Erroneous Belief Destroyed by Truth

drone shot by Aaron Springston

There was an article making the rounds on social media concerning a public school in Tennessee which is forcing children to participate in Muslim practices. The comments I saw concerning this article ranged from mildly ignorant to wildly speculative. Finally, someone named Doug calmly recited all the reasons this is not happening, stating that the article is a satirical joke, and nicely asking if all the responders felt silly for believing it. In other words, The Emperor had no clothes!!  We see this same scenario taking place numerous times a day, in some form or fashion, and usually we look the other way — probably because it’s happening on the television news! We must speak truth to error of all sorts. It is far too easy to send disinformation through emails and social media posts, and I encourage everyone to refute lies which are “going viral”. May the calm voices of reason prevail!

“Erroneous belief is destroyed by truth. Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health  Page 297:12-15

Storytelling

I once took a weekend workshop on the art of storytelling. We had a great instructor named Elaine Blanchard, and the group consists of nine beautiful, passionate women, all of us as different as we were the same. We were all there to release a story from where it had been hiding within us. It was an emotional weekend, full of tears and laughter, with joy being the frontrunner coming down the stretch when we were through. Elaine has gained national attention from going into women’s prisons, gathering stories, writing them into screenplays, performing them, and allowing the prisoners to see their stories on stage. This process frees everyone involved and many of the inmates have been empowered to release the past and go forward into a new life. Sometimes you just need someone to listen in order to understand what must be done. Truth does set us free!

“Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454:21-23

Getting to Know You

photo credit: Aaron Springston

For several years I avoided one of my neighbors, who was 90-plus years old, because it seemed there was no such thing as a short visit. She would tell me things I didn't want to know about her family and other people, so I began to avoid her. One morning she was sitting on her porch and asked for my help. Her phone was not working and it's connected to a Lifeline button which she can push if she needs help. As it was going to take some time to get the phone company there to reconnect her, I told her I'd come over every hour and make sure she was okay. As we sat on her porch, she started talking about herself, from childhood through more recent times, and it was fascinating! She told me the happiest times of her life were picking cotton with her sisters in the 1930s on a farm in Mississippi. Every visit that day brought me new stories from her life. When she wandered into condemnation of others, I would simply tell her I had to go, but would be back soon and wanted to hear more stories about her -- not others. It was like watching a documentary -- and I'm glad I was tuned in! She’s gone now and although I’ve forgotten all of her gossipy news, I remember some delightful looks into her life experience — and I am grateful. 

“The poor suffering heart needs its rightful nutriment, such as peace, patience in tribulation, and a priceless sense of the dear Father’s loving-kindness.” Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy  Page 365:31-2 

A Changing Norm

photo credit: Aaron Springston

A new paradigm is upon us. The framework of living we have known all our lives is finally changing, and it’s exciting to see how we are accepting new ways of doing routine things. Take holidays, for instance. We have become accustomed to gathering in homes and eating fattening foods and yelling at football games — and, perhaps, each other — before, during, and after meals. We thought we would miss that, but many people have discovered they rather enjoy giving thanks without the stress involved in making a huge meal and doing things they’d perhaps rather not be doing. Giving ourselves space to be grateful, in the deepest sense, may even pave the way to celebrating the end-of-the-year holidays for their meaning rather than the trappings which have become associated with them. Although millions of people are holding onto habitual rituals, other millions are realizing the old ways are not always the best ways. The arrival of the Age of Aquarius, the living of the Camelot dream, the return to the Garden — however you wish to think about the huge shift in consciousness which is upon us, there is great cause for celebration! Let us give Thanks!

“Advancing spiritual steps in the teeming universe of Mind lead on to spiritual spheres and exalted beings. To material sense, this divine universe is dim and distant, gray in the somber hues of twilight; but anon the veil is lifted, and the scene shifts into light.” Mary Baker Eddy- Science & Health Page 513:6

You Own Nothing

 My heart is full of you all today, and I am grateful.

A friend posted these words from Margaret Atwood. I send them to you...

"The moment when, after many years

of hard work and a long voyage,

you stand in the centre of your room,

house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,

knowing at last how you got there,

and say, I own this,

is the same moment the trees unloose

their soft arms from around you,

the birds take back their language,

the cliffs fissure and collapse,

the air moves back from you like a wave

and you can’t breathe.

No, they whisper. You own nothing.

You were a visitor, time after time

Climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.

We never belonged to you.

You never found us.

It was always the other way round."

~ Margaret Atwood

Growth in Grace

I have a friend who has always been upbeat and positive, looking for ways to improve the world and those around him. He wrote to me the other day and said he guessed the Age of Aquarius was over and we hadn't fulfilled our destiny. He tells me he has given up on Love ever ruling human beings. He has given me cause to think about this deeply, questioning if I would or even could give up on everything. I know we are all born as pure as the energy which created us, and it is only a misunderstanding which would turn us away from that truth. Our daily life seems to dull our senses rather than opening us up to our abilities and strengths. Why do we not want to live in the highest good for all mankind? I think it's because we've decided that there's "my" truth and "your" truth, rather than Truth. With so much of humanity suffering at this time, it seems difficult to wish a happy thanksgiving day to anyone. But I'm going to do so anyway. Gratitude heals, Love heals, kindness is a choice I want to make, and you my friends are precious to me. And I am grateful...

"What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 4:3

Searching to Fill Emptiness

The following post is a repeat of one which was written after watching the documentary cited. It seems appropriate for many reasons...

photo credit: Aaron Springston

"Searching For the Wrong-Eyed Jesus" is a documentary on life in the South here in the United States. This film takes us to small towns where people turn to drugs and/or religion when they've given up all hope of finding happiness. I watched in fascination, realizing for the first time what people find in so-called "holy-roller" churches. In their feverish love of God, they find the pleasure they crave. Others turn to mood-elevating drugs for the same reason. One person in the movie says that everyone is "lonely for God" in these desolate towns. Another line which struck me was this: "He was just a regular ol' Southern lunatic. In his quest for union, he ended up being more separate than ever." There is such truth to be found in their longing! I longed with them as they jumped up and down, speaking in tongues and dancing in odd jerky movements. There wasn't much difference in the drunken barroom scenes on Saturday night and the gyrations of the Sunday morning gatherings. They're all looking for the same thing: They want to fill the emptiness inside. They want excitement, fun, a way to pass time without feeling alone. I can't keep from thinking of how they would be set free with the knowledge of their true Being. The only way this can happen is if I realize it -- really know it! --not just intellectually, but with my heart.

“The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother's need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another's good." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 518:15-19