Filling the Empty Space in. Life

There have been three movie versions of A Star is Born. My personal favorite is the one with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The movie brings back memories of all the alcoholic/drug addicts who have been friends, along with all the incredibly talented Texas musicians I’ve loved. Whew! And this has led me to think about this thing we call will power. I’m not sure there is such a thing in our material sense of things. We say addiction is a disease, and that’s probably true, as it’s an acute sense of dis-ease which is felt in the throes of addictive behavior. An ex-heroin addict once told me he was trying to fill the “God hole” in his life. The religions he has tried to embrace did not fill his need, and he repeatedly turned to drugs. At one point I was addicted to many substances, and it was the illness of a child which caused me to want to change enough to struggle to do so. The study of the Science of Christ satisfied that longing in my life. Discovering A Course in Miracles closed the deal in my search for a happy existence. For this, I am thankful with all my heart.

“The power of the human will should be exercised only in subordination to Truth; else it will misguide the judgment and free the lower propensities. It is the province of spiritual sense to govern man. Material, erring, human thought acts injuriously both upon the body and through it."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 206:4-9

“Your picture of the world can only mirror what is within. The source of neither light nor darkness can be found without. Grievances darken your mind, and you look out on a darkened world. Forgiveness lifts the darkness, reasserts your will, and lets you look upon a world of light. We have repeatedly emphasized that the barrier of grievances is easily passed, and cannot stand between you and your salvation. The reason is very simple. Do you really want to be in hell? Do you really want to weep and suffer and die?”
—A Course in Miracles W-73.5:1-8

Giving the Gift of Peace and Love

Dulaine Dancing Students

Pierre Dulaine wanted to be a ballroom dancer. After years of performing, he became a teacher. He was determined to bring ballroom dancing to the classrooms of New York City. No one wanted him to do this. Administrators, teachers, and especially students thought it was a horrid idea. He persisted and now his way of teaching is integral in more than 500 schools around the world. His idea is that if you can dance together, you can get along. He paired up kids by height, with no regard to nationality or gang affiliation or anything else. When these kids are dancing, they are happy and everything else falls away. It doesn't matter if their families have feuded for years or if someone hurt the other's feelings the day before. These students are being taught respect for themselves and others through dance. They must hold each other and cooperate in movement. They are taught to look into each others' eyes and learn the confidence to do so in daily life. Pierre Dulaine was led to do something everyone thought to be foolish and a waste of time. He has followed his heart and brought a gift of Love and peace and grace to thousands by doing so.

You will first dream of peace, and then awaken to it. ²Your first exchange of what you made for what you want is the exchange of nightmares for the happy dreams of love.
—A Course in Miracles T-13.VII.9:1-2

“Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. 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. Patience must ‘have her perfect work.’”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454:18-24

Let’s Stop the Madness

 

Mahatma Gandhi famously said to a rioting crowd: “I am a Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist, a Jew — and so are you!” In the Book of Galatians we are told of the teachings of Jesus: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female…” If only everyone in the world acknowledged this truth. The worldwide persecution of people for their nationality, religion, gender, and who-knows-what-else, is rising. I can’t change how that guy over there thinks, but I can change how I see things. Instead of blaming, perhaps even hating, those perpetrating atrocities in the name of power, let’s see them as they were born: the pure reflection of Love. Anything else is an illusion they are living. We tend to think it will take some sort of physical force to break through the hate, but actually Love is the only power capable of that.

“You are what God created or what you made. ²One Self is true; the other is not there. Try to experience the unity of your one Self. Try to appreciate Its Holiness and the love from which It was created. Try not to interfere with the Self which God created as you, by hiding Its majesty behind the tiny idols of evil and sinfulness you have made to replace It. Let It come into Its Own. Here you are; This is You. And light and joy and peace abide in you because this is so.”
—A Course in Miracles W-93.9:1-8

“Millions of unprejudiced minds — simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert — are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ’s name, and never fear the consequences. What if the old dragon should send forth a new flood to drown the Christ-idea? He can neither drown your voice with its roar, nor again sink the world into the deep waters of chaos and old night. In this age the earth will help the woman; the spiritual idea will be understood. Those ready for the blessing you impart will give thanks. The waters will be pacified, and Christ will command the wave.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 570:14-25

Dolly Lives!

A friend on the east coast called today, in tears over the passing of Dolly Parton. To me, she is every bit as much alive as she ever was! I can hear her voice and music any time I choose to do so. The good she did in this life will continue to live on and, hopefully, exponentially grow with those of us who emulate her actions. Dolly’s efforts to put a book into every child’s hand has been a beautiful thing to watch grow. We cannot say how far the seeds this woman has sown have and will spread. But everybody has a Dolly story! Everywhere she went, she treated people with kindness and respect. I remember years ago when she was traveling with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in preparation for their album, Trio. They came through this part of the country and almost everyone I knew had a story about their visit. Whether it was restaurants, motels, or rest stops, Dolly (and her friends) were exceptionally friendly and generous. Sitting here, listening to her incredible voice coming through my device, my gratitude is great for this woman and her music. Dolly lives!

