Falling in Love With the Earth

Burgandy Redbud - photo by Steve Shogren

While watching Blue Jays at my window suet feeder today, a memory floated in from childhood. My parents and some of their friends and I were out in the woods when I noticed the most beautiful birds in the trees. Excitedly, I asked what kind they were. The friend of my folks’ said, “Oh, those are just damned old Blue Jays. We use them for target practice.” I was confused and a little bit scared, not understanding why anyone would have such a low opinion of something so beautiful. I can’t remember if I ever asked my kind-hearted mother about this, but I know the man’s words stayed with me these past decades. Today I have pondered why some birds are more valuable to humans than others, why some people are to be honored and respected more than others, and what we can do to allow our neighbors to join us in loving harmony with All that Is. I’ve been watching videos daily from a series entitled “Growing a Greener World”. It showcases different people who are growing food. Some have raised beds in small back yards, and others are forming community farms in New York City. All of these episodes on youTube share a commonality: love of the Earth and everything on it. Let’s fall in love with the earth, then it will be easy to treat it kindly and nurture it back to health. 

“Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens, — all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful, and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 240:1-9

“Forgiveness turns the world of sin into a world of glory, wonderful to see. Each flower shines in light, and every bird sings of the joy of Heaven. There is no sadness and there is no parting here, for everything is totally forgiven. And what has been forgiven must join, for nothing stands between to keep them separate and apart. The sinless must perceive that they are one, for nothing stands between to push the other off. And in the space that sin left vacant do they join as one, in gladness recognizing what is part of them has not been kept apart and separate.” 

A Course in Miracles T-26.IV.2:1-6

All Colors are — Brown?

Marsha and Sandy with some of her Art

In my years of running an art gallery, I learned quite a bit about human nature and a little bit about art. I enjoyed every moment of it and had a few favorite artists, one of whom was and is Sandy Starbird. Her favorite color was brown. Her loving expressions, brought forth through creative fabric pieces, were a major aid in my education. I watched her bring brown to life! It was difficult for me to grasp at first, but I did gain an appreciation for the varieties and subtleties inherent in its hues. Today I was listening to a book by Elizabeth Stout and she was describing her first experience with autumnal leaf colors. She saw that all colors were really one color: brown. As I listened to her character, Lucy Barton, describe this phenomenon, I thought of my far-away friend and gained a deeper understanding of what she saw. One of the keys to happiness is the continuation of learning, and I look forward to increasing my appreciation of what my friends see. The excitement of awakening senses is a never-ending delight!

“The artist is not in his painting. The picture is the artist’s thought objectified. The human belief fancies that it delineates thought on matter, but what is matter? Did it exist prior to thought? Matter is made up of supposititious mortal mind-force; but all might is divine Mind. Thought will finally be understood and seen in all form, substance, and color, but without material accompaniments. The potter is not in the clay; else the clay would have power over the potter. God is [Its] own infinite Mind, and expresses all.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 310:1-10

“Everyone will ultimately look upon his own creations and choose to preserve only what is good, just as God Himself looked upon what He had created and knew that it was good. At this point, the mind can begin to look with love on its own creations because of their worthiness. At the same time the mind will inevitably disown its miscreations which, without belief, will no longer exist.” 

A Course in Miracles T-2.VIII.4:3-5

The Rhythm of Head and Heart

 

Having attended an extraordinary musical performance by the orchestra for our Opera in the Ozarks, I am tired and happy. Here are some words from Khalil Gibran about music:

“Music is the quivering of a string, charged with waves from the upper air, it penetrates your hearing, its echo emerges from your eyes in a burning tear, and from your lips as they sigh for a beloved being far away, or it utters a moan caused by the string of history and the fangs of destiny.

And it can happen that the notes of music are reflected on your lips in a smile of fulfillment.

Music is a houri in the paradise of the gods, who was in love with the sons of Adam. Then she came down to earth and told them of her love. The gods, in a fury, ordered a terrible wind to rush after her in pursuit. In this way she was scattered through the air and disseminated to all the corners of the earth. She did not die, she still lives in the ears of humans.

Music is the echo of the first kiss bestowed by Adam on the lips of Eve. And ever since then this echo has caused pleasure to rebound onto fingers as they play and ears as they listen.” 

Khalil Gibran from The Prophet

“Mental melodies and strains of sweetest music supersede conscious sound. Music is the rhythm of head and heart. Mortal mind is the harp of many strings, discoursing either discord or harmony according as the hand, which sweeps over it, is human or divine.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 213:24-29

“Miracles are a kind of exchange. Like all expressions of love, which are always miraculous in the true sense, the exchange reverses the physical laws. They bring more love both to the giver and the receiver.” 

