A Grateful Heart A Garden Is

     

Long Creek Herbs

A group of us visited with my dear friends, Jim and Josh, at their beautiful home and business, Long Creek Herbs. They have worked four decades to create the peaceful beauty which we experienced during our visit. The flowers, herbs, hand-made garden trellises, the gazebo — all this, and more, combine to invite a visit on the front porch. And so we did. We were treated to fresh-from-the-garden strawberries and cold water with fresh mint. The butterflies frolicked while we enjoyed the beautiful spring day and each others’ company. I hope everyone can experience this type of peace, and then carry it with them no matter where they go or what they do. Peace does, after all, begin or end within our own selves. But the inspiration of a day like today makes it easier to look through the mirage of craziness roiling all around us. And I am grateful …


“A grateful heart a garden is,
Where there is always room
For every lovely, Godlike grace
To come to perfect bloom.”
—Christian Science Hymnal Page 3

“When you have looked on what seemed terrifying, and seen it change to sights of loveliness and peace; when you have looked on scenes of violence and death, and watched them change to quiet views of gardens under open skies, with clear, life-giving water running happily beside them in dancing brooks that never waste away; who need persuade you to accept the gift of vision? And after vision, who is there who could refuse what must come after? Think but an instant just on this; you can behold the holiness God gave His Son. ⁴And never need you think that there is something else for you to see.”
—A Course in Miracles T-20.VIII.11:1-4

A New Earth

On this Earth Day, I have a vision. I see a world built on honesty. All liars will be uncovered and replaced with honorable human beings who value lives more than cash. Schools will teach children to love learning, rather than to spit out rhetoric. Religious institutions will be there to help those in need, finding ways to supply their material needs while feeding their spirit. We will be allowed to know what Spirit is, rather than simply repeating religious beliefs which manipulate and punish. We'll know about the good in ourselves as well as our neighbors and love ourselves more as a result. We then see the value in making art -- music painting, creativity of all kinds -- and understanding how those practices allow us to be whole, rather than automatons which spit out facts and figures. I see a world where we can trust ourselves enough to stand up for what is right and just for all, not just those in our tribe. Let's build back a world where all its resources are kept intact and nurtured, using the things which never run out, realizing the sun shines on us all equally, and is here for our supply. We will know the value of every living creature, realizing that the loss of one leaves a hole in the music of the earth. We will be proud of knowledge, science, learning of any and all sorts. We will see that we can understand God, because we are Its reflection and that source lies within us. Namaste …

“What hatred claimed is given up to love, and freedom lights up every living thing and lifts it into Heaven, where the lights grow ever brighter as each one comes home. The incomplete is made complete again, and Heaven’s joy has been increased because what is its own has been restored to it. The bloodied earth is cleansed, and the insane have shed their garments of insanity to join Them on the ground whereon you stand.”
—A Course in Miracles T-26.IX.4:4-6

"St. John's corporeal sense of the heavens and earth had vanished, and in place of this false sense was the spiritual sense, the subjective state by which he could see the new heaven and new earth, which involve the spiritual idea and consciousness of reality."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 573:19

Renewing Your Mind

Do you think the study of divine metaphysics is difficult? One person tells me he thinks it's incomprehensible, and it would take years of study and training to understand. Another tells me she's not smart enough to "get it". Yet another thinks she's not up for the hard work this way of living entails. I've been pondering these statements. Are they true? Does it take some special dispensation, some quantum gift from beyond, an unraveling of DNA, or perhaps years of study? Maybe we think it will take a long time to change our way of thinking because it's taken us decades to solidify our present matter-based belief systems. The spiritual Truth we're uncovering has always been a part of us: It's our birthright as a reflection of divinity. What takes practice is leaving behind the erroneous teachings of a lifetime. The easy part is the realization that Truth is always within us, just waiting to be discovered. With this discovery comes a renewal of our mind, which comes from pushing aside false beliefs and uncovering the truths we've always known. So, no, I don't think it's hard work. But it is dedicated work. It takes discipline to see and feel as Love. Not through Love, not with Love, but AS Love. That is our essence. That is our Truth. Let's keep it simple!

“Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can ‘run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint,’ who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 254:2-6

“Put not your faith in illusions. They will fail you. Put all your faith in the Love of God within you; eternal, changeless and forever unfailing. This is the answer to whatever confronts you today. Through the Love of God within you, you can resolve all seeming difficulties without effort and in sure confidence. Tell yourself this often today. It is a declaration of release from the belief in idols. It is your acknowledgment of the truth about yourself.”
—A Course in Miracles W-50.4:1-8

Facing Trauma; Healing Lives

Chili Dog circa 2012

Interpersonal relationships can often feel out of control. Dogs and their people are the focus of Cesar Milan, a/k/a the Dog Whisperer. I love watching these shows and seeing how he helps people pinpoint their anxieties and understand how they are passing them on to their dogs. In watching Season 3, Episode 12 of his current show, “Better Human, Better Dog”, I was struck once again by the healing which can occur in our lives through understanding from whence the problem comes. An attack in a dog park triggered memories and fears for one woman, who had experienced an attack on her person in the past. She became nervously fearful, passing on her fright to her dog, which then responded with uncontrolled aggression. Every time they went out or anyone came to their home, she became anxious. Through Cesar’s peaceful, assertive presence, she was able to regain her calm, and then she could pass on this confident energy to her dog. I love seeing these examples of how traumas are faced and lives are healed. Much work is being done in the field of healing traumatic memories. It’s enlightening to watch this occur through recognition, acceptance, and release. It’s a fascinating study and I hope to learn more.

