Peace and Certainty of Purpose

Photo by Aaron Springston

As the year draws to a close, our busy-ness tends to increase until we are, perhaps, in a tizzy all the time, much like the dreidel which is a staple of many celebrations. I witnessed a friend in such a dither today. As I watched her, I realized she was taking personal responsibility for everything around her. She felt put-upon and over-loaded with duties and chores. She breathlessly rushed about feeling that no one but her would know what to do about any number of things. I closed my eyes and breathed slowly and deeply, hoping it could spread to her, but she wasn’t receptive. She was no more able to accept the peace that was hers as the expression of Spirit than she was able to trust that everything would be done with or without her — or not! It’s easy to slip into the thought that we’re the only one who knows how to do certain things and everything will fall apart without us. I have found, time and again, that to stand with divine Love “in peace and certainty of purpose” allows great things to transpire! Trust and be at peace, dear Friends … 

“We stand together, Christ and I, in peace and certainty of purpose. And in Him is His Creator, as He is in me. My oneness with the Christ establishes me as Your Son, beyond the reach of time, and wholly free of every law but Yours. I have no self except the Christ in me. I have no purpose but His Own. And He is like His Father. Thus must I be one with You as well as Him. For who is Christ except Your Son as You created Him? And what am I except the Christ in me?”

A Course in Miracles  W-354.1:1-7

"Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 506:18-21

Joined in Purpose

At this time of the year, we are often reminded that not everyone includes themselves in this thing we call Christianity! In order to be politically correct, we go through all sorts of angst while expressing the joy of the season to others. The man we know as Jesus was here to show us the Truth of our Being. Everyone, everywhere, is the recipient of his revelation that we are all the children of God. In seeing, speaking, and moving with the realization that God is our Life, we can live with a pure image of ourselves. With this in mind, today I will speak from my heart when the occasion arises to express the joy of the season to others. What I say will be heartfelt, with no regard to what should or shouldn't be said. And I will do my best to see everyone as the Christ that they are, regardless of how it may seem to my limited human concepts. My prayer will be to realize my true conception is spiritual, and to act and speak accordingly, as led by Spirit. Merry Christmas and Namaste!!

"The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to silence material law and its order of generation, and brought forth her child by the revelation of Truth, demonstrating God as the Father of men. The Holy Ghost, or divine Spirit, overshadowed the pure sense of the Virgin-mother with the full recognition that being is Spirit. The Christ dwelt forever an idea in the bosom of God, the divine Principle of the man Jesus, and woman perceived this spiritual idea, 

though at first faintly developed."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 29:20-29

“My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today have but one purpose; to be given Christ to use to bless the world with miracles. Father, I give all that is mine today to Christ, to use in any way that best will serve the purpose that I share with Him. Nothing is mine alone, for He and I have joined in purpose. Thus has learning come almost to its appointed end. A while I work with Him to serve His purpose. Then I lose myself in my Identity, and recognize that Christ is but my Self.”

A Course in Miracles W-353.1:1-5

Step Back and Follow

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

“He said, 'In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger -- something better, pushing right back." Albert Camus 

"If I am not feeling peaceful, it is important for me to remember that I have made a judgment on my own. If I am not peaceful, I have not listened to the Holy Spirit. The way I return to peace is to once again open my mind to the healing perceptions of my inner Comforter, the One Who straightens my mind. My one vocation now becomes that of stepping back and following the lead of my inner Teacher, the One Who can return me to my true Identity." 

A Course in Miracles - Workbook Lesson #352

“Science relates to Mind, not matter. It rests on fixed Principle and not upon the judgment of false sensation.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 128:27-28

You Are My Guide To Peace

Photo credit: Gerry Toler

One of our local artists tells me that she went to Crystal Bridges, the fabulous museum here in Northwest Arkansas. She said that she ran into another local artist while there, who said to her that she felt hopeless because she realized that no matter how good she was, she would never be as good as the artists they were seeing on display. These words from the other artist had thrown her into a funk, putting quite a damper on her enjoyment of the day. Yikes!! I'm not going to dissect the erroneous thoughts I see coming from those events, but let's look at how this relates to today's Course in Miracles workbook lesson. If I see the statement-maker as sinless, whatever she says is also harmless. Her words cannot bring me pain or suffering of any sort. She is the pure Idea of God. Her words can only be translated into my depression if that's what I perceive. When I see her as she really Is, there is no need for pain, depression, or blame. She can't ruin my day. Only my thoughts toward her can do that for me. While this story was being related to me, I found myself thinking they were both foolish. I quickly realized I was perceiving them through my own warped perception. And so I turned that around, choosing peace and seeing them both as the sinless children of Love which they are — even though my first impulse was to jump up on my soapbox and tell her why they were wrong! Namaste, dear Sisters …

“My sinless brother is my guide to peace. My sinful brother is my guide to pain. And which I choose to see I will behold. Who is my brother but Your holy Son? And if I see him sinful I proclaim myself a sinner, not a Son of God; alone and friendless in a fearful world. Yet this perception is a choice I make, and can relinquish. I can also see my brother sinless, as Your holy Son. And with this choice I see my sinlessness, my everlasting Comforter and Friend beside me, and my way secure and clear. Choose, then, for me, my Father, through Your Voice. For He alone gives judgment in Your Name.”

