Growth in Grace

I have a friend who has always been upbeat and positive, looking for ways to improve the world and those around him. He wrote to me the other day and said he guessed the Age of Aquarius was over and we hadn't fulfilled our destiny. He tells me he has given up on Love ever ruling human beings. He has given me cause to think about this deeply, questioning if I would or even could give up on everything. I know we are all born as pure as the energy which created us, and it is only a misunderstanding which would turn us away from that truth. Our daily life seems to dull our senses rather than opening us up to our abilities and strengths. Why do we not want to live in the highest good for all mankind? I think it's because we've decided that there's "my" truth and "your" truth, rather than Truth. With so much of humanity suffering at this time, it seems difficult to wish a happy thanksgiving day to anyone. But I'm going to do so anyway. Gratitude heals, Love heals, kindness is a choice I want to make, and you my friends are precious to me. And I am grateful...

"What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 4:3

Searching to Fill Emptiness

The following post is a repeat of one which was written after watching the documentary cited. It seems appropriate for many reasons...

photo credit: Aaron Springston

"Searching For the Wrong-Eyed Jesus" is a documentary on life in the South here in the United States. This film takes us to small towns where people turn to drugs and/or religion when they've given up all hope of finding happiness. I watched in fascination, realizing for the first time what people find in so-called "holy-roller" churches. In their feverish love of God, they find the pleasure they crave. Others turn to mood-elevating drugs for the same reason. One person in the movie says that everyone is "lonely for God" in these desolate towns. Another line which struck me was this: "He was just a regular ol' Southern lunatic. In his quest for union, he ended up being more separate than ever." There is such truth to be found in their longing! I longed with them as they jumped up and down, speaking in tongues and dancing in odd jerky movements. There wasn't much difference in the drunken barroom scenes on Saturday night and the gyrations of the Sunday morning gatherings. They're all looking for the same thing: They want to fill the emptiness inside. They want excitement, fun, a way to pass time without feeling alone. I can't keep from thinking of how they would be set free with the knowledge of their true Being. The only way this can happen is if I realize it -- really know it! --not just intellectually, but with my heart.

“The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother's need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another's good." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 518:15-19

Moderation

painting by Carol Dickie

A dear friend tells me of an odd thing which is happening. A woman came into her downtown shop and they hit it off right away, enjoying a conversation and looking forward to the next time they talked. They exchanged phone numbers. Now this woman is calling my friend and texting her numerous times a day — sometimes more than 30 texts! As she told me about it, she said she didn’t want to be rude to the woman, but couldn’t possibly talk that much to anyone. She also mentioned that she had decided it might be her purpose to listen to this woman. While pondering her story, I remembered an event concerning excess communications. Years ago, I was driving a van full of young teenagers to south central Arkansas, about six hours away from home. One of the boys was talking incessantly. After a few hours, I pulled over and turned to him and said, “Everything that goes through your head does NOT need to come out of your mouth!”. Years later, he told me this was one of the best things anyone had ever said to him. Of course, we don’t want to be rude to people, but we also don’t need to enable bad habits. As with most everything in this life, moderation is the key. I continue to listen for inner guidance on handling these situations. Feel free to let me know your thoughts! Namaste...

“If a friend informs us of a fault, do we listen patiently to the rebuke and credit what is said? Do we not rather give thanks that we are ‘not as other men’? During many years the author has been most grateful for merited rebuke. The wrong lies in unmerited censure, — in the falsehood which does no one any good.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 8:30

Falling Walls

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Great Wall of China - PC: Aaron Springston

During my lifetime, I've seen oppression of various types evaporating. I admit that there are more walls waiting to fall  — but just look how far we've come! Despite these strides, a man told me that he was afraid to come to Eureka Springs. Of course, I asked him why. He said if we were having one of our "diversity" weekends he didn't want to be here. He assured me he had nothing against gay people, but he didn't want it “rubbed in his face”. This is a learned behavior of prejudice on his part and has nothing to do with the way he felt when he came out of the womb into this life. As we release what we have come to believe, all those things which we’ve been taught to think, we open the way for divine Love to guide us. Love truly is the liberator!

“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

Waking Up...

photo credit: Aaron Springston

We are waking up from our dream of separation! In this awakening, we are experiencing another level of living and are becoming more consciously intuitive in our daily activities. Whereas we used to think of "hunches" as meaningless feelings, we are now realizing they're whispers from divine Mind. Living life as the reflection of Love opens our thought to Oneness, and we see a world without judgment. People are dropping lifelong habits, and they're glad to see them go! And so it Is…

“The universe reflects and expresses the divine substance or Mind...” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 300:29-30

Peace Spreads as Quickly as Anger

photo credit: Gerry Toler

In these volatile times, perhaps you've witnessed anger spreading quickly in various situations. I’m convinced that peace spreads just as quickly! I once had a demonstration of peace quelling anger -- visibly, quickly, thoroughly. I was leaving work in the early evening, and as I started down a stairway across from Basin Park a man began to sing the beautiful Louis Armstrong hit, "What a Wonderful World". I stood listening to him and was filled with happiness and buoyant peace which was so encompassing that I barely noticed voices shouting to my left. When he finished, I glanced over at three people sitting on the wall and shouting obscenities directly at me. It was as though I couldn't comprehend what they were doing and I just kept smiling and looking directly at them, with this incredible feeling of Love still growing inside me. As I watched the young people and their angry faces, it seemed that they were deflating like balloons. All the anger was seeping out of them with a visible shift in their demeanor. I joyfully waved at them and went down the stairs. I'll never forget that palpable feeling of light displacing darkness. I'll bet they haven't either!

"Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, 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

Singing Together While Apart

First Celebration Choir in 2017

In early 2020, we began a time of quarantine and isolation. Shortly thereafter, we saw people starting to find ways to be together while apart. I loved watching Italians singing from their balconies, and people standing on their porches playing violins and other instruments. The act of singing together has always been a balm for people, and we have many internet avenues available to keep us singing and dancing together, meditating, doing yoga, exercising and, yes, even choral singing! This is the 4th year of the existence and performance of our Celebration Choir here in Eureka Springs. They perform nine joyous, poignant pieces for the holidays, to go along with the Nine Lessons (as they're called in religious circles). This year, obviously we cannot have a live performance, but we can record them and have audio and video available to the public for the holidays -- and so we are. With the dedication of Sharon Parker and Ben Winn, this has been made possible through the use of singers' masks and limited rehearsal times. Watching the singers and seeing their eyes light up as they harmonize with each other is a wonderful thing, and I'm happy to be part of this beauty as I accompany them. I encourage everyone to make singing part of their holiday celebrations, whether on computers, or in parking lots with cars circled around. There is much joy to be had, so let's not forget to express it to one another! 

"Human hope and faith should join in nature's grand harmony, and, if on minor key, make music in the heart. And man, more friendly, should call his race as gently to the springtide of Christ's dear love. St. Paul wrote, 'Rejoice in the Lord always.\' And why not, since man's possibilities are infinite, bliss is eternal, and the consciousness, thereof is here, and now?" Mary Baker Eddy - Miscellaneous Writings 330:7