Notice the Beauty

Photo Courtesy of Blake Lasater

I’ve never been much of a baker. But today, I decided to bake some muffins for my neighbor. I used almond flour and, for flavoring, some delightful powdered lemon concentrate — and pomegranate, too. There was, of course, some vanilla involved. The smell was astounding! All of my senses were alive as the muffins baked and the aroma wafted through the house. I was listening to the book, Theo of Golden. In this story, an older man buys portraits of people he does not know, all painted by a particular artist and displayed in a café. The man, Theo, buys portraits, then finds the subject, giving it to them and learning their story. Those of you who have read it will remember the story of the homeless woman. I think it’s the most beautiful writing I have ever experienced. On this day, when our thoughts turn to spring and renewal, remembering what is good and pure, my heart is full. The gratitude I feel for this life is overwhelming. The sun is shining today, we had beautiful rain last night, and life is good. May you enjoy a day full of Love, as you celebrate Life!

"The necessity for uplifting the race is father to the fact that Mind can do it; for Mind can impart purity instead of impurity, strength instead of weakness, and health instead of disease. Truth is an alterative in the entire system, and can make it 'every whit whole.'"
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page

“Give faith to your brother, for faith and hope and mercy are yours to give. Into the hands that give, the gift is given.Look on your brother, and see in him the gift of God you would receive. It is almost Easter, the time of resurrection. Let us give redemption to each other and share in it, that we may rise as one in resurrection, not separate in death. Behold the gift of freedom that I gave the Holy Spirit for you. And be you and your brother free together, as you offer to the Holy Spirit this same gift. And giving it, receive it of Him in return for what you gave. He leadeth you and me together, that we might meet here in this holy place, and make the same decision.”
—A Course in Miracles T-19.IV-D.17:1-9

What Does Our Planet Need?

Artwork by Natasha Tarasova

“The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as we have defined it.”

David W. Orr - Ecological Literacy:

Educating Our Children for a Sustainable World

“Do you not think the world needs peace as much as you do? Do you not want to give it to the world as much as you want to receive it? For unless you do, you will not receive it. If you want to have it of me, you must give it. Healing does not come from anyone else. You must accept guidance from within. The guidance must be what you want, or it will be meaningless to you. 

That is why healing is a collaborative venture.”

A Course in Miracles T-8.IV.4:1-8

“Truth, not corporeal will, is the divine power which says to disease, 

‘Peace, be still.’”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 144:20-22

Human Rights

Art by William Haskell 

In my lifetime, I have seen many advances in our understanding and the implementation of so-called human rights. We have seen the Voting Rights Act, Title IX sex discrimination legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act. Supreme Court rulings overturned state bans on contraception and interracial marriage. Abortion and same-sex marriage have been legalized. It seems odd that our government would have to guarantee these fundamental human rights, but many things had become illegal since our country’s inception, and women and minorities were always stifled when it came to voting and holding certain stations in life. We made many advances during the 1900s, and we were proud of our open minds and higher thinking. Now it seems many people think these human rights are not necessarily something which should be legislated. I agree they shouldn’t have to be, as as we are all one in Spirit. Well, I won’t go on and on about this. It’s pretty simple if we let our beliefs and ego fade away and allow Love to rule our ways. Namaste…

“Today we will claim the miracles which are your right, since they belong to you. You have been promised full release from the world you made. You have been assured that the Kingdom of God is within you, and can never be lost. We ask no more than what belongs to us in truth. Today, however, we will also make sure that we will not content ourselves with less.” 

—A Course in Miracles W-77.3:1-5

"The history of our country, like all history, illustrates the might of Mind, and shows human power to be proportionate to its embodiment of right-thinking. A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping post and slave market, but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon's mouth. Love is the liberator." 

—Mary Baker Eddy -- circa 1865

Unleash the Love

I regularly listen to the unpacking of A Course in Miracles workbook lessons, translated and interpreted by Corrine Walson and Nouk Sanchez. Recently they used the term “unleash the Love”. What a beautiful image that creates, does it not? I’m also reading the book in the lead photo which is shown here. I’m at a point in it where the author is discussing our inhumane treatment of our animal neighbors. As I pondered our thoughtless actions toward our planet and its inhabitants, many things came to mind. I shall not delineate them here. All I will say is let’s unleash the Love! In this season of renewal and resurrection, I’m going to consistently use every action, every thought, with the intention of unleashing this force which is the strongest thing there is!! Let’s Love Out Loud!!

