Each Condition I Welcome Transforms Me

Chisea di San Lorenzo - Italy

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

Unconditional

Written by Jennifer Welwood

“Willing to experience aloneness,

I discover connection everywhere;

Turning to face my fear,

I meet the warrior who lives within;

Opening to my loss,

I gain the embrace of the universe;

Surrendering into emptiness,

I find fullness without end.

Each condition I flee from pursues me,

Each condition I welcome transforms me

And becomes itself transformed

Into its radiant jewel-like essence.

I bow to the one who has made it so,

Who has crafted this Master Game;

To play it is purest delight;

To honor its form – true devotion.”

By Jennifer Welwood

Www.JenniferWelwood.com

Loving the Happy

Pat Quinn as a living window at

Eureka Thyme

What do you dream of doing? I’ve always wanted to sing — to sing really, really well. As an accompanist of singers, there have been times we seem to meld, and I get to sing vicariously through them. It’s a wonderful feeling of unity with my fellow humans. More than two decades ago, I met Pat Quinn. Since that time, barely a week has gone by when we didn’t make music together. Then the pandemic was upon us and she was unable to be vaccinated, so in her vulnerable state she chose to quit singing in the choirs she so loves. Today, to her utter surprise, she discovered her voice is “gone”.  In her words: “Have already accepted that I may never again find that singing sweet spot at the back of my throat. But I fully remember the feeling and the sound and the joy it brought me. (and you and others). Too many lovely memories to ever forget, that I am so grateful for.  Nothing lasts forever, and even before today I've come to realize that......in some ways I live my life like my sweet animal friends, in the present moment and truly loving the ’happy.’” And I love you, Pat, and will always remember the day you glowed like the stars in the sky.

“Then close your eyes upon the world you see, and in the silent darkness watch the lights that are not of this world light one by one, until where one begins another ends loses all meaning as they blend in one.” 

A Course in Miracles W-129.7:5

‘“Let there be light,’ is the perpetual demand of Truth and Love, changing chaos into order and discord into the music of the spheres.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 255:3-6

Peace of Mind

Temple of Asclepius in Rome, Italy

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

Peace is a state of mind. In the midst of turmoil, we can be at peace. Or we might find ourselves upset in the most peaceful place we can imagine. It’s easy to allow the turmoil of the world into our thoughts, bringing with it worry and fear. It helps me to know that we are all the reflection of God. With this realization, I am able to see everything through the eye of divine Love. This is not to say that I'm always calm. Sometimes I forget I am the idea of God, and that everyone else is, too. At those times, who knows how I may be interpreting events! In a state of forgetfulness, I am at the mercy of material belief, being swayed by thought systems which were put in place long before my appearance in this world. But when I remember the spiritual Truth of creation, things appear differently to me -- and there is peace.

“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 506:11-13

“You have no idea of the tremendous release and deep peace that comes from meeting yourself and your brothers totally without judgment. When you recognize what you are and what your brothers are, you will realize that judging them in any way is without meaning. In fact, their meaning is lost to you precisely because you are judging them. All uncertainty comes from the belief that you are under the coercion of judgment. You do not need judgment to organize your life, and you certainly do not need it to organize yourself. In the presence of knowledge all judgment is automatically suspended, and this is the process that enables recognition to replace perception.” 

A Course in Miracles T-3.VI.3:1-6

What Brings You Joy?

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! (As always, please feel free to tell me your thoughts) 

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

“Miracles are in accord with the Will of God, Whose Will you do not know because you are confused about what you will. This means that you are confused about what you are. If you are God’s Will and do not accept His Will, you are denying joy. The miracle is therefore a lesson in what joy is. Being a lesson in sharing it is a lesson in love, which is joy. Every miracle is thus a lesson in truth, and by offering truth you are learning the difference between pain and joy.” T-7.X.8:1-6

Unified Needs Lead to Unified Action

 

One of my favorite childhood memories is of waiting for election results on the square in my hometown, Berryville, Arkansas. At the time, it was an actual square, with traffic driving around the large circular area in the middle. There was a big speaker on the courthouse and updates would be broadcast loudly as we whooped and hollered when our parents’ choices were announced. The grassy area was full of people in lawn chairs, with kids chasing each other and playing happily. There were groups of men leaning on parked cars, laughing and talking. I suppose mothers were in the middle area with the kids, but for whatever reason, I have no memory of them. But the feeling was wonderful! The excitement of a political race, the fun of seeing friends, the camaraderie of small town living. Are we really so different now than we were 50 years ago? Surely we still have the same values, the same desire for safety and comfort, the same love of freedom. I will continue to focus on our unity, knowing that separation is an illusion we have allowed to seem real, certain we can recognize truth. 

