Calm, Asservite Women

 

My favorite day of the month is the last Thursday, because that’s when my book club meets. I’ve written about this fabulous group of women many times. We have met for almost two decades and have developed deep and strong friendships through the discussion of books. This month’s read brought on a lively and joyous discussion, from which I am still a bit giddy. The main character, Elizabeth Zott, defies the norms of 1960s life. She is a scientist and scholar, living with a man to whom she is not married, having a child without a husband, and speaking her mind calmly and concisely no matter what the circumstance. She reminded me of Mary Baker Eddy, who in the mid-1800s followed a calling which was unheard of for woman — writing about new/old ideas which people thought of as blasphemous, giving speeches in public about them (a lady preacher?!), and starting a school, then a church, to keep the ideas flowing into the future. When yellow journalism was doing its best to smear her name, she started a newspaper with the motto: “To injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” To this day, you can count on The Christian Science Monitor to tell the truth and bring the world to our doorstep. Thank you to every calm, assertive woman who refused to go away when she was told to do so!

“Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity. Contentment with the past and the cold conventionality of materialism are crumbling away. Ignorance of God is no longer the stepping-stone to faith.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page vii:13-18

“There is no limit to the power of a Son of God, but he can limit the expression of his power as much as he chooses. Your mind and mine can unite in shining your ego away, releasing the strength of God into everything you think and do. Do not settle for anything less than this, and refuse to accept anything but this as your goal. Watch your mind carefully for any beliefs that hinder its accomplishment, and step away from them. Judge how well you have done this by your own feelings, for this is the one right use of judgment.” 

A Course in Miracles T-4.IV.8:2-6

Peace is Shining Through You

Wonsook Kim - Afloat in the light, 2014, 김원숙.

A cantankerous friend who insists he’s an atheist engaged me in a discussion about God. His diatribe consisted of stories from the news about people’s actions in the name of their church and beliefs. He told me of close friends who profess to be Christians, yet have become increasingly hateful in their speech in the last few years. I countered each of his stories with stories of my own which illustrated what I think of as God. I told him of a non-dualistic God, one which doesn’t sit up on a cloud granting favors and dispensing retribution, but which is found within. I endeavored to explain how this ever-presence wasn’t pantheism because God is not IN us, but God IS us in much the same way as a sunbeam is the expression of the sun. We are the experience of divine Love, Mind, Soul, Truth, Spirit, Life. The peace of God is shining through me now.

“The peace of God is shining in you now, and from your heart extends around the world. It pauses to caress each living thing, and leaves a blessing with it that remains forever and forever. What it gives must be eternal. It removes all thoughts of the ephemeral and valueless. It brings renewal to all tired hearts, and lights all vision as it passes by. All of its gifts are given everyone, and everyone unites in giving thanks to you who give, and you who have received.” 

A Course in Miracles W-188.3:1-6

“Truth and Love enlighten the understanding, in whose ‘light shall we see light;’ and this illumination is reflected spiritually by all who walk in the light and turn away from a false material sense.” 

Mary Baker Eddy Science & Health Page 510:9-12

Let It Go …

 

Painting by Diego Rivera

One of my neighbors stopped me in the market, saying excitedly that we had an “incident” on our street two nights ago. She told me she was crossing the street to visit her neighbor when a man was coming down the street, swinging a flashlight from side to side of the road and walking in a zig-zag manner, as though he might be looking for something. She asked if she could help him, and she asked him his name, both of which he declined to answer. She became fearful and called the police, who promptly came and escorted the man away. This incident was still so powerful in her memory that it was all she could talk about. She had been frightened by something I interpreted as a benign event, and she was continuing to crucify herself over it. I shall ponder ways I may be crucifying myself, while releasing any judgment I am tempted to have of this situation!

“Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 495:16-20 

“While you perceive the Son of God as crucified, you are asleep. And as long as you believe that you can crucify him, you are only having nightmares. You who are beginning to wake are still aware of dreams, and have not yet forgotten them. The forgetting of dreams and the awareness of Christ come with the awakening of others to share your redemption.” 

A Course in Miracles T-11.VI.8:5-8

Infinite, as Many of One

 

Contemporary Art in Denver, CO

“Conscious human individuality is not individual as one of many but infinite as many of One.” [Margaret Laird] The enormity of Oneness may seem more than we can fathom, but knowing we are an individual reflection of goodness, and united therein, seems much more manageable! Realizing our spiritual nature as the experience of divine Love opens a new world in which I am not a victim of mortal mind and its manifestations. I am unafraid to take a stand for harmony and peace, knowing that it is our birthright as reflections of Mind.

"As mortals gain more correct views of God and man, multitudinous objects of creation, which before were invisible, will become visible.When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness.” 

Mary Baker Eddy Science & Health Page 264:13-19

“Miracles make minds one in God. They depend on cooperation because the Sonship is the sum of all that God created. Miracles therefore reflect the laws of eternity, not of time.” A Course in Miracles T-1.I.19:1-3

No Justification For Cruelty

 

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Photo credit: Blake Lasater

The belief in separation fosters fear, and fear and cruelty go hand in hand. We think we’re defending ourselves, our loved ones, or values which are of importance to us and our way of life. To this defensive end, we are willing to attack others in our words and actions, not listening to the voice of sanity which divine Mind is forever supplying. If I witness attack thoughts around me today, I will remember that those propounding such ideas believe they are justified in their defenses, and I will see them as a child of Love, knowing this is true, and praying they realize it, too.

“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

“With love as enemy, must cruelty become a god. And gods demand that those who worship them obey their dictates, and refuse to question them. Harsh punishment is meted out relentlessly to those who ask if the demands are sensible or even sane. It is their enemies who are unreasonable and insane, while they are always merciful and just.” 

A Course in Miracles W-170.6:1-4

Enacting Love

 

Image: Giovanna Photography

“How do we love all the children? Not just our children, not just the ones who look like us or who have resources, not just the human children but the young of birds and salmon and redwood trees. When we love all the children, when that love is truly sacred to us in the sense of being most important, then we have to take action in the world to enact that love. We are called to make the earth a place where all the children can thrive.” 

~ Starhawk, The Spiral Dance

“I bless you, brother, with the Love of God, which I would share with you. For I would learn the joyous lesson that there is no love but God’s and yours and mine and everyone’s.” 

A Course in Miracles W-127.12:4-5

“Jesus loved little children because of their freedom from wrong and their receptiveness of right. While age is halting between two opinions or battling with false beliefs, youth makes easy and rapid strides towards Truth.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 236:28-32

Appreciating Yourself

 

Art courtesy of Bob Page 

Maybe you think you should be appreciated more, or perhaps you know someone who is always "fishing for compliments". Both of these beliefs fall under the category of expecting something which you already have. When you appreciate yourself, when you are grateful for the wonder which is you, that's all you need. And it is an all-encompassing gratitude! This recognition is one of the after-effects of loosening the bonds of materiality. The more we let go of expectations and beliefs, the more opportunity there is for Truth to take their place. We needn't do anything but clear the way! And that’s what we’re doing!!

“When man is governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows that with God all things are possible." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 180:25-27

“The ego is afraid of the spirit’s joy, because once you have experienced it you will withdraw all protection from the ego, and become totally without investment in fear. Your investment is great now because fear is a witness to the separation, and your ego rejoices when you witness to it. Leave it behind! Do not listen to it and do not preserve it. Listen only to God, Who is as incapable of deception as is the spirit He created. Release yourself and release others. Do not present a false and unworthy picture of yourself to others, and do not accept such a picture of them yourself.” 

A Course in Miracles T-4.I.10:1-7