Claiming Grace

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #168

 in Miracles“Your grace is given me. I claim it now.”

I remember a young woman who came in my gallery one evening and told me that she loved art, but that she didn't have any talent because she had been sexually abused as a child. I smiled at her and she said, No, really, every day for years and years! I told her I wasn't smiling about what she had said or what had been done, but I was smiling at the part of her which had never been touched by any of this. I told her everyone has tons of talent and for her to continue trying things until she found something she really loved -- and then keep on doing it! Her eyes lit up as she listed things she loved and wanted to do. By practicing kindness when faced with hardness of heart, meekness when those around us are aggressive, loving those who seem unlovable, and paying it forward at every opportunity, we acknowledge the grace which is our true heritage. By this, we learn what it feels like, not just what it means.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds." Science & Health Page 4:3-5

One Life

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #167 “There is one life, and that I share with God.”

This topic reminds me of being in the market check-out line when the kid sacking groceries was trying on the checker's glasses. He says he doesn't know how anyone can see through them, and she tells him they're reading glasses and he'll find out some day.  He says, "I hope God comes before that happens." The checkout lady says, "That's horrible! No, that's wonderful. No ..." At this point, I also was somewhat speechless! She had interpreted his comment to mean he hoped he died before he lost his 20/20 vision. But upon reflection, he could have meant other things -- perhaps "the rapture"?? The whole conversation reflected our muddled, confused thought. He was assuming that getting older requires a loss of sight, she was assuming he wanted to die before he was old, he was believing God was somewhere separate from him — well,  erroneous assumptions are rife.  Rather than wonder what their conversation meant, I looked at my Life, realizing that to relish every moment is enough.  Using the word Life as a synonym for deity helps me see that there is no separation and I can relax into the ever-constant wonder of Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens, — all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful, and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Pages 240:1-9

The Gift of Joy

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #166 “I am entrusted with the gifts of God.”

Laughter is contagious, don’t you think? Most of us have “gotten the giggles” and been unable to stop laughing. There are numerous videos on the internet where people are sharing laughter in the most joyous of ways. I particularly like one which shows people’s reactions when someone tells them they are beautiful. The sheepish grins which emerge and the eyes lighting up are sure to bring a smile to my face and an expansion of my heart no matter how many times I see it. Joy, laughter, happiness — these are given freely to us as a part of our divine heritage. Today I will make the most of every opportunity I have to give the gift of joy to others. I shall give this freely, with no reservations or restrictions!

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 with Key to the Scriptures Page 57:18-21

I Know Nothing

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #165 “Let not my mind deny the Thought of God.”

When I was a school-aged child, I never wanted to admit I didn't know things. Most of the education I received seemed more like a reminder, rather than learning new information. So when I didn't understand something because it actually seemed foreign, I wouldn't admit it. Only in the past few years have I been comfortable with the acknowledgement, “I know nothing”. Now it’s a wonderful relief and freedom to say those words -- both silently in prayerful humility and out loud as an odd sort of open confessional. I'm so grateful for this cleansing of false pride and egoism. I was full of self-importance. Now I welcome into my mind every thought that divine Mind has to offer me. I love this type of education!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Mind, joyous in strength, dwells in the realm of Mind. Mind's infinite ideas run and disport themselves. In humility they climb the heights of holiness.” Page 514:6-9

Science and Religion

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #164 “Now are we one with Him Who is our Source."

We hear much talk nowadays about the melding of science and religion. In their traditional meanings, this would be impossible. Religion has taken on too many facets to be purely the knowledge of God. On many levels, it has become more political than spiritual. Science, on the other hand, means knowledge, but since its definition includes rational explanations and predictable results, it has long been left out of spirituality. While typical religion may never qualify under this definition, the knowledge of God certainly does. When Mary Baker Eddy discovered the science of the Christ in the 1860s, she first called it moral science. In her 600 pages of explanation, this science is shown to meet all the criteria to be called such. In this time of rapidly shifting perceptions, many people are grasping what this means and embracing the beauty and perfection of it. Mary would be pleased!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When the final physical and moral effects of Christian Science are fully apprehended, the conflict between truth and error, understanding and belief, Science and material sense…will cease, and spiritual harmony reign.” Science and Health Page 288:10–14

Leaving It Behind

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #163  "There is no death. The Son of God is free."

Some people may think of these ideas as platitudes designed to placate some of us with Pollyanna thoughts and wishful thinking. Personally, I see these teachings as much more. Actually, I see them as everything. A well-known author and seer wrote a book declaring there is a spiritual solution to every problem. He was much decried by many serious metaphysical students because he seemed to be admitting there are problems and then trying to solve them. I saw it as using the title to get people to read the book, and then showing them a purer way to think about all of this. Everything we see or read is interpreted by our brain based on past experience. This is what I so badly want to leave behind. This is the freedom I seek. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“This spiritualization of thought lets in the light, and brings the divine Mind, Life not death, into your consciousness.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 407:26-29

Fairy Tales and Reality

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #162 “I am as God created me."

We all have a purpose. Some of us are sure of it, others feel they’re searching, and some don’t seem to know or care. One thing I know for sure, if we try to be something other than true to ourselves, things turn ugly. I have witnessed that within myself recently. I have espoused something which is not me, and I’m not sure what caused this lapse. But I will know, because I’m asking for this knowledge. In the meantime, I shall remember this from A Course in Miracles textbook: “…Fairy tales can be pleasant or fearful, but no one calls them true. Children may believe them, and so, for a while, the tales are true for them. Yet when reality dawns, the fantasies are gone. Reality has not gone in the meanwhile.” (ACIM: T170)

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.” Science & Health Page 515:4-8