I’m taking my cat’s advice today!
"Cats don't beat themselves up about not working hard enough. They don't get up and go, they sit down and stay. For them, lethargy is an art form. From their vantage points on top of fences and window ledges, they see the treadmills of human obligations for what they are -- a meaningless waste of nap time.”
~ Helen Brown, "Cleo: How an Uppity Cat Helped Heal a Family"
When asked about her politics, Mary Baker Eddy stated that she really had none -- other than to "pray for a righteous government, love her neighbor as herself, and God above all else." I often look to her words to guide my thoughts during these surreal times. Another of her statements which brings clarity is this one: “Neither material finesse, standpoint, nor perspective guides the infinite Mind and spiritual vision that should, does, guide His children.” (“Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896,” p. 373). If left to the thoughts created by my ego-driven mind, I am tempted to jump up on my high horse and declare some governmental actions to be insane, at best. Perhaps I'll feel overwhelmed by too much misinformation and fall back on past ways of thinking about situations, not realizing each moment is different from the last. At those times, it helps me to know that infinite Mind (a synonym for what we usually call God) contains all the knowledge there is, and Truth (another synonym) can never be hidden, and Love (also, God) controls everything with Its all-encompassing comfort and guidance. And I am grateful...
Mary Baker Eddy describes Jesus' prayers as “deep and conscientious protests of Truth, – of man’s likeness to God and of man’s unity with Truth and Love.” Science & Health, Page 12:2
“The miracle is a sign that the mind has chosen to be led by me in Christ’s service. The abundance of Christ is the natural result of choosing to follow Him. All shallow roots must be uprooted, because they are not deep enough to sustain you. The illusion that shallow roots can be deepened, and thus made to hold, is one of the distortions on which the reverse of the Golden Rule rests. As these false underpinnings are given up, the equilibrium is temporarily experienced as unstable. However, nothing is less stable than an upside-down orientation. Nor can anything that holds it upside down be conducive to increased stability.”
A Course in Miracles T-1.V.6:1-7
John Grimshaw - Midsummer Night, 1876.
“Come away, O, human child!
To the woods and waters wild,
With a fairy hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.”
W.B. Yeats - Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry, 1888.
Certain things seem to be difficult for human beings to do: admit that we are wrong, and say we are sorry. I know when I was a child I didn’t like to admit I was wrong. I grew into the ability to admit these things. I’m extremely happy when opportunities arise to apologize — probably a bit of ego slipping in there. But even today I find opportunities to check myself. A few weeks ago, the Response and Acclamation books I use in the Catholic services mysteriously disappeared. The cantor and I decided the substitute cantor must have taken it home. When I asked him to bring it back, he said he didn’t have it. Well, last week when I was looking for a particular piece of music on my shelves at home, I discovered it in the midst of all of my wedding music books! We had had a wedding planning session with a couple who will be marrying next month, and when I picked up all the music the missing book had been hiding between a couple of others! I am admitting right here and now that my first inclination was to pretend I had not found it — or taken it! But no, that was not a possibility because two people were thinking the substitute had it and simply did not know. So I fessed up to everyone involved. Now, this doesn’t seem like a big thing, but there is no degree of importance when we choose to lie. May this way of thinking spread the world over, so we can live in peace, harmony, and truth!
"What can correct illusions but the truth? And what are errors but illusions that remain unrecognized for what they are? Where truth has entered errors disappear. They merely vanish, leaving not a trace by which to be remembered. They are gone because, without belief, they have no life. And so they disappear to nothingness, returning whence they came. From dust to dust they come and go, for only truth remains."
A Course in Miracles Lesson 107
“As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God. The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 516:2-8
“Trials are but lessons that you failed to learn presented once again, so where you made a faulty choice before you now can make a better one, and thus escape all pain that what you chose before has brought to you. In every difficulty, all distress, and each perplexity Christ calls to you and gently says, ‘My brother, choose again.’” A Course in Miracles - T-31.VIII.3:1-2
Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Erroneous belief is destroyed by truth. Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 297:12-15
There was an article making the rounds on social media concerning a public school in Tennessee which was purportedly forcing children to participate in Muslim practices. The comments to this article range from mildly ignorant to wildly speculative. Finally, someone named Doug calmly recited all the reasons this is not happening, stating that the article is a satirical joke, and nicely asking if all the responders felt silly for believing it. In other words, The Emperor has no clothes! We witness this same scenario taking place numerous times a day, in some form or fashion, and usually we look the other way — probably because it’s happening on the television news! Let’s not look away: We must speak truth to error of all sorts. With the ease of sending messages through emails and social media platforms, I encourage everyone to refute lies which are “going viral”. May the calm voices of reason prevail!
“Erroneous belief is destroyed by truth. Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health 297:12-15
“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
Art by Jesse Stone “Return of the Bird Tribes” by Ken Carey is a book which was recently brought into my field of vision. A quote: “Awaken h...
