Young @ Heart

A documentary comes to mind about a group of people whose average age is 80. These delightful people sing in live performances all over the world. Their songs are surprising and joyous, bringing happiness to all who hear them. This ever-changing group of joyful givers call themselves "Young @ Heart", and the film bears the same name. These people inspire me to give of what I have been given, to be willing to share the salvation which is mine -- and yours! Whenever I forget my true Self, the memory of these resplendent people will remind me that we're all here for each other, and that with giving we receive, and with receiving we give.

“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.” Mary Baker Eddy  

Life

photo credit: Aaron Springston

I was in the grocery store checkout line. The kid sacking the groceries was trying on the checker's glasses. He says he doesn't know how anyone can see through them, and the checker tells him they're reading glasses and he'll find out some day.  He says, "I hope God comes before that happens." The checkout lady says, "That's horrible! No, that's wonderful. No ..." At this point, I also was somewhat speechless. We had interpreted his comment to mean he hoped he died before he lost his 20/20 vision. But upon reflection, he could have meant other things -- perhaps "the rapture"?? The whole conversation reflected muddled, confused thought in so many ways. I feel the appearing of God doesn't require us to die, and it doesn't require some miraculous change in the way things are, it simply requires a change in our thought about reality. In this change, all sorts of things we consider to be law are seen to be illusion. I prefer to look at what Life is, rather than what it is not. Life is unfolding consciousness, never ending.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Question: What is Life?

Answer: Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit. Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of matter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited. Death and finiteness are unknown to Life. If Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending.”

Common Sense and Kindness

"Moab Light"
photo credit: Aaron Springston

I am so happy to see the beautiful athlete, Gus Kensworthy, performing in the winter Olympics! This man has shown dedication to improving his skill in skiing, he has not given up when faced with defeat and injury, and he is courageous enough to face the consequences of being openly gay. I’ve never understood why gender or sexual preference should stand in the way of any endeavor, and I’m thrilled to see this antiquated way of thought is falling away from our collective belief systems. We’re all people and we’re all in this together. We may disagree on many topics, but so what? We don’t get angry if someone doesn’t like green beans and we do, so why become defensively aggressive if we disagree on politics or anything else? Yes, some things are obviously love-based and other are fear-based, but we can talk about it without accusations and shouting. I see great things happening as a direct result of people becoming more engaged in what’s happening in our world. Let’s keep on growing and learning, shining common sense and kindness on any frightened defensiveness hiding in the shadows. When we open a dark closet, the dark doesn’t escape; the light goes in. Namasté…

“The rays of infinite Truth, when gathered into the focus of ideas, bring light instantaneously, whereas a thousand years of human doctrines, hypotheses, and vague conjectures emit no such effulgence.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 504:23-26

The Face of Divine Love

photo credit: Arthur Bruno

Acknowledging that everything and everyone we look upon is the face of divine Love takes our perception to another level! With this sight, we do not need to see race or nationalities nor gender, there are no political parties for which to wave flags, and no enemies to fight against nor allies to side with. I see beautiful things happening in our world. Long-held beliefs are being released in favor of an open-hearted acceptance of everyone as they are, not as we want them to be. Change can seem difficult, but our new perceptions of Life are a conscious choice by which we break free of habits and old thought patterns which have held us in bondage for far too long. Let’s celebrate our new-found sight today!

“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.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454: 20-23

Banishing Fear of Change

We are in the midst of a great shift in consciousness, which also means a good deal of holding on to the past and a fear of the future. My daily work toward recognizing and living Love is called into practice often in this time of political drama. Let's all be grateful that we are one with Love, while knowing that our only mind is divine. By doing so, the fear of change will banish as quickly as the fear of falling off the edge of the earth did centuries ago!

“Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 477:20-22

Consciousness Loving Itself

On this beautiful day when the world celebrates love, I would like to quote words from an Eckhart Tolle talk: “To feel empathy with another human, to feel love or lovingkindness, isn’t an emotion. Emotion is the neediness of attachment to another human being, but the outflow of lovingkindness or love towards another human is not a turbulence; it’s a deep thing that comes out of the recognition that the consciousness that I am is the essence of who you are, also. So what I love in you is consciousness loving itself.” Today I have been thinking of people who are expressing divine Love in various activities, living a life of grace, and planning to let them know how important they are to me and others. Happy Valentine’s Day to us all!!

“Love alone can impart the limitless idea of infinite Mind.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 510:18-19

Natural Expressions of Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Material vision is dimmed by any number of events and circumstances which may cause us to believe that darkness is as real as light. I'm sure you can think of circumstances which you think of as wonderful and someone else does not. Maybe you loved a musical performance and your spouse slept through it. And we all know people who find fault with everything no matter what. Then there are those of us who are accused of having a Pollyanna attitude because we insist on seeing the good in situations. Albert Einstein described this well: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." The inspirations of Love set us in the ideal stead to enjoy every moment in its spiritual perfection. So I say, Pollyannas unite! Let's go forth and scatter Light!

“Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle.” A Course in Miracles