January 1, 2013 - Freedom from Belief

"Bryce Canyon Sunrise"
photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Lesson #1

“Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] means anything.”

Everything is important; nothing is important. This much-repeated Buddhist axiom is the first thing which comes to mind when reading today's lesson. We tend to place meaning and importance on everything around us, in varying degrees of intensity, with good and bad connotations. We set up a dualistic situation with absolutely everything, and then we tell ourselves that it's necessary. People often say that if we didn't have bad, we wouldn't know and appreciate good. I think it's worth giving it a try, don't you? Let's allow it to just Be and see if we don't appreciate how wonderfully perfect it all is! Let's not worry when things are harmonious, wondering how long it can last. Let's accept what's happening around us without placing a meaning on it. The freedom gained from this abandonment of preconceived notions is our heritage. Let's not be shy about claiming it!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The enslavement of man is not legitimate. It will cease when man enters into his heritage of freedom, his God-given dominion over the material senses."

Science & Health Page 228:11-13

December 31, 2012 - Retrospection

"Yield" Steel Sculpture at Crystal Bridges
by Roxy Paine
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #365

"This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You,  Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

At this time of introspection and retrospection, I'm remembering the disciplines people practice which are based in Love. In this parenthesis in eternity we are all recognizing the principle we know as Love. Everyone I talk to is excited about the prospect of this shift in consciousness! Even those who fear change are wondering what is happening, and many are embracing it. The number of changes we're witnessing around us testify to the major thought turn-arounds we're experiencing. We are learning what reality is, and spending every moment seeing it in our experience. This knowledge and demonstration is what spurs us onward in our daily expression of Oneness. We have a willingness to expel from thought anything which is not a reflection of this Love. The peace of God is ours for the recognition of it.  Happy New Year -- now and every moment! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The divine hand led me into a new world of light and Life, a fresh universe -- old to God, but new to His 'little one.' It became evident that the divine Mind alone must answer, and be found as the Life, or Principle, of all being; and that one must acquaint himself with God, if he would be at peace."

Retrospection and Introspection Page 27:29-4

December 30, 2012 - Living Love

"Aaron and the Great Wall"
photographer unknown

ACIM Workbook Lesson #364

"This holy instant would I give to You.

Be You in charge. For I would follow You,

Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

All the insecurities, the feelings of loss and lack, the guilt and blame, all these things are losing their reality to us. Now that we see the unreality of these beliefs within ourselves, it's hard not pointing them out to others when they present themselves! These last few days, I've noticed what I do say in the face of negativity, fear, anger, and hate. After a snide racial comment from a terse-lipped woman, I said, "Keep smiling!" Upon which she gave me a fake smile, and I gave her a small Namaste' bow and left. When asked advice concerning someone's unhappiness, (knowing through experience that none of us can fix any other of us) my only suggestion was to concentrate on what brings happiness and fulfillment, and the unhappiness and emptiness will be lost in its face. We live what we've learned, giving to others from our receiving. What fun to see the joy this day will bring!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The sculptor turns from the marble to his model in order to perfect his conception. We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought. What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model? Are you reproducing it? Then you are haunted in your work by vicious sculptors and hideous forms. Do you not hear from all mankind of the imperfect model? The world is holding it before your gaze continually. The result is that you are liable to follow those lower patterns, limit your lifework, and adopt into your experience the angular outline and deformity of matter models. To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives.”

Science & Health Page 248:12-29

December 29, 2012 - Your Direction Gives me Peace

"Mountaintop Experience in Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #363

"This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You, Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

It's tempting to think that following divine direction leads to epiphanies in thought and action.  The daily, quietly-received followings are the ones that excite me. This was shown to me when my son and I were making video segments for a virtual studio tour of the artists of Eureka Thyme. After a full day of interviewing and recording artists, it was my turn to do a shoot at the gallery. I didn't anticipate any problems and hadn't planned what to say because I trust these thoughts to flow from their source through me. After the first "take" my son made some suggestions about what I should be saying. At this point, I started to think and plan what I was going to say. He even suggested I practice what I would say, and I did. This was the beginning of an hour-long series of starts and stops which digressed to the point of me not being able to get past saying my name before being tongue-tied or making an odd face. It was ridiculous! At this point, he suggested I speak from the heart. And so I slipped back into my native state of trusting that I will know what to say and do. I got out of my way and let the only Way come through. Could this be why so many creative geniuses have been imbibers of spirits? When we get away from habitual mindsets, there is a freedom which flows through us. It's easy to believe we need help in leaving worn out thoughts behind. But do we? I'm going to let my heart answer this one.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Mind is not necessarily dependent upon educational processes. It possesses of itself all beauty and poetry, and the power of expressing them. Spirit, God, is heard when the senses are silent. We are all capable of more than we do. The influence or action of Soul confers a freedom, which explains the phenomena of improvisation and the fervor of untutored lips."

