Accoutrements to Life

I’ve been thinking about the way we define ourselves by our jobs, our talents, our looks, our cars, our children — well, the list goes on, doesn’t it? When I closed my beloved art gallery, many people warned me about the huge adjustment I would face, not going there every day, not having it as the center of my existence. But it wasn’t! I think that’s because it never defined me. I never thought of myself as being what I was doing. It’s easy to think of one’s self as being a mother, or a mechanic, or any number of things which we do on a daily basis. And there is nothing wrong with that; nothing at all! But I’m very grateful that all the hats I’ve worn in this life are just that: accouterments to Life!

"God is divine Life, and Life is no more confined to the forms which reflect it than substance is in its shadow.”

Mary Baker Eddy- Science & Health Page 331:1-3

“I was mistaken when I thought I lived apart from God, a separate entity that moved in isolation, unattached, and housed within a body. Now I know my life is God’s, I have no other home, and I do not exist apart from Him. He has no Thoughts that are not part of me, and I have none but those which are of Him.”

A Course in Miracles W-223.1:1-3

Love Must Triumph Over Hate

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

When we think of extremist religious groups, what usually comes to mind is something similar to the Islamic group, al Qaeda. Because Jesus was a man who spurned violence as much as he turned away from riches and power, we think of Christianity as a medium for peace and love. Unfortunately, this is not always true. The teachings of Jesus were simple: love your neighbor as yourself and God above all else. In the past few years, we have discovered that many people in our country, people who proclaim themselves to be Christians, are waging violence because they think God is telling them to do so. It is beyond my ability to grasp this idea. We see some pastors and political leaders leading their followers down dead-end paths of hatred and violence. And for what reason? Why would Christians -- or anyone -- be opposed to people simply because they are of a different political party than the one they support? I hope we can all remember that Jesus did not plan to start a religion. He came to teach us the way to peace, how to love without judgment, and empathy for all beings. I pray for the day we can free ourselves of political parties and religious sects, living from the purity of our heart, without the ritual and rule of power-hungry leaders. Namaste...

"The Science Jesus taught and lived must triumph over all material beliefs about life, substance, and intelligence, and the multitudinous errors growing from such beliefs. Love must triumph over hate." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 43:27

“God is with me. He is my Source of life, the life within, the air I breathe, the food by which I am sustained, the water which renews and cleanses me. He is my home, wherein I live and move; the Spirit which directs my actions, offers me Its Thoughts, and guarantees my safety from all pain. He covers me with kindness and with care, and holds in love the Son He shines upon, who also shines on Him. How still is he who knows the truth of what He speaks today!

“Father, we have no words except Your Name upon our lips and in our minds, as we come quietly into Your Presence now, and ask to rest with You in peace a while.”

A Course in Miracles W-222.1:1–2:1

Peace To My Mind

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

When I was a child, I didn’t like to have conversations when I first awakened in the morning. My mother thought this was a flaw in my character and tried to change me. Looking at this now, I see that silence in the morning works best for many of us. If I start out the day with inane conversation, or news stories hand-picked to feed my fears, the flavor of my day has been set and it’s difficult to center myself in the calm needed to move happily through it. Similarly, when I don’t sleep well at night, it’s because I haven’t been able to shut down my thoughts. Although I am not a fan of ritual, morning and evening meditations work for me. We are all individuals, and through an examination of your feelings, habits, and demeanor, you can discover what works for you, too! 

“Peace to my mind. Let all my thoughts be still. Father, I come to You today to seek the peace that You alone can give. I come in silence. In the quiet of my heart, the deep recesses of my mind, I wait and listen for Your Voice. My Father, speak to me today. I come to hear Your Voice in silence and in certainty and love, sure You will hear my call and answer me.” 

A Course in Miracles W-221.1:1-5

“Christ is the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 332:9-11

Joyous Peace

My heart is too full to write this evening. I’m not sure this has ever been the case. May you feel peace and the presence of Love as fully as I do today! 

“In truth we gaze but do not see, and hearken but do not hear; we eat and drink but do not taste. And there lies the difference between Jesus of Nazareth and ourselves. His senses were all continually made new, and the world to Him was always a new world.”

