A Simpler Way

Art by Judy Griffith 

The documentary, A Simpler Way — Crisis as Opportunity, was made in 2016 and shows us ways people are living simpler lives by building tiny homes, sharing gardens, and finding innovative ways to live happily in a world which often seems to be hurtling towards disaster. These lifestyles are not about being self-sufficient but, rather, community-sufficient. You may live on a city lot and are able to grow all the vegetables you need by turning your yard into a garden (explained in detail by Joan Dye Gussow in This Organic Life - Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader), and your friend may have enough land to raise goats, another friend might have a flock of chickens — well, you get the picture. We’re all in this together. It’s time to utilize our talents to supply our families and friends with what they need, and in return receive what we need. As we have learned in our metaphysical studies: to give is to receive; to receive is to give. I try to buy from local businesses, and farmers who produce year-round vegetables by erecting wind tunnels, allowing us to have fresh greens all winter long. Let’s  ask ourselves if we really need to purchase from big business. It’s difficult to make shifts and release old habits, but it’s time for a new normal, don’t you think? We can do this!

“The peace of God is shining in you now, and from your heart extends around the world. It pauses to caress each living thing, and leaves a blessing with it that remains forever and forever. What it gives must be eternal. It removes all thoughts of the ephemeral and valueless. It brings renewal to all tired hearts, and lights all vision as it passes by. All of its gifts are given everyone, and everyone unites in giving thanks to you who give, and you who have received.” 

A Course in Miracles W-188.3:1-6

"When the divine precepts are understood they unfold the foundation of fellowship in which one mind is not at war with another, but all have one Spirit, God, one intelligent source..." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 276:4-6

The Voice of Healing

Christian Science Edifice

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Built circa 1914

In the early 1900s, the Science of The Christ was being practiced by record numbers of students. Mary Baker Eddy was giving talks to upwards of 20,000 people at a time, and there were hundreds of teachers showing others how to practice spiritual healing. Everyone was very excited to be learning about this Truth! Mrs. Eddy referred to it as primitive Christianity, because it is the teaching of Jesus — free of the trappings added by old men who wanted to control the masses. Then there was a worldwide upsurge in medical knowledge, and people who had been taking responsibility for their own health through an understanding that there is only One divine Mind -- well, it seemed easier to take a pill or get a shot. We saw it as a revolution in thought. Little did we know we were leaving the revolution behind, in favor of a mirage which promised safety from disease, with the advantage of not having to think about it. It's difficult for people to be responsible for their own well-being, as it seems much easier to medicate and trust in professionals. When the system fails, we blame doctors, then the lawyers get involved and it's all about money, and our health and well-being feel nebulous and fleeting. In the last century, spiritual healing has gotten a dirty name, for reasons too numerous to mention here. But those reasons do not matter. What is important is that we can pick up the revolution at any time. The book, Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures, which Mary Baker Eddy gave us, has been the leaven bubbling about in thought and showing itself throughout our lifetime. It can now be read or listened to on the internet, found in almost any used bookstore, and obtained cheaply online. Every time I read it, it seems new!

"Correct material belief by spiritual understanding and Spirit will form you anew."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health 425:24

“So do we lay aside our amulets, our charms and medicines, our chants and bits of magic in whatever form they take. We will be still and listen for the Voice of healing, which will cure all ills as one, restoring saneness to the Son of God. No voice but this can cure. Today we hear a single Voice which speaks to us of truth, where all illusions end, and peace returns to the eternal, quiet home of God.”
—A Course in Miracles W-140.10:1-4

Were “The Good Old Days” Good?

Kings River Bridge in Berryville, AR

Built in 1931

After my monthly book club meeting at the end of each month, I’m often inspired to write about what we talked about around the subject of our book. The book this month, Buckeye by Patrick Ryan, was a novel about emotional pain due to lack of communication, love with various human interpretations, and forgiveness. The time period was World War II and the following years. We saw the shame and denial of a woman whose mother abandoned her to an orphanage. When she was grown, she was so embarrassed she never told anyone. This affected her life in terrible ways, along with those who loved her. Then there was the man who married, and finally admitted, during his years in the Navy, that he was attracted to men. There were other people affected by a lack of communications, the foolish morés of the times, and misplaced importance which was placed on the actions of others and/or themselves. Honesty, integrity, open-mindedness: these are some of the characteristics which have brought humankind to a higher understanding of people and life. Support groups, mental health care, loving families, these things and more have helped us move into the new world in which we find ourselves. Let’s continue to look up to higher realms of being, even though there are many who believe the good old days really were good.

