Unyielding Happiness

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #100 “My part is essential to God’s plan for salvation.”

Happiness is a stand-out theme in today’s ACIM workbook lesson. What does it take to be happy? Many of us feel that as long as everything is going fine, we’re happy; conversely, when things are not so good, we’re unhappy. Following this line of thinking, we should be happy as long as there is no pain in our lives, but when it raises its head, we would be unhappy. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t know any people who live a pain-free life. What if we don’t think of pain as something to be feared, but as something to be embraced and examined? Think back to painful experiences you’ve had. I know they’ve always left me in a better spot than they found me. Please don’t think I’m saying you should seek out pain for the good it will do. Simply acknowledge that a little rain must fall and it has a purpose. Often we grow into something delightfully surprising!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Harmony in man is as beautiful as in music, and discord is unnatural, unreal.”

Science & Health Page 304:16-21

The Blossom Shines Through the Bud

photo credit: Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #99

“Salvation is my only function here.”

When David Hoffmeister was "called" to go on the road and talk to people about the teachings of A Course in Miracles, he didn't know how he would have the funds to do this. He was told by Spirit that all his needs would be supplied, but he didn't believe that. He found himself trying to teach Jesus about the laws of supply and demand. David is a man with excessive formal education, including knowledge of economics, and so he felt certain that Jesus simply didn't understand how the world worked. We tend to think of people like Buddha and St. Francis and Jesus as being beggars of sorts. They didn't make a lot of money, but trusted in the Universe to provide. David was being asked to rely on Spirit to articulate this new/old curriculum. He was being led to teach using everything available -- music, dance, lectures, gatherings -- to help others express deep Love and peace.  The reign of peace has begun, and many people are fighting against it. Let's not be concerned with that. Let's put our energy where it will grow -- on this peaceful transition. Christ consciousness is coming out of hiding and we're being called to help everyone see (by way of our own sight) that this is not some esoteric thing which must be kept secret. It's to be shouted from the rooftops! Fear not, shine your light, call forth witnesses to this light -- and above all, don't tone down your joy!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Love giveth to the least spiritual idea might, immortality, and goodness, which shine through all as the blossom shines through the bud.” Science & Health Page 518:19-21”

Unformed Thoughts into Proper Channels

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #98

“I will accept my part in God’s plan for salvation.”

To the uninitiated in this way of thought, the topic for today could be interpreted as asking us to accept some sort of predestination. We who are familiar with this study, know it is not. Deepak Chopra once said that there is no free will as long as we are being held by the beliefs of a lifetime. For this reason, we are asked time and again to look through the meaning we have placed on things and allow ourselves to think with divine Mind, feel from the leadings of Love, and create from the depths of Soul. When we are yielding to divine Principle, it doesn't seem to matter what dictates are put before us: they either feel right and we follow them, or else they are part of the ego-driven illusion and we turn away. To me, that's accepting God's plan.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as [It] opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear." Science & Health Page 506:18-21

Reflection in Multifarious Form

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #97 “I am spirit.”

I've been reading and studying the works of Bicknell Young. This fascinating man was the nephew of Brigham Young, the renowned Mormon leader. I can only imagine his family's surprise when he discovered the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy in the late 1800s, and then went on to gain fame speaking and writing about Christian Science during the next few decades. He's the proverbial person, dead or living, whom I'd choose to sit down with for an evening. These sentences about Spirit are part of what pique my interest to know every thought he ever had! "Consciousness is Spirit. It does not become spiritual nor is it spiritualized. Nor does the evolution of consciousness mean a rising above or a purification from anything; it is the ceaseless unfoldment of infinity." Thank you, Mr. Young!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love.” Science & Health Page 277:20-22

My One Self

creation of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #96

“Salvation comes from my one Self.”

Yesterday we pondered what our one Self is. Today we are contemplating how salvation comes from this knowledge. I know I have been saved much grief by the realization that my mind doesn’t need to be busy all the time. Relaxing of the mind is as important (if not more) than resting the body. For one thing, the practice of quieting the mind is integral to listening. I've found that when thought is jumping about, it's impossible to truly listen to anything. One thought leads to another, and before I know it, I’ve gone all around the world and have no idea what's happening right in front of me. By the same token, if I expect to understand from the point of spiritual discernment, it's pretty darn hard to do so if my own self won't be quiet long enough to concentrate on a simple sentence in a book. This is always a good indicator me: If I can't read and digest what I've read, then I'd best have a "time out" to still my monkey mind from its busy-ness! What a peaceful, harmonious world this will be when we all take time to quiet self-importance and listen for Self-knowledge!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The point for each one to decide is, whether it is mortal mind or immortal Mind that is causative. We should forsake the basis of matter for metaphysical Science and its divine Principle." Science & Health Page 195:11-14

Divine Image

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #95

“I am one Self, united with my Creator.”

You are the presence of God. Does this statement make you uneasy? Perhaps traditional theology has taught you that such an idea is sacrilege. Maybe you simply feel too inferior to accept yourself as Godlike. It's not so difficult to say that you are one with everything. We're happy to feel a connection with all things and often go to retreats and workshops which help us feel this unity. But what does this thing called Oneness really mean? It could be taken wholly on a material basis, and you might say that we're all the same in our physical makeup of minerals and flesh, etc. You might be willing to go a step further and say we're all the same because God made us in Its image and likeness. Does it make you cringe to call God It rather than He? We're accustomed to anthropomorphizing God, making deity like us rather than the other way around. As we learn to accept and embrace our identity as the experience and expression of God, we find we can proudly announce our goodness, our wholeness, even our perfection. This honors God and Its creation in a way that self-conscious deprecation or self-righteous pride cannot. It's a beautiful day to explore what all this means in daily practice!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God, without the image and likeness of [Itself], would be a nonentity, or Mind unexpressed. [It] would be without a witness or proof of [Its] own nature. Spiritual man is the image or idea of God, an idea which cannot be lost nor separated from its divine Principle."

Science & Health Page 303:25-30

Spirit, the Great Architect

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #94

“I am as God created me.”

Have you ever sat quietly and asked, "What am I?" Other than listening, only one thing is required: Give up any belief of what you think you are. By focusing on what is rather than what isn't, we are learning to understand our connection to God. As I go about my activities today, the seven synonyms for God, as given in Science & Health by Mary Baker Eddy, will be with me along with the ACIM topic which is, "I am as God created me." These synonymous terms for God are Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. If a situation comes up in which I'm tempted to express irritation, I will think: I Am as Love created me. If I don't understand something, I will declare: I Am as Mind created me. This will be a lovely challenge to think of myself in these ways! What a fun day it will be!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Sometime we shall learn how Spirit, the great architect, has created men and women in Science. We ought to weary of the fleeting and false and to cherish nothing which hinders our highest selfhood.”

Science & Health Page 68:4-9