Just the Facts, Please

Chet Huntley and David Brinkley

On the NBC Nightly News

When I was in high school, we had civics class and also something called social studies. I remember that one assignment was to choose a current event, a news item, and tell about it in class. (I do not remember in which of these classes this was a requirement) After dinner, the nightly news was a staple in our home, with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley bringing us the facts of what was happening in the world. I found it boring and often did homework at this time. Also there were daily newspapers which floated around the house. When we would see tabloids in the grocery store, we would laugh about the silly stories. We developed critical thinking through reading and discussion, and there was no need to differentiate between what was real news and fictional nonsense. Nowadays, I have five or six trusted news sources which I check in with after spending the morning centering my thinking around spiritual truth — meditation and study which cleans my mind for the day. I feel concern for friends who do not know how to discern the veracity of what they hear and see. I long for the good old days of those men in suits on the television, smoking cigarettes and stating facts after dinner. 

"When error strives to be heard above Truth, let the 'still small voice' produce God's phenomena. Meet dispassionately the raging element of individual hate and counteract its most gigantic falsities." 

—Mary Baker Eddy - Miscellany Page 249

“Be still and listen to the truth today. For each five minutes spent in listening, a thousand minds are opened to the truth and they will hear the holy Word you hear. And when the hour is past, you will again release a thousand more who pause to ask that truth be given them, along with you.”

—A Course in Miracles W-106.9:1-3

Home to the Mountains

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life. Awakening from the stupefying effects of the vice of over-industry and the deadly apathy of luxury, they are trying as best they can to mix and enrich their own little ongoings with those of Nature, and to get rid of rust and disease.”
—John Muir - Our National Parks

“In you is all of Heaven. Every leaf that falls is given life in you. Each bird that ever sang will sing again in you. And every flower that ever bloomed has saved its perfume and its loveliness for you. What aim can supersede the Will of God and of His Son, that Heaven be restored to him for whom it was created as his only home? Nothing before and nothing after it. No other place; no other state nor time. Nothing beyond nor nearer. Nothing else. In any form. This can you bring to all the world, and all the thoughts that entered it and were mistaken for a little while. How better could your own mistakes be brought to truth than by your willingness to bring the light of Heaven with you, as you walk beyond the world of darkness into light?”
—A Course in Miracles T-25.IV.5:1-12

“To mortal mind, the universe is liquid, solid, and aëri-form. Spiritually interpreted, rocks and mountains stand for solid and grand ideas.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 511:23-25

Ubuntu

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

We can’t survive on our own. We need each other. In prison, the worst punishment is solitary confinement, because we can’t flourish without other human beings. Ubuntu: “I am what I am because of who we all are.” Some may think this is a primitive way of thinking, but it’s a fundamental precept of our being. With these thoughts floating around in my head, I begin to wonder why we spend so much time separating ourselves from each other. Even our United States — the actual state divides which make separate states which we call united — these 50 states must work together in order to support each other. Many of us like to think we can do everything on our own, but we know that is not possible. Spring is almost here, with the feeling of rebirth and rejuvenation, which we all appreciate after winter. I hope to experience a resurrection of my mind, rising above the claptrap which has been spoon-fed to us for as long as I can remember. We are meant to love — each other and everything. True compassion means caring for our world and its inhabitants. Let’s join in raising each other up and feeling the sunshine, allowing it to be a symbol of renewal. Namaste …

“My resurrection comes again each time I lead a brother safely to the place at which the journey ends and is forgot. I am renewed each time a brother learns there is a way from misery and pain. I am reborn each time a brother’s mind turns to the light in him and looks for me. I have forgotten no one. Help me now to lead you back to where the journey was begun, to make another choice with me.”
—A Course in Miracles W-rV.in.7:1-5

[Mary Baker Eddy’s spiritual interpretation of the meaning of Benjamin, Jacob’s son] ””Renewal of affections; self-offering; an improved state of mortal mind; the introduction of a more spiritual origin; a gleam of the infinite idea of the infinite Principle; a spiritual type; that which comforts, consoles, and supports.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 482:9-13

Joy Loves Company, Too!

Do you remember the saying, ”misery loves company”? Perhaps that way of thinking is the reason so many of the conversations we hear are centered around disease and inclement weather! I suppose it would be rude and counterproductive to tell people why this way of living is not conducive to happiness. But I can feel joy -- and scatter it!! -- even in the face of any suffering thought that is brought to me today. And no, this won't be a laughing-in-the-face-of-sorrow type of joy. This will be a gentle joy, a quiet joy, sent out in true compassion while seeing divine reality. This will be my holiness shining today. We know that joy loves company, too. Let's see how infectious happiness can be!

