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

Releasing Conflict

 

My Boys - circa 1997

Conflict resolution. Conflict transformation. How much time and energy do we spend in attempting to negate conflict between others and/or within ourselves? We can make lists of the merits of our choices, we can role play and put ourselves in each others' place in a situation, and we can enlist therapists to help us out. There are lots of ways to search for the door out of conflict. I have found the only way to truly leave it behind is to realize that such a thing does not exist anywhere other than in my thoughts I'll always remember a time when my boys were around 8 and 10 years of age. Their disagreements had advanced to the point where I saw no way out, other than to give one of them away! One day, during a particularly intense bout, I gave up and sat down in my bedroom to have a good cry. Next to my chair was a stack of Christian Science Sentinels, the weekly publication which has given us practical metaphysical writings for more than a hundred years. I reached down and pulled a copy from the middle of the stack and opened it up to an article about brothers fighting! I don't remember anything about the content, other than it was just what I needed. I also remember sitting there and thinking of all the reasons I loved them, and then thinking of what it truly means that they are the expression of divine Love. It came to me that I was exhibiting an I'm-right-and-you're-wrong attitude. While that day was not the last time they had disagreements, they never again seemed so intense, and it was the last day I was in total despair over their actions. Living Love creates bridges which bring us together in peace. Trust that your function and happiness are your God-given right, and don't be afraid to open up and see what unexpected ways this function will be manifested.

“God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love.”
—Mary Baker Eddy Science & Health Page 106:7-10[

“I have no function but the one God gave me. This recognition releases me from all conflict, because it means I cannot have conflicting goals. With one purpose only, I am always certain what to do, what to say and what to think. All doubt must disappear as I acknowledge that my only function is the one God gave me.”
—A Course in Miracles W-83.1:2-5

The Infinite Calculus of Spirit

Hopefully our current era will be remembered as the age of wisdom. A.I. is supplying more information than anyone could consume, but this in and of itself is not wisdom. Yuval Noah Harari likened this parenthesis in time to the story every culture shares, about a genie in a found bottle. The genie has information, but our three wishes must come from wisdom or they will backfire on us. A.I. has the answer to anything we may ask, but what are we asking? We are seeking wisdom but, as usual, we want fast solutions. Artificial intelligence is not a tool; it is an agent. For instance, the printing press, a tool, cannot write books on its own, it can only print what we want it to print. But A.I. amasses information and does not need to be told what to do with it. We have many choices and large decisions to make. What will guide us in these decisions must be Infinite Mind, not something which gathers information and tells us what to do based on how many times these “facts” have been repeated. I have faith in humanity and trust this is the tipping point in our understanding.

“Material substances or mundane formations, astronomical calculations, and all the paraphernalia of speculative theories, based on the hypothesis of material law or life and intelligence resident in matter, will ultimately vanish, swallowed up in the infinite calculus of Spirit.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 209:25-30

Judgment, like other devices by which the world of illusions is maintained, is totally misunderstood by the world. It is actually confused with wisdom, and substitutes for truth.” 

—A Course in Miracles M-10.1:1-2

A New Standpoint

Are you a list maker? If you have a list of problems which need to be solved, it should be a relief to know there is only one problem and only one solution! If you watch or listen to news and feel overwhelmed by the problems of the world, it is a welcome respite to realize there is only one solution, and that solution is shown through a recognition of the problem. Actually, there is no need to think about a solution, you only need recognize that there is but one problem -- and that realization is, in itself, the solution. Every problem which seems to exist is the result of one thing: a belief in separation from our Oneness. I remember a friend had a poster in her office reminding the people who came in that the only reason she wanted to know their problem was as an identifier; after that, she only wanted to hear about solutions. Wayne Dyer wrote a whole book about it: There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. The problem is that we believe we have separated from Source. The solution lies in that recognition!

“A problem cannot be solved if you do not know what it is. Even if it is really solved already you will still have the problem, because you will not recognize that it has been solved. This is the situation of the world. The problem of separation, which is really the only problem, has already been solved. Yet the solution is not recognized because the problem is not recognized.”
—A Course in Miracles W-79.1:1-5

"Ontology receives less attention than physiology. Why? Because mortal mind must waken to spiritual life before it cares to solve the problem of being, hence the author's experience; but when that awakening comes, existence will be on a new standpoint."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 556:25-30

Feast On Your Life

“By the Open Door”

 Nikolai Astrup 1911

Derek Walcott - Love After Love.

