Cheating

photo credit: Aaron Springston

A major league baseball team was fined 5 million dollars for cheating in the 2017 World Series. Some people think: So what? Everybody does it. Well, I'm here to affirm that they are wrong: Everybody does NOT do it. This desire to win no matter what is a flawed mission. What's the point in winning a game, or an election, or any type of competition, if you do it by blatantly exploiting the principles of the event or interaction? Humankind seems to have fallen under a spell as wicked as any Disney witch could conjure. Greed for power and/or riches has become more important than integrity and a higher moral code. I have an old friend who apparently was never held accountable for her actions as a child -- nor, perhaps, as an adult. It has made her an odd little person, shriveled by her pettiness and self-righteousness. What we do matters. Let's teach our children (and remind latent grown-ups) that making a difference every day is a life well-lived. 

"Only the trusting can afford honesty, for only they can see its value. Honesty does not apply only to what you say. The term actually means consistency. There is nothing you say that contradicts what you think or do; no thought opposes any other thought; no act belies your word; and no word lacks agreement with another. Such are the truly honest. At no level are they in conflict with themselves. Therefore it is impossible for them to be in conflict with anyone or anything." A Course in Miracles - M-4.II.3-9

Dark = New Ideas & Rebirth

unfinished creation of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

I have a wise and dear friend who creates primal images from fabric. They are all exquisitely full of the wisdom of the ages and reflect their maker, as each of us does. Sandy Starbird sent me this image the other day when I was feeling overwhelmed. It is a photo of an unfinished work of art. I love her process almost as much as the product! Here are her words about the above photo: "In the Celtic spiritual tradition the raven symbolizes recovery and healing. The Tlingit and Haida cultural traditions say that Raven brought Light to the world.  It signifies cleansing, which means that if you have something unhealthy happening, you need to let go of it to return to balance and come into the Light. This is my gesture toward remembering to follow Raven's path. It is so easy today to linger in darkness with so much crazy swirling around. But Dark itself is not the problem. Dark is the place of new ideas and rebirth. It is making the gesture of bringing new Light, new Hope into this place that will make the path open and the way clear." Thank you, Sandy!

Remembering Truth

photo credit: Arthur Bruno

What is truth? Everywhere we look, it seems we have been and are being told lies. Religion, science, politics, the news media, advertisements, history — the list goes on. If we know something is a lie, why do we cling to it so adamantly? It seems we prefer to live in a world of lies rather than to take a step into the great unknown world of Truth. And then we ask, How do we know what is Truth in a world of lies? That, dear ones, is why we must listen within. The reality of our existence is covered up so thoroughly we have forgotten how to experience it. But we are remembering, aren’t we? Infinite Mind never hides Its voice!

“As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God. The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 516:2-8

Everything You Do is Sacred

NOW IS THE TIME TO KNOW

"Now is the time to know
That all that you do is sacred.

Now, why not consider
A lasting truce with yourself and God.

Now is the time to understand
That all your ideas of right and wrong

Were just a child’s training wheels
To be laid aside

When you can finally live
With veracity
And love.

Hafiz is a divine envoy
Whom the Beloved
Has written a holy message upon.

My dear, please tell me,
Why do you still
Throw sticks at your heart
And God?

What is it in that sweet voice inside
That incites you to fear?

Now is the time for the world to know
That every thought and action is sacred

This is the time
For you to deeply compute the impossibility
That there is anything
But Grace.

Now is the season to know
That everything you do
Is sacred."

– Hafiz

More Information Makes For Better Choices

Seeing this chart, showing who trusts which news sources, I am reminded of something someone said to me before the 2016 elections. She was telling me how tired she was of political commercials and how happy she would be when the election was over. I said I didn't have to put up with any commercials, because of the ways I choose to watch entertainment programing and news. She looked incredulous and asked, How do you know who to vote for? Wow. I was floored by that one. Do people really think they can choose their representatives by paid political ads? Or biased news?? I know we are smarter than that, so I must think we are either overwhelmed by the vast number of sources, or we're too lazy to ascertain truth for ourselves. I could easily jump on my high horse and expound on this for a long time, but I'm sure you could, too -- so I won't. Read, listen, question, and then read some more. Learn to recognize signs of hyperbole and outright lies. Think, question, read -- and do it again!

"Evil thoughts and aims reach no farther and do no more harm than one's belief permits. Evil thoughts, lusts, and malicious purposes cannot go forth, like wandering pollen, from one human mind to another, finding unsuspected lodgment, if virtue and truth build a strong defence." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 234:31

Laughing With Friends

The best decompression activity I know of is laughing with good friends. Every month or two, three dear women and I have an afternoon of playing spades and enjoying each others' company. We always feel renewed and happy after these days, and look forward to finding time to do it again as soon as possible. Many people, for many reasons, have not been able to cultivate lasting friendships, and I want to assure them that it's never too late! Reach out to folks who you have a good feeling about, whether you know them or not. Companionship, stimulating conversation, a common cause such as animal welfare  -- there are many foundations on which to enjoy communion with others. Don't be afraid to reach out!

"You rest within the peace of God today, and call upon your brothers from your rest to draw them to their rest, along with you.​ ​You will be faithful to your trust today, forgetting no one, bringing everyone into the boundless circle of your peace, the holy sanctuary where you rest. Open the temple doors and let them come from far across the world, and near as well; your distant brothers and your closest friends; bid them all enter here and rest with you.​" A Course in Miracles​ W-pI.109.8.

Unexpectedly Upside Down

San Francisco photo credit: Aaron Springston

We all feel overwhelmed by life's circumstances at times -- or, at least, I know I have. Everything seems easier now, with grown children, no daily jobs to show up for, and most arduous demands being gone from my days. Sometimes things happen and we are drawn into them for one reason or another. I have friends whose lives have been turned upside down when they least expected it. How do we cope when an unexpected illness hits us or our loved ones, changing everything from the rhythm we had cherished? Of course, we do what we must, and we pray for strength and guidance, and we listen for answers in whatever form they may appear. I don't mean for this to sound like an easy task -- but really, what is our choice? To all of us who are afraid, perhaps angry, feeling put-upon unnecessarily, overwrought by things beyond our control -- just breathe. Breathe deeply and find something to be happy for, an idea to be peaceful about. Sometimes we must release a problem in order to find its resolution. We can't change the situation, but we can change our thought about it. Love to you, each and every one!

"Love is freedom. To look for it by placing yourself in bondage is to separate yourself from it. For the Love of God, no longer seek for union in separation, nor for freedom in bondage! As you release, so will you be released. Forget this not, or Love will be unable to find you and comfort you." A Course in Miracles T-16.VI.2.