Always Indivisible

Art by Courtney Lee

Humans are apparently pack animals. We love to divide ourselves into groups and hang around with people who think like we do. We create churches, sororities, sewing circles, and numerous other clubs in which to gather and share our commonality. Perhaps the time has come for us to recognize that many of these tribal separations are keeping us from seeing the greater good in all humanity. Maybe if we can open ourselves in a more selfless manner, embracing each other because of our sameness, rather than in spite of our differences, perhaps we can stop worrying about what others may think of us and pull out all the stops for some honest to goodness truth. I don’t want to wait another moment for something which feels so right!

“Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health 571:18-21

“God’s Son will always be indivisible. As we are held as one in God, so do we learn as one in Him. God’s Teacher is as like to His Creator as is His Son, and through His Teacher does God proclaim His Oneness and His Son’s. Listen in silence, and do not raise your voice against Him. For He teaches the miracle of oneness, and before His lesson division disappears. Teach like Him here, and you will remember that you have always created like your Father. The miracle of creation has never ceased, having the holy stamp of immortality upon it. This is the Will of God for all creation, and all creation joins in willing this.”
—A Course in Miracles T-14.XI.11:1-8

Falling Into Music

Awake Awhile - By Hafiz

“Awake awhile.

It does not have to be forever.

Right now. One step upon the Sky’s soft skirt would be enough.

Awake awhile.

Just one True moment of Love will last for days.

Rest all your elaborate plans and tactics for knowing Him,

For they are all just frozen spring buds

Far, so far from Summer’s Divine Gold.

Awake, my dear.

Be kind to your sleeping heart.

Take it out into the vast fields of Light

And let it breathe.

Say, ‘Love, give me back my wings.

Lift me, lift me nearer.’

Say to the sun and moon, say to our dear Friend,

‘I will take you up now, Beloved,

On that wonderful Dance You promised!’”

—By Hafiz

“Earth has little light or joy for mortals before Life is spiritually learned. Every agony of mortal error helps error to destroy error, and so aids the apprehension of immortal Truth. This is the new birth going on hourly, by which men may entertain angels, the true ideas of God, the spiritual sense of being.”

—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 548:11-17

“The world will end in joy, because it is a place of sorrow. When joy has come, the purpose of the world has gone. The world will end in peace, because it is a place of war. When peace has come, what is the purpose of the world? The world will end in laughter, because it is a place of tears. Where there is laughter, who can longer weep? And only complete forgiveness brings all this to bless the world. In blessing it departs, for it will not end as it began. To turn hell into Heaven is the function of God’s teachers, for what they teach are lessons in which Heaven is reflected. And now sit down in true humility, and realize that all God would have you do you can do. Do not be arrogant and say you cannot learn His Own curriculum. His Word says otherwise. His Will be done. 

It cannot be otherwise. And be you thankful it is so.”

—A Course in Miracles M-14.5:1-15

Beyond Conflict

We are living in a “grim era of demonization”. I’ve mentioned before a group called Beyond Conflict, which found that around 80% of those who call themselves Democrats or Republicans overestimate the level to which the other side dehumanizes them. In other words, I don’t think you’re as bad as you think I think you are! It’s time we all begin to realize these truths and start talking to each other with civility. Almost 70 years ago, Margaret Chase Smith asked her political party to “do some soul-searching” and not to ride to power on character assassination and unsubstantiated accusations of treason. She made this plea from the Senate floor, but she did not point fingers at the culprit. It was Joseph McCarthy who was making accusations unrooted in truth, but by not calling him out she exposed the emptiness of his crusade, which soon collapsed. We are currently hearing outlandish and unfounded accusations, and it is our duty to seek truth and celebrate it. Harmony is seeking our attention! I pray we will find it.

“Discord is the nothingness named error. Harmony is the soothingness named Truth.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 276:26

“There is a tendency, and it is very strong, to hear this song of death only an instant, and then dismiss it uncorrected. These fleeting awarenesses represent the many opportunities given us literally ‘to change our tune.’ The sound of healing can be heard instead. But first the willingness to question the ‘truth’ of the song of condemnation must arise. The strange distortions woven inextricably into the self-concept, itself but a pseudo-creation, make this ugly sound seem truly beautiful. ’The rhythm of the universe,’ ‘the herald angel’s song,’ all these and more are heard instead of loud discordant shrieks.”
—A Course in Miracles P-2.VI.2:1-6

The Gifts Offered by Nature

My favorite dogwood tree is dying. I’ve been watching it and sending love. I became interested in the inter-connectivity of trees after reading the novel, The Overstory. This book caused me to want to know more, so I watched numerous YouTube videos on the subject. It’s quite fascinating! Not only do they communicate with each other, they send needed nutrients back and forth to trees in need. We all know there is much to be learned from nature. I first began to think about these topics after reading The Celestine Prophecy, which made me aware of trees and their auras. James Redfield, the author, suggests that we practice bringing back our innate ability to see auras by practicing on trees. He tells us the tree’s energy is strong and we can stand with an open mind and heart in front of the tree, holding our hands just an inch away, and feel, then see, the tree’s energy. These beautiful, strong entities are all around us, yet we seldom notice what they’re up to! Today I think I’ll put my attention on human beings, noticing if I can feel as much life in them as the beautiful trees emit!

