Can Loss Be Measured?

No Words …

How do you measure loss? I’m not sure it can or should be done. Northwest Arkansas had tornadoes and strong winds over Memorial Day Weekend. A dear friend watched as four ancient oak trees were uprooted. Another woman who has withstood loss after loss in the past few years saw a tree land on her front porch, then slowly begin to crack her ceiling. Many were without electricity, which seems a minor inconvenience, but everything has its consequence. My heart cries with the trees and the birds who built their nests in them, searching for their lost babies. My soul applauds the neighbors who help each other remove branches from their houses and yards. Much is said about the resiliency of the human spirit, and we are witnessing that as neighborhoods come together to get through this.  I hear stories of people grilling dinner in their yards, as children help pick up debris and play together in the street. And so the loss seems like gain sometimes. The woman who loved and lost her oak trees said this: “As I was talking to the biggest ancient one, telling it how sorry I was that it had to go like this, we heard a strange noise. I looked all around and there wasn’t anyone there. We realized it was the tree making these strange sounds as if acknowledging our grief and adding its own. You will be missed my friends.”

“There is a light in you which cannot die; whose presence is so holy that the world is sanctified because of you. All things that live bring gifts to you, and offer them in gratitude and gladness at your feet. The scent of flowers is their gift to you.The waves bow down before you, and the trees extend their arms to shield you from the heat, and lay their leaves before you on the ground that you may walk in softness, while the wind sinks to a whisper round your holy head.”

A Course in Miracles W-156.4:1-4

“The sun, giving light and heat to the earth, is a figure of divine Life and Love, enlightening and sustaining the universe. The ‘tree of life’ is significant of eternal reality or being.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 538:11-14

Healing My Mind

Photo by Aaron Springston

I had a lesson in living in the moment. I was taking a friend to do some errands. I should have known this sweet woman could not be rushed and it would be foolish to expect her to not look at everything in the Walmart before deciding she needed to go somewhere else. My plan had been to rush to a meeting after doing this with her, and I almost became irritated when I saw that wasn't going to happen. Watching us as if from a hidden camera, I began to enjoy each step which felt like walking through quicksand. I watched the young people smiling kindly at two doddering women, I watched myself park in a loading zone with no worries about legality, then felt happiness in being able to help my old friend figure out ways to deal with problems she felt were insurmountable. When she wanted things she was not supposed to have, I talked to her about it honestly rather than telling her "no". It was a good practice in letting go of my expectations and giving in to what was happening right then. It's nice to look back and smile over the events, rather than chew on the resentment which could have easily overtaken me. Here's to accepting what "is" and making the best of it!

"If he senses even the faintest hint of irritation in himself as he responds to anyone, let him instantly realize that he has made an interpretation that is not true. Then let him turn within to his eternal Guide, and let Him judge what the response should be. So is he healed, and in his healing is his pupil healed with him." 

A Course in Miracles M-18.4. 

“Patience is symbolized by the tireless worm, creeping over lofty summits, persevering in its intent.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 515:4-5

Who Is Us?

photo of Aaron Springston

I read an editorial in the Christian Science Monitor which discussed this question: Who is in your sense of "us"? While politics has many lines drawn around ideology, gender, race, and such things, democracy itself is really about finding where the "us" is in all of these beliefs. When we're growing up, maybe "us" is our family, or the people we go to church with, or a small clique of friends. If you've been strong in these leanings, perhaps you go to college and root for your football team, join a fraternity or sorority, and continue on with these superficial ties throughout your life. And usually they're harmless -- or so we think. But when they turn into bonds like the Ku Klux Klan and other such societies, there is something wrong. Most of us are realizing the harmfulness of gangs of people who think they and only they are right. These things are obvious. But the rift brought about from a righteous belief that certain things, such as abortion, should not be allowed -- well, that's something which bears examination and compromise. To quote an article by Ryan Strickler, "A key -- the key -- to the deliberative democratic ideal is mutual respect. Not any political discussion will do; discussion and debate must be marked by open-mindedness, recognition of the legitimacy of moral differences, and a goal of achieving consensus." In conclusion the editorial by Mark Sappenfield states: "In short, effective democratic politics must be perpetually reforging a new 'us'." So who is my "us"? Anyone who loves rather than hates; who open-heartedly looks at others and does the best he/she can in every situation. Feel free to tell me about your us and them! (the blog link below is a good place to do this)

“Peace be to me, the holy Son of God. Peace to my brother, who is one with me. Let all the world be blessed with peace through us.” 

A Course in Miracles W-360

“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; andto be merciful, just, and pure.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 497:24-27

I Do Not Value Privacy

 Art by Olay Haidamaka 

We hear many statements regarding our right to privacy. This privacy which people value is more than giving out email addresses or putting photos on social media. People seem to value keeping their thoughts and beliefs private, their emotions secret, their inner-most desires to themselves. For the past decade or so I have bared my soul through this daily writing, not to mention the sharing I do on social media. I openly tell of my love as candidly as regurgitating my shame, probably eliciting comments from others of "too much information"! But that's okay, because by talking through times of turmoil, I heal my mind and heart -- hopefully giving someone else permission to do the same for themselves. I have numerous friends who are dealing with mental and physical upheaval. In talking with someone about their terminal illness, I openly examined the possibility of my own laying aside of this physical body. If that happens, it's okay with me. If I'm hanging around here a while, that's okay, too. But please know my life is an open book and I'm happy when/if you talk about me! Much love to all...

