Ready For Truth

Photo credit: CatherineReed

Are we finally ready for the truth? I've heard it said that we, as a human race, can’t stand to hear the truth if it contradicts long-held beliefs. This is said about everything from extraterrestrial life to religious doctrine, but I think we are ready to hear it! People say that if the truth were known about everything, society would break down. It seems to me this might be a good thing, because our current belief systems don't appear to be functioning too well! Perhaps everyone's dissatisfaction stems from feeling we’re being lied to on many levels. A few centuries ago, a total eclipse of the full moon would cause many fear-based reactions when the orb turned red, disappeared, then reappeared. As the truth has set us free from that irrational fear, so it may in other ways, allowing us to joyfully look up and say “Wow, that’s beautiful!” I think we're ready, don't you?!

“Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page vii:13-15 

“Today we practice making free your mind of all the laws you think you must obey; of all the limits under which you live, and all the changes that you think are part of human destiny. Today we take the largest single step this course requests in your advance towards its established goal.” A Course in Miracles W-127.6:4-5

Calm and Exalted Thought

A friend asked me to listen to and give an opinion on a recording having to do with alien beings controlling our actions on the planet Earth. Although much of what was said could be considered rhetoric of the conspiracy-theory crowd, the main theme was the same principle as I’ve been studying for years; the same ideas which we are hearing from various avenues. The main point had to do with turning away from illusions and seeing reality. While the woman on this recording was telling us that lizard people were controlling our actions, she also advised to not be frightened or give it too much importance, but to focus on Love and see through any supposed power these creatures may have. What a wonderful metaphor! It certainly is no more outlandish than the Adam and Eve story, or any other legend meant to show us the difference between illusions and truth. And so, as I go through this day hearing all the insanity, I know it can only disturb my tranquility if I give it more power in thought than I give the stillness of peace. Namaste …

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 506:11-14

“Perhaps we are now ready for a day of undisturbed tranquility. If this is not yet feasible, we are content and even more than satisfied to learn how such a day can be achieved. If we give way to a disturbance, let us learn how to dismiss it and return to peace. We need but tell our minds, with certainty, ‘The stillness of the peace of God is mine,’ and nothing can intrude upon the peace that God Himself has given to His Son.” A Course in Miracles W-273.1:1-4

Taking Off Human Shackles

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

I received a call from a political pollster which has left me confused about more than a few things. Mainly, I’m wondering when three words in particular began to imply varying degrees of lunacy. Here are the words, with a short definition: Liberal - open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values. Conservative - holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation. Moderate - average in amount, intensity, quality, or degree. These words and their definitions do not convey the extreme meaning which the news media apparently wants us to feel. When I was asked by the pollster which of these three I considered myself to be, I was speechless. But then I threw caution to the wind and answered boldly, remembering what I write about every day: change of thought, seeing a new world where illusions appear to be, living fearlessly as Love!

“Progress takes off human shackles. The finite must yield to the infinite. Advancing to a higher plane of action, thought rises from the material sense to the spiritual, from the scholastic to the inspirational, and from the mortal to the immortal.” 

Mary BakerEddy - Science & Health Page 256:1-5

“So would I liberate all things I see, and give to them the freedom that I seek. For thus do I obey the law of love, and give what I would find and make my own. It will be given me, because I have chosen it as the gift I want to give. Father, Your gifts are mine. Each one that I accept gives me a miracle to give. And giving as I would receive, I learn Your healing miracles belong to me.” A Course in Miracles W-349.1:1-6

Old Friends, New friends …

60 years of friendship

Having spent the last two days at a class reunion with childhood friends, I am more grateful than ever before for friendship. Old friends, new friends, and everything in between are about the best thing which can happen to us on this sweet earth. Every friendship is individual, but they all have a commonality: love. The compassionate caring which wells up when we hear of a friends’ hardship, or accomplishments, feels like a primal instinct to me. When I heard stories of friends’ lives, my heart swelled with a deeper understanding of these people I’ve known for six-plus decades. The laughter we shared over memories — sometimes it would simply take one word to send us into belly laughs in remembrance of events — well, it has filled me with joy during these two days. One of the saddest plights of humanity is the loneliness of isolation. Next time you’re going to a meeting — such as a Democratic Party function — invite a shut-in neighbor, or an acquaintance who rarely participates in community events, anyone you think would enjoy meeting new people. Spread the love!

