Truth Makes a New Creature

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

In my heart, I know we are close to a tipping point in mass consciousness, a point in which everyone sees there is no difference between them and that person over there. In this sight, there is a world bathed in peace and contentment. There are no conflicts because everything is done for the good of everyone, and nothing contrary exists because we cannot have such thoughts in the face of beauty and Love. Once again, I must mention expanded identity. We have a terribly limited view of who we are, don’t you think? When we identify with our closest family, our community, our nationality, the color of our skin, our gender — perhaps this sets us up for conflict. A larger identity, a broad and firm foundation of who I am, these are the things I long to understand. Every day I listen for clues which will guide me to that utopia. Catching a glimpse of it causes us to want more!

"We cannot build safely on false foundations. Truth makes a new creature, in whom old things pass away and ‘all things are become new’."  Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 201: 7-9

Breaking the Hold of Distress

 

Let it go. Just breathe. We are advised to do these things when learning how to break the hold of distress and open ourselves to peace. It took me years to realize that someone or something wasn't "making" me upset; it was my perception and interpretation and reaction to things which caused these feelings. Even with this realization, it's easy to get caught up in the craziness of the world. When I find myself becoming agitated about anything, I will remind myself to "let all the world be blessed with peace through us." [ACIM Lesson #360] After all, I can't change anything but my own self, and how wonderful that it’s the most important thing to do!

"Let us learn of the real and eternal, and prepare for the reign of Spirit, the kingdom of heaven,—the reign and rule of universal harmony, which cannot be lost nor remain forever unseen." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 208:20-24

Expanding Our Identity

 

unknown photographer

Do you wonder why human beings are having such a hard time getting along? I heard a talk about these things and what I gleaned from it is this: We are the slaves of our intellect. All of our lives we are taught to learn more, to set goals. to apply that learning, and get out there and change the world. In this parenthesis in eternity, we on earth are trying to fix things with our intellect, when we need to explore other dimensions of intelligence. We have all set up a limited identity for ourselves based on family, nationality, and other tribal limits. Our database is too small for us to expand into realizations we are fearful to explore. If the air was embraced as our identity rather than our community, it wouldn’t be so difficult to accept the Oneness of all that is. A limited identity combined with intelligence can be a dangerous thing indeed. I think we’re seeing this problem in action in our world today. In the next few days, I’ll be pondering what we can do, individually and collectively, to turn this trend around. Please feel free to share your thoughts. Namaste…

"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

Be A Garden

 

photo credit: Blake Lasater

Why are some people able to move through trauma in their lives while others remain stuck in the horror of it all? Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is acknowledged and treated in our society, but what causes it? I heard an analogy today which ​helped me understand​. Every day we hear and see things we can’t forget. We can be like a garden and turn it into fertilizer which will help us grow and flourish, or we can wear the filth and suffer the consequences. I don’t say this to minimize anyone’s pain. On the contrary, I think we should acknowledge our feelings and go forward. The worst case I personally know is a man who was in the Tet Offensive in Vietnam half a century ago. He killed people until he couldn’t feel his arms, then took a break and did it some more. When I knew him well, this horror was fresh in his mind and memory. To a lesser degree, I’ve known other veterans who were consumed by the terrible things they had done. They wore the dirt, not proudly, but obviously, as they slowly committed suicide with alcohol and drugs. We can all help our friends come through trauma of various sorts, helping them to be free and wise rather than trapped in sadness by the pain. Memories don’t disappear because we want them to go away, but we can change them into stepping stones to bring us to higher ground. Let’s turn our own painful memories into a rich organic fertilizer and watch what happens!

“Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 60: 24-28

True Likeness of Love

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Living a heart-centered existence has been my purpose for quite some time. When we live with a focus on Love, some people may think we are foolish, but the cynical outlook of my youth is what feels foolish to me today. Turning away from discord can be difficult, but I’ve begun to see how reality is created through our thoughts. I remember once when I was in a monthly meeting of gallery owners in our town and the talk turned to theft in their shops. I turned my attention away from the discussion and was looking into a corner, thinking about something else, when suddenly I noticed everyone had stopped talking. I looked up and saw they were all looking at me! Someone asked me what I thought about this situation and I honestly told them that thievery was not a part of my existence and I didn't want to make it a reality by giving it energy. One of the women said, Good for you! And the discussion continued in a different vein. Knowing the energy-creating power of emotions, I will not hesitate to wander away from discussions centered on fearful beliefs or angry reactions. But, rather, they must be countered with the Love which is our natural state of being!

“The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 515:4-8

Sheer Poetry

"Buffalo Blues" painting by Carol Dickie

 

Beside The Buffalo - by Rosalie Toler

"Alone on a rock with a

   book

I do the friendly thing

I read poetry to the

   river,

and the water molds it

   to a new rhythm.

Williams — Whitman —

   Dickinson,

I hurl their polished   

   syllables

away on the current.

Do people downstream

   hear them coming?

I wonder.

Maybe some fisherman,

casting his own lines,

   will feel the rush,

sense the lure of purling

   words leaping,

matching riff with riffle.

Or maybe some rugged

   kayaker,

etching his watery v’s,

will shoot rapids

   through them,

unaware that part of

   the thrill

is sheer poetry."

Rosalie Toler

Little George, Traveling Evangelist

 ​​

Lucy Havens, with statue of Little George

Many things remind me of my half-brother, Little George Havens, travel​ing evangelist. He was quite short and very flamboyant. I can still hear him singing, to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic, "The circuit ridin' preacher traveled through the mire and mud; preached about the fiery furnace and of Noah and the flood". What a character he was! He spent his life spreading the word of God as he knew it. And he helped countless people find hope along the way. But did he ever listen for the still, small voice, or did he just recite what he had come to believe as truth? That, I can't say. We can only know our own heart, and so today I will examine ​the motives in ​my ​interactions​ with people​. Lying to myself is as bad as lying to others. I shall listen​​…

“Millions of unprejudiced minds--simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert--are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 570:14-17