No Idle Thoughts

Photo by Aaron Springston

Our hearts cry for the children, the animals, the adults, the trees, the insects — all of life is in need of our higher thoughts and positive actions! When we see a heartbreaking situation and translate it into Love, we are helping. Everything we say or do is either a reflection of Love or of fear, and fear seems to try to attach itself to us with every new travesty we witness. Fearful responses get us nowhere and only cause the situation to be more solid in our thoughts. We are easily-influenced, but we are also smart and intuitive. The choices we have may seem overwhelming sometimes, but when we realize there is only one real choice, Love, it becomes easier to see truth. We all want to be loved, to be safe, to be comfortable, to be at peace. It may seem as though hatred spreads like wildfire, but Love puts out the flames of hatred as surely as light brightens a dark room. The light may hurt our eyes at first, but those reflective organs are made to adjust. I hope you can do something joyous today. Love as strongly as some are fearing, because it's an incredibly strong and unstoppable force which we hold right here in our hearts.

“Lulled by stupefying illusions, the world is asleep in the cradle of infancy, dreaming away the hours. Material sense does not unfold the facts of existence; but spiritual sense lifts human consciousness into eternal Truth. Humanity advances slowly out of sinning sense into spiritual understanding; unwillingness to learn all things rightly, binds Christendom with chains.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 95:28-3

“Besides your recognizing that thoughts are never idle, salvation requires that you also recognize that every thought you have brings either peace or war; either love or fear. A neutral result is impossible because a neutral thought is impossible.”
A Course in Miracles W-16.3:1-2

Reading With New Eyes

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

Most of us have favorite books from childhood; many of us have a favorite book which we enjoy revisiting throughout our lives. Recently I decided to reread Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. I haven’t read it straight through since I took class instruction in the late 1990s, and I’m amazed by how much I’m enjoying it! I read it first thing in the morning, and it’s sometimes difficult to stop and go about the day’s activities. Almost every page has an ah-hah moment, a sentence or paragraph which I read multiple times with increasing wonder. Today’s find was: “Love will finally mark the hour of harmony, and spiritualization will follow, for Love is Spirit. Before error is wholly destroyed, there will be interruptions of the general material routine. Earth will become dreary and desolate, but summer and winter, seedtime and harvest (though in changed forms), will continue unto the end, — until the final spiritualization of all things. ‘The darkest hour precedes the dawn.’” (Page 96:4-11) I find comfort in this prophecy.

“Let us come daily to this holy place, and spend a while together. Here we share our final dream. It is a dream in which there is no sorrow, for it holds a hint of all the glory given us by God. The grass is pushing through the soil, the trees are budding now, and birds have come to live within their branches. Earth is being born again in new perspective. Night has gone, and we have come together in the light.”
A Course in Miracles W-pII.2.4:1-6)

Free Will?

New Mexico Art Museum in Santa Fe

Photo from Aaron Springston

I'm beginning to see that I have no will of my own, if I'm simply regurgitating well-rehearsed lines from the history of my life. Glimpses of freedom come from throwing off chains I’ve bound myself with throughout a lifetime of fear and learned behavior. Listening for Mind (with a capital M) is beginning to take precedence over knee-jerk reactions to life’s circumstances. A friend told me a story about how his misperception of things caused a rift in a relationship. He thought his stepmother had never liked him, then one day he found out she was almost deaf. With this realization, he saw that the actions he had interpreted as slights to him were actually moments of confusion on her part. Now, viewed from this understanding, he sees their relationship as a loving one. Today I will quietly listen for that still, small voice which frees me from long-held beliefs which have been created by my ego-driven mortal mind. Clarity, consideration, compassion — three things of which we can never have too much!

“The Garden of Eden, or the pre-separation condition, was a state of mind in which nothing was needed. When Adam listened to the ‘lies of the serpent,’ all he heard was untruth. You do not have to continue to believe what is not true unless you choose to do so. All that can literally disappear in the twinkling of an eye because it is merely a misperception. What is seen in dreams seems to be very real. Yet the Bible says that a deep sleep fell upon Adam, and nowhere is their reference to his waking up. The world has not yet experienced any comprehensive reawakening or rebirth. Such a rebirth is impossible as long as you continue to project or miscreate. It still remains within you, however, to extend as God extended His Spirit to you. In reality this is your only choice, because your free will was given you for your joy in creating the perfect.”
A Course in Miracles T-2.I.3:1-10

“Man is tributary to God, Spirit, and to nothing else. God’s being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss.” 
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 480:2-4

Good Luck/Bad Luck — Who Knows?

Altai Mountains in Mongolia

Photo by Aaron Springston

There is a story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields. One day, the horse ran away and when the farmer's neighbors sympathized with the man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?" A week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, "Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?" The farmer's son attempted to tame one of the wild horses, fell off, and broke his leg, Everyone thought this very bad luck, but not the farmer, whose only reaction was, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?" Then war broke out and the son didn't have to fight because of his broken leg. Bad luck, good luck -- who knows? It's wonderful to be open to Life with no expectations, not thinking in terms of good and bad, letting Love live through us!

