One Thing

PC: Aaron Springston

My thought drifts to a meeting in which a woman confided a situation of abuse from her childhood. Some of the people at the metaphysical gathering we were attending insisted that she had chosen this scenario, whether to rectify something from a "past life" or for some other reason. This woman became very upset to think that a little girl would be tortured and want such a thing. Without going into the possibility of past lives, or reincarnation and retribution, I remind myself that all I want is One Thing. My only desire is to know God, and everything else will be attained without my delineation of what that is. I also remind myself not to judge others in any way, as we are all on an individual path. That's what it's all about, after all. We are the experience of God, and there are no outlines as to what that means.

"Faith is higher and more spiritual than belief. It is a chrysalis state of human thought, in which spiritual evidence, contradicting the testimony of material sense, begins to appear, and Truth, the ever-present, is becoming understood." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 297:20-24

Ever-Appearing Creation

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Someone asked me if I thought there was anyone on this planet who had attained the ideal of no suffering. One of the reasons she was thinking deeply about this topic was that a friend of hers had awakened in the morning to find that her partner has passed on during the night. How, we wonder, is it possible to not feel pain in such a situation? I believe the key is in knowing that they haven't gone anywhere. Passing on to where? Mary Baker Eddy tells us that the dead will be surprised to find they are not dead. It seems we, in our desire for things to continue as they are, have turned this scenario into a different sort of material life, with the addition of wings and such. Everything we imagine is from our personal standpoint, don't you think? Even within this material existence, some people are able to feel even closer to loved ones after they are gone, as they commune on a different, more pure, level of consciousness than they had previously known. Perhaps we hold onto these feelings of grief because we're afraid that love, too, will be lost in the letting go. I have a hunch that the Love which is left can be sweeter than we ever could have dreamed!

“Creation is ever appearing, and must ever continue to appear from the nature of its inexhaustible source.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 507: 28-29

Freedom of Thought and Action

PC: Aaron Springston

The knowledge that we are Spirit and the understanding of what that means allows us to live by divine law rather than material belief.  It's difficult to accept that we are so much more than we ever thought! We tend to continue behaviors which are comfortable, rather than opening up to a whole new paradigm of thought and action. Today I’d like to salute all people who have stood up to material laws and worked to end inhumane practices. We can look back in history and find many, such as Joan of Arc, Jesus, and thousands of lesser-known names. But today I want to salute each and every one of you who aren’t afraid to express divine Love in all action and thought. Accepting our part as an emanation of Spirit brings freedom of thought and action. The willingness to leave the old ways and embrace Oneness in every moment opens us to the grand adventure of Life. Cheers to you! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Question. — What are the demands of the Science of Soul?

Answer. — The first demand of this Science is, ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.’ This me is Spirit. Thou shalt have no intelligence, no life, no substance, no truth, no love, but that which is spiritual.”

Listening

PC Aaron Springston

Listening can be difficult, even under the most conducive of circumstances. I have a dear friend who  would often interrupt me (and others) in mid-sentence to say something totally unrelated to the topic -- or, perhaps, to ask about the same thing that we were talking about when she interrupted. One day I decided she needed to know how difficult it was to have a conversation with her, so I told her what I had observed. The results have been marvelous! Not only has she begun to listen to what's going on around her, she has noticed that many people are wrapped up in their own thoughts, and she is happy to have turned into a listener. Yippee!! So I shall follow my own lead and tell myself that I'm often interrupting divine Mind with my busy brain. Let's hope I'm as good of a student as my sweet friend!

“We must silence this lie of material sense with the truth of spiritual sense.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 318:12-13

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