Science & Health Page 89:18-24

December 28, 2012 - Kinship with All Things

"Whitefish Lake - Montana"
photo by Aaron Springston 

ACIM Workbook Lesson #362

"This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You, Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

I have mentioned many times in this past year that I feel animals are showing us the way to living our true Being. Not only do they mirror back to us any emotions we may be secretly harboring, they show us how to communicate more effectively through telepathy and actions, rather than words. In watching "The Dog Whisperer", I have gained many insights into the reasons our dogs often seem neurotic and out of control. The reason always comes back to us, the people who love these dogs. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to see what we're really thinking! Calm, assertive behavior is the mantra of Cesar Milan, the dog Whisperer. And assertive doesn't mean aggressive. It involves a certainty which is only attained through inner knowledge only heard in quiet, calm moments. These moments express the eternal holy instant where we forever abide with the certainty of peace. So I will continue to watch and learn from observing this kinship with all things living. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated from God, and obey only the divine Principle, Life and Love. Here is the great point of departure for all true spiritual growth."

Science & Health Page 91:3-6

December 27, 2012 - Peace

"Peaceful Christmas"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #361

"This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You, Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

The introduction to these final lessons tells us that we now want to go beyond words. Words will be used only as a reminder of that which we do not want in our lives any longer. We have been practicing letting go of each and every belief we've ever held to be true -- or false! I am reminded of an Infinite Way tape which is entitled "There Is No Health". By the admission that there is good health, you leave the door open for the belief that there is bad health. This same principle is at work in every facet of our lives. In ceasing to think of anything as good or bad, we are simply open to what Is. Everything I need, whether it be a word, a thought, any thing, appears when I am open with no expectations. 

Peace ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies.”

Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Page 307

December 26, 2012 - Acts of Kindness

"Mongolian Mountains at Dusk"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #360

"Peace be to me, the holy Son of God. Peace to my brother, who is one with me. Let all the world be blessed with peace through us."

Every time I see a bumper sticker which proclaims "Random Acts of Kindness", or hear of another person promoting good deeds through something like a "Pay It Forward" campaign, it reaffirms my conviction that soon everyone will be expressing the Love from which they are made. Many friends have related their personal stories of such events, and a favorite is from one who lives in Chicago. She has a business on a busy street and has set up her own pay it forward campaign with a box for people to put spare change for the needy. Recently she noticed that a truck stopped outside and two men got out. They were looking at the sign explaining what the box was for, and one of the men bent over the box. So she went outside to see what they were up to. As money was missing from the box, she explained to the man what it was for, whereupon he became verbally abusive to her and got into his vehicle and drove away. Shortly after this, she was relating the story to a couple of people who came into her flower shop. They all decided that this was not the innate nature of this man and they should be silent for a few moments and affirm his reality as a child of Love. She tells me an hour had barely passed when this man came back in and apologized to her and put money into the box. I think this story exemplifies every change of heart we are all witnessing everywhere! I encourage you to share your stories with others through blogs and Facebook pages and everyone you interact with. One of my favorite ways of encouraging the growth of expressed goodness is through Charlie Johnson's campaign: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orzoXmx6b3g

Just this moment I received an email with a blog which seems pertinent to our affirmative expressions:www.LifeTapestryCreations.com

Of course, I love Jim Young's site: www.CreationSpirit.net 

Join with me in spreading the Word in whatever way is comfortable for you. Love and light to you, dear Friends!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Let us learn of the real and eternal, and prepare for the reign of Spirit, the kingdom of heaven,—the reign and rule of universal harmony, which cannot be lost nor remain forever unseen."

Science & Health Page 208:20-24