Listening For Meaning

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #1

“Nothing I see in this room [on this street,

from this window, in this place] means anything.”

It's a new year! I love the prospect of receiving new inspiration each day when reading these daily workbook lessons. The wondrous thing about this spiritual study is that there is no end. No matter how much you understand, no matter how much you feel you're grown in experience, there is always more! For instance, today's topic says that nothing means anything. Reading this for the first time, someone might think that we are being told not to love, not to care, not to help others. On the contrary! We are being asked to give up all the beliefs and interpretations we have put on everything, clearing the way to hear the ever-present truth of divine Mind. Following these intuitions, we can experience thought-expanding ideas which will lead us to exactly where we need to be and what we need to be doing. What an exciting time to be alive!

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

Heaping Helpings of Love

photo credit: 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."

The last day of the year! When people make decisions on how they will change their lives, it’s always an exciting time, full of hope and expectations. We love to dream of how we will become “better”, and often are disappointed in ourselves when this doesn’t happen the way we have dictated. I think one of the problems with these resolutions is that we want to take away things from ourselves, but have nothing to fill the space left behind. So I’ve decided not to attempt to delete anything from my existence, but to add heaping helpings of Truth instead! There are four books I resolve to when tempted to have popcorn at midnight or something like that! Your Divinity Revealed by Helen Wright; Christian Science Re-Explored written by Margaret Laird; and the textbook of A Course in Miracles and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. May we all have a joyous and happy New Year —and remember to be gentle with yourself. You deserve it! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The image of Spirit cannot be effaced, since it is the idea of Truth and changes not, but becomes more beautifully apparent at error’s demise.” Science & Health Page 542:5-7             

The Smile of Spirit

"Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles 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."

Events happen in our lives which we are hard-pressed to understand. Some people are able to say that it is the will of God and they will accept that, no matter how painful or difficult. I, personally, along with many others, do not accept this as a viable way to live. Turning my life over to the guidance of divine Mind does not mean that I also blame this Principle for all the pain I and others see and feel. The loss of a beloved child, particularly when it is unexpected, would be the worst thing I can imagine occurring in my life. I have, in the past, examined what my reactions would be and questioned some of them, embracing others as a healing step in the journey of living. Everyone has faced pain, and some of that pain probably has seemed to be insurmountable. There are hundreds of books and recordings addressing this issue, so we shan’t attempt to do that in these writings. The tools we are acquiring in this study are as individual and as universal as our lives are. And I am grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Man is the expression of Soul. The Indians caught some glimpses of the underlying reality, when they called a certain beautiful lake “the smile of the Great Spirit.” Separated from man, who expresses Soul, Spirit would be a nonentity; man, divorced from Spirit, would lose his entity. But there is, there can be, no such division, for man is coexistent with God.” Science & Health Page 477:26-3

A Precious Period

photo credit: 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."

I received an email from a friend today who said that this time of year “continues being a precious period to fulfill and be fulfilled”. I love that! It seems to me that this is what every day should bring to us, fulfillment in a reciprocal flow of Love and kindness. The smallest acts of generosity often bring someone a glow of happiness. Looking beyond time-honored ritual and belief can bring a sense of unity and joy to our own hearts. Living in the moment fulfills an appreciation within, which is so easily overlooked in the busy-ness of planning the future. I will embrace this holy instant without looking forward to the next, but simply basking in the beauty and love right now!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear, — this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress.”

Science & Health Page 323:30-4

My Peace

image from Peace Flash

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 often remind myself that if I have a choice of being right or being kind, I’d rather be kind. Now another reminder is to choose peace over specialness. I’m sure I’ve gladly proclaimed to others about my pain, my divorce, my cold, my sciatica, my low bank account — you get the picture! It’s much nicer to look past MY specialness and look for guidance to the divine Mind which is everywhere, allowing feelings to flow with the divine Love which is eternal, and to live with the excitement of Spirit lifting daily activity to the miraculous adventure it can be when I stop dictating reality. Gratitude and appreciation is a peaceful, easy feeling. I choose the harmony of unity, releasing separation and relaxing into infinity!

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 91:5-8

The Supremacy of Peace

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 final five workbook lessons in A Course in Miracles emphasize that we are at a point where we use as few words as possible. Having just watched a documentary entitled "Thrive", I'm tempted to use lots of words and talk of things we can do to facilitate change, such as shopping locally with small businesses, supporting organic farmers, and other ways of living in a state of awareness. But instead, I'll focus on something this film stressed as what we can do in order to heal our world: be quiet. We are urged to find our core of strength through silence, which connects us to everyone. This fits right in with the admonition to use as few words as possible. If you have a chance, watch this film. It could be thought of as frightening, but I see it as a reminder that every thought and action counts. Let's join together in silence and see where it leads us!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"It is only by acknowledging the supremacy of Spirit, which annuls the claims of matter, that mortals can lay off mortality and find the indissoluble spiritual link which establishes man forever in the divine likeness, inseparable from his creator."

Science & Health Page 491:12-16

Spreading Peace

photo credit: Richard Quick

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."

Let it go. Just breathe. We hear these instructions when learning how to break the hold of distress and open ourselves to peace. It took me years to realize that someone or something wasn't "making" me upset, it was my perception and interpretation and reaction to things that caused these feelings. Even with this realization, it's sometimes difficult to not get caught up in the craziness of the world. When I find myself becoming agitated about anything, I will remind myself to "let all the world be blessed with peace through us." After all, I can't change anything but my own self, and how wonderful that it’s the most important thing to do!

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