Natural Harmony

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #5

“I am never upset for the reason I think.”

We often think in terms of something upsetting us, and then we usually build up reasons why we are justified in this reaction. Today we are asked to forget about any reason for feeling hurt, or angry, or irritated. This topic reminds me of a movie,  "Where Do We Go Now?”, which is set in a small village in Lebanon. It starts out with a group of women, Christian and Muslim, making their weekly visit to the side-by-side cemeteries where their husbands and sons are buried. This movie is a combination of musical comedy and tragedy. I won't give away the ending as you may want to enjoy this fine film, but I will say that these women find a unique way of stopping their men from fighting over religious beliefs. When I think back on their disagreements (about what I deem to be nothing), I wonder if they are truly upset over what they think they're upset about! It seems that sometimes we're distraught because things are changing, new ideas may be causing us to see everything in a different light, and perhaps we're afraid of the necessary shifts which are staring us in the face. I pray to not fear change, nor to wonder what others think of me for leaving behind anything which binds me to anger in any form. The harmony for which we long is waiting for us!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Harmony in man is as beautiful as in music, and discord is unnatural, unreal."

Science & Health Page 304:20-21

Divesting Thought of False Trusts

created by Sandy Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #4

“These thoughts do not mean anything. They are like the things I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].” 

The fun exercises of the early lessons in the Course in Miracles Workbook are baby steps at the beginning of our journey. Through them, we are learning to examine our thoughts and see that they are meaningless, thereby freeing us to release them and let our mind be healed through this new way of viewing the world. We are examining what we think is important and then asking ourselves what exactly that means, and any thought that is not an extension of Love is meaningless. Our identity is defined by our ego thoughts about ourself and the world. Even if these thoughts hurt us, we tend to cherish them, to the point of reliving them over and over. To "let go and let God" requires a willingness to see everything around us simply as it is, with no long-held beliefs being expressed toward anything, having a willingness to listen inwardly for Truth. I look forward to an epiphany of universal understanding, in which we will cease from meaningless thoughts and yield to omnipotent Mind. The ability to see reality as spiritual, not material, is visible to all who choose to awaken to this knowledge. What an exciting thought!

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 428:8-12 

Innate Knowledge Within

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #3

“I do not understand anything I see in this room

[on this street, from this window, in this place].”

The workbook lessons we’re studying are designed to develop spiritual sense. It's difficult, if not impossible, to recognize Spirit if we think we know and understand everything through our material senses. Exacerbating this difficulty is our reluctance to admit that we don’t understand anything — much less everything! We are taught from childhood that it's good to know and understand things, and to be able to figure out what we don't know or understand. Today's lesson, which asks us to admit we don't know anything, might be thought of as a dumbing-down process, but this is not the case.  We're simply learning to look within for an innate knowledge which resides there.  While the knowledge we've amassed can serve us well in this world, let's not allow it to preclude a deeper knowing which is only audible when the material senses are stilled.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God's ideas reflect the immortal, unerring, and infinite. The mortal, erring, and finite are human beliefs, which apportion to themselves a task impossible for them, that of distinguishing between the false and the true. Understanding is a quality of God ..." 

Science & Health Page 505:26-5

How Do I See

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #2 

“I have given everything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] all the meaning that it has for me.”

Isn't it wonderful that we have the ability to interpret events in any way we choose? Many people think of a rainy day as bad weather; others see it as the beauty of water returning to the earth to perform its function; some see it simply as a peaceful calm with its grey-dumpling clouds! Christmas is seen by many as a stressful time when they spend too much money and end up doing things they would rather not. Others enjoy the beauty of lights and decorations while relaxing with family and rejoicing in the meaning of Christmas. I give these examples simply to illustrate how we place different meanings on situations and our perceptions of objects. That is why we’re being asked to examine the meaning we have placed on everything, in preparation for releasing these beliefs, allowing our purified minds to glimpse reality and hunger to see more!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The only fact concerning any material concept is, that it is neither scientific nor eternal, but subject to change and dissolution." Science & Health Page 297:16-19

A New Earth

ACIM Workbook Lesson #1

“Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] means anything.”

A new year brings excitement as we dream of how everything can change and be made new. I listen to and read the writings of Eckhart Tolle regularly, and A New Earth is one I frequently revisit. The idea that we are transcending the thoughts which bind us, evolving to another level of consciousness, is very exciting! The possibility of stepping out of habitual thought and living in the present moment can be frightening to those of us who are accustomed to living for the future. Perhaps with the busy-ness of our thinking we have lost connection with our sense of being, the intelligence which is more than thoughts in our head. It is time to move into another stage of evolution, allowing consciousness to release our addiction to circular thinking. For humanity to go on we must transcend the mind, going beyond the compulsion to think, realizing a deeper level of being. This evolutionary transformation of consciousness is no longer a luxury, but a necessity if we are to survive. Giving up beliefs and interpretations which we have assigned to everything clears the way for the thought-expanding ideas which will lead us to exactly where we need to be, doing what needs to be done. What an exciting time to be alive! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The enslavement of man is not legitimate. It will cease when man enters into his heritage of freedom, his God-given dominion over the material senses."

Science & Health Page 228:11-13

Scattering Joy!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #365 "This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You,  Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

The last day of the year! When people make decisions on how they will change their lives, it’s always an exciting time, full of hope and expectations. We love to dream of how we will become “better”, and often are disappointed in ourselves when this doesn’t happen the way we have dictated. I think one of the problems with these resolutions is that we want to take away things from ourselves, but have nothing to fill the space left behind. So I’ve decided not to attempt to delete anything from my existence, but to add heaping helpings of Truth instead! I vow to be aware of every morsel of media I put into my mind, knowing we are what we think. Although I strive to stay away from judgmental thoughts and actions, the freed space in my mind will be listening for ways to productively cleanse our environment, fill needs I witness around me, and scatter joy freely! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The image of Spirit cannot be effaced, since it is the idea of Truth and changes not, but becomes more beautifully apparent at error’s demise.” Science & Health Page 542:5-7             

______

Restored to Sanity

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #364

"This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You, Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

"We are restored to sanity, in which we understand that anger is insane, attack is mad, and vengeance merely foolish fantasy." [ACIM] As the end of this year draws near, many of us reflect on events and plan ways to improve ourselves in the year to come. In the past few weeks, I have allowed myself to slip into thoughts of fear and the negativity which it breeds. What a comfort it is to know that we are all here to walk hand in hand to the light! When we stumble on the way, there are others who will lift us up. This Oneness we speak of so often doesn’t exclude anyone. It matters not if we know this fact or not, because the unity of Mind provides a constant stream of divine ideas, just waiting for us to imbibe. I am extremely grateful to know that we’re all together on this path, sometimes faltering, sometimes running, but ever moving toward understanding! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought. What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model? Are you reproducing it? Then you are haunted in your work by vicious sculptors and hideous forms...To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives.” Science & Health Page 248:12