Stand Strong

 

Photo Credit Blake Lasater 

“We’re weakening the world by talking about others’ weaknesses.”  One of my favorite Indian gurus made this amazing statement (which I heard on youtube). She stopped me in my tracks with that one! She also spoke about a trait most of us exhibit. Let’s say we have a disagreement with a good friend. We tend to want to tell the story to someone else, relating the circumstances and hoping to find someone to take our side. If that person joins you in worry, anxiety, or fear about the situation, then you have just added to the problem. So she suggests we be very carefula about who we discuss things with. If it’s someone who is going to worry for you, don’t do it! She also says we should never endorse anyone who is blaming others for their pain. If you agree with them and commiserate, you have just gotten tangled up in their story. It takes practice to be compassionate, yet not exacerbate the situation. But it’s a worthy effort! 

“Attempts to conciliate society and so gain dominion over mankind, arise from worldly weakness. He who leaves all for Christ forsakes popularity and gains Christianity. Society is a foolish juror, listening only to one side of the case. Justice often comes too late to secure a verdict. People with mental work before them have no time for gossip about false law or testimony. To reconstruct timid justice and place the fact above the falsehood, is the work of time.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 228:22-30

“Miracles are natural signs of forgiveness. Through miracles you accept God’s forgiveness by extending it to others.” 

A Course in Miracles T-1.I.21:1-2

An Ode We Owe

‘An Ode We Owe’ - By Amanda Gorman 

“How can I ask you to do good,

When we’ve barely withstood

Our greatest threats yet:

The depths of death, despair and disparity,

Atrocities across cities, towns & countries,

Lives lost, climactic costs.

Exhausted, angered, we are endangered,

Not because of our numbers,

But because of our numbness. We’re strangers

To one another’s perils and pain,

Unaware that the welfare of the public

And the planet share a name–

–Equality

Doesn’t mean being the exact same,

But enacting a vast aim:

The good of the world to its highest capability.

The wise believe that our people without power

Leaves our planet without possibility.

Therefore, though poverty is a poor existence,

Complicity is a poorer excuse.

We must go the distance,

Though this battle is hard and huge,

Though this fight we did not choose,

For preserving the earth isn’t a battle too large

To win, but a blessing too large to lose.

This is the most pressing truth:

That Our people have only one planet to call home

And our planet has only one people to call its own.

We can either divide and be conquered by the few,

Or we can decide to conquer the future,

And say that today a new dawn we wrote,

Say that as long as we have humanity,

We will forever have hope.

Together, we won’t just be the generation

That tries but the generation that triumphs;

Let us see a legacy

Where tomorrow is not driven

By the human condition,

But by our human conviction.

And while hope alone can’t save us now,

With it we can brave the now,

Because our hardest change hinges

On our darkest challenges.

Thus may our crisis be our cry, our crossroad,

The oldest ode we owe each other.

We chime it, for the climate,

For our communities.

We shall respect and protect

Every part of this planet,

Hand it to every heart on this earth,

Until no one’s worth is rendered

By the race, gender, class, or identity

They were born. This morn let it be sworn

That we are one one human kin,

Grounded not just by the griefs

We bear, but by the good we begin.

To anyone out there:

I only ask that you care before it’s too late,

That you live aware and awake,

That you lead with love in hours of hate.

I challenge you to heed this call,

I dare you to shape our fate.

Above all, I dare you to do good

So that the world might be great”

Amanda Gorman

“The understanding of Truth and Love, the Principle which works out the ends of eternal good and destroys both faith in evil and the practice of evil, leads to the discernment of the divine idea.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 561:1-3

“If you would look upon love, which is the world’s reality, how could you do better than to recognize, in every defense against it, the underlying appeal for it? And how could you better learn of its reality than by answering the appeal for it by giving it? The Holy Spirit’s interpretation of fear does dispel it, for the awareness of truth cannot be denied. Thus does the Holy Spirit replace fear with love and translate error into truth. And thus will you learn of Him how to replace your dream of separation with the fact of unity. For the separation is only the denial of union, and correctly interpreted, attests to your eternal knowledge that union is true.” 

