Rest…

 

Art by Albena Vatcheva

Rivers in the Ocean

Rest - written by Jeff Foster

“Rest, weary one.

Lay your head down.

You have travelled far.

I have no clever words for you.

No system to teach.

No image to maintain.

You’ll find no philosophy here.

No answers to your many questions.

I offer only presence.

Sanctuary.

A bed. 

A meal. 

A small kindness to repay yours.

I am no better than you.

My guru is life.

My lineage is love.

I do not separate the enlightened from the unenlightened.

I teach nothing I do not live.

I quote not from books but from the cracks in the heart. 

I see your fragility yet I see your immense power.

You are not broken.

Don’t let them tell you that you are broken.

We met long ago when dust settled to form worlds.

I think I saw your courage then.

Close your eyes; 

I will keep watch tonight.”

~ Jeff Foster 

“Whatever inspires with wisdom, Truth, or Love — be it song, sermon, or Science — blesses the human family with crumbs of comfort from Christ’s table, feeding the hungry and giving living waters to the thirsty.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 234:4-8

“Real freedom depends on welcoming reality, and of your guests only the Holy Spirit is real. Know, then, Who abides with you merely by recognizing what is there already, and do not be satisfied with imaginary comforters, 

for the Comforter of God is in you.”

A Course in. Miracles T-11.II.7:7-8

Know Better, Do Better

I love watching gardening shows, and many favorite programs come from an Englishman named  Monty Don. Today I saw him taking young children to vegetable gardens and letting them experience how potatoes, carrots, and tomatoes are grown. They were fascinated and surprised to learn how food comes from the earth! As I witnessed the wonder on these children’s faces, it occurred to me that people are this way with any form of education. When we learn the truth of events which have been misrepresented to us, we may have many reactions. Perhaps truth first brings anger, because we are upset that we’ve believed lies. Hopefully, eventually we will be glad that we finally know the truth, and then we can move forward in life with a newfound peace. I see many folks refusing to admit that they have been fooled by our highest level of politicians. It’s difficult to accept that we have been duped by those we trusted. Let’s be kind to those who are beginning to see the light. We can help by extending love rather than many of the reactions which we are tempted to have. Remember, it’s easy to love those who love you first. It’s more of a challenge to see through the mirage of someone flinging insults at you. Don’t forget, when we change ourselves, we change the world. Namaste …

“What can be fearful but fantasy, and who turns to fantasy unless he despairs of finding satisfaction in reality? Yet it is certain that you will never find satisfaction in fantasy, so that your only hope is to change your mind about reality. Only if the decision that reality is fearful is wrong can God be right. And I assure you that God is right. Be glad, then, that you have been wrong, but this was only because you did not know who you were. Had you known, you could no more have been wrong than God can.” 

A Course in Miracles T-9.IV.10:1-6

“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 97:28-6

The Heart of Life

“On Death - by Kahlil Gibran

You would know the secret of death.

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.

If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.


In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?


For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?


Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.”

“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

“When your body and your ego and your dreams are gone, you will know that you will last forever. Perhaps you think this is accomplished through death, but nothing is accomplished through death, because death is nothing. Everything is accomplished through life, and life is of the mind and in the mind. The body neither lives nor dies, because it cannot contain you who are life.”

