Cosmic Time

We all have experienced the relativity of time passing. Time spent in the dentist’s chair passes much slower than time laughing and talking to friends! Years ago, it seemed that we had sped up time with all of the rushing about we do. Even youngsters think time passes quickly. Then the pandemic came along and time took on a whole new persona. It seems to be both slow and fast at the same time. In the 1970s, we were told that big cosmic changes were on the way. I don’t think anyone could have predicted the world we are now experiencing. Individually, we are feeling both torn and united. And somehow there seems to be greater clarity than ever. It’s an impossible thing for me to define, but I know we need to talk to each other when we become afraid. Love is stronger than fear, and we only need a reminder of that to bring us back to Truth.

“The miracle minimizes the need for time. In the longitudinal or horizontal plane the recognition of the equality of the members of the Sonship appears to involve almost endless time. However, the miracle entails a sudden shift from horizontal to vertical perception. This introduces an interval from which the giver and receiver both emerge farther along in time than they would otherwise have been. The miracle thus has the unique property of abolishing time to the extent that it renders the interval of time it spans unnecessary. There is no relationship between the time a miracle takes and the time it covers. The miracle substitutes for learning that might have taken thousands of years. It does so by the underlying recognition of perfect equality of giver and receiver on which the miracle rests. The miracle shortens time by collapsing it, thus eliminating certain intervals within it. It does this, however, within the larger temporal sequence.”
A Course in Miracles - T-1.II.6:1-10

“You may know when first Truth leads by the fewness and faithfulness of its followers. Thus it is that the march of time bears onward freedom’s banner. The powers of this world will fight, and will command their sentinels not to let truth pass the guard until it subscribes to their systems, but Science, heeding not the pointed bayonet, marches on. There is always some tumult, but there is a rallying to truth’s standard.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 7

Building Connections

 

Good Friends

The best decompression activity I know of is laughing with s. Every month or so, three dear women and I have an afternoon of playing spades and enjoying each others' company. We always feel renewed and happy after these days, and look forward to finding time to do it again as soon as possible. Many people, for many reasons, have not been able to cultivate lasting friendships, and I want to assure them that it's never too late! Reach out to folks who you have a good feeling about, whether you know them or not. Companionship, stimulating conversation, card games, a common cause such as animal welfare  -- there are many foundations on which to enjoy communion with others. Don't be afraid to reach out!

"You rest within the peace of God today, and call upon your brothers from your rest to draw them to their rest, along with you. You will be faithful to your trust today, forgetting no one, bringing everyone into the boundless circle of your peace, the holy sanctuary where you rest. Open the temple doors and let them come from far across the world, and near as well; your distant brothers and your closest friends; bid them all enter here and rest with you. " 

A Course in Miracles  W-pI.109.8.

“If my friends are going to Europe, while I am en route for California, we are not journeying together. We have separate time-tables to consult, different routes to pursue. Our paths have diverged at the very outset, and we have little opportunity to help each other. On the contrary, if my friends pursue my course, we have the same railroad guides, and our mutual interests are identical; or, if I take up their line of travel, they help me on, and our companionship may continue.”

Mary Baker Eddy — Science &Health Page 21:15-24

A Little Bit of Good

“Secrets and Marvels of Nature” is a compilation of segments from CBS Sunday Morning, which features unique situations in nature. It is joyous and hopeful! I loved watching people help sea turtles survive, seeing a pigeon refuge and understanding how wonderfully smart they are, or witnessing people who allow land to become what it was before we sterilized it. We are living in a time when nature appears to be under attack, and so these vignettes showing empathy and the goodness of people are beautiful and inspiring. It’s hopeful to see how one person can make a difference! For instance, with the sea turtles which are being saved, everyone is volunteering their time — including pilots who help with transportation. After their rehabilitation, their release back into the ocean was a joyous celebration! It reminded me of the story about the little boy throwing stranded starfish from the beach back to the ocean. A man asks him what he thinks he’s doing because he can’t save them all. The little boy says, “I saved that one!” I like looking at life that way, saving what I can and bringing joy wherever possible! Namaste …

“Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens, — all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful, and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 240:1-9

“The lion and the lamb lying down together symbolize that strength and innocence are not in conflict, but naturally live in peace. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God’ is another way of saying the same thing. A pure mind knows the truth and this is its strength. It does not confuse destruction with innocence because it associates innocence with strength, not with weakness.” 

A Course in Miracles T-3.I.5:3-6

One of the Doors Into the Temple

Spring in the Ozarks - Photo courtesy of Judy Kavan 

Today - a poem by Mary Oliver

Today I’m flying low and I’m

not saying a word

I’m letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep.

The world goes on as it must,

the bees in the garden rumbling a little,

the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.

And so forth.

But I’m taking the day off.

Quiet as a feather.

I hardly move though really I’m traveling

a terrific distance.

Stillness. One of the doors

into the temple.