"The time will come when, with elation,

you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror, and each will smile at the other's welcome, and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.

Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life."

“If you overlook love you are overlooking yourself, and you must fear unreality because you have denied yourself. By believing that you have successfully attacked truth, you are believing that attack has power. Very simply, then, you have become afraid of yourself. And no one wants to find what he believes would destroy him.”
—A Course in Miracles T-11.V.10:5-8

“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 57:24-30

Willing

Many of life’s experiences are humbling. Through them, we can learn to admit that we know nothing; it gives us opportunities to say that we wrong about an opinion. I’ve gone through phases in the last 70 years when I didn’t want to admit either of these things, but now I am willing. On this beautiful summer day, let us join in having no strong opinions and allowing our beliefs to dissolve. Let’s see what shows up when we are an empty vessel, listening for Spirit to fill us!

“In choosing salvation rather than attack, I merely choose to recognize what is already there. Salvation is a decision made already. Attack and grievances are not there to choose. That is why I always choose between truth and illusion; between what is there and what is not. The light has come. I can but choose the light, for it has no alternative. It has replaced the darkness, and the darkness has gone.”
—A Course in Miracles W-88.1:2-8

"There is no material truth. The physical senses can take no cognizance of God and spiritual Truth. Human belief has sought out many inventions, but not one of them can solve the problem of being without the divine Principle of divine Science. Deductions from material hypotheses are not scientific. They differ from real Science because they are not based on the divine law."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 273:2-9

Book Clubs Saving The World

My book club has often been mentioned in these daily writings. We are a group of women who have met for over two decades, with a book at the center of our monthly gathering — but reading is just the vehicle we use to get together and enjoy each others’ company. Some of us think logically from the standpoint of science; others live intuitively from the heart. Our group includes teachers, body/mind/spirit workers, a veterinarian, businesswomen, farmers, a librarian — actually, a single definition isn’t enough for any one of these women. They are multi-talented and diverse. We have incredible discussions and enjoy one another more than I can say. It doesn’t matter if we agree with each other’s opinions, because we all live from the space of Love. Everything we do is guided by something larger than what our human reason can encompass. It seems this group of women could solve all the problems of the world — and actually it feels like we have done just that every time we get together! Thinking about them and basking in our friendship reminds me that problems come from a belief in separation, and I thank these women for helping me to feel whole.

“Let me realize today that the problem is always some form of grievance that I would cherish. Let me also understand that the solution is always a miracle with which I let the grievance be replaced. Today I would remember the simplicity of salvation by reinforcing the lesson that there is one problem and one solution. The problem is a grievance; the solution is a miracle. And I invite the solution to come to me through my forgiveness of the grievance, and my welcome of the miracle that takes its place.”
—A Course in Miracles W-90.1:2-6

“Human reason and religion come slowly to the recognition of spiritual facts, and so continue to call upon matter to remove the error which the human mind alone has created.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 173:25-28

An Earth Transformed By Truth

Morning Light — captured by Blake Lasater

I read an article in which people were questions about spirituality and religion. Most of those interviewed thought of themselves as spiritual but not religious, and the few self-proclaimed religious people were mostly looking for a sense of community and fellowship. A sense of inclusiveness was often mentioned in the answers. People apparently are looking for a spiritual group which will accept them as they are, without trying to change them. Many spoke of doubt, stating they needed groups of like-minded people to help them in times of loss and fear. It seems so simple for everyone to live together in Love, being kind and helping each other. Apparently it is not. Long-held beliefs cloud our vision and we fearfully try to pull others into our illusions. Today I will try to see the light of miracles everywhere I look, refusing to be pulled into darkness, even in jest.

“Strength comes from truth, and shines with light its Source has given it; weakness reflects the darkness of its maker. It is sick and looks on sickness, which is like itself. Truth is a savior and can only will for happiness and peace for everyone. It gives its strength to everyone who asks, in limitless supply. It sees that lack in anyone would be a lack in all. And so it gives its light that all may see and benefit as one. Its strength is shared, that it may bring to all the miracle in which they will unite in purpose and forgiveness and in love.”
—A Course in Miracles W-92.5:1-7

“As a material, theoretical life-basis is found to be a misapprehension of existence, the spiritual and divine Principle of man dawns upon human thought and leads it to "where the young child was," --even to the birth of a new-old idea, to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes. Thus the whole earth will be transformed by Truth on its pinions of light, chasing away the darkness of error."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 191:7-15

