Truth Is Waiting To Be Known

 

"No one can fail who seeks to reach the truth." [A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #131] Truth is always there, waiting for us to acknowledge it. No one is ever turned away. As I think of the things we do in life — the food we eat and how we obtain it, the modes of transportation we utilize, the lies we tell ourselves every day — the realization comes to me that we are craving simpler ways of doing everything. We want to eat fresh food in season. We want to heat our homes and travel without sucking the life out of the earth. What does this have to do with "seeking the truth"? In opening ourselves to the Truth that is waiting for us to remember it, solutions to unsolvable situations appear. Different ways of approaching things in our lives, from healthcare to relationships, are illuminated in thought and we wonder why we never saw it that way before. This is the secret: (if there is one!) If I am seeking to receive something, be it material or spiritual, I am closing the door to truth. But if I am seeking in the humble single-mindedness of Love, as Mary Magdalene did, (as illustrated in the MBE quote below) then Truth becomes visible. How will you see it? That, I do not know. This adventure is quite an individual trip! However truth is seen in your world gives you a glimpse into the Oneness of which we speak. This pearl of great price, recognized and known, is the Truth I accept today.

“This is what is meant by seeking Truth, Christ, not 'for the loaves and fishes,' nor, like the Pharisee, with the arrogance of rank and display of scholarship, but like Mary Magdalene, from the summit of devout consecration, with the oil of gladness and the perfume of gratitude, with tears of repentance and with those hairs all numbered by the Father.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 367:10-16

“Heaven remains your one alternative to this strange world you made and all its ways; its shifting patterns and uncertain goals, its painful pleasures and its tragic joys. God made no contradictions. What denies its own existence and attacks itself is not of Him. He did not make two minds, with Heaven as the glad effect of one, and earth the other’s sorry outcome which is Heaven’s opposite in every way.”

A Course in Miracles W-131.7:1-4

We Cannot See Two Worlds At Once

 

After the Storm - photo credit: Beth Reaves

There is a world of Love, and there is a world of fear. I cannot see them both at the same time. This seems like an easy choice, but fear is often insidious and I may not realize that's what's guiding my choices. I can't know the world of Spirit when I'm thinking from the standpoint of mortal sense. I can't love my neighbors when I'm judging them. I can't hear that "still, small voice" when my thought is full of chaotic chatter. These dualities represent the two worlds we wish to embrace simultaneously, but find we cannot. Everything I do, or say, or think, places me firmly in one world or the other. Moment by moment, I choose what to accept as truth. By consistently turning thought away from mortal concepts and looking to spiritual interpretations, I am choosing the world I want to see. And if I'm not comfortable with what I'm seeing, guess what? I can choose again!

“The visible universe and material man are the poor counterfeits of the invisible universe and spiritual man.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 337:22-24

“Fear has made everything you think you see. All separation, all distinctions, and the multitude of differences you believe make up the world. They are not there. Love’s enemy has made them up. Yet love can have no enemy, and so they have no cause, no being and no consequence. They can be valued, but remain unreal. They can be sought, but they can not be found. Today we will not seek for them, nor waste this day in seeking what can not be found.

A Course in Miracles W-130.4:1-8

Replacing the Vanishing Sense Dream

Photo by Aaron Springston

“Beyond this world there is a world I want.” [A Course in Miracles Lesson #129] The uninitiated in this way of thinking may perceive today's lesson to be referring to a world which will appear when we pass from this material realm through the change we call death. This "beyond" which is spoken of is seen through the death of old belief and a rebirth in new thought. As a child I was taught in school that all animals have instincts except humans; that everything is a learned behavior with us. While marveling at the expansive instinctual behavior of numerous species, I remember thinking how silly that seemed. Didn't we have instincts, too? Why would we be left out of this amazing system of knowing? Why could animals easily have babies and humans couldn't? Why did animals not fear death and we do? At every new wonder learned in science class, I asked myself why we were different from every living thing on earth. It didn't seem right. And, as we are coming to understand, it is not. As we try to lose learned beliefs in order to allow inner knowing to shine forth, it is inspiring to notice the ease with which trees, plants, animals, and insects perform their function. Looking beyond the world we have made for ourselves, we see reality. We find that we do have so-called instincts, which we become aware of when we release the barriers we have built to this inner knowledge. "This is the world of time, where all things end."[ACIM] Let's look beyond this world into the world of Being, where time neither ends nor begins, and everything simply Is.

“Beyond this world there is a world I want. This is the thought that follows from the one we practiced yesterday. You cannot stop with the idea the world is worthless, for unless you see that there is something else to hope for, you will only be depressed. Our emphasis is not on giving up the world, but on exchanging it for what is far more satisfying, filled with joy, and capable of offering you peace. Think you this world can offer that to you?” 

A Course in Miracles W-129.1:1-4

“How true it is that whatever is learned through material sense must be lost because such so-called knowledge is reversed by the spiritual facts of being in [the] Science [of the Christ]. That which material sense calls intangible, is found to be substance. What to material sense seems substance, becomes nothingness, as the sense-dream vanishes and reality appears."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 312:1-6

Is That All There Is?