“‘Heaven and earth shall pass away’ means that they will not continue to exist as separate states. My word, which is the resurrection and the life, shall not pass away because life is eternal.”

—A Course in Miracles T-1.III.2:1-2

“A blundering despatch, mistakenly announcing the death of a friend, occasions the same grief that the friend’s real death would bring. You think that your anguish is occasioned by your loss. Another despatch, correcting the mistake, heals your grief, and you learn that your suffering was merely the result of your belief.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page386: 16-22

One With The Earth

“Lupins” by Era Leisner

We live in a world where many laws are enacted to protect us, such as wearing motorcycle helmets and seat belts in cars. Yet the items we find in our grocery stores are filled with chemicals and other things which can barely be classified as food. We are told to use pesticides on ourselves, our gardens, our pets, even though the rates of autoimmune disease and cancer climbs steadily. There are laws forcing us to immunize our children and our pets, yet what began as a life-saving procedure has been contaminated with odd chemicals and industrial waste. It seems impossible to get away from the multitude of horrors which are spoon-fed to us from every direction. And yet, I truly think there IS a spiritual solution to all the things which seem impossibly horrible. So I shall continue to study, continue working to rise above the miasma of erroneous thought, and strive to see past the hideous forms we seem to manifest. These things have nothing to do with the laws of Love, the creations of divine Mind, the Principle which we yearn to serve. May we live in the “glorious liberty of the children of God”! (MBE) 

“Citizens of the world, accept the ‘glorious liberty of the children of God,’ and be free! This is your divine right. The illusion of material sense, not divine law, has bound you, entangled your free limbs, crippled your capacities, enfeebled your body, and defaced the tablet of your being.” 

—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 227:24-28

“We have observed before how many senseless things have seemed to you to be salvation. Each has imprisoned you with laws as senseless as itself. You are not bound by them. Yet to understand that this is so, you must first realize salvation lies not there. While you would seek for it in things that have no meaning, you bind yourself to laws that make no sense. Thus do you seek to prove salvation is where it is not.” 

—A Course in Miracles W-76.1:1-6

Grievance or Miracle: You Choose

“Summer Rain”

Art by Catrin Welz-Stein

A morning meditation from Marianne Williamson was this: “Negativity poisons my mind and positivity restores it. I have a choice whether to join in the darkness of the world, its petty judgments, and constant blame. When I do so I inject my psyche with poison, and today I choose a healthy mind.” It dovetailed with an interview given by Matson and Tawni Browning, who have written a book, The Hate Next Door. This couple went undercover and became part of the new white supremacy, seeing what feeds these extreme views. As we know, strong, negative opinions breed hate and fear. And the opposite is also true: a positive outlook allows love and joy to permeate our lives. This is the miracle realization which replaces all our grievances. We can be unhappy about everything — i.e., the pollen is making me sick, politicians are liars, everything is too expensive, and on and on. Or we can notice the beauty of every little thing, and be grateful. Everywhere we look, there is much to be appreciated. What we put our attention on, grows.

“Perhaps it is not yet quite clear to you that each decision that you make is one between a grievance and a miracle. Each grievance stands like a dark shield of hate before the miracle it would conceal. And as you raise it up before your eyes, you will not see the miracle beyond. Yet all the while it waits for you in light, but you behold your grievances instead.”
—A Course in Miracles W-78.1:1-4

"Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it. The wintry blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affection, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance of fleshly ties serves to unite thought more closely to God, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases to sigh over the world and begins to unfold its wings for heaven."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 57:23-30

Joy Is The Key

Creative Joy from Sandy Wythawai Starbird

The joy of creation: that is the key to bringing people back to sanity. Creating a safer environment for our children to grow. Creating a world where we respect the earth and all its inhabitants. Creating a joyous family. Creating safe spaces for people in trouble to recover. The list is endless. But these are things which bring everyone happiness. We must be productive and have a reason for getting up in the morning. Let’s create a citizenry which works toward these ends! Every one of us are known for our good works, our spiritual focus, our Love for humanity — caring for the earth, the animals, the environment. Now is not the time to hide our light! Take a walk in the woods, visit a local lake or river, tend your garden, and as always, love your neighbor. That’s how we “keep the sabbath holy”!

“The mind is very powerful, and never loses its creative force. It never sleeps. Every instant it is creating. It is hard to recognize that thought and belief combine into a power surge that can literally move mountains. It appears at first glance that to believe such power about yourself is arrogant, but that is not the real reason you do not believe it. You prefer to believe that your thoughts cannot exert real influence because you are actually afraid of them. This may allay awareness of the guilt, but at the cost of perceiving the mind as impotent. If you believe that what you think is ineffectual you may cease to be afraid of it, but you are hardly likely to respect it. There are no idle thoughts. All thinking produces form at some level.
—A Course in Miracles T-2.VI.9:5-14

“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 513:16-21