Upside-Down Point of View?

 

Big Jesus Statue in Eureka Springs

Photo by Dale Johnson

The words crucifixion and resurrection mean different things to us all. Some images in memory may be rather gruesome, while many are joyful and celebratory. I see these words as representing the freedom which comes with our resurrection from the tomb of material belief. The Christ Idea is risen in all the beauty of divine Love, as our ascension in thought shows us the ultimate reality of Life. On a personal level, I see this as the acceptance of myself as the spiritual idea I Am; a letting go of the material thought-basis which binds me to unreality. Now is the time to rise in the spirit of Truth, to celebrate the transformation which comes with the renewal of my mind. Now is the time to realize that no one can give me salvation, because it's already mine. Now is the time to claim this salvation and wear it with a calm which only comes from yielding mortal mind's control. And I lay down the sword ---

“We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.

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 497:20-28

“If the crucifixion is seen from an upside-down point of view, it does appear as if God permitted and even encouraged one of His Sons to suffer because he was good. This particularly unfortunate interpretation, which arose out of projection, has led many people to be bitterly afraid of God. Such anti-religious concepts enter into many religions. Yet the real Christian should pause and ask, ‘How could this be?’ Is it likely that God Himself would be capable of the kind of thinking which His Own words have clearly stated is unworthy of His Son?” 

A Course in Miracles - Chapter 3, Atonement Without Sacrifice 

Put Down the Sword

 

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

For many of us, the celebrations of Easter hold negative trigger words such as salvation, resurrection, crucifixion. When we look at the metaphorical meaning of those words, we can relax into an understanding which is different from the traditional story telling about the murder of Jesus. I’m not going to delve into those interpretations as you all know them as well as I — perhaps better, depending upon your religious background. No matter what we have believed, we’re asked to put down the sword and pick up the flowers, carrying forth the light of forgiveness and recognizing ourselves in the light of the Christ, which is what Jesus was trying to tell us in his beautiful teachings. If you want to hear some beautiful things about this vision, Marianne Williamson has a chat on youtube where she speaks to the resurrection we can experience daily. 

https://youtu.be/fOdZQWrq8D0

"Resurrection: Spiritualization of thought; a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding." 

Mary Baker Eddy- Science & Health Page 592:9-11

“Your resurrection is your reawakening. I am the model for rebirth, but rebirth itself is merely the dawning on your mind of what is already in it. God placed it there Himself, and so it is true forever. I believed in it, and therefore accepted it as true for me. Help me to teach it to our brothers in the name of the Kingdom of God, but first believe that it is true for you, or you will teach amiss. My brothers slept during the so-called ‘agony in the garden,’ but I could not be angry with them because I knew I could not be abandoned.”

A Course in Miracles T-6.I.7:1-67ujk,.

Mr. Rogers

Perhaps our moral compass in the United States went haywire when Mr. Rogers' soothing show was no longer on television. He taught us all to just be nice, but it was more than that, don’t you think? I read an article about him which said his goal was to promote “self-esteem, self-control, imagination, creativity, curiosity, appreciation of diversity, cooperation, patience and persistence.” He taught us how to perform necessary tasks, such as tying our shoelaces; he informed us about things which enrich our lives, like planting a garden. He never told children they were just as good as anyone else, or that they were infallible, but rather he taught us that we each have value, and that value isn’t tied to particular successes or failures. He encouraged children to go to school and listen to their teachers, humanizing educators by telling the young viewers that the teachers were once children, too. Mr. Rogers taught us to be mindfully aware, to enjoy the process, and to love our neighbors. What more do we need? I think we need another Mr. Rogers...

“A miracle is a service. It is the maximal service you can render to another. It is a way of loving your neighbor as yourself. You recognize your own and your neighbor’s worth simultaneously.” 

A Course in Miracles T-1.I.18:1-4

"Incorrect reasoning leads to practical error. The wrong thought should be arrested before it has a chance to manifest itself." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 452:4

Go Back and Live …

 

Art by Amanda Cass

Many of my friends have recently experienced the death of a loved one. I am learning from their experiences, my study of metaphysics, and random writings such as these I share with you today:

YOU’RE THE GHOST- written by Donna Ashworth

There’s a part of the grieving process,

where your soul kind of leaves your body too. 

As though it’s off searching for the one you lost, 

somewhere in the ether. 

You walk around, 

doing all the right things, 

putting one foot in front of the other, 

living,

but it’s really as though you’re the ghost. 

Perhaps you are. 

Perhaps your soul searches,

until you find the one you miss,

and they tell you to go back and live.

So, when that numbness passes brave one, 

maybe it’s time to do what you are told,

go back and live, 

twice as hard. 

You don’t belong there in the ether, 

nor do you need to search for the one you lost, 

they find you.