A Course in Miracles T-12.I.10:1-6

Through the Illusion to Reality

 

Stereogram - Magic Eye Image

Almost three decades ago, I was at a yard sale when a book title jumped out at me: When You Believe It, You’ll See It. It was written by an author I had never heard of, but whom I now think of as my good friend, Wayne Dyer. I took the book home and when I began reading it I said right out loud, This is Christian Science! Upon researching this author, I found out he was teaching the principles of A Course in Miracles. I can still feel the excitement of finding another teaching which was a fraternal twin of the Mary Baker Eddy writings which had been with me forever. While reading a work of fiction recently, I was reminded of stereograms, or Magic Eye pictures. Remember them? They are seemingly random colors and shapes, which when looked at with a “relaxed” eye, you can see through the mishmash of nothingness to a 3-D picture of something else. And, of course, I thought of Dr. Dyer’s book title and how true it is of many things. In the above stereogram eye-puzzler, once you see the picture, you can often train your eye to look around and see other hidden objects. Ah, seeing through the illusion to the reality!

“You command the situation if you understand that mortal existence is a state of self-deception and not the truth of being. Mortal mind is constantly producing on mortal body the results of false opinions; and it will continue to do so, until mortal error is deprived of its imaginary powers by Truth, which sweeps away the gossamer web of mortal illusion.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 403:12-20

“Forgiveness should be practiced through the day, for there will still be many times when you forget its meaning and attack yourself. When this occurs, allow your mind to see through this illusion as you tell yourself: Let me perceive forgiveness as it is. Would I accuse myself of doing this? ⁵I will not lay this chain upon myself.” 

A Course in Miracles W-134.17:1-5

Isn’t it Madness …

 

Art by Catrin Welz-Stein

Perhaps I’m excited from attending book club and discussing the book When Women Were Dragons. Whatever the case, this writing from Brigit Anna McNeill, jumped out at me this day.

“Isn’t it odd that once upon a time in Europe a woman could be killed for making potions from the plants around her. 

Isn’t it insane that once upon a time wise women were burnt or drowned for helping birth babies, knowing their herbs, gathering in groups of more than two, being outside alone, being strong, being beautiful, being ugly, being different, being sexual, being non sexual or touching a nettle, smelling a rose or drinking wild teas. 

Isn’t it madness that a woman who knew her body, her mind and her heart was cast aside as evil, as a sinner and her life taken away. 

Women! Do not let the ancestral memory of this that is held in your make up, in your bones and blood hold you back. Rise dear sweet sisters, rise so that our daughters and daughters daughters don’t have to wonder when we lost our tongues and denied our hearts.

Grow a new tongue, invite the wolf in, awaken the witch and dance under the moon. 

Embrace your heart, your womb, your gut and your wisdom. 

Roar dear sister, break the silence and take back your power so the young ones won’t have to.”

~  Brigit Anna McNeill 

The Function of Truth …

Do you ever feel as though there’s too much information (and disinformation) floating around in our atmosphere? It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of facts which present themselves to us every moment of every day. We don’t even have to search for them; they find us. I remember when I was growing up and television and radio commercials were just coming into fashion. We were warned about subliminal messages hidden beneath the surface, and the brainwashing effects of repetitious phrases and tunes. The first political candidate’s commercial was for Eisenhower in the 50s, which, to those of us born in that decade, seems like yesterday. The bombardment of political misinformation is too much for many of us to handle, so we choose our favorite commentator and believe their words. I would like to encourage everyone to not give up! Please, find a trusted source for facts and read whenever possible. The above chart will help you know what is neutral and factual. Tell your friends, too!

“To my sense, the most imminent dangers confronting the coming century are: the robbing of people of life and liberty under the warrant of the Scriptures; the claims of politics and of human power, industrial slavery, and insufficient freedom of honest competition; and ritual, creed, and trusts in place of the Golden Rule, ‘Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.’”

