Our angel

Unbelievable!! Is the best word I can think of to tell this story!

I’m in the Blue Mountains with my family for Christmas break. I stay active with my practice, but break occasionally to be out and about with family and friends.

Yesterday, my son and I took a good friend out snowmobiling who had little experience on a sled, but enough that I didn’t worry about his judgments.

We zipped up to the top of a mountain with a gorgeous view and wide open meadows to spin around on. Within five minutes, I noticed my friend venturing over into what we call “no man’s land” on a long side slope of the canyon edge. It was “no man’s land” for our trail sleds because once you go a bit over the edge, you never get back up. It’s down, down, down all the way to the bottom of the canyon, and no one in our family wants to find out what happens if you ever slide that far!

Well, my friend was oblivious, and I hadn’t forewarned him. It was too late for me to reach him. I helplessly watched as he frantically tried to steer back up the hill, but to no avail. Down, down, down, he went zigzagging most of the way until he stopped dead still in a huge snowdrift just above the tree line.

I got off my sled, walked over the edge of the hill to find him, and there he was standing waist deep in snow looking miserably at his snow-sunken sled.

My son and I made our way down the hill to help. We huffed and dug and huffed and sweated and yanked and pulled for 90 minutes, and moved the sled 6 feet. No way were we going to get that sled back up the mountain side.

I stopped. I listened. I prayed.

Seeing no other option, I decided to point the sled downhill, and go all the way to the bottom, hoping for a turnaround opportunity, and the possibility of gaining enough speed to zip up the canyon wall to the top.

I paced a path downhill to leave markings to follow, because split-second decisions would be required. I got on the sled, took a huge breath, sent another prayer to heaven, started the engine, and down I went through the snowdrifts and trees. Through the grace of God I made it safely to the bottom and found a place to circle back. But right when I almost made my complete loop, I slid past a crucial turn, and wham-o, into a deep snowdrift I sunk. The sled was locked into the depths, and would not budge even slightly.

I was bummed, but not despondent.

I listened for answers. None came.

I yelled to the top of the canyon. No response.

No one knew what had happened to me. I was alone. It would be dark in an hour. I was miles from home.

There was nothing I could physically do, so I headed toward the top of the canyon, hoping to get the boys, bring them down and help me out.

I knew God’s power was there. I had nothing to fear. And I did not fear. I was expectant of getting out, totally, one way or the other. I just didn’t know how or what way!

With confidence that all was well and would be well I tromped up the hill through waist deep snow. No sooner did I exit the trees and begin my ascent, but a whiz-bang, state-of-the-art, high-tech, mighty powered machine, with the noise to match, raced out of the woods to my left zipping up the hill at an astronomical speed. I jump over a bit to avoid getting hit. The sled was a blur whipping past me, but shortly makes a sudden turn back down the hill, swooshing over from the right and stopping right smack in front of me. The rider, in his high-tech colorful garb, stands up, lifts the shield on his helmet, and I am astounded. It’s my brother!!

You have to understand that my brother is like one of the most capable and advanced snowmobile drivers in the country. He has tackled the most difficult of difficult terrains from the Pacific Northwest to the Rockies in Canada. Out of the hundreds of different places he could have been sledding this weekend, and the thousands and thousands of acres he could have been traversing in the Blue Mountains, he crosses my path exactly when I need him most. He had no previous idea I was there. None.

With a smile on his face, and not another word to add, he says to me, “Are you stuck?”

I spare him the details and point back into the woods.

He cheerfully responds, “No problem. We’ll get you out.”

He tags down his partner, and comes back a few minutes later. He builds a trail in front of my sled with his, and within 3-4 minutes, I am unstuck and sailing up the mountain side to freedom, pumping my fist in the air as I get to the top letting the other boys know we finally got the sled out of the canyon!

My brother is gone in a dash continuing his adventure. I said to my friend and my son, “That was my angel!”

And he truly was.

Unbelievable! To the human mind, I suppose, but looking back, totally believable from a spiritual point of view. God is always with us and sends us the aid we need in the form that is most helpful when we need it.

Later, I asked myself, “How could that possibly have happened? What was going on in thought that allowed that seemingly miraculous turn of events to occur?”

The best answer I have is that I never allowed my thinking to turn negative. When I first saw my friend jammed in the drift, I made a conscious decision to not allow one negative or critical thought to enter my consciousness about the incident. I was going to see only goodness, and make sure my buddy didn’t feel any kind of condemnation or burden about the accident. I was committed to loving my way through it, and accept solutions as they appeared. We all kept a very positive attitude the whole time, and were fully expectant of finding a solution somehow, someway. And we did. God sent an angel.

