Choose Again

ACIM Workbook Lesson #229 “Love, which created me, is what I am."

Because of deep communication with someone, avenues have opened in my thought. This opening has been painful and freeing. Turning perceptions inside out and examining why they are as they are can show us more about ourselves than 20 years of therapy ever would, but it takes a fearless attitude to approach, dissect, and transform. A major reason I love A Course in Miracles is its directive to choose again. When thought (belief, if you will) is found festering, or lacking in empathy, or exhibiting untoward traits in its expression, we have the ability to stop, turn it around, and choose again. I am most grateful for the opportunity Love gives us…

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Mind: The only I, or Us; the only Spirit, Soul, divine Principle, substance, Life, Truth, Love; the one God; not that which is in man, but the divine Principle, or God, of whom man is the full and perfect expression; Deity, which outlines but is not outlined.” Science & Health Page 591:16-20

No Condemnation

PC: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #228 “God has condemned me not. No more do I."

Imagine growing up in a home with a parent who was very solid in his belief in God and faithfully attended a church based in traditional theological dogma. This way of thought included a belief in original sin and all the ritual you must go through in order to try to win the grace of God. Now let's imagine that your other parent is a Christian Scientist who teaches you that God is Love and you don't have to do anything to earn that Love, because you are an emanation of it. We have two parents whose views of spirituality are as opposed as they can be when talking about the exact same thing from different perspectives. I think it's very possible you might turn away from both of these teachings, perhaps declaring that there is no God. This was Robin Williams' situation. I would love to know more about it…

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The notion of a material universe is utterly opposed to the theory of man as evolved from Mind. Such fundamental errors send falsity into all human doctrines and conclusions, and do not accord infinity to Deity.” Science & Health Page 545:13-15

A Foretaste of Eternity

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #227 “This is my holy instant of release.”

Every moment is a holy instant and everything is a meditation. Each time I have an attack thought and turn it into a loving, non-judgmental one, I am in meditation. When someone speaks words which could send me into a tirade of condemnation or defense, but I calmly think and say something like “you may be right”, it’s a holy instant acknowledged. One moment of slipping between the thoughts is “a foretaste of eternity”!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity.” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 598:23-24

Present Possibilities

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #226 “My home awaits me. I will hasten there.”

"If I so choose, I can depart this world entirely. It is not death which makes this possible, but it is change of mind about the purpose of the world. If I believe it has a value as I see it now, so will it still remain for me. But if I see no value in the world as I behold it, nothing that I want to keep as mine or search for as a goal, it will depart from me. For I have not sought for illusions to replace the truth." ACIM LESSON #226

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“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 573:32-2

Light Dispels Dark

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #225 “God is my Father, and His Son loves Him.”

Today’s lesson is asking us to experience the Love which is ever-present by virtue of Oneness. This includes everything and everyone. With one infinite Mind, there are no degrees of unity. This is often difficult to experience in the form we expect it to take, being at peace with someone who is unfeeling, vindictive, misguidedly perpetrating evil. I don’t think we’re being asked to condone violence in any of its forms, rather to counter hate with Love, and war with peace. I told someone today that when we open a dark closet, the darkness doesn’t escape into the room; the light dispels the dark. And so it is…

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“…with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science."

Science & Health Page 470:2-5

Perfect Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #224 “God is my Father, and He loves His Son.”

Today's Course in Miracles lesson tells me that God is my Father and He loves His Son. When we take away material gender-related terms, it's easier for some of us to know this is telling us that we are all reflections of creative Mind (God), and that divine Love is equally ever-present for all. There is no division by religion or any other so-called standard. There is no Love more readily bestowed on someone who fits the requirements to be called saint or sinner. This perfect Love is available to all, simply for the accepting of it. We truly are all created equally!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfills the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed. "

Science & Health Page 340:21-29

The Hats We Wear

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #223 “God is my life. I have no life but His.”

I’ve been thinking about how we define ourselves by our jobs, our talents, our looks, our cars, our children — well, the list goes on, doesn’t it? When I closed my beloved art gallery, many people warned me that it would be a huge adjustment not going there every day and having it as the center of my existence. But it wasn’t! I think that’s because it never defined me. I never thought of myself as being what I was doing. It’s easy to think of one’s self as being a mother, or a mechanic, or any number of things which we do on a daily basis. And there is nothing wrong with that; nothing at all! But I’m very grateful that all the hats I’ve worn in this life are just that: accouterments to Life!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God is divine Life, and Life is no more confined to the forms which reflect it than substance is in its shadow.”

Science & Health Page 331:1-3