Longing For New Things To Learn

Back to school time! Simply saying those words brings a feeling of anticipation and excitement! This week’s Christian Science Monitor’s focus is on this topic. The editorial describes this time as having a “sense of potential — not in that self-focused way of many New Year’s resolutions, but as an expansive sort of longing for new things to learn and new relationships to forge.” Ah, much like those brand new pencils with their sharp tips and new erasers, it feels really good to enter a classroom with a new teacher, new classmates, and high hopes. The Monitor staff asked children for their best tips for Day 1 at school. Here are a few of their responses: “Talk to people who look like they need a friend. Don’t do things just because other people do it.” They also advised not to stress over grades or you might miss out on the experience. My favorite was, “Don’t try to take it in all at once. Also, don’t worry so much.” That feels like good advice for all of us!

“All living hearts are tranquil with a stir of deep anticipation, for the time of everlasting things is now at hand.”
— A Course in Miracles M-28.4:1

“The human mind, imbued with this spiritual understanding, becomes more elastic, is capable of greater endurance, escapes somewhat from itself, and requires less repose. A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 128:11-19

Healing Laughter

June At a Eureka Drumming

Photo by Richard Quick

Laughing Yoga. I had never heard of this until today, when talking to a lifelong friend on the phone. While relating a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my driver’s license and get a replacement car title for my friend, we began to laugh so hard the therapeutic aspects were immediately noticeable. She told me her sister had given her a calendar (perhaps semi-facetiously) about laughing yoga. This inspired us to relate a couple of other ridiculous incidents and we laughed for the better part of 15 minutes. What a wonderful way to end a day! Try it, you’ll like it!

“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.”
—A Course in Miracles M-14.5:2-8

“The good in human affections must have ascendency over the evil and the spiritual over the animal, or happiness will never be won. The attainment of this celestial condition would improve our progeny, diminish crime, and give higher aims to ambition.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 61:4-9

What My Illusions Hide

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

A good friend struggled with depression all her life. She felt her existence was a series of horrible events, occasionally interrupted by happy times, which inevitably ended in pain. In an attempt to escape the pain, she turned to alcohol, drugs, and God. But the judgmental God she saw made deals with her, and never deemed her worthy of favor. She often recounted events from the past, and they seemed to affect her every action. We can escape this trap by accepting that we are actually the holy reflection of divine Love, a/k/a God. Any feeling of hopelessness and sadness can disappear in an instant! By releasing our material history, we are free to learn the reality of our spiritual self, which is unending, uninterrupted good. It's a beautiful thing to witness someone realize the nothingness of their personal history and to see the wondrous peace which lies within. My dear friend never felt this light. I think of her often … 

"Immortal ideas, pure, perfect, and enduring, are transmitted by the divine Mind through divine Science, which corrects error with truth and demands spiritual thoughts, divine concepts, to the end that they may produce harmonious results."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 259:26-31

“As I share the peace of the world with my brothers, I begin to understand that this peace comes from deep within myself. The world I look upon has taken on the light of my forgiveness, and shines forgiveness back at me. In this light I begin to see what my illusions about myself kept hidden. I begin to understand the holiness of all living things, including myself, and their oneness with me.”
—A Course in Miracles W-57.5:3-6

Believe It To See it

Rock Formation in Peru

Markawasi, Peru is high in the Andes Mountains in South America. At this site, there are hundreds of figures, faces, and various shapes which may be seen in the living stone. There is much speculation concerning the origin of these fabulous monuments, yet some people cannot see them. As shown by time-lapse photography, these illusive figures are more obvious at some times of the day than at others. I would suppose it also is predicated (as so many things are) on whether we want to see or not. While watching a documentary on this subject, I was repeatedly reminded of its metaphorical relationship with our spiritual study. The very first Wayne Dyer book I discovered jumped out at me because of its title: When You Believe It, You'll See It. This is the exact opposite of our material basis of truth: When I see it, I'll believe it. These stone faces are easily overlooked if you don't want to see. With these thoughts as my inspiration, I shall go through this day seeing my holiness enveloping everything. And while many things are beyond my ability to see, that's okay, because knowing they're there is enough for now.

