Remembering My Purpose

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

"If I forget my goal, I can be but confused ..." This is a phrase from A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #257, which is titled, “Let me remember what my purpose is.” Looking back over my last half-century, I see many times of major confusion, and lots of minor confusions. I now feel these times are nothing more than intervals when I've forgotten to listen for omnipresent guidance. My purpose is unfolding every moment, and all I need to do is show up and be willing -- willing to be open-hearted, open-minded -- just open! -- with no expectations and no plans of how things should be. It's tempting to think of this as undisciplined, and others may be critical of this attitude, but I can attest to the fact that wandering around in college for five years perfectly prepared me for freelance court reporting. And thirty years of taking down and transcribing depositions was an incredible education which paved the way for running an art gallery for ten years. All those things brought me to where I am today, and none of it could have been planned. Today, I think of this as listening and following. Back then, I didn't think of it at all…

“Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 506:18-21

What To Remember...

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

This is the 20th anniversary of a horrific event which happened in New York City. We refer to it as 9/11 and everyone knows what it means. A phrase became popular at the time and still persists today: never forget. The spirit in which this was stated didn’t feel right to me at the time, and I wasn’t sure why. Now, it seems like the remembering is based in retaliation and fear, and the seeds sown have not yielded a pleasant bounty. Today’s mass at the parish center of our local Catholic Church is the same one ​people will hear on Sunday morning at St. Elizabeth’s in downtown Eureka Springs. I wish everyone could hear it. Father Joseph simply asked that we sing “Let There Be Peace on Earth” (and let it begin with me). After the congregation finished, he made a short statement about what we needed to remember: to help those in need, to love one another, to give to the poor, to be kind. It was beautiful. This is what feels right in my heart: to remember to love. To never forget what is important and what facilitates change: love. To reach out to those in need of kindness and understanding. To comfort those who are sorrowing. Love. Never forget to love…

“From Love and from the light and harmony which are the abode of Spirit, only reflections of good can come.​" ​Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 280:4-7

I Have No Words

 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “This material world is even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side there will be discord and dismay; on the other side there will be Science and peace. The breaking up of material beliefs may seem to be famine and pestilence, want and woe, sin, sickness, and death, which assume new phases until their nothingness appears. These disturbances will continue until the end of error, when all discord will be swallowed up in spiritual Truth.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 92:12-20

Happy in the Moment

 

Cedar Waxwings photo by Richard Quick

As I was glancing through the magazine, Real Simple, an article title grabbed my attention. It said: “It’s Better to be Happy for a Little While Than Unhappy Forever” — wow! The short narrative told of a couple who found a stray kitten, loved it dearly, never took trips because they would miss their cat, then when the sweet kitty, Gem, passed on, they decided to travel. They enjoyed it very much, but were happy to come back to their home. But something was missing. They needed a cat. A friend saw one that needed a home and reminded her of Gem, but the couple was reluctant because the cat was older and seemed to have some health problems. They decided against getting it. When the woman was lamenting their decision at her hairdresser, the stylist’s response was “It’s better to be happy for a little while than unhappy forever.” A lightbulb went on over the woman’s head​.​ ​They ​adopted the cat, its health problems cleared up with tender, loving care, and they have ​loved it for five years, to the betterment of all involved! The idea of being happy right now without worrying about the possible perils of tomorrow makes me smile. I hope it does you, too!

“Each successive stage of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 66:14

Listening and Following

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Has fear kept you tied to things or ideas which perhaps have served their purpose in your life? I know many of my actions have been dictated by fear. Perhaps fear of being alone binds us to relationships which need to be released. This might be thought of as a "failure" -- which brings up another fear, huh? What if we don't think of the ending of a marriage or friendship as a failure, but as a ​natural ​progression of this life? The same may be said of a career or hobby. These things can be steps on a journey to somewhere you never dreamed you would go​!​ If you've planned your life in every detail, it may seem like giving up ​when mov​ing​ on to something else. That's why I love this way of thought! There are no rules, other than listening​​​ as divine Mind​​ lead​s​ us wherever we need to be. This guidance doesn't always mean leaving something -- it could be staying with a job or relationship, regardless of what logic dictates. Listening and following is always an adventure!!

"Until the majesty of Truth should be demonstrated in divine Science, the spiritual idea was arraigned before the tribunal of so-called mortal mind, which was unloosed in order that the false claim of mind in matter might uncover its own crime of defying immortal Mind." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 564:19-23

Nothing But The Truth

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

The topic of A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #251 is:​ ​“I am in need of nothing but the truth." Ask a group of people t​o define truth​, and you​'ll​ probably receive as many answers as there are people asked​. You’ll hear talk of “my truth” and “your truth”, but hardly ever does Truth with a capital “T” come into the conversation. I’m beginning to understand that Truth is always unfolding as individual consciousness, intuition, and inspiration. This Truth doesn’t stand still in one spot and ask to be defined. It’s not opinion or belief, but rather the ideas heard within ourselves ​from​ omnipotent Mind, which is the source of all. ​Forsaking mortal mind’s ego definitions of the truth of our being opens the door to infinite possibilities! We are all ​longing for truth​,​ more​so​ with every passing day…

“A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 453:12-13

Intentions and Results

 

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Years ago, I had to call tech support over an iPad issue. It was fairly complicated and when we were ready to install the firmware the lady from India said to me, “Let’s set our intention for a good result!” I have remembered that statement all these years and use it often. Recently when I said that to someone, it was clear they didn’t think it would make any difference. They actually assured me that things always turn out badly for them. I’ve been pondering this the last couple of days. My certainty that a good result will happen no matter what I’m doing doesn’t mean things will always go smoothly; nor does it mean I’ll always like the outcome of a situation. This “good result” of which I speak makes itself known in unexpected ways when I release my preconceived notions of how things should be done. The many instances of unexpected solutions appearing in my thoughts, or showing up in others’ actions, are countless in my memory. I used to believe in “Murphy’s Law” and think that if anything could go “wrong”, it would. Now that I expect a “good result”, without delineating what that will be, I’m certain every thought is important!

“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionally to their occupancy of your thoughts.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 261:4