“A sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need correct. This sense of separation would never have arisen if you had not distorted your perception of truth, and had thus perceived yourself as lacking. The idea of order of needs arose because, having made this fundamental error, you had already fragmented yourself into levels with different needs. As you integrate you become one, and your needs become one accordingly. Unified needs lead to unified action, because this produces a lack of conflict.” 

A Course in Miracles T-1.VI.2:1-5

“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. Having no other gods, turning to no other but the one perfect Mind to guide him, man is the likeness of God, pure and eternal, having that Mind which was also in Christ.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 467:9-16

Healing the Perception of Separation

 

I write this on the evening before an election which could be seen as a the culmination of a battle between good and evil thoughts and actions. It may even seem that our present situation was brought about by a self-centered figure who has been the axis of extreme actions for the past few years. But our brainwashing began decades, perhaps centuries ago. It doesn’t help our present situation to reiterate the horror we’ve witnessed in our lifetimes, but we do need to be aware of exactly how our lack of loving actions have affected our society. I’ll choose one symptom for now: homelessness. Every major city in our country has been overrun with people who have nowhere to go. There are no easy solutions, and politicians do not even try to figure out what to do. As with almost everything, we all must participate in helping our fellow humans. In our small community, we have groups which have created free medical care facilities and are working to supply housing. There are at least three organizations which distribute free food on a regular basis. Within these organizations, there are people working diligently to supply resources for these endeavors. We all have a role to play in our survival. I’m making a resolution to wake up each day asking for guidance to know how I can be most effective in lifting us up. And I will pray for the strength to follow through …

“Forgiveness is the healing of the perception of separation. Correct perception of your brother is necessary, because minds have chosen to see themselves as separate. Spirit knows God completely. That is its miraculous power. The fact that each one has this power completely is a condition entirely alien to the world’s thinking. The world believes that if anyone has everything, there is nothing left. But God’s miracles are as total as His Thoughts because they are His Thoughts.” 

A Course in Miracles T-3.V.9:1-7

“We lose the high signification of omnipotence, when after admitting that God, or good, is omnipresent and has all-power, we still believe there is another power, named evil. This belief that there is more than one mind is as pernicious to divine theology as are ancient mythology and pagan idolatry. With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science. The supposed existence of more than one mind was the basic error of idolatry. This error assumed the loss of spiritual power, the loss of the spiritual presence of Life as infinite Truth without an unlikeness, and the loss of Love as ever present and universal.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 469:25-10

Shining Together …

 

Photo credit: Kailey Jones-Springston

Listening, communicating, finding common ground — these elements can bind together a divided country, bringing peace to warring people. In pondering how to communicate with those who have varying degrees of strong opinions, there are options. When having a discussion and someone makes a statement diametrically opposed to our way of thinking, we can calmly ask them, “Why do you think [such-and-such]?” But if we say, “why do you people think [such-and-such]?”, the whole conversations shifts into an attack situation. Daryl Davis is a black blues musician who reaches out to befriend members of hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan. He refers to “thoughtful discussions that change hearts”, saying “If you spend five minutes with your worst enemy, you will find that you both have something in common.” By reaching a higher spiritual understanding of those involved, we may find that these “others” are striving for greater dignity; perhaps we’ll even see that we care for all people. By our connection with divine Love, we are all connected to each other. Through this union of Spirit, we can find our common ground and move forward with respect for one another. I can’t think of a better time to practice this discipline than right now!

“Love giveth to the least spiritual idea might, immortality, and goodness, which shine through all as the blossom shines through the bud.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 518

“The escape from darkness involves two stages: First, the recognition that darkness cannot hide. This step usually entails fear. Second, the recognition that there is nothing you want to hide even if you could. This step brings escape from fear. When you have become willing to hide nothing, you will not only be willing to enter into communion but will also understand peace and joy.” A Course in Miracles T-1.IV.1:1-5