Choose Peace

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Although I know peace is a choice within my own self, I want to share it with everyone, everywhere. It has taken quite a while to grasp the concept that the only thought I can change is my own! After years of trying to change loved ones, I think it was my children who finally taught me the meaning of Oneness. They showed me this as I watched the household mood change its tone along with my emotions. Holding to peace within myself is all I can do — and that’s a lot! Jumping on the bandwagon of resentment or other negative emotions can seem difficult to avoid, but it’s possible to simply witness these things without becoming a part of them. While I can't change what anyone else is thinking or feeling or experiencing, I can adjust my vision of reality. Every thought is important! We’re all in this together, in every way, at every moment. And so today I will make an effort to see through the eyes of Love, excluding nothing, no matter what!

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidence by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.” ​Mary Baker Eddy - ​Science & Health​ ​Page 264:24-27

Joy Dissipates Anger

 I heard a most disheartening tale today. A young man who works with Kevin told him that he and his girlfriend had voted for the first time ever. And now they are afraid for their lives. Because of stories in the news and from individuals, they are stockpiling food and thinking about buying a gun and ammunition! To be afraid because of who you vote for in the United States of American is distressing, to say the least. It has caused me to think about things I'm seeing, and noting how potentially violent situations are handled and dissipated.

It seems that music and dancing are the best weapon to use in the face of angry shouting and violent threats. Also, simply observing madness and then going back to your job seems to be effective -- i.e., the person giving an update in front of the Las Vegas poll where votes were being counted. Someone came out and began shouting weird, angry words -- and everyone just watched him until he left. Then the speaker turned around and said, "Where were we?", and continued with the question/answer session. While I am concerned about first-time voters being frightened away from voting again, I'm concerned for all of us who wake up with nightmares of what could happen. Is it a collective consciousness bringing us these bad dreams, or perhaps the media feeding us horror shows 24/7, or maybe it's Aunt Mable babbling about what she heard from her caretaker. Whatever the case, I choose joy! Let's keep our vibrations going high and strong, shielding ourselves and everyone with the best armour possible: divine Love!

"Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity."  

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 571:18

Soaring Aspirations

photo credit: John Rankine

Creation's gentleness is all around us, but often it's not noticed because of the universal belief in harshness. More and more we're seeing animals showing us our kinship with all life through their sweet interactions. With our realizations of Oneness, we're starting to see that if violence is done to or by one, it's done to or by all. We're allowing our thoughts to change from fear and anger to Love and gentleness. Many people are holding with the old paradigm, and some say it's necessary for heinous acts to be committed, and also retaliation in kind. On the other hand, more people are realizing the error of this way, and know that it is possible for the lion to lay down with the lamb. Namaste...

“The fowls, which fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven, correspond to aspirations soaring beyond and above corporeality to the understanding of the incorporeal and divine Principle, Love.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 511:28

Looking At The System

While reading today, I came across this:

"One of the systems we’re part of, of course, is the political system. We may wish we weren’t part of it often, but we are. And all of those people playing with the power of the medium of politics, and its effect on the media and its effect on collective human consciousness, and those people that are addicted to power are there because of us. It boils down to that. That we create a field in which they can play with power, and that power is more or less compassionate. And the political system is a system in which as long as you have a passport, you are a member of it whether you like it or not. You’re part of a government, and your not voting is voting. So there’s no way out. You can’t say, 'I’m not going to have anything to do with politics.' You can say it, but you’ve got to watch where you’re saying it from. You may say, 'I’m not going to get involved with politics because I am so busy with something else that I think is my dominant theme, and I’ll vote, but I’m not going to put my time into campaigning for candidates and things like that, or issues, because my energies are best used here.' That’s fine. If you’ve thought it through and felt that way and can look somebody in the eye and say, 'This is the way it is.' If you’re saying, 'I’m not having anything to do with politics because it’s too dirty and because I don’t approve of it,'. Forget it – you are abdicating your responsibility to society. It’s as simple as that.

We’re at an interesting moment within the shift of collective consciousness, specifically around the way in which we’re integrating the changes in power structures. Now business holds sway over government, over religion, in terms of social power. And business is like pirates on the high seas – the question is, do you control it from the outside, or does it control itself? Does the whole process have a meta-game that’s controlling itself, and can you stand back far enough to see how it’s playing out? How is the shift in collective consciousness going to evolve and what part do you play?

Part of the curriculum is looking at the systems that you are a part of and being able to say 'That system needs work.' It’s important to be able to shift your game so that you’re not simply pushing the system away and saying 'I don’t think about that stuff, because it’s too complicated. Let somebody else worry about it.' Because as long as you get really frustrated with Americanism, you may be standing in the way of everybody’s survival." Ram Dass -1995

Gratitude

Let’s give each other a chance. Many people are adamant about demonizing anyone who doesn’t think like them, but those are not the majority of the people in the United States. In the past, we have decided not to cooperate with each other, but rather have chosen to jump up on our high horses and insist it’s our way or no way. The time for this nonsense is over and now the healing of our nation must begin. Every one of us has a role to play in this process, and I see us stepping forward to do our duty to our country and each other. There’s a lot of craziness out there (by anyone’s measure!), but we can choose to be kind rather than right. I hope to be an observer rather than a judge, and I encourage everyone to help each other if we slip and fall. But for the time being, I choose joy. The peace which passes all understanding has flowed over and through me this day, and I am grateful.

"The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 506:11

It's Okay...

 J. Clement Wall became my Facebook friend a few years ago. I don't remember how we connected, but it was probably because of her hippie warrior for peace art. Whatever the case, I have shared a number of her artistic images over the years in this blog and on my Facebook page, so you are probably familiar with her. Today she posted something which seems to say exactly what I wish for everyone. And so I send it to you, with thanks to you, Judy! www.judyclementwall.com

"A note to anyone who needs it: It's okay to feel whatever you feel right now. Whether you're feeling angry or conciliatory, hopeful or anxious, happy or sad, you're entitled. This has been a crazy election during a deadly pandemic, in the midst of a bat-shit crazy year. Don't let anyone tell you how you're supposed to feel about any of it. You've earned whatever's happening inside you. Love and hugs, my friends. "

Love is the Liberator

What wondrous freedom we are finding through our recognition of everyone as the expression of divine Love! Recognizing our being as this Creation frees us from hurt feelings and thoughts of retaliation during times when things don't go as we had hoped and expected. I have a dear friend who went through what is traditionally known as a break-up with the woman he was going to marry. He sees this as a natural progression of their relationship, feeling that they had a wonderful time together, that they learned a lot about life, and it's all right if they go their separate ways. I think he feels this way because he knows that Love includes everyone, not just those whose actions we like. This knowledge brings us the freedom to be joyful and allows others the same right! I am very grateful.

“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 and Health Page 225:14-22