And when they do, you’ll feel it. 

By Donna Ashworth

From ‘I Wish I knew’

“We honor you today. Yours is the right to perfect holiness you now accept. With this acceptance is salvation brought to everyone, for who could cherish sin when holiness like this has blessed the world? Who could despair when perfect joy is yours, available to all as remedy for grief and misery, all sense of loss, and for complete escape from sin and guilt?” 

A Course in Miracles W-162.5:1-4

“If grief causes suffering, convince the sufferer that affliction is often the source of joy, and that he should rejoice always in ever-present Love.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 377:3-5

Living Love

 

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

Today I was talking on the phone to my forever-friend, Nancy, who lives in the Little Rock area. While we were chatting, the storm warning sirens began to sound. We shared some memories about storms from our childhood, then she went to check on her husband and I went about my business. In a few minutes, she sent me photos of tornado damage a short block from her daughter’s house. When tragedies happen, no matter where in the world, they cause us to have a moment of introspection. It’s tempting to be grateful that you and yours were spared, but that has never felt like a productive reaction to me. I know that at this very moment there are people thanking god for sparing them from this event. But isn’t there an implication that those who have lost their homes — and perhaps loved ones — have done something wrong which brought this down upon them? Today I shall be on the lookout for self-righteous prayer when sending loving energy to all in need. And I think that would include each and every one of us…

‘The divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 25:30-32

“‘I rest in God.’ Completely undismayed, this thought will carry you through storms and strife, past misery and pain, past loss and death, and onward to the certainty of God. There is no suffering it cannot heal. There is no problem that it cannot solve. And no appearance but will turn to truth before the eyes of you who rest in God.” 

A Course in Miracles  W-109.3:1-5

Thought-Provoking Gatherings

 

A Table at Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory

After attending my monthly book club meeting tonight, many snippets of conversations are flitting around in my brain. The first thought-provoking thing I heard was that light’s movement forward can be reversed. This is mind-boggling in its implications. Would time go backwards, too? I imagine a river of light rushing at us from a star far, far away, and then reversing to return. Wow. Our book of the month was Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. It has to do with the pandemic in its beginning days and the implications of respirator-induced coma, the nature of reality, the relationships we share with each other in reality or dreams — and even if there is a difference. There was also a short conversation about how in the heck 3-D printers work, the implications of artificial intelligence, and, of course, weather phenomenon. There is much to think about, as you can see! Digesting good food and fine conversation is my favorite kind of evening. I am curious, yet content. 

“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. All things are created spiritually. Mind, not matter, is the creator. Love, the divine Principle, is the Father and of the universe, including man.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 256:1-8 

“Atonement might be equated with total escape from the past and total lack of interest in the future. Heaven is here. There is nowhere else. Heaven is now. There is no other time. No teaching that does not lead to this is of concern to God’s teachers. All beliefs will point to this if properly interpreted. In this sense, it can be said that their truth lies in their usefulness. All beliefs that lead to progress should be honored. This is the sole criterion this course requires. No more than this is necessary.” 

A Course in Miracles  M-24.6:3-13

Art Prayers for Ukraine

 

Art by Marjorie Theodore

A woman named Marjorie Theodore has been posting daily art prayers for Ukraine on her social media page. It may be a simple sunflower, as the photo I’ve included with this writing, which she posted along with the words “sunflowers for strength, and peace, and hope”.  She’s done it every day for more than a year. When asked if she planned to continue, she answered: “How could I not? I hope that my commitment will last as their commitment does. I do think art is prayer. I think that song is prayer. When you are thinking of someone that you love, that is prayer. So when I think of Ukraine and I express my feelings through these daily pictures, it is a prayer.” Ms. Theodore has caused me to realize that my daily writings are also prayers: prayers for you, prayers for me, prayers for the world. We all have the opportunity to express Love in everything we do. I hope you will appreciate yourself today, and shine your love into the world. Namaste…

“The test of all prayer lies in the answer to these questions: Do we love our neighbor better because of this asking? Do we pursue the old selfishness, satisfied with having prayed for something better, though we give no evidence of the sincerity of our requests by living consistently with our prayer? If selfishness has given place to kindness, we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly, and bless them that curse us; but we shall never meet this great duty simply by asking that it may be done. There is a cross to be taken up before we can enjoy the fruition of our hope and faith.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 9:5-16

“To you who are in time a little while, prayer takes the form that best will suit your need. You have but one. What God created one must recognize its oneness, and rejoice that what illusions seemed to separate is one forever in the Mind of God. Prayer now must be the means by which God’s Son leaves separate goals and separate interests by, and turns in holy gladness to the truth of union in his Father and himself.” 

A Course in Miracles S-1.in.2:1-4