Freedom Through Shifts in Thought

photo credit: Aaron Springston

What do we do in situations where someone is “wasting our time”? Let’s say somebody you work with makes the same mistakes over and over, asking you the same questions time and again, never seeming to understand how their job is to be done. It’s easy to become upset and tersely answer their questions one more time. There are many situations I can think of where a co-worker may not do their job and, hence, take up your valuable time in the process. From past experience, I know it does no good to concentrate on their deficiencies, replaying in thought what they should have done — or, worse yet, telling others how awful they are. I feel the best thing I can do for everyone involved is to quietly listen for guidance, while looking past the form and catching glimpses of the reality (the perfection, if you will) of that person. If we are all reflections of divine Mind, there are no exclusions! Freeing my thought to include him in the realization that we are all the image and likeness of Love allows me to see past my beliefs and open my thought to this reality. Perhaps my expectations are holding someone hostage, not allowing them to realize they don’t have to be caught up in by-rote behavior and limited thinking about themselves and the world. This is well-worth the effort on our part, when we know this shift frees us all! 

“The human thought must free itself from self-imposed materiality and bondage.” 

Science & Health Page 191:16-17

“People become what you would have them be, and what they do you order.” 

A Course in Miracles - Passing of the Dream 

Light Shining On and On

photo credit: Arthur Bruno

Doug and Yael Powell are an integral part of our community. They are a bright and pure light which has illumined and warmed many of us through the years. No, let me reword that: they have affected all of us, all the time, whether we were aware of their goodness or not. I first met them when they came to my gallery of local artists asking if they could sell their spiritually-oriented books there. Due to Yael’s physical limitations, she spent many hours a day in bed, meditating and writing. The words which flowed from her were honest and enchanting. The first book I read of hers was called, Magic Cat Explains Creation. Yael’s deep connection with all things was obvious in this delightful book based on her communications with her cat. She has the same deep link with plants, people, everything and everyone. I loved her the first moment I met her. She will be missed by all who have known her. But she is not leaving a void, because she’s not going anywhere. Love lives on and on.

“In the illusion of death, mortals wake to the knowledge of two facts: (1) that they are not dead; (2) that they have but passed the portals of a new belief.” Mary Baker Eddy 

Interpretation Gives Rise to Negative Emotions

"Mongolia" photo credit: Aaron Springston

I had occasion to speak to a woman today whom I hadn’t seen face-to-face in well over a year. I had developed a distrust of her due to her actions toward a good friend. I wasn't actively disliking her, and I certainly would not have talked badly of her, but I also would have been happy never speaking with her again. When I saw her today, we had a short chat and I did something nice for her which she truly appreciated. By this simple meeting and interaction, any animosity I was harboring toward her disappeared. Just like that, it was gone! This felt so good, I am hoping to find other twinges of ill-will within myself, just to confront them and watch the consequent resolution!

“Perhaps it will be helpful to remember that no one can be angry at a fact. It is always an interpretation that gives rise to negative emotions, regardless of their seeming justification by what appears as facts. Regardless, too, of the intensity of the anger that is aroused. It may be merely slight irritation, perhaps too mild to be even clearly recognized. Or it may also take the form of intense rage, accompanied by thoughts of violence, fantasized or apparently acted out. It does not matter. All of these reactions are the same. They obscure the truth, and this can never be a matter of degree. Either truth is apparent, or it is not. It cannot be partially recognized. Who is unaware of truth must look upon illusions.” A Course in Miracles - Manual for Teachers

The Ties Which Bind

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

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.”

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to All!! As most of you know, I've been writing these "dailies" since mid-2011. While I am not going to stop, I am going to change the focus a bit. I've been taking ACIM daily workbook lessons as a focus. I'm dropping that format and writing about whatever comes to mind when my hands hover over the keyboard. I will still include quotes from both Mary Baker Eddy and A Course in Miracles, but with less structure. Of course, photographs will also be included (I know many of you enjoy them, as do I!). So let's start the New Year freely striving for right, purely turning from praise (to loosely quote Elizabeth Barrett Browning).

Much Love sent to you!

Relishing the Possibilities

photo credit: Richard Quick

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #365

"This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You,  Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

In this time of great change, it’s easy to long for the comfort of ritualistic actions and old habits. How nice it would be if we simply floated along, happily enjoying yesterday’s fruits. But life doesn’t seem to be that way. We wake up every morning and experience things in different ways. Changing thoughts bring on changing circumstance. I hope we can all hold onto each other and know that this is a good thing. Personally, I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I relish the possibilities!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The image of Spirit cannot be effaced, since it is the idea of Truth and changes not, but becomes more beautifully apparent at error’s demise.” Science & Health Page 542:5-7             

________

The Direction of Peace

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #364 "This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You, Certain that Your direction gives me peace."

All the insecurities, the feelings of loss and lack, the guilt and blame, all these things are losing their reality to us. Now that we see the unreality of these beliefs within ourselves, it's hard not pointing them out to others when they present themselves! These last few days, I've noticed what I do say in the face of negativity, fear, anger, and hate. After a snide racial comment from a terse-lipped woman, I said, "Keep smiling!" Upon which she gave me a fake smile, and I gave her a small Namastè bow and left. When asked advice concerning someone's unhappiness, (knowing through experience that none of us can fix any other of us) my only suggestion was to concentrate on what brings happiness and fulfillment, and the unhappiness and emptiness will be lost in its face. We live what we've learned, giving to others from our receiving. What fun to see the joy this day will bring!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought. What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model? Are you reproducing it? Then you are haunted in your work by vicious sculptors and hideous forms...To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives.” Science & Health Page 248:12