Being Happy is a Duty to Others

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

In line with yesterday’s writing on bringing joy to sadness, I ran across an affirmation of this thought through a book I’m listening to: Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser. The paterfamilias in this lovely novel is showing his granddaughter great works of art, with the intention of teaching her about beauty. He quotes a French philosopher, Alain, who wrote in his Propos sur le Bonheur: “Those who strive to be happy deserve a medal — a civic medal — because their personal resolution to put on a cheery, happy face sometimes demands quite an effort of will power. Just the way a burst of laughter can produce a chain reaction, the search for happiness isn’t a personal development, it’s a political virtue. Being happy is a duty to others.” (loosely translated) Many events have reminded me that grief and sorrow are a part of this earthly existence, but suffering is a choice. We can express joy through our pain, and as the quote by Alain reminds us, it is our duty and, also, a political virtue. Scatter joy freely, my friends!

“It is no dream to love your brother as yourself. Nor is your holy relationship a dream. All that remains of dreams within it is that it is still a special relationship. Yet it is very useful to the Holy Spirit, Who has a special function here. It will become the happy dream through which He can spread joy to thousands on thousands who believe that love is fear, not happiness. Let Him fulfill the function that He gave to your relationship by accepting it for you, and nothing will be wanting that would make of it what He would have it be.”
—A Course in Miracles T-18.V.5:1-6

“Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 265:23-30

Chasing Pain Away With Joy

If we dwell on the sadness in the world, we will be overwhelmed. I know people who feel as though they can’t be happy while others are sad. But my sadness and fear will do nothing to bring others to happiness. Our thoughts spread to others, and when we are morose those around us begin to feel that way, too. Feeling bad for people doesn’t help their situation, but seeing through the illusions into the reality of spiritual Being helps them to know this reality along with you. Our joy, our laughter, clears the way to see this Truth. So even though we are often taught that being sad is a sympathetic act, I’m beginning to see that true compassion is shown by bringing my thoughts to joy.

“Repeat God’s Name, and all the world responds by laying down illusions. Every dream the world holds dear has suddenly gone by, and where it seemed to stand you find a star; a miracle of grace. The sick arise, healed of their sickly thoughts. The blind can see; the deaf can hear. The sorrowful cast off their mourning, and the tears of pain are dried as happy laughter comes to bless the world.”
—A Course in Miracles W-183.3:1-5

“Sorrow is turned into joy when the body is controlled by spiritual Life, Truth, and Love.”

—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 14:16-18

The Soft-Winged Dove…

Art by Ted Chin

“Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.”
― Rumi

“The Son of God is egoless. What can he know of madness and the death of God, when he abides in Him? What can he know of sorrow and of suffering, when he lives in eternal joy? What can he know of fear and punishment, of sin and guilt, of hatred and attack, when all there is surrounding him is everlasting peace, forever conflict-free and undisturbed, in deepest silence and tranquility?”
—A Course in Miracles W-pII.12.3:1-4

“Think of this, dear reader, for it will lift the sackcloth from your eyes, and you will behold the soft-winged dove descending upon you. The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares. Then thought gently whispers: ‘Come hither! 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 574:24-6

All Colors are — Brown?

 

Marsha and Sandy with some of her Art

In my years of running an art gallery, I learned quite a bit about human nature and a little bit about art. I enjoyed every moment of it and had a few favorite artists, one of whom was and is Sandy Starbird. Her favorite color was brown. Her loving expressions, brought forth through creative fabric pieces, were a major aid in my education. I watched her bring brown to life! It was difficult for me to grasp at first, but I did gain an appreciation for the varieties and subtleties inherent in its hues. I was listening to a book by Elizabeth Stout and she was describing her first experience with autumnal leaf colors. She saw that all colors were really one color: brown. As I listened to her character, Lucy Barton, describe this phenomenon, I thought of my far-away friend and gained a deeper understanding of what she saw. One of the keys to happiness is the continuation of learning, and I look forward to increasing my appreciation of what my friends see. The excitement of awakening senses is a never-ending delight!

“The artist is not in his painting. The picture is the artist’s thought objectified. The human belief fancies that it delineates thought on matter, but what is matter? Did it exist prior to thought? Matter is made up of supposititious mortal mind-force; but all might is divine Mind. Thought will finally be understood and seen in all form, substance, and color, but without material accompaniments. The potter is not in the clay; else the clay would have power over the potter. God is [Its] own infinite Mind, and expresses all.” 

—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 310:1-10

“Everyone will ultimately look upon his own creations and choose to preserve only what is good, just as God Himself looked upon what He had created and knew that it was good. At this point, the mind can begin to look with love on its own creations because of their worthiness. At the same time the mind will inevitably disown its miscreations which, without belief, will no longer exist.” 

