A Secure Adventure

"Grotto Spring" - PC: Aaron Springston

It's easy to feel my security comes from physical things and my refuge is my home. I feel so safe and happy and often find myself expressing gratitude out loud for the peace and comfort I find here. As I learn to trust what is invisible to the human eye, but palpable deep within myself, peace becomes possible no matter what the circumstance. Of course, it's easy to forget and become caught up with hectic circumstances in daily life. But the process of discovering Truth is an adventure which is never-ending. That's why I love it so much! No matter how much I come to know, there is always more.

“Citizens of the world, accept the ‘glorious liberty of the children of God,’ and be free! This is your divine right.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 227:24-25

Living Love Out Loud

photo credit: Aaron Springston

More and more we're seeing animals showing us the way to being gentle with each other. In our realization of Oneness, we're beginning to understand that if violence is done to or by one, it's done to or by all. We're allowing our thought to change from fear and anger to love and gentleness. There may still be many people who want to stay with the old paradigm; they say it's necessary for heinous acts to be committed. But there are more people everyday who realize the error of this and know it's possible for the lion to lay down with the lamb. We’re living love out loud, proudly!

“The new birth is not the work of a moment. It begins with moments, and goes on with years; moments of surrender to God, of childlike trust and joyful adoption of good; moments of self-abnegation, self-consecration, heaven-born hope, and spiritual love.” Mary Baker Eddy - Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896, p. 15

Peace or Turmoil

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Peace is a state of mind. We can feel the epitome of peace in the midst of turmoil. At other times, we may be in an oasis of stillness but, due to our tumultuous state of mind, be experiencing stress and upset. It helps me to know that we are all the "son of God". With this realization, I am able to see everything through the eye of divine Love. This is not to say that I'm always calm. Sometimes I forget I am the idea of God, and that everyone else is, too. At those times, who knows how I may be interpreting events! In a state of forgetfulness, I am at the mercy of material belief, being swayed by thought systems which were put in place long before my appearance in this world. But when I remember my holy Self, things appear differently to me. And there is peace.

“He that touches the hem of [the] Christ’s robe and masters his mortal beliefs, animality, and hate, rejoices in the proof of healing,—in a sweet and certain sense that God is Love”. Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 569: 11-14

Peace in Action

photo credit: Kailey Jones 

Living a peaceful existence may seem like a fantasy. Some may think in order to live this way they would need to be sticking their heads in the sand or, perhaps, denying reality in favor of wishful thinking. I’ve mentioned many times how much my children and pets teach me, and I love seeing them continuing to do so! My son, Aaron, recently was vacationing in Japan following a working trip to South Korea. On his last night there, he broke his ankle. In listening to his description of getting home, I was struck by how calm and peaceful he was through the whole experience. He went so far as to say it may be the best way to travel, as everyone was so helpful as he rode in a wheelchair, zipping through customs and other time-consuming airport activities. I love seeing peace in action!

“More effectual than the forum are our states of mind, to bless mankind” Mary Baker Eddy - Pulpit and Press, p. 87

Seeing Past the Obvious

Ken and Sandy Starbird - pc: Judy Rhodes

During these times of shifting thought, many of us are frightened by the feelings and insights we are having. I loved working with artists on a daily basis, one reason being how they fearlessly allow multi-dimensional energy into their experience. By the act of looking upon their palpably loving works of Art, I am guided to other ways of seeing. Their artistic expressions take me past the obvious into the ethereal. Every instance of this "seeing through the veil" brings us closer to our goal of seeing that way all the time. Slipping into the silence between thoughts, seeing past the obvious, listening within -- all this and more seeks our awareness. Listen. See. Be.

“Spiritual vision is not subordinate to geometric altitudes. Whatever is governed by God, is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 215:11-13

Peace is a State of Mind

I've heard it said that the older we get, the less things bother us. In earlier years, when I was bothered by everything, it seemed impossible that this could be so. While it seems to be true now, I see plenty of people riper in years who are much-bothered all the time! My conclusion is that peace is a state of mind. As we cultivate an awareness of the presence of Love within ourselves, it becomes natural to turn to that gentleness in times of seeming turmoil. This peace is always there, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. Today I look forward to relishing its gentle presence every moment.

“Mind demonstrates omnipresence and omnipotence, but Mind revolves on a spiritual axis, and its power is displayed and its presence felt in eternal stillness and immovable Love.” Mary Baker Eddy - From Retrospection and Introspection Page 88-89

Scatter Joy

photo credit: Aaron Springston

I saw a movie in which a character was hit in the head, had a blood clot, and became happy all the time. Since happiness cannot be contained and overflows with no expectations, wonderful things began to happen. He ran a very large, profit-oriented company which had always catered to the prospering of the business, not the contentment of the employees. After he became happy, he built a daycare center, gave everyone raises in salary, and began to see money as a tool rather than a goal. Then his children became angry because the company wasn't making as much money and they were afraid. While he recognized what was important in life, his children wanted him to go back to his money-based way of living, fearing they wouldn't have enough. He was living Love; they were living fear. We see it every day, don't we? I vow today to support every act of Love-based living I see. While we can't set out to eradicate fear, we can scatter joy and happiness, and watch Love blossom.

"As human thought changes from one stage to another of conscious pain and painlessness, sorrow and joy, — from fear to hope and from faith to understanding, — the visible manifestation will at last be man governed by Soul, not by material sense." Mary Baker Eddy quote - Science & Health Page 125:12-16