Set Down Your Burden - July 15, 2017

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ACIM Workbook Lesson #196 “It can be but myself I crucify.”

“The dreary, hopeless thought that you can make attacks on others and escape yourself has nailed you to the cross.” [from today’s workbook lesson] I watched a dual attack happen in the street outside my house today. My volatile neighbor, whom I’ve mentioned before in these writings, and the son-in-law of a woman who passed away this year, became embroiled in a loud and profane exchange of words. As I witnessed their angry attacks on each other, I thought how miserable they both appeared to be. I would be willing to bet these two men are still replaying these angry words in their thoughts, crucifying themselves time and again on what was said, what could have been said, and what would be said next time. If we’re tempted to attack someone for whatever the reason, let’s remember where that attack ultimately comes to rest. I saw so clearly the heaviness of the cross carried by these men today. May they realize their burden and set it down. 

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

“The real cross, which Jesus bore up the hill of grief, was the world’s hatred of Truth and Love.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 50:30-31

Dwelling and Inquiring

ACIM Workbook Lesson #195 “Love is the way I walk in gratitude.”

Yesterday, I quoted a verse from Psalms concerning dwelling in a house and inquiring in a temple. I've been asked by an old friend and mentor to clarify what I think that means. I believe today's ACIM lesson can be used as an aid to this end: "Love is the way I walk in gratitude." Living this Love and being a transparency for its transmission certainly feels like "dwelling in the house of the Lord". I do not think it's a place for which to be searched, but rather a gentle presence to be felt. And I see the phrase "inquiring in his temple" to be telling us to ask within ourselves for clarity   as to living within the single eye of all-encompassing Love. We are the experience and expression of divinity, Love, so we needn't go searching here and there for something we feel is lacking. We already are whole, complete, and ready to acknowledge this unity of Spirit. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Temple: Body; the idea of Life, substance, and intelligence; the superstructure of Truth; the shrine of Love…”

Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Pages 595:7-10

Thanks For The Reminder!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #194 “I place the future in the Hands of God.”

It takes practice to let go. A mere 25 years ago, I still thought I was in control. It took a child's illness for me to realize I didn't have the power to bend life to my liking. In the space it took to hear a diagnosis, I had a change of heart. I'm sure I went through all the emotions associated with this sort of thing: sorrow, anger, blame, and so on. But I knew deep down that there was only one answer: to release my wants and desires, then listen deeply for guidance. "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple." (Psalms:27:4) Sometimes I forget this. I'm happy to have this reminder today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 469:4-5

A New Way of Living

Bryce Canyon
photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #193

“All things are lessons God would have me learn.”

"A new species is arising on the planet. It is arising now, and you are it!" These lines end Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth. I wish it was required reading for every person on earth! The beautifully clear way he explains how we cling to old belief, allowing ourselves to be influenced by fear, by the past, by illusion, is both inspiring and illuminating. We are told in today's ACIM workbook lesson, "Forgive, and you will see this differently.” Mr. Tolle's book gives numerous examples of seeing differently. I am dedicated to seeing this new world, allowing the disappearance of old belief and hypnotic thought to provide a transparency for the arising of our new way of living. What an exciting time for humanity!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The Revelator tells us of “a new heaven and a new earth.” Have you ever pictured this heaven and earth, inhabited by beings under the control of supreme wisdom?” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures  Page 91:1-4

Function Filling

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #192 “I have a function God would have me fill.”

We are created from Love and it is our function to extend this Love in the world. It may seem as though our little offerings aren’t worth much, but I’ve recently heard of the effects of a small gift given many years ago in the form of $20 a month. My boys and I gave to an organization which helped children in Africa. We occasionally got notes from a boy named Paul Ndungu, and we would write letters in return. I always wondered if our donation really made a difference. Recently this boy, now a young man, found me on Facebook and wrote asking if I was the same person who had helped him when he was a child. He tells me it did make a difference! He would not have been able to go to school without this gift and he is now in the Kenya Air Force — and he attended university, too! And so, whatever form your giving may take, never be afraid to follow through with your intuitive feelings, because we never know how far Love will extend!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Truth not error, Love not hate, Spirit not matter, governs man.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 419:3-4

Reflection of Love

ACIM Workbook Lesson #191c“I am the holy Son of God Himself.”

There's a young woman who works in a market I frequent. I was surprised when she told me she had been gone for almost a year. Time is so elastic! She tells me she got married and it was a horrible experience. She said she didn't think she could ever look at herself in the mirror without blame. She wanted to tell me details, but I asked her not to. I told her she's the reflection of divine Love and that nothing could change that. I suggested she walk in the woods, plant some flowers, get plenty of exercise. She said there was nothing she would rather do than walk in the woods and talk to God, but that she didn't know where to go. I suggested a beautiful spot not far from town. When I described it to her and explained a bit about her nature as a child of Love, she cried tears of happiness. We all have times we need to hear about our true, pure Being.  Namasté dear friends.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“God creates neither erring thought, mortal life, mutable truth, nor variable love.”

Science & Health Page 503:24-25

The Lightness of Hope

"Timpanogos"
photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #190 “I choose the joy of God instead of pain.”

The idea that we have a choice between joy and pain may not be easy to accept. Let’s not allow mortal mind or ego to lay a guilt trip on us in this regard. The only thing we are guilty of is a mistaken perception, for which there is immediate remedy: Change your thought! Through the wonder of social media, I have become acquainted with a woman I never would have met otherwise, as her life’s circumstance and mindset are on the opposite side of the world from mine. She openly writes of her pain and weaknesses, lashing out at others in a way so honest my heart aches in empathy. I feel I know this woman, perhaps because there was a point in my life I could have been her. I felt victimized by circumstances and didn’t think there was a way out. It’s difficult to believe we have a choice when everything we see appears solidly hopeless. Unfortunately, it will stay that way as long as we believe it to be true. What can cause our mind to open up to the lightness of hope? The willingness to do so…

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear, — this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony."  Science & Health Page 323:32-4