Giving Place to Truth

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #355 "There is no end to all the peace and joy, And all the miracles that I will give, When I accept God's Word. Why not today?"

If our true selves are the creation — the image and likeness, if you will — of God, then why do we see so much which seems to be unGodlike? Because God did not create matter! This human body we seem to reside in, to be inseparable from, is not our true self. If divine Mind creates everything and it is good, that cannot encompass the dual good/bad stuff we see around us. Our vision for today is to accept our true being, the Truth which does not change. What doesn't change? Our reality as the image and likeness of Love. When we realize we’re not what we seem to be, it brings us into harmony with Principle. Declaring the Truth of our being helps to establish this Truth within our thought. This establishment leads to demonstration of Truth, which brings us back to where we began, and never leads us anywhere other than the home which is forever within -- wherever in eternity that may be!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"To divest thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear,--this is the great attainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true." 

Science & Health Page 423:8-12

We Stand Together

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #354 "We stand together, Christ and I, in peace And certainty of purpose. And in Him Is His Creator, as He is in me."

Once again we have witnessed a massacre of people. It seems unthinkable, unspeakable, impossible. We may find ourselves asking God how this can happen. I find solace in knowing that God has nothing to do with it. God does not create material circumstance and leave us to figure out what to do. The Oneness we all share is Spirit, not form. In Spirit, we all "stand together". Looking with God's eyes shows us the Truth of our being, and that Being is the same whether it's Hitler or Mother Teresa. With this in mind, I will look with true compassion, seeing the dear children and their families with the same eyes as I witness the perpetrators of this travesty, because we are all the same in the eye of divine Love. When these people come to thought, I send them feelings of peace, love, and care, while listening for ways to help. We have all seen how our thoughts affect those around us, demonstrating our unity. This "certainty of purpose" blesses all.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.”

Science & Health Page 506:18-21

True Idea Voicing Good

PC: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #353

"My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today Have but one purpose; to be given Christ To use to bless the world with miracles."

The use of the word "Christ" need not put off anyone who is not a follower of Jesus. Both Mary Baker Eddy and A Course in Miracles define The Christ in many ways. One of my favorites is this from Science & Health: "Christ is the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness." Every day is full of opportunities to bring Christ to a situation by listening to spiritual sense. When pondering today's topic, I couldn't help but think about a media-perpetrated debate about the color of Santa Claus' skin. If we bring Christ to this or any other situation, there is no need to take sides, as there are none. Skin color, gender, sexual orientation -- the multitude of dualities we choose to subscribe to, all meant to blind us to our unity -- none of them mean anything when brought to Christ, or spiritual sense. Let's hold to spiritual Truth when faced with erroneous mortal thought. It certainly makes life much simpler!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to silence material law and its order of generation, and brought forth her child by the revelation of Truth, demonstrating God as the Father of men.” Science & Health Page 29:27-29

No Judgment in Love

photo credit: Heather Peters

ACIM Workbook Lesson #352 "Judgment and love are opposites. From one Come all the sorrows of the world. But from The other comes the peace of God Himself."

I know that if I’m not peaceful, I must be choosing separation and exhibiting judgment. I’ve found this to be a good gauge in all areas of life. By noticing whether I feel agitated, perhaps nervous or angry, or if I’m calm and joyful, gives me the clues to recognizing if my thought is being ruled by emotions and beliefs or if I’m allowing a higher thought to be channeled through me. During the five years I spent attending a metaphysical gathering in our town, I had plenty of practice in recognizing these differences. You know how we often refer to people “pushing our buttons” — meaning that we get angry about most everything they say! — well, during these meetings, there were numerous people whom I felt caused these reactions in me. Through years of examining my thoughts and reactions, I’m beginning to understand the source of peace, and it’s the same place I find its opposite: within.  Changing my thought from judgment to Love becomes a reward in and of itself, as I find the pure peace which had always seemed so fleeting. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Teach them that their being is sustained by Spirit, not by matter, and that they find health, peace, and harmony in God, divine Love.” Science & Health Page 416:32-2

The Revolution Where You Live

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #351

"My sinless brother is my guide to peace. My sinful brother is my guide to pain. And which I choose to see I will behold."

I’ve always known that what I need will show up when I need it — or when I’m ready for it! Today I had a long visit with a close friend, after which she sent me an article from the editor of Yes! magazine. I had forgotten about this wonderful publication to which I subscribed over a decade ago, but it has reappeared at a perfect time. This quote grabbed ahold of me and shook hard a couple of times: “When you only see the dying era, things that are full of life appear either irrelevant or poignant. ... These are not anomalies—they are indicators of a much greater dynamic that is allowing us to become whole.” This dovetails perfectly with the series of ten Course in Miracles workbook lessons which delve into the question, “What Am I?” I look forward to an in-depth study of this topic, along with inspiration from Yes! — and also reading the book co-founder, Sarah Van Gelder will be releasing shortly, The Revolution Where You Live.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The death of a false material sense and of sin [separation], not the death of organic matter, is what reveals man and Life, harmonious, real, and eternal.” Science & Health Page 296:10-13

All or Nothing

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #350 "Miracles mirror God's eternal Love. To offer them is to remember Him, And through His memory to save the world."

I love this quote attributed to Albert Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Through various religious teachings, most of us think of a miracle as being divine power setting aside a material law, allowing something otherworldly or supernatural to occur. What if a miracle is simply a correction pf our limiting beliefs, opening us to divine Mind and the limitless Life which is our true heritage as a child of Love? By this remembrance, we heal our mind of separation, giving us a clarity of thought and sight before unknown. I am very grateful —

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The miracle introduces no disorder, but unfolds the primal order, establishing the Science of God’s unchangeable law. Spiritual evolution alone is worthy of the exercise of divine power.” Science & Health Page 135:6-10

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