 —A Course in Miracles | T-6.V-A.1:1-4

Cascading Thoughts …

Art by Kaoru Yamada

In our little village, the death of a woman in childbirth has taken my thoughts down the perilous path of motherhood. The magnificent movement of growing a baby within her body, of birthing that baby into the world, of feeding that baby — these things are huge events which we taken as everyday occurrences rather than the miracle they are. Wait, what am I saying? Everything is a miracle when you pay attention! Although our Eureka Woman had loving care and support in every way, her passing has caused me to think of the pain women often endure due to lack of proper care during their pregnancies and births and the parenthood which follows. Many instances of impossible pregnancies come to mind, and then I think of the people who insist that these gestations come to full term and the consequences suffered by the women. My book club is currently reading The Frozen River. The story tells of an 18th-century midwife in the cold and cruel atmosphere of a Maine winter. Perhaps that is why I am feeling the distress of the thousands, perhaps millions, of women who are misunderstood and maltreated. This book has caused me to feel what a frightened, misinformed young woman might experience. It causes me to wonder how much disinformation many of our young people are being given today. I also wonder at the misplaced values being espoused when they talk of traditional” marriages and “moral” politicians. May we all mentor a child, befriend a young mother, help our neighbor in any way possible — and vote for freedom in all of the coming elections!

“Knowledge is not the motivation for learning this course. Peace is. This is the prerequisite for knowledge only because those who are in conflict are not peaceful, and peace is the condition of knowledge because it is the condition of the Kingdom. Knowledge can be restored only when you meet its conditions. This is not a bargain made by God, Who makes no bargains. It is merely the result of your misuse of His laws on behalf of an imaginary will that is not His. Knowledge isHis Will. If you are opposing His Will, how can you have knowledge? I have told you what knowledge offers you, but perhaps you do not yet regard this as wholly desirable. If you did you would not be so ready to throw it away when the ego asks for your allegiance.”
—A Course in Miracles T-8.I.1:1-10

“Pale in the presence of his own momentous question, ‘What is Truth,’ Pilate was drawn into acquiescence with the demands of Jesus’ enemies. Pilate was ignorant of the consequences of his awful decision against human rights and divine Love, knowing not that he was hastening the final demonstration of what life is and of what the true knowledge of God can do for man.

“The women at the cross could have answered Pilate’s question. They knew what had inspired their devotion, winged their faith, opened the eyes of their understanding, healed the sick, cast out evil, and caused the disciples to say to their Master: ‘Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.’”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 48:25-6

Dispelling the Reign of Discord

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

I know a number of people who have moved out of our country, saying they could no longer be happy here under this frightening regime. One man’s wife died, to mortal sense, and he moved to South America in an effort to find peace. He is a fine writer and posts his ideas to social media on a regular basis. Today he told us how he doesn’t have the energy to interact with others in the way they expect. These are some of his words: “I’m carrying grief that doesn’t resolve into something useful. Grief for my wife, whose absence still rearranges the physics of every day. Grief for my country, watching itself fracture while mistaking noise for power. And grief for what I can see unfolding with awful clarity: Americans being maneuvered into fighting one another in a war that serves interests far outside their lives or country.” The grief we feel about the changes we see happening in our country is affecting our mental and physical well-being. We are learning that all healing begins in our mind. This is wonderful news, as we are being called upon to be healers in a way we have never considered before these past few years. But I know we’re ready for this, because we’ve been practicing all our lives. 

“This brother who stands beside you still seems to be a stranger. You do not know him, and your interpretation of him is very fearful. And you attack him still, to keep what seems to be yourself unharmed. Yet in his hands is your salvation. You see his madness, which you hate because you share it.  And all the pity and forgiveness that would heal it gives way to fear. Brother, you need forgiveness of your brother, for you will share in madness or in Heaven together. And you and he will raise your eyes in faith together, or not at all.”

A Course in Miracles T-19.IV-D.12:1-8

“As thus indicated, astronomical order imitates the action of divine Principle; and the universe, the reflection of God, is thus brought nearer the spiritual fact, and is allied to divine Science as displayed in the everlasting government of the universe. 

