Ridding Your Mind of Negativity

 

There are a large number of groups on Facebook devoted to self-improvement and/or spiritual understanding. I belong to Eckhart Tolle, Ram Dass, and David Hoffmeister’s groups — plus a few more. A recurring topic of conversation is people wondering how to release and rid themselves of negativity. We could go on and on with tips and thoughts about how to do this, but today I heard the simplest, most wonderful one I have heard: stop thinking about it. A thought will hurt you; a thought will heal you. BK Shivani gets right to the point without mincing words. She’s my kind of woman! If you’re interested in making some changes in your way of thinking, I highly recommend you look up her youtube videos. 

https://youtu.be/6LEJWeVmOXw

“There is no point in trying to change the world. It is incapable of change because it is merely an effect. But there is indeed a point in changing your thoughts about the world. Here you are changing the cause. The effect will change automatically.” A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #23

A Happy Feeling ...

art by J. Clement Wall

judyclementwall.com

Poem by Mary Baker Eddy

"Blest Christmas morn, though murky clouds

Pursue thy way,

Thy light was born where storm enshrouds

Nor dawn nor day.

Dear Christ, forever here and near,

No cradle song

No natal hour and mother’s tear

To Thee belong.

Thou God-idea, Life encrowned,

The Bethlehem Babe—

Beloved, replete, by flesh embound—

Was but Thy shade!

Thou gentle beam of living Love,

And deathless Life!

Truth infinite—so far above

All mortal strife,

Or cruel creed, or earth-born taint:

Fill us today

With all Thou art—be Thou our saint,

Our stay, alway."

MBE

Merry Christmas!

 

“Observed by material sense, Christmas commemorates the birth of a human, material, mortal babe — a babe born in a manger amidst the flocks and herds of a Jewish village.

This homely origin of the babe Jesus falls far short of my sense of the eternal Christ, Truth, never born and never dying.” 

Mary Baker Eddy- Miscellaneous Writings 262:6-12

Eternal Christ

 

"Observed by material sense, Christmas commemorates the birth of a human, material, mortal babe — a babe born in a manger amidst the flocks and herds of a Jewish village.

This homely origin of the babe Jesus falls far short of my sense of the eternal Christ, Truth, never born and never dying.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Miscellaneous Writings 262:6-12

Light and Joy and Peace

 

photo credit: Chip Ford

So-called hate groups have increased alarmingly all over the world. A man named Tony McAleer describes himself as being beaten and bullied as a child; bitter and isolated as a teenager. He became involved in one of these groups while seeking a connection with others. To quote him: "When you're starving and somebody keeps feeding you what you think are your favorite foods, even though it's junk food, there's going to be a while where you're not going to get up from the table." He continued to practice violence and anger until after the birth of his daughter. He said that was the first time in his life he had felt connected to another human being, and he started to want to change. He has now organized  a group called "Life After Hate" and is helping others to build relationships with people. He says if we are to counter these groups, we must get to a place where empathy outweighs fear. “Light and joy and peace abide in me" (ACIM) -- and in everyone!

“Light is a symbol of Mind, of Life, Truth, and Love, and not a vitalizing property of matter. Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony.." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 510:27-1

A Wonder-filled Happening

 

Little Dog Found

A wonderful thing happened today! A dear friend’s dog had disappeared from her country yard. It’s a densely wooded area, away from any main road, and the dog is elderly, so they didn’t think she would wander far. When she didn’t come home in a timely fashion, after they had searched the area, they started calling vets and shelters and posting to social media. No Murtie. Today when she was checking with their vet to see if they had heard anything, the receptionist said, Wait just a minute! Someone was bringing their sweet old dog into the office! Some out-of-towners had been walking on wooded trails close to the Passion Play when they found her. They took her to someone in charge and they were bringing her to the vet’s office exactly when Christine was calling them. Synchronicity, indeed! Perhaps a Christmas miracle? Whatever the case, my friend loves her dogs so much, and her family — one of which requires full-time care from her — well, the holidays wouldn’t feel very happy if she had not known the whereabouts of her beloved dog. Gratitude is flowing from so many of us today! Namaste…

“Here let a word be noticed which will be better understood hereafter,--chemicalization. By chemicalization I mean the process which mortal mind and body undergo in the change of belief from a material to a spiritual basis.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 168:30-2

What Brings You Joy?

 

joyous Eureka women

photo credit: Richard Quick

I’ve always had a difficult time keeping things tidy. Reading the book, The Life-Changing Manga (Magic) of Tidying Up, written by Marie Kondo, has helped me understand why. She suggests putting all your clothing in the middle of the room, then going through them, keeping only the things which bring you joy. Well, that concept is life-changing for sure! Keep what brings you joy — wow! I’m now listening to her follow-up book, Spark Joy, where she tells how some people throw away their vacuum cleaners because they don’t bring joy, only to find out they miss them terribly. So she asks us to express appreciation for those items — for instance, thank the iron for helping your clothing to be all that they can be. Another interesting aspect is that some people don’t know what sparks joy, and she must teach them what it means. This opened my eyes to a whole aspect of my fellow beings which I had not considered. How could anyone not know the feeling of joy? Is joy a learned behavior? Are we afraid to feel joy? When she teaches them what joy is, does she simple give them permission to feel what was already there? I’m loving this book!

"Unity of spirit gives new pinions to joy, or else joy's drooping wings trail in dust." Mary Baker Eddy, Science & Health Page 58