Is This Where I Belong?

Central Park - photo credit: Aaron Springston

Any number of people have told me they feel they don’t belong here. At some time or another, we probably all have felt this way. What if, rather than us not belonging here, this "here" we speak of isn't what we think it is? What if we don't belong in this crazy world, but the world we see isn't reality? Perhaps our true home is something we've sensed is there, sort of like seeing a movement out of the corner of your eye, but when you look directly at it, it's not there. For years I grasped at straws while ignoring the vast Truth of eternity. We're not strangers in a strange land when we realize the truth of Life. We may think everything we touch and see is real, but it's shifting and changing, as opposed to the omnipresent stability of our true home. So let's be still a moment and ask to know what that home is. We want it so badly, but we've forgotten what it is. Perhaps now we're not afraid to remember!

“So we have goodness and beauty to gladden the heart; but man, left to the hypotheses of material sense unexplained by Science, is as the wandering comet or the desolate star — ‘a weary searcher for a viewless home.’” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 121:12-16

“The part of your mind in which truth abides is in constant communication with God, whether you are aware of it or not. It is the other part of your mind that functions in the world and obeys the world’s laws. It is this part that is constantly distracted, disorganized and highly uncertain.” 

A Course in Miracles W-49.1:2-4

Human Rights

 

Creations of Sandy Starbird

In my lifetime, I have seen many advances in our understanding and the implementation of so-called human rights. We have seen the Voting Rights Act, Title IX sex discrimination legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act. Supreme Court rulings overturned state bans on contraception and interracial marriage. Abortion and same-sex marriage have been legalized. It seems odd that our government would have to guarantee these fundamental human rights, but many things had become illegal since our country’s inception, and women and minorities were always stifled when it came to voting and holding certain stations in life. We made many advances during the 1900s, and we were proud of our open minds and higher thinking. Now it seems many people think these human rights are not necessarily something which should be legislated. I agree they shouldn’t have to be, as as we are all one in Spirit. Well, I won’t go on and on about this. It’s pretty simple if we let our beliefs and ego fade away and allow Love to rule our ways. Namaste…

“Today we will claim the miracles which are your right, since they belong to you. You have been promised full release from the world you made. You have been assured that the Kingdom of God is within you, and can never be lost. We ask no more than what belongs to us in truth. Today, however, we will also make sure that we will not content ourselves with less.” A Course in Miracles  W-77.3:1-5

"The history of our country, like all history, illustrates the might of Mind, and shows human power to be proportionate to its embodiment of right-thinking. A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping post and slave market, but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon's mouth. Love is the liberator." Mary Baker Eddy -- circa 1865

Unfolding Harmony

“Wonderment”

Creation of Sandy Starbird

“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.” 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If a light is suddenly turned on while someone is dreaming a fearful dream, he may initially interpret the light itself as part of his dream and be afraid of it. However, when he awakens, the light is correctly perceived as the release from the dream, which is then no longer accorded reality. This release does not depend on illusions. The knowledge that illuminates not only sets you free, but also shows you clearly that you are free.” 

A Course in Miracles T-2.I.4:6-9

“Right is radical. The teacher must know the truth himself. He must live it and love it, or he cannot impart it to others. We soil our garments with conservatism, and afterwards we must wash them clean. When the spiritual sense of Truth unfolds its harmonies, you take no risks in the policy of error.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 452:18

Is It True, Kind, Necessary?

 

Long ago, during a Course in Miracles meeting, good-friend Ramona said, “You better watch out what you say in front of Marsha. You may end up in the dailies!” I was reminded of this today when a dear friend from forever called and told me she had momentarily thought yesterday’s writing was about her. We both laughed at this idea. Then I began thinking how these daily writings keep me honest. I’m prone to jumping on my high horse and pontificating, so I’m always aware of this irritating trait within myself. Sometimes it’s tempting to use this venue to complain about things and tell people what they should do. But I don’t want to do that. By putting my thoughts into words, knowing they will be read by others, there is a built-in test; one which I hope to employ in day-to-day interactions: “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” I trust my dear friends will help me stay true to my mission!