“Forgiveness turns the world of sin into a world of glory, wonderful to see. ²Each flower shines in light, and every bird sings of the joy of Heaven. ³There is no sadness and there is no parting here, for everything is totally forgiven. ⁴And what has been forgiven must join, for nothing stands between to keep them separate and apart. ⁵The sinless must perceive that they are one, for nothing stands between to push the other off. ⁶And in the space that sin left vacant do they join as one, in gladness recognizing what is part of them has not been kept apart and separate.”
—A Course in Moravia T-26.IV.2:1-6

“Fear of punishment never made man truly honest. Moral courage is requisite to meet the wrong and to proclaim the right. But how shall we reform the man who has more animal than moral courage, and who has not the true idea of good? Through human consciousness, convince the mortal of his mistake in seeking material means for gaining happiness. Reason is the most active human faculty. Let that inform the sentiments and awaken the man’s dormant sense of moral obligation, and by degrees he will learn the nothingness of the pleasures of human sense and the grandeur and bliss of a spiritual sense, which silences the material or corporeal. Then he not only will be saved, but is saved.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 327:22-3

Opening Hearts

Photo credit: ugurekenoglu

Having recently experienced an uplifting video of Sufi music, I’ve been thinking about books I’ve read which gave me insights into this spiritual discipline. The Forty Rules of Love, by Elia Shafak, is described as “a novel of Rumi". It’s an enjoyable read with many pearls of wisdom, such as this: “You say you are ready to deliver all your knowledge to another person. You want to hold the Truth in your palm as if it were a precious pear and offer it to someone special. But opening up someone’s heart to spiritual light is no small task for a human being. You’re stealing God’s thunder.” This comes to me at the perfect time, as I’m itching to open up everyone’s heart to spiritual light — as you probably are, too! I sat on the front porch this evening pondering the quote from this book and rejoicing in its truth. Since we are each the reflection, the image and likeness of divine Love, only we, individually, can recognize that spiritual light, that God-ness within, and allow it to flow out. What blesses one blesses all. I truly believe that. I can only have this recognition within myself, but that’s all it takes in order to share it! Shine on, dear Friends …

“You are a mirror of truth, in which God Himself shines in perfect light. To the ego’s dark glass you need but say, ‘I will not look there because I know these images are not true.’ Then let the Holy One shine on you in peace, knowing that this and only this must be. His Mind shone on you in your creation and brought your mind into being. His Mind still shines on you and must shine through you. Your ego cannot prevent Him from shining on you, but it can prevent you from letting Him shine through you.”
—A Course in Miracles T-4.IV.9:1-6

“In the Science of Mind, you will soon ascertain that error cannot destroy error. You will also learn that in Science there is no transfer of evil suggestions from one mortal to another, for there is but one Mind, and this ever-present omnipotent Mind is reflected by man and governs the entire universe. You will learn that in Christian Science the first duty is to obey God, to have one Mind, and to love another as yourself.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 495:31-8

Anger and Fire Must Be Fed

  

Photo courtesy of Susan Luddy

Anger must be fed, much in the same way as a fire will go out without fuel. I heard this statement in an interview with Yuval Noah Harari, in an Ezra Klein podcast. As an Israeli, Mr. Harari has particularly insightful interpretations of what is happening with Israel and Palestine. The fire has been fed for years. He also speaks to the Germany/Jewish ancient hatred. This is in the past. Things are not like that now. Many people whose parents left the country are returning and seeking citizenship. Not only has this fire not been fed, but peace has been nurtured. In order to do that, we must look directly at the conflict with compassion, not fear. Reparations are more than handing out money; they are opening our hearts and welcoming someone who may have been ousted from our lives. There is much to be learned from history, and it is our duty to help ensure that we do not fear the past. I am extremely grateful to the historians who tell stories, from which we can see our present situations and know how to handle them. As Rachel Maddox shows us in her book, Prequel, we do not need to reinvent the wheel!