“Let truth be what it is. Do not intrude upon it, do not attack it, do not interrupt its coming. Let it encompass every situation and bring you peace. Not even faith is asked of you, for truth asks nothing. Let it enter, and it will call forth and secure for you the faith you need for peace. But rise you not against it, for against your opposition it cannot come.” A Course in Miracles T-17.VIII.2:2-7

“Harmony is produced by its Principle, is controlled by it and abides with it.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 304:16-17

Give Your Light to the World

Laughter is contagious, don’t you think? Most of us have “gotten the giggles” and been unable to stop laughing. There are numerous videos on the internet where people are sharing laughter in the most joyous of ways. I particularly like one which shows people’s reactions when someone tells them they are beautiful. The sheepish grins which emerge, the eyes which light up, are sure to bring a smile to my face and an expansion of my heart no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Joy, laughter, happiness — these are given freely to us as a part of our divine heritage. Today I will make the most of every opportunity I have to give these gifts, freely, joyously, with no reservations or restrictions!

"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

“This is the way salvation works. As you step back, the light in you steps forward and encompasses the world. It heralds not the end of sin in punishment and death. In lightness and in laughter is sin gone, because its quaint absurdity is seen. It is a foolish thought, a silly dream, not frightening, ridiculous perhaps, but who would waste an instant in approach to God Himself for such a senseless whim?”
A Course in Miracles W-156.6:1-5

A Song of Thanks

Buffalo River

Unknown Photographer

Today I received delivery of an ultra-lightweight wheelchair. It weighs closer to 20 pounds than the typical weight of around 40 pounds. This will make it easier for the women who drive me places to load my means of ambulation into their vehicles. When the man delivered this lovely chair to me today, he knew I mainly needed it to get to my job as a church keyboardist. As he was getting ready to leave he said: “I know you’re a church lady so shall we pray together and give thanks?” And that is why I am telling you this story. I do not pray with others, nor out loud in public. While my gratitude is great for all the wonderful help I have received on my journey, I declined holding hands and praising God with him. I have never been comfortable with praying in group situations, although silent giving of gratitude and quiet affirmations of Good are welcomed events when gathering with others. I’m going to think about all of this some more, asking for guidance in my thoughts and actions. Thank you greatly …

“Audible prayer can never do the works of spiritual understanding, which regenerates; but silent prayer, watchfulness, and devout obedience enable us to follow Jesus’ example. Long prayers, superstition, and creeds clip the strong pinions of love, and clothe religion in human forms. Whatever materializes worship hinders man’s spiritual growth and keeps him from demonstrating his power over error.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 4:27-2

“Prayer is a ladder reaching up to Heaven. At the top there is a transformation much like your own, for prayer is part of you. The things of earth are left behind, all unremembered. There is no asking, for there is no lack. Identity in Christ is fully recognized as set forever, beyond all change and incorruptible. The light no longer flickers, and will never go out. Now, without needs of any kind, and clad forever in the pure sinlessness that is the gift of God to you, His Son, prayer can again become what it was meant to be. For now it rises as a song of thanks to your Creator, sung without words, or thoughts, or vain desires, unneedful now of anything at all. So it extends, as it was meant to do. And for this giving God Himself gives thanks.”
A Course in Miracles S-1.II.7:1-10

Art Prayers

By Marjorie Theodore

A woman named Marjorie Theodore has been posting daily art prayers for Ukraine on her social media page. It may be a simple sunflower, as the photo I’ve included with this writing, which she posted along with the words “sunflowers for strength, and peace, and hope”. She’s done it every day for more than a year. When asked if she planned to continue, she answered: “How could I not? I hope that my commitment will last as their commitment does. I do think art is prayer. I think that song is prayer. When you are thinking of someone that you love, that is prayer. So when I think of Ukraine and I express my feelings through these daily pictures, it is a prayer.” Ms. Theodore has caused me to realize that my daily writings are also prayers: prayers for you, prayers for me, prayers for the world. We all have the opportunity to express Love in everything we do. I hope you will appreciate yourself today, and shine your love into the world. Namaste…

“The test of all prayer lies in the answer to these questions: Do we love our neighbor better because of this asking? Do we pursue the old selfishness, satisfied with having prayed for something better, though we give no evidence of the sincerity of our requests by living consistently with our prayer? If selfishness has given place to kindness, we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly, and bless them that curse us; but we shall never meet this great duty simply by asking that it may be done. There is a cross to be taken up before we can enjoy the fruition of our hope and faith.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 9:5-16

“Prayer is a stepping aside; a letting go, a quiet time of listening and loving. It should not be confused with supplication of any kind, because it is a way of remembering your holiness. Why should holiness entreat, being fully entitled to everything Love has to offer? And it is to Love you go in prayer. Prayer is an offering; a giving up of yourself to be at one with Love. There is nothing to ask because there is nothing left to want. That nothingness becomes the altar of God. It disappears in Him.”

A Course in Miracles S-1.I.5:1-8