Loving Out Loud

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #349

"Today I let Christ's vision look upon all things for me and judge them not, but give each one a miracle of love instead."

It may seem impossible to look upon all things without judgment, seeing the miracle of love instead. When I think about doing this, my ego goes into overdrive and tells me that doing so would be condoning injustice; that instead I must point out wrongdoing and find ways to right it. To me, looking through the eyes of divine Love means that I’m willing to wear my heart on my sleeve and do whatever I’m called on to further the cause of unity. This doesn’t mean that I’ll just say, Oh, bless his heart, and continue on as though nothing is wrong. Seeing with divine vision isn’t a sugar-coating coping device; it’s a way to see through the bullshit to Truth. We hear a lot of discussion about how to recognize what truth is, or how to know what to believe and what to discredit and ignore. We’re discovering that by releasing what we think of as right and wrong allows divine Mind to be heard loud and clear, and we receive that reviving cup of cold water when we feel as though we’re wandering through the desert!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Millions of unprejudiced minds — simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert — are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ’s name, and never fear the consequences.” Science & Health Page 570:14-18 

On Tipping Points and Such

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #348 "I have no cause for anger or for fear, For You surround me. And in every need That I perceive, Your grace suffices me."

I have always felt as though there is a tipping point in mass consciousness, a point in which everyone sees their perfection and recognizes there is no difference in their own self and the self of that person over there. In this sight, there is a world bathed in peace and contentment. There are no conflicts because everything good and pure is done for the good of everyone, and nothing contrary exists because we do not have such thoughts in the face of beauty and Love. There is no world of separation because we are all One and happily recognize this Truth. In order for perfection to emerge, error must be washed away. A dear friend, who has never believed these things I espouse, called to ask me what’s happening to this tipping point of Love, as he feels we’ve tipped the other way. Once again, I reiterate: Every thought is important! I feel like we're getting close!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "We cannot build safely on false foundations. Truth makes a new creature, in whom old things pass away and ‘all things are become new’."  Science & Health Page 201: 7-9

Self Judgment

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #347

"Anger must come from judgment. Judgment is the weapon I would use against myself, to keep the miracle away from me."

I love to play bridge. I play a competitive form of this game which takes away the luck of the shuffle and deal, allowing people to compete on a purer level. Part of the fun of this game is watching how I, personally, react to mistakes in play. When I first became involved with this game around a year ago, I was very insecure concerning the play of the cards and would judge myself, often replaying situations while feeling inadequate. There is one couple in our group who regularly berate each other, loudly judging the others' bids and play. At first I found them disruptive, eventually seeing them as amusing. Today I thank them for showing me what I was doing to myself with my self-judgment. I could have easily walked away from this activity, giving any number of excuses for not enjoying something which I find to be fun and challenging. Living a life with no excuses allows us to examine situations for what they are, not for what we fear might be, opening us to the miracle that's looking for us!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Material man is made up of involuntary and voluntary error, of a negative right and a positive wrong, the latter calling itself right. Man's spiritual individuality is never wrong." Science & Health Page 491:7-10

Bathed in Beauty and Light

ACIM Workbook Lesson #346 "Today the peace of God envelops me, And I forget all things except His Love."

I am often chastised for not watching or listening to the news as it's presented through various media sources. I have taken the suggestions of others under consideration and decided I am informed sufficiently on current events, but not over-informed and saturated with people's opinions. A few individuals have insisted I need to know about this or that horrid event in order to "pray about it". Years ago, I discovered that I didn't need to know details in order to see everything in the light of Truth. I feel we all have different purposes in this world, different things we do well, and talents with which to facilitate good. In new age terms, I would perhaps be called a holder of light. We all are part of this light, and when we listen inwardly for what brings peace, we will know our function as an ambassador of Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light." Science & Health Page 516:12-13

Karmic Returns

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #345 "I offer only miracles today, For I would have them be returned to me."

"Do you think we live in a police state?” These were the opening words of a phone call I received. I generally steer clear of this type of conversation, but since my friend was upset, I stayed with him on the subject. While I don’t like to express strong opinions, the conversation was, for the most part, a call for both of us to return to Love. I see our current mortal, mental state as a reflection of the fear we harbor; a fear which is fed by almost everything in daily life. I talked to him of tipping points, and mass consciousness, and our true consciousness as an expression of Love. We could go on and on about the material conditions, causes, and solutions, but to get to the heart of it takes spiritual sense, which cannot be gleaned from intellectual exercises. And that's where I see the miracle: the revelation which shows us the omnipresence of divine Mind in every situation, no matter how dire physical sense tells us it is.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man.”

Science & Health Page 560:11-15

The Gift

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #344 "Today I learn the law of love; that what I give my brother is my gift to me."

Some brothers I feel a loving unity with; others seem to illicit fear and anger in me. I have so completely bought into the idea of separation, I think there is something I need to forgive in another. When giving this gift of forgiveness, I feel better for it. Sometimes I may think that someone’s behavior has changed, and I might even attribute it to my generous giving! Perhaps I only think it has changed because I’m seeing it differently. What a gift we have in the opportunity to see our innocence in another’s purity! We have been given a mega-mirror in which to view ourselves reflected in others, moment by moment -- and this may seem like a curse at times! Knowing that I am not like that guy in the mirror allows me to see through the illusion and view the face of Truth. We are all changeless and pure in our spiritual reality, and every time I see this in my brother, I take another step out of separation and one more closer to my true Being. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Truth has no consciousness of error. Love has no sense of hatred. Life has no partnership with death. Truth, Life, and Love are a law of annihilation to everything unlike themselves, because they declare nothing except God.” Science & Health Page 243:25-29

No Sacrifice in This Trade-off

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #343 "I am not asked to make a sacrifice To find the mercy and the peace of God."

I’m witnessing more and more people accepting the gift of peace in exchange for the turmoil and tormented lives they’ve experienced in the past. Perhaps I notice it because I’m accepting peace for myself! I have often fallen totally into sadness of various types, wallowing in the misery, then breaking through the murky belief of whatever it was, with no need of revisiting and retelling the pain. I have done much the same thing in regard to what I perceive to be recent backward steps in the climb to the new earth which is within sight. After spending days in fear and depression, it has been washed away with the realizations of what must be done. What a joy it is to give up personal agendas and preconceived notions of how things should be, welcoming Love without the expectations I so often have of others! I feel no sense of sacrifice in this trade-off!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “…divine Principle never repents, but maintains the claim of Truth by quenching error. The pardon of divine mercy is the destruction of error.” Science & Health Page 329:24-26