Beyond Righteous Indignation

Photo Courtesy of Blake Lasater

There are upwards of 4,000 religions in the world. I dare to say that they all have factions which are showing symptoms of insanity. I became ensnared in a mini-series called “Under The Banner of Heaven”. It deals with a militant faction of the Latter Day Saints, but I think the same thing could happen in any religion. Something I noticed about these Patriots (as they called themselves), is that they have allowed their egos to take precedence over their thought processes. They began to believe they were the only ones who knew the truth. When Mary Baker Eddy wrote Science & Health in the mid-nineteenth century, she had no desire to start a religion, and only did so because she wanted to ensure that the book would continue to be published in the years after her passing. She often stated that its reading would help a Baptist be a better Baptist, and she insisted that we not proselytize. In a similar manner, A Course in Miracles is not a religion and does not require that you follow any ritual or dogma. Anyone can benefit from its teachings, without giving up their lifelong congregational affiliations.  Seeing beyond the material picture of human hatred and righteous indignation is what we can do to change the world. Let’s remember: Every thought is important! 

“There is a light in you the world cannot perceive. And with its eyes you will not see this light, for you are blinded by the world. Yet you have eyes to see it. It is there for you to look upon. It was not placed in you to be kept hidden from your sight. This light is a reflection of the thought we practice now. To feel the Love of God within you is to see the world anew, shining in innocence, alive with hope, and blessed with perfect charity and love.”

A Course in Miracles W-189.1:1-7

"In the Apocalypse it is written: 'And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.' In St. John's vision, heaven and earth stand for spiritual ideas, and the sea, as a symbol of tempest-tossed human concepts advancing and receding, is represented as having passed away. The divine understanding reigns, is all, and there is no other consciousness." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 536:1-9

Unspeakable Peace

I saw a picture of a man in a tee-shirt which said, "Give peace a chance". Then it had a photo of a big gun and the words: "I'll cover you if it doesn't work out." Where did we ever get the notion that we could be protected by violence? Later in the day, I saw an article from a few years back in which President Jimmy Carter told us the time for peace is now. He brought up our odd system of retribution, wherein we kill people for killing people, and how governments wage wars in the name of enforcing peace. There are a multitude of ways we seem to think that violence will end violence. I look back over the last few decades and it is astounding how often teachers, parents, and authority figures think they can control children with threats and corporal punishment. I’ve been studying the work of Gabor Mate, who examines the effects of violence in childhood, and the after effects which appear in later life. Many of our choices are not facilitating peace, so let’s choose again

“The peace of God is shining in you now, and from your heart extends around the world. It pauses to caress each living thing, and leaves a blessing with it that remains forever and forever. What it gives must be eternal. It removes all thoughts of the ephemeral and valueless. It brings renewal to all tired hearts, and lights all vision as it passes by. All of its gifts are given everyone, and everyone unites in giving thanks to you who give, and you who have received.”

A Course in Miracles W-188.3:1-6

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 264:24-27

Celebrating Independence

Photo of unknown origin

A national celebration of independence is happening as I write this. My celebration occurred while I was on the front porch, watching fireflies rise from my overgrown flowerbed-of-a-lawn. I could hear the far-away noise of fireworks, police sirens wailed somewhere in the distance, but I was smelling the flowers and herbs rather than the pungent odor of explosives. I commemorated freedom with my cats, while reveling in the peace on my porch. The terrible political turmoil our country is wrapped up in is easier to see through from my porch. I receive daily newsletters from historian/teacher Dr. Heather Cox Richardson. Today she gave us ways to stay the rising tide of treachery in our country. Basically, she directs us to use our unique talents in order to save democracy. She gives talks; I write daily essays. Don’t be shy when it comes to sharing your purpose!

“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

“Ideas must first belong to you, before you give them. If you are to save the world, you first accept salvation for yourself. But you will not believe that this is done until you see the miracles it brings to everyone you look upon. Herein is the idea of giving clarified and given meaning. Now you can perceive that by your giving is your store increased.”

A Course in Miracles W-187.3:1-5

Arrogant or Humble?

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

Would you feel uneasy, perhaps arrogant, if you were to say that the salvation of the world depended on you? I know I would have in the past, but that was before I realized that the opposite is true. The realization that we are united with All that Is, this is quite a humbling experience. It's easy to get this concept backwards, believing that if we recognize our oneness with God, we are displaying braggadocio. I have found boastful behavior comes about from thinking that my material, personal beliefs are more valid than the experience I share with the divine Mind. It takes a yielding of my self-important intellectual sureness in order to admit that I want nothing other than to know God. The gratitude I feel from the realization of our unity is priceless!

