Awoke?

What does it mean to be awakened? I’m sure it means many things, but I’ve been watching people who are “awoke” and noticing a few traits. They don’t talk about others negatively.

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Awakening makes life simple because we needn’t try to figure out what people’s motivations are: they do what they do. Our happiness doesn’t rely on what others are doing, or not doing. When we put a label on someone, such as thief, then we’ve fixed that person in our mind with a conceptual identity. The mind does this, often focusing on a person’s shortcomings, and then we are trapped. What we must realize is the more we trap others, the more we trap ourselves. As Jesus said years ago, “Judge not, lest ye be judged”. The world cannot change without a change in thought, our own thought, and it requires vigilance for us to realize what we’re doing and stop it! It’s a matter of noticing our judgments and labeling practices. It’s not a failure when you notice yourself doing these things, it’s a great success to catch a thought and realize you’re doing it again. When you see it, it loses its power over you. Whew! What a relief!

"A dream of judgment came into the mind that God created perfect as Himself. And in that dream was Heaven changed to hell, and God made enemy unto His Son. How can God's Son awaken from the dream? It is a dream of judgment. So must he judge not, and he will waken. For the dream will seem to last while he is part of it. Judge not, for he who judges will have need of idols, which will hold the judgment off from resting on himself. Nor can he know the Self he has condemned. Judge not, because you make yourself a part of evil dreams, where idols are your ‘true identity’, and your salvation from the judgment laid in terror and in guilt upon yourself.” A Course in Miracles T-29.IX.2

Back to the Future

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Lateral lives, past lives, future lives — we love speculating about possibilities of “other” lives. We think about reincarnation and wonder about the possibilities, past and future. If someone tells us they remember a past life, we may find that fascinating; but if they said they come from the future, perhaps we’d think they are a bit off the beam, to say the least. The wonderful sci-fi stories about time travel hold a certain allure to us, a fascination with the possibilities. There are so many things we cannot fathom in the here and now, yet we still want to wonder about things which have not happened, things which may never happen. While I try to keep thought stayed on the now, dealing with things as they occur and not wondering what may be, it is a constant discipline remembering to do so. Be Here Now. The Power of Now. I’m grateful we have so many aides to keep us focused!

"In the ultimate sense, reincarnation is impossible. There is no past or future, and the idea of birth into a body has no meaning either once or many times. Reincarnation cannot, then, be true in any real sense. Our only question should be, 'Is the concept helpful?' And that depends, of course, on what it is used for. If it is used to strengthen the recognition of the eternal nature of life, it is helpful indeed. Is any other question about it really useful in lighting up the way? Like many other beliefs, it can be bitterly misused. At least, such misuse offers preoccupation and perhaps pride in the past. At worst, it induces inertia in the present. In between, many kinds of folly are possible." 

A Course in Miracles M-24.1 

"Man's individuality is not material. This Science of being obtains not alone hereafter in what men call Paradise, but here and now; it is the great fact of being for time and eternity."  Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 285

Happy Thanksgiving!

Knowing the Truth

In a world where we are being fed lies, it’s extremely difficult to figure out what is truth. Media spreads deception and distrust, dividing people in ways which seem irreparable. Bias doesn’t frighten me, but intentional lies do. Many of us remember the early days of television, a time when advertising really revved up and consumerism became flagrant. It has reached an apex now at which almost everything we hear and see is designed to sell us something. We must continue to be vigilant in what we allow into our thought, not only for our own good, but for the collective. Repeating stories which create divisions through feelings of superiority or inferiority, that’s playing the game which has been created for us. It’s important to use our educations, our intuition, our spiritual knowledge, every bit of common sense we still have, to discern truth. There is a term in Christian Science called “knowing the Truth”. It is in reference to knowing the Truth of our being, not the beliefs we’ve come to think of as facts. These thoughts were prompted by reading an article in the Rolling Stone about how we are manipulated unknowingly. On this day of thanksgiving, I am grateful for all who spend hundreds of hours researching so we all needn't do so! Happy Thanksgiving to you! 

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/russia-troll-2020-election-interference-twitter-916482/

"The human mind, imbued with this spiritual understanding, becomes more elastic, is capable of greater endurance, escapes somewhat from itself, and requires less repose. ... It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 128

Old Friends

Two old friends are on my mind today. I haven’t spoken deeply with either of these women since the three of us went to the Carroll County Fair around 10 years ago. We ate in the Cattlemen's booth, and I watched in amusement as one woman said shocking things and the other was embarrassed. Then we rode the ferris wheel. It was one of the strangest, most memorable events of my life! One of these women has come back to town after a long absence, and the other is very ill. One of them is functionally autistic, a European, and a sister in metaphysical studies. The other is a lifelong friend, outgoing and shy at the same time. She burned her bridges with us years ago, never responding to phone calls or letters. In my reminiscences I realize the genuine affection I feel for both of these people. I send them Love and wish them happiness, praying they find what they need, trusting they will contact me when the time is right. I wish you joy, sweet friends...

"One marvels that a friend can ever seem less than beautiful. Men and women of riper years and larger lessons ought to ripen into health and immortality, instead of lapsing into darkness or gloom. Immortal Mind feeds the body with supernal freshness and fairness, supplying it with beautiful images of thought and destroying the woes of sense which each day brings to a mearer tomb." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 248

Gratitude

photo credit: Aaron Springston

A repeat from May of 2015

ACIM Workbook Lesson #123
"I thank my Father for His gifts to me."

Today is a day of thanks, a day of gratitude for all that we are learning and realizing in daily life. If looked at in day-to-day increments, it may not seem we are gaining in understanding, but when looking back through the years, it seems remarkable! This was brought home to me as I attended a 45-year-class reunion of high school graduation. Being with all these old friends and acquaintances brought back memories that had been long-forgotten. Listening to others tell stories of their lives, their jobs, their children and grandchildren, brought great thankfulness to my heart. I love where I've been and I love where I'm going. I am grateful for my friends and family, past, present, and future. The excitement which each day brings is cause for gratitude, and I plan to express it in my actions toward others and myself. The flowers blooming are a perfect reminder of the beauty of life and thankfulness for growth. Let's go forward today and scatter joy!!


Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech."

Science & Health Page 3:25-26

Is War Necessary?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

I read a letter from Sigmund Freud to Albert Einstein, who had written him asking if there was a way to free humankind from the threat of war. Mr. Freud has quite a bit to say about this subject, but one phrase which brought pause is, “...the lust for aggression and destruction”. I had never thought of it that way, and it caused me to take notice. Part of his conclusion is as follows: “The upshot of these observations, as bearing on the subject in hand, is that there is no likelihood of our being able to suppress humanity's aggressive tendencies. In some happy corners of the earth, they say, where nature brings forth abundantly whatever man desires, there flourish races whose lives go gently by, unknowing of aggression or constraint. This I can hardly credit; I would like further details about these happy folk.” In our world, we see famine and harsh conditions in many places. I question whether this is the way creation is supposed to evolve. I’m pretty sure when we follow the laws of nature, life as we know it would become Life as we wish it were! I hope you will respond to this email or place comments on the blog :) 

"Heaven: Harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality, bliss, the atmosphere of Soul." Mary Baker Eddy, Science & Health, Page 587