Holiness Now

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #36

"My holiness envelops everything I see."

In the 1970s, I spent a good deal of time in a bar called The Swingin' Door. I fell in love with Texas music and more than one musician. It was an interesting time in popular music history, with the Beatles still stirring our souls and disco bringing a canned cadence to music most of the people in my circles shunned. We were all sure we knew the secret to happiness, and holiness had absolutely nothing to do with it. As years passed in a blur, we found the alcohol and drugs no longer brought satisfaction. It took years for me to realize that holiness was found within and reflected outwardly in everything. What a long and interesting road it's been to this point. The gratitude I feel for Life is overwhelming!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Being is holiness, harmony, immortality. It is already proved that a knowledge of this, even in small degree, will uplift the physical and moral standard of mortals, will increase longevity, will purify and elevate character."

Science & Health Page 492:7-11

Unity of Principle

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook lesson #35

"My mind is part of God’s. I am very holy."

A good friend has struggled with depression all her life. She feels her existence has been a series of horrible events, occasionally interrupted by happy times which inevitably end in pain. In an attempt to escape this existence, she has turned to alcohol, drugs, and God. But the judgmental God she sees makes deals with her, and never deems her worthy of favor. Repetition of the past seems to be in her thought constantly, affecting her every action. By accepting today's lesson, which tells us that we are actually holy as a reflection of God, feelings of hopelessness and sadness can disappear in an instant. Through the release of  personal history, we are free to learn the reality of our spiritual Self, which is unending, uninterrupted good. It's a beautiful thing to see someone realize divine Mind as a palpable presence! To misquote a well-known Bible verse: Let this Mind be you, which was also Christ Jesus. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science.” Science & Health Page 469:30-5

Adamant Peace

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #34:

"I could see peace instead of this."

Peace is inherent in every seemingly volatile situation. Tell this to someone who has been involved in a violent attack and they will scoff at you — at the very least. It’s my understanding that one in every three calls to the police in our area involves domestic abuse. I can only assume this is a woman calling concerning a man's actions, although that isn't always the scenario. I know I can’t change anyone other than within my own thought. By this peaceful resolution within myself, I may be guided to take particular actions in my world, or I may be led to quietly know the Truth about us all and, by that knowing, facilitate peace. I wish I could quiet everyone's mind so they wouldn't need to lash out at others. Hum -- maybe I can, right here within me! Do I really understand Oneness? I certainly do want to.  

  

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

Seeing in a New Light

Painting by Carol Dickie

ACiM  Workbook Lesson #33: "There is another way of looking at the world."

  

Everywhere we look, huge changes are occurring. Let us not be afraid to look at traditional values in a new light! New ways of looking at old words, such as The Lord's Prayer, give us new insights and understanding. In the late 1800s, Mary Baker Eddy gave us a spiritual interpretation of this well-known prayer. Here is a beautiful modern-day interpretation by Peter Russell, which I feel is helpful in facilitating our shifting perception.

Peter Russell's Contemporary Lord's Prayer

Our essential Being, that dwells within,

'I am' is thy name.

May thy true nature be revealed.

May thy knowing inform our daily lives,

As it does our inner Being.

Nourish us today with thy Presence.

Release us from any judgment we have held against ourselves,

As we release others from judgments we've held against them.

Let us not be tempted to seek solace in worldly things.

Liberate us from that which veils the truth.

For it is in our Being that we find your Presence,

The Source of all good, the home of all joy,

Eternally, and without change.

So be it.

http://www.peterrussell.com

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Our Father-Mother God, all harmonious, Adorable One. They kingdom is come; thou art ever present. Enable us to know, -- as in heaven, so on earth, -- God is omnipotent, supreme. Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections. And Love is reflected in love. God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death. For God is infinite, all power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All." Science & Health, Page 16:27-15

The Camera of Divine Mind

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #32: “I have invented the world I see.”

A few years ago, a woman made two rather large purchases from my gallery, writing me checks on an account which was frozen due to a pending divorce from her husband. Apparently, she had been having a last fling in our town and I was not the only one who received "bad" checks. I sent her numerous loving notes, trying to help her to feel better about herself. I called her on the phone once and that didn't go well, so I went back to sending her a note every few weeks. At one point, she wrote me a letter and signed it, "your friend". About four months after her original purchases, I received money orders for the entire amount she owed. Most people thought there would be no way to collect this debt without resorting to legal means, but every time I thought of her, it was with kindness, seeing her true nature as a child of Love. I refused to think of her the way others described similar situations and the people who were involved. When doubt would creep in, I would replace it with an assurance of good. This is the world I wish to see, and so I do. Having a Pollyanna attitude doesn’t mean you do nothing, rather it’s expecting the best and being led in ways to facilitate that end!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The crude creations of mortal thought must finally give place to the glorious forms which we sometimes behold in the camera of divine Mind, when the mental picture is spiritual and eternal.” Science & Health Page 264:3-7

A Brave New World

"Glacier National Park"
photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #31: "I am not the victim of the world I see"   

It's very easy to feel victimized by current events. It seems as though "they" are going to do whatever they want and come up with reasons why it's necessary. I don't know and don't want to wonder why things are as they are, but I am excited and expectant of good as I watch individuals doing things to improve communications and provide knowledge. One of my heroes is a man named Michael Moore who has dared question powers that be on topics most of us are afraid to broach. One of his documentaries is "Capitalism: A Love Story". While he shows us transgressions of government and corporations, he also tells of individuals and businesses that dare to challenge the accepted standards and bring about much-needed change. He gives us hope by showing how we, too, can carry a light and spread it to others. While we can never know what material truth is, as it is ever-changing and fickle, we can know spiritual Truth and allow it to lead our way toward a brave new world!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Man is tributary to God, Spirit, and to nothing else. God's being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss."

Science & Health Page 481:2-4

In My Mind

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook lesson #30: "God is in everything I see because God is in my mind."

Seeing everything as a part of us by looking within rather than without is the point of today's exercise. This looking is not limited to what we can see with our eyes. We are asked to close our eyes and see what pops into our thought, too. We are working toward changing sight to vision. I look at my sweet dog and see my experience of him. I close my eyes and envision all the Love expressed by all the dogs I have known. I feel the Love expressed by my parents and children and friends. I can feel the warmth of a spring day, smell the earth and flowers, see past my limiting thoughts to the ideas of Soul. As explained by a sentence in today’s lesson: “Real vision is not only unlimited by space and distance, but it does not depend on the body's eyes at all.” I look forward to seeing everything as a reflection of unlimited Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "It is the illumination of the spiritual understanding which demonstrates the capacity of Soul, not of material sense. This Soul-sense comes to the human mind when the latter yields to the divine Mind." Science & Health Page 85:2-6