Reading is Fundamental

Throughout the decades, there have always been people who promoted the joy of reading. Librarians rode through remote areas on horseback, to lend books to people who had no way of coming to town. Book fairs and used-book sales are regular occurrences in many parts of the world. My book club supplies children’s books at a local food bank. Not only do these youngsters have the excitement of new books, but they are able to keep them and learn how a favorite book can be a friend. Reading develops critical thinkings skills, which is much-needed in our current times. I read an article about people in Pakistan who travel around reading stories to any children willing to listen. The director of this program, GoRead, says: “…purposeful storytelling builds a child’s character and brings out the traits for success in life.” And so, let’s support our public libraries and organizations which promote understanding of the written word! Our world needs us …

“Why should you condone insane thinking? There is a confusion here that you would do well to look at clearly. You may believe that you are responsible for what you do, but not for what you think. The truth is that you are responsible for what you think, because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice. What you do comes from what you think. You cannot separate yourself from the truth by ‘living’ autonomy to behavior. This is controlled by me automatically as soon as you place what you think under my guidance. Whenever you are afraid, it is a sure sign that you have allowed your mind to miscreate and have not allowed me to guide it.”

A Course in Miracles T-2.VI.2:3-10

“The history of our country, like all history, illustrates the might of Mind, and shows human power to be proportionate to its embodiment of right thinking. A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping-post and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon’s mouth. Love is the liberator.”

Mary baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 22

Wholeheartedly Happy

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

“Oh, that magic feeling; nowhere to go.” This line from a Beatles song has always captivated me. I’m sure it can be interpreted many ways, but I’ve always felt in them the coziness which comes from snow outside, with no place I have to go. It’s been delightful on this snowy day, as no one has driven in nor out of my dead-end street. Reading a book, while watching birds at the feeder, is the most perfect day I can imagine. Playing with my cats, watching them decide whether they like snow or not, was delightful. A FaceTime chat with my son and grandsons was the sweetest thing. Texts and chats with friends was a delicious treat. Thinking of all these things at the end of the day brings joy, and I look forward to sleeping and, hopefully, remembering sweet dreams. Oh, that magic feeling …

“To be wholehearted you must be happy. If fear and love cannot coexist, and if it is impossible to be wholly fearful and remain alive, the only possible whole state is that of love. There is no difference between love and joy. Therefore, the only possible whole state is the wholly joyous. To heal or to make joyous is therefore the same as to integrate and to make one. That is why it makes no difference to what part or by what part of the Sonship the healing is offered. Every part benefits, and benefits equally.”
A Course in Miracles T-5.in.2:1-7

“How little light or heat reach our earth when clouds cover the sun’s face! So Christian Science can be seen only as the clouds of corporeal sense roll away. Earth has little light or joy for mortals before Life is spiritually learned.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 548:9-14

Calling in Well!

Snow Messages of Love

We are having a lovely, snowy night in the Ozarks. It brings back memories of when my boys were young and we would be excited about enjoying a snow day. That wonderful, joyous excitement of knowing something different was in store for us, and we couldn’t wait to see what fun it would bring! Thinking of those days, and the breaking of our routine, reminds me of something Wayne Dyer taught me, which I passed on to my children. He tells a story of someone waking up, thinking about how wonderful they feel, then deciding they will call in sick to their work place. He suggested that we call in well! Luckily, my children attended a small, independent school here in Eureka Springs and so we would occasionally (once or twice a year) do just that! Whatever your day is spent doing, I hope you enjoy every little moment of it!

“How beautiful indeed are the Thoughts of God who live in His light! Your worth is beyond perception because it is beyond doubt. Do not perceive yourself in different lights. Know yourself in the One Light where the miracle that is you is perfectly clear.” 

A Course in Miracles T-3.V.10:6-9

“I saw the love of God encircling the universe and man, filling all space, and that divine Love so permeated my own consciousness that I loved with Christlike compassion everything I saw.”

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy" Page 68

Joyous Entertainment

Grace Vanderwaal on America’s Got Talent 

We’ve probably all had an experience of seeing someone who is so delightful that we immediately began to smile and, perhaps, laugh. When I first saw Grace Vanderwaal on America’s Got Talent, she was 12 years old, and she played a ukulele, while singing a song she had written herself. Her voice was so beautiful that she got the golden buzzer, and we all laughed and cried along with her. Now, fast forward a few years to the StarGirl Hollywood movie. I would not have thought of watching this coming-of-age film, had she not been playing the starring role. It was delightful to see a semi-grownup Grace as one of my favorite book characters of all time! When my boys were young and we traveled quite a bit to their soccer games, we listened to scores of books on tape. StarGirl, by Jerry Spinelli, was one of our favorites.  While this sweet movie won’t be up for any awards, it kept me smiling the whole time. And that’s worth a lot in my book! A link to Grace’s AGT performance in 2016 is included here, and the StarGirl movies are found on Disney. We can all use some gentle entertainment, I think. Rock on, Grace!

https://youtu.be/eNxO9MpQ2vA

“Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the demands of the affections, and should never weigh against the better claims of intellect, goodness, and virtue. Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 57:15

“To be wholehearted you must be happy. If fear and love cannot coexist, and if it is impossible to be wholly fearful and remain alive, the only possible whole state is that of love. There is no difference between love and joy. Therefore, the only possible whole state is the wholly joyous. To heal or to make joyous is therefore the same as to integrate and to make one. That is why it makes no difference to what part or by what part of the Sonship the healing is offered. Every part benefits, and benefits equally.” 

A Course in Miracles  T-5.in.2:1-7

The Garden of Happiness

Most of us know someone who lives with debilitating depression. Something I did not realize is that many family members feel guilty being happy around their depressed loved one. Oftentimes, the whole family ends up depressed, on some level, because of the one who is at its depths. While listening to BK Shivani talk about this phenomenon, I suddenly realized how much I have witnessed this happening amongst people I know. She gives a hypothetical example of a family walking in the woods and one member falls into a pit. Right away, one by one, the others jump in to be with the trapped member. They’re family after all, and they must stick together. But wait! At least one needs stay out of the pit if they are to survive. And so it is with depression and grief: one person must be willing to keep their vibrations high and joyous in order to bring the others up to that level, raising them out of the pit. And so, instead of guilt over feeling happy in the face of someone who is chronically sad, we need to be proud that we have the courage to stay out of the pit and be happy, raising the vibration of everyone around us. An example came to mind of a dark closet. When you open the door, the dark doesn’t escape into the light room; the light chases away the darkness. Let us never feel guilty about our happiness, because it spreads exponentially!

"Harmony is produced by its Principle, is controlled by it and abides with it. Divine Principle is the Life of man. Man's happiness is not, therefore, at the disposal of physical sense. Truth is not contaminated by error. Harmony in man is as beautiful as in  music, and discord is unnatural, unreal." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 304:17-21

“You have reached the end of an ancient journey, not realizing yet that it is over. You are still worn and tired, and the desert’s dust still seems to cloud your eyes and keep you sightless. Yet He Whom you welcomed has come to you, and would welcome you. He has waited long to give you this. Receive it now of Him, for He would have you know Him. Only a little wall of dust still stands between you and your brother. Blow on it lightly and with happy laughter, and it will fall away. And walk into the garden love has prepared for both of you.”

A Course in Miracles T-18.VIII.13:1-8

Optimists Are Created

Art from Dorima on Pinvibe

Crescent Dragonwagon made a Facebook post today in which she related going to the food market. After checking out, the cashier said, “Be safe!”. Crescent responded that she hadn’t gotten where she is today by being safe. Surprisingly, the young woman asked her: “How DID you get where you are today?” Out of many responses she could have given, this one came forth: “Getting up one more time than I get knocked down. Over and over.” If I had two legs, I would have jumped up and applauded! And the next post I read was from Midwives of the Soul:

“Most optimists are not born that way. They are created. When the world asked them to harden, they softened. When they experienced pain, they vowed not to give that pain to others. When they understood the lineage of trauma, they healed instead of continuing the pattern. Optimists are not people who have never had a hard day or a hard season or a collection of hard years. Optimists are those that have walked through the fire and decided that love, hope, resiliency, and compassion are lighter to carry. For most people, their optimism is hard-won. Fought for. An act of brave resistance in a harsh, demanding, chaotic world.”

~ Jamie Varon

Here’s to all of us who get up one more time — over and over!

Joy Through Interactions

Joy in Mongolia

There is a study, which has been taking place for 40-plus years, following certain people throughout their lives and coming to conclusions on why they are, or are not, happy. It would seem happiness isn’t reliant on how much money people have, nor does it matter what religion they espouse — or not. Happiness isn’t dependent or where people live, what job they have, nor if they’re married or single. But it does have a direct correlation to their interpersonal relationships, their friendships, their interactions with others. Whether or not people were married or had a job, the study showed people are happier if they interact with others on a regular basis. So let’s go out and gather joy, spread happiness, and express Love in everything we do!

"Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 57:18-21

“Each instant is a clean, untarnished birth, in which the Son of God emerges from the past into the present. And the present extends forever. It is so beautiful and so clean and free of guilt that nothing but happiness is there. No darkness is remembered, and immortality and joy are now.”

A Course in Miracles T-15.I.8:4-7