Our Busy Mind

White River

Photo by Steve Shogren

Communication is a tricky thing! A friend and I were discussing how interesting it is to be recounting events and have someone else who witnessed them tell the tale entirely differently. It may seem as though you weren't even at the same place, seeing and hearing the same things! The practice of quieting the mind is integral to listening. I've found that when my thoughts are jumping about, it's impossible to truly listen to anything. One thought leads to another, and before you know it, you've gone all around the world and have no idea what's happening right in front of you. By the same token, if I want to hear from the point of spiritual discernment, it's almost impossible to do when my own self won't be quiet long enough to concentrate on a simple sentence in a book. This is always a good indicator for me: If I can't read and digest what I've read, then I'd best have a "time out" and quiet my monkey-ind from its busy-ness! What a peaceful, harmonious world this will be when we all take time to quiet self-importance and listen for Self-knowledge.

"The point for each one to decide is, whether it is mortal mind or immortal Mind that is causative. We should forsake the basis of matter for metaphysical Science and its divine Principle."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 195:11-14

“The fact that truth and illusion cannot be reconciled, no matter how you try, what means you use and where you see the problem, must be accepted if you would be saved. Until you have accepted this, you will attempt an endless list of goals you cannot reach; a senseless series of expenditures of time and effort, hopefulness and doubt, each one as futile as the one before, and failing as the next one surely will.”

A Course in Miracles W-96.2:1-2

You Are One Self

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

We all love stories of people overcoming adversity with super-human strength and ability, don’t we? For instance, Kerri Strug in the 1996 Olympics, spraining her ankle on a vault, then continuing and sticking her landing on the next one. We all know people who persevere through seemingly insurmountable odds to attain their goal. We love movies which show us exactly how difficult it can be to survive, much less to flourish in life, as seen in “The Blind Side” and “Precious”.  And each of us have had turning points, times when we could give up or take an easier route than the one we have chosen. We all have times we need someone to lean on, and we may not always have this support. But spiritually, we always do. A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #95 tells us we are never alone, because we're one Self, united with our Creator and all of Creation. Everything we need is always a part of us, inseparable, complete within. Divine Love is our essence, forever an integral part of our Being. Once we have felt this ever-presence, once we've gotten a small taste of Its peace, we can never go back to believing we're alone. Any help we need is always available, no matter how difficult our circumstance may seem, by allowing Love to replace fear. 

"Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love. Soul is the substance, Life, and intelligence of man, which is individualized, but not in matter. Soul can never reflect anything inferior to Spirit."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 477:20-25

“You are one Self, in perfect harmony with all there is, and all that there will be. You are one Self, the holy Son of God, united with your brothers in that Self; united with your Father in His Will. Feel this one Self in you, and let It shine away all your illusions and your doubts. This is your Self, the Son of God Himself, sinless as Its Creator, with His strength within you and His Love forever yours. You are one Self, and it is given you to feel this Self within you, and to cast all your illusions out of the one Mind that is this Self, the holy truth in you.” 

A Course in Miracles W-95.13:1-5

As You Are Created …

To deal with physical ailments, there are many healing modalities we experience and/or hear of every day.  Some seem to be no more than masking symptoms, some work to find the cause of our distress and eliminate or change it, and others we classify under the heading of miracles because we don't understand their basis. Through the study of the Science of the Christ, I have learned that illness and the healing thereof is facilitated by a change in thought. It is bringing your thinking into alignment with the truth of our being. This truth is that I am as God created me. With the realization that anything other than this is illusion, we are able to see through the veil into the actuality of our true being. To deny physical symptoms of disease is not to ignore them; it is to see them for what they are: a universal belief in separation from God. By understanding this, we can also release any guilt we may have in regard to the situation. By focusing on what is rather than what isn't, we are learning to understand God — to Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love. If a situation comes up in which I'm tempted to express irritation, I will think: I Am as Love created me. If I don't understand something, I will think: I Am as Mind  created me. What a beautiful day this will be!

"Question: What is the scientific statement of being?

Answer: There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 468:8-16

“True light is strength, and strength is sinlessness. If you remain as God created you, you must be strong and light must be in you. He Who ensured your sinlessness must be the guarantee of strength and light as well. You are as God created you. Darkness cannot obscure the glory of God’s Son. You stand in light, strong in the sinlessness in which you were created, and in which you will remain throughout eternity.”

A Course in Miracles W-94.2:1-6

Freeing The Light

Happy Bee on Coneflower

Some days it's difficult to know that “light and joy and peace abide in me” [ACIM Workbook Lesson #93] During one of those times, I watched a documentary called "Queen of the Sun". In this film about bees, we are told that pollen is materialized light. I love that, don't you? When thought of in this way, it seems possible that we, too, are materialized light. As the reflection of divine Love, that's exactly what we are! The movie also describes how the bee's light is freed through blocks of honeycomb, exquisitely shared with all as sweet, beautiful honey. And yet again, the light is freed through the illumination of beeswax candles. The freeing of light is cumulative with the bees, and we can experience the same thing as we unshackle the light and peace and joy within ourselves. Another lesson from the bees is the importance of community. Watching them working together for a common cause is uplifting and inspiring to me. It makes me want to join with my neighbors and do something important. But wait -- I'm doing that! What blesses one blesses all. My awakening to light and joy and peace is yours, too. Bees, people, trees -- as an idea of divine Mind, we're all in this together!

