Follow and Rejoice

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Have you ever felt as though you’re walking through quicksand when going about your daily activities? I’ve been feeling that way for a few days and have observed that it doesn’t take long to sink into expectations of difficulties. At first, I decided I had reached the “anger” phase of grief, because it seemed everything irritated me and nothing felt quite right. Knowing that our outer experiences are a direct result of our innermost thoughts, I began an examination of mine. In much the same way as early spring days call us to weed our flower beds, I began to cull through my random thoughts and emotions, identifying and transforming those which caused me to feel bad. I returned time and again to a mantra which Mary Baker Eddy called the daily prayer: “Thy kingdom come. May the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me. And rule out of me all sin [anything which separates from Love], and may Thy word enrich the affections of all mankind and govern them.” Tomorrow may bring a different repetition to help me to keep thought in line with Love, but wherever I’m led, I will follow.

“Shepherd, show me how to go, o’re the hillside steep.

How to gather, how to sow, how to feed thy sheep.

I will listen for thy voice, lest my footsteps stray.

I will follow and rejoice, all the rugged way.”

Poem from Mary Baker Eddy

Words Matter

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I just read an editorial Kevin wrote in 2018 when he worked for the Elgin Courier in Texas. It's titled "We Print Facts, Not Speculation". This piece had to do with not knowing all the facts about a city official and some alleged shenanigans. He writes about times when people's lives have been ruined by speculation when a number of people know 10% of the facts and get together to speculate on the rest. He was always very careful not to gossip about anyone, and he learned those lessons from listening to his dad, who was on the local school board and many other community-centered committees and clubs. I will be posting the editorial in its entirety on Facebook tomorrow, but here's a snippet: "The thing that hurts, though, from a community perspective, is the loss of our presumption of good -- innocence. That loss is what drives what we now call 'fake news.'" One of the things Kevin strived to teach others was that words matter. He certainly has taught me this lesson, and if he had a tombstone that's what I'd put on it: Words Matter! 

"The divine Science of man is woven into one web of consistency without seam or rent. Mere speculation or superstiition appropriates no part of the divine vesture, while inspiration restores every part of the Christly garment of righteousness." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 242:25

Translating Misidentification

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photo credit: Aaron Springston

"Gut feelings" are often discounted as being invalid for any number of reasons. Some say they're nothing more than paranoid thoughts, others may think of them as wishful thinking, a few of us see them as reflections of divine Mind. I'm reminded today that we must reinterpret everything we see. Discord and inharmony can be changed in thought by re-identification and reinterpretation.  As an example, when we see train tracks coming together in the distance, we immediately reinterpret that into the truth of the situation. We know that those tracks aren't coming together and that it will not be dangerous to travel on the train which carries us toward that end. The metaphysical studies we've embarked upon are doing the same thing: teaching us to recognize misidentification and translate it into Truth. Love extending Itself is ​the ​correct interpretation. Translating erroneous thought is our job!

Mary Baker Eddy quotes: “Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.”  Science & Health Page 393:12-15

Centered in Truth

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photo credit: Aaron Springston

Upon awakening, I had about 20 inane and/or insane thoughts before I realized what I was doing! I started off with, What day is this and where am I supposed to be?, which was quickly followed by a chain of remembrances which took me from a lovely cooking store, to my childhood home, then my little mind zoomed over to a friend's house and a remembered conversation, before zipping back to a neglected household chore. This illustrates the importance of stilling rampant thinking and centering ourselves in Truth before beginning our day. We so often feel bombarded by thoughts of fear and hostility, lack and disease, error and disharmony. To hold thought in accord with divine Mind is a lofty goal, and may seem daunting, but we are learning it is a possibility and that even a glimpse of Truth is tantalizing. Join me in taking a stand for higher, deeper thought today and every day!

“Temporal things are the thoughts of mortals and are the unreal, being the opposite of the real or the spiritual and eternal.” ​Mary Baker Eddy - ​Science & Health Page 337:26-28

We Are All Sculptors

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

It’s easy to feel peaceful when things are going according to our plans, but what of times when we have unexpected events such as loss of a job, breaking up of a marriage, illness, or accidents? At such times, it can feel as though our peace has been disrupted, perhaps never to be felt again. In order to extend peace to others, we must accept it for ourselves. How grateful I am for an inkling of knowledge about the Science of Being! The unfolding reality which has replaced the shattering illusions around me have been facilitating a change in perception and an acceptance of peace. It’s sort of like Michelangelo chiseling away everything but the image he was seeing. We are working to release everything unlike Love, leaving behind pure peace! 

“We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought. What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model? Are you reproducing it? Then you are haunted in your work by vicious sculptors and hideous forms...To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 248:12

A Higher and More Permanent Peace

 

​Excitement is in the air! Warmer weather, the appearance of flowers, and the hope of full vaccinations allowing us to co-mingle again — well, it’s almost too much to bear! While colder weather and grey days don’t bother me (I enjoy being cozily swaddled in flannel and books), I’m ready to plant something and be outside. I have missed my book club and a spades game I regularly played with three dear friends, but other than that, I really don’t miss anything about the “old” life. I’m a bridge fanatic, and tournaments are more readily available online than they were in real time. I’m almost a Life Master after this year of seclusion. I never was into “party bridge”, but three friends and I play all Monday afternoon, online, with a conference call allowing us to talk on our phones. It’s better than being physically with each other — because we don’t have to go anywhere! I’ve never enjoyed small talk and chit chatting at parties and such, and it sometimes causes me discomfort to be forced into it. The past year has allowed me to realize many things about myself, as I’m sure you have, too. I look forward to embracing life in ways which bring peace and fulfillment!

“This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for Spirit, by no means suggests man’s absorption into Deity and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace.” ​Mary Baker Eddy - ​Science & Health Page 265:10-15

Why Are You Happy?

Kevin Wright

I heard of a study which has been in the making for 40+ years. It followed certain people throughout their lives and came to conclusions about why they are or are not happy. Turns out happiness isn’t reliant on how much money people have, nor does it matter what religion they espouse — or not. Happiness isn’t dependent or where people live, what job they have, nor if they’re married or single. But it does have a direct correlation to their interpersonal relationships, their friendships, their interactions with others. While there was no direct correlation to marriage nor job, the way we relate to our spouse or co-workers affects our happiness levels. Those who were not married or didn’t have a job were still happier if they interacted with others on a regular basis. So let’s go out and gather joy, spread happiness, and be Love!

"Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 57:18-21