Beauty is a Thing of Life

photo credit: Dale Johnson

Tonight was an opportunity for me to witness the beauty and strength of humanity in the midst of an uncertain, often difficult, time in our lives. I've mentioned my book club before. We are a group of Novel Women who love and respect one another, having met once a month for years. We had not seen each other for six months, meeting last in February and stopping when it was necessary because of this pandemic. Tonight we were outside in a lovely country setting, socially distanced in physical space and connected through our hearts. We didn't discuss any of the books we have read this year, but rather told each other about our lives, our daily activity, our family joys and sorrows and fears. There were stories of teaching women prisoners about computers, but having to do it with a speaker phone because the women had no computers. One woman told us of her studies about racism in our country, causing another to recommend a book by the title of Caste. We heard tales of marriage and celebrations, along with worries for family who live in big cities and work on the front lines. I loved hearing all these stories coming from women who know each other so well. The triumphs which they think of as normal, everyday life made my heart swell with pride in knowing such fine folks. I'd be willing to bet you could talk to five friends (or strangers) and hear some beautiful life stories, too. Maybe that's what we should all concentrate on today!

"Beauty is a thing of life, which dwells forever in the eternal Mind and reflects the charms of His goodness in expression, form, outline, and color. It is Love which paints the petal with myriad hues, glances in the warm sunbeam, arches the cloud with the bow of beauty, blazons the night with starry gems, and covers earth with loveliness." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 247:21

Look Out From the Stars

photo credit: Richard Quick

I’ve never been a follower of astrology, but the weekly horoscopes in our Eureka Springs Independent are exceptional! They are spiritual treatises which lead us to a place of higher thought and expectation. I will leave you with “mine” for this week, but it is perfect for anyone (as are they all). “So many things — your faith, wisdom, goals, philosophy of life, politics, travel and adventure, will all be affected by the Mars retrograde. You will need to ponder upon what actions will be best for humanity. You come from the heart of the matter. So, it’s important for you to act within the principle of what is right, what serves others, what serves the world. You have enthusiasm for life. During the retrograde this enthusiasm turns to inner joy. You will rework certain projects, like writing, publishing, and things legal, slowing down to catch up with the happenings of the time.”

Link to horoscope: http://eureka.news/esoteric-astrology-as-news-for-week-september-9-15/

"The astronomer will no longer look up to the stars, -- he will look out from them upon the universe; and the florist will find his flower before its seed." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 125:28

Tending With Love

What “triggers” you? This term has become quite popular this year, and I’m not sure I even knew what it meant until recently. A famous son wrote a book by that name. I checked it out of the library to see what it was all about, and was so disgusted I drove it back there the same day. Now, it seems even the word is enough to “trigger” me! Ha! Whatever the case, it is not a productive reaction. Whether someone wants me to be upset and they purposefully “push my buttons”, or if I get upset because I hear certain things which cause me to jump up on my high horse in disagreement and righteous indignation, it just doesn’t matter. A dear friend posted this picture and saying on social media today, and it will remind me to stay in a space of Love, no matter what I hear or see. Love to you!

"As a man thinketh, so is he. Mind is all that feels acts, or impedes action. Ignorant of this, or shrinking from its implied responsibility, the healing effort is made on the wrong side, and thus the conscious control over the body is lost." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 166:3

Never Upset For the Reason I Think

photo credit: Aaron Springston

As life would have it when we are struggling with something or someone, the answer to our dilemma is trying to find us. One of our neighbors has exhibited some behavior which we find upsetting, perhaps even disturbing. As I was pondering my feelings about this, I opened my email and found a forwarded newsletter from our friend, Jim Young. It's from The Embrace, and the topic of this particular emailing is getting in touch with your real feelings about things we deem upsetting. Of course, as ACIM Workbook #5 reminds us, We are never upset for the reason we think. In sitting and pondering how I really feel about this man and his actions, I'm afraid for him; afraid that he has fallen into a dark void; afraid that he has become separated from divine Love. Hum -- is this even possible? No, it is not. We may think that is true, he may even think that's true, but it never can be reality. I leave you with these words from A Course of Love, which I will ponder as I go to sleep. 

"Now we listen to feelings. Now we listen to feelings and understand what they have to say to us. Now we listen with a new ear, the ear of the heart. Now we recognize the thoughts that would censor our feelings, calling them selfish, uncaring, or judgmental. We examine. And we realize it is our thoughts and not our feelings that are selfish, uncaring, or judgmental. We realize this because we realize the sacred space we have become. Our space is the space of unity. It is the space of ease because thoughts are no longer allowed their rule." Day 12 of A Course of Love

Why Are We So Polarized?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

I just read an article saying that 79% of Democrats and 82% of Republicans overestimate the level at which the other side dehumanizes them. By a large margin, voters on either "side" hold false beliefs about what the other party really thinks of them. At this time when our country faces urgent challenges, we need to find our common ground and work together to solve these issues. So why in the world are we so polarized?? I've never understood political parties. Shouldn't we all be for the good of the people? When I would say that to my parents decades ago, they would tell me what most people would tell me today: Everyone has different ideas of what that good is. Good grief! I remember a word we don't hear much about anymore: compromise. At some point, give and take came to be thought of as flip-flopping or a sign of weakness. It's become "my way or no way" for a lot of people, and it's not working. Let's join together with no thought other than what needs to happen for our citizenry to thrive, for our world to continue to be the paradise that it is, and for evolution to be an upward movement rather than a nosedive and implosion. I know we can do this! Life is Good. Everyone wants good for themselves and their loved ones. And we are all One. Namaste...

"One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfills the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself;' annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 340:23-29

Going to the Mountains is Going Home

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life. Awakening from the stupefying effects of the vice of over-industry and the deadly apathy of luxury, they are trying as best they can to mix and enrich their own little ongoings with those of Nature, and to get rid of rust and disease.” ― John Muir, Our National Parks

Something Invincible, Within

photo credit: Aaron Springston

"He said, 'In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger -- something better, pushing right back." Albert Camus