Holding Peace

photo credit: Aaron Springston

It's easy to fall into fear and anger in these turbulent times. I probably do it 10 or 20 times a day! When we hear things we know to be untrue, it can be easy to defend our beliefs with arguments. These days there are many things meant to "trigger" us into mindless anger. There's even a book by this name, telling how to upset people on purpose with wild mis-statements and points of truth which can be upsetting. So I am adamant in this peace I live, with a determination never felt before in my lifetime, a determination to live love, truth, goodness. Some people can stay pretty calm by meditations and affirmations which run through their heads. Some try to hide away from unsavory topics and hold peace in that way. My hope is to hold onto it in the face of any and all challenges, reaching deep and wide and high to feel the Love from which we are all created. Sometimes I feel like Bill Murray in "What About Bob?", as he repeats: I feel good, I feel fine, I feel wonderful! But you know what? Do anything it takes to hold onto the loving forgiveness which never blames in the first place. Namaste 

"You believe in what you value. If you are afraid, you are valuing wrongly. Your understanding will then inevitably value wrongly, and by endowing all thoughts with equal power will inevitably destroy peace. That is why the Bible speaks of “the peace of God which passeth understanding.” This peace is totally incapable of being shaken by errors of any kind. It denies the ability of anything not of God to affect you. This is the proper use of denial. It is not used to hide anything, but to correct error. It brings all error into the light, and since error and darkness are the same, it corrects error automatically." A Course in Miracles text

Love Rules the Universe

The interconnectivity of everything is showing itself everywhere, don’t you think? I take it as a sign of hope in this age of madness, watching consistently higher thought and its many manifestations, knowing the numbers of those speaking out for truth are, even now, increasing. This effect is a product of all the joyous energy we can individually muster! Our passionate expressions are conduits for this Love, shouting it out with our every action, every day, never being less than that. I’ve always been fascinated by the power of collective thought, and am watching in excitement as goodness and beauty manifest in sudden bursts. The more we love passionately, in truth, the more it spreads. I think that’s how Love conquers all, don’t you?

"The government of divine Love is supreme. Love rules the universe, and its edict hath gone forth: 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me,' and 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' Let us have the molecule of faith, that removes mountains, -- faith armed with the understanding of Love, as in divine Science, where right reigneth. The revered President and Congress of our favored land are in God's hands." Mary Baker Eddy - Miscellany Page 278

The Giver

photo credit: Aaron Springston
On the John Muir Trail

Imagine a world with no pain, no war, no lack. This is the world presented in a thought-provoking movie called, "The Giver". The scenario seems Utopian on the surface, but no one sees colors, or feels love, or knows joy. This world of sameness is calculated to eliminate envy and greed, as these are feelings which lead to conflicts and war.  Jeff Bridges plays the giver of memories, and no one else knows the memories of past horrors or wonders. What do you think? Would it be worth it to have a perfectly comfortable and predictable world with no highs nor lows? Is this what we're trying to create for ourselves in giving drugs to anyone who steps outside of the so-called norm in society? What are we creating in our efforts to make everyone socially acceptable? I feel like I'm asking you questions in an Oprah book club or something similar! This movie asks us: Is all the pain worth the glimpses of love we may experience? I know many of us are willing to give up our belief in a hellish world of pain and reach within for heaven and harmony. I can see that many of us are finding bliss no matter what the outer circumstance, but a lot of people are frightened and resistant. We can't change anyone else, but we can change our own thought. If we really are One, this makes a difference!

“Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence. Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 516:9-13

Fess Up and Go On

When did “sticking to your guns” and a single-minded refusal to consider any other viewpoint, or fact — when did these personality traits become admirable? I grew up believing that life is an experience of growth, learning, examining, choosing what works for the good of all. Many of us seem to be afraid to admit we could be wrong about anything. How many parents will say to their children, “I was wrong. I’m sorry.”? It can be difficult to admit a mistake to a business partner, but it’s foolish to try to cover it up. Interpersonal relationships would naturally improve with an understanding flexibility, don’t you think? Growing through these errors of thought can be aided by learning from others. I often remind myself of The Four Agreements or Ho’oponopono. There are many tools we can use to jolt us into an awareness as to how we are reacting to different situations, but those are two of my favorites. Let’s hope more people can become confident enough in their innate goodness to admit where they are wrong in any given situation. I see a peaceful world coming about with this shift in thought!

