Nothing But The Truth

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

The topic of A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #251 is:​ ​“I am in need of nothing but the truth." Ask a group of people t​o define truth​, and you​'ll​ probably receive as many answers as there are people asked​. You’ll hear talk of “my truth” and “your truth”, but hardly ever does Truth with a capital “T” come into the conversation. I’m beginning to understand that Truth is always unfolding as individual consciousness, intuition, and inspiration. This Truth doesn’t stand still in one spot and ask to be defined. It’s not opinion or belief, but rather the ideas heard within ourselves ​from​ omnipotent Mind, which is the source of all. ​Forsaking mortal mind’s ego definitions of the truth of our being opens the door to infinite possibilities! We are all ​longing for truth​,​ more​so​ with every passing day…

“A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 453:12-13

Intentions and Results

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Years ago, I had to call tech support over an iPad issue. It was fairly complicated and when we were ready to install the firmware the lady from India said to me, “Let’s set our intention for a good result!” I have remembered that statement all these years and use it often. Recently when I said that to someone, it was clear they didn’t think it would make any difference. They actually assured me that things always turn out badly for them. I’ve been pondering this the last couple of days. My certainty that a good result will happen no matter what I’m doing doesn’t mean things will always go smoothly; nor does it mean I’ll always like the outcome of a situation. This “good result” of which I speak makes itself known in unexpected ways when I release my preconceived notions of how things should be done. The many instances of unexpected solutions appearing in my thoughts, or showing up in others’ actions, are countless in my memory. I used to believe in “Murphy’s Law” and think that if anything could go “wrong”, it would. Now that I expect a “good result”, without delineating what that will be, I’m certain every thought is important!

“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionally to their occupancy of your thoughts.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 261:4

Passing Through Illusions

 

"Whatever suffers is not part of me" [ACIM ​W​orkbook ​L​esson #248]​ These words​ could possibly be taken as an unfeeling, heartless statement. I see it as an expression of pure Love which allows us to pass through illusions into the reality of good, God. The death of a loved one is difficult in many ways, but I think the myths we have concocted surrounding this passage may do more harm than good. We say things like, God took her to be with ​Him because she was so good. Although these words are spoken in the name of kindness, I’m not sure they help anyone ​who is grieving. As we begin to understand divine reality, we are released from the stories we tell ourselves in favor of the Truth which sets us free. I'll always remember reading the book, "Beloved Prophet", which is the story of Kahlil Gibran and the woman who loved him. She sat at his funeral with a peaceful smile on her face, and when asked why she wasn't upset, she responded that she had never felt closer to him. What a lovely realization of Oneness and eternity!

"It was the divine law of Life and Love, unfolding to me the demonstrable fact that matter possesses neither sensation nor life; that human experiences show the falsity of all material things; and that immortal cravings, ‘the price of learning love,’ establish the truism that the only sufferer is mortal mind, for the divine Mind cannot suffer." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 108:5-11


​"​A Course in Miracles - LESSON 248​ - ​Whatever Suffers Is Not Part Of Me.

I have disowned the truth. Now let me be as faithful in disowning falsity. Whatever suffers is not part of me. What grieves is not myself. What is in pain is but illusion in my mind. What dies was never living in reality, and did but mock the truth about myself. Now I disown self-concepts and deceits and lies about the holy Son of God. Now am I ready to accept him back as God created him, and as he is.

Father, my ancient love for You returns, and lets me love Your Son again as well. Father, I am as You created me. Now is Your Love remembered, and my own. Now do I understand that they are one.​"​

Tears

 

Piney Creek Flowers on my piano

I’ve had one of those days when everything has moved me to tears: happy things, sad events — varying degrees of tears, from eyes welling up to sobs. There is a bond between a cousin in south Texas and myself. We have never met, but have been communicating through Facebook for several years. She ‘s been submitting to chemotherapy for eight years and has been in intense pain every day. I asked her if she would follow this route if she had it to do over again, and she said no; that she had only begun treatment to appease her mother. She is ready for it to be over. I love how she reminds me to appreciate every moment of freedom from pain and emotional upset. I cried with her today. I also sobbed when my cat ate a butterfly. My eyes leaked when listening to Father Joseph deliver a homily about helping one another. Hearing a chorus of hospital workers on America’s Got Talent almost brought me to my knees. When I was a child, my parents would tell me the only reason a person cried was to get others to feel sorry for them. I’d love to tell them that full hearts must overflow. And that’s okay.

“Take heart, dear sufferer, for this reality of being will surely appear sometimes 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.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 573:29

Choose Again and Go Forward With Joy

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Do you have an incident from childhood which has stayed with you, perhaps even affecting the way you live today? I know someone who, as a young child, caught her mother in a compromising position with a man other than her father. She refuses to marry. I know a man who found his father dead from a self-inflicted gunshot blast to the head. His whole life is a series of dramatic events which he blames on that incident. I'm sure you know many stories, too. The Disappearance of the Universe, a book by Gary Renard, speaks to events such as these, and more. When we let go of beliefs, we can turn loose ​of ​our history, too. I love hearing stories of people who live through horrendous-seeming events and remain not only happy but proactive. This thing we call forgiveness isn't some sort of divine pardon, but a yielding within ourselves to purity of thought, without the impediments of holding on to memories of wrongdoing, resentment, and pain of all sorts. This yielding includes the release of things which we think have been done to us and things we think we have done to others. So let's choose again, rest in Love, and go forward, with joy!

“As the crude footprints of the past disappear from the dissolving paths of the present, we shall better understand the Science which governs these changes, and shall plant our feet on firmer ground.”  Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 223:4-7

Are We Ready For The Truth?

 
Are we finally ready for the truth? I've heard it said that we, as a human race, can’t stand to hear the truth. I’m told of our fragility concerning honesty about everything from extraterrestrial life to religious doctrine, but I think we are ready for it! People say if truth were told about everything, society would break down. It seems to me that might be a good thing, because our current belief system doesn't appear to be functioning too well. Perhaps everyone's dissatisfaction stems from the feeling that we’re being lied to. A few centuries ago, a total eclipse of the moon would cause many fear-based reactions when the orb turned red, disappeared, then reappeared. The truth has set us free from that irrational fear, and so it can free us in other ways, allowing us to joyfully look up and say, “Wow"! I think we're ready, don't you?!

“Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity.” Mary Baker Eddy- Science & Health Page vii:13-15

Divine Healing

photo credit: Blake Lasater

Jesus was here to teach us many things, not the least of which was how to be nice to each other. His two commandments were to love God above all else and to love our neighbor as ourselves. I've often thought that we need to love ourselves more, as it seems many of us are expressing a lack of love for ourselves in our actions toward others. Jesus was also telling us we are capable of much more than we know. We are not powerless victims of circumstance. He tells us that the things he does, so can we -- and more! Power and dominion have become ugly words because of the things done to others by ruthless people. True power and dominion have to do with peace and grace and Love, as expressed through the healing power within. We are capable of more than we know. Let's not be afraid to express that power in healing every ill which seems so real to our material sense. We are spiritual Beings, expressions of God, perfect and whole, needing nothing to be added or taken away for that perfection to show forth and bless all of humankind.

“In divine Science, man is the true image of God. The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the truer reflection of God and lifted their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow,--thoughts which presented man as fallen, sick, sinning, and dying. The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,--perfect God and perfect man,--as the basis of thought and demonstration.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 259:6-15