Mary Baker Eddy - from the article Insufficient Freedom written in 1900 for the New York World.

“The function of truth is to collect information that is true. Any way you handle error results in nothing. The more complicated the results become the harder it may be to recognize their nothingness, but it is not necessary to examine all possible outcomes to which premises give rise in order to judge them truly.”

A Course in Miracles T-8.VIII.6:7-9

Calm, Exalted Thought

 

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

“In the Native American tradition, one member of the tribe assumes the role of 'Faithkeeper.' This person's role is to remain at peace, centered in spiritual vision, no matter what events befall the tribe. Even if everyone else in the tribe slips into pain, fear, or dissension, the Faithkeeper is the one person the tribe can rely on as a lifeline to the Presence. This is our role now.” Suzanne Sullivan

We all have the ability to fulfill this role, and every day I see more people stepping into a calm space. I think it has to do with the realization that everything we do is inspired by love or by fear. While we watch the results of fearful reactions, it’s easy to acknowledge that we don’t want to live within that sphere of retribution and revenge which often results. The greedy and self-centered actions of many leaders is being spotlighted and called out. My goal is to seek out those who are acting from Love, looking at the spiritual solutions which translate fear-based policies which have been set in place for decades. We’ve lived with fear for so long that it is now being manifested in every phase of our lives. People are now afraid of turning around by pulling into my driveway on my dead-end street. We read about unprovoked violence and pattern our lives based around these horror stories. Let’s all start telling the happy, joy-filled life stories we see in our daily lives. Rather than conversations centering around illness and violence, let’s talk about the good stuff!!

“Listen in deep silence. Be very still and open your mind. Go past all the raucous shrieks and sick imaginings that cover your real thoughts and obscure your eternal link with God. Sink deep into the peace that waits for you beyond the frantic, riotous thoughts and sights and sounds of this insane world. You do not live here. We are trying to reach your real home. We are trying to reach the place where you are truly welcome. We are trying to reach God.” A Course in Miracles W-49.4:1-8

“Through divine Science, Spirit, God, unites understanding to eternal harmony. 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 506:8-1

Visited and Stayed

 Writing By Tahlia Hunter

“Patience visited me

And it reminded me 

That good things take time to come to fruition

And grow slowly with stability 

Peace visited me 

And it reminded me 

That I may remain calm through the storms of life 

Regardless of the chaos surrounding me 

Hope visited me 

And it reminded me 

That better times lay ahead 

And it would always be there to guide and uplift me

Humility visited me 

And it reminded me 

That I may achieve it 

Not by trying to shrink myself and make myself less

But by focusing on serving the world and uplifting those around me

Kindness visited me

And it reminded me 

To be more gentle, forgiving and compassionate toward myself 

And those surrounding me

Confidence visited me

And it reminded me

To not conceal or suppress my gifts and talents 

In order to make others feel more comfortable 

But to embrace what makes me me 

Focus visited me

And it reminded me

That other people’s insecurities and judgements about me

Are not my problem 

And I should redirect my attention 

From others back to me 

Freedom visited me 

And it reminded me 

That no one has control over my mindset, thoughts and wellbeing 

But me

And love visited me 

And it reminded me 

That I need not search for it in others

As it lies within me.”

By Tahlia Hunter

“I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my likeness. He reflects the infinite understanding, for I am Infinity. The beauty of holiness, the perfection of being, imperishable glory, — all are Mine, for I am God. I give immortality to man, for I am Truth. I include and impart all bliss, for I am Love. I give life, without beginning and without end, for I am Life. I am supreme and give all, for I am Mind. I am the substance of all, because I am that I am.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 232:31-8

“When I said ‘I am with you always,’ I meant it literally. I am not absent to anyone in any situation. Because I am always with you, you are the way, the truth and the life. You did not make this power, any more than I did. It was created to be shared, and therefore cannot be meaningfully perceived as belonging to anyone at the expense of another. Such a perception makes it meaningless by eliminating or overlooking its real and only meaning.” 

A Course in Miracles  T-7.III.1:7-12