Consciously Interconnected

ACIM Workbook Lesson #342 "I let forgiveness rest upon all things, For thus forgiveness will be given me."

Our interconnectedness is shown to us everyday, in many ways. This statement in today's ACIM lesson is worth pondering: “The world goes with us on our way to God."  We believe we can hide our emotions and thoughts from others, simply by not saying anything. Where did we ever get that idea? I guess it's because we have spent so many years not utilizing our innate intuitive, telepathic talents. In an episode of the "Dog Whisperer", there was a dog fixated on attacking its own image in a mirror. This was not its only aggressive behavior, and the dog's person was afraid that it would attack someone or another animal when they were outside. How did Cesar Milan stop this dog's aberrant behavior? By calming its owner. This woman was constantly in a state of fear and worry, and the dog was mirroring her tense behavior. At first she had to pretend she was calm because she didn't know how to be that way! But as she watched the changes in her dog, she began to understand that her feelings and thoughts were being passed to not only her dog, but to everyone around her. And so it is that "the world goes with us on our way to God", whether we realize it or not!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When we fully understand our relation to the Divine, we can have no other Mind but His, — no other Love, wisdom, or Truth, no other sense of Life, and no consciousness of the existence of matter or error.” 

Science & Health Page 205:32-3

Making Room For Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #341 "I can attack but my own sinlessness, and it is only that which keeps me safe."

In these studies, we are learning to give up beliefs we hold about the meaning of everything. As we do this, we are able to see things as they are rather than as we have decided they are! I read an interesting idea put forth by Helen Wright in Your Divinity Revealed. She says that what most of us think of as "thinking" is no more than rearranging our prejudices. This has come to mind often while I've tried to remain opinion-less and open-minded in dialogues with those who have different political and moral ideas than those I’ve adopted as my own. This past month has been extremely challenging for me, and utilizing divinely metaphysical thought is more important than ever. Today’s lesson reminds me to remember my innocence, for therein lies my safety. This innocence will be reflected back to me as I express unity with divine Love, releasing judgment and fear to make room for it. Namastè.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love." Science & Health Page 494:15

Be Glad!!

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed 

"I can be free of suffering today." ACIM Workbook Lesson #340

"Be glad today! Be glad! There is no room for anything but joy and thanks today." This is sage advice from today's Course in Miracles workbook lesson. While doing laundry, I was visiting with a good friend who mentioned that he knew someone who really disliked doing laundry. He told me that she has all sorts of rules for the way it must be done and he opined that perhaps this was a cause for her dislike. When I saw the aforementioned words from today's lesson, I also thought about someone asking me what I did for fun and their surprised reaction when I told them everything I do is fun! Relating these events reminds me of Wayne Dyer's words: If you drop a pen and don't enjoy picking it up, drop it again!! Let us all remember as we go through the day, whether our tasks be mundane or one of those moments which feels like a gift -- be glad!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual." Science & Health Page 265:25-30

Contradictions

photo credit: Heather Peters

ACIM Workbook Lesson #339

"I will receive whatever I request."

I was reminded recently of a meeting in which a woman confided a situation of abuse from her childhood. Some of the people in the metaphysical meeting we were attending insisted that she had chosen this scenario, whether to rectify something from a past life or for some other reason. This woman became very upset to think that a little girl would be tortured and want such a thing. Today's workbook lesson reiterates that no one desires pain, but often we are confused about what we would want. Without going into the possibility of past lives, or reincarnation and retribution, I remind myself that all I want is One Thing. My only desire is to know God, and everything else will be attained without my delineation of what that is. I also remind myself not to judge others in any way, as we are all on an individual path. That's what it's all about, after all. We are the experience of God, and there are no outlines as to what that means!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Materialists contradict their own statements. Their belief in material laws and in penalties for their infraction is the ancient error…”

Science & Health Page 389:22-24

Angelic Exalted Thoughts

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #338

"I am affected only by my thoughts."

This evening I received a phone call from a relative I’d lost touch with following the passing of my dad almost 25 years ago. There were some very weird events and ugly words precipitating our split, and I can honestly say years have gone by without her crossing my mind. I was happy to hear from her, and when she mentioned some of the dissension between us, I was able to answer honestly that she had been very helpful in many ways and I was glad she had been here. After our call ended, I asked myself if I had meant what I said! And, yes, I did. Of course, upon examination, I could have said many other things which were not so complimentary, but I had felt no compulsion to do so and don’t feel as though they’re the defining element in our interactions. I’m grateful for these words in today’s lesson: “His thoughts can frighten him, but since these thoughts belong to him alone, he has the power to change them and exchange each fear thought for a happy thought of love.” I hope these beautiful words can influence my thoughts about our future president in the same way they have with my long-lost relative!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“My angels are exalted thoughts, appearing at the door of some sepulchre, in which human belief has buried its fondest earthly hopes. With white fingers they point upward to a new and glorified trust, to higher ideals of life and its joys.” Science & Health Page 299:1-11

Saving Grace of Unity

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #337

"My sinlessness protects me from all harm."

In the last five years of writing this daily blog, there have been multiple days when I've mentioned that every thought we have is important. In tandem with this, I've said how the last thing we think before sleep and the first thing upon waking are the most important of all. While I still wholeheartedly believe this to be true, I find it increasingly difficult to keep my mind from sinking to depths I haven't witnessed since my heavy drinking days of long ago. Today's ACIM workbook topic assures us that sinlessness protects from harm. Since we've defined sin as being anything which separates us from the Love which is God, I feel certain that my lifeline will come by way of accepting our unity with divine Mind and the infinity of Love. I'm going to ask for guidance by way of this ever-presence, listening open-heartedly and trustingly, knowing fear is truly false evidence appearing real.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.” Science & Health Page 261:4-7

Perception's End

photo credit: Kailey Jones

ACIM Workbook Lesson #336 "Forgiveness lets me know that minds are joined."

Many of us are heartbroken over the recent elections in the United States. This is not the type of sadness which comes from a favorite football team losing to a rival, but rather a disappointment, a fear, a feeling of doom which comes from the disintegration of all the advances we have seen gradually appearing during our lifetime. I am grateful to have the words of today’s lesson to help me through this time. “Forgiveness is the means appointed for perception's ending. Knowledge is restored after perception first is changed, and then gives way entirely to what remains forever past its highest reach. For sights and sounds, at best, can serve but to recall the memory that lies beyond them all. Forgiveness sweeps away distortions, and opens the hidden altar to the truth. Its lilies shine into the mind, and call it to return and look within, to find what it has vainly sought without. For here, and only here, is peace of mind restored, for this the dwelling place of God Himself.” ACIM Workbook Lesson #336

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "The nearer a false belief approaches truth without passing the boundary where, having been destroyed by divine Love, it ceases to be even an illusion, the riper it becomes for destruction. The more material the belief, the more obvious its error, until divine Spirit, supreme in its domain, dominates all matter, and man is found in the likeness of Spirit, his original being." Science & Health Page 97:14-20