—A Course in Miracles T-2.VIII.4:3-5

Muses About Music

At the church where I am an accompanist, they have a fabulous instrument: a Yamaha Clavinova. I’ve been experimenting with combining voices — such as full organ with strings, chapel organ with violin. It’s a fascinating experiment in sound and I enjoy it very much. Having surprised myself with a mismatched combination, I spent some time today researching and learning more about this instrument. And so I was led to revisit quotes about music. I give you Kahlil Gibran’ dissertation first:

“Music is the quivering of a string, charged with waves from the upper air, it penetrates your hearing, its echo emerges from your eyes in a burning tear, and from your lips as they sigh for a beloved being far away, or it utters a moan caused by the string of history and the fangs of destiny.

“And it can happen that the notes of music are reflected on your lips in a smile of fulfillment.

“Music is a houri in the paradise of the gods, who was in love with the sons of Adam. Then she came down to earth and told them of her love. The gods, in a fury, ordered a terrible wind to rush after her in pursuit. In this way she was scattered through the air and disseminated to all the corners of the earth. She did not die, she still lives in the ears of humans.

“Music is the echo of the first kiss bestowed by Adam on the lips of Eve. And ever since then this echo has caused pleasure to rebound onto fingers as they play and ears as they listen.”
—Khalil Gibran from The Prophet

“Mental melodies and strains of sweetest music supersede conscious sound. Music is the rhythm of head and heart. Mortal mind is the harp of many strings, discoursing either discord or harmony according as the hand, which sweeps over it, is human or divine.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 213:24-29

“Miracles are a kind of exchange. Like all expressions of love, which are always miraculous in the true sense, the exchange reverses the physical laws. They bring more love both to the giver and the receiver.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.I.9:1-3

Do It Now

Baking Bread, 1889 - by Andre Zorn

“I've seen women insist on cleaning everything in the house before they could sit down to write... and you know it's a funny thing about housecleaning... it never comes to an end. Perfect way to stop a woman. A woman must be careful to not allow over-responsibility (or over-respectabilty) to steal her necessary creative rests, riffs, and raptures. She simply must put her foot down and say no to half of what she believes she D‘should’ be doing. Art is not meant to be created in stolen moments only.” 

—Clarissa Pinkola Estes

After reading the above quote this morning, I visited with a woman I’ve known for decades, but had not seen for quite some time. As she admired the art on my walls, she mentioned how she regretted not taking the time to paint. She told me of her childhood talent and dreams, and how the busy-ness of life had gotten in the way of what she loved. Do it now, Friends. It’s not too late …

“The miracle is much like the body in that both are learning aids for facilitating a state in which they become unnecessary. When spirit’s original state of direct communication is reached, neither the body nor the miracle serves any purpose. While you believe you are in a body, however, you can choose between loveless and miraculous channels of expression. You can make an empty shell, but you cannot express nothing at all. You can wait, delay, paralyze yourself, or reduce your creativity almost to nothing. But you cannot abolish it. You can destroy your medium of communication, but not your potential. You did not create yourself.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.V.1:1-8

“Spirit diversifies, classifies, and individualizes all thoughts, which are as eternal as the Mind conceiving them; but the intelligence, existence, and continuity of all individuality remain in God, who is the divinely creative Principle thereof.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 513:1-21

Falling In Love With The Earth

Photo credit: Don Matt

While watching Blue Jays at my window suet feeder, a memory floated in from childhood. My parents and some of their friends and I were out in the woods when I noticed the most beautiful birds in the trees. Excitedly, I asked what kind they were. The friend of my folks’ said, “Oh, those are just damned old Blue Jays. We use them for target practice.” I was confused and a little bit scared, not understanding why anyone would have such a low opinion of something so beautiful. I can’t remember if I ever asked my kind-hearted mother about this, but I know the man’s words stayed with me these past decades. Today I have pondered why some birds are more valuable to humans than others, why some people are to be honored and respected more than others, and what we can do to allow our neighbors to join us in loving harmony with All that Is. I’ve been watching videos from a series entitled “Growing a Greener World”. It showcases different people who are growing food. Some have raised beds in small back yards, and others are forming community farms in New York City. All of these episodes on youTube share a commonality: love of the Earth and everything on it. Let’s fall in love with the earth, then it will be easy to treat it kindly and nurture it back to health.

“Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens, — all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful, and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light.” 

—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 240:1-9

“Forgiveness turns the world of sin into a world of glory, wonderful to see. Each flower shines in light, and every bird sings of the joy of Heaven. There is no sadness and there is no parting here, for everything is totally forgiven. And what has been forgiven must join, for nothing stands between to keep them separate and apart. The sinless must perceive that they are one, for nothing stands between to push the other off. And 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 Miracles T-26.IV.2:1-6