In This World, But Not Of It

Beautiful Friends Somewhere Under the Rainbow

I’ve been contemplating the idea of belonging — belonging to book clubs, belonging to churches, finding “your tribe”. I think of numerous people I know who feel they don’t belong anywhere. We shouldn’t feel we belong in this world, because we are in it but not OF it. Having been taught this concept from the time I was taken in by people who were old Christian Scientists, apparently I’ve always known it to be true. None of the other children were as different as I was, yet it never bothered me. Not only having old parents, but a Mexican mother (when no one else had anyone other than Donna Reed types), playing piano in public from a very early age, making grades that were too good, being the teacher’s pet — well, if I’d realized how that would/should make me a pariah, I probably would have felt I was one! A memory comes up of a day when children ganged up on me and another girl and chased us around the playground throwing rocks at us. It did not bother me emotionally, although there were a few physical bruises. Hum … Definitely not of this world! I wish I could find a way to pass on this extreme self-confidence to others. Maybe that’s why I write these daily messages …

“For perfect effectiveness the Atonement belongs at the center of the inner altar, where it undoes the separation and restores the wholeness of the mind. Before the separation the mind was invulnerable to fear, because fear did not exist. Both the separation and the fear are miscreations that must be undone for the restoration of the temple, and for the opening of the altar to receive the Atonement. This heals the separation by placing within you the one effective defense against all separation thoughts and making you perfectly invulnerable.”
—A Course in Miracles T-2.III.2:1-4

“Another change will come as to the nature and origin of man, and this revelation will destroy the dream of existence, reinstate reality, usher in Science and the glorious fact of creation, that both man and woman proceed from God and are His eternal children, belonging to no lesser parent.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 529:6-12

The Face of Divine Love

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

Acknowledging that everything and everyone we look upon is the face of divine Love takes our perception to another level. With this sight, we do not need to see race or nationalities nor gender, there are no political parties for which to wave flags, and no enemies to fight against, nor allies to side with. I see beautiful things happening in our world. Long-held beliefs are being released in favor of an open-hearted acceptance of everyone as they are, not as we want them to be. Change can seem difficult, but our new perceptions of Life are a conscious choice by which we break free of habits and old thought patterns which have held us in bondage for far too long. Let’s celebrate our new-found sight today!

“Now there are no distinctions. Differences have disappeared and Love looks on Itself. What further sight is needed? What remains that vision could accomplish? We have seen the face of Christ, His sinlessness, His Love behind all forms, beyond all purposes. Holy are we because His Holiness has set us free indeed! And we accept His Holiness as ours; as it is. As God created us so will we be forever and forever, and we wish for nothing but His Will to be our own. Illusions of another will are lost, for unity of purpose has been found.”
—A Course in Miracles M-28.5:1-9

“Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept.” 
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454: 20-23

Co-Exist

A few readers of my “dailies” have asked why I don’t address the political situation in our country. Upon reflection, I feel that I do. Everything is connected by way of Mind, and the multitude of forms we experience are projections of illusion. So with our goal of purifying thoughts of unnecessary dogma, belief, and fear, we are left with Love and Its infinite manifestations. So, yes, I do address the current situations, but not from the point of being a problem identifier. Some of us need to look through the other end of the telescope, with the lens of Love. No matter how we perceive things with these material eyes and thoughts, the true idea of Spirit, God, Love, is there waiting for us to glimpse it.

“One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself;’ annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science and Health Page 340:23-29

“Behind every image I have made, the truth remains unchanged. Behind every veil I have drawn across the face of love, its light remains undimmed. Beyond all my insane wishes is my will, united with the Will of my Father. God is still everywhere and in everything forever. And we who are part of Him will yet look past all appearances, and recognize the truth beyond them all.”
—A Course in Miracles W-56.4:2-6

Juneteenth

The people of our country celebrate many things, some of which are made-up holidays to promote the sale of goods and/or services. Ah, what a fun, capitalistic society we have become! But today we celebrate June 19th, which is by definition: “Juneteenth — first observed in Texas and now recognized throughout the United States — celebrates a historic freedom moment for Black Americans. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the long-overdue news that all enslaved Black people were free. This news came through Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger’s General Order No. 3, issued more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.” And so today we celebrate the acknowledgement of freedom, which many, to this day, do not recognize. Let us ponder the following words from Mary Baker Eddy and look for instances to liberate others through Love!

