Don't Take Anything Personally

Yesterday I began talking about the Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. The second agreement seems difficult for us to understand and put into practice, yet I feel it holds an important key to happiness and peace. Do Not Take Anything Personally. Maybe we've believed something about ourselves all our lives because a person in authority told us, when we were very young, that it was so. I remember a teacher chastising me in 2nd grade about using the colors purple and pink together in a drawing. I thought I had no sense of style for years because of that. It wasn't about me at all, but about her. Perhaps someone laughed at you when you said or did something, and you still cringe when you say or do it. Maybe you were told you weren't athletic because you couldn't perform some feat in childhood, and so now you don't try to dance or bowl. I'm pretty certain each and every one reading this can think of something they have been told which has stuck with them, which they may have come to believe about themselves, some limiting belief they wish they didn't have. Good news! You CAN let it go! As my good friend, Jim Young, says: It's none of my business what anyone thinks of me. So whether you think you don't look good in green, or any other thing, just remember that when someone throws words at you, they probably feel that way themselves. And as the Four Agreements reminds us, "It's not your problem, it's theirs!" Keep on looking up, dear Friends...

"Mortal error will vanish in a moral chemicalization. The mental fermentation has begun, and will continue until all errors of belief yield to understanding. Belief is changeable, but spiritual understanding is changeless." 

Be Impeccable With Your Word

One of the most important books of our age is The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. Today I've been thinking about the first agreement: Be Impeccable With Your Word. What a wonderful world we would have if everyone did this one simple thing. When we hear something which sounds too awful to be true, it may very well be a lie. For example: Hillary Clinton is running a prostitution ring out of Pizza Hut. If you hear something so ridiculous, wonder why you're hearing it. If a friend tells you something derogatory about a mutual friend, don't tell anyone else. Remember the Mark Twain statement: “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on.” If you tell someone you're going to do something, do it. But if you cannot, for whatever reason, be honest with them; don't make up an excuse or pretend you never said it.  If you promise your dog a walk every day, by golly you'd better do it, because you can't lie to a dog. (the same goes for any promise) If you're writing something similar to this, practice what you preach. It's easy to know what to do, but sometimes difficult to live in truth and love. Do it anyway. And finally, if someone says something you think to be incredibly foolish, be gentle in your correction. This one is tough for me, so I saved it for last. Go forward with joy, sowing good will and compassion! Namaste...

"Love will finally mark the hour of harmony, and spiritualization will follow, for Love is Spirit. Before error is wholly destroyed, there will be interruptions of the general material routine. Earth will become dreary and desolate, but summer and winter, seedtime and harvest (though in changed forms), will continue unto the end, -- until the final spiritualization of all things. 'The darkest hour precedes the dawn.'" Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 96:4-11

Hillbilly, Revisited

I rewatched the documentary, Hillbilly, this evening. So am reposting this from November last year.

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Hillbillies. What comes to mind when you hear this word? Perhaps the Beverly Hillbillies, or depictions in cartoons of this group of people, maybe a mixture of the redneck genre and hillfolk. Whatever the case, more than likely it is a caricature of the reality. I’ve read Hillbilly Elegy and I live in the Ozark hills, so my study is more than intellectual. I truly want to know the motivation behind those who voted for our current president, so I listen and learn. A documentary called “Hillbilly” is perhaps the most poignant portrayal I’ve seen or read. A young woman who escaped her Kentucky home and makes films in California put together this movie. She has made me think deeply about my prejudices. It reinforces my feeling that we all want the same things in life: love, a warm home, a feeling of security in our jobs and environment. How we become confused in those desires is what fascinates me.

"The history of our country, like all history, illustrates the might of Mind, and shows human power to be proportionate to its embodiment of right thinking. A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping post and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon's mouth. Love is the liberator." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 225

Be Peace

From Hippie Peace Freaks

Saturday is my big church gig day, with recording and also a live feed service being done between noon and 5. Today both services centered around peace and what we must do to stand up and allow goodness to surround and dissipate anger. The Presbyterian minister always slips something unexpected into his sermons, which I think he does just to see if we are listening carefully. Today's entry into his hall of fame remarks was this: Peace, even beauty queens believe in it! Every beauty pageant always has at least one contestant saying all they want is world peace, don't you know? I also enjoy the six-feet-away-from-each-other passing of the peace. We use the old hippie hand peace sign and smile at everyone while giving them rabbit-ear blessings. There's something quaint and endearing about this, I think. But the bottom line is peace: live it, talk it, walk it, pass it, think it, sing it, love it, never be afraid to stand up for it! Happy Sunday to all!!

"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 belong to wisdom and Love." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 265:23

Lighting the Way

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Some people's lights are so bright they never disappear. This morning after my quiet time, as usual I checked youtube to see if any of my favorite seers had posted anything new. I was extremely delighted to see an old interview, newly posted, where Eckhart Tolle is talking with Lothar Schäfer! I wrote a tribute to him earlier this year when he passed away. Seeing this video was like sitting in a room chatting with him. The light in his eyes took me back to the time we would toast each other with fine wine, absolutely certain that our ringing glasses were resonating with the vibrations of our very being. I loved Lothar, and always will. Right after I saw this interview, I sent the link to his wife and a couple of dear friends. Their responses have solidified the connection we all had with this lovely man, whom I am so grateful to have known. Later in the day, I received word that the husband of a dear friend had suddenly passed. My heart goes out to her and all of their friends and family. Through the sadness, there is a sweet certainty that these dear ones are all right, and that we will be all right, too. Much Love to all...

"Prophet: A spiritual seer, disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 593:4

https://youtu.be/lNVb4Aa1KmM 

Never Fear the Consequences

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Many of us shy away from speaking truth to erroneous thought. I read an article today by a woman who was growing up in the 1960s, a time when people of different races did not, as a rule, mingle voluntarily. She told the story of being at a friend's house and being confronted by her friend's father. The writer of this story was working with a program for rural Black people and he had seen her holding a Black child's hand, with another child sitting on her lap. He felt her actions merited corporeal punishment. She immediately said to the man, "God loves that little boy. Why don't you?" This made the man more angry and he started to take his belt off, advancing towards her. She said, "God loves you too, and you must love all whom God loves." He dropped his belt and began sobbing, reaching out to hug the girl who had forced him to face himself. This story caused me to think of times I have seen a simple statement change a situation. There is a power in truth; a power which lies only appear to have. These are difficult times indeed, but whether it's a woman sitting naked before angry forces, or pregnant women banding together against injustice, or you speaking up to your friend, we must stand for what is right and good, never fearing the consequences.

"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, and never fear the consequences." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 570:14

Engage Whimsy!

Crow Johnson Evans playing in
 husband, Arthur's, flower garden​

My fine friend, Crow Johnson, made a Facebook post today which enthralled me so thoroughly that I asked her if I could use it for my daily post. You can find out more about this delightful musician, artist, writer at her website: www.crowspun.com 

"How do you engage whimsy? Have you allowed your inner child to get out of your stuffy adult 'I’m too busy and grown to play' closet?  Come on out!

Are you willing to let go of holding on and simply enjoy being where you are?

Perhaps imagine you are barefoot on a high wire trapeze walking above the crowds...and they may all just be applauding you or wondering how they can walk the wire too!

Maybe imagine you are in the tropics smelling the heady aromas...

There is so much to be concerned about right now, but even more to get delighted by if you’ll only allow yourself to play... too.

Might as well balance in this unbalanced world.

Arthur’s flowers invite play... of course you might want to turn off the electric fence first or it might be a whole ‘nother hot wire act."

Posted by Crow on July 22, 2020