What Does Peace Mean to You?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

What does peace mean to you? Thinking back through the years, it's meant different things at different times. When I was a child, I didn't want peace because that seemed boring: excitement and adventure was what I craved. As a young adult, I thought that having a husband and plenty of money would mean peace. Later on when I had children, I thought when they grew up I would have peace! Now I see that peace isn't a personal desire or activity: it's a state of mind. No matter how busy I am today, there will be moments to treasure, slipping into the the space between the thoughts and knowing the peace which is eternally ours.

“Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear,--this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 323:32-6

Peace is the Path

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Few of us have no regrets when we look back on our lives. Sometimes it's tempting to replay instances in our minds and think of ways we could have done things differently. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese man who lost his family during the war in the 60s. He has spent his life practicing peace and showing others how to do the same. He helps American Vietnam veterans forgive themselves. He tells them that no matter how badly they feel, it will never bring back the lives that were lost, but that there are many ways in which to help people today, right here and now. He shows us how to be the Love which we are. Peace Is the Path, he tells us. I want to follow that Path, without looking back.

"Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. 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 454:18-23

Infectious Smiles

photo credit: Aaron Springston

I read about an interesting experiment. Two people were placed face to face. One was instructed to smile as happily as possible, and the other was asked to retain a neutral look. In most of the cases, the person who was supposed to stay neutral couldn't keep from smiling, too. Happiness, joy, peace — these are all spiritual attributes which shine forth through us as the expression of this thing we call God. They are infectious, don't you think? Let's broadcast this seed far and wide today and watch it grow!

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 264:24-27

Mind in the Forefront

photo credit: Aaron Springston

A favorite writing by Bicknell Young begins by telling me that if I don't bring God into my experience first thing in the morning, it may be difficult or even impossible to have It with me throughout the day. Of course, I'm tempted to think, But wait a minute, God is always with me! And while this is, of course, true, it is not the case when we allow consciousness to be ruled by mortal mind. So when we ask God to be in our mind through the day, what we're actually asking is for our material self to be transparent enough to allow divine Mind to be in the forefront.  When I wake up in the morning, rather than planning my activities of the day, I will contemplate the meaning of  this Presence. I'll see myself as the expression and experience of divine Mind and await what unfolds!

“Mortal mind is the acknowledged seat of human motives. It forms material concepts and produces every discordant action of the body. If action proceeds from the divine Mind, action is harmonious.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 239: 23-27

Simple Truth

PC: Aaron Springston

The collective consciousness we swim in keeps telling us we've done something wrong and we can't be saved until we do a whole bunch of things right. Let's allow all of those beliefs to go away today and concentrate on what feels true to us right now, in this moment. I will, at every possibility, quiet my thoughts and allow this truth to permeate my being. It's there all the time, this divine Love which supports us more surely than the waters of mass consciousness. My pure consciousness is expressed most perfectly in two words: I Am.  Today, I want to live this simple truth. Join me!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done. If men would bring to bear upon the study of the Science of Mind half the faith they bestow upon the so-called pains and pleasures of material sense they would not go on from bad to worse …” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 202:3-9

A Path Less Taken

Our lives tend to fall into familiar patterns as we move through our days. We may find ourselves going to the same places, saying the same things, thinking the same thoughts -- and all these habits become comfortable. Even if we're experiencing disharmony, we often fear change. We may say, "Something told me I should do so-and-so". We may hear this calling, this inner voice leading us toward a different path than we're on, but we feel it takes courage to walk a road less or never traveled, and so we settle. To settle for anything which brings us less than joyful existence is to dishonor ourselves, which is to dishonor God. The next time I think I'm feeling this thing we call fear, I'll choose to interpret the emotion as excitement about what will come next!

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

“Walking in the light, we are accustomed to the light and require it; we cannot see in darkness. But eyes accustomed to darkness are pained by the light. When outgrowing the old, you should not fear to put on the new. Your advancing course may provoke envy, but it will also attract respect.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 452:7-12

Greatest Fear

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Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson

“It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of

God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson