Bringing in the Light, With Joy

Cynicism hides the light of the world very effectively. As a small child, I freely expressed joy in everything and to everyone, but slowly and thoroughly this joy was quieted by rules and other forces of conformity. By the time I was a teenager, cynicism had taken over my every action. This is a definition of cynicism: "An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others." During the 60s and 70s, although it was heralded as the Age of Aquarius, the free love that permeated our atmosphere was actually a charade of the Love I had felt as a small child. We made fun of those who weren't like us, and by doing so became unsure of what we were. There was an attitude of disdain which came with our superiority. We knew our government was wrong, as were our parents, most teachers, and the majority of our peers. It's no wonder that a major magazine's cover declared that God was dead, because materialism and cynicism had killed any expression of real Love. I was convinced that to have children would be a travesty, as this world was no place for humans to be. Nearly half a century past those turbulent times, I see wonderful changes in all of us. Everyone I know realizes that Love is a force within us which can't be quieted; that fear can never be as powerful as Love; that there is no reason to pretend only the foolish think this way. More people every day are waking up to the Truth of their being, living the salvation of realization, and not allowing anything to hide this light. Any day now everyone will awaken to their function as a living ray of this Love, and we won't be afraid of it. It is our heritage! We have denied it as long as we can. Truth is alive within us and it only takes recognition to bring it to fruition. Let's live our salvation today!

“We are sometimes led to believe that darkness is as real as light; but Science affirms darkness to be only a mortal sense of the absence of light, at the coming of which darkness loses the appearance of reality. So sin and sorrow, disease and death, are the suppositional absence of Life, God, and flee as phantoms of error before truth and love.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 215:15-21

“When you wander, you but undertake a journey that is not real. The dark companions, the dark way, are all illusions. Turn toward the light, for the little spark in you is part of a light so great that it can sweep you out of all darkness forever. For your Father is your Creator, and you are like Him.” 

A Course in Miracles T-11.III.5:4-7

Do It Now

 

Baking Bread, 1889 - by Andre Zorn

“I've seen women insist on cleaning everything in the house before they could sit down to write... and you know it's a funny thing about housecleaning... it never comes to an end. Perfect way to stop a woman. A woman must be careful to not allow over-responsibility (or over-respectabilty) to steal her necessary creative rests, riffs, and raptures. She simply must put her foot down and say no to half of what she believes she "should" be doing. Art is not meant to be created in stolen moments only.” 

Clarissa Pinkola Estes

After reading the above quote this morning, I visited with a woman I’ve known for decades, but had not seen for quite some time. As she admired the art on my walls, she mentioned how she regretted not taking the time to paint. She told me of her childhood talent and dreams, and how the busy-ness of life had gotten in the way of what she loved. Do it now, Friends. It’s not too late …

“The miracle is much like the body in that both are learning aids for facilitating a state in which they become unnecessary. When spirit’s original state of direct communication is reached, neither the body nor the miracle serves any purpose. While you believe you are in a body, however, you can choose between loveless and miraculous channels of expression. You can make an empty shell, but you cannot express nothing at all. You can wait, delay, paralyze yourself, or reduce your creativity almost to nothing. But you cannot abolish it. You can destroy your medium of communication, but not your potential. You did not create yourself.” 

A Course in Miracles T-1.V.1:1-8

“Spirit diversifies, classifies, and individualizes all thoughts, which are as eternal as the Mind conceiving them; but the intelligence, existence, and continuity of all individuality remain in God, who is the divinely creative Principle thereof.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 513:1-21

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