Every Thought Is Important

Many of my writings have to do with our connectivity and the blessing of all by that of one. This web of consciousness came to mind when I heard the U.S. president say that what happens in Syria doesn’t matter here. Actually, the first thing I thought about was how years of throwing away plastic bags (which seemed an inconsequential act) has turned into an integral part of a huge environmental crisis. That, of course, led thought to all the other ways we can turn away from horrendous happenings and declare it has nothing to do with us, or say we can’t do anything to stop it, or simply cry and tell our friends how awful whatever it is may be. Everything affects everyone and everything else! Even if I have no physical resources to affect change in the way Melinda Gates is doing, there is a part I can and will play. Every thought is important. Will mine be on the side of Love, finding solutions to imbalances, or will they feed fear and hatred, weighing us down? As Marianne Williamson repeatedly says: When hatred is shouting, it’s not enough for love to whisper! 

"Truth has no consciousness of error. Love has no sense of hatred. Life has no partnership with death. Truth, Life, and Love are a law of annihilation to everything unlike themselves, because they declare nothing except God." Mary Baker Eddy 

Indoctrination or Education?

What is the difference in indoctrination and education? This question comes to mind because of people saying kids are being indoctrinated in Islam in schools, when (it seem to me) they are simply teaching history. Does separation of church and state mean we cannot learn about other people in our country? Are we so jaded and fearful we think it’s indoctrinating children if they even hear about what someone else believes? Gosh, I hope not. How can I understand why my neighbor on one side finds my barbecue grill abhorrent, while the one across the street wants to slaughter goats in his yard, feeling stifled because the city won’t allow it? We all have things we like and don’t like; and some of us have strictures placed upon us by religion, government, ancestors. Education is the most important factor in learning compassion, realizing what is ethical and moral, and understanding how to get along with others. Let’s not be so frightened of our children being exposed to things we believe to be wrong, but let’s do think more about teaching them what is right.

"The present codes of human systems disappoint the weary searcher after a divine theology, adequate to the right education of human thought." Mary Baker Eddy 

Opening the Petals of Purpose

photo credit: Aaron Springston

A short documentary has been made about a ship, the SS Quanza, and the 83 mostly Belgium Jewish people who were trying to enter the United States in 1940. Many ships had been turned away at that time, with hundreds of their passengers returned to their homeland for extermination. This ship’s youngest passenger, Annette Yachmann, is still living and enjoying a happy life teaching writing at a community college in New York and being a grandmother. She recalls the horror of being trapped on the ship, but is grateful that she was with her mother. She is vocally rebelling against the treatment of children who are separated from their parents as they attempt to enter the United States. The maker of this film, Laura Seltzer-Duny, tells of Eleanor Roosevelt’s extraordinary efforts to bring these people into our country. She also documents the efforts of others who were integral in the humanitarian effort, including a married couple who were lawyers and used maritime law to stalls the ship’s return to Europe. The movie is called “Nobody Wants Us”. It was made with the hope of educating people on the plight of immigrants and the historical fate of those turned away. I spoke yesterday of education being essential in creating compassion. This is a perfect example. We all have purpose, and this filmmaker has certainly discovered hers! 

"Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear." Mary Baker Eddy 

Doublespeak - What is Truth?

I read a rather long article about Friedrich Nietzsche today. It seems everyone, no matter their political persuasion, can make a case that he is writing just for them, supporting their views, and inspiring them to further heights of egotistical thought. While reading this, other instances came to mind of how we take songs and/or books and twist them into our own. I was talking to an uber-conservative and she mentioned the song, “For What It’s Worth” and how it perfectly expressed what she felt about the current political scene. Well, darn, that was “our” song! It came out in 1966 and was thought of as a protest song, beloved by hippies and free-thinkers. Here is a verse:

“There’s battle lines being drawn. 

Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong. 
Young people speaking their minds, 
Getting so much resistance from behind. 
It’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound? 
Everybody look what’s going down.”