By Donna Ashworth

“In the untimely event of my death,

Immediately unwrap everything, 

you have kept for new, 

I will enjoy it in spirit with you.

Take out all your brightest colours 

and clash so hard, 

the sun is in awe of your light. 

I want you alive and present 

and rainbow-bright.

Eat cake.

And slather butter on your bread, 

this is the prize for not being dead.

Book a holiday, 

somewhere I said you must go 

walk to the forest, make it long and slow.

Watch everything grow.

Touch your face, touch your nose, 

you so often berate, 

marvel at how you arrived so late, 

to see its beauty. 

To see it daily now, is duty.

Set your watch, time is not yours 

but oh this life, it is

and it’s down to you,

how you chose to live,

this is the gift, my dying, will give.”

Donna Ashworth

"Life is deathless. Life is the origin and ultimate of man, never attainable through death, but gained by walking in the pathway of Truth, both before and after that which is called death." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 487:3

Why Make War?

Joy in Eureka Springs

I read a letter from Sigmund Freud to Albert Einstein, who had written him asking if there was a way to free humankind from the threat of war. Mr. Freud has quite a bit to say about this subject, but one phrase which brought pause is, “...the lust for aggression and destruction”. I had never thought of it that way, and it caused me to take notice. Part of his conclusion is as follows: “The upshot of these observations, as bearing on the subject in hand, is that there is no likelihood of our being able to suppress humanity's aggressive tendencies. In some happy corners of the earth, they say, where nature brings forth abundantly whatever man desires, there flourish races whose lives go gently by, unknowing of aggression or constraint. This I can hardly credit; I would like further details about these happy folk.” In our world, we see famine and harsh conditions in many places. I question whether this is the way creation is supposed to evolve. I’m pretty sure when we follow the laws of nature, life as we know it would evolve into peaceful bliss.

"Heaven: Harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality, bliss, the atmosphere of Soul." 

Mary Baker Eddy, Science & Health, Page 587

“The world is nothing in itself. Your mind must give it meaning. And what you behold upon it are your wishes, acted out so you can look on them and think them real. Perhaps you think you did not make the world, but came unwillingly to what was made already, hardly waiting for your thoughts to give it meaning. Yet in truth you found exactly what you looked for when you came.”

A Course in Miracles W-132.4:1-5

We Cannot See Two Worlds

Photo courtesy of Mark McGee

The changes we have witnessed in our lifetime have been exciting and — to take a phrase from the ‘70s — mind blowing! Decades ago, when we were told about the Age of Aquarius and, more recently, when 2012 was explained as a shift in consciousness, I'm not sure we recognized there would be any real change in our lives. Those who are looking for material reasons to explain the shifts, in everything from politics to weather, are feeling helpless and overwhelmed. Looked at from a different perspective, we see changes are necessary in order to facilitate the realization of this new earth which we are ready to embrace. As with any shift in thought, some people are afraid and working to keep the old ways, but it is impossible to "see two worlds”. For this reason, I choose Love!

“Perception is consistent. What you see reflects your thinking. And your thinking but reflects your choice of what you want to see. Your values are determiners of this, for what you value you must want to see, believing what you see is really there. No one can see a world his mind has not accorded value. And no one can fail to look upon what he believes he wants.”

A Course in Miracles W-130.1:1-6

“During this final conflict, wicked minds will endeavor to find means by which to accomplish more evil; but those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection.”

 Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 96:31-4

One Intelligent Source

Cooper Chapel in Bella Vista, AR

The Course in Miracles workbook review topics for today includes Lesson #128, which is often debated and sometimes misinterpreted: “The world I see holds nothing that I want”.  It can be mis-perceived to say that I shouldn't enjoy the beautiful life which unfolds every day. For instance, today was the most glorious day, with perfect temperatures and mild breezes energizing me as I played in the flower garden. Everything from cooking and cleaning to playing Scrabble with an old friend was blissfully full of joy and love. How could that not be something that I want? The other part of our review tells us, “There is no love but God's”. Everything I experienced today demonstrated the spiritual reality of my existence. Not everyone would enjoy digging in the dirt, scrubbing the floor, chopping vegetables, and being outscored in a game of Scrabble! But it was my experience unfolding in an individual way which reflected this Love which is God, allowing ”my mind [to] hold(s) only what I think with God". It's an eternal unfolding of Love, God. So I can truthfully say, “The world holds nothing that I want”, because what I want is to know Love, allowing experience to unfold. I can hardly wait to start another day, fresh with the full breath of Life creating my every moment.

“When the divine precepts are understood, they unfold the foundation of fellowship, in which one mind is not at war with another, but all have one Spirit, God, one intelligent source…”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 276:4-8

“Pause and be still a little while, and see how far you rise above the world, when you release your mind from chains and let it seek the level where it finds itself at home. It will be grateful to be free a while. It knows where it belongs. But free its wings, and it will fly in sureness and in joy to join its holy purpose. Let it rest in its Creator, there to be restored to sanity, to freedom and to love.” 

A Course in Miracles W-128.6:1-5