One Sight

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #269 “My sight goes forth to look upon Christ's face.”

As we begin to understand our Oneness as the expression and experience of God, we realize that every time we look in the mirror, or greet a friend or stranger, we're seeing the face of Christ. Jesus was here to teach us many things, but it all boils down to Oneness. We are all the children of God. What a beautiful day it is, seeing everyone in this light! Everywhere we are witnessing people being inclusive, rather than focusing on their differences while watching them multiply. I'm very happy for this lesson today, at a time when so many seem to want things from life which have nothing to do with peace. I vow to see the face of Oneness in everyone today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The eternal Truth destroys what mortals seem to have learned from error, and man's real existence as a child of God comes to light.” Science and Health Page 288:31–1

Let It Be

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #268 “Let all things be exactly as they are.”

What if everything which bothered us didn’t? What would life be like if we “let things be exactly as they are”, in Truth, without the interpretations we have given them? This thought shift may seem impossible at times, but we are learning it is an easy transition when we decide to release our specialness. By forgetting all beliefs of creation, whatever they may be, we can let all things be exactly as they are. When we give up our specialness and return to Love, we can see how things are, rather than how we think they are. Each one of these workbook lessons is a step toward freedom! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Human sense may well marvel at discord, while, to a diviner sense, harmony is the real and discord the unreal.” Science & Health Page: 563: 1-3

The Peace of Divine Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #267 “My heart is beating in the peace of God"

My son and I were watching the finals of America’s Got Talent. At one point he said, “This has been a tough year”. I immediately agreed and began listing why I thought it had been difficult. After three or four reasons, I burst into tears and left the room to blow my nose. When I returned, he apologized and told me he had been referring to the television program having tough competition this year. This broke the spell of my tangled thoughts and we both laughed. As I read the current Course in Miracles lesson, I am grateful for the ability to feel the peace of divine Love. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.” Science & Health With Key to the Scriptures Page 264:24-27

The Dawn of Ideas

ACIM Workbook Lesson #266 “My holy Self abides in you, God's Son.”

Today’s ACIM workbook lesson ends by saying — and I paraphrase — that we have been given a world full of saviors, and we have been given the sight to understand what that means. When someone misinterprets our motives, or our acts, it seems natural to try to set them straight. I just finished doing something like this. I wasn’t trying to change his mind, only attempting to correct what I saw as his misinterpretation. This was a perfect example of what I do not want to do. Rather than hearing the words as a cry for love, I saw them as an attack and attempted to turn the situation into what I wanted it to be. The result was not harmonious! But after reading today’s lesson, along with the following Mary Baker Eddy words, I am at peace. “Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.” Namastè…

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.” Science & Health Page 506: 11-14

Gentle Interactions

ACIM Workbook Lesson #265 "Creation's gentleness is all I see."

Creation's gentleness is all around us, but often it's not noticed because of the universal belief in harshness. More and more we're seeing animals showing us the way of gentleness in their interactions with each other. With our realizations of Oneness, we're starting to see that if violence is done to or by one, it's done to or by All. We're allowing our thought to change from fear and anger to Love and gentleness. Many people are holding with the old paradigm, and some say it's necessary for heinous acts to be committed, and also retaliation in kind. On the other hand, more people are realizing the error of this way, and know that it is possible for the lion to lay down with the lamb.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The fowls, which fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven, correspond to aspirations soaring beyond and above corporeality to the understanding of the incorporeal and divine Principle, Love.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 511:28-3

Surrounded by Love

ACIM Workbook Lesson #264 “I am surrounded by the Love of God.”

I don’t usually listen to mainstream radio, but there was an occasion where I was bombarded by it for a couple of hours. This forced exposure graphically brought into focus how insane the content was! The songs were totally inane and yet mesmerizing, the commercials were mostly for drugs and disease, the news -- yikes!! It may seem that we are being brainwashed from every direction, including collective consciousness, but this is the illusion. This illusion is not the consciousness of Love which is God. Love permeates everything, leaving no room for anything else to intrude. Nothing but this Love truly has power. "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach me." (MBE) "I am surrounded by the Love of God." (ACIM) When I am tempted to be mesmerized by material sense, I will remember what is True: I am surrounded by the Love which is God, which is my essence, my essential Being. So I needn't try to see or feel this Love, because it is what I Am!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares.” Science & Health Page 574: 27-30

Need Not Love Appearance

ACIM Workbook Lesson #263

“My holy vision sees all things as pure.”

In the past, I would try to avoid those who have a tendency to rant and rave about the behavior of others. Now, although I do not seek out their company, I can listen to them and see beyond the appearance to the Truth. They may be berating their neighbor for some action or another, but I can see the call for Love and allow myself to say, “You may be right about that”, or something similar. I don’t need to agree or disagree, I do not need to correct their actions, but I do need to correct my perception. If they appear to be angry, I needn’t attempt to change that nor to love it, but I do need to change my thought and remember they are, in truth, only Love and Its reflection. “I do not need to love the appearance, I need to love the reality beyond the appearance.” (ACIM) There is a lovely innocence involved in seeing through the eyes of Spirit!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “When we learn that error is not real, we shall be ready for progress, forgetting those things which are behind.” Science & Health Page 353:22-24