Wrong-Mindedness or ...

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Every moment of our lives have been spent getting us to the point at which we are now. I know some folks who want to hold on to their past, and others who wish they could change their past, then there are those who have grown through experiences and continue this expansion of thought. I am wondering why some people seem to feed on turmoil and drama, creating it to keep themselves upset -- or perhaps amused. Hum, it would never occur to me to be entertained by anger and other base elements of human behavior, but it seems some want to be in the middle of heated battle or else they are -- they are what? Bored, I think. Maybe it's something else. I know a young woman who is trying to create difficulty for herself and another family member. Perhaps what I'm witnessing is an exhibition of low self esteem, which she hopes to boost through righteous indignation and belittling of others. Or maybe I'm misinterpreting the whole situation. So in the desire to not create a competing drama, I'll just watch and see what transpires, knowing only good can come of this. Namasté ...

"Wrong-mindedness listens to the ego and makes illusions; perceiving sin and justifying anger, and seeing guilt, disease and death as real. Both this world and the real world are illusions because right-mindedness merely overlooks, or forgives, what never happened. Therefore it is not the One-mindedness of the Christ Mind, Whose Will is one with God's." A Course in Miracles - Clarification of Terms 

Sharing Good News

 

photo of the day from The Christian Science Monitor

​Today my entire news intake was from the Christian Science Monitor -- and I feel great! The first in-depth article I read was about the workings of a 50/50 Senate. Next came a story about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the country's wishes that they become peacekeepers, rather than a policing agency. Then I read about something I had not considered: what happens when a high school social studies teacher is part of the crowd which stormed the Capitol on January 6? And what if it was a teacher who marched for #BlackLivesMatter? Who gets to decide which teacher should be fired and which stays? It should be an easy matter of determining who was exercising their right of freedom of speech and who was doing so in a detrimental manner to humanity. But it's not always simple, so we need a fair witness to decide these things -- an honest judge, a non-racist school board -- people who will look at law and facts objectively and provide a fair ruling. Up next was an article about South African women who make saving money a 'social pact'. They realized it's more expensive to be poor, so they create groups which do everything from buying food in bulk to purchasing housing. As one woman said: "Alone, you have all these barriers, but when you pool your money, they begin to fall down." Strength, unity, trust -- yippee! I just realized if I described every informative, fun topic I read today, this would be far too long. So I'll stop. Cheers to finding facts without fear!

"In the sacred sanctuary of Truth are voices of solemn import, but we heed them not. It is only when the so-called pleasures and pains of sense pass away in our lives, that we find unquestionable signs of the burial of error and the resurrection to spiritual life." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 232

Let It Be

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

I once heard it said that a person will be more disappointed about things they did NOT do than things they did do. My hope for humankind is that we stop beating ourselves up about past things, whether we did them or not. Replacing disappointments with forgiveness, we can experience peace. Whatever we have done, it’s okay. As I’ve quoted previously, It’s what we do in the present which redeems the past and changes the future. The present, right now: It’s what we’re doing right here and now which brings redemption and peace. I’ve looked at my life with an eye to regrets. Of course, there are many times of wondering what might have been, had different turns in the road been taken -- but overall I have no disappointments about choices. I like my life: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (Smiley-face emoticon)

“If Life has any starting point whatsoever, then the great I Am is a myth. If Life is God, as the scriptures imply, then Life is not embryonic, it is infinite. An egg is an impossible enclosure for Deity.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 550:20

Love Out Loud

 

Kevin and granddaughter

Kevin has a son, two stepsons, a stepdaughter -- and a daughter whom he has never met in person. I had spoken with his stepdaughter in California/Oregon before his passing, and we became friends. They thought of each other as father/daughter. In the past two weeks, all these children have been in contact with me. What a diverse group of young people they are! I have enjoyed talking to his first serious high school girlfriend, who was a foreign exchange student from Mexico. His first wife, the mother of his son, has been kind and I’ve enjoyed our chats. There is a common thread running through all these communications: we all loved Kevin very much. There will be a Zoom memorial with old and new friends, family, anyone who wants to honor the fine man he is. If anyone would like to join, let me know and I’ll give you a link. I look forward to hearing more stories and connecting the dots between places he lived and jobs he had. Life is such an adventure! Don’t forget to express your heartfelt feelings to your loved ones, especially if you haven’t done that in a few years. Don’t be afraid to love out loud!

“Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it. The wintry blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affection, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance of fleshly ties serves to unite thought more closely to God, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases to sign over the world and begins to unfold its wings for heaven.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 57:22

Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Was In

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Today a friend mentioned she was watching a movie and thinking, “those people should have their masks on!” — before remembering it was a movie from years ago. Thinking about this, I realize how quickly we become conditioned to any kind of behavior, such as mask wearing. Perhaps because of my thought in this vein, I choose a movie to watch during the Super Bowl called “Bombshell”, which is the true story of three beautiful women who were newscasters on Fox News and sued Roger Ailes for sexual harassment, starting the #MeToo movement. Roger Ailes was the head of this production, which (among other things) instructed their employees to look for stories which would “scare your grandmother and piss-off your grandfather”. And we fell for it. We allowed ourselves to be conditioned into thinking it’s normal to demonize those who do not agree with us. We are all guilty of this to some extent, don’t you think? Acknowledging problems is the first step in finding solutions to them, and we’re on our way to doing this. Let’s work to keep an open mind and heart, listening rather than reacting, and seeing truth rather than belief.

"In order to apprehend more, we must put into practice what we already know. We must recollect that Truth is demonstrable when understood, and that good is not understood until demonstrated." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 323

Friendship

 Kahlil Gibran on Friendship

​"​Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."

And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;

For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;

For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.​"

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