Perception is a Choice, Not a Fact

Ozark Sunset

Photo Courtesy of Blake Lasater

We, as humans, have a tendency to focus on what we don’t want, rather than what we do want. A teacher once told me to reinforce positive behaviors in our children, rather than trying to turn them away from things we do not want them doing. For example, if you say, “Don’t play in the reet”, all they hear is “play in the street”. Perhaps this is the key to opening the eyes of those who do not want to see. Heather Cox Richardson (my very favorite historian) told us today that it is imperative for everyone to know that the richest man in the world now has access to our national checkbook, along with private information of every citizen. I know many people who listen to and read only conservative news media output. They do not know what the highest elected official in our country plans for us. I pray for clarity in words and actions.

“The still, small Voice for God is not drowned out by all the ego’s raucous screams and senseless ravings to those who want to hear It. Perception is a choice and not a fact. But on this choice depends far more than you may realize as yet. For on the voice you choose to hear, and on the sights you choose to see, depends entirely your whole belief in what you are. Perception is a witness but to this, and never to reality. Yet it can show you the conditions in which awareness of reality is possible, or those where it could never be.”
A Course in Miracles T-21.V.1:6-11

"It is only by acknowledging the supremacy of Spirit, which annuls the claims of matter, that mortals can lay off mortality and find the indissoluble spiritual link which establishes man forever in the divine likeness, inseparable from his creator."
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 491:12-16

A Real Qualitative Shift

 

The Crescent Hotel

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Years ago a friend gave me a coin purse with the words “change is good” printed on the front. She said she thought of me when she saw it because I said this phrase so often. I’m seeing change everywhere, aren’t you? We are being called on to change everything in our experience, from the way we shop to the way we love. We are all releasing ties which hold us to ways which are simply not in our best interest. As we examine the beliefs we live by, we realize we can be a law unto ourselves. The fears which have followed us throughout our lives have shaped our views of ourselves and everything around us. But a universal paradigm shift is upon us and we're each feeling it in our own way. The understanding that we don't have to be bound by any material belief, because our true identity is spiritual, is bringing us to a tipping point in consciousness realization. This freedom will be absolutely experienced. When? Well, since we're not slaves to time, why not now!!

“Laws of nature are laws of Spirit; but mortals commonly recognize as law that which hides the power of Spirit. Divine Mind rightly demands man's entire obedience, affection, and strength. No reservation is made for any lesser loyalty. Obedience to Truth gives man power and strength. Submission to error superinduces loss of power.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health - Page 183:18-25


“The Holy Spirit, the shared Inspiration of all the Sonship, induces a kind of perception in which many elements are like those in the Kingdom of Heaven itself:

First, its universality is perfectly clear, and no one who attains it could believe for one instant that sharing it involves anything but gain.

Second, it is incapable of attack and is therefore truly open. This means that although it does not engender knowledge, it does not obstruct it in any way.

Finally, it points the way beyond the healing that it brings, and leads the mind beyond its own integration toward the paths of creation. It is at this point that sufficient quantitative change occurs to produce a real qualitative shift.”
A Course in Miracles - T-5.I.7:1-6

I Don’t Have to Agree With My Thoughts

Creation from Sandy Wythawai Starbird

The first thought you have in the morning sets the feeling of the day. I’ve said this many times in these writings, and I always try to awaken with the recitation of a spiritual truth and a happy thought. But this morning I woke up with the words of a power-hungry man in my head, complete with the vision of his maniacal face imprinted in my memory. It was a great comfort to go to the Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson for today, which reminded me that “I am not a victim of the world I see.” And then Coreen Walston and Nouk Sanchez helped me understand how it is possible to hear awful things, without feeling victimized. Coreen said: “Let everything just move through, peacefully, noticing thoughts as they pass through our awareness, without agreeing with them or colluding with them.” Thank you, sister Coreen! Later in the day I heard Joe Dispenza talking about quantum physics, explaining why our thoughts affect everything around us. He mentioned that our brain can’t tell the difference in something that has actually happened and something which we are imagining happening. This all seems to tie together and I’ve been pondering it all day. Your comments will be appreciated!

“Have faith in only this one thing, and it will be sufficient: God wills you be in Heaven, and nothing can keep you from it, or it from you. Your wildest misperceptions, your weird imaginings, your blackest nightmares all mean nothing. They will not prevail against the peace God wills for you. The Holy Spirit will restore your sanity because insanity is not the Will of God. If that suffices Him, it is enough for you. You will not keep what God would have removed, because it breaks communication with you with whom He would communicate. His Voice will be heard.”
A Course in Miracles T-13.XI.7:1-7)

“The verity of Mind shows conclusively how it is that matter seems to be, but is not. Divine Science, rising above physical theories, excludes matter, resolves things into thoughts, and replaces the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas.”
MaryBaker Eddy - Science & Health Page 123:11-15

The Double Threat of Defensiveness

After watching a documentary called “The Fight Before Christmas”, I have a better understanding of how people manipulate facts to turn them into half-truths. In this film, a man in Idaho wants to decorate his house to the hilt, including live camels and other excesses. He plans to have people come from far and near to enjoy hot cocoa and sing carols. His neighbors think this is a bad idea. He does it anyway. Well, this seems like a straightforward situation, but the decorating man calls news media and starts a campaign against what he calls his anti-Christian neighbors. He turns the whole scenario into an attack against himself, claiming to be an innocent man who is only trying to save Christmas. Well, this story has twists and turns and unkind actions on both sides. But what struck me about it was how easy it was for him to portray himself as a victim and set his neighbors up to be grinches and horrid people. I’m not sure why I’m writing about this, other than it has stuck with me. I keep feeling the neighbors’ sense of hopelessness in the face of a pointless attack. Also, it turns out this guy wanted to run for political office and was trying to make a name for himself. Which he has done. 

“The world gives rise but to defensiveness. For threat brings anger, anger makes attack seem reasonable, honestly provoked, and righteous in the name of self-defense. Yet is defensiveness a double threat. For it attests to weakness, and sets up a system of defense that cannot work. Now are the weak still further undermined, for there is treachery without and still a greater treachery within. The mind is now confused, and knows not where to turn to find escape from its imaginings.” 

A Course in Miracles W-153.2:1-6

“Evil thoughts, lusts, and malicious purposes cannot go forth, like wandering pollen, from one human mind to another, finding unsuspected lodgment, if virtue and truth build a strong defence.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 231:31-3

Empathy: A Beautiful Act of Rebellion

On the podcast, Politics Girl, the host, Leigh McGowan interviews an authoritarian expert, Andrea Chalupa. She began her interview by saying that the only way through these trying times is to embrace our inner strength, and that will give us the super power we need. In order to recognize and grow this strength, we must cultivate a daily practice which we hold as sacred. You may already have a morning study of prayer and meditation. Perhaps you spend time in nature, finding your center with the trees and animals. Yoga and/or Tai Chi is a way to find inner peace and connection with all that Is. Do not fall into despair because you feel overwhelmed by all this “shock and awe”. Ms. McGowan made this grand statement: “In an age of cruelty, empathy becomes a beautiful act of rebellion.”
I love that …

“The changelessness of Heaven is in you, so deep within that nothing in this world but passes by, unnoticed and unseen.The still infinity of endless peace surrounds you gently in its soft embrace, so strong and quiet, tranquil in the might of its Creator, nothing can intrude upon the sacred Son of God within.”
A Course in Miracles T-29.V.2:3-4

“Practice, not profession, — goodness, not doctrines, — spiritual understanding, not mere belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence, and call down blessings infinite.”
5Mary Baker Eddy - Pulpit and Press Page 9:26-29

Giving Peace and Happiness

Art by Peter Max

Sometimes we feel as though our peace has been taken from us by external events. I remember years ago when I took a course in Oneness Blessing. This process appeals to me because there is no need to delve into all the reasons we are not peaceful. When becoming a Oneness Blessing Giver, you first go through an intense day of releasing the past. We started with rectifying our relationships with our parents. And this is not done by counting all the ways we feel we have been wronged, or that we have wronged them. It is a release of guilt and blame, then a replacement of the space left with the realization of divine Love. When you are given this Oneness Blessing you can expect to feel happiness. After completing my training, I gave a blessing to my son, and he immediately started to laugh. I asked why: was he nervous? No, he said, he just felt happy. And that is what this transmission of divine Love is all about: feeling happy and sharing the peace of God. The best gift of all!

“This material world is even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side there will be discord and dismay; on the other side there will be Science and peace. The breaking up of material beliefs may seem to be famine and pestilence, want and woe, sin, sickness, and death, which assume new phases until their nothingness appears. These disturbances will continue until the end of error, when all discord will be swallowed up in spiritual Truth.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 96:12-20

“Holy child of God, when will you learn that only holiness can content you and give you peace? Remember that you learn not for yourself alone, no more than I did. It is because I learned for you that you can learn of me. I would but teach you what is yours, so that together we can replace the shabby littleness that binds the host of God to guilt and weakness with the glad awareness of the glory that is in him. My birth in you is your awakening to grandeur. Welcome me not into a manger, but into the altar to holiness, where holiness abides in perfect peace. My Kingdom is not of this world because it is in you. And you are of your Father. Let us join in honoring you, who must remain forever beyond littleness.”
A Course in Miracles T-15.III.9:1-9

Translation Into Heaven

The divisions we are witnessing among everyday people are heartbreaking. Ten years ago, I didn’t hesitate to say anything to anybody. The assurance which comes from naivety is a thing of the past with me. Nowadays, it’s become second nature to censor my opinions about certain subjects. And in that light, I wonder at people who seem to bait others with their social media posts. Perhaps they still think that if people with differing ideas about important topics only knew what they thought, then they would see the light and change their mind. And that is what I’ve learned in the last decade: I really, truly cannot change anyone’s thoughts but my own. While I still drive around with a “,la” hat on my dash, I wouldn’t bring up a political topic at my duplicate bridge games for anything! But when I hear about injustice and bigotry being whitewashed into acceptable behavior, it will be translated in my thoughts; translated into how divine Love, God, sees such things. And guess what? Love does not see it, because “…it is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity”.

“The destruction of the claims of mortal mind through Science, by which man can escape from sin and mortality, blesses the whole human family. As in the beginning, however, this liberation does not scientifically show itself in a knowledge of both good and evil, for the latter is unreal.

On the other hand, Mind-science is wholly separate from any half-way impertinent knowledge, because Mind-science is of God and demonstrates the divine Principle, working out the purposes of good only. The maximum of good is the infinite God and His idea, the All-in-all. Evil is a suppositional lie.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 103:6-17

“This is a very simple course. Perhaps you do not feel you need a course which, in the end, teaches that only reality is true. But do you believe it? When you perceive the real world, you will recognize that you did not believe it. Yet the swiftness with which your new and only real perception will be translated into knowledge will leave you but an instant to realize that this alone is true. And then everything you made will be forgotten; the good and the bad, the false and the true. For as Heaven and earth become one, even the real world will vanish from your sight. The end of the world is not its destruction, but its translation into Heaven. The reinterpretation of the world is the transfer of all perception to knowledge.”
A Course in Miracles T-11.VIII.1:1-9