“It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 467:9-10

“You look still with the body’s eyes, and they can see but thorns. Yet you have asked for and received another sight. Those who accept the Holy Spirit’s purpose as their own share also His vision. And what enables Him to see His purpose shine forth from every altar now is yours as well as His. He sees no strangers; only dearly loved and loving friends. He sees no thorns but only lilies, gleaming in the gentle glow of peace that shines on everything He looks upon and loves.” A Course in Miracles T-20.II.5:1-6

Friendship

Having enjoyed the first day of a two-day, 50-year class reunion, I simply send out this quote on friendship.

“Love never loses sight of loveliness. Its halo rests upon its object. One marvels that a friend can ever seem less than beautiful. Men and women of riper years and larger lessons ought to ripen into health and immortality, instead of lapsing into darkness or gloom.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 249:3-7

I Chose Fear …

Yesterday I began my daily writing with these words: Everything we do, say, and think, plants us firmly in either the world of fear or the realm of Love. Today I fell into a fearful reaction without even giving a thought to the other choice. I was doing laundry in a neighboring town. A man came in to use the restroom, smiled at me and said hello, then left with a cherry greeting. He went to the far end of the building and sat on a wall, where he proceeded to shout out various angry-sounding things. I went out to my car to get something and suddenly felt very fearful. I went back in, listened to him for a while, and called the police, asking them to check on him. They arrived in a few minutes, spoke with him, and then came in to tell me he was harmless, they knew him, and he has Tourette’s Syndrome. I have never, not once in my entire life, called the police about anything, and I am most disappointed in myself for doing it today. Usually in such a situation, I would have spoken to the man and asked if everything was all right. But for some reason, probably the collective consciousness of our shell-shocked nation, I was afraid. This has been a good lesson for me. If a genie gave me three wishes, one would be to have a redo of today’s fearful choice. Namaste to the man to whom I could have extended kindness …

“The first corrective step in undoing the error is to know first that the conflict is an expression of fear. Say to yourself that you must somehow have chosen not to love, or the fear could not have arisen. Then the whole process of correction becomes nothing more than a series of pragmatic steps in the larger process of accepting the Atonement as the remedy. These steps may be summarized in this way:

Know first that this is fear.

Fear arises from lack of love.

The only remedy for lack of love is perfect love.

Perfect love is the Atonement.” A Course in Miracles T-2.VI.7:1-8

“Wise sayings and garrulous talk may fall to the ground, rather than on the ear or heart of the hearer; but a tender sentiment felt, or a kind word spoken, at the right moment, is never wasted.” Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896 Page 127:27

A New Language

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

Everything we do, say, and think, plants us firmly in either the world of fear or the realm of Love. Moment by moment, we choose what we accept as the truth. A number of years ago, through my daily writings, I became friends with a man in the Netherlands. He has studied Christian Science for decades, and at some point added A Course in Miracles. While I have been familiar with the work of Mary Baker Eddy all my life, there are facets of her writings which I am now looking at with new eyes. In the early 1900s, a group of people explored the supposition that Mrs. Eddy had written a new language, a spiritual language, centered around the seven synonyms for God, which are well-known to readers of Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures. By a thorough understanding of these capitalized words, (Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love) we are able to apply them to all experiences, allowing them to be spiritualized in thought and realized in the demonstration of Oneness. By consistently turning thought away from mortal concepts and utilizing spiritual interpretations, we are choosing the world we want to see. A close friend once wrote an essay entitled, "Upper Case Living". I will think of it as I choose the world I see today!

“Take heart, dear sufferer, for this reality of being will surely appear sometime and in some way. There will be no more pain, and all tears will be wiped away. When you read this, remember Jesus' words, ‘The kingdom of God is within you.’ This spiritual consciousness is therefore a present possibility.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 573:29-2

“My brothers in salvation, do not fail to hear my voice and listen to my words. I ask for nothing but your own release. There is no place for hell within a world whose loveliness can yet be so intense and so inclusive it is but a step from there to Heaven. To your tired eyes I bring a vision of a different world, so new and clean and fresh you will forget the pain and sorrow that you saw before. Yet this a vision is which you must share with everyone you see, for otherwise you will behold it not. To give this gift is how to make it yours. And God ordained, in loving kindness, that it be for you.” A Course in Miracles T-31.VIII.8:1-7