What Sparks Joy?

photo credit: Richard Quick

I’ve always had a difficult time keeping things tidy. Reading the book, The Life-Changing Manga (Magic) of Tidying Up, written by Marie Kondo, has helped me understand why. She suggests putting all your clothing in the middle of the room, then going through them, keeping only the things which bring you joy. Well, that concept is life-changing for sure! Keep what brings you joy — wow! I’m now listening to her follow-up book, Spark Joy, where she tells how some people throw away their vacuum cleaners because they don’t bring joy, only to find out they miss them terribly. So she asks us to express appreciation for those items — for instance, thank the iron for helping your clothing to be all that they can be. Another interesting aspect is that some people don’t know what sparks joy, and she must teach them what it means. This opened my eyes to a whole aspect of my fellow beings which I had not considered. How could anyone not know the feeling of joy? Is joy a learned behavior? Are we afraid to feel joy? When she teaches them what joy is, does she simple give them permission to feel what was already there? I’m loving this book! (As always, please feel free to tell me your thoughts) 

"Unity of spirit gives new pinions to joy, or else joy's drooping wings trail in dust." Mary Baker Eddy, Science & Health Page 58

America in One Room

photo credit: Aaron Springston

A recurring theme in these writings concerns how to find middle ground between conservatives and liberals. (I don’t care for these terms, but they are the most inclusively descriptive I can think of). Ellen DeGeneres and George Bush shared a box and a good time at a Dallas Cowboys football game. I think this is great, having two such diverse personalities enjoying each others’ company. But it seems many people felt it was a betrayal on Ellen’s part, considering Mr. Bush’s past policies on LGBTQ rights and other issues. Should we be kind only to those who agree with us? Are we condoning their behavior if we are friends with them? An experiment called America in One Room brought together 523 voters, who spent the weekend being exposed to different viewpoints via lectures and discussions. All but 5% agreed it was a good experience and they learned a lot, showing that perhaps the cure to division is exposure! I must note that Gandhi wrote a letter to Hitler at the beginning of WWII, asking him to end the fighting. He called Hitler’s actions, “monstrous and unbecoming of human dignity”, but he began the letter “Dear Friend”.

"Truth should, and does, drive error out of all selfhood. Truth is a two-edged sword, guarding and guiding. Truth places the cherub wisdom at the gate of understanding to note the proper guests. Radiant with mercy and justice, the sword of Truth gleams afar and indicates the infinite distance between Truth and error, between the material and spiritual -- the unreal and the real." Mary Baker Eddy S&H Page 538

Kindness

I have witnessed numerous acts of kindness today! From a kind repairman who fixed my heater on his day off, free of charge, to Boy Scouts being gracious when it was discovered their space had been usurped by a gang of choral people, kindness was everywhere. I witnessed many instances during a four-hour rehearsal which combined the Eureka Springs based Celebration Choir and the Berryville High School Encore choral group. These students and adults are bringing their voices together to celebrate the Christmas season with some exciting music on December 8th at the Methodist Church edifice in Eureka. I was particularly moved by a wonderful rendition of Peace Like a River, with Ellen Stephenson accompanying on piano and me on organ. These 45 voices joined to create a symphony of sound which moved us all with its power. Marianne Williamson keeps telling us we must love actively, Jim Young says to love out loud, I say this choir did those things and more to promote the cause of unity and kindness and Love!

Correcting Illusions With Truth

photo credit: Heather Peters

“Question authority: no idea is true just because someone says so.” Once again, a Facebook meme has captured my attention. This statement has made me question myself and the things I hold to be true. Political unrest is taking center stage in the world and many of us are wondering if we have a comprehensive view of it all. Admittedly many of us live in a bubble of our own making. We choose friends on the basis of the tribes we associate with — religion, political, special interests. I try to think for myself, to avoid taking gossip for fact, or belief for truth. It’s difficult to admit I could be wrong, but I remind myself even Einstein made mistakes. Science is a way of keeping us from fooling ourselves, but it can be misused in the hands of a few. The more it belongs to all of us, the less likely it is to be misused. So let’s all work to stay informed from many sources, to ask questions, and to think for ourselves!

“Truth will correct all errors in my mind. What can correct illusions but the truth? And what are errors but illusions that remain unrecognized for what they are? Where truth has entered errors disappear. They merely vanish, leaving not a trace by which to be remembered. They are gone because, without belief, they have no life.  And so they disappear to nothingness, returning whence they came.  From dust to dust they come and go, for only truth remains.” A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 107

And There is Peace...

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Peace is a state of mind. We can feel the epitome of peace in the midst of turmoil, or we may be in an outer oasis of stillness but, due to our tumultuous state of mind, be anxious and upset. It helps me to know that we are all the reflection 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 the spiritual Truth of creation, things appear differently to me -- and there is peace.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.”

Calm and Exalted Thought

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Long, long ago, perhaps in the 1980’s, I read a book called “Mary’s Message to the World”. It was purported to be a channeled writing in which Mary, Jesus’s mom, told us predictions for civilization. The only one which stuck in my mind was that this area of the country would become tropical. Judging from what has gradually happened with our weather, I would say that sounds accurate! We have practically no snow, and there is more rain along with moderately hot summers. I’ve always said if you don’t like the weather here, wait until tomorrow, because we’ve always been erratic in our little corner of the Ozarks. Perhaps abnormal is the new normal? Climate change is interesting in its intensity and unpredictability. During our metafizzie days, we had a number of folks who thought violent weather was caused by violent emotions. Whether or not this is true, we are all well-served to stay on an even keel in these tumultuous times, don’t you think? It feels like walking a balance beam, but I’ll keep on trying! 

"The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress." Mary Baker Eddy S&H 506:11-14

The Human Sigh For Peace & Love

It has been a number of years since I’ve been around teenagers, so it was great to feel the exuberance which surrounded them during a joyous choir rehearsal. Ben Winn is the director of music at one of the churches I play for, and he also teaches choir at my alma mater, Berryville High School. I joined him for a short while today to help his choir learn new music. When I was in school almost five decades ago, we had a small band room and there was no choir. Now there is a fine arts building which vibrates with good energy! Although I’ve always known the importance of music in developing a whole person, it was good to be reminded. These students are compassionate and kind. It shows in their eyes. I hope I get to go back sometime and soak up more of their joy!

"The human sigh for peace and love is answered and compensated by divine Love. Music is more than sound in unison. The deaf Beethoven besieges you with tones intricate, profound, commanding. Mozart rests you. To me his composition is the triumph of art, for he measures himself against deeper grief. I want not only quality, quantity, and variation in tone, but the unction of Love. Music is divine. Mind, not matter, makes music; and if the divine tone be lacking, the human tone has no melody for me." Mary Baker Eddy - Message to the Mother Church, 1900, P11:8