“Light is a symbol of Mind, of Life, Truth, and Love, and not a vitalizing property of matter. Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony.."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 510:27-1

“Salvation requires the acceptance of but one thought;—you are as God created you, not what you made of yourself. Whatever evil you may think you did, you are as God created you. Whatever mistakes you made, the truth about you is unchanged. Creation is eternal and unalterable. Your sinlessness is guaranteed by God. You are and will forever be exactly as you were created. Light and joy and peace abide in you because God put them there.” 

A Course in Miracles W-93.7:1-7

Light And Strength Are One

Photo courtesy of Aaron Springston 

I read an article in which people were questions about spirituality and religion. Most of those interviewed thought of themselves as spiritual but not religious, and the few self-proclaimed religious people were mostly looking for a sense of community and fellowship. A sense of inclusiveness was often mentioned in the answers. People apparently are looking for a spiritual group which will accept them as they are, without trying to change them. Many spoke of doubt, stating they needed groups of like-minded people to help them in times of loss and fear. It seems so simple for everyone to live together in Love, being kind  and helping each other. Apparently it is not. Long-held beliefs cloud our vision and we fearfully try to pull others into our illusions. Today I will try to see the light of miracles everywhere I look, refusing to be pulled into darkness, even in jest.

“Strength comes from truth, and shines with light its Source has given it; weakness reflects the darkness of its maker. It is sick and looks on sickness, which is like itself. Truth is a savior and can only will for happiness and peace for everyone. It gives its strength to everyone who asks, in limitless supply. It sees that lack in anyone would be a lack in all. And so it gives its light that all may see and benefit as one. Its strength is shared, that it may bring to all the miracle in which they will unite in purpose and forgiveness and in love.”

A Course in Miracles W-92.5:1-7

“As a material, theoretical life-basis is found to be a misapprehension of existence, the spiritual and divine Principle of man dawns upon human thought and leads it to "where the young child was," --even to the birth of a new-old idea, to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes. Thus the whole earth will be transformed by Truth on its pinions of light, chasing away the darkness of error."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 191:7-15

The Light Is Crucial

Eureka Dogwood

Photo from Richard Quick

What am I? This question has been asked from the beginning of recorded history -- and probably longer. Spiritual seers inform us that we are not a body. So if I am not a body, what am I? Intellectually, we can say that we are the reflection of God. We can tell ourselves and others that we're not material, we're spiritual. Then we'll stump our toe and declare that we can't be blamed if it hurts because we're not walking on water yet. We make jokes to explain why we aren't living the precepts which Jesus tells us are our heritage as children of God. But really, why is it that we've been so stunted in our realization of what all this means? Actually, we're not evolving slowly. There is no evolution involved in spiritual awakening, there is only getting rid of material belief and dogma. What we're doing now is cleaning the windowpane so the light has a transparency to flow through, rather than thousands of years of grime hiding our illumination. What are we? We're finding out more every day -- but that doesn't mean we have to wait a certain amount of time to learn a set amount of liberating facts in order to experience this light. That's the miracle! 

"Divine Science rolls back the clouds of error with the light of Truth, and lifts the curtain on man as never born and as never dying, but as coexistent with his creator."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 596:11-19

“It is important to remember that miracles and vision necessarily go together. This needs repeating, and frequent repeating. It is a central idea in your new thought system, and the perception that it produces. The miracle is always there. Its presence is not caused by your vision; its absence is not the result of your failure to see. It is only your awareness of miracles that is affected. You will see them in the light; you will not see them in the dark. To you, then, light is crucial. While you remain in darkness, the miracle remains unseen.”

A Course in Miracles W-91.1:1–2:2

Book Clubs Saving the World

I’ve mentioned my book club a number of times in past writings. We are a group of women who have met for almost two decades, with a book as the center of our monthly discussion, but really that’s just a reason to get together and enjoy each others’ company. Some of us think logically from the standpoint of science, and some live intuitively from the heart. We have teachers, a yoga instructor, a veterinarian, businesswomen, farmers, a librarian — actually, a single definition isn’t enough for any one of these women. They are multi-talented and diverse. We have incredible discussions and enjoy one another more than I can say. While I think this group of women could solve all the problems of the world — and actually feel like we do that every time we get together! — I believe this feeling comes because, despite our various opinions, we all live from Love. Everything we do is guided by something larger than what our human reason can encompass. As I think about them and bask in our friendship, I will remember that problems come from a belief in separation, and I thank these women for helping me to feel whole. Namastè ~~~

“Let me realize today that the problem is always some form of grievance that I would cherish. Let me also understand that the solution is always a miracle with which I let the grievance be replaced. Today I would remember the simplicity of salvation by reinforcing the lesson that there is one problem and one solution. The problem is a grievance; the solution is a miracle. And I invite the solution to come to me through my forgiveness of the grievance, and my welcome of the miracle that takes its place.” 

A Course in Miracles W-90.1:2-6

“Human reason and religion come slowly to the recognition of spiritual facts, and so continue to call upon matter to remove the error which the human mind alone has created.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 173:25-28