Comfort and Joy

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Every Christmas season, I put cards from friends on the inside of my front door. This year, I had not taken them down until yesterday, when I replaced them with cards of support from friends following Kevin’s death. I love looking at them as much as I did the holiday cards -- probably more, as opening one now and again brings a smile and a certain connection with the person whose handwriting presents itself. I had started contacting people by snail mail earlier in the year, and I vow to continue into the future! It’s truly a unifying activity, don’t you think? 

"PSALM XXIII [Divine love] is my shepherd; I shall not want. [Love] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [love] leadeth me beside the still waters. [Love] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [love] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for [love] is with me; [love’s] rod and [love’s] staff they comfort me.

[Love] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: [love] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [love] for ever." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 577:4-18

Intuitions

 

art by Judith Griffith

Listening to intuition is a learned behavior. When I’m drawn to something, I tend to yield, knowing there must be a reason. When looking for a movie to watch, an old Nick Nolte film called “Affliction” asked for my attention, so I gave it. The bottom line was an examination of a man who had been severely terrorized by his dad when he was a child. These past four years have caused me to closely look at what is known as the pain body. The pain we experience in our lives, the pain which is not faced and honored and released, stays with us. It may erupt at the slightest provocation and is the cause for many uncomfortable holiday gatherings. After watching this movie and pondering its implications, up popped the old tv series, Friday Night Lights. Another painful phenomenon is addressed here: high school football. I have heard stories of shame, abuse, ignored concussions, heat strokes, and foolish adoration heaped on star players. These videos have helped me understand a few things. There is much to consider here.

"Angels: God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 481:4

A Thought That Came to Pass

photo credit: Aaron Springston

 A few days ago, I mentioned my friend, Pat, had given me a beautifully wrapped gift. I finally opened it! It is “Awakening Osiris - The Egyptian Book of the Dead. It is a beautiful book and I could quote many things here, but these are the words which jumped out at me: “I am a thought that came to pass. Long believed, I live forever. I am words repeated often. I am a happy man. I am a blessed man. I am a perfecting man. I am love and shall endure forever. I am a thankful man, a man of peace, poetry, dream. I am a well-fed man. I am a dancing man beloved of gods. I am an old man who has lived long. I am heading home.” Thank you everyone, for the blessings you have brought to the world. I am grateful.

"Immortal and divine Mind presents the idea of God: first, in light; second, in reflection; third, in spiritual and immortal forms of beauty and goodness. But this Mind creates no element nor symbol of discord and decay. God creates neither erring thought, mortal life, mutable truth, nor variable love.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 503:20-25

Gentle Beam of Living Love

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photo credit: Aaron Springston

The steps of grief are slippery, are they not? Today I got Kevin's ashes back from the crematorium. The emotions I felt were surprising. When the delivery man came to the door, I had a very possessive reaction, grabbing the box and holding it close; almost saying "get your hands off of him". After sitting quietly with these feelings for a bit, I started to wonder how I could be sure it was him. Heck, this could be a cow's bones for all I know! After thinking weird things like this for a while, I settled back into my sensibilities, reminding myself it doesn't really make any difference if it's actually his remains or someone else's. There is nothing there but some inert matter, and where he lives is in Love, which is evidenced everywhere I look. While it's tempting to keep the things he loved, I have given away his telescope to dear friends who will look at the night sky as gleefully as he did. Just as Kevin enjoyed Ken Starbird's tools which Sandy gave him, someone will think of him when they use his weed eater or look at the moon through his favorite lens. He's smiling with me at that thought...

"Thou gentle beam of living Love,

     And deathless Life!

Truth infinite -- so far above

     All mortal strife..."

from the poem Christmas Morn by Mary Baker Eddy

Exponential Thanksgiving

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photo credit: Datura Böes

Today I express gratitude for the circumstances which caused me to retire from the art sales business in 2015. If I had continued with Eureka Thyme, I would not be playing organ/piano for three congregations in town. If I hadn't accompanied choirs, I would not have discovered there was a local duplicate bridge game. If I had continued running my gallery, I would never have had time to meet Kevin. When we reconnected through Facebook, we spent a year-and-a-half getting to know each other by way of telephone conversations and writing. I am reminded of these things because today I heard an interview with Tony Bennett's wife. He has been dealing with Alzheimer's since 2016.  A number of things were mentioned which we should do to keep our brains active: social interactions, music, and mind games were three which caught my attention. I play bridge -- a lot. Our weekly foursome recently added a conference call during our online game, so it's like being together at a table, but we don't have to go anywhere! While bridge isn't everyone's cup of tea, there are many other stimulating things we can do. We can sing and dance, by ourselves or with our housemates. Reading out loud is second only to playing music, so they say. Kevin enjoyed playing his drum along with youtube videos. It seemed like a party to him! But the point of today's writing is gratitude. I think it's exponential! 

"Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 3

I Carry Your Hearts...

Today has seemed difficult to maneuver without tears, perhaps due to lack of sleep. So I'm not writing this evening, but sending you a beautiful poem shared by snail mail, and a photo which sweet Lee sent to me of last night's sky. Thank you all for the thoughts and kindnesses...

photo credit: Lee Harvill

[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]

BY E. E. CUMMINGS

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Sky Of Many Colors

 

photo credit: Arthur Bruno

When I got home from church duties today, it was nearing sundown. The sky was every color imaginable. The grays rolling across the blue and pink and orange, highlighted by blackness here and there, with even a few flashes of distant lightning. Then there were big fluffy golden-glowing clouds, defying description. The wind was blowing enough that the vultures were floating around on the currents, playing their before-sleep games while entertaining all who enjoy watching them, not minding who loves them or despises them. The dogs and cats watched the birds, who happily played chase with each other, or perhaps the game was Simon Says. It’s truly a glorious time to be sitting on the front porch! As John Cougar Mellencamp says: “Life goes on, long after the thrill of livin’ is gone.” This life is a thrill! Which reminds me of something I've told before: Life is like a roller coaster. Some people find it scary and stressful; others think it's exciting and fun. It's all how we look at it, don't you think?

"Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens -- all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light." Mary Baker Eddy, Science & Health Page 240