Kahlil Gibran

“Today we seek no idols. Peace cannot be found in them. The peace of God is ours, and only this will we accept and want. Peace be to us today. For we have found a simple, happy way to leave the world of ambiguity, and to replace our shifting goals and solitary dreams with single purpose and companionship. For peace is union, if it be of God. We seek no further. We are close to home, and draw still nearer every time we say: There is no peace except the peace of God, and I am glad and thankful it is so.”

A Course in Miracles W-200.11:1-9

“Instinct is better than misguided reason, as even nature declares. The violet lifts her blue eye to greet the early spring. The leaves clap their hands as nature's untired worshippers." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 220:10

Breaking Through Physical Boundaries

Fabric Creation by Sandy Wythawai Starbird

Have you ever dreamed you could fly? My favorite freedom dream is one of running fast, sometimes leaving the ground and floating in mid-stride. Although I haven't had this recurring dream for some time, I can still fell the perfection of it. As I watch clips of the Olympic Games, my heart sings to see people using their bodies in life-affirming ways, as they joyously compete with each other and themselves. The beauty and grace expressed in these activities is awesome! Just as physical boundaries are broken and new records set, we are beginning to understand how we, too, can expect more of ourselves in this so-called physical existence. We are learning of the limitlessness of divine Mind’s ideas, of which we are One.   What is your highest ideal of freedom? 

“Be free today. And carry freedom as your gift to those who still believe they are enslaved within a body. Be you free, so that the Holy Spirit can make use of your escape from bondage, to set free the many who perceive themselves as bound and helpless and afraid. Let love replace their fears through you. Accept salvation now, and give your mind to Him Who calls to you to make this gift to Him. For He would give you perfect freedom, perfect joy, and hope that finds its full accomplishment in God.”

A Course in Miracles W-199.7:1-6

"This mortal is put off, and the new man or real man is put on, in proportion as mortals realize the Science of man and seek the true model." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 408:22-26

Universal Mind

Photo courtesy of Alden Stallings 

“I'm not worthy!" When certain comedians say this in a silly movie, it seems funny. But when I hear this coming from people in everyday conversations, even though they don't use these exact words, it's tempting to tell them that they are very much worthy!! One evening, I had dinner with a group of people who were going to the Passion Play here in Eureka Springs. One woman stated that she had mixed feelings about the play because no one was "good enough" to play the part of Jesus. She felt it was presumptuous and arrogant for anyone to do so. As you can imagine, it was all I could do to stop myself from jumping up on the table and shouting that we are all worthy!! But I didn’t. Instead, I inwardly offered an affirmation of our goodness as the expression of God, the image of Mind, the reflection of Love — along with a silent Namaste…

"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; and to be merciful, just, and pure." 

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

“Only my condemnation injures me. My condemnation keeps my vision dark, and through my sightless eyes I cannot see the vision of my glory. Yet today I can behold this glory and be glad.”

A Course in Miracles W-218.1:1-4

Leaving The Old For The New

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

In the last few days' reviews we have released the past, the future, and the present. How do we let go of the memory of an event which haunts us? How do we forgive an incident which seems unforgivable? The ultimate understanding is that it never happened; that it's an illusion, a projection of thought from our mortal mind, and nothing more. But how do you see that reality when the seeming-reality keeps coming back, causing you to relive the painful memory? When my mind wants to replay a circumstance in all its glorified pathos, I recognize that I have a choice: I can choose again and not see that person, that event, in a way which causes me to feel yet more pain, anger, or sorrow. I can think instead of the goodness, kindness, and love inherent in everyone, and allow its reality to form an image in my thought. I can play lots of games with myself in this way, and perhaps cajole myself out of thinking badly or sadly, but to get to the root of this circular dream, the answer may lie in the ideas we're studying today: "It can be but my gratitude I earn". I take this to mean, in part, that I needn't worry about what anyone else thinks about me. If I am being true to myself, to God, that is enough! 

“Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear, — this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 323:32-4

“How easily are God and guilt confused by those who know not what their thoughts can do. Deny your strength, and weakness must become salvation to you. See yourself as bound, and bars become your home. Nor will you leave the prison house, or claim your strength, until guilt and salvation are not seen as one, and freedom and salvation are perceived as joined, with strength beside them, to be sought and claimed, and found and fully recognized.”

A Course in Miracles W-197.2:1-4