Kinship With All Life

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Kevin's been working at the Crescent Hotel gardens the past few weeks and has planted (he estimates) over 1500 plants. On these beautiful spring days, there are many bees and wasps which are very interested in what he's doing, to the point of flying around his head and even getting in his ears. We were talking about how he lives in harmony with these tiny, busy creatures, not fearing them or trying to swat them away, but letting them do their thing while they learn he is harmless. It's that telepathic thing, don't you think? The same mental connection which causes your dog to know when you're five minutes away from the house. I love that he's at one with nature to the extent that birds land on him. Thinking along these lines, I recall a little girl at The Clear Spring School. She was terribly afraid of bees, although blessedly not allergic to them, as one day she was stung three times. The bees happily danced around everyone else, but gave their life to fulfill her dread. Let's practice noticing our thoughts and the creatures around us, knowing that this same principle is at work in our human endeavors, too. What we expect from others is quite often what we get! 

"All of God's creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible. A realization of this grand verity was a source of strength in the ancient worthies." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 514:29

We Have Much To Learn

photo credit: Aaron Springston

We have much to learn from each other. My dear departed daddy used to say, If you can’t learn something from the dumbest man you know, then you aren’t listening. I try to remember this each time I hear mindless gibberish coming from some of our elected officials. The opposite was brought to my attention today when I was reading how New Zealand has coped with this worldwide virus threat. As part of their individual isolation, apps were created offering people mental services in case they could not cope with the changes they needed to make. They insured new mothers were not in need during their isolation. There are a multitude of kindnesses their beautiful prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, implemented as part of their national program. We can learn from this country and many others who are setting the bar high in their work towards understanding what we need to do. We each have a song to sing in this changing world, and it’s important we do so with kindness and wisdom. Too often we hear about the opposite, and therein we may also learn lessons. I have been particularly impressed with our local Methodist minister’s interaction with someone in the men’s room at WalMart. Maybe I’ll tell you about it tomorrow!

“What is intelligence? Intelligence is omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. It is the prime and eternal quality of infinite Mind, of the triune Principle — Life, Truth, and Love, — named God.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 459:7

Shifting Consciousness

Crystal Bridges
photo credit: Aaron Springston

The changes we have witnessed in our lifetime have been exciting and — to take a phrase from the ‘70s — mind blowing! Decades ago, when we were told about the Age of Aquarius and, more recently, when 2012 was explained as a shift in consciousness, I'm not sure we recognized there would be any real change in our lives. Those who are looking for material reasons to explain the shifts in everything from politics to weather, are feeling helpless and overwhelmed. Looked at from a different perspective, we see changes are necessary in order to facilitate the realization of this new earth which we are ready to embrace. As with any shift in thought, some people are afraid and working to keep the old ways, but it is impossible to see two worlds. For this reason, I choose Love!

“During this final conflict, wicked minds will endeavor to find means by which to accomplish more evil; but those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 96:31-4

Loving Energy For Everyone!

creation of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

I went to our wonderful local grocer today, which was a fun outing in and of itself. But the best part was running into an dear friend as I was checking out. Sandy Starbird is one of those people with whom I felt a connection the first time we met, and that connection has grown into a deep friendship. I was checking out when she was coming into the store, and our first impulse was to hug each other. Sandy gives the best hugs, transmitting all the good vibes she has accumulated in her beautiful lifetime. We stopped the requisite six feet away from each other and closed our eyes and mentally hugged for a few seconds. We reminded ourselves that the hugs we miss so much can be given and received no matter where we are; that all we need is intent to access the connection which flows through us all. When I turned around to continue checking out, the cashier was crying, telling me how moved she was by our exchange. If you’re missing physical closeness with your family and friends, remember they’re only a thought away. We are all connected, and our loving energy is much needed in a fearful world. Let us not forget to give it freely!

"The manifestation of God through mortals is as light passing through the window-pane. The light and the glass never mingle, but as matter, the glass is less opaque than the walls. The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality -- much error -- in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun."  Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 295:16

Original Mother's Day Proclamation

https://youtu.be/02_vC8qgiNM

Perhaps I knew of the origins of Mother’s Day, but had forgotten. I am so happy to have been reminded of it, by Marianne Williamson, and after looking up the original proclamation by Julia Ward Howe, am overwhelmed by its call for mothers to come together for peace. Here’s to you moms!

“Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly: ‘We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.

‘Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.’

From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says, ‘Disarm, disarm! The sword is not the balance of justice.’ Blood does not wipe out dishonor nor violence indicate possession.

As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each learning after his own time, the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.”

In 1907, Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day, but its true meaning has been forgotten.

My Mother Loved Baseball

Doc and Anita Havens
Circa 1931

My mom was a baseball fan. She followed the St. Louis Cardinals and talked about the players with her friends. After I left home and lived in Fayetteville, she came to spend a few days at my house. My roommate was a baseball fan, too, so she and my mother spent some time watching games. Imagine my surprise when Brenda told me that my mother knew nothing about baseball! I was dumbfounded, and a bit embarrassed. This dear woman was a joyous ball of energy. She had a great laugh and rarely walked when she could run. But as children sometimes do, I didn’t realize how fabulous she was. She wore bright clothing and a flower in her hair, when my friends’ moms were non-descript. She painted doors bright red with black spots and gold doorknobs. She was happier than any other mom I knew. Looking back on her lack of baseball expertise, I see how cool that was! She enjoyed watching the players, cheered when they hit the ball (not caring if it was foul or fair), and was ecstatic when they made the playoffs. I wonder if she even knew what that meant? It didn’t matter! Sophia Anita Bravo Havens loved life! What I'd give to watch a game with her...


"Fed by Thy love divine we live,
For Love alone is Life;
And life most sweet, as heart to heart
Speaks kindly when we meet and part."
Mary Baker Edd

Healing Horses

Creation of Sandy Starbird

The documentary, Herd, is a film about the healing power of horses, our connection with all things, and compassion. Liz Mitten Ryan is an artist, an author, and a compassionate human. She has developed a retreat in British Columbia where she and ten or so horses, a big old steer, and a few dogs and cats, hold healing retreats for people who are ready to face themselves and release pain. As one woman said, “This is not so much a place to escape as it is a place to leave things behind that you don’t want any more.” All the people sharing their stories in this hour-long film had emotional baggage holding them hostage: loss of a young child, abuse of various types, or one man simply wanted to become a better physician and parent. The founder of this beautiful retreat discovered that two of her horses would touch her chakras when she was laying in their midst, and she would feel unified with them. She began to write about this phenomenon and states that she didn’t know if she was telling the animals’ stories or her own. (She says the dogs and cats were in on it, too.) She realized that horses see the invisible all around us, and that's what makes them amazing healers. We have much to learn, and the animals are ready to teach us. When we are in our truth, they come to us, and that is all they ask. 

"As mortals gain more correct views of God and man, multitudinous objects of creation, which before were invisible, will become visible. When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 264:13