How You Look At It

photo credit: Aaron Springston

It’s been said that everyone sees a rainbow differently, according to where they are when they view it. Isn't that a perfect metaphor for everything from politics to the clothes we put on our bodies? Where I am, in thought, is how I will perceive something. Things which I may think of as being for the good of everyone, someone else may see as the downfall of society. It's just a matter of how you look at it. A line from a movie comes to mind in which an octogenarian tells her family that life is like a roller coaster ride: some people think it's frightening and stressful; others see it as fun and exciting. It’s often difficult to see beauty in the moment, when everything seems wrong. The myriad of spiritual disciplines have reasons for these times in our lives. It seems many of these beliefs cause more pain than healing. I find myself returning time and again to two of the 4 Agreements: don’t take anything personally, and don’t make assumptions. I find it easier to see what’s really happening when I remember this.

“The human mind will sometime rise above all material and physical sense, exchanging it for spiritual perception, and exchanging human concepts for the divine consciousness. Then man will recognize his God-given dominion and being." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 531

Peace to My Mind

Utah - Photo Credit: Aaron Springston

Things never do and should not go 100% your way, but your life can happen your way. What happens within you is entirely yours; what happens around you is never yours alone.  How often do you hear someone say, He/She pushes my buttons! This means, of course, that someone “makes you angry or upset”. Is this really happening? How we react to someone else is either peaceful or tumultuous, and we have that choice to make in every moment. When I was a child, I didn’t like to have conversations when I first awakened in the morning. My mother thought this was a flaw in my character and tried to change me. Looking at this now, I see that silence in the morning works best for many of us. If I start out the day with inane conversation, or news stories hand-picked to feed my fears, the timbre of the day has been set and it’s difficult to center myself in the calm needed to move happily through it. Similarly, when I don’t sleep well at night, it’s because I haven’t been able to shut down my thoughts. Although I am not a fan of ritual, these morning and evening meditations work for me. We are all individuals, and through an examination of your feelings, habits, and demeanor, you can discover what works for you, too! 

"Peace to my mind. Let all my thoughts be still.

Father, I come to You today to seek the peace that You alone can give. I come in silence. In the quiet of my heart, the deep recesses of my mind, I wait and listen for Your Voice. My Father, speak to me today. I come to hear Your Voice in silence and in certainty and love, sure You will hear my call and answer me." W-pll.221   

Life, Its Own Self

"Both Sides Now"
created by Sandy Starbird

In the continuing saga of the lightning-struck organ, it can be forced to work, but only by a professional and only for a little while. So it will be functional for our concert on Sunday, but I must play the piano for dress rehearsal tomorrow. I'm going to look at this as a good thing, as I've been saying for years I'd like to improve my piano skills. So I shall look at this as an opportunity! The pianist who had a heart attack on Monday is going to be well soon, and I'm sure will be even more appreciated than before when she's back on the bench! My beloved book club met this evening and the appreciation I feel for this group of women grows deeper every time we gather in our homes. Our book this evening was about a retreat where people go to get a jump start on improving their lives. The twist in this story was that they were being given small amounts of hallucinogens with their morning smoothies. The result was quite interesting and led to a fine discussion! At the end of the day, I only feel gratitude for everyone I've encountered. Where there could be anxiety and frustration and anger expressed by workmen and others in charge of things, there has been harmony and good humor. The group of women who met this evening have their turmoil, too, but we're not afraid to confide in each other when we need advice or encouragement. And that's what it's all about, don't you think? Hugs to each and every one of you...

"Problems are not specific but they take specific forms, and these specific shapes make up the world.  And no one understands the nature of his problem.  If he did, it would be there no more for him to see." A Course in Miracles T-27.V.8 

Only Good Can Come of This

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Yesterday, I told a sad story of random lightning strikes and a piano player being felled by a serious health event. I want to assure you that our pianist is going to be fine. She is in the heart recovery place in Fayetteville and may be able to play on Sunday for the concert. But the wonderful music directors of our Celebration Choir sprang into action and lined up a great pianist, the pastor of the church has managed to get all the lights and heat working (although the speakers are “shot to hell”, as he said). Unfortunately my beautiful organ is not working properly, but it will stay on if someone holds the switch in the “on” position. The technician from the big city thinks it must be a simple fix, replacing the switch, but his wife is very ill and he can’t come until an indefinite time in the future. We have some leads on another organ wizard and I will have sweet dreams tonight of him swooping in and waving his magic wand tomorrow. After spending the morning with the high school choir who will be participating in the performance, I am joyous and certain that only good will come of this. And everything! Let’s all keep smiling and being nice to each other, helping where we can, and knowing there truly is a spiritual solution to every problem. Oh, wait a minute -- there is no problem! 

"There is but one way to heaven, harmony, and Christ in divine Science shows us this way. It is to know no other reality -- to have no other consciousness of life -- than good, God and [Its] reflection, and to rise superior to the so-called pain and pleasure of the senses." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 242

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