"As mortals gain more correct views of God and man, multitudinous objects of creation, which before were invisible, will become visible. When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 492:7-11

“From my holiness does the perception of the real world come. Having forgiven, I no longer see myself as guilty. I can accept the innocence that is the truth about me. Seen through understanding eyes, the holiness of the world is all I see, for I can picture only the thoughts I hold about myself.”
—A Course in Miracles W-58.1:2-5

Inevitable Consequences of Separation

Art by Marianne Faguy

“Deep within you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate through you and out into the world. It will cure all sorrow and pain and fear and loss because it will heal the mind that thought these things were real, and suffered out of its allegiance to them.” 

—A Course in Miracles W-41.3:1-2

“The capacity to be alone is the capacity to love.

It may look paradoxical to you, but it's not. It is an existential truth: only those people who are capable of being alone are capable of love, of sharing, of going into the deepest core of another person, without possessing the other, without becoming dependent on the other, without reducing the other to a thing, and without becoming addicted to the other.

They allow the other absolute freedom, because they know that if the other leaves, they will be as happy as they are now.

Their happiness cannot be taken by the other,

because it is not given by the other.”

~ Osho

“Today's idea will eventually overcome completely the sense of loneliness and abandonment all the separated ones experience. Depression is an inevitable consequence of separation. So are anxiety, worry, a deep sense of helplessness, misery, suffering and intense fear of loss.” 

—A Course in Miracles - Workbook Lesson #41

“Wilderness: Loneliness; doubt; darkness. Spontaneity of thought and idea; the vestibule in which a material sense of things disappears, and spiritual sense unfolds the great facts of existence.” 

—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 597:16-19

Ten Qualities Which Can Change The Future

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

While Nate Hagens is primarily known for his studies about oil and other forms of energy, he has recently come up with a list of 10 qualities which can change the future. I found them all thought-provoking, but particularly loved this one. “Measure your worth in something other than money”. He say that more money tends to seek more money and it pulls everything into this monetary vortex, until nothing else is left on the scoreboard. From this acknowledgement, he asks us to measure our worth by things such as saving an animal’s life, mentoring a child, helping neighbors and friends. This may seem simplistic to those of us who have been doing this for years, but to someone who believes their worth is found in what they have and how much money they make, it is a revolutionary way of thinking.

“Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the demands of the affections, and should never weigh against the better claims of intellect, goodness, and virtue.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 57:15-18

“A miracle is a service. It is the maximal service you can render to another. It is a way of loving your neighbor as yourself. You recognize your own and your neighbor’s worth simultaneously.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.I.18:1-4

I Am An Eternal Reflection Of Love

Photo credit: Steve Shogren

Why can’t we all just be happy? I’ve heard this question voiced numerous times, and I’ve probably asked it a time or two myself. People may tell you that poverty and abuse keep many people from being happy. On the flip side, what of people who have everything a person could want, but are terribly unhappy? When I was a teenager, a friend of the family had a series of unfortunate events occur in her life. In a three-year period, her husband passed on, their house burned down, and then her daughter was in a car accident which left her in a coma for over a year before she died. And she had also lost an infant daughter years before. This woman lived well into her 80s, always happily helping others, and I was told she died with a smile on her face. At the time, I wondered how she did it. I see now that she knew the open secret of Life. With each loved one who passes on, with each beloved animal I’ve known and loved through the years, something is growing more certain within me: they haven’t gone anywhere. Never born, never dying. If there was a beginning, then there must be an end. Seeing myself as a blessed eternal creation of Love brings me joy!

“Can you imagine how beautiful those you forgive will look to you? In no fantasy have you ever seen anything so lovely. Nothing you see here, sleeping or waking, comes near to such loveliness. And nothing will you value like unto this, nor hold so dear. Nothing that you remember that made your heart sing with joy has ever brought you even a little part of the happiness this sight will bring you. For you will see the Son of God. You will behold the beauty the Holy Spirit loves to look upon, and which He thanks the Father for. He was created to see this for you, until you learned to see it for yourself. And all His teaching leads to seeing it and giving thanks with Him.”
—A Course in Miracles T-17.II.1:1-9

“As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God. The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 516:2-8

Inward Listening

Art by Catrin Welz-Stein

It appears that many people want others to tell them what to do. We seem to flock to those who are willing (even eager) to guide us through the maze of life. Perhaps the reason is, if we’re doing what someone else tells us, then we can blame them if it doesn’t work out! I’m only partly joking about that. Sometimes we fear making decisions for ourselves because we don’t think we are informed enough to do so. At that point, we either throw up our hands and don’t do anything, or ask someone else what they’re going to do, so we can do the same. Perhaps we don’t trust our own inner guidance, because we have so often mistaken our busy little mind for the calm voice of divine Mind. We are told in Workbook Lesson #49 of A Course in Miracles: “God’s Voice speaks to me all through the day.” Let’s not expect a big, booming human voice to come down from above, but a still, small certainty in the deepness of ourselves, leading us to the expression of Life, Truth, and Love!

