Flow of Love, or Battle of Belief

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #81

Review: "I am the light of the world" and "Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world."

I am currently revisiting a passion from my past: duplicate bridge. I think one of the reasons I have always enjoyed card games is because of the insight they offer into personalities. If you want to really get to know someone, either play cards with them or clean their house — and I know which one I would choose! Today’s lesson review points me toward two things I will utilize in my visits to the card table: extending peace to all and letting go of my belief in separation, otherwise known as forgiveness. Fiercely competitive activities are a wonderful practice in releasing the thought that I have a special, specific identity which puts me on another level, either higher or lower, from everyone else. Seeing myself in others can be a sobering activity, but it’s one I’m willing to undertake. What fun life is when I allow it to be a flow of Love and acceptance rather than a battle of beliefs!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers."

Science & Health Page 15:26-27

No Problem!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #80

"Let me recognize my problems have been solved."

Yesterday we were told that our only problem is thinking we are separate from God, and the understanding that it is impossible to be separated from our source solves that!  Recognizing that our problems never existed in any way other than belief may seem ridiculous. Most of us can come up with a long list of what we consider to be our problems, and they all seem very real and troublesome. Once again, I am reminded of Don Miguel Ruiz's interpretation of ancient Toltec wisdom in "The Four Agreements". When he asks us to not take anything personally, he gives a rather startling example, telling us that if someone shoots you in the head, not to take it personally, because it's not your problem, it's theirs! Although this seems like an extreme example, there are many things we take so personally that we cannot forgive and release them. Next time I jump onto my "high horse" about something, I will remind myself that I am seeing someone as separated from their Oneness source and remind myself that this could not be possible.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death. The perfect man -- governed by God, his perfect Principle -- is sinless and eternal." Science & Health Page 304:9-15

The Problem of Being

photo credit: Nick Franchi

ACIM Workbook Lesson #79

"Let me recognize the problem so it can be solved."

Are you a list maker? If you have a list of problems which need to be solved, it should be a relief to know there is only one problem and only one solution! If you watch or listen to news and feel overwhelmed by the problems of the world, it is a welcome respite to realize there is only one solution, and that solution is shown through a recognition of the problem. Actually, there is no need to think about a solution, you only need recognize that there is but one problem -- and that realization is, in itself, the solution. Every problem which seems to exist is the result of one thing: a belief in separation from God. I remember a friend had a poster in her office reminding the people who came in that the only reason she wanted to know their problem was as an identifier; after that, she only wanted to hear about solutions. Wayne Dyer wrote a whole book about it: There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. The problem is that I believe I have separated from Source. The solution lies in that recognition!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Ontology receives less attention than physiology. Why? Because mortal mind must waken to spiritual life before it cares to solve the problem of being, hence the author's experience; but when that awakening comes, existence will be on a new standpoint."

Science & Health Page 556:25-30

Love Supports the Struggling Heart

ACIM Workbook Lesson #78

"Let miracles replace all grievances."

Today's lesson asks us to choose one person and see them as God sees them, with pure eyes, rather than with all the muddled grievances we may be holding. This person might be a co-worker who seems to find ways to undermine us regularly, or a good friend whose behavior is irritating to us, or perhaps a neighbor who allows his dog to poop in our yard. The circumstance really doesn't matter though, because when we choose to see the miracle of Spirit, the false testimony of material sense disappears. Once we fall into the trap of expecting "bad" behavior from others, that's what we get! Can changing our expectations change the result? Or is the result the same and we're simply seeing it differently? I'm not sure it matters, as seeing a result and trying to change it is not what this way of thought is all about. Our goal is to see with God's eyes, and with that sight we are led to do what needs to be done, no matter the circumstance. We've been taught this by many people throughout time. Gandhi asks us to be the change we wish to see. Rumi advises us to be with those who help our being. Jesus tells us the kingdom of heaven is within. There are countless ways to see through Love. How do I Love? Let me count the ways! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it. The wintry blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affection, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance of fleshly ties serves to unite thought more closely to God, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases to sigh over the world and begins to unfold its wings for heaven."

Science & Health Page 57:22-30

Natural Order

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #77

"I am entitled to miracles."

The miracles we so desperately seek are the natural order of things, and are ours for the knowing of that Truth. Most,  if not all of our material celebrations are based on myth, and often are quite odd and far-fetched. Why do we do these things? I suppose they're all based on history of some sort; remembrances of past events. Usually, they involve a lot of drinking and so-called celebrating, and there is often some type of nationalism involved. Like this St. Patrick's Day craziness -- what's up with that? Perhaps it's because we want to believe in magical beings which give us happiness and abundance. We tend to think these things are somewhere outside of us, and we can find them if only we get lucky enough to be at the end of the rainbow. Some think everything will be great if they give their lives to Jesus. And let's not forget about those birthday wishes coming true if we blow out all the candles! Maybe we celebrate so hard because we innately know all this good is ours simply for the acknowledgement of it, but we don't understand how to do that.  So we dance, drink, celebrate. We try so hard to find what is already ours, just waiting for us to be still and know it. The miracle is God's law. Now that's something to celebrate!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"A miracle fulfills God's law, but does not violate that law. This fact at present seems more mysterious than the miracle itself." Science & Health Page 134:31-32

Rising Above Erroneous Thought

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #76

“I am under no laws but God’s.”

We live in a world where there are many laws to protect us, such as wearing motorcycle helmets and seat belts in cars. Yet the items we find in our grocery stores are filled with chemicals and other things which can barely be classified as food. We are told to use pesticides on ourselves, our gardens, our pets, even though the rates of autoimmune disease and cancer climbs steadily. There are laws forcing us to immunize our children and our pets, yet what began as a saving procedure has been contaminated with odd chemicals and industrial waste. It seems impossible to get away from the multitude of horrors which are spoon fed to us from every direction. Yet I truly think there IS a spiritual solution to all the things which seem impossibly horrible. And so I shall continue to study, continue rising above the miasma of erroneous thought and the hideous forms brought forth. These things have nothing to do with the laws of Love, the creations of divine Mind, the Principle which I strive to serve. May we find ways to hold our heads above water!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Citizens of the world, accept the ‘glorious liberty of the children of God,’ and be free! This is your divine right. The illusion of material sense, not divine law, has bound you, entangled your free limbs, crippled your capacities, enfeebled your body, and defaced the tablet of your being.” Science & Health Page 227:24-28

And So Are You!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #75

"The light has come."

Perseverance in dropping false testimony of the material senses is celebrated today: The light has come! Of course, it has always been there, waiting for us to notice it. Thinking that we need a tribe in order to prosper, or that family is necessary for us to feel whole, or that a religion is needed to see God, these are all beliefs we have come to rely upon. We are seeing the Truth, and it has nothing to do with belief, dogma, or creed. The light has come! Critical mass tipping point isn't 51%, because just a taste of goodness spreads exponentially, as all Reality must. The light has come! To very loosely quote Mahatma Gandhi: I am Muslim. I am Hindu. I am Christian. I am woman. I am man. I am gay. I am straight. I am everything and nothing. And so are you! Let's join thought today in the realization that Love is all that is enduring. Other things pass away, but not this light which cannot be extinguished.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine 'powers that be.' Such is the true Science of being. Any other theory of Life, or God, is delusive and mythological.” 

Science & Health Page 249:6-10