A Course in Miracles T-1.I.9:1-3

Seating Drama

St. Elizabeth in Eureka Springs

I am the accompanist for two congregations of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church here in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. In the past two days, I’ve witnessed three instances regarding people’s “regular” seats at these services. In the Saturday mass at the Parish Center, there are around 150 chairs set up in a large hall. One woman always — always — sits in “her” spot. This weekend two men decided to play a joke on her and they sat in her regular seat up front. We all knew this was happening and watched to see her reaction. She stared at them for a long while and then took a seat which was usually theirs at the back. We all had a good laugh and then everyone went about their business.  Just before the service started, a woman came in and saw that someone else’s things were in her seat, although the culprit was not present. She sat behind “her” seat and shot daggers at him during the service. Then this morning, at the historic church downtown, a large family, including regular parishioners and visitors, came in and took up the front row in the balcony, where another woman is generally seated. She arrived and saw her row taken up and so went to a seat on a bench in the back. The patriarch of the family noticed what was happening and moved back a row with his wife and visiting grand baby. The woman who usually sat there came forward, gratefully, and took her normal seat. There were many smiles and nods of conviviality. I relate these three instances to show that we can take circumstances in many different ways, accepting or resenting, humbly or arrogantly. The loving choice makes all the difference in the surrounding atmosphere. Let’s spread happiness today, okay?

“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.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 9:11-14

“Miracles are examples of right thinking, aligning your perceptions with truth as God created it.” 

A Course in Miracles T-1.I.36:1

The Soft-Winged Dove

 

Art by Ted Chin

“Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.” 

― Rumi

“The Son of God is egoless. What can he know of madness and the death of God, when he abides in Him? What can he know of sorrow and of suffering, when he lives in eternal joy? What can he know of fear and punishment, of sin and guilt, of hatred and attack, when all there is surrounding him is everlasting peace, forever conflict-free and undisturbed, in deepest silence and tranquility?” 

A Course in Miracles W-pII.12.3:1-4

“Think of this, dear reader, for it will lift the sackcloth from your eyes, and you will behold the soft-winged dove descending upon you. The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares. Then thought gently whispers: ‘Come hither! Arise from your false consciousness into the true sense of Love, and behold the Lamb’s wife, — Love wedded to its own spiritual idea.’ Then cometh the marriage feast, for this revelation will destroy forever the physical plagues imposed by material sense.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 574:24-6

Joy Over Sorrow

 

If we dwell on the sadness in the world, we will be overwhelmed. I know people who feel as though they can’t be happy while others are sad. But my sadness and fear will do nothing to bring others to happiness. Our thoughts spread to others, and when we are morose those around us begin to feel that way, too. Feeling bad for people doesn’t help their situation, but seeing through the illusions into the reality of spiritual Being helps them to know this reality along with you. Our joy, our laughter, clears the way to see this Truth. So even though we are often taught that being sad is a sympathetic act, I’m beginning to see that true compassion is shown by bringing my thoughts to joy. 

“Repeat God’s Name, and all the world responds by laying down illusions. Every dream the world holds dear has suddenly gone by, and where it seemed to stand you find a star; a miracle of grace. The sick arise, healed of their sickly thoughts. The blind can see; the deaf can hear. The sorrowful cast off their mourning, and the tears of pain are dried as happy laughter comes to bless the world.” 

A Course in Miracles W-183.3:1-5

“Sorrow is turned into joy when the body is controlled by spiritual Life, Truth, and Love.”Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 14:16-18

Happy Inter-Dependence Day!

Photo credit: Richard Quick

Happy Interdependence Day! That is the title of an article which caught my attention, and it sounds like a great idea to me. In 1776, it was announced that we had the “unalienable” right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. At the time, this wasn’t a win for “me”, but for “we”. A lot of people had to trust each other, work and fight together, to insure future generations of “liberty and justice for all”. Having an Interdependence day rather than an Independence Day wouldn’t erase the history of July 4, but rather we could reflect on what we want our tomorrow to be. We could look back on our past to discover why this democratic republic was formed in the first place. To quote Martin Luther King Jr. — “We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Interdependence invites us to release fearful thoughts and replace them with loving, unifying ones. I have a dream …

“Like our nation, Christian Science has its Declaration of Independence. God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 106:6-11

“The Kingdom is perfectly united and perfectly protected, and the ego will not prevail against it. Amen.

“This is written in the form of a prayer because it is useful in moments of temptation. It is a declaration of independence. You will find it very helpful if you understand it fully. The reason you need my help is because you have denied your own Guide and therefore need guidance. My role is to separate the true from the false, so truth can break through the barriers the ego has set up and can shine into your mind. Against our united strength the ego cannot prevail.”
A Course in Miracles T-4.III.1:12–2:6