Fear of Humiliation

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #131 "No one can fail who seeks to reach the truth."

I've heard it said the fear of humiliation is at the top of our dread list, which contributes to why we remain with the familiar. As I think of the things we do in life, the foods we eat and how we obtain them, modes of transportation we utilize, the lies we tell ourselves every day — realization surfaces that we are craving simpler ways of doing everything. We want to eat fresh food in season. We want to heat our homes and travel without sucking the life out of the earth. What does this have to do with "seeking the truth"? In opening to our inner knowing, to the Truth that is waiting for us to remember it, solutions to problems which may have seemed insolvable to material sense suddenly are found. Ways of approaching everything in our lives, from healthcare to relationships, are seen in a different light and we wonder why we never thought of it that way before. How will you, personally, see it? That, I do not know. This adventure is quite an individual trip! However truth is seen in your world gives you glimpses of the Oneness we speak of. This pearl of great price, recognized and known, is what I seek today.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"All nature teaches God’s love to man, but man cannot love God supremely and set his whole affections on spiritual things, while loving the material or trusting in it more than in the spiritual.”

Science & Health Page 326:8-11

What Am I Accepting as Truth?

photo credit: Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #130

"It is impossible to see two worlds."

Today’s lesson topic reminds me that there is a world of Love, and there is a world of fear, and I cannot see them both at the same time. A friend recently asked me what frightens me. My first reaction is that nothing does, but upon examination I see perhaps everything does! Is it possible to think I’m living a life of Love while underneath the surface I’m not accepting this spiritual truth as my own? Maybe I’m just mouthing the words and not living Truth. I am going to examine these thoughts very closely today, asking to see what I truly am accepting. Having built a reality for myself, is it possible there is no basis for it? Not truly, no. But illusions are strong and belief seems solid. Which world am I seeing? I can’t see them both.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Take heart, dear sufferer, for this reality of being will surely appear sometime and in some way. There will be no more pain, and all tears will be wiped away. When you read this, remember Jesus' words, 'The kingdom of God is within you.' This spiritual consciousness is therefore a present possibility.”

Science & Health Page 573:29-2

Imagine That!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #129 "Beyond this world there is a world I want."

To the uninitiated in this way of thought, the sentence above may appear to refer to a world experienced at the change we call death. The "beyond" spoken of here is made manifest through the death of old beliefs and a rebirth in new thought. Wouldn't it be great if we lived in a world where loss is impossible, where love lasts forever, where hate does not exist and vengeance has no meaning? What if we had no misunderstandings, nor hard feelings between people, because we didn't blame others for thinking differently than we do? Our world is wonderful in many ways, but there are also horrors beyond words, and this is what causes people to lose faith in this thing we call God. We have created an un-God-like world and blame an unknown deity for what we think we cannot change. What if we're wrong and what we see is not true creation? Imagine that!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“How true it is that whatever is learned through material sense must be lost because such so-called knowledge is reversed by the spiritual facts of being in Science. That which material sense calls intangible, is found to be substance. What to material sense seems substance, becomes nothingness, as the sense-dream vanishes and reality appears."

Science & Health Page 312:1-6

The Road Less Traveled

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Lesson #128

"The world I see holds nothing that I want."  

The topic of today's ACIM lesson is one of those which could cause you to say, "Thanks, but no thanks”!! But before you close the door, really think about the meaning of “The world I see holds nothing that I want”. It isn't asking you to give up enjoyment of everyday life. On the contrary! It's asking you to look past the world which is the creation of mortal mind, to the world of divine Mind. By setting aside the unrealities of belief, we are breaking the same kind of thought barriers which had to be set aside for humanity to realize the world was round. When asked to see everything with new eyes, daring to stretch past belief and learned behavior, we may be frightened or confused. In this state of mind, our "ego" can tell us it's all just nonsense and we’d best stay with what is well-known. But is it? If you feel -- really feel, deep inside, there must be more to this existence than meets the human eye, then you will want to know what that is. We are capable of so much more than we realize. The veil is getting thinner! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"In the material world, thought has brought to light with great rapidity many useful wonders. With like activity have thought's swift pinions been rising towards the realm of the real, to the spiritual cause of those lower things which give impulse to inquiry. Belief in a material basis, from which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from matter to Mind as the cause of every effect."  Science & Health Page 268:1-9

No Division in Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #127 “There is no love but God's”

Often self-help books talk of the many faces and facets of love. In divine metaphysics, there is no division in Love. Love does not judge. No one is more worthy than another. No one is more able than another, when it comes to expressing Love. Love may not appear to be a factor in the world we daily witness. We see love that’s variable and hate that is solid, but we are learning the unreality of changing love and abiding hate. Reality is the Love which is God. Today's ACIM workbook lesson asks us to affirm this often today: "I bless you, brother, with the Love of God, which I would share with you. For I would learn the joyous lesson that there is no love but God's and yours and mine and everyone's." My awareness of this true Love allows me to experience it. It is always present, and I'm learning to be, also.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Love is infinite. Therefore all that really exists is in and of God, and manifests [Its] love.”

Science & Health Page 340:12-14

Giving and Receiving

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #126 "All that I give is given to myself."

Here are a few examples of what we often give: advice, judgment of another's actions, support for loved ones, opinions which we hope will change the world — this list could go on and on. In examining what I'd like to give today, I see that the only true thing which can be given is Love; anything else is but a material opinion in some form. Often what we think of as forgiveness is a mortal concept which generally includes stipulations. There may be an implication that I'm forgiving you because I'm a better person than you are. Oh my! We know that forgiveness is the key to the door of truth, so how do we forgive without material trappings? Love! When we give and live Love, there is nothing else to think about. Before I give anything today, I will ask myself, Is this what I want to receive? If it's not, then I'd best not give it. My realization that God is Love and that Love is all there is, allows me to slip into that sweet space of living from Truth, which is expressing all the Good which is our essence.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We cannot fathom the nature and quality of God's creation by diving into the shallows of mortal belief. We must reverse our feeble flutterings--our efforts to find life and truth in matter--and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the God-like man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being.” Science & Health Page 262:9-16

Lifted Above the Thinking of the World

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #125

"In quiet I receive God's Word today."

I’ve been having conversations with someone about listening, finding common ground, and seeing the sameness in our differences. Today’s topic highlights things we have been discussing, and I find comfort and courage in the text, including this: “Only be quiet. You will need no rule but this, to let your practicing today lift you above the thinking of the world, and free your vision from the body's eyes.” [ACIM #125] Today I will practice silencing my busy thoughts while listening quietly for guidance from divine Mind. This is what I think of as God’s Word — the voice heard only when my own is quiet. We, as the experience and expression of God, are capable of this listening and hearing. My gratitude is overflowing for these teachings and the people from whom I continually learn!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The ‘still, small voice’ of scientific thought reaches over continent and ocean to the globe's remotest bound. The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, ‘as when a lion roareth’. … Then is the power of Truth demonstrated,--made manifest in the destruction of error.”

Science & Health Page 559:8-16