“An ancient hate is passing from the world. And with it goes all hatred and all fear. Look back no longer, for what lies ahead is all you ever wanted in your heart. Give up the world! But not to sacrifice. You never wanted it. What happiness have you sought here that did not bring you pain? What moment of content has not been bought at fearful price in coins of suffering? Joy has no cost. It is your sacred right, and what you pay for is not happiness. Be speeded on your way by honesty, and let not your experiences here deceive in retrospect. ¹²hey were not free from bitter cost and joyless consequence.”
—A Course in Miracles T-30.V.9:1-12

“The aggravation of error foretells its doom, and confirms the ancient axiom: ‘Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.”’
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science and Health Page 105:27-29

Prayer

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

When people ask me to pray for them, they most often think that I'm asking God to help them. The prayer which I utilize affirms the truth of our Being, combined with a listening to hear what should be affirmed. It's not an asking for a condition to be changed, but a knowing that there is no inharmonious condition in God's reflection. We are created by divine Mind and reflect all that implies. This has nothing to do with matter. Our mortal mind often insists that this material existence is the reality of our being, and any glimpse we may have of our spiritual perfection is but a mirage. But the opposite of this is reality and our realization is what brings harmony. Jesus’s revolutionary teachings were telling us we are not material, we are spiritual. Some may think we cannot demonstrate this in our material form. And so that is true. But what is also true is that we are not really matter. This illusion can be dropped here and now, as we ascend past mortal belief into spiritual Truth. God has made us capable of this!

“‘The prayer of faith shall save the sick,’ says the Scripture. What is this healing prayer? A mere request that God will heal the sick has no power to gain more of the divine presence than is always at hand. The beneficial effect of such prayer for the sick is on the human mind, making it act more powerfully on the body through a blind faith in God. This, however, is one belief casting out another, — a belief in the unknown casting out a belief in sickness. It is neither Science nor Truth which acts through blind belief, nor is it the human understanding of the divine healing Principle as manifested in Jesus, whose humble prayers were deep and conscientious protests of Truth, — of man’s likeness to God and of man’s unity with Truth and Love.”
—Mary BakerEddy - Science & Health Page 1-15

“God is the goal of every prayer, giving it timelessness instead of end. Nor has it a beginning, because the goal has never changed. Prayer in its earlier forms is an illusion, because there is no need for a ladder to reach what one has never left. Yet prayer is part of forgiveness as long as forgiveness, itself an illusion, remains unattained. Prayer is tied up with learning until the goal of learning has been reached. And then all things will be transformed together, and returned unblemished into the Mind of God. Being beyond learning, this state cannot be described. The stages necessary to its attainment, however, need to be understood, if peace is to be restored to God’s Son, who lives now with the illusion of death and the fear of God.”
—A Course in Miracles S-1.II.8:1-8)

Pray Without Ceasing?

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

The first time I heard the phrase “pray without ceasing”, I didn’t understand how that could be possible. When I learned that prayer was listening, not asking or telling, it started to seem more feasible to be in continual prayer. As I’ve discovered ways to recognize when my mortal mind is overruling the divine Mind, it’s become even more imperative to listen to intuition rather than my own often-misplaced logic. We get caught up in day-to-day activity, but a desire to fall into the space between the thoughts facilitates the ability to do so. A short moment while waiting for a stoplight to change can be a few seconds of deep meditation. A walk with the dogs is a perfect opportunity to stop extraneous thoughts and savor quiet peace. Any activity which allows our mind to stop its repetitive race — gardening, sewing, piano playing — is a moment of communion with All that Is. Let’s not wait for that perfect, quiet time to meditate and pray, when every moment affords an opportunity!

“Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers. Practice not profession, understanding not belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence as they assuredly call down infinite blessings. Trustworthiness is the foundation of enlightened faith. Without a fitness for holiness, we cannot receive holiness” 
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 15:25

“These forms of prayer, or asking-out-of-need, always involve feelings of weakness and inadequacy, and could never be made by a Son of God who knows Who he is. No one, then, who is sure of his Identity could pray in these forms. Yet it is also true that no one who is uncertain of his Identity can avoid praying in this way. And prayer is as continual as life. Everyone prays without ceasing. Ask and you have received, for you have established what it is you want.”
—A Course in Miracles S-1.II.2:1-6