“God is the Life, or intelligence, which forms and preserves the individuality and identity of animals as well as of men.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 550:3-7

“Our Father, bless our eyes today. We are Your messengers, and we would look upon the glorious reflection of Your Love which shines in everything. We live and move in You alone. We are not separate from Your eternal life. There is no death, for death is not Your Will. And we abide where You have placed us, in the life we share with You and with all living things, to be like You and part of You forever. We accept Your Thoughts as ours, and our will is one with Yours eternally. Amen.”
—A Course in Miracles W-163.9:1-8

More Pottering, Please

"Pottering: A Cure For Modern Life", by Anna McGovern is a book I love without having read it -- and that's probably because I'm living it, as many of you are, too. One definition of pottering is this: to move around without hurrying, in a relaxed and pleasant way. That's just perfect! Wayne Dyer was fond of saying that we aren't human doings, we're human beings. He reminded us we don’t need to be rushing around all the time, constantly doing; that we are free to "be" and enjoy doing what we are led to do, independent of what we think we should be doing. I've always loved this way of thought and feel fortunate to have been able to follow this advice for most of my life. As I tell people when they ask how I'm adjusting to retirement: I've been practicing for it for years! I love pottering around the house doing chores and putting total attention on so-called mundane tasks -- the same full attention which I give to playing duplicate bridge. Washing dishes holds a rainbow of sensory events which I now have time to savor, as did making the meal which gave me the dirty dishes. To sit down and read a favorite weekly news magazine is bliss; to practice the piano is heavenly. I look forward to reading Ms. McGovern's book, because her title tells me we already know each other — though we've never met. Happy Pottering!!

"Rushing around smartly is no proof of accomplishing much."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Miscellaneous Writings Page 230:12

“Then follow Him in joy, with faith that He will lead you safely through all dangers to your peace of mind this world may set before you. Kneel not before the altars to sacrifice, and seek not what you will surely lose. Content yourself with what you will as surely keep, and be not restless, for you undertake a quiet journey to the peace of God, where He would have you be in quietness.” 

—A Course in Miracles T-13.VII.15:1-3

Lending Ourselves to Each Other

Numerous times during our known history, there have been great disruptions in the norm, usually brought on by drought or disease or other outside influences. Our world is experiencing one of those times -- perhaps the most urgent ever known. Each and every one of us have been practicing for this parenthesis in time, and we are ready to do whatever we are called upon to do. I see within our small communities a gathering, a desire to know if our neighbors have a problem we can help solve, or a physical need we can meet — perhaps a helping hand with a chore, or simply a kind word. As a dear friend often says: We lend ourselves to each other. But many are afraid to do this, thinking everyone has nefarious ambitions, and this causes us to withhold ourselves. I don’t deny the existence of some scallywags out there, and we must use our intuition and back off if we get a bad "vibe", but let's learn to trust ourselves and, thereby, trust others, too. We’re all in this together …

“Trusting your brothers is essential to establishing and holding up your faith in your ability to transcend doubt and lack of sure conviction in yourself. When you attack a brother, you proclaim that he is limited by what you have perceived in him. You do not look beyond his errors. Rather, they are magnified, becoming blocks to your awareness of the Self that lies beyond your own mistakes, and past his seeming sins as well as yours.”
—A Course in Miracles W-181.1:1-4

The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother’s need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another’s good.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 518:15-19

Run Towards Kindness

Gustav Klimt - Portrait of Beatrice Portinari, 1891

“Your empathy will be your salvation. When in doubt, run toward kindness.” Tennessee Williams

“Dream softly of your sinless brother, who unites with you in holy innocence. And from this dream the Lord of Heaven will Himself awaken His beloved Son. Dream of your brother’s kindnesses instead of dwelling in your dreams on his mistakes. Select his thoughtfulness to dream about instead of counting up the hurts he gave. Forgiveå him his illusions, and give thanks to him for all the helpfulness he gave. And do not brush aside his many gifts because he is not perfect in your dreams. He represents his Father, Whom you see as offering both life and death to you.” 

