Walking in the Light

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #358 "No call to God can be unheard nor left unanswered. And of this I can be sure; His answer is the one I really want." 

Today's lesson helps us understand that there is no need for audible prayer, constant pleadings, repetitious affirmations, or anything else which falls under the heading of talking to God. Everything is already known to this divine Principle, and we can't tell It anything — but we can listen! Through this listening we remember who we are and thereby become aware of our purpose. There is nothing other than the Love which is God, and when we yield to this fact, wonderful things happen! This yielding consists of refraining from worry and wondering about "what-ifs". In order to keep erroneous thought from taking over, we can hold to spiritual Truth — such as, God is Love, or I am the expression of Love. That is enough!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Truth and Love enlighten the understanding, in whose “light shall we see light;” and this illumination is reflected spiritually by all who walk in the light and turn away from a false material sense.” Science & Health Page 510:9-12 

Truth Confers Harmony

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #357

"Truth answers every call we make to God,

Responding first with miracles, and then

Returning unto us to be itself."

Most people I know are enjoying the beauty of the holidays, many even peacefully! But I've spoken with a few people today who are disenchanted with the commercialism and materiality associated with these times, and they're all too happy to tell others just how upset we should be, too! Although I don't want to be upset and, actually, refuse to be, I do want to spread peace and joy to those who can't or won't feel this harmony. I really wish I could spoon feed them and make them be as happy as can be! Unfortunately, there's no magic potion to cause this to happen. But there is a divine Principle which allows Truth to be heard and felt within ourselves, and shared through the miracle of forgiveness. The story of the Christmas miracle is the story of the daily miracle, the Truth, living within each of us, waiting for expression in the reality of Life!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Truth is affirmative, and confers harmony. All metaphysical logic is inspired by this simple rule of Truth, which governs all reality." 

Science & Health Page 418:20-22

The Sunlight of Truth

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #356 "Sickness is but another name for sin. Healing is but another name for God. The miracle is thus a call to Him."

When we read the above words, "Sickness is but another name for sin", the immediate response could be to think these words mean that we're sinners and are being punished for it by sickness. We are learning that sin is defined as anything which separates us from the Love which is God.  Most of us have been taught that sickness, evil, and many other aspects of this material existence are powers over which we have little to no control. Divine Principle, law, negates these mesmeric thoughts. As we wake up to this truth, multitudes of things we thought to be our master turn out to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. As we lift the veil and reveal reality, the quotations we read here today begin to be more than words. They are principles by which to live. I relish every step of this awakening!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Christian Science brings to the body the sunlight of Truth, which invigorates and purifies. The effect of this Science is to stir the human mind to a change of base, on which it may yield to the harmony of the divine Mind." 

Science & Health Page 162:4-5, 9-11

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