Just Mercy

One of the great things about being a long-time member of a book club is knowing that when one of its members recommends a book, you more than likely want to read it. One of our founding Novel Women suggested “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson. It’s a personal, critical look at capital punishment. I’m listening to it and was only midway through the first chapter when I heard the news that Ruth Bader Ginsberg was gone. A woman who fought for right her entire life, interpreting law with a pure eye, socializing with the most conservative of the Republicans — although she, herself, was liberally progressive and worked toward that goal all the way to the end. She was justly merciful and mercifully just. She has inspired me to go forward and fight injustice as she did, in a respectful and honest way, not pulling punches, but also not stooping to low blows in making her points. Thank you, RBG! And thank you Lisa, for suggesting the book which seems so fitting for these times.

“Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love — the kingdom of heaven — reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 248:29

True Colors

 

words from jim young

Did you know that the same color may appear to look different when placed on various background colors? I read an article about this which explained that the way we perceive a color is based on our education about color perception and how we've been conditioned to see color. Who knew?? As I struggled to grasp this fact, I realized it's the same with our perceptions of what reality is. Spiritual perception allows us to see beyond the seeming reality of our material senses. Interactions with others may be full of judgments and suppositions when we look at the situation with by-rote, learned behavior and the immediacy of emotions. But Truth, which shines forth when seeing from a spiritual perspective, allows for improved interactions with others. This is true because our human experience is the visible expression of our thinking. To see the world through the eyes of Love frees us to love as God Loves: purely, without a skewed view of the color and fabric of everything we see. Now I know what the expression "showing your true colors" means!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Thought will finally be understood and seen in all form, substance, and color, but without material accompaniments." Science & Health Page 310: 6:8

Let's Think About Goats

My mind is full of strange ideas brought to me courtesy of the people of earth. Why would anyone think that Alex Jones is a reporter giving us news? Why do people believe the earth is flat? A new world order making tunnels beneath the ground, with headquarters under the Denver Airport, and that's why that crazy horse with glowing eyes is out front? Really?? What are we thinking? The United States of Conspiracy is a PBS, Frontline, documentary which was brought to my attention today. I plan to watch it. It's free on youtube. These ideas are fascinating to me for many reasons. Have I ever believed a conspiracy theory? Probably. Maybe I still do. For a while I thought our government was being run by lizard people (basically aliens from somewhere far, far away). But then I saw what a real monster was like, and didn't need to believe fantasies. Everyday something unbelievable is tossed into our collective minds, and if we choose to believe it, we're doing more than ourselves a disservice. Every thought is important, don't you think? The collective consciousness of life truly is a thing. What goes around, comes around, whether it be thoughts or actions. Let compassion, kindness, understanding, truth, love, fill your head -- and when something else tries to crowd its way into your brain, just look at this picture of a baby goat. Hugs to each and every one of you!

"Mortals evolve images of thought. These may appear to the ignorant to be apparitions; but they are mysterious only because it is unusual to see thoughts, though we can always feel their influence." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 86:13

Happy Trails, Cynthia...

 

"Metamorphosis"

by Judy Griffith

More than three decades ago, I knew a young man who died. The truly horrible thing about the situation was that his family never allowed him to know that they knew it was happening. And he never told his wife or parents that he knew he was never going back home with them. They missed an opportunity, in my opinion. I thought of that situation this evening when a dear friend called to let me know a mutual friend of ours was nearing transition. Her daughter was with her and had a speaker phone so we could say goodbye and remind her of how loved she was by all who knew her. What a blessing to face each stage of life and allow the emotions we feel to be felt by our loved ones, also! At one point during our short conversation, I remembered something from Joel Goldsmith's writings, and asked her if she knew the quote: "People who have shared spiritual Love are bound together for eternity." I didn't feel separated from Cynthia when she moved far away, and I don't feel separate now. That Love we shared in metafizzie meetings, Course in Miracles meetings, Christian Science services, and Joel Goldsmith study groups is alive as much as it ever was. Happy Trails, dear Friend. You are loved...