A Course in Miracles T-27.VII.15:1-7

“If selfishness has given place to kindness, we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly, and bless them that curse us; but we shall never meet this great duty simply by asking that it may be done. There is a cross to be taken up before we can enjoy the fruition of our hope and faith.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 11-16

Forgive Yourself and Begin Again

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater 

My hope for today is that everyone will love each other. Whether it's your child, spouse, friends, or strangers, just love them. A rather well-known seer once advised us that it's easy to love those who love you, but to love your enemies, to bless those who persecute you, that is the difficult task. This advice is particularly pertinent today, when it seems almost everyone is determined to make someone an enemy. A dear friend told a story about herself in which she was terse with a loved one over a small act which made no difference in the scheme of life. During these days of high emotions and hateful rhetorical speech, we may become ensnared in the collective turmoil. So let's be aware that we might not be feeling our own emotions, but rather those being sold to us by people who will benefit from our angst and division. Whatever the case may be, let’s just love. It's not easy to understand each other under the best of circumstances, and with great unrest afoot, it can seem almost impossible. But it is not. Sometimes we may falter, but forgive yourself and begin again. We always get a second chance to be kind...

“Trials are but lessons that you failed to learn presented once again, so where you made a faulty choice before you now can make a better one, and thus escape all pain that what you chose before has brought to you. In every difficulty, all distress, and each perplexity Christ calls to you and gently says, ‘My brother, choose again.’”
—A Course in Miracles T-31.VIII.3:1-2

“Students are advised by the author to be charitable and kind, not only towards differing forms of religion and medicine, but to those who hold these differing opinions. Let us be faithful in pointing the way through Christ, as we understand it, but let us also be careful always to ‘judge righteous judgment,’ and never to condemn rashly.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 444:13-19

Those Who Walk the Talk

Who are your heroes? After watching the movie “Hidden Figures”, which tells how three women were integral in getting the United States space program off the ground, my heroes are every woman who has continued to do her best in the presence of ugly racism. This movie helped me realize the depth of prejudice; the senselessness of racism and sexism. Every time this understanding reaches a deeper level within me, it becomes more difficult to understand its origins. How did we become a society which looks down on someone because of their skin color, gender, or social standing? Social standing, what the heck does that even mean? I look forward to the day we see people for who they are, appreciating qualities such as kindness, intelligence, integrity, morality, creativity, and such. My heroes today, specifically, are the women who are running for political office, speaking truth to lies, showing us the meaning of kindness and integrity through their actions. I’m sure we all have heroes in our own communities, those who walk the talk. Let’s write them notes, thanking them for their goodness and honesty — because they probably don't know how valued they are!

“It takes great learning both to realize and to accept the fact that the world has nothing to give. What can the sacrifice of nothing mean? It cannot mean that you have less because of it. There is no sacrifice in the world’s terms that does not involve the body. Think a while about what the world calls sacrifice. Power, fame, money, physical pleasure; who is the ‘hero’ to whom all these things belong? ⁷Could they mean anything except to a body? Yet a body cannot evaluate. By seeking after such things the mind associates itself with the body, obscuring its Identity and losing sight of what it really is.”
—Course in Miracles M-13.2:1-9

"Ignorance, pride, or prejudice closes the door to whatever is not stereotyped."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 144:25

Loving Gratitude

Having double below-the-knee amputations, my ability to go places is limited. I can easily move from my wheelchair to different seating in my home, or get into a car, or into my handicap-accessible shower. I get by with a little help from my friends to go to my job as accompanist in a local church, or to attend my book club meetings, or anywhere which does not have stairs. The gratitude I feel to and for friends who take me places and load my moving chair into their vehicles is immense. I play competitive bridge with friends and strangers online; I compete with friends across town or on the other side of the globe in the scrabble-like game, Words With Friends. Thanks to the wonder of the internet I can watch any documentary, movie, or television show ever made — without commercials! Thanks to our wonderful library system, I can read or listen to thousands of books. There has never been a more wonderful time to be housebound! We had our monthly book club meeting this evening. I am thankful for the wonderful women who loaded me into a car and got me there to enjoy great conversation and food. My heart is full …

“The less mind there is manifested in matter the better. When the unthinking lobster loses its claw, the claw grows again. If the Science of Life were understood, it would be found that the senses of Mind are never lost and that matter has no sensation. Then the human limb would be replaced as readily as the lobster’s claw, — not with an artificial limb, but with the genuine one.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 489:1-9

