No Fault in Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #72

“Holding grievances is an attack on God’s plan for salvation.”

As I searched my thoughts for a glimmer of inspiration this evening, nothing came. I am engulfed in sadness, missing my dog. So I opened my email and found what my busy mind was hiding from itself! A dear friend in The Netherlands said this: “I used to have difficulty with seeing what ‘plan’ is. But seeing Love, for instance as being the mother that takes all care, maximum care, - we see that the necessary and fulfilling aspect or plan can never be failing. Plan involves care. Care involves plan, the goal is the perfect solution.” I feel better now!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Divine metaphysics explains away matter. Spirit is the only substance and consciousness recognized by divine Science. The material senses oppose this, but there are no material senses, for matter has no mind. In Spirit there is no matter, even as in Truth there is no error, and in good no evil. It is a false supposition, the notion that there is real substance-matter, the opposite of Spirit. Spirit, God, is infinite, all. Spirit can have no opposite." Science & Health Page 278:3-11

Love, Understood and Demonstrated

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #71

“Only God’s plan for salvation will work.”

The topic for today's workbook lesson could be misinterpreted as meaning there is some sort of predestined plan which we must follow if we are to achieve happiness and fulfillment. What we are learning has nothing to do with blindly following something we don't understand. It involves knowing that we are the expression of God, and until we realize what that means, we have no hope of trusting what we hear within our being. Mortal mind (the thoughts which come to us from material teachings and long-held beliefs) tells us that to listen to anything other than "logic" is foolishness. And so we plant our feet on the shifting sands of materialism and think we're doing the best we can under impossible circumstances. Salvation is an ongoing event, facilitated by releasing our belief in separation. I’m ready to surrender to unity! How about you?

Mary Baker Eddy quotes: "Salvation is as eternal as God. To mortal thought Jesus appeared as a child, and grew to manhood, to suffer before Pilate and on Calvary, because he could reach and teach mankind only through this conformity to mortal conditions; but Soul never saw the Savior come and go, because the divine idea is always present." Unity of Good: 59:13-18

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Salvation: Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all…” Science & Health Page 593:20-21

Peace Within

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Lesson #70

“My salvation comes from me.”

An old friend tells me that it has taken her seven decades to stop believing the things her parents told her about herself. They said she was ugly, stupid, worthless, and other hurtful damnations. She believed these things and they stayed with her until being in a group with spiritually aware people allowed her to see the truth about herself. She no longer feels unworthy of love and goodness. Hallelujah! Her salvation has come! How often do we all believe lies about the reality of our being? We don’t realize we have chosen guilt for ourselves, but thankfully we are recognizing this and seeing that we have a choice! Nothing outside of our own self can save us; nothing from outside can bring us peace. The source of salvation and peace lies within. This acceptance is, indeed, cause for celebration!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Innocence and Truth overcome guilt and error.”  Science & Health Page 568:1

Love Never Dies

Resting Place

ACIM Workbook Lesson #69

“My grievances hide the light of the world in me.”

Every animal which has come into my life, every person I’ve loved, have enriched my daily experience and helped me see through the illusion of separation, allowing me to feel the light of the world shining. Every dog I’ve ever known has taught me more about pure Love, and I am most grateful. Today I choose to see the light, to let it shine through me in everything I do, to allow it to brighten all. Even though I no longer have my Chili Dog by my side, I feel his presence and cherish the Love which never dies. 

Mary Baker Eddy Quote:

“The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality--much error--in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun.” Science & Health Page 295:19-24

An Angel Entertained Unawares

ACIM Workbook Lesson #68: “Love holds no grievances.”

"You want to switch off your heart and mind", I was told by a dear woman who used to read these writings. This is how she interpreted A Course in Miracles teachings. Wow, really?! I wanted to know more about why she felt this way, as strong opinions tend to close the mind and I try to stay open. She was translating these teachings into a mind control system which is just the opposite of what it is meant to be. On the contrary, it seems to me that the opinions we hold about ourselves shut us off from the function for which we were created -- which, as we learned a few days ago, is happiness! I love to have conversations like this, testing my understanding of what I am learning, to see if there are holes in my logic, or dead-ended trails of principles. Let's allow ourselves to experience the one Mind, through which we shall express infinite individuality, with open hearts and minds!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares.”

Science & Health Page 574:27-30

The Great Miracle

photo credit: Richard Quick

 ACIM Workbook Lesson #67

“Love created me like itself.”

In today’s lesson we are asked to recognize ourselves as unchanging Love, rather than the limited self we have been thinking we are. “Love created me like Itself.” Love has created everyone like Itself!! We have many false ideas about what we are and what others are, but let’s realize the illusory nature of those ideas and see ourselves as the one infinite divine Love. It’s fairly easy to see ourselves as loving, but as pure Love its own Self?? Let’s try to undo our ideas of what God is, what we are, releasing all our beliefs and asking Holy Spirit to fill us with the Truth of our being! 

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

Gather Joy and Spread Happiness

Joy in Mongolia

ACIM Workbook Lesson #66: “My happiness and my function are one.”

I recently heard about a study which has been taking place for 40+ years, following certain people throughout their lives and coming to conclusions on why they are or are not happy. Turns out happiness isn’t reliant on how much money people have, nor does it matter what religion they espouse — or not. Happiness isn’t dependent or where people live, what job they have, nor if they’re married or single. But it does have a direct correlation to their interpersonal relationships, their friendships, their interactions with others. While there was no direct correlation to marriage nor job, the way we relate to our spouse or co-workers affects our happiness levels. Those who were not married or didn’t have a job were still happier if they interacted with others on a regular basis. So let’s go out and gather joy, spread happiness, and be Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it."

Science & Health Page 57:18-21