“The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God’s will must be universally done.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 201:3-5

“Let us not fight our function. We did not establish it. It is not our idea. The means are given us by which it will be perfectly accomplished. All that we are asked to do is to accept our part in genuine humility, and not deny with self-deceiving arrogance that we are worthy. What is given us to do, we have the strength to do. Our minds are suited perfectly to take the part assigned to us by One Who knows us well.”

A Course in Miracles W-186.2:1-7

Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson

“It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of

God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.”

—Marianne Williamson

Calm and Exalted Thought

Pembrooke Farm

Eureka Springs, AR

I met a woman who had lived in our mountain town for about a year. She wasn't happy here; not in any way. She told me how she couldn't stand the weather, her job, her apartment, the lack of public transportation, our farmers' market. For most of her diatribe, I calmly listened to her and agreed that she should probably go back to Houston where she was happier. But when she started to put down our local farmers' market, I verbally retaliated in a fashion more vehement than expected! Looking back on the situation, I realize the "peace of God" (which we are contemplating in today’s Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 185) has nothing to do with degrees. Divine Love doesn't become riled up if someone says something derogatory about a cause which is close to Its heart. It doesn’t become a bit upset over something, and ragingly defensive over something else. Today my focus will be on experiencing peace in every situation, not just the ones I have no emotional connection towards! 

"The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 506:11-12

“The mind which means that all it wants is peace must join with other minds, for that is how peace is obtained. And when the wish for peace is genuine, the means for finding it is given, in a form each mind that seeks for it in honesty can understand. Whatever form the lesson takes is planned for him in such a way that he can not mistake it, if his asking is sincere. But if he asks without sincerity, there is no form in which the lesson will meet with acceptance and be truly learned.”

A Course in Miracles W-185.6:1-4 

Seeing Something Where There Is Nothing

Sculpture At Crystal Bridges

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

From the moment we come into this form, we are taught what things are called, what those names represent, and the meaning we should place on them. These names and meanings tend to separate us from each other: they de-unify us. We think of learning as knowing what these things are, and then we study to find out everything about them. In this world we have made, we need these symbols, these names, in order to convey information. And yet, we keep getting glimpses of true communication -- and, if you're like me, you want more! Watching birds fly in formation is but one way we witness a higher form of knowing. Rather than learning more about the illusion of names and notions, I'd rather work toward knowing the reality of a shared unity, by way of understanding the infinite Mind which flows through everything. The knowledge that the confusion we are faced with in daily life is not true creation, this is a key to the door of Truth, wherein peace is found.

“The press unwittingly sends forth many sorrows and diseases among the human family. It does this by giving names to diseases and by printing long descriptions which mirror images of disease distinctly in thought. A new name for an ailment affects people like a Parisian name for a novel garment. Every one hastens to get it.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 196:31-5

“This space you see as setting off all things from one another is the means by which the world’s perception is achieved. You see something where nothing is, and see as well nothing where there is unity; a space between all things, between all things and you. Thus do you think that you have given life in separation. By this split you think you are established as a unity which functions with an independent will.”

A Course in Miracles W-184.2:1-4

Who Are You Without Your Name?

Basin Park, Eureka Springs, AR 

Photo credit: Richard Quick

There is an Eckhart Tolle video called "The Flowering of Human Consciousness." This talk starts out with him asking us to pretend we have no name. He wants us to examine how this feels and see who we are without this part of our "story" in place. I feel fortunate to have discovered that my personal history isn't exactly what I had been told it was. My parents took me from a relative shortly after my birth, moved to another state, and invented a history for their new baby.  Finding out at the age of 37 that my given name and birthdate were fiction enabled me to begin to see who I Am, in reality. My only parent is divine Mind. I have no birth date as I am eternal, without beginning or ending. Every single part of my material history is a temporary illusion which can be released in favor of Truth. This doesn't mean that I will lose my individuality. On the contrary! I am set free to be more of mySelf when I dismiss the limitations imposed by heredity, circumstance, and other material beliefs concerning my past. Although this changing of history was rather traumatic when I discovered my personal data was fiction, I rapidly found out what was important in this life on earth. Our sustenance, our comfort, are all found within. We are free!

"Man's individuality is not material. This Science of being obtains not alone hereafter in what men call Paradise, but here and now; it is the great fact of being for time and eternity." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science  & Health Page 285:2-6

“Today you can achieve a state in which you will experience the gift of grace. You can escape all bondage of the world, and give the world the same release you found. You can remember what the world forgot, and offer it your own remembering. You can accept today the part you play in its salvation, and your own as well. And both can be accomplished perfectly.”

A Course in Miracles W-183.9:1-5