“The miracle is much like the body in that both are learning aids for facilitating a state in which they become unnecessary. When spirit’s original state of direct communication is reached, neither the body nor the miracle serves any purpose. While you believe you are in a body, however, you can choose between loveless and miraculous channels of expression.You can make an empty shell, but you cannot express nothing at all. You can wait, delay, paralyze yourself, or reduce your creativity almost to nothing. But you cannot abolish it. You can destroy your medium of communication, but not your potential. You did not create yourself.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.V.1:1-8

Better Views of Humanity

Photo credit: Kailey Jones

When did you last tell a lie? We may tell “polite” lies, designed to protect loved ones’ feelings, or we might commit the indiscretion which is referred to as a white lie. But what about a lie told to benefit yourself, without caring who it hurts or what harm it causes? And what of cheating? Maybe you moved your Monopoly piece too many squares during family game night, but how about taking goods and services from people and refusing to pay for them, or maybe taking a possession from someone — outright theft? I don’t know many, if any, people who do this. Everyone I interact with has a higher sense of integrity and a moral standard which precludes such actions. Actually, most people I know would never consider lying or stealing or cheating, be it a small indiscretion or a major event. It always comes as a surprise to me when I witness blatant misconduct in public officials, movie stars, ministers — anyone, anywhere. I remind myself constantly that everything is either expressing Love or calling out for love. And so I shall not look the other way, and I will do my best to answer that call. Namaste...

“The peace of mind which the advanced teachers of God experience is largely due to their perfect honesty. It is only the wish to deceive that makes for war. No one at one with himself can even conceive of conflict. Conflict is the inevitable result of self-deception, and self-deception is dishonesty. There is no challenge to a teacher of God. Challenge implies doubt, and the trust on which God’s teachers rest secure makes doubt impossible. Therefore they can only succeed. In this, as in all things, they are honest. They can only succeed, because they never do their will alone. They choose for all mankind; for all the world and all things in it; for the unchanging and unchangeable beyond appearances; and for the Son of God and his Creator. How could they not succeed? They choose in perfect honesty, sure of their choice as of themselves.” 
—A Course in Miracles M-4.II.2:1-1

“Take away wealth, fame, and social organizations, which weigh not one jot in the balance of God, and we get clearer views of Principle. Break up cliques, level wealth with honesty, let worth be judged according to wisdom, and we get better views of humanity."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 239:5

Hypnotized?

Installation at Meow Wolf, Denver, CO

Most of us acknowledge that certain prescription drugs cause adverse reactions, perhaps causing side effects such as sleep-driving or other unconscious activities. We know this, and we have a choice in whether or not to reap the meager benefits anyway. But what if we were told that our favorite food caused us to believe things which simply are not true, or made us buy things, or perhaps think the earth is flat? Would we stop eating it, or would we say, "Oh, I know when I'm being manipulated and I can eat chocolate and still think independently."? There is a documentary called "The Social Dilemma" and it tells us in detail how we are being manipulated by Facebook, in particular. This platform is the reason many people have become flat earthers, believing the world is flat, and there is a great ice wall at the perimeter, and you will be put into jail if you get there. Others believe in something called pizzagate, believing there is a network of well-known people kidnapping children and performing horrendous atrocities. These are the extremes, but what of the influences which are much more subtle? I leave you with this quote from a NetFlix documentary, posted at Independent.co.uk: “It’s easy to think that it’s just a few stupid people who get convinced,” warns the engineer who created the rogue Youtube algorithm, “but the algorithm is getting smarter and smarter every day. Today they’re convincing people that the Earth is flat, but tomorrow they will be convincing YOU of something.” The teachings we are studying help us see Truth, even as we recognize error and deny its reality. And I am grateful …

"As named in Christian Science, animal magnetism or hypnotism is the specific term for error, or mortal mind. It is the false belief that mind is in matter, and is both evil and good; that evil is as real as good and more powerful. This belief has not one quality of Truth. It is either ignorant or malicious. The malicious form of hypnotism ultimates in moral idiocy."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 103:18

“Miracles honor you because you are lovable. They dispel illusions about yourself and perceive the light in you. They thus atone for your errors by freeing you from your nightmares. By releasing your mind from the imprisonment of your illusions, they restore your sanity.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.I.33:1-4