A Course in Miracles W-351.1:1-7

"Final deliverance from error, whereby we rejoice in immortality, boundless freedom, and sinless sense, is not reached through paths of flowers nor by pinning one's faith without works to another's vicarious effort. Whosoever believeth that wrath is righteous or that divinity is appeased by human suffering, does not understand God."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 22:23-28

Unfolding the Primal Order

Art by Mickey McGrath

I love this quote attributed to Albert Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Through various religious teachings, most of us think of a miracle as divine power setting aside a material law, allowing something otherworldly or supernatural to occur. What if a miracle is simply a correction of our limiting beliefs, opening us to divine Mind and the limitless Life which is our true heritage as a child of Love? By this remembrance, we heal our mind of separation, giving us a clarity of thought and sight before unknown. I am very grateful —

“The miracle introduces no disorder, but unfolds the primal order, establishing the Science of God’s unchangeable law. Spiritual evolution alone is worthy of the exercise of divine power.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 135:6-10

“Miracles mirror God’s eternal Love. To offer them is to remember Him, and through His memory to save the world. What we forgive becomes a part of us, as we perceive ourselves. The Son of God incorporates all things within himself as You created him. Your memory depends on his forgiveness. What he is, is unaffected by his thoughts. But what he looks upon is their direct result. Therefore, my Father, I would turn to You. Only Your memory will set me free. And only my forgiveness teaches me to let Your memory return to me, and give it to the world in thankfulness.

“And as we gather miracles from Him, we will indeed be grateful. For as we remember Him, His Son will be restored to us in the reality of Love.”

A Course in Miracles W-350.1:1–2:2

The Gift I Want to Give

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick 

It may seem impossible to look upon all things without judgment, seeing the miracle of love instead. When I think about doing this, my ego goes into overdrive, telling me that doing so would condone injustice; that I must point out wrongdoing and find ways to right it. To me, looking through the eyes of divine Love means that I’m willing to wear my heart on my sleeve and do whatever I’m called on to further the cause of unity. This doesn’t mean that I’ll just say, “Oh, bless his heart”, and continue on as though nothing is wrong. Seeing with divine vision isn’t a sugar-coated coping device; it’s a way to see through the bullshit to Truth. We hear a lot of discussion about how to recognize what truth is, or how to know what to believe, and what to discredit and ignore. We’re discovering that by releasing what we think of as right and wrong allows divine Mind to be heard loud and clear. And it feels like a reviving cup of cold water when we feel as though we’re wandering through the desert!

“Millions of unprejudiced minds — simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert — are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ’s name, and never fear the consequences.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 570:14-18 

“Today I let Christ’s vision look upon all things for me and judge them not, but give each one a miracle of love instead. So would I liberate all things I see, and give to them the freedom that I seek. For thus do I obey the law of love, and give what I would find and make my own. It will be given me, because I have chosen it as the gift I want to give. Father, Your gifts are mine. Each one that I accept gives me a miracle to give. And giving as I would receive, I learn Your healing miracles belong to me.

“Our Father knows our needs. ²He gives us grace to meet them all. And so we trust in Him to send us miracles to bless the world, and heal our minds as we return to Him.”

A Course in Miracles W-349.1:1–2:3

Safety For All

 Donna Ashworth writes words of comfort and hope. 

Today I share with you a writing from her.

“I think there are many of us who don’t know what to think, right now…

There is so much wrong and so little to be done. 

And what we are witnessing is beyond the pale, and so we wait, mute, hoping that some sense will be made, that some miracle will occur.

I think there are many of us who don’t know what to say, right now.

And so we are silent instead.

And we silently pray.

Pray for answers, for peace, for a miracle. 

Pray for a superman to sweep in and save the innocent, right the wrongs, clean the chaos and put the buildings back together so everyone can go home again.

I think there are many of us, so many of us, who don’t know what to do,

 right now...

And so we go about our lives, seemingly normal.

But inside we are praying. 

Inside we are hoping.

Inside we are desperate to find a way to help.

Desperate for safety for all.

Desperate for safety for all.”

By Donna Ashworth

“I have no cause for anger or for fear, for You surround me. And in every need that I perceive, Your grace suffices me. Father, let me remember You are here, and I am not alone. Surrounding me is everlasting Love. I have no cause for anything except the perfect peace and joy I share with You. What need have I for anger or for fear? Surrounding me is perfect safety. Can I be afraid, when Your eternal promise goes with me? Surrounding me is perfect sinlessness. What can I fear, when You created me in holiness as perfect as Your Own?

“God’s grace suffices us in everything that He would have us do. And only that we choose to be our will as well as His.”

A Course in Miracles W-348.1:1–2:2

"The great miracle to human sense is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man. This goal is never reached while we hate our neighbor." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 560: 11-13