“Casting out evil and fear enables truth to outweigh error. The only course is to take antagonistic grounds against all that is opposed to the health, holiness, and harmony of man, God’s image.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 392:7-10

“It is enough to heal the past and make the future free. It is enough to let the present be accepted as it is. It is enough to let time be the means for all the world to learn escape from time, and every change that time appears to bring in passing by.”
—A Course in Miracles W-110.2:2-4

Offering A Cup Of Cold Water

Art by Carol Dickie

Many of us shy away from speaking truth to error. I read an article by a woman who was growing up in the 1960s, a time when people of different races usually did not voluntarily mingle. She told the story of being at a friend's house when she was confronted by her friend's father. The writer of this story was working with a program for rural Black people and the man of the house had seen her holding a Black child's hand, with another one sitting on her lap. He felt her actions merited corporal punishment! She immediately said to him, "God loves that little boy. Why don't you?" This made the man more angry and he started to take his belt off, advancing towards her. She said, "God loves you too, and you must love all whom God loves." He dropped his belt and began sobbing, reaching out to hug the girl who had forced him to face himself. This story caused me to think of times I have seen a simple statement change a situation. There is a power in truth; a power which lies do not possess. These are difficult times indeed, but whether it's a woman sitting naked before angry forces, or pregnant women banding together against injustice, or you speaking up to your friend, we must stand for what is right and good, never fearing the consequences.

"Millions of unprejudiced minds -- simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert -- are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 570:14

“No one can escape from illusions unless he looks at them, for not looking is the way they are protected. There is no need to shrink from illusions, for they cannot be dangerous. We are ready to look more closely at the ego’s thought system because together we have the lamp that will dispel it, and since you realize you do not want it, you must be ready. Let us be very calm in doing this, for we are merely looking honestly for truth. The ‘dynamics’ of the ego will be our lesson for a while, for we must look first at this to see beyond it, since you have made it real. We will undo this error quietly together, and then look beyond it to truth.”
—A Course in Miracles T-11.V.1:1-6

The Fruit of the Spirit

Photo credit Jim Young 

Violence. It seems inescapable in this age of information. The metaphysical article in a Christian Science Monitor addressed this issue, and it mentioned something I had not considered. When Elizabeth Mata looked up the word violence, the definition mentioned traits such as “confusion, roughness, intensity, and unrestraint”. The violence we daily witness in the speech of others (whether it comes from our neighbors or politicians) is rampant with these four features. When the author mentioned this definition, she said the phrase “fruit of the Spirit” came into her thoughts. The full phrase, from the book of Galatians in the Bible is: “But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that.” She ends her writing with these beautiful words: “The radiance of ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ outshines disturbed and disturbing thoughts, which do not originate in God. Like putting out a small spark before a larger fire erupts, each of us can pray to render powerless in our own thinking any small kindling of harshness. We have quite a ways to go before all violence is wiped out. But day by day, we can feel the blessedness of moments washed over with ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ that brings out a strengthened, uplifted calm.” Thank you, Elizabeth Mata, for putting this in perspective for me.

“When you have looked on what seemed terrifying, and seen it change to sights of loveliness and peace; when you have looked on scenes of violence and death, and watched them change to quiet views of gardens under open skies, with clear, life-giving water running happily beside them in dancing brooks that never waste away; who need persuade you to accept the gift of vision?
—A Course in Miracles T-20.VIII.11: 1

“The understanding of Truth and Love, the Principle which works out the ends of eternal good and destroys both faith in evil and the practice of evil, leads to the discernment of the divine idea.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 561:1-4

An Educated Citizenry

Thomas Jefferson was a firm believer in “the good sense of the people”. He trusted that the people of the newly-founded United States of America would be given “full information through the channel of the public papers”. In the present age of information, one should hope we could be “presented competing ideas and narratives” in order to promote an “educated citizenry capable of self-government.” During the era of robber barons, at the beginning of the 20th century, yellow journalism was rampant, with false information, propaganda, being fed to people. Too many rich dudes were pushing ideas which would benefit them, and this was permeating the press. This can be overcome as long as people are willing to read and listen to all sides of the issues. When presented with full information (as Mr. Jefferson hoped) their “good sense” would prevail. I’m pretty sure this is true today, but unfortunately there is so much information that many people become confused, not knowing what to believe. This is exacerbated by people believing what they hope is true. Add to that, information which has been consistently turned upside down, and we end up with beliefs which are hardwired into our psyche. Whew! We are learning we can become quiet and ask the universe to show us the way. Some people have developed the skill of seeing through misinformation, and knowing to turn away from it. I hope we all are becoming adept at this art, practicing it daily, and not being afraid of intuition guiding the way.

“Knowledge is power because it is certain, and certainty is strength. Perception is temporary. As an attribute of the belief in space and time, it is subject to either fear or love. Misperceptions produce fear and true perceptions foster love, but neither brings certainty because all perception varies. That is why it is not knowledge. True perception is the basis for knowledge, but knowing is the affirmation of truth and beyond all perceptions.”
—A Course in Miracles T-3.III.1:5-10

“A logical and scientific conclusion is reached only through the knowledge that there are not two bases of being, matter and mind, but one alone, — Mind.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 279:26-29