Speak Truth, Time and Again

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

How many people must repeat a truth before everyone begins to see it, too? Mark Twain supposedly said a lie would travel around the world while the truth was still lacing up its boots. I'm not sure that's true today, with the internet connecting everyone in its web. I'd bet the truth will travel just as fast, if enough people speak it and write it!  Aristarchus first noticed the sun was stationary somewhere around 300 B.C., then it took a number of centuries before Copernicus revealed this truth with a mathematical model in the 1500s. Even then, Copernicus was so afraid of religious leaders, who thought everything was centered around them, that he didn't tell anyone until he was on his deathbed. Sound familiar? What about the earth being flat, railroad tracks coming together, mirages, and other such illusions? How long did it take for us to understand what was happening? While most of us know these things, I saw a horrifying statistic recently which said that 1/4 of the people still believe the sun revolves around the earth every 24 hours. Knowing the depth of ignorance (lack of knowledge) makes it even more important for each and every one of us to speak out about things which we know to be true. Research is easier than ever and more fun than it was 50 years ago. So pick a fact, study it thoroughly through a variety of sources, and tell everyone you know! 

 "Agassiz, the celebrated naturalist and author, has wisely said, 'Every great scientific truth goes through three stages. First, people say it conflicts with the Bible. Next, they say it has been discovered before. Lastly, they say they have always believed it." 

—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 104:8

“Call to your Father, certain that His Voice will answer. He Himself has promised this. And He Himself will place a spark of truth within your mind wherever you give up a false belief, a dark illusion of your own reality and what love means. He will shine through your idle thoughts today, and help you understand the truth of love. In loving gentleness He will abide with you, as you allow His Voice to teach love’s meaning to your clean and open mind. And He will bless the lesson with His Love.” 

—A Course in Miracles W-127.9:1-6

An Optical Delusion

Art by Andrea Kowch

“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us ‘Universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. The striving to free oneself from this delusion is the one issue of true religion. Not to nourish it but to try to overcome it is the way to reach the attainable measure of peace of mind.”
—Albert Einstein to a friend in a letter circa 1950.

“As mortals give up the delusion that there is more than one Mind, more than one God, man in God’s likeness will appear, and this eternal man will include in that likeness no material element.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 191:4-7

“God’s Oneness and ours are not separate, because His Oneness encompasses ours. To join with me is to restore His power to you because we are sharing it. I offer you only the recognition of His power in you, but in that lies all truth. As we unite, we unite with Him. Glory be to the union of God and His holy Sons! All glory lies in Them because They are united. The miracles we do bear witness to the Will of the Father for His Son, and to our joy in uniting with His Will for us.”
—A Course in Miracles T-8.V.3:1-7

Discerning Truth From Fiction?

While watching a documentary on nutrition, they broached a topic which gave me pause to ponder. A woman said that if she decided to start a campaign to say smoking is beneficial to our health, she could cherry-pick medical reports which supported her theory. This means she would take a sentence from here and there — for instance, “study on women who smoke shows they weigh less than women who don’t”, or something like that — and draw the conclusion that smoking is good for you. Then she said it’s pretty easy to get the media behind you, and she cited an instance of someone who wanted to promote chocolate as a weight-loss substance. They were able to get various tabloids to promote this idea. This all turns my thoughts to the silliness we see every day with political parties demonizing each other with untruths. As with nutrition, it is possible to find the truth behind statements. And there’s always intuition, that inner BS detector, which leads us to “greener pastures”.

“The way to correct distortions is to withdraw your faith in them and invest it only in what is true. You cannot make untruth true. If you are willing to accept what is true in everything you perceive, you let it be true for you. Truth overcomes all error, and those who live in error and emptiness can never find lasting solace. If you perceive truly you are cancelling out misperceptions in yourself and in others simultaneously. Because you see them as they are, you offer them your acceptance of their truth so they can accept it for themselves. This is the healing that the miracle induces.”
—A Course in Miracles T-3.II.6:1-7


“We cannot fill vessels already full. They must first be emptied. Let us disrobe error. Then, when the winds of God blow, we shall not hug our tatters close about us.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 201:13-16

Things Are Not Always What They Seem

Illusions in Mongolia

Photo by Aaron Springston

Often, things appear to be what they are not. Take this photograph, for instance. It appears as though this young man is doing something dangerous; jumping over a great abyss and courting disaster. He is not. This was taken in Mongolia when my son, Aaron, was there on a college trip. They spent 6 weeks in that country, with two weeks spent in the city and four in the wilderness. What an experience for them! Three teachers and 18 students were involved in this adventure. Aaron shaved his head because they knew they would have a period of time when showering was not possible, with miles of hiking and climbing up hills. They learned to help each other. They witnessed the Mongolian people invite them into their huts and offer food, when it appeared they had very little. They faced their fears and nurtured their compassionate natures. We can't all go on a trip such as this one, but we can reap the benefits by realizing what is really happening and what is simply an illusion being perpetuated by people wanting to mislead us. We can demonstrate compassion and love everyone, even while recognizing they may not seem deserving of it. There is nothing to forgive if there is no blame in the first place. Today I'm going to look closely at situations, desiring truth above all else. Namaste...

