Passing By The Thoughts Of The World

Kailey on the John Muir Trail

Having fallen asleep on the couch at 7 p.m. and waking up six hours later, this is the first thing I happened to read. I like the way it sounds and feels …

“Doing those deeply unfashionable things—slowing down, letting your spare time expand, getting enough sleep, resting—is a radical act now, but it is essential. This is a crossroads we all know, a moment when you need to shed a skin. If you do, you’ll expose all those painful nerve endings and feel so raw that you’ll need to take care of yourself for a while. If you don’t, then that skin will harden around you.” 

Katherine May - Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, 2020.

“If you are doing the exercises correctly, you should experience some sense of relaxation, and even a feeling that you are approaching, if not actually entering into light. Try to think of light, formless and without limit, as you pass by the thoughts of this world. And do not forget that they cannot hold you to the world unless you give them the power to do so.” A Course in Miracles W-44.10:1-3 

A World Blessed With Peace

 

Let it go. Just breathe. We hear these instructions 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 sometimes difficult to avoid being 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." After all, I can't change anything but my own self, and how wonderful that it’s the most important thing for me to do!

"Peace be to me, the holy Son of God. Peace to my brother, who is one with me. Let all the world be blessed with peace through us."

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #360

"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

Keep On Keeping On

 “Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... 

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” 

Shel Silverstein

"Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454:18

A Song of Gratitude

 

The resilience of life is astounding. I’ve watched a beloved friend go into an angry depression after the death of her 30-year-old son. When the isolation of the pandemic arrived, she became agoraphobic and started drinking every day. This went on until she was nearly dead and ended up in the hospital and rehab for two months. After coming back home and getting stronger, she was ready to return to the humanitarian practices she had always excelled at doing. And then the house/apartment where she lived burned and she was left with no possessions, not even her beloved cats. Now, almost a month later she has moved into a sweet little place in the woods of Eureka proper, happily planning her future. She hopes to help with homeless cats and people lost in alcoholism. Gratitude is what has brought her through these last three years of personal hell. Every little kindness offered by others, every beautiful flower springing from the bare earth, the moon, the stars, friendship — she is grateful. Namaste, dear Friends …

"Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech." Mary Baker Eddy -Science & Health Page 3:25-26

“What is Heaven but a song of gratitude and love and praise by everything created to the Source of its creation?”A Course in Miracles - T-26.IV.3:5

With Love, To Lin Wellford

Lin Wellford and her rock paintings

 

When a dear friend passes on, we feel a void. It’s as though the world is off balance without their physical presence on it. Lin Wellford was a friend to many, an adamant advocate for nature and wildlife, an exquisite artist, a fine human being.  I share with you excerpts from a note she wrote me last year, when my life partner died. By sharing our memories, the world comes into balance again. You are loved sweet Friend …

“I know you are well prepared to traverse the experience of sudden loss. Beliefs are so powerful and comforting and necessary. Having dealt now twice with the unexpected death of a loved one, I've grappled with the little memories and expectations of a future that must be gently laid aside. It's a major housekeeping task, in my mind not unlike the work of labor to bring another soul into life. Only harder in some ways because of all the history, good and not-so-good, the miles traveled, the moments shared. It feels to me like each small thing that pops up must be felt and honored and then cauterized the way a wound needs tending.  It's wearying work because it comes and goes and what may set off a 'grief storm' is hard to anticipate.

Thank you for guiding me towards ACIM, which is now part of my lifelong journey and something I am forever grateful for. I know you will make your way through this experience, that you are well loved and comforted by a huge and varied community.  Just wanted to tell you I am among that network of people who care about you and are sending peace and energy for the days ahead.” Lin 

“When your body and your ego and your dreams are gone, you will know that you will last forever. Perhaps you think this is accomplished through death, but nothing is accomplished through death, because death is nothing. Everything is accomplished through life, and life is of the mind and in the mind. The body neither lives nor dies, because it cannot contain you who are life. A Course in Miracles - The Lessons of Love

“If the belief in death were obliterated, and the understanding obtained that there is no death, this would be a ‘tree of life,’ known by its fruits. Man should renew his energies and endeavors, and see the folly of hypocrisy, while also learning the necessity of working out his own salvation.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 426:12-16

Withhold No Blessing

Photo Credit: Blake Lasater

Do you ever feel guilty about feeling good? I don’t usually, but recently I had a moment of regret for being happy and contented. A number of us had enjoyed an hour of musical meditation and then went out to lunch at a wonderful restaurant. On the way back to my cozy, safe home, probably to take a nap, I suddenly thought about the people of Ukraine and their frightening plight. Quickly I corrected this useless thought, realizing that it makes no difference how bad I feel, it’s not going to help anyone. It may remind me to help my neighbor, to do everything I can to extend Love to the world, but my guilt will not improve any situation. This realization helps me extend Love  and healing to everyone, knowing that my happiness and contentment allows me to do this. I pray that we may love so passionately that it spreads exponentially all over the world!

“He will withhold no blessing from it, nor limit it in any way. He will join to it all the power that God has given Him, to make each little gift of love a source of healing for everyone. Each little gift you offer to your brother lights up the world. Be not concerned with darkness; look away from it and toward your brother. And let the darkness be dispelled by Him Who knows the light, and lays it gently in each quiet smile of faith and confidence with which you bless your brother.” A Course in Miracles - T-22.VI.9:7-11 

This Need Not Be

Unknown photographer

 Dogfish by Mary Oliver (an excerpt)

You don’t want to hear the story

Of my life, and anyway

I don’t want to tell it, I want to listen

To the enormous waterfalls of the sun.

And anyway it’s the same old story – – –

A few people just trying,

One way or another,

To survive.

Mostly, I want to be kind.

And nobody, of course, is kind,

Or mean,

For a simple reason.

And nobody gets out of it, having to

Swim through the fires to stay in

This world.”

“If you cannot hear the Voice for God, it is because you do not choose to listen.” A Course in Miracles T-4.IV.1:1