Confession Time

St Elizabeth's in Eureka Springs
photo credit: Richard Quick

Just when I think no matter what anyone says, I'm cool and won't react -- well, you know what happens when we're sure of something! I play keyboards for the Catholics on Saturday afternoon, and today while I was hanging out in their library a little old man told me the Democrats were trying to keep God out of everyone's lives, and he told me a few instances of how that was happening. I calmly said I didn't think that was so and asked him how he knew this. There were some other folks in the room, interjecting this and that, and then he said that Jim Baker had a lot of smart people on his show and that's how he knew that Christians were being discriminated against. At that point, I knew I should leave and got up to do so. But then he said, "Oh, yeah, she won't listen; she's narrow minded." At which point I turned around and pointed at him (I really dislike it when people do that to me!) and said, "I watch Fox news regularly so I can see what the lie of the day is!" Then I left, feeling horrid that I'd allowed my emotions to roil out all over him. I tell this story on myself as a kind of confession, although I'm not asking for absolution. I do feel we should speak out against lies and injustice, but with compassion. Perhaps I've failed, but I've forgiven myself, and the dear little man who is so sure Jim Baker knows what he's talking about. Whew!

"There are two diametrically opposed ways of seeing your brother. They must both be in your mind, because you are the perceiver. They must also be in his, because you are perceiving him. See him through the Holy Spirit in his mind, and you will recognize Him in yours. What you acknowledge in your brother you are acknowledging in yourself, and what you share you strengthen." A Course in Miracles T-5.III.3

Expectations

photo credit: Steve Shogren

Expect the best of people and that's what you'll get. I've always felt this to be true, and I've never been disappointed. Perhaps that's because I've realized everyone is doing the best they can, even if it doesn't seem very good -- ha! A friend said yesterday that she had, once again, been disappointed when someone didn't keep their word to her. She stated that it "always happened to her". That's what got me to thinking about her expectations and mine. I'm reminded of the old story of a woman out for a walk and meeting someone who had just moved to town. She was asked what the people were like here. She turned the question around and asked what the people were like where the newly-arrived woman was from. She responded that they were wonderful. "Well, that's what they're like here, too!" Another day the same situation happened with someone else, but when she asked what people were like where the man came from, the response was that they were rude and mean. "Well, that's what you'll find here, too." Perceptions are everything, don't you think? I can look at a situation and see joy, but someone else may find problems and sadness. Perhaps it goes back to my favorite one of Ruiz's Four Agreements: Don't take anything personally! 

"Sit quietly and look upon the world you see, and tell yourself: 'The real world is not like this.'" A Course in Miracles T-13.VII1

The Biggest Little Farm

Laundry Spring in Eureka Springs

Two things happened today which dovetailed perfectly with each other. First thing this morning, I went with Kevin to meet with his Master Gardener sponsor to get information on volunteering to work on projects in our area. It was wonderful to hear her vision for the naturalists and gardeners in our town! At the end of this day, we watched a fine documentary called “The Biggest Little Farm”. This hope-filled film takes us through ten years in the life of a couple who set out to create a sustainable farm in California. Amidst factory farms and devastation from fertilizers and herbicides, they bring the soil back to life and create a beautiful world they call Apricot Lane Farms. The joy shines through, showing us how a true living ecosystem can and does occur. I watch Kevin glow from the joy of clearing invasive plants from a spring in our sweet town, and I laugh and cry with a young, dedicated family in Moorpark, California, all of them demonstrating that it is, indeed, possible to help our earth function reciprocally, as is its purpose. Life is Good! 

"Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens -- all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light." Mary Baker Eddy, Science & Health Page 240

Marsha Havens
28 Linwood Avenue
Eureka Springs, Arkansas 72632
479.253.8104

http://www.DivineMetaphysics.blogspot.com

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." Barack Obama

A neat add-on for Gmail

Truth Unfolding

photo credit: Gerry Toler

The upheaval in our world surrounding our highest elected official is wreaking havoc with my emotional state today. I made cornbread for dinner and it was a bit gummy. I started to cry. In opening up a favorite book, I came across this statement. I think I’ll simply ponder it this evening. Hugs to all!

“What Truth is comes to view individually as intuition, inspiration. Truth is forever unfolding as individual self-conscious being, and our opinions (abstractions) are constantly becoming obsolete. Truth cannot be locked up in a strong-box; it is Infinity. When confined, Truth ceases to be Truth, and becomes an abstraction. Truth defines itself operationally by disposing of beliefs and theories. It is a way of life and cannot be argued about." "The man of today is intelligence; he is pure Mind” We Are the World We Walk Through” by Margaret Laird C.S.B

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!