The same thing happened with the novel 1984. I hear that white supremacists think it is supporting their stand. Orwell’s use of the term “doublespeak” seems to jive with “alternative facts”, and somehow everything is turned around to fit anyone’s point of view. From 1984: “War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.” 

I always thought truth was obvious, as were lies. Perhaps I, too, have been brainwashed into misunderstanding. I shall examine this... 

"The question, 'What is Truth,' convulses the world. Many are ready to meet this inquiry with the assurance which comes of understanding; but more are blinded by their old illusions, and try to 'give it pause.' 'If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.'" Mary Baker Eddy

Dream, Dream, Dream...

ceramic creation by Ken Starbird - Dreams

Sleeping dreams are interesting things, don’t you think? As a child, I had a two recurring nightmares, and can still remember the feelings when I think of them. During the years I had to wake up early without the luxury of hitting a snooze button, I don’t remember many dreams. Now that I can wake up and go back to sleep for a while, I have more lucid dreams where I can think about what’s happening and even have some control of events. Many of my friends interpret their dreams and find meanings which extend to daily life. I don’t consciously do so, but often the nighttime events come back to thought during the day, and sometimes they seem to tell me to be aware. Then again, we should always be awake to events around us and intuition within us, so I rarely feel they are a portent of doom or goodness. I look forward to fun dreams where I get to visit with loved ones long gone from material sight. What do you dream about? Do you enjoy the experience? I hope so...  

"...Is there any more reality in the waking dream of mortal existence than in the sleeping dream? There cannot be, since whatever appears to be a mortal man is a mortal dream. Take away the mortal mind, and matter has no more sense as a man than it has as a tree. But the spiritual, real man is immortal." Mary Baker Eddy 

Tribes and Oneness

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Today my thoughts have repeatedly turned to tribes and the cocoon in which I feel wrapped, here in Eureka Springs. There are any number of groups of people I feel a deep kinship toward, but (as in high school) there is no limiting identity with any one. I remember when my boys and I moved here almost 25 years ago. It was to attend the Clear Spring School. One of the mothers told me this school was a way of life, and I soon found out what she meant. We worked together to raise money to keep the school viable, and leaned on each other for child care and support in every avenue of life. This was a total-immersion situation unlike any other I’ve encountered. In the past, I have loved our metaphysical group and my Eureka Thyme family; now I feel a deep kinship with the two churches where I play keyboards and the choirs I accompany, along with the duplicate bridge community, our Course in Miracles group, and my book club. Every day our lives expand to include others we meet. And this practice of non-duality we study opens us to the universal family fluttering just out of sight! Life is Good! 

"Selfishness tips the beam of human existence towards the side of error, not towards Truth. Denial of the oneness of Mind throws our weight into the scale, not of Spirit, God, good, but of matter." Mary Baker Eddy 

What Do I Want?

photo credit: Steve Shogren

I want to write about the Kurds and how they do the unspeakable in the name of honor. I want to write about our president and his cohorts, and what they do in the name of greed and power. I want to write about my acquaintances, who are still defending the dishonesty in our government; also the conservatives who have realized there is no conservation in their chosen political party. I want to write about the pain of those who love goodness and truth; who cry out for full disclosure, no matter who may fall in this facing of facts, knowing this is the only way to reclaim the lofty ideals of our founding fathers. I want to write about the slaves who were abused by those founders, and the aftermath of our self-righteous bigotry. But I’d rather write about the new earth this cleansing will bring us, the beauty left in the aftermath of this torment, and the love we have not forgotten.

“How willing are you to forgive your brother? How much do you desire peace instead of endless strife and misery and pain? These questions are the same, in different form. Forgiveness is your peace, for herein lies the end of separation and the dream of danger and destruction, sin and death; of madness and of murder, grief and loss. This is the ‘sacrifice’ salvation asks, and gladly offers peace instead of this.” A Course in Miracles