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick

The topic of today's A Course in Miracles workbook lesson is one of those which could cause you to say, "Thanks, but no thanks”!! But before you close the door, really think about the meaning of it: “The world I see holds nothing that I want”. It isn't asking you to give up enjoyment of everyday life. On the contrary! It's asking you to look past the world which is the creation of mortal mind, to the world of divine Mind. By setting aside the unrealities of belief, we are breaking the same type of thought barrier which had to be set aside for humanity to realize the world was round. When asked to see everything with new eyes, daring to stretch past belief and learned behavior, we may be frightened or confused. In this state of mind, our "ego" can tell us it's all just nonsense and we’d best stay with what is well-known. But is it? If you feel -- really feel, deep inside — that there must be more to this existence than meets the human eye, then you will want to know what that is. We are capable of so much more than we realize. The veil which hides reality is getting thinner!

"In the material world, thought has brought to light with great rapidity many useful wonders. With like activity have thought's swift pinions been rising towards the realm of the real, to the spiritual cause of those lower things which give impulse to inquiry. Belief in a material basis, from which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from matter to Mind as the cause of every effect."  

Mary baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 268:1-9

“Today we practice letting go all thought of values we have given to the world. We leave it free of purposes we gave its aspects and its phases and its dreams. We hold it purposeless within our minds, and loosen it from all we wish it were. Thus do we lift the chains that bar the door to freedom from the world, and go beyond all little values and diminished goals.”

A Course in Miracles W-128.5:1-4

Love Without Boundaries

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick

Self-help books talk of the many faces and facets of love. In divine metaphysics, there is no division in Love. Love does not judge. No one is more worthy of receiving than another. No one is more able than another when it comes to expressing Love. Despite its inclusive nature, Love may not appear to be a factor in the world we witness daily. We see love which is variable and hate that is solid, but we are learning the unreality of changing love and abiding hate. Reality is the Love which is God. A Course in Miracles workbook lesson #127 asks us to affirm this often today: "I bless you, brother, with the Love of God, which I would share with you. For I would learn the joyous lesson that there is no love but God's and yours and mine and everyone's.” Every instant when I catch a glimpse of this true Love is a moment to treasure!

“Perhaps you think that different kinds of love are possible. Perhaps you think there is a kind of love for this, a kind for that; a way of loving one, another way of loving still another. Love is one. It has no separate parts and no degrees; no kinds nor levels, no divergencies and no distinctions. It is like itself, unchanged throughout. It never alters with a person or a circumstance. It is the Heart of God, and also of His Son.” 

A Course in Miracles W-127.1:1-7

“With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and 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.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 469:30-5

What Am I Giving?

"All that I give is given to myself." [ACIM workbook lesson #126] Today’s topic brings an examination of what it is I’m giving. I would hope I’m giving happiness, peace, love, compassion — but sometimes I give judgment, condemnation, self-righteous thoughts, and false forgiveness. You might wonder, What is false forgiveness? It’s all too easy to forgive in a way which gives the impression that I’m superior and, in some way, better than the forgiven one. This is akin to the “back-handed compliment”, where people may say “thank you very much” when they are not thanking someone at all; but rather, making a point of feeling slighted in some way by another’s actions. The forgiveness I give may be a charitable act on my part, an act I may withhold as punishment to them and self-aggrandizement for myself. I am working toward understanding this thing called forgiveness. I ask myself, How would Love look on this? What would Mind think about this? Today I will strive to see through the veil of belief which dictates how I should interpret others’ actions — hopefully remembering if I don’t judge someone, there is nothing to forgive.

“Today we try to understand the truth that giver and receiver are the same. You will need help to make this meaningful, because it is so alien to the thoughts to which you are accustomed. But the Help you need is there. Give Him your faith today, and ask Him that He share your practicing in truth today. And if you only catch a tiny glimpse of the release that lies in the idea we practice for today, this is a day of glory for the world.”

A Course in Miracles W-126.8:1-5

“We must reverse our feeble flutterings--our efforts to find life and truth in matter--and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the God-like man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 262:11-16

A Day of Stillness

Photo thanks to Aaron Springston

Attention deficit disorder: ADD. Many who haven’t been diagnosed with this disorder often say they are afflicted with it. If you get right down to it, aren't we all? Doesn't it seem that our "normal" state of mind wants to flit about from one topic to another, gathering steam as one thought triggers yet another? The thing I find unfortunate is that people really think they have no choice. As with anything else, it takes practice to calm our thoughts. You have to want a quiet mind in order to attain one. I know I've said it before, but watch that first thought of the day. It can set the tone for everything which comes after it. Refusal to start the day thinking about worrisome things is a choice we have. Choose the quiet mind over the busy one, then choose again whenever needed. Quiet is nurtured through meditation and prayer, and we reap peace. 

“We must silence this lie of material sense with the truth of spiritual sense.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 318:12-13

“Let this day be a day of stillness and of quiet listening. Your Father wills you hear His Word today. He calls to you from deep within your mind where He abides. Hear Him today. No peace is possible until His Word is heard around the world; until your mind, in quiet listening, accepts the message that the world must hear to usher in the quiet time of peace.”

A Course in Miracles W-125.1:1-5