Free of Prejudice

South Africa - Aaron Springston PC

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #152

“The power of decision is my own.”

My parents considered themselves to be free of prejudice. After all, my dad had married a Chicano girl from South Texas, and in 1931 this was tantamount to marrying outside of "your race", which wasn't often done. I'll always remember a day when I was around 10 years old and we were riding in the car. My mom and dad were talking about Sammy Davis, Jr., a black man, marrying May Britt, a very white woman. I piped up and said, "I wouldn't mind marrying a black man". Dead silence ensued. Not another word was said until we got to our destination and my mom took me aside and told me never to say anything like that again. I didn't understand it then, and I don't understand it now. The difference is that now I have the option of making a decision to stand with Oneness as my only choice in Life. We are all the children of God. There is no decision to be made when you leave aside the strange human interpretations we have placed on everything in this world. So I will continue to strive to recognize what we have created in this illusive world, look through it to the other side, and live that as my reality. Namaste' to the World!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The point for each one to decide is, whether it is mortal mind or immortal Mind that is causative. We should forsake the basis of matter for metaphysical Science and its divine Principle.” Science & Health 195:11-14

Listening For Echoes

ACIM Workbook Lesson #151 “All things are echoes of the Voice for God.”

What is truth? Everywhere we look, it seems we have been and are being told lies. Religion, science, politics, the news media, advertisements, history — the list goes on. If something is a lie, why do we cling to it so adamantly? Perhaps we prefer to live in a world of well-rehearsed lies rather than to take a step into the great unknown universe of Truth. And then we ask, How do we know what is Truth in a world of lies? That, dear Ones, is why we must listen within. Today’s Course in Miracles workbook lesson describes this as “echoes of the Voice for God”. We are told all things are these echoes, so what of the material, mortal, ego-based beliefs which simply don’t feel right when we hear them or speak them? The reality of our existence is covered up so thoroughly we often forget how to experience it. But we’re remembering, aren’t we? Infinite Mind never hides Its voice, and we’re learning to hear.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.” Science & Health Page 516:4-8

There Is No Spoon

creation of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #150 Review of: #139 "I will accept Atonement for myself." #140 "Only salvation can be said to cure." The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God."

In the movie, "The Matrix", there were some profound metaphysical principles addressed. I particularly liked when Neo is in what appears to be some sort of center for extraordinary behavior. He goes up to a person bending a spoon without touching it. Neo tries to bend the spoon with his mind, but cannot. He is told that the way to do this is through knowing the truth: The spoon is not there. This is what metaphysical healing is all about. Today's ACIM review tells us the only cure is the understanding that there is no place where sickness can abide. In other words, the spoon is not there. If we are attempting to change a material condition through metaphysical practice, it's just like trying to bend the spoon with the power of your mind. Only by the knowledge of its unreality is it seen for what it actually is: an idea. We are all ideas of divine Mind. In that metaphysical reality, we are all One. What will this realization unfold in experience today? I am open to everything with no expectations whatsoever!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“What to material sense seems substance, becomes nothingness, as the sense-dream vanishes and reality appears.”

Science & Health 312:5-7

Heaven Within

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #149 Review of: #137 "When I am healed I am not healed alone." #138 "Heaven is the decision I must make." The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.” 

Jesus taught how knowing the Truth would set us free. He also mentioned the kingdom of heaven is within. With these ideas in mind, it seems possible to understand the Truth which will set us free is the inner knowing we all hold inside of us: the knowledge that we are holy. We really are the image and likeness of divine Mind, with all the perks that implies. We are the experience and expression of God! We have no function other than to live every moment in the acceptance of our holiness. As spiritual sight outshines material illusions, the kingdom of heaven is our only reality! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “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.” Science & Health Page 560:12-15

How Far Down the Rabbit Hole Do You Want to Go?

photo credit: Heather Peters

ACIM Workbook Lesson #148 Review of: #135 "If I defend myself I am attacked." #136 "Sickness is a defense against the truth."

The main idea to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

These two review topics take us all the way down the rabbit hole! If you simply want feel-good, improve-your-relationships, make-more-money types of reading material, I suggest you stay away from this. And I don't mean that in an ugly way. I've found that a momentary recognition of the Truth of Being leads me to want more, but I've known many people who won’t go there. And that's cool, too. The present beliefs we espouse and demonstrate in daily life are comfortable to us, and it can be difficult to let them go. Often we have held on to stubborn memories of the past for so long that we can't seem to dig our way out and up. These things can be frightening, especially if we've convinced ourselves we don't like change. If you become afraid while trying on these new ideas we are exploring, step back for a moment and sing a Beatles song or two! Do anything you can to cultivate joy. Live life fully in the whirlpool of divine Love! Go all the way down the rabbit hole, knowing every step is sure when you walk with Love.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love.”

Science & Health Page 477:20-22

What Do I Value?

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Lesson #147

Review of: #133 "I will not value what is valueless." #134 "Let me perceive forgiveness as it is." The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

One of the gauges we are given in Lesson #133, in order to recognize value, is to ask ourselves if what we’re valuing is changeable. What does not change? Certainly everything physical changes, often quite rapidly. Love, with a capital L doesn't change, although many of the fleeting things we call love do, perhaps growing, lessening, or even turning into other not-so-nice emotions. The next question we are asked is if we feel guilt in association with what we value. So now we have two tests to check for the reality of what we value: does it last and do we feel guilty in any way. I'm looking around the room right now and asking myself what do I value. Many things bring a smile, and some I enjoy seeing and remembering the events and people associated with them -- but value? No, I don't value anything in here as much as I value the living creatures in my life, whether present or remembered. I'm beginning to understand that Life, Truth, Love are mine as a reflection of divine Mind, and that these are universally shared through the Principle of Spirit and Soul. I'm recognizing this existence in everything and seeing that loss is, indeed, gain.

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

“Break up cliques, level wealth with honesty, let worth be judged according to wisdom, and we get better views of humanity.”

Science & Health Page 239:7-10

Litmus Test

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Lesson #146

Review of: #131 "No one can fail who seeks to reach the truth." #132 "I loose the world from all I thought it was." The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

How do we know if our actions express divine consciousness or if we're simply doing things because we think we should? I read a book which contained a good test to help us know the difference. Doing involves planning and following steps to get us from here to there. Being, on the other hand, doesn't mean we just sit around and do nothing, but demands we follow our feelings while staying in the present moment. The author, Anita Moorjani, states she can tell the difference by looking at the emotions behind her everyday decisions. If her actions are the result of fear, she is in the doing mode, but if everything she does is driven by passion and a zest for living, then she is Being. As an example, she speaks to the process of buying a house. There are many steps and plans you might make when deciding between two places, but the ultimate decision would be how you feel about one of them. Let’s listen to our hearts today as we go about this business of life. By doing so, we will experience Life!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The divine Mind supports the sublimity, magnitude, and infinitude of spiritual creation.”

Science & Health Page 511:5-6