Art by Kaoru Yamada
In our little village, the death of a woman in childbirth has taken my thoughts down the perilous path of motherhood. The magnificent movement of growing a baby within her body, of birthing that baby into the world, of feeding that baby — these things are huge events which we taken as everyday occurrences rather than the miracle they are. Wait, what am I saying? Everything is a miracle when you pay attention! Although our Eureka Woman had loving care and support in every way, her passing has caused me to think of the pain women often endure due to lack of proper care during their pregnancies and births and the parenthood which follows. Many instances of impossible pregnancies come to mind, and then I think of the people who insist that these gestations come to full term and the consequences suffered by the women. My book club is currently reading The Frozen River. The story tells of an 18th-century midwife in the cold and cruel atmosphere of a Maine winter. Perhaps that is why I am feeling the distress of the thousands, perhaps millions, of women who are misunderstood and maltreated. This book has caused me to feel what a frightened, misinformed young woman might experience. It causes me to wonder how much disinformation many of our young people are being given today. I also wonder at the misplaced values being espoused when they talk of traditional” marriages and “moral” politicians. May we all mentor a child, befriend a young mother, help our neighbor in any way possible — and vote for freedom in all of the coming elections!
“Knowledge is not the motivation for learning this course. Peace is. This is the prerequisite for knowledge only because those who are in conflict are not peaceful, and peace is the condition of knowledge because it is the condition of the Kingdom. Knowledge can be restored only when you meet its conditions. This is not a bargain made by God, Who makes no bargains. It is merely the result of your misuse of His laws on behalf of an imaginary will that is not His. Knowledge isHis Will. If you are opposing His Will, how can you have knowledge? I have told you what knowledge offers you, but perhaps you do not yet regard this as wholly desirable. If you did you would not be so ready to throw it away when the ego asks for your allegiance.”
—A Course in Miracles T-8.I.1:1-10
“Pale in the presence of his own momentous question, ‘What is Truth,’ Pilate was drawn into acquiescence with the demands of Jesus’ enemies. Pilate was ignorant of the consequences of his awful decision against human rights and divine Love, knowing not that he was hastening the final demonstration of what life is and of what the true knowledge of God can do for man.
“The women at the cross could have answered Pilate’s question. They knew what had inspired their devotion, winged their faith, opened the eyes of their understanding, healed the sick, cast out evil, and caused the disciples to say to their Master: ‘Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.’”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 48:25-6
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