"Life is real, and death is the illusion. A demonstration of the facts of Soul in Jesus' way resolves the dark visions of material sense into harmony and immortality. Man's privilege at this supreme moment is to prove the words of our Master: 'If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.' To divest thought of false trusts and material evidence in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear, -- this is the great attainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true. Thus we may establish in truth the temple, or body, 'whose builder and maker is God.'"  Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 428:3

Let It Go

Here is a writing from 2012. I'm working on not holding grudges and letting go of past hurts. It's a work in progress... :)

Linwood

For the past ten years or so, my next door neighbor and I have disagreed about the turkey vultures which roost in our neighborhood. He has screamed curses at me in the street. He stated at a city council meeting that my opinions aren't valid because I'm a Christian Scientist and I have strange ideas about wildlife and disease. Events like these come to mind whenever I see him. It's time to change my thought​ ​about him, so I will concentrate on the early years and remember the times we banded together to help others. One of the first conversations I had with him was concerning a neighbor named Margaret, who rarely left her home. One day he came over to ask for my help with her. I'll always remember his mischievous grin as he said: "I know this is sort of like asking a Baptist to go to the liquor store, but would you take Margaret to the doctor?" We became friends that day and worked together to help her in any way we could. One day I saw a copy of Science & Health in her bookcase. Even though she refused to leave her house, I lured her out with a mid-week visit to our church edifice, when no one was there other than us, and I would play the organ for her. This became a regular event, and when she would leave her house to go with me, the other neighbors would go in and clean for her. Margaret was the glue that bound this neighborhood together. That is the loving energy I will remember when I see this other neighbor. And why will I remember only the good in him? Because that's the only reality. Love, and all that emanates from it, is an attribute of God. Anything else is an illusion, and I will let the winds of change sweep it away.

"Not to avenge one's self upon one's enemies is the command of almighty wisdom; and we take this to be a safer guide than the promptings of human nature. To know that a deception dark as it is base has been practiced upon thee, and yet not to avenge thyself, is to do good to thyself; is to take a new standpoint whence to look upward; is to be calm amid excitement, just amid lawlessness, and pure amid corruption."​ Mary Baker Eddy - ​Miscellaneous Writings Page 228

Take Heart

Take heart. When I read those words in the statement from Mary Baker Eddy quoted below, I did just that. Take Heart. Take Heart! Sometimes it seems the world is trying to wear us down, making us pull the covers over our heads and declare that we've had enough; we surrender. When I feel that way, I know it's time to take a break. Getting into fresh air, communing with animals and trees, is probably the best break possible for me. Any connection with anything not electronic seems to do the trick, don't you think? Although listening to joyous music, preferable something which brings up memories of dancing and laughing, is also a good cleansing for me. Whatever it is you do -- yoga, exercise, gardening, dog walking -- be sure you do it. I can't remember who said, Don't let the bastards get you down! But it was good advice. We can't always be strong, and that's okay. Take a break, but then come back and continue the good fight, spreading truth and love everywhere you go and in everything you do! Never surrender!! 

“Take heart, dear sufferer, for this reality of being will surely appear sometime and in some way. There will be no more pain, and all tears will be wiped away. When you read this, remember Jesus' words, 'The kingdom of God is within you.' This spiritual consciousness is therefore a present possibility.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 573:29-2

Strong Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Our hearts cry for the children, the animals, the adults, the trees, the insects — all of life is in need of our higher thoughts and positive actions! When we see a heartbreaking situation and translate it into Love, we are helping. Everything we say or do is either a reflection of Love or fear, and fear seems to try to attach itself to us with every new travesty we witness. But that fearful response gets us nowhere and only causes the situation to be more solid in thought. We are flexible and easily-influenced people, but we are also smart and intuitive. The choices we have may seem overwhelming sometimes, but when we realize there is only one real choice, Love, it becomes easier to see truth. We all want to be loved, to be safe, to be comfortable, to be at peace. It may seem as though hatred spreads like wildfire, but Love puts out the flames of hatred as surely as light brightens a dark room. It may hurt our eyes at first, but those reflective organs are made to adjust. I hope you can do something joyous today. Love as strongly as some are fearing, because it's an incredibly strong and unstoppable force which we hold right here in our hearts. Namaste...

"Walking in the light, we are accustomed to the light and require it; we cannot see in darkness. But eyes accustomed to darkness are pained by the light. When outgrowing the old, you should not fear to put on the new." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 452:7