torture, perpetrated by the two people she should have trusted most as a child. She recognized that evil was a choice when she was presented with what seemed to be an overwhelming suggestion to do something similar to her infant child. In that moment, she realized she could choose, and she did. Now she chooses forgiveness in all aspects of her life. She has chosen to see her parents in the holy light of Love. She has chosen to live her life in peace, with a willingness to turn from past remembrances and see things in the reality of God's Love. She has chosen forgiveness for herself and everyone, knowing that we are One.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Let Truth uncover and destroy error in God’s own way, and let human justice pattern the divine.”

 Science & Health Page 542:17-21

An Epiphany in Thought

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook  Lesson #334 "Today I claim the gifts forgiveness gives."

Does the word "unforgivable" exist in your vocabulary? Do you think of certain acts as being too heinous to release from your blame? It could be that something you did, personally, in your past remains unforgivable in your own mind. There are a multitude of things we can hold against ourselves and others. An epiphany in thought can free you from the bonds of guilt and/or blame. The realization that God does not damn anyone frees us to do the same. Allowing ourselves to see the world as Spirit sees it -- because we are the evidence and experience of divine Love -- sets up a whole new paradigm from the religious dogma which has been passed down for millennia. We needn't be afraid to claim our place as a worthy and loved individual expression of divine Mind. We're learning to follow our heart rather than our brain -- and we are freed!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“…the spiritual recompense of the persecuted is assured in the elevation of existence above mortal discord and in the gift of divine Love.”

Science & Health Page 97:1-3

Ending the Dream of Conflict

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook  Lesson #333

“Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here.”

This topic reminds me of the feeling of conflict I felt surrounding the myth of Santa Claus. When my son was two and I was expecting my second child, I announced to a friend that I wasn't going to do the Santa charade. She told me that was a terrible thing to do to children and gave me many reasons why I shouldn't do away with their belief in this massive illusion. And so I gave in and perpetuated this suppositional conflict within myself. I think this is an apt example of all the illusion we willingly put on ourselves, don’t you? The spirit of Christmas is defined in many superficial ways, and it seems the most blatant of these is Santa Claus. It is used in the same way religion tends to present God. If you are good, if you don't cry, if you don't pout, then Santa/God will give you certain things. If you break these rules, you'd better watch out! In our inseparable Oneness with divine Love there can be no conflict. Now, there’s something to celebrate! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The suppositional warfare between truth and error is only the mental conflict between the evidence of the spiritual senses and the testimony of the material senses, and this warfare between the Spirit and flesh will settle all questions through faith in and the understanding of divine Love.” Science & Health Page 288:3-7

Bound or Free

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #332 “Fear binds the world. Forgiveness sets it free.”

I know many of my actions have been dictated by fear. Perhaps fear of being alone binds us to relationships which have served their purpose and need to be changed. This release could be thought of as a "failure" -- and that word brings up another fear most of us harbor. What if we don't think of the ending of a marriage or friendship as a failure, but as a natural progression to be embraced? The same may be said of a career or hobby. These cessations may simply be steps on a journey to somewhere you never dreamed you would go. If you've planned your life in every detail, it may seem as though you’re giving up when moving on to something else. That's why I love this way of thought I’m learning! There are no rules, other than listening for divine Mind to guide and lead me to wherever I need to be. This guidance doesn't always mean leaving something -- it could be staying with a job or relationship, regardless of what logic dictates. Listening and following is always an adventure!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Until the majesty of Truth should be demonstrated in divine Science, the spiritual idea was arraigned before the tribunal of so-called mortal mind, which was unloosed in order that the false claim of mind in matter might uncover its own crime of defying immortal Mind."  Science & Health Page 564:19-23

Asleep or Awake

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #331

“There is no conflict, for my will is Yours.”

"Conflict is sleep, and peace awakening.” I love this line from today's ACIM lesson. And so we begin a series of ten teachings geared to help us understand what the ego (which is spoken of so often in these writings) actually is. If the thoughts we are having cause us conflict, they are of the ego -- or mortal mind, as Mary Baker Eddy refers to it. If there is harmony and peace, then our thoughts are God's ideas. Actually, there is nothing other than divine Idea; everything else is illusion, which is why erroneous thought is considered unreal. The only reality is God, which means either God is All or God is not. Hearing statements like this is when that little ego kicks in and makes a fuss. How can that be, it says? What about me?? Don't be afraid to tell it to be still. It is, after all, unreal. The silence between the raucous thoughts holds the harmony of Being!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Will, as a quality of so-called mortal mind, is a wrong-doer; hence it should not be confounded with the term as applied to Mind or to one of God’s qualities.” Science & Health Page 497:24-26

Separation or Unity

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #330

“I will not hurt myself again today.”

I hurt myself by believing in separation more than unity. Feelings of aloneness are manifested in many ways in our daily life. Perhaps we think everyone is out to get us, or maybe we feel like no one knows what's best other than those in our particular tribe. There are any number of ways we assert our specialness and keep ourselves separate from God, hence from everyone, and sometimes this separation is manifest in ugly ways. Maybe something is said to another which we wish we could take back, or perhaps anger flares suddenly and we feel guilt over our feelings and shame about the outcome. There are a multitude of human actions we may regret, but the acceptance of our heritage as a child of divine Love allows us to forgive and choose again. For this, I am grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Error begins by reckoning life as separate from Spirit, thus sapping the foundations of immortality, as if life and immortality were something which matter can both give and take away.”

Science & Health Page 539:3-7

Limitless Mind

photo credit: Jim Young

ACIM Workbook Lesson #329 “I have already chosen what You will.”

The custom of celebrating birthdays has always seemed odd to me. I love the way the Aboriginal people think of this. They see no reason to celebrate being a year older, but rather announce to loved ones when they have grown in some way, and this is the reason for celebration. I have never wanted my children to make a big deal of mother's day or my birthday. I feel that we honor one another every day, and occasionally things happen which make us appreciate each other even more. Recently my son posted on Facebook that I am his hero. It doesn't get much better than that! The leaving behind of our personal sense of will and the acceptance of the divine Will leaves nothing but Thanksgiving every day. For this I am grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Infinite Mind cannot be limited to a finite form, or Mind would lose its infinite character as inexhaustible Love, eternal Life, omnipotent Truth.”

Science & Health Page 257:26-29