From don Miguel Ruiz

“Your happiness is up to you, and it depends on how you use the word. If you get angry and use the word to send emotional poison to someone else, it appears that you’re using the word against that person, but you’re really using the word against yourself. That action is going to create a like reaction, and that person is going to go against you. If you insult someone, that person may even harm you in response. If you use the word to create a conflict in which your body may be injured, of course it’s against you.

“Be impeccable with your word really means never use the power of the word against yourself. When you’re impeccable with your word, you never betray yourself. You never use the word to gossip about yourself or to spread emotional poison by gossiping about other people.

“You are the creator of your own life story. If you use the word impeccably, just imagine the story that you are going to create for yourself. You’re going to use the word in the direction of truth and love for yourself. You’re going to use the word to express the truth in every thought, in every action, in every word you use to describe yourself, to describe your own life story. And what will be the result? An extraordinarily beautiful life. In other words, you are going to be happy.” 

Miguel Ruiz

WWJD

 

Art created by John Rankine

Have you ever noticed that folks who defend themselves the most seem to have the most to defend themselves against? I’m friends on social media with an acquaintance from school days who is constantly telling us we must beware of this, that, and the other. It’s quite astounding how many things she’s afraid of, and wants us to shelter against, too. She recently posted a long diatribe. While I would usually block someone who does this consistently, she fascinates me and I look forward to her angst. I know that’s a horrid thing to admit, but it’s true. Everyone was getting so excited about her warning today that I simply posted: “My safety lies in my defenselessness”. After checking her reaction to this statement, I was pleasantly surprised. She “loved” it! So another lesson for me: Do NOT make assumptions. Namaste…

"Who would defend himself unless he thought he were attacked, that the attack were real, and that his own defense could save himself? And herein lies the folly of defense; it gives illusions full reality, and then attempts to handle them..." A Course in Miracles

“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health

Perceptions Dictate Actions

 

Randy Rainbow

We often hear of cruelty beyond comprehension. How could anyone possibly perpetrate such behavior? I would hazard to guess that, if asked, the people responsible would not think they were acting in a cruel manner. They would probably say it was necessary to protect themselves or others from some threat. Somewhere along the way, we have decided that it's all right to kill and perform other heinous acts because it's a logical defense against something or the other! Once again, The Four Agreements come to mind. In this wonderful interpretation of ancient Toltec wisdom, Don Miguel Ruiz explains four simple rules to live by which would ensure peace and happiness for everyone. The second agreement is, "Don't take anything personally". He goes so far as to say that even if someone shoots you in the head, it's not your problem, but theirs! I love this as it puts into perspective what we have misinterpreted. We seem to think retaliation is an acceptable behavior. I have a friend who tells me that Jesus told her she'd forgiven her sister enough, and it was all right to hate her now. Wow. I guess that's what I mean by people thinking they're doing a service to the world by killing or other gross behavior. We can convince ourselves, with our mortal minds, that anything is good. This illustrates the importance of letting go of all material beliefs. We are learning to listen, allowing ourselves to understand that as a reflection of divine Love we are capable of living Truth. We are not only capable of living this pure Life which is God, but it is our natural state, expressing only Love. The Utopia which comes with such a dream is a reality, when we allow it.

“And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 497:24-28

“You respond to what you perceive, and as you perceive so shall you behave. The Golden Rule asks you to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This means that the perception of both must be accurate. The Golden Rule is the rule for appropriate behavior. You cannot behave appropriately unless you perceive correctly. Since you and your neighbor are equal members of one family, as you perceive both so you will do to both. You should look out from the perception of your own holiness to the holiness of others.” A Course in Miracles -  T-1.III.6:1-7

An Invincible Love

 "In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger -- something better, pushing right back."

Albert Camus