November 1, 2012 - Peace in Any Circumstance

"St. Liz Belfry in Fall"
photo by Dale Johnson

ACIM Workbook Lesson #305

“There is a peace that Christ bestows on us.”

Absolutely any situation can be filled with peace. There are accounts of people facing the direst of situations calmly, with a seeming other-worldly sense of peace. I witnessed one of these situations when visiting with a couple in the midst of a life-changing disease. When I walked into their home, the first thing I felt was an all-encompassing peace. My dear friend related how inspired she was by the leaves falling from the trees this autumn. She told me how they take care of themselves. She never rakes them up into piles, but allows them to go where they need to be, and there they change to whatever form is required of them -- soil, protection for seedlings, shelter for insects and small animals. She sees perfection in this plan and knows that the same perfection is taking place in all existence. I am grateful to have experienced this deep and quiet peace with them. The peace of God is there for all, no matter what the material circumstance. It satisfies the hungering senses, it calms fear, it answers questions before they're asked.

Mary Baker Eddy poem

“Satisfied”

 It matters not what be thy lot,

        So Love doth guide;

For storm or shine, pure peace is thine,

        Whate'er betide.

 And of these stones, or tyrants' thrones,

        God able is

To raise up seed — in thought and deed —

        To faithful His.

 Aye, darkling sense, arise, go hence!

        Our God is good.

False fears are foes — truth tatters those,

        When understood.

 Love looseth thee, and lifteth me,

        Ayont hate's thrall:

There Life is light, and wisdom might,

        And God is All.

 The centuries break, the earth-bound wake,

        God's glorified!

Who doth His will — His likeness still —

        Is satisfied.

 (Poems by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 79)

October 31, 2012 - Hints of Truth

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #304

“Let not my world obscure the sight of Christ.”

"Somewhere in China - 2009"
photo by Aaron Springston

Writings throughout the ages have given us hints as to the grand possibilities we might have as realities. As attested by powerful mythological characters and poetry which transforms our being, we have longed for the ability to change what seems to be the reality of situations in and around our personal existence. The world tells us that we are victims of circumstances, with life being experienced at the whim of chance meetings with luck, this being termed either good or bad. Every time we hear a story telling of something we think is impossible to us, but which contains outcomes so beautiful we wish it were within the realm of our world, let's accept the fact that there are no limits. Who knows what we're capable of doing? We seem to exceed expected outcomes in every avenue of existence. Wasn't it said that running a mile in less than four minutes was impossible? And it sure seems like the sun is going around the earth, don't you think? Today I set free any thought of limitation, any assumptions I may have as to what's what, and by doing so open the inner ways of sight.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Truth never destroys God's idea. Truth is spiritual, eternal substance, which cannot destroy the right reflection. Corporeal sense, or error, may seem to hide Truth, health, harmony, and Science, as the mist obscures the sun or the mountain; but Science, the sunshine of Truth, will melt away the shadow and reveal the celestial peaks.”

Science & Health Page 299:24-30

October 30, 2012 - Don't Let Words Bother You

"Yellowstone Park Sunset"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #303

“The holy Christ is born in me today.”

Today's ACIM lesson and commentary and prayer contain many of the words which sometimes trigger adverse reactions in us. Perhaps these reactions can be set aside by a repetition of what God and Christ truly mean. I reiterate that there is One God and so we need not think in terms of my god and your god. There is only One God, and our interpretation of what that means is the only way there can appear to be many ruling principles. By saying that "the Christ is born in me today", we are acknowledging that the divine manifestation of God is realized within me today. Please, please, change these words into whatever feels right to you. And please, please don't allow these words' connotations to turn you away from the Love which you are. And if you feel disoriented and sort of happily confused, don't fear that either! This giddiness is part of the shift to this beautiful realization of God within! Embrace it and be free!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“CHRIST: The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error.”

Science & Health Page 583:10-11

October 29, 2012 - Looking with Light Eyes

"Autumn Splendor"
watercolor by Carol Dickie

ACIM Workbook Lesson #302

“Where darkness was I look upon the light.”

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 instances when things weren't as I thought they were. Perceptions are interestingly nuanced by our expectations and experiences. Now that so many people are seeing the world through the eyes of illumination, it seems to be easier to turn away from the dark and be in the light. When there are other people seeing through these eyes of light, 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 hearts today in the Truth.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“EYES: Spiritual discernment,--not material but mental.”

Science & Health Page 586:3

October 28, 2012 - All Tears Wiped Away

"Forgiveness"
Painting by Carol Peacock

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #301

“And God Himself shall wipe away all tears.”

We have come to expect tears from someone who has lost a loved one. If those tears are not apparent, we tend to think there is something wrong. We may speculate that the peaceful person is not reacting appropriately, and that their lack of expressing grief will come back on them in various ways. It might even be said that they didn't really care.  Kahlil Gibran had a life-long relationship with a woman named Mary Haskell. When he died, she was peacefully smiling while greeting the grieving people at his funeral. No one understood how this could be. At one point, she quoted words he had written to her: "You listen to so much more than I can say. You hear consciousness. You go with me where the words I say cannot 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. We are Spirit. We are connected. Nothing can change that. 

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, 2012 - Creative Inspiration is Yours

"Germany, 2006"
photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #300

“Only an instant does this world endure.”

We're beginning to see life as wholly different from what we've been taught to believe. Intuition and inspiration are guiding realities when we allow them to be. But occasionally people feel their creativity, their inspiration, is blocked. Some may think their muse is silenced. In examining the reasons for this occurrence, there can only be one reason: my self won't be silent in order to allow my Self to be heard. Obviously, as a reflection of God we cannot be without inspiration. The omnipresence which we reflect can be no less than all presence. The ego presence of material existence, which we think of as our reality, 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. To search for inspiration is counterproductive. And so if you're feeling uninspired, or maybe just kind of "blah", remember your Source of creativity. Then walk in the woods, dig in the dirt, do anything which brings you in contact with All that Is. Let's wait for the inspiration that is such a part of us that it can't be silenced. Listen, Love, Live.

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, 2012 - Illusion or Veritable Ideas?

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #299

“Eternal holiness abides in me.”

Illusions at Eureka Thyme

It's often difficult to see through the illusion of error to the harmony of reality. 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 join in these activities, but 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 I've witnessed has come from people who didn't know how to perceive a character dressed in geisha garb, who was simply smiling sweetly, but not speaking. We all seem to react in different ways to illusion and reality, especially when the real seems illusive and the illusion seems real. What fun we're having learning to recognize the difference!

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