“A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping-post and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon’s mouth. Love is the liberator.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 225:16-22 [circa 1865]

“I have no purpose for today except to look upon a liberated world, set free from all the judgments I have made.”
—A Course in Miracles W-312.2:1

Ancient Truth, Newly Born

Photo courtesy of Don Matt 

A dear friend will be having major heart surgery. I was reminded of this daily writing from a few years back:

I was chatting with a local health care professional who had open heart surgery. He tells me that many people in the "zipper club" (as a group of bypass patients call themselves) are anything but open-hearted. He says many people are angry that their lives have changed so much. He told me that some don't want to go forward, but rather they spend time and energy wanting their old lifestyle back. I find this difficult to understand. Having gone through a life-changing physical event, I found the major changes to be exhilarating and exciting. If I had this surgery, the name "open heart" would cause me to smile every time I thought of it, leading me to open myself to everything that life has to offer and bringing a new appreciation. Certainly it has for many, as it did for the beautiful man with whom I shared this conversation. I open my heart to happiness, safety, comfort, certainty of purpose, and peace so perfect it can never be upset. I am grateful, moment-by-moment, for all that I am learning and seeing demonstrated in daily life. Thank you greatly!!

“Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 3:25-26

“Open your eyes today and look upon a happy world of safety and of peace. Forgiveness is the means by which it comes to take the place of hell. In quietness it rises up to greet your open eyes, and fill your heart with deep tranquility as ancient truths, forever newly born, arise in your awareness. What you will remember then can never be described. Yet your forgiveness offers it to you.”
—A Course in Miracles W-122.8:1-5

Only Truth Remains …

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

I've been pondering lies and truth. There is only one way to tell the truth, but there are scores of ways to lie. Perhaps you're not admitting certain events occurred the way they did, spinning webs of words to keep from admitting something you want to hide -- or think needs to be hidden, for a multitude of reasons. Then there's the lie involved in turning your head and ignoring something. Or maybe you're blatantly denying what you know to be truth. We could name many other forms of lying, but to take an oath to tell the truth -- well, there's only one way to do that. For years, people have told me lies are necessary, and I haven't believed it. Long ago, a friend's husband was dying of colon cancer. They never talked about it, never acknowledged it was happening, and pretended everything was okay and he would be out of the hospital soon. So there are also lies born of fear. But the truth is still sitting there waiting to be heard and seen. Nothing can change truth, but many things change lies. I can't imagine lying until it seems like truth. I pity those who have done so.

“What can correct illusions but the truth? And what are errors but illusions that remain unrecognized for what they are? Where truth has entered errors disappear. They merely vanish, leaving not a trace by which to be remembered. They are gone because, without belief, they have no life. And so they disappear to nothingness, returning whence they came. From dust to dust they come and go, for only truth remains.”
—A Course in Miracles W-107.1:1-7

“Reasoning from cause to effect in the Science of Mind, we begin with Mind, which must be understood through the idea which expresses it and cannot be learned from its opposite, matter. Thus we arrive at Truth, or intelligence, which evolves its own unerring idea and never can be coordinate with human illusions.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 467:29-3

Crazy Thoughts or Baby Goats?

My mind is full of strange ideas, brought to me courtesy of the people on earth. Why would anyone think that Alex Jones is a reporter giving us news? Why do people believe the earth is flat? What about a new world order making tunnels beneath the ground, with headquarters under the Denver Airport, and that's why that crazy horse with glowing eyes is out front? Really?? What are we thinking? The United States of Conspiracy is a PBS, Frontline, documentary which prompted these thoughts and more. Have I ever believed a conspiracy theory? Probably. Maybe I still do. In my youth, my dearest friend thought our government was being run by lizard people (basically aliens from somewhere far, far away). It seemed logical. Everyday unbelievable tidbits are tossed into our collective minds, and if we choose to believe it, we're doing more than ourselves a disservice. Every thought is important, don't you think? The collective consciousness of life truly is a thing. What goes around, comes around, whether it be thoughts or actions. We have a choice, so let’s allow compassion, kindness, understanding, truth, love, to fill our head -- and when something else tries to crowd its way into our thinking, just look at a picture of a baby goat. Sending happiness and love to each and every one of you!

“The wearying, dissatisfying gods you made are blown-up children’s toys. A child is frightened when a wooden head springs up as a closed box is opened suddenly, or when a soft and silent woolly bear begins to squeak as he takes hold of it. The rules he made for boxes and for bears have failed him, and have broken his ‘control’ of what surrounds him. And he is afraid, because he thought the rules protected him. Now must he learn the boxes and the bears did not deceive him, broke no rules, nor mean his world is made chaotic and unsafe. He was mistaken. He misunderstood what made him safe, and thought that it had left.”
—A Course in Miracles T-30.IV.2:1-7

"Arise from your false consciousness into the true sense of Love, and behold the Lamb’s wife, — Love wedded to its own spiritual idea. Then cometh the marriage feast, for this revelation will destroy forever the physical plagues imposed by material sense.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 575:1-5