~ Mary Oliver

“A higher and more practical Christianity, demonstrating justice and meeting the needs of mortals in sickness and in health, stands at the door of this age, knocking for admission. Will you open or close the door upon this angel visitant, who cometh in the quiet of meekness, as he came of old to the patriarch at noonday?”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 224:21-27

“The Voice of the Holy Spirit does not command, because It is incapable of arrogance. It does not demand, because It does not seek control. It does not overcome, because It does not attack. It merely reminds. It is compelling only because of what It reminds you of. It brings to your mind the other way, remaining quiet even in the midst of the turmoil you may make. The Voice for God is always quiet, because It speaks of peace. Peace is stronger than war because it heals. War is division, not increase. No one gains from strife. What profiteth it a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? If you listen to the wrong voice you have lost sight of your soul. You cannot lose it, but you cannot know it. It is therefore ‘lost’ to you until you choose right.”
A Course in Miracles T-5.II.7:1-14

Small Things Like These

John Currin - Pistachio, 2016.

Small Things Like These is a book written by an Irish woman named Claire Keegan. It is a small book, but carries an important message. As one reviewer said: [this book] "assures us we are all capable of doing the right thing, and that goodness, like misery, can be handed on from man to man." I love that, don’t you? As our book club discussed this beautiful story, we realized how grateful we are for the “small things”. It’s what enables us to be joyful during times of trials. We revel in small things, such as the first flowers of spring; our friendships and family (particularly the grands); our pets and the wonder of nature. Everything. Every little thing. And our gratitude extends to the wonderful kinship our group has grown into over the three decades we’ve been reading together. We have read and discussed over 200 books. We love reading, and we love each other. These things may seem small, but they’re everything.

“Pause and be still a little while, and see how far you rise above the world, when you release your mind from chains and let it seek the level where it finds itself at home. It will be grateful to be free a while. It knows where it belongs. But free its wings, and it will fly in sureness and in joy to join its holy purpose. Let it rest in its Creator, there to be restored to sanity, to freedom and to love.”
A Course in Miracles W-128.6:1-5

“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 57:15-21

A New Way of Seeing

Much of humanity is tired. In my opinion, this is because there seem to be so many problems without solutions. Mass shootings, weather extremes, propaganda coming at us from all directions, and many other conditions occupy our thoughts. One of my earliest experiences with A Course in Miracles was Wayne Dyer’s book, There’s A Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. People have always told me that this way of thinking is too difficult, and they can’t even try to change their beliefs. I often tell people that it is, indeed, simple, but it is not easy. It’s not easy because it is a constant, conscious monitoring and translating of learned behaviors. In the past few years, we have all been tested. When we are bombarded daily by ugliness from leaders and media reporting, it can be tempting to throw up our metaphysical hands and surrender to the sorrow. But let’s not do that, okay?

"In the Apocalypse it is written: 'And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.' In St. John's vision, heaven and earth stand for spiritual ideas, and the sea, as a symbol of tempest-tossed human concepts advancing and receding, is represented as having passed away. The divine understanding reigns, is all, and there is no other consciousness."
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 536:1-9

“From new perception of the world there comes a future very different from the past. The future now is recognized as but extension of the present. Past mistakes can cast no shadows on it, so that fear has lost its idols and its images, and being formless, it has no effects. Death will not claim the future now, for life is now its goal, and all the needed means are happily provided. Who can grieve or suffer when the present has been freed, extending its security and peace into a quiet future filled with joy?”
A Course in Miracles - W-314.1:1

Live Out Loud!

Am I alone in this, or is everyone feeling a sense of urgency? The sounds reaching my ears, motorcycles zooming around our small tourist town, feel alive to me. The sunset colors were particularly intense in their brilliance, Every interaction with other people, with my pets, with the flowers — they all feel incredibly important. I’ve always tried to live by the axiom that everything is important; nothing is important. But right here and now, every breath feels wonderfully full of Life. Part of my spiritual study is geared toward understanding the synonyms for God: Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. Perhaps their relationship is finally opening up something in consciousness. I’m tempted to say “my consciousness”, but I’m not sure there is such a thing. Consciousness. Period. I’m wondering if this is how the tiny creatures in our world feel all the time! I’ve always been fond of a dear friend’s tee-shirt which proclaims “Love Out Loud!” Perhaps the time has come to Live Out Loud! 

“Salvation is nothing more than ‘right-mindedness,’ which is not the One-mindedness of the Holy Spirit, but which must be achieved before One-mindedness is restored. Right-mindedness leads to the next step automatically, because right perception is uniformly without attack, and therefore wrong-mindedness is obliterated.” 

A Course in Miracles - T-4.II.10:1-2

“Beyond the frail premises of human beliefs, above the loosening grasp of creeds, the demonstration of Christian Mind healing stands a revealed and practical Science. It is imperious throughout all ages as Christ’s revelation of Truth, of Life, and of Love, which remains inviolate for every man to understand and to practice.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 98:15