Beam Me Up!

Photo from Buffalo River page on Facebook

Two of my neighbor-friends and I were sitting on the front porch chatting, when something extremely bright flashed in the sky. It was behind me, but was bright enough the sky I was facing lit up, too. As we talked about the possibilities of its origin, I remembered a photo someone had posted to social media showing a smoke ring and a bright light. Of course this led to a discussion about extraterrestrial life and the possibility of visitors from far, far away. Earthlings have always been fascinated with this possibility, and a goodly proportion of our population have seen something they cannot explain — or they explain it as an alien-being sighting. I have never had the honor of seeing one of these events, but am not averse to it happening. I was reminded of something Isaac Asimov wrote decades ago. I don't have the exact quote, but it was to the effect that we, as humans, would not realize our unity until life was discovered on another planet; then it could be us against them. For years I’ve thought we were all doing the best that we can, but that may not be true. I hold to the hope that once we know better, we’ll do better.

“A sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need correct. This sense of separation would never have arisen if you had not distorted your perception of truth, and had thus perceived yourself as lacking. The idea of order of needs arose because, having made this fundamental error, you had already fragmented yourself into levels with different needs. As you integrate you become one, and your needs become one accordingly. Unified needs lead to unified action, because this produces a lack of conflict.”
A Course in Miracles T-1.VI.2:1-5

“It is neither Science nor Truth which acts through blind belief, nor is it the human understanding of the divine healing Principle as manifested in Jesus, whose humble prayers were deep and conscientious protests of Truth, — of man’s likeness to God and of man’s unity with Truth and Love.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 12:10

Kindness as a Present Possibility `

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Eureka Springs, AR

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick

When I first began playing organ/keyboards for the Catholic congregations almost a decade ago, I had never been to any church service other than Christian Science gatherings. I had no idea people thought Jesus was God. There were many creeds and rituals which I found fascinating, and I learned to translate them into expressions of love and peace. In the past ten years, I’ve also played for the Methodists, Presbyterians, and an occasional Episcopal service. All of these congregations have at their core the desire to help others, and to bring an end to suffering. Recently, Father Joseph’s message was to love everyone, whether you agree with them or not. He stressed that God was Love, and this included everyone, no matter what their race, religion, political party, gender, or other tribal separation. He said it in such a heartfelt understanding of its truth that I was still riding high on his words when I stopped at the grocery store on the way home. A man and his wife were there with their four children and they caught my attention when the man shouted to his son to get his f***ing hands off things unless he had money to buy it. As we passed in the aisle, I pointedly made eye contact with the man, and hopefully I was smiling. His eyes were devoid of any emotion. How I wish he had heard and taken to heart the beautiful message I had just experienced at mass. I pray that we may be kind whenever possible, and know that it is always possible. Namaste …

“The world I see is hardly the representation of loving thoughts. It is a picture of attack on everything by everything. It is anything but a reflection of the Love of God and the Love of His Son. It is my own attack thoughts that give rise to this picture. My loving thoughts will save me from this perception of the world, and give me the peace God intended me to have.”
A Course in Miracles -W-55.2:2-6

“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

Is Healing Love a Cliché?

 

Photo credit: Stephen Shogren

Love heals. We hear this so often, it's probably become somewhat of a cliché. We may think that nothing can heal the ills of the world, much less something as intangible as love. What if love were the most powerful force in the universe? Not just an emotion called love, but an omnipotent, gentle presence which is a synonym for Source. What if experiencing this Love was sufficient to heal every thought of evil or sickness or misery which has ever been imagined? Then we'd all be lining up to get some of this stuff, don't you think? And it's even easier than that. We only need get out of our own way to see what has always been there. Love heals.

“One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 598:23-25

“Who uses but Christ’s vision finds a peace so deep and quiet, undisturbable and wholly changeless, that the world contains no counterpart. Comparisons are still before this peace. And all the world departs in silence as this peace envelops it, and gently carries it to truth, no more to be the home of fear. For love has come, and healed the world by giving it Christ’s peace.” 

A Course in Miracles - W-305.1:1-4

Growth

Photo courtesy of Aaron Springston 

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we [often] blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade, using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change ~Thich Nhat Hanh

“Accept with gladness what you do not understand, and let it be explained to you as you perceive its purpose work in it to make it holy. You will find many opportunities to blame your brother for the ‘failure’ of your relationship, for it will seem at times to have no purpose. A sense of aimlessness will come to haunt you, and to remind you of all the ways you once sought for satisfaction and thought you found it. Forget not now the misery you really found, and do not breathe life into your failing ego. For your relationship has not been disrupted. It has been saved.” A Course in Miracles - T-17.V.8

“Teach them that their being is sustained by Spirit, not by matter, and that they find health, peace, and harmony in God, divine Love.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 416:32-2

Am I Pro-Life?