“The evidence of the physical senses often reverses the real Science of being, and so creates a reign of discord, — assigning seeming power to sin, sickness, and death; but the great facts of Life, rightly understood, defeat this triad of errors, contradict their false witnesses, and reveal the kingdom of heaven, — the actual reign of harmony on earth.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 121:28-8

In Lieu of Flowers …

 

Art by Miho Hirano 

On this warm winter day, I’ve been thinking about good friends who have passed from this realm of life, which happens almost on a weekly basis nowadays. Two childhood friends’ birthdays were today, which caused me to ponder where they have gone. Is their energy floating around the universe? Does it come back to material life in some form? Are they in an alternate universe? Are they simply gone? I’ve never feared this thing we call death and think of it as a great adventure. The sentiments expressed in this little essay by Shawna Lemay say what I hope others will do for me — and I wanted to share it with you …

“In Lieu of Flowers - by Shawna Lemay

Although I love flowers very much, I won’t see them when I’m gone. So in lieu of flowers:  Buy a book of poetry written by someone still alive, sit outside with a cup of tea, a glass of wine, and read it out loud, by yourself or to someone, or silently.

Spend some time with a single flower. A rose maybe. Smell it, touch the petals. 

Really look at it. 

Drink a nice bottle of wine with someone you love.

Or, Champagne. And think of what John Maynard Keynes said, ‘My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne.’ Or what Dom Perignon said when he first tasted the stuff: ‘Come quickly! I am tasting stars!’

Take out a paint set and lay down some colours.

Watch birds. Common sparrows are fine. Pigeons, too. Geese are nice. Robins.

In lieu of flowers, walk in the trees and watch the light fall into it. Eat an apple, a really nice big one. I hope it’s crisp. 

Have a long soak in the bathtub with candles, maybe some rose petals.

Sit on the front stoop and watch the clouds. Have a dish of strawberry ice cream in my name. 

If it’s winter, have a cup of hot chocolate outside for me. If it’s summer, a big glass of ice water. 

If it’s autumn, collect some leaves and press them in a book you love. I’d like that. 

Sit and look out a window and write down what you see. Write some other things down. 

In lieu of flowers, 

I would wish for you to flower. 

I would wish for you to blossom, to open, to be beautiful.”

~ Shawna Lemay

One Or Two Things …

 One or Two Things 

written by Mary Oliver 

Don’t bother me.

I’ve just

been born.

 

The butterfly’s loping flight

carries it through the country of the leaves

delicately, and well enough to get it

where it wants to go, wherever that is, stopping

here and there to fuzzle the damp throats

of flowers and the black mud; up

and down it swings, frenzied and aimless; and sometimes

 

for long delicious moments it is perfectly

lazy, riding motionless in the breeze on the soft stalk

of some ordinary flower.

 

The god of dirt

came up to me many times and saidany wise and delectable things, I lay

on the grass listening

 

to his dog voice,

crow voice,

frog voice; now,

he said, and now,

and never once mentioned forever,

 

which has nevertheless always been,

like a sharp iron hoof,

at the center of my mind.

 

One or two things are all you need

to travel over the blue pond, over the deep

roughage of the trees and through the stiff

flowers of lightning—some deep

memory of pleasure, some cutting

knowledge of pain.

 

But to lift the hoof!

For that you need

an idea.

“All who believe in separation have a basic fear of retaliation and abandonment. They believe in attack and rejection, so that is what they perceive and teach and learn. These insane ideas are clearly the result of dissociation and projection. What you teach you are, but it is quite apparent that you can teach wrongly, and can therefore teach yourself wrong. Many thought I was attacking them, even though it was apparent I was not. An insane learner learns strange lessons. What you must recognize is that when you do not share a thought system, you are weakening it. Those who believe in it therefore perceive this as an attack on them. This is because everyone identifies himself with his thought system, and every thought system centers on what you believe you are. If the center of the thought system is true, only truth extends from it. But if a lie is at its center, only deception proceeds from it.”

A Course in Miracles T-6.V-B.1:1-11

“Divine Science does not put new wine into old bottles, Soul into matter, nor the infinite into the finite. Our false views of matter perish as we grasp the facts of Spirit. The old belief must be cast out or the new idea will be spilled, and the inspiration, which is to change our standpoint, will be lost.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 281:27-1