Realized Salvation

Ozarks Evening

Photo courtesy of Steve Poynter

Letting go of grievances frees us to express facets of ourselves which we didn't know were there. Have you noticed that you're stretching beyond what you've always thought of as your boundaries? While listening to what I think of as free-form piano playing of the new-age variety, it struck me how important it is to be singing your song, whatever form that may take. For me, piano lessons began at the age of four. By the time I went to college, playing was so ingrained that it was like speaking. But it was always structured interpretation from pages of music. Never once had I just sat down and played without thought. A few years ago, I did. Something pulled me to the piano and a tune came out. It's a simple melody which mutates here and there, with interesting progressions and surprises. It's never the same, and it never leaves me where I started. It has beautiful healing notes which shift and appear when they are needed. We all have a song to sing! It's a divine voice which requires a yielding of material sense in order to be heard and reproduced. It may be expressed through prose, or poetry, or music, or painting. It may be realized through raising children, caring for animals, or growing vegetables. The forms this Love will take are without limit! Just as we are the ideas of God, so are these emanations which shine through us. Let's free ourselves to allow Love to show itself in all Its varied forms of salvation!

"Salvation: Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 593:20-21

“Holding grievances is an attempt to prove that God’s plan for salvation will not work. Yet only His plan will work. By holding grievances, I am therefore excluding my only hope of salvation from my awareness. I would no longer defeat my own best interests in this insane way. I would accept God’s plan for salvation, and be happy.” 

A Course in Miracles W-86.3:2-6

Salvation Is Within

St.Elizabeth Catholic Church

Eureka Springs, AR

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick

Too often I've expected a savior of some sort to bring salvation from all the wrong I think should be made right. I've pointed fingers and expected guilty parties to fix what they've wrought. In these teachings, we are beginning to understand that salvation lies within. And so when we see someone step up and do whatever they can to alleviate pain, to bring the light of salvation to a situation, it's an occasion to rejoice! A good friend of mine regularly puts this idea into practice. She is a veterinarian and a number of years ago, she vacationed in Belize, a beautiful tropical paradise. While there, she realized that many (perhaps most) dogs were left to fend for themselves, particularly when it came to reproduction -- or the stopping thereof! She was led to return with a couple of her associates and they spent a week spaying and neutering dogs, and performing any other tasks which their limited budget and care facilities would allow. Following her lead, other veterinarians have joined the cause and there have been donations enabling the building of a facility from which these volunteers can do their work. What started out as one woman doing what she could has snowballed into many people sharing in an awareness (a salvation, if you will) of how to improve conditions for animals and humans alike. This wonderful woman has followed her heart, and through this action she has inspired others to follow theirs. I see this as the perfect demonstration of living Love. Her love for and kinship with all things living is an inspiration to many. The realization of this inner knowing, and her fearless efforts to improve conditions for these animals and the ones who love them, this is the salvation we all hold within ourselves. And it blossoms when we set it free through our actions.

“Today I will recognize where my salvation is. It is in me because its Source is there. It has not left its Source, and so it cannot have left my mind. I will not look for it outside myself. It is not found outside and then brought in. But from within me it will reach beyond, and everything I see will but reflect the light that shines in me and in itself.” 

A Course in Miracles W-85.3:2-7

“To ascertain our progress, we must learn where our affections are placed and what we acknowledge and obey as God. If divine Love is becoming nearer, dearer, and more real to us, matter is then submitting to Spirit. The objects we pursue and the spirit we manifest reveal our standpoint, and show what we are winning.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 239:16-22

Love Holds No Grievance

Photo taken by Richard Quick

Most of us have a list of grievances we can call up in thought at the slightest provocation. In the past, I've held grievances which ranged from deeds of ex-husbands to actions of politicians. I've resented neighbors’ words and blamed friends for perceived betrayals. As I pause and ponder what grievances I am presently nurturing, only a few come to thought. I'm in the process of asking myself why I feel the need to hold on to these feelings of discontent. I don't have a reason for these resentments; it's just a habit. I do not want to attack Love with these grievances. "Love created me  like Itself" we are told in part of today's A Course in Miracles review. If I attack Love with grievances, I am attacking myself. If I am attacking myself, I'm attacking you. I think I'll just stop it!

“Love giveth to the least spiritual idea might, immortality, and goodness, which shine through all as the blossom shines through the bud. All the varied expressions of God reflect health, holiness, immortality-- infinite Life, Truth, and Love."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 518:18-22

“I am in the likeness of my Creator. I cannot suffer, I cannot experience loss and I cannot die. I am not a body. I would recognize my reality today. I will worship no idols, nor raise my own self-concept to replace my Self. I am in the likeness of my Creator. Love created me like itself.” 