“It is quite possible to listen to God’s Voice all through the day without interrupting your regular activities in any way. The part of your mind in which truth abides is in constant communication with God, whether you are aware of it or not. It is the other part of your mind that functions in the world and obeys the world’s laws. It is this part that is constantly distracted, disorganized and highly uncertain.”
—A Course in Miracles W-49.1:1-4

"Infinite Mind creates and governs all, from the mental molecule to infinity. This divine Principle of all expresses Science and art throughout creation, and the immortality of man and the universe."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 507:24-28

Reinterpreting Material Vision

Not a real photo

“Gut feelings" are often discounted as being invalid, for numerous reasons. Some say they are simply paranoid thoughts, others may think of them as wishful thinking, but few think of them as divine vision. In this familiar world of ours, we must reinterpret everything we see. Looking at our surroundings with human eyes, hearing with mortal ears, brings to us a false projection of reality. Discord and inharmony are but misinterpretations we are perceiving. Through right identification and reinterpretation, we see with a pure vision. As an example, when we see train tracks coming together in the distance, we immediately reinterpret that into the truth of the situation. We know that those tracks aren't coming together, and that it will not be dangerous to travel on the train which carries us toward that end. We have been taught to translate many similar situations, and we do not fear them. The metaphysical studies we've embarked upon are doing the same thing: teaching us to recognize misidentification and translate it into Truth. Translating our erroneous thoughts is a present possibility!

“As you share my unwillingness to accept error in yourself and others, you must join the great crusade to correct it; listen to my voice, learn to undo error and act to correct it. The power to work miracles belongs to you. I will provide the opportunities to do them, but you must be ready and willing.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.III.1:6-8

“The material senses and human conceptions would translate spiritual ideas into material beliefs, and would say that an anthropomorphic God, instead of infinite Principle, — in other words, divine Love, — is the father of the rain, ‘who hath begotten the drops of dew,’ who bringeth ‘forth Mazzaroth in his season,’ and guideth ‘Arcturus with his sons.’”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 257: 15-21

We Are More

Art by Jane Newland

 “Don't abandon yourself. Not when you're sick. Not when you're tired. Not when you've lost the thread, the thought, or the thing you thought defined you. 

You will die many times in one life and create yourself anew. This is natural. This is a gift. I've died a few times now here in this world. The person I was: gone. 

Throw that older skin into the water. Give it to the sky. Step into what wants to emerge now. Nothing can hold you back when you are willing to be yourself.”

Jeannette Enchinias

"[We are] more than a material form with a mind inside, which must escape from its environments in order to be immortal. Man reflects infinity, and this reflection is the true idea of God."

—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 258:9-12

“Perception is not an attribute of God. His is the realm of knowledge. Yet He has created the Holy Spirit as the Mediator between perception and knowledge. Without this link with God, perception would have replaced knowledge forever in your mind. With this link with God, perception will become so changed and purified that it will lead to knowledge. That is its function as the Holy Spirit sees it. Therefore, that is its function in truth.”

—A Course in Miracles W-43.1:1-7

The Appropriate Non-Response

Once at a party, someone leaned in close to me and said something derogatory about another person. Remembering Olympia Dukakis in Steel Magnolias when she said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come and sit by me”, I wanted to say just the opposite and ask this person to go away! But I also wanted to see her comments through the light of Love and interpret them purely, rather than through my personal judgment of the words. So I just smiled at her. Wondering how to respond to her, I reached out to Holy Spirit, but nothing came to thought. Rather than nervously babbling something meaningless, or condemning her as I am wont to do, I remained silent. This experience helped me understand that a response is not always necessary. Seeing them in the light of Love seemed more appropriate than condemning them. And it felt good, too. 