"Millions of unprejudiced minds -- simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert -- are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name [or Mohammed, or Buddha, or any name you want], and never fear the consequences." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 570:14

Made a Difference to That One!

The devastating fires in Australia have caused my thoughts to go to Steve Irwin. For those of you who are unfamiliar with him, he was known as the Crocodile Hunter and had a show by that name on Animal Planet. Steve was a major environmentalist and worked to save animals and make the world a better place for all to live. He was killed in 2006 by a stingray, but his family has continued his mission with the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and other organizations. They are working hard to save as many animals during these fires as possible. Bindi, Steve's daughter, states that their hospital has treated 90,000 animals to date and they are working night and day to save animals during this terrifying time. This is but a drop in the bucket for the almost half of a billion -- yes, billion -- animals which have perished. But I'm reminded of the story of a little boy on the beach throwing starfish back into the ocean, when hundreds are stranded on the sand. A man asks him if he really thinks he can make a difference, as there are so many in need. The little boy picks up a starfish and tosses it into the ocean, happily shouting: Made a difference to that one! And that is, after all, what we must do: make a difference where we can. Love out loud, my Friends!

"Question. -- What is Life?

Answer. -- Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit. Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of matter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited. Death and finiteness are unknown to Life. If Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 468:25

Child of Love and Truth

photo credit: Aaron Springston

If you tell someone they are made from divine Truth and Love, you may get a number of reactions, few of which would be in agreement with your statement. It doesn't bother me to think I am made from Love, or Truth, because I've always thought of these two words as synonymous with Deity. Now imagine someone you don't like or respect; perhaps he/she even seems repugnant to you. While it can be easy to see those we love as lovable, it's not easy to imagine someone who seems mean and cruel as being made by Love and Truth. So here is a point which must be addressed over and over, we needn't like what someone does to love their true incarnation as a child of Love, Spirit. I'm working on my thoughts about this tonight by researching writings about it. I leave you with some of these. Things are shifting quickly now. Don't be surprised if your thoughts are erratic. Be prepared to bring them back to Truth! 

"I have stated that the basic concepts referred to in this course are not matters of degree. Certain fundamental concepts cannot be understood in terms of opposites. It is impossible to conceive of light and darkness or everything and nothing as joint possibilities. They are all true or all false. It is essential that you realize your thinking will be erratic until a firm commitment to one or the other is made. A firm commitment to darkness or nothingness, however, is impossible. No one has ever lived who has not experienced some light and some thing. No one, therefore, is able to deny truth totally, even if he thinks he can." A Course in Miracles T-3.II.1.

"Today we go beyond the grievances, to look upon the miracle instead. We will reverse the way you see by not allowing sight to stop before it sees. We will not wait before the shield of hate, but lay it down and gently lift our eyes in silence to behold the Son of God." A Course in Miracles  W-pI.78.2.

"Question. -- What is the scientific statement of being? 

Answer. -- There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 468:8

Trying to be Good

You may recall I’ve mentioned the writing of Robert Klose. He’s a novelist and, also, a feature writer for the Christian Science Monitor. He recently had an essay in that magazine where he told of his house being robbed by a neighborhood teenaged boy. He asked the authorities if he could offer the thief an alternative to court-ordered punishment. He asked the boy to pay back the money and meet with him one day a week for an hour. During that hour, they would work on his homework first, and the other 30 minutes would be spent talking about anything the young man wanted. It was a good experience for them both but, even though the boy learned many valuable things from these encounters, he has occasionally lapsed into illegal behavior and spent time in jail. But when he’s back in the neighborhood, he is respectful and visits his mentor. Last time they met, Mr. Klose thanked the young man for thinking enough of his neighborhood to let it continue in peace. The kid said, “I’m trying to be good.” “Aren’t we all”, said Klose. Yes, aren’t we all trying to be good? Happy New Year!! Be a mentor!

"The incarnation of Truth, that amplification of wonder and glory which angels could only whisper and which God illustrated by light and harmony, is consonant with ever-present Love. So-called mystery and miracle, which subserve the end of natural good, are explained by that Love for whose rest the weary ones sigh when needing something more native to their immortal cravings than the history of perpetual evil." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 501:8