More To Silence Than Silence

PC: Richard Quick
Eureka Springs, AR

Today I got a handwritten, two-page letter from an old friend. I’ve been pondering something she said: “I thought I’d get a glimpse of the finish line when I discovered the silence. Now I’m finding that there’s more to silence than silence. That’s alright. I’m parked right where I want to be. Is there anything more powerful than God’s grace?” I love this so much! It brings me peace to know my old friend is right where she wants to be. It’s a Christmas miracle that she’s telling me these things about her journey. This has brought me such joy that I encourage all of you to let your brothers and siste​rs​​ in Spirit know what’s going on with you on this deeply personal level. Merry Christmas everyone!

​"Scientific pathology illustrates the digestion of spiritual nutriment as both sweet and bitter, -- sweet in expectancy and bitter in experience or during the senses' assimilation thereof, and digested only when Soul silences the dyspepsia of sense." ​Mary Baker Eddy - Miscellany Page 230

Say What You Mean

Communications are difficult. Face-to-face talking can be confusing, but we have a chance to ask questions and clarify points. Today I’m thinking of the confusion which comes about even when people are working together, but someone misunderstands and doesn’t speak up. A situation I’m watching from the inside is increasingly sad. Two people began not speaking to each other, even though they work together at least once a week. This is happening within a choir in a church which teaches tolerance in what is called a “reconciling ministry”. I watch in disbelief while one person becomes increasingly sure the other is wrong in decisions about leading the group. And the director is so hurt by these actions that he has become sensitive to the smallest questioning of his leadership. Communications are non-existent and folks have begun taking sides. As usual, I didn’t notice there was a problem until it erupted today with a couple of choir singers walking away from their seats and sitting in the audience. Everyone feels bad, yet not many people even know why — including myself! This is yet another of many wake-up calls I’m having these days. Bringing thought back to Love rather than condemnation, understanding instead of self-righteous indignation, compassionate acknowledgement of what is — these are the traits I will strive to demonstrate as we end this year and begin anew. The Christ is being reborn in every moment. We need but acknowledge it! 

"Fear not to recognize the whole idea of sacrifice as solely of your making.  And seek not safety by attempting to protect yourself from where it is not. Your brothers and your Father have become very fearful to you. And you would bargain with them for a few special relationships, in which you think you see some scraps of safety. Do not try longer to keep apart your thoughts and the Thought that has been given you. When they are brought together and perceived where they are, the choice between them is nothing more than a gentle awakening, and as simple as opening your eyes to daylight when you have no more need of sleep." A Course in Miracles T-15.XI.1.

If -- by Kipling

If

By Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

   Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,   But make allowance for their doubting too;

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

   

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,   And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

   If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;If you can meet with triumph and disaster   And treat those two impostors just the same;If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken   Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,   And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

   And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginnings   And never breathe a word about your loss;If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew   To serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on when there is nothing in you   Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

   Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch;If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;   If all men count with you, but none too much;If you can fill the unforgiving minuteWith sixty seconds' worth of distance run—   Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,And—which is more—you'll be a Man, my son!

Does God Choose Presidents?

photo credit: Arthur Bruno

Those of you who read these writings know that I found out I had brothers and sisters about three decades ago. One of these siblings had some nasty habits in his early years, but has reformed and thinks of himself as a messenger of God.  He recently made a Facebook post about Donald Trump being "selected by God Almighty" to be president of the United States, which got me to thinking seriously about this idea. First, I do not think that God makes choices for us. We have free will and we can choose to follow a path which blesses everyone, or we can wallow in our baser desires and allow those to lead us down that drain. Whatever the case, I am not going to blame God for problems we the people have created. By the same token, I won't say a situation is ordained by this deity in the sky. While it would be hurtful to say these things to him -- and perhaps they shouldn't be said to you either! -- this is a work in progress and I'm using you as my test kitchen. Haha! But this issue is one in which I cannot be silent, so I shall continue to ponder and pray, knowing the right thing to say is waiting to be heard. Namaste to all, and to all a good night...

 

"Led by a solitary star amid the darkness, the Magi of old foretold the Messiahship of Truth.  Is the wise man of today believed, when he beholds the light which heralds Christ's eternal dawn and describes its effulgence? Lulled by stupefying illusions, the world is asleep in the cradle of infancy, dreaming away the hours." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 95

Who Is Your "Them"?

​World Cup South Africa
Photo Credit: Aaron Springston​

I read an editorial in the Christian Science Monitor this week which discussed this question: Who is in your sense of "us"? While politics has many lines drawn around ideology, gender, race, and such things, democracy itself is really about finding where the "us" is in all of these beliefs. When we're growing up, maybe "us" is our family, or the people we go to church with, or a small clique of friends. If you've been strong in these leanings, perhaps you go to college and root for your football team, join a fraternity or sorority, and continue on with these superficial ties throughout your life. And usually they're harmless -- or so we think. But when they turn into bonds like the Ku Klux Klan and other such societies, there is something wrong. Most of us are realizing the harmfulness of gangs of people who think they and only they are right. These things are obvious. But the rift brought about from a righteous belief that certain things, such as abortion, should not be allowed -- well, that's something which bears examination and compromise. To quote an article by Ryan Strickler, "A key -- the key -- to the deliberative democratic ideal is mutual respect. Not any political discussion will do; discussion and debate must be marked by open-mindedness, recognition of the legitimacy of moral differences, and a goal of achieving consensus." In conclusion the editorial by Mark Sappenfield states: "In short, effective democratic politics must be perpetually reforging a new 'us'." So who is my "us"? Anyone who loves rather than hates; who open-heartedly looks at others and does the best he/she can in every situation. Feel free to tell me about your us and them! (the blog link below is a good place to do this)

"Both anatomy and theology define man as both physical and mental, and place mind at the mercy of matter for every function, formation, and manifestation. Anatomy and theology reject the divine Principle which produces harmonious man, and deal -- the one wholly, the other primarily -- with matter, calling that man which is not the counterpart, but the counterfeit, of God's man. Then theology tries to explain how to make this man a Christian, -- how from this basis of division and discord to produce the concord and unity of Spirit and His likeness." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 148

Released From Our Burden

Bryce Canyon - Aaron Springston

I remember a wonderful story which relates to choosing joy rather than pain. In this story, we are asked how much a glass of water weighs. Then we are told it doesn't matter what its weight is, it matters how long we hold it. If we hold it a minute, it's light. If we hold it an hour, our arm and/or hand may become uncomfortable with the weight. If we hold it all day, our arm will feel paralyzed. This scenario is a metaphor for holding onto worries and fears. If we keep them with us, we become convinced that they are impossible to overcome. We are paralyzed from the carrying of this weight. All we have to do is put the glass down to be released from our burden! Then we are free to feel the joy which is innately ours as a child of Love.

“Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 265:23-30

'Tis the Season!

Contributions, donations, fundraising events — Our little town is known for helping anyone in need, either individually or as a group, such as our wonderful Fleet Street Food Bank. Most places excel at giving around the holidays, but I truly think Eureka Springs is great at it all year ‘round! Kevin and I have been talking about it because he rang the bell for a couple of hours in front of the grocery store today, and the cool stories he told about folks putting money in the “pot” are wonderful! My favorite is about one woman who gave them $100, saying she had found it in the laundry and wanted to give it to them. I’m reminded of the Bible story of the woman who had enough flour to make bread for her son and herself, just one loaf, but when a stranger knocked on her door in need, she invited him in to share the food. This is the true meaning of Christmas, don’t you think? What an inspiration this little village is to me!

"Meekness and charity have divine authority." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health, Page 270