“We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives. Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love—the kingdom of heaven—reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 248:25-32

“The escape from darkness involves two stages: First, the recognition that darkness cannot hide. This step usually entails fear. Second, the recognition that there is nothing you want to hide even if you could. This step brings escape from fear. When you have become willing to hide nothing, you will not only be willing to enter into communion but will also understand peace and joy.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.IV.1:1-5

Peace to the Struggling Hearts

Blessed are those who do not fear solitude,

who are not afraid of their own company,

who are not always desperately looking for something to do,

something to amuse themselves with,

something to judge.”

Author ~ Paolo Coelho

“Blessed are you who learn that to hear the Will of your Father is to know your own. For it is your will to be like Him, Whose Will it is that it be so. God’s Will is that His Son be one, and united with Him in His Oneness. 

That is why healing is the beginning of the recognition that your will is His.” 

A Course in Miracles T-11.I.11:6-9

“Glory be to God, and peace to the struggling hearts! Christ hath rolled away the stone from the door of human hope and faith, and through the revelation and demonstration of life in God, hath elevated them to possible at-one-ment

with the spiritual idea of man and his divine Principle, Love.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 26:14-21

True Healing

Photo courtesy of Chris Flanagin 

Many of my friends are experiencing emotional and physical upsets. This has caused me to ponder healing and its meaning. Today I went to my blog and searched for healing topics from the past. It’s interesting how understanding changes as consciousness unfolds. I’m going to post a writing today from a few years back. In the days to come, I shall probably continue my musings surrounding this vein of thought.

A friend recommended that I read, “Dying to be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing”, by Anita Moorjani. One of the important points made in this book is something which is recognized in our studies: Sickness is not your fault. Often new-age teachings tell us that past thoughts and actions create karma which returns to us in terrible ways. Ms. Moorjani assures us that this is not the case. Although many factors may be involved in physical illness, blaming yourself and seeking absolution has nothing to do with true healing. The recognition that you are Love, the knowledge that you are connected to everything, the joy which comes from acceptance of yourself just as you are -- this understanding of your being is what allows the body to be well. It doesn't matter what caused it, what "stage" the problem has advanced to, what mortal predictions are on the table -- nothing matters but the acceptance of yourself as a product of Love. When feeling the purity of Oneness, all material thought must be silenced. We can stop striving and start Being. When slipping into this space of pure Love, nothing else matters. And all is well.

“To heal is to make happy. I have told you to think how many opportunities you have had to gladden yourself, and how many you have refused. This is the same as telling you that you have refused to heal yourself. The light that belongs to you is the light of joy. Radiance is not associated with sorrow. Joy calls forth an integrated willingness to share it, and promotes the mind’s natural impulse to respond as one. Those who attempt to heal without being wholly joyous themselves call forth different kinds of responses at the same time, and thus deprive others of the joy of responding wholeheartedly.”
—A Course in Miracles T-5.in.1:1-7

“A correct view of Christian Science and of its adaptation to healing includes vastly more than is at first seen. Works on metaphysics leave the grand point untouched. They never crown the power of Mind as the Messiah, nor do they carry the day against physical enemies, — even to the extinction of all belief in matter, evil, disease, and death, — nor insist upon the fact that God is all, therefore that matter is nothing beyond an image in mortal mind.” 
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 116:11-18

People Are Good

Art by Sam Toft

GOOD

By Donna Ashworth

“Most people are good. Most people kiss their pets goodbye and read just ‘one more’ bedtime story to their children. Most people visit their grandparents even when they have no time and stop by to check on quiet friends, after a long day. Most people give money when money is scarce and most people worry about people they don’t even know, day in and day out. When the world seems bad, remember, most people are good.”

                                     Written by Donna Ashworth from the book “Wild Hope”

“Love propagates anew the higher joys of Spirit, which have no taint of earth. Each successive stage of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 66:13-16

“Nothing that is good can be lost because it comes from the Holy Spirit, the Voice for creation. Nothing that is not good was ever created, and therefore cannot be protected. The Atonement is the guarantee of the safety of the Kingdom, and the union of the Sonship is its protection. The ego cannot prevail against the Kingdom because the Sonship is united. In the presence of those who hear the Holy Spirit’s Call to be as one, the ego fades away and is undone.”

A Course in Miracles T-5.IV.1:7-11