Just Breathe

"Protennoia" in the early sun

In stressful times, when I might become overwhelmed or frightened, I like to listen to Deva Premal and meditate on the art of Sandy Starbird. This morning was one of those times. Yesterday, we discovered that the fabulous organ I play at the Methodist church had been struck by lightening. We have the Celebration Choir performance this coming Sunday, so that left us in limbo. I am the organist and we have a professional pianist to accompany this great local choir, which is being joined by the performance choir from Berryville High School. So we weren’t too worried because there is a beautiful Steinway piano at the church where the performance will be held, and we can bring in a keyboard for the organ parts. Then today we hear that the pianist has had a heart attack. It’s at times like these we need to keep a calm, clear thought and know everything is working together for good. Much healing is happening in our world and our understanding is needed. So I will wake up in the morning, commune with Sandy’s rendition of Protennoia, and know only good can come of this.

“I am Protennoia,

the Thought that dwells in the Light.

I exist from the first.

I am numberless. I am immeasurable.

I am a Voice speaking softly by virtue of Thought.

And it is a Word that was sent

to illumine those who dwell in darkness.”

These words are adapted from Trimorphic Protennoia, a Sethian Gnostic text from the New Testament apocrypha. The only surviving copy comes from the

Nag Hammadi library (Codex Xlll )

The Liberating Thought of ACIM

Blake Lasater is an intelligent, wise pastor at our Methodist Church here in Eureka Springs. Today he spoke about the demise of churches and the reasons for it. We all know the conversation. One point he made stuck with me: Many people want to know more about Jesus, are even fascinated by the topic, but don’t want anything to do with religion or church. Many of us can relate. It came to me that A Course in Miracles is exactly what people are longing for, but don’t know it exists. I am so grateful to Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Louise Hay, and many others who talk about this Course in a way anyone can understand. To learn about God, Jesus, without the superstition rampant in religious doctrine, is refreshing and liberating. When people are first exposed to these ideas, they sometimes are afraid because there are subtle differences from what they have been taught in mainstream belief systems. But once you get into this study, you find there are no dead ends, no spots where someone tells you to believe “just because”. This is a self-study course, and you can read a paragraph or make an intensive study of the whole textbook.  Whatever the case, it’ll never leave you where it found you!

"Jesus - The highest human corporeal concept of the divine idea, rebuking and destroying error and bringing to light man's immortality." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 589

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