“The manifestation of God through mortals is as light passing through the windowpane. The light and the glass never mingle, but as matter, the glass is less opaque than the walls. The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality — much error — in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 295:16-24

“In order to see, you must recognize that light is within, not without. You do not see outside yourself, nor is the equipment for seeing outside you. An essential part of this equipment is the light that makes seeing possible. It is with you always, making vision possible in every circumstance.”
—A Course in Miracles W-44.2:

A Revolution of Truth

In a world where we are being fed lies, it’s extremely difficult to figure out what is truth. Media spreads deception and distrust, dividing people in ways which seem irreparable. Bias doesn’t frighten me, but intentional lies do. Many of us remember the early days of television, bringing with it a new type of advertising, and consumerism became flagrant. It has reached an apex now, in which nearly everything we hear and see is designed to sell us something. We must continue to be vigilant in what we allow into our thoughts, not only for our own good, but for the collective. Repeating stories which create divisions through feelings of superiority or inferiority, that’s playing the game which has been created for us. It’s important to use our education, our intuition, our spiritual knowledge, every bit of common sense we still have, to discern truth. A Christian Science treatment is often referred to as “knowing the Truth”. It is in reference to knowing the Truth of our being, not the beliefs we’ve come to think of as facts. We need not be the victim of propaganda or other forms of hypnosis. “Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach me”. This statement from Mary Baker Eddy is all we need to keep in mind. When we are filled with Love, there is no room for anything else.

"The human mind, imbued with this spiritual understanding, becomes more elastic, is capable of greater endurance, escapes somewhat from itself, and requires less repose. ... It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 128

“In quietness are all things answered, and is every problem quietly resolved. In conflict there can be no answer and no resolution, for its purpose is to make no resolution possible, and to ensure no answer will be plain. A problem set in conflict has no answer, for it is seen in different ways. And what would be an answer from one point of view is not an answer in another light. You are in conflict. Thus it must be clear you cannot answer anything at all, for conflict has no limited effects. Yet if God gave an answer there must be a way in which your problems are resolved, for what He wills already has been done.”
—A Course in Miracles T-27.IV.1:1-7

Swaddled By Love

It seems as though things that we fear all have to do with lack and separation. Fear stems from the idea that we can be separated from joy and love, from peace and security. I remember when my son left home for a boarding school at the tender age of fourteen. I was so sad, it felt as though I'd never laugh again. I literally couldn't imagine happiness, as everything reminded me he was gone. After a week or so of living in this maudlin state, the realization came that I was thinking of him as though he was dead. This led me to examine that avenue. What if he was dead? Wouldn't the love we felt still be alive? Of course, I would miss being around him, enjoying his company -- just as I was missing him then, with 300 miles of physical separation. A Rumi quote helped break this illusion: "Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. For those who love with heart and soul there is no separation." What is it which allows us to be together no matter where we seem to be? Love. The Love which is our essence is a connection that cannot be broken by any set of material circumstance. Feeling the security of divine Love is similar to a baby swaddled in a blanket. Divine Love swaddles us in Its ever-present protection.

“Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God.”
—A Course in Miracles T-in.2:2-4

"The Apostle John says: 'There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out fear. . . . He that feareth is not made perfect in Love.' Here is a definite and inspired proclamation of Christian Science."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 410:17-21

Reversing Our Feeble Flutterings

Upon awakening, I had about 20 inane and/or insane thoughts before realizing what I was doing. "What day is this and where am I supposed to be?", was quickly followed by a chain of remembrances which took me from a lovely cooking store to my childhood home, then zoomed over to a friend's house and a remembered conversation, before zipping back to a neglected household chore. This illustrates why it is so important to guide first-thoughts of the day to paths centered in Spirit. Without this discipline, I could spend all my time with meaningless thoughts, which create turmoil rather than peace within. I have discovered that guiding first thoughts to spiritual truth helps to keep my mind in tune for the rest of the day. Often we feel bombarded by feelings of fear and hostility, lack and disease, error and disharmony. What if our thoughts of peace and harmony could quiet the turmoil of the world? Then we would happily expend the effort to pull our thoughts away from inanity, holding steadfastly to the ideas of divine Mind!  Everything we think or speak or do is shared. How important then to see the reality of it all, rather than the beliefs we are taught by the repetition of them. Join me in taking a stand for Truth, and experience the transformational power!

“I have judged everything I look upon, and it is this and only this I see. This is not vision. It is merely an illusion of reality, because my judgments have been made quite apart from reality. I am willing to recognize the lack of validity in my judgments, because I want to see. My judgments have hurt me, and I do not want to see according to them.”
—A Course in Miracles W-51.2:2-6

“We cannot fathom the nature and quality of God’s creation by diving into the shallows of mortal belief. We must reverse our feeble flutterings — our efforts to find life and truth in matter — and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the God like man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 262:9-16