I have listened to the abortion debate all my life. Fifty years ago the lawmakers of our nation decided to allow what had always been an illegal, frightening, and dangerous act. My breaking point on the current debate came when someone posted to a local chat board that they were glad their mother had not aborted them. What about the flip side of this question? Perhaps you were born BECAUSE your mother had an abortion at some point prior to the pregnancy which resulted in you. If that other fetus had been brought to term, it’s very likely (for numerous reasons) that mom’s life circumstances would have been such that you, as you know yourself, would not exist. I pray that anyone who is fighting for the so-called right to life will consider that scenario. I call on my Christian friends to contemplate what the words “never born, never dying” actually mean. What exactly is eternal life? Perhaps the commandment “thou shalt not kill” actually was written as “thou cannot kill”. We, with all our intellectual hubris, need to give up our strong opinions, because they close our mind to anything else. If you think I’m going to hell for killing a baby, so be it. Let God deal with it. It is, purely and simply, no one’s business other than mine. As I told a pollster when they called on the phone and asked the loaded question: Are you pro-life? Yes! I assured them. BUT, I believe a woman should be able to have an abortion if she chooses. They immediately hung up the phone. Namaste…

“Question: What is Life?

Answer: Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit. Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of matter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited. Death and finiteness are unknown to Life. If Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Pages 468:26-6

“This beginning is usually associated with physical birth, because it is hard to maintain that the ego existed before that point in time. The more ‘religiously’ ego-oriented may believe that the soul existed before, and will continue to exist after a temporary lapse into ego life. Some even believe that the soul will be punished for this lapse. However, salvation does not apply to spirit, which is not in danger and does not need to be salvaged.” 

A Course in Miracles - T-4.II.9:4-7

Lessons From Animals

In this lifetime, I’ve learned quite a bit from and about animals. When I was young, the general attitude was that only humans had “souls”. Perhaps this rumor was started to justify our treatment of them. I’m not sure. Maybe it was simply an innocent mistake. It was also taught in subtle and obvious ways that cats and dogs didn’t get along; that they were natural enemies, if you will. I think we’ve all seen animal friendships which transcend these antiquated ideas! One of the most powerful moments I’ve witnessed was my house cat touching noses with a deer. They communed for a few minutes, while I watched in wonder. The things we believed about animals have changed, and it’s comforting to know we humans can see each other in a new light, also. We need only accept each other for what we truly are, reflections of divine Love, to bypass the immaterial illusion of angry, divisive people who cannot get along because of opposing thought systems. Loving one another as God loves us shouldn’t be difficult. Let’s get out of our own way and allow that Love to shine from each of us, without setting parameters of who or what will receive it. Namaste …

“Seek not within the world to find your Self. Love is not found in darkness and in death. Yet it is perfectly apparent to the eyes that see and ears that hear love’s Voice. Today we practice making free your mind of all the laws you think you must obey; of all the limits under which you live, and all the changes that you think are part of human destiny. Today we take the largest single step this course requests in your advance towards its established goal.”
A Course in Miracles — W-127.6:1-5

“Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 571:18-21

A Neutral Space of Peace

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

The function of holding the peace, or holding the space of love, or something along those lines, is often mentioned in these daily writings. Sometimes readers ask what that means, wondering why I think it's necessary to do anything of the sort. I've been asking myself this question as people dear to me are facing uncertainty, having some tough decisions to make. I have the deep feeling that it is my purpose to stake out a neutral space and hold it as an oasis of peace. Sometimes that space is invaded by fear or anger, but that doesn't mean it has been spoiled. By the recognition that reflecting Love is our native state, and that other emotions are only human diversions, this is the way I reclaim a neutral, loving attitude, holding it steady for anyone wishing to join in the peace. While I agree with those who tell me there is a spiritual solution to every problem, I am learning there never was a problem to begin with, and that this basic understanding is the solution. 

"You have no idea of the tremendous release and deep peace that comes from meeting yourself and your brothers totally without judgment. When you recognize what you are and what your brothers are, you will realize that judging them in any way is without meaning. In fact, their meaning is lost to you precisely because you are judging them. All uncertainty comes from the belief that you are under the coercion of judgment. You do not need judgment to organize your life, and you certainly do not need it to organize yourself. In the presence of knowledge all judgment is automatically suspended, and this is the process that enables recognition to replace perception." 

A Course in Miracles T.3.VI.3

“Destroy the five senses as organized matter, and you must either become non-existent, or exist in Mind only; and this latter conclusion is the simple solution of the problem of being, and leads to the equal inference that there is no matter.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Rudimental Divine Science Page 5:26-2