A Course in Miracles W-84.1:2-8

A Release From Conflict

My Boys — circa 1997

Conflict resolution. Conflict transformation. How much time and energy do we spend in attempting to negate conflict between others and/or within ourselves? We can make lists of the merits of our choices, we can role play and put ourselves in each others' place in a situation, and we can enlist therapists to help us out. There are lots of ways to search for the door out of conflict. I have found the only way to truly leave it behind is to realize that such a thing does not exist anywhere other than in my thoughts I'll always remember a time when my boys were around 8 and 10 years of age. Their disagreements had advanced to the point where I saw no way out, other than to give one of them away! One day, during a particularly intense bout, I gave up and sat down in my bedroom to have a good cry. Next to my chair was a stack of Christian Science Sentinels, the weekly publication which has given us practical metaphysical writings for more than a hundred years. I reached down and pulled a copy from the middle of the stack and opened it up to an article about brothers fighting! I don't remember anything about the content, other than it was just what I needed. I also remember sitting there and thinking of all the reasons I loved them, and then thinking of what it truly means that they are  the expression of divine Love. It came to me that I was exhibiting an I'm-right-and-you're-wrong attitude. While that day was not the last time they had disagreements, they never again seemed so intense, and it was the last day I was in total despair over their actions. Living Love creates bridges which bring us together in peace. Trust that your function and happiness are your God-given right, and don't be afraid to open up and see what unexpected ways this function will be manifested.

 “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 106:7-10[

“I have no function but the one God gave me. This recognition releases me from all conflict, because it means I cannot have conflicting goals. With one purpose only, I am always certain what to do, what to say and what to think. All doubt must disappear as I acknowledge that my only function is the one God gave me.”

A Course in Miracles W-83.1:2-5

The Light of Forgiveness

Drumming in Basin Park

Circa 2012

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick

The small, mountain town where I life is very close-knit. Most of us know and love each other on a personal level. We have community celebrations for everything from the equinox to religious holidays. By the same token, when someone is hurting or in trouble, we pull together to help them. A situation comes to mind where one of our well-known, well-loved men ran amok and surprisingly was involved in an act of violence toward his family. The event seems to be fueled by ego and alcohol. We all felt compassion for him and his family, as many of us had links to him by way of various community events. He was fired from his job and ostracized by many. I keep thinking of the story of an African tribe which purportedly has a unique way of rehabilitating wrongdoers. They all gather in the center of the village and recount, in great detail, the admirable things they know about the person. This process may take days. When everyone is done, they have a joyous celebration, bringing the person back into their fold. I can see this happening here. We all share the same light, which brings peace to every mind. We can talk about this light until the cows come home, but it won't dispel the darkness unless we actually spark a flame. May our world find the way to healing through active Love. Namaste …

“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

“My forgiveness is the means by which the light of the world finds expression through me. My forgiveness is the means by which I become aware of the light of the world in me. My forgiveness is the means by which the world is healed, together with myself. Let me, then, forgive the world, that it may be healed along with me.”

A Course in Miracles W-82.1:2-5

Forgiveness is My Function

Photo courtesy of Aaron Springston

I made a mistake. I never, ever post political things to my Facebook page. There was a post someone else had made about an unloving point of view one of Arkansas’s elected officials had voiced, and I was so astounded that I “shared” it without thinking of the consequences. Almost immediately, others began to post their thoughts. Then a distant cousin of mine wrote that he would vote for this politician for president because he was better than who we had — and he gave reasons why he thought so. I read it. Then my thoughts were inflamed with things I wanted to say to my dear relative. Actually, my first thought toward him was very rude — rude enough that I shan’t quote it here. Without hesitation, I deleted the entire post from my page. I’ve said before that I try not to have strong opinions because it closes my mind to anything else. By the same token, I do not serve my function as a reflection of Love if I post unlovely things about others — even if I deem their words to be ignorant and inappropriate. Especially so!! After all, forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.

“It is through accepting my function that I will see the light in me. And in this light will my function stand clear and perfectly unambiguous before my sight. My acceptance does not depend on my recognizing what my function is, for I do not yet understand forgiveness. Yet I will trust that, in the light, I will see it as it is.” 

A Course in Miracles W-81.3:2-5

"Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 15:26-27

What’s the Problem?

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick

How do you respond when an acquaintance comes to you asking advice concerning a problem? It's probably NOT a good idea to tell them they don't know what their actual problem is and, if they did, then they would recognize that the problem has been solved! I was visiting with someone who knows the veracity of this seeming-conundrum and we mentioned a number of people we know who have problems with drinking alcohol. Actually, it only seems as though alcohol is the problem, and they are thinking of it as the solution. Looking at their situations from the outside, it appears that they are holding on to guilt because of their actions (for example, wartime killing of others), or pain because of others' actions (e.g., abandonment by a mother), or any number of things we think of as human problems. I bring this up to illustrate a lesson from A Course in Miracles: There is only one problem, feeling separated from God -- hence, separate from everyone. And there is only one solution: realizing what the problem is, letting the miracle take over, and being willing to accept it. So, when someone asks my advice concerning a “problem” of theirs, I will pause and realize God's law of adjustment, which is already done. I will recognize that nothing needs fixing by me or anyone else. And by this understanding, I will see them as whole, upright, and free. With clear, non-judgmental thought, what they need to hear will come out of my mouth. Namaste…

“If you are willing to recognize your problems, you will recognize that you have no problems. Your one central problem has been answered, and you have no other. Therefore, you must be at peace. Salvation thus depends on recognizing this one problem, and understanding that it has been solved. One problem, one solution. Salvation is accomplished. Freedom from conflict has been given you. Accept that fact, and you are ready to take your rightful place in God’s plan for salvation.” 

A Course in Miracles W-80.1:1-8

“Human reason and religion come slowly to the recognition of spiritual facts, and so continue to call upon matter to remove the error which the human mind alone has created.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 173:25-28