October 29, 2011

ACIM Lesson #302
“Where darkness was I look upon the light.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

"Autumn Splendor" painting
by Carol Dickie

We've all had experiences where we are recounting an event, probably in great detail, and someone who was with us insists that the details are other than the way we remember them. I can think of many other instances when things weren't as I thought they were. Perceptions are interestingly nuanced by our expectations and experiences. Now that so many are seeing the world through the eyes of illumination, it seems to be easier to turn from the dark and walk in the light. When there are other people seeing through these eyes, it gives us the confidence to admit that we see it, too! Remember "the emperor has no clothes"? If everyone were pretending to not see the shift in our perception of reality, then we might keep silent, too. But they're not! People are not only admitting to this change, but are shouting it from the pinnacle of their understanding. We join today in the Truth.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“EYES: Spiritual discernment,--not material but mental.”
Science & Health Page 586:3

October 28, 2011

ACIM Lesson #301
“And God Himself shall wipe away all tears.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

Often people feel that someone is not reacting appropriately unless they cry profusely upon a loved one's death. And that they should continue to do so for a very long time afterwards. They may even go so far as to say that the dry-eyed person isn't grieving, and that this will come back on them in various ways unless they release their sorrow through active grieving. Kahlil Gibran had a life-long relationship with a woman named Mary Haskell. When he died, she was peacefully smiling while greeting the grieving ones at his funeral. No one understood how this could be. At one point, she quoted words of his to her: "You listen to so much more than I can say. You hear consciousness. You go with me where the words I say can’t carry you." How could she have sadness when the love they shared had always been experienced through thought rather than physical expression? She understood what we are learning about the true reality of our Being.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“Take heart, dear sufferer, for this reality of being will surely appear sometime and in some way. There will be no more pain, and all tears will be wiped away. 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 573:28-2

October 27, 2011



Grotto Spring by Gerry Toler



ACIM Lesson #300

“Only an instant does this world endure.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

We're beginning to see that Life consists as a wholly different reality from what we've come to believe. Intuition and inspiration are becoming guiding realities when we allow them to be. But sometimes these Insights seem to be blocked. Generally, after reading the ACIM lesson, I sit quietly and allow words to come to me for these daily writings. For three days this hasn't happened. In examining why this is, there can only be one reason: my self won't be still to allow my Self to speak. Obviously, God cannot be quieted. Omnipresence can be no less than all presence. This ego presence of my own self is no more an omnipresence than is this instant we are living and calling life. Reaching for reality, striving for Truth -- none of these material actions make any sense. There is nowhere to reach and nothing to strive for or towards. So to search for words is counterproductive. In this day full of interactions and reactions, I vow to go back to the basics of Love: feeling, being, knowing only Love. Is this possible when mortal mind is screaming so loudly for an audience? I know that it is.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit. Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of matter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited. Death and finiteness are unknown to Life. If Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending.”
Science & Health Page 468:26-6

October 26, 2011

ACIM Lesson #299
“Eternal holiness abides in me.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

At this time of year, there are many masquerade balls and parties where pretending to be someone else is part of the fun. We revel in the excitement of becoming unrecognizable through costumes and face paint and masks. I've never been one to enjoy these activities, but I have enjoyed watching others partake in make believe. And watching others watching these activities is interesting, too! Some people are terribly uncomfortable if they don't know who they're talking to. One of the most interesting reactions has come from people who didn't know how to handle a lack of speech from a character dressed in geisha garb and simply smiling sweetly. We all seem to react in different ways to illusion and reality. It's greatly enjoyable figuring out which is which!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“How are veritable ideas to be distinguished from illusions? By learning the origin of each. Ideas are emanations from the divine Mind. Thoughts, proceeding from the brain or from matter, are offshoots of mortal mind; they are mortal material beliefs. Ideas are spiritual, harmonious, and eternal. Beliefs proceed from the so-called material senses, which at one time are supposed to be substance-matter and at another are called spirits.”

Science & Health Page 88:9-16

October 25, 2011

ACIM Lesson #298
“I love You, Father, and I love Your Son.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

A dear friend and I have recently had a few readjustments in our working and personal relationship. These are the same types of adjustments we occasionally experience within oursleves. If a way of thought needs to be purged of error, we do so. And I feel the same way about this friendship. When we are willing to accept our Oneness with divine Love, there is no way anyone can do or say anything which offends us. This beautiful acceptance allows for avenues to open which we may not have seen otherwise because of "senseless journeys ... and artificial values". I'm pleased to go forward with renewed thought and purpose in this ever-expanding friendship which has always been and always will be. When there was joking mention made of winning the way back to friendship, we both knew there was no necessity for anything as dualistic as winning or losing when it comes to Love. Namaste ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“Love never loses sight of loveliness. Its halo rests upon its object. One marvels that a friend can ever seem less than beautiful. Men and women of riper years and larger lessons ought to ripen into health and immortality, instead of lapsing into darkness or gloom.”
Science & Health Page 249:3-7

October 24, 2011

Photo by Dale Johnson

ACIM Lesson #297

“Forgiveness is the only gift I give.”

[Marsha's thoughs]We so often think of forgiveness as being given by ourselves to others. It seems that when we give this grace to ourselves, it is automatically given to everyone. I have a good friend who glows with inner beauty and Love. She recently told me that she realized she had no guilt. All those little things she had blamed herself for are gone. Most of us have things we feel bad about, whether it's something unintentionally hurtful said to a friend or perhaps a premeditated act from childhood. I know I do. By following my friend’s beautiful example, I hope to feel this grace which is God, and through this feeling will watch all blame and pain disappear and be replaced with the peace and acceptance which is mine.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection”
No and Yes, p. 39:17-18

October 23, 2011

ACIM Lesson #296
“The Holy Spirit speaks through me today.”



Book Club Friends Forever

[Marsha's thoughts]

Yesterday, two things struck me as profoundly, oddly wonderful! At one point, there were ten or so people in the gallery, happily enjoying art and listening to the jazzings of Diana Krall. Suddenly, we heard shouting outside. It was someone yelling out his window at another driver. Immediately -- and I mean immediately!! -- we all burst into laughter! It was so wonderful. What a beautiful shift in thought that none of us saw anything either right or wrong with this behavior, but we did see how ridiculous it was -- in a funny way! Wow. I was and am awestruck by the way this felt. And later on, a woman asked me if I was going to take "early ascension"! Now that was a conversation!! All of these signs and wonders are very exciting as we watch and meld into this shift of consciousness which is being evidenced everywhere! As a movie on quantum physics asks us:

How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?

Hum -- I'm not sure we have a choice!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Eloquence re-echoes the strains of Truth and Love.

It is due to inspiration rather than to erudition."

Science & Health Page 88:26-27