"The earth's diurnal rotation is invisible to the physical eye, and the sun seems to move from east to west, instead of the earth from west to east. Until rebuked by clearer views of the everlasting facts, this false testimony of the eye deluded the judgment and induced false conclusions."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 121:17

“Reality can dawn only on an unclouded mind. It is always there to be accepted, but its acceptance depends on your willingness to have it. To know reality must involve the willingness to judge unreality for what it is. To overlook nothingness is merely to judge it correctly, and because of your ability to evaluate it truly, to let it go. Knowledge cannot dawn on a mind full of illusions, because truth and illusions are irreconcilable. Truth is whole, and cannot be known by part of a mind.” 

—A Course in Miracles T-10.IV.2:1-6

Everything or Nothing

This quote comes to mind often: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true." Soren Kierkegaard. To me, social media is a way to keep up with loved ones far away, people close by, and cool happenings either close by or far away. Of course, it is also the avenue for conspiracy theories and purveyors of horrid happenings. Intermittently, stories travel around our little town about something unexpected and ugly. I truly believe most folks think they are helping others by warning them about trouble. The same holds true on the national level when people warn us that Tom Hanks is a pedophile or that Hillary Clinton drinks baby’s blood. Hence, I come back to the sentiment in the Kierkegaard quote often: Am I being fooled by believing or not believing?? It has always seemed to me that truth just feels true. But with so much misinformation going around in everyone's heads, I think it's easier to be pulled into swirling, chaotic thought now than it used to be. It's rather like an approaching storm with its electric, exciting expectancy: will it be beautiful and cleansing or are we going to Oz? And, is that necessarily a bad thing? Hum...

"Science only can explain the incredible good and evil elements now coming to the surface. Mortals must find refuge in Truth in order to escape the error of these latter days. Nothing is more antagonistic to Christian Science than a blind belief without understanding, for such a belief hides Truth and builds on error." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 83:6

“Hear, then, the one answer of the Holy Spirit to all the questions the ego raises: You are a child of God, a priceless part of His Kingdom, which He created as part of Him. Nothing else exists and only this is real. You have chosen a sleep in which you have had bad dreams, but the sleep is not real and God calls you to awake. There will be nothing left of your dream when you hear Him, because you will awaken. Your dreams contain many of the ego’s symbols and they have confused you. Yet that was only because you were asleep and did not know. When you wake you will see the truth around you and in you, and you will no longer believe in dreams because they will have no reality for you. Yet the Kingdom and all that you have created there will have great reality for you, because they are beautiful and true.” A Course in Miracles T-6.IV.6:1-8

Uprooting Shallow Roots

Climbing Mountains in Mongolia

Photo from Aaron Springston

It often seems humanity is on the verge of becoming the best that it can be, and then something happens and we slide down, beginning our Sisyphean push back up the hill, always hoping we can reach the peak and live there. In contemplating our human condition today, I ran across this which was written by Mary Baker Eddy in the late 1800s. I know it’s still true and we must continue to correct error with truth …

“To my sense, the most imminent dangers confronting the coming century are: the robbing of people of life and liberty under the warrant of the Scriptures; the claims of politics and of human power, industrial slavery, and insufficient freedom of honest competition; and ritual, creed, and trusts in place of the Golden Rule, ‘Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.’”
—Mary Baker Eddy - The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany

“All shallow roots must be uprooted, because they are not deep enough to sustain you. The illusion that shallow roots can be deepened, and thus made to hold, is one of the distortions on which the reverse of the Golden Rule rests. As these false underpinnings are given up, the equilibrium is temporarily experienced as unstable. However, nothing is less stable than an upside-down orientation. Nor can anything that holds it upside down be conducive to increased stability.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.V.6:3-7

That Wonderful Dance

Awake, Awake — 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!’”

“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

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