Making Sense of Life

Good Friend, Sharon

“A man’s beliefs are how he makes sense of life.Take that away, and what does he have left?” While at a delightful event benefiting our local library system, these words from the series Outlander came to mind more than once. In our small town, we make sense of life through our connections with each other. The community dinner tonight was delightful for many reasons — a short Agatha Christie-style play in honor of the overall theme of Murder on the Orient Express, dinner catered by a local cafe, a silent auction of goods and art from local businesses and people — but the most joy came from our interactions with each other. The group of 150 or so people were almost all acquainted, and we were happy to visit and laugh together. And that’s why the above quote was in my thoughts: we make sense of life through each other, through friendships, through our children’s sporting events, through library dinners. We don’t need to rely on beliefs when we have knowledge of one another. It makes sense …

“The world becomes a place of hope, because its only purpose is to be a place where hope of happiness can be fulfilled. And no one stands outside this hope, because the world has been united in belief the purpose of the world is one which all must share, if hope be more than just a dream.”
—A Course in Miracles T-30.V.2:7-8

“Belief in a material basis, from which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from matter to Mind as the cause of every effect.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 268: 6-9

Each Heartbeat Brings Peace

Photo by Aaron Springston

Living the peace of God may seem like a fantasy to those who abide by the laws of materiality. It's a common belief that in order to live in peace a person must be delusional, sticking their head in the sand, or at least denying reality in favor of wishful thinking. But many of us see this state of mind in another way. As we learn about the Truth of our being, we are able to glimpse this peace, and the joy it brings. This joy spreads exponentially through our daily activities, as it is expressed through our actions and words. This state of mind does more for the world than all the preaching we may be tempted to do!

“My heart is beating in the peace of God. Surrounding me is all the life that God created in His Love. It calls to me in every heartbeat and in every breath; in every action and in every thought. Peace fills my heart, and floods my body with the purpose of forgiveness. Now my mind is healed, and all I need to save the world is given me. Each heartbeat brings me peace; each breath infuses me with strength. I am a messenger of God, directed by His Voice, sustained by Him in love, and held forever quiet and at peace within His loving Arms. Each heartbeat calls His Name, and every one is answered by His Voice, assuring me I am at home in Him.”
—A Course in Miracles W-267.1:1

“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

Let it Be …

Do you know anyone who plays events over and over in their mind, making assumptions about why things were said or done, then trying to find solutions to fix everyone involved? A friend received a phone call from someone she hadn’t heard from in the past few years. She didn’t answer the call and was full of worries as to what she may have done wrong which caused her friend to break off contact with her. While I try not to laugh in the face of others’ distress, I couldn’t help myself this time! I quickly reminded her of The Four Agreements, in particular “don’t make assumptions” and “don’t take anything personally”. After a brief conversation, we ended our call and she contacted her old friend. And sure enough, she had done nothing wrong; her friend was going through a rough time and needed a friendly shoulder to lean on. How much easier life is without speculations and suppositions!

“Let all things be exactly as they are. Let me not be Your critic, Lord, today, and judge against You. Let me not attempt to interfere with Your creation, and distort it into sickly forms. Let me be willing to withdraw my wishes from its unity, and thus to let it be as You created it. For thus will I be able, too, to recognize my Self as You created me. In love was I created, and in love will I remain forever. What can frighten me, when I let all things be exactly as they are?

“Let not our sight be blasphemous today, nor let our ears attend to lying tongues. Only reality is free of pain. Only reality is free of loss. Only reality is wholly safe. And it is only this we seek today.”
—A Course in Miracles W-268.1:1–2:5

"Human sense may well marvel at discord, while, to a diviner sense, harmony is the real and discord the unreal.”
—Mary Baker Eddy — Science & Health Page: 563: 1-3

The Swingin’ Door

In the 1970s, I spent a good deal of time in a bar called The Swingin' Door. I fell in love with Texas music and more than one musician. It was an interesting time in popular music history, with the Beatles still stirring our souls and disco bringing a canned cadence to music, which most of the people in my circles shunned. We were all sure we knew the secret to happiness, and holiness had absolutely nothing to do with it. As years passed in a blur, we found the alcohol and drugs no longer brought satisfaction. It took years for me to realize that holiness was found within and reflected outwardly in everything. What a long and interesting road it's been to this point. The gratitude I feel for Life is overwhelming!

“Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health

“How can illusions satisfy God’s Son? Father, the truth belongs to me. My home is set in Heaven by Your Will and mine. Can dreams content me? Can illusions bring me happiness? What but Your memory can satisfy Your Son? I will accept no less than You have given me. I am surrounded by Your Love, forever still, forever gentle and forever safe. God’s Son must be as You created him.

“Today we pass illusions by. And if we hear temptation call to us to stay and linger in a dream, we turn aside and ask ourselves if we, the Sons of God, could be content with dreams, when Heaven can be chosen just as easily as hell, and love will happily replace all fear.”
—A Course in Miracles W-272.1:1-2:2

Giving=Receiving; Receiving=Giving

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

Most of the people I know are givers. They give of their time and money to causes they support; they give love and affection to family and friends; they give of themselves generously, always stepping up when anyone is in need. But many of these wonderful people aren't comfortable receiving compliments, or taking a helping hand when they're having problems, or accepting a gift when they're in need. Why do they give so freely, but are uncomfortable accepting others’ offerings to them? This duality in thought is negated with the understanding of a spiritual principle explained in A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #108, which tells us that giving and receiving are one. "One thought, completely unified, will serve to unify all thoughts." This unification is the truth which governs everything, when seen for what it is: Truth. Today I will open my heart to receive all the good which is innately mine, and this reception opens avenues to share in unexpected ways. I will offer to others everything I want for myself: peace, happiness, joy, contentment, satisfaction, grace, love. Freely I have received, freely I give!

“To give and to receive are one in truth. Vision depends upon today’s idea. The light is in it, for it reconciles all seeming opposites. And what is light except the resolution, born of peace, of all your conflicts and mistaken thoughts into one concept which is wholly true? Even that one will disappear, because the Thought behind it will appear instead to take its place. And now you are at peace forever, for the dream is over then.”
—A Course in Miracles W-108.1:1-5

“Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 79:30-32

Resting in Peace — Here and Now

The term “rest in peace” is usually said when someone passes from this earthly plane. It can also be the key to living free from beliefs and ties to past experiences. This clears the path to knowing Truth. To know Truth means to know ourselves, and to demonstrate divine Principle in our every thought and action. Although I find this form of spiritual practice invigorating, not everyone feels the same. Many people think they would be giving away their individuality if they let go of their personal history. I find the opposite to be true. When losing a sense of personal responsibility, when releasing beliefs about certain circumstances, there is a pure, empty space left in thought. This space allows a recognition of what has always been there: Love. Divine Love. This is our power: the ability to accept the good which is there for us, the ability to rest in peace. Namaste …

“This is the day of peace. You rest in God, and while the world is torn by winds of hate your rest remains completely undisturbed. Yours is the rest of truth. Appearances cannot intrude on you. You call to all to join you in your rest, and they will hear and come to you because you rest in God. They will not hear another voice than yours because you gave your voice to God, and now you rest in Him and let Him speak through you.
—A Course in Miracles W-109.4:1-6

“…when we realize that immortal Mind is ever active, and that spiritual energies can neither wear out nor can so-called material law trespass upon God-given powers and resources, we are able to rest in Truth, refreshed by the assurances of immortality, opposed to mortality."
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 387:8-12

The Returns of Extending Love

Many of us have a difficult time seeing ourselves as a creation of Love. We may feel there are events in our lives so unlovely that we couldn't possibly be the reflection of divine perfection. Many great sages have taught us how to save ourselves from the horror of past events. Thich Nhat Hanh and Mahatma Gandhi have shown us how to rise above our feelings of guilt. No matter how this advice is worded, it comes down to one basic concept: extend Love to others, to everything and everyone. This is our atonement, to see the Oneness of all that Is and realize that nothing can ever occur which will separate us from divine Love. By giving it to the world, we give it to ourselves and feel major changes within. We can forgive ourselves even as we are forgiven, because we were never condemned.

“Think of this, dear reader, for it will lift the sackcloth from your eyes, and you will behold the soft-winged dove descending upon you. The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 574:25-30

“Why would you not be overjoyed to be assured that all the evil that you think you did was never done, that all your sins are nothing, that you are as pure and holy as you were created, and that light and joy and peace abide in you? Your image of yourself cannot withstand the Will of God. You think that this is death, but it is life. You think you are destroyed, but you are saved.”
—Course in Miracles W-93.4:1-4