What Do You Believe is Possible?

Chili Dog

"If you want to change your dog's behavior, you first have to change your belief of what you think is possible." This statement was made by Cesar Milan, a/k/a The Dog Whisperer. I've quoted this mindful man many times in the past, and his words have brought me guidance and comfort. We, as people, tend to hold on to our learned behaviors, keeping ourselves and our animals stuck in place, even as we recognize the need to move forward in thought. Our expectations are powerful hindrances to, or boosts for, upward movement. My dog teaches me many things, but the most important is how I sabotage myself with my fixed way of seeing the actions around and within me. Calm, assertive behavior brings an instant karma which allows Truth to be mirrored forth in both myself and those I see as others!

“When we fully understand our relation to the Divine, we can have no other Mind but His, — no other Love, wisdom, or Truth, no other sense of Life, and no consciousness of the existence of matter or error.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 205:32-3

Coyote Rising

photo credit: Christine Panas

It seems as though complacency breeds turmoil — at least in my life. I remember Kit Shepherd telling an old Native American tale about the coyote biting you in the butt just when you think you understand life. That’s what I’m reminded of when I’m excessively peaceful, and then the coyote rears its smirking head. Ha! Without going into detail, things have become complicated in my immediate vicinity — to the point where the two dogs and two cats living with me feel like needy children clinging to my arms and legs. This is how it felt today from my tumultuous viewpoint. A few minutes ago, I was stressing over the fact that I haven’t chosen music for an hour-long noon-time recital tomorrow at a lovely place called Heart of Many Ways. That caused me to sit down and think about how mindlessly I was reacting to everything which happened today. And, so, I am writing to you to clear my head and center my heart; to listen for divine Mind rather than running around in circles with my monkey mind. After I post this writing, I’m going to go into my music files and quietly say a poem/prayer, then I’ll allow selections to fall into my hands. Life is, indeed, good…

​"​The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and​ ​the grand necessity of existence is to gain the​ ​true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of​ ​heaven in man. This goal is never reached while we​ ​hate our neighbor or entertain a false estimate of anyone whom God has appointed to voice His Word. Again,​ ​without a correct sense of its highest visible idea, we can​ ​never understand the divine Principle. The botanist must​ ​know the genus and species of a plant in order to classify​ ​it correctly. As it is with things, so is it with persons.​"​​ ​Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 561:11-21

Defining Self

Maureen, Kriste-lee, Marsha

We often define ourselves by our jobs, our talents, our looks, our cars, our children — well, the list goes on, doesn’t it? When I closed my beloved art gallery, many people warned me that it would be a huge adjustment, not going there every day and having it as the center of my existence. But it wasn’t! I think that’s because it never defined me. I never thought of myself as being what I was doing. It’s easy to think of ourselves as being a mother, or a mechanic, or any number of things which we do on a daily basis. And there is nothing wrong with that; nothing at all! But I’m very grateful that all the hats I’ve worn in this life are just that: accouterments to Life!

"God is divine Life, and Life is no more confined to the forms which reflect it than substance is in its shadow.” Mary Baker Eddy- Science & Health Page 331:1-3

The Perfect Concept

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Many of us have a hard time seeing ourselves as Love. We may feel there are events in our lives so unlovely that we couldn't possibly be the reflection of divine perfection. Many great sages have taught us how to save ourselves from the horror of past events. Thich Nhat Hanh and Mahatma Gandhi teach us ways to rise above our feelings of guilt. No matter how this advice is worded, it comes down to one basic concept: extend Love to others, to everything and everyone. This is our atonement, to see the Oneness of all that Is and realize that nothing can ever occur which will separate us from divine Love. By giving it to the world, we give it to ourselves and feel major changes within. We can forgive ourselves even as we are forgiven, because we were never condemned.

"Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must 'have her perfect work.'" Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454:1

A Timbered Choir

painting by Carol Dickie

 A Timbered Choir by Wendell Berry

"I go among trees and sit still.

All my stirring becomes quiet around me

like circles on water.

My tasks lie in their places where I left them

asleep like cattle.

Then what is afraid of me comes

and lives a while in my sight.

What it fears in me leaves me

and the fear of me leaves it.

It sings and I hear its song.

Then what I am afraid of comes.

I live for a while in its sight.

What I fear in it leaves it

and the fear of it leaves me.

It sings and I hear its song."

Seeds of Joy

Aaron, his groomsmen, and best ma'am

I read about an interesting experiment. Two people were placed face to face. One was instructed to smile as happily as possible, and the other was asked to retain a neutral look. In most of the cases, the person who was supposed to stay neutral couldn't keep from smiling, too. Happiness, joy, and peace are all spiritual attributes which shine forth through us as the experience of divine Love. They are infectious, don't you think? Let's broadcast this seed far and wide today and watch it!

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 264:24-27

A Freeing Concept

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Someone once told me hopes hold us captive, and that if we don't accept the "reality" of what we see around us, we are lost in dreams of what could be, giving up any chance of changing what is. I’m coming to see that the opposite is true. The material picture of good and evil warring with each other is what we have decided is truth, hence we hope and strive for good to win. With the burgeoning knowledge of divine Mind being the reality and mortal mind as the illusion, we are freed to do more than hope. The divinely-endowed, spiritually-scientific consciousness within us is opened, and like a fountain the ideas we need flow forth. This consciousness is realized when we see that God is our Mind, not just in our mind. Our reality is the divine Mind which we reflect. What a freeing concept!

“When we realize that there is one Mind, the divine law of loving our neighbor as ourselves is unfolded; whereas a belief in many ruling minds hinders man’s normal drift towards the one Mind, one God, and leads human thought into opposite channels where selfishness reigns.” Mary Baker Eddy- Science & Health Page 227:22-25