“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

“There is a light in you which cannot die; whose presence is so holy that the world is sanctified because of you. All things that live bring gifts to you, and offer them in gratitude and gladness at your feet. The scent of flowers is their gift to you. The waves bow down before you, and the trees extend their arms to shield you from the heat, and lay their leaves before you on the ground that you may walk in softness, while the wind sinks to a whisper round your holy head.” 

—A Course in Miracles W-156.4:1-4

Am I Hearing What You’re Saying?

We would all love to save the world, would we not? Yet we know we can’t change someone else; change only happens within our own thought. But then again, I’ve found many people are simply regurgitating things they have heard all their lives, and when they find something which turns on a light (or rings a bell, if you will!) deep inside them, they suddenly want to know more about these ideas which have piqued their interest. It may seem as though we are not doing anything when we interact with people in our day-to-day activities. When we notice our thoughts, we may find we're listening to another for the purpose of responding to their words. Real listening allows true communication, not just our interpretation of what is being said. I've discovered that my perception of what someone is saying to me may not be what they are really saying, and I am twisting their words to fit what I expect them to say. Every time I catch myself doing this, my desire to understand is renewed. Hallelujah!

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 506:11-14

“I have already said that miracles are expressions of miracle-mindedness, and miracle-mindedness means right-mindedness. The right-minded neither exalt nor depreciate the mind of the miracle worker or the miracle receiver. However, as a correction, the miracle need not await the right-mindedness of the receiver. In fact, its purpose is to restore him to his right mind. It is essential, however, that the miracle worker be in his right mind, however briefly, or he will be unable to re-establish right-mindedness in someone else.”
—A Course in Miracles T-2.V.3:1-5

Witnessing Without Judgment

One of our learned behaviors is to place blame on others for things they have said, or done, which we perceive as detrimental to us or others. We are learning that we can simply witness these events, without apportioning any blame or cause to them. Then we can see things as they really are, without placing our own, personal meaning on them. As often happens, I am reminded of The Four Agreements, as interpreted by Don Miguel Ruiz: don’t take anything personally, and don’t make assumptions. I thank him for helping me to realize I can witness events, without constantly blaming and questioning why. Again, this doesn’t mean we don’t take action when necessary. It helps us to know what to do and when to do it.

“The question, 'What is Truth', convulses the world. Many are ready to meet this inquiry with the assurance which comes of understanding; but more are blinded by their old illusions, and try to 'give it pause'. The efforts of error to answer this question by some ology are vain. Spiritual rationality and free thought accompany approaching Science, and cannot be put down. They will emancipate humanity, and supplant unscientific means and so-called laws”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 223:14-24

“Without attack thoughts I could not see a world of attack. As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will see a world of peace and safety and joy. And it is this I choose to see, in place of what I look on now.” 
—A Course in Miracles W-55.3:3-5

Learning Not To See Them

Heather Cox Richardson mentioned how many trolls there were on her broadcast today. She counseled us: “Learn not to see them”. Is that a perfect statement or what?? When you see something which seems awful, even though you know it’s not real, often we can’t help but make it a reality in our experience. Sickness comes to mind as the ultimate unreality which persists in appearing real. In the loosely quoted words of Albert Einstein, even though we know it’s not real, the illusion can be persistent. When addressing the persistent trolls writing comments on her live broadcast today, the historian/analyst mentioned that it was a sign that certain people were frightened. The groups which pay trolls to broadcast ugly comments — in whatever format they appear — are squirming like any creature trying to save itself. They feel the end is near, and they are struggling to gain footing with those of us who don’t know what to believe. Whether it’s a political movement shouting louder, or a physical symptom raising its voice to a scream, we must learn to look through it. Focus on Truth in every facet of life. The truth is that you are a spiritual being, not subject to material so-called laws. The truth of lying political figures can seem difficult to see past, but it’s really not. Give up your learned beliefs and look at what Is, not what seems to be. Stay strong and be not afraid. Love always outshines lies. Namaste …

“Whatever you accept into your mind has reality for you. It is your acceptance of it that makes it real. If you enthrone the ego in your mind, your allowing it to enter makes it your reality. This is because the mind is capable of creating reality or making illusions. I said before that you must learn to think with God. To think with Him is to think like Him. This engenders joy, not guilt, because it is natural. Guilt is a sure sign that your thinking is unnatural. Unnatural thinking will always be attended with guilt, because it is the belief in sin. The ego does not perceive sin as a lack of love, but as a positive act of assault. This is necessary to the ego’s survival because, as soon as you regard sin as a lack, you will automatically attempt to remedy the situation. And you will succeed. The ego regards this as doom, but you must learn to regard it as freedom.”
—A Course in Miracles T-5.V.4:1-13

“The optical focus is another proof of the illusion of material sense. On the eye’s retina, sky and tree-tops apparently join hands, clouds and ocean meet and mingle. The barometer, — that little prophet of storm and sunshine, denying the testimony of the senses, — points to fair weather in the midst of murky clouds and drenching rain. Experience is full of instances of similar illusions, which every thinker can recall for himself.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 122: 15-22