Thank you God!

Are you prepared?

The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.

~ Henri L. Bergson

That sinking feeling

My son and I went snowmobiling today, but it was not a good day to go out.

It had been snowing about an inch an hour for some time where we went to sled in the Blue Mountains. The snow cover was very soft for several feet in some places, which was ideal for getting a snowmobile stuck big time!

We carefully wove our way up a trail to the top of Balloon Tree Ridge, but the conditions were so bad with the wind, cold and snowfall, I decided it was not safe to be up there. I drove off the trail at one point into a huge clearing in order to make a wide circle and head back down the mountain.

I could not see very well, and when I was way out in the clearing on the top of a mountain that was miles from home base my snowmobile started sinking into fluff that would not end. My sled slowed and slowed, spinning faster and faster but covering less and less ground. It was that dreaded sinking feeling no snowmobile driver wants to feel!

Images of being miserably stranded flashed through my mind.

In my habit of praying in times like this, I threw a quick prayer out to God for help.

I got back the message, “Do not give up. Do not slow down. Do not stop!” I was sinking so fast, it was tempting to concede failure, let go of the throttle, and quit. The sensation of hopelessness was sweeping over me faster than the wind that howled around me.

If I would have let go of the throttle even a bit, I would have gone down like a lead anchor. But I gave it more gas as I was told, and kept pushing forward.

I visualized a hand of God sweeping out of the sky, positioning itself under the rear of my sled and bumping me out of trouble. As I warmed over with trust in divine Love’s ever-protecting care, I gained confidence I would get out. The track caught solid snow and jetted me to freedom.

I thanked God all the way back home.

The spiritual lesson I took down the mountain was the need to not lose confidence when confidence is most needed. And I don’t mean mere human confidence, but spiritual confidence in God’s ever-present care.

I thought about Peter walking on the water.

He at first succeeded in taking several steps when he knew he could do it. But as soon as he looked around at the tempestuous circumstances and the supposed impossibility of what he was doing, he “let go of the throttle.” He “let up on the gas,” lost his confidence and sunk.

I wanted to learn from my experience and not "let up on the gas" like Peter did when I'm supposed to keep moving ahead.

If we lose faith in any circumstance, sink and get stuck, there is still a way out and God provides the aid needed. But it’s a lot easier to keep on going and skip the getting stuck part in the first place! I decided.

I’m looking at other areas in my life now where I need to keep my “thumb on the throttle” and not let up.

One example I thought of is, if I come into contact with people who have a reputation for getting upset, angry and making life difficult for others. If I were to think, “Oh, here we go again,” and expect trouble and hate to take over, I would be preparing my thought to sink into darkness. I would be “letting up on the throttle” of blasting full speed ahead with a trust in the omnipotence of Love to govern.

I'm looking for other instances too. You may have some to share.

Christian Science has taught me to not fear hatred and evil, and also to have confidence in the omnipresence of Love and the omnipotence of God. The more faith I have in God’s infinite goodness, the more confident I am in experiencing that goodness wherever I am, I’ve discovered. Trust and confidence in God enables me to keep my “thumb on the throttle,” and not “let up on the gas,” until I’ve made it to safe ground.

The hand of God is always underneath, around and above to rescue us from difficulty, lift us out of “sinking scenarios” and keep us free. And knowing this truth can help prevent that "sinking feeling" in the first place.

No shortage of time in Mind

A friend was concerned that he didn’t have enough time left in the year to finish a critical deal he was working on.

In a flash on inspiration, I emailed back, “When working in the one Mind, the clock stops and eternity takes over. There is no time in divine Mind, only eternal opportunities, possibilities, options, solutions and answers.”

This angel message from God has held my attention for a couple of days now, while I strive to mine its deeper meanings.

I like the thought of not working in time, but in divine Mind.

In Mind, time is not a factor, because how fast you get a job done has nothing to do with packets of space called minutes and hours. Success is about listening for ideas, acting on fresh inspiration and following wise guidance. Time has nothing to do with the creation of ideas that get the job done. Mind is the creator, and Mind does not require time to create an idea. Mind’s creative powers are instantaneous.

The ideas we receive are conceived of in Mind long before we notice them.

So, if we’re putting together a deal, finishing up year end business, or trying to get everything together before family and friends arrive for the holidays, we don’t have fear a lack of time. Time is neither a friend nor a foe. It’s a nothing. Divine Mind is our friend, and gives us all the ideas, inspiration, insight, strength and support we need to see our project through successfully.

Enjoy your “time” with Mind!

With Mind in charge, there will be plenty of opportunity to get the job done.

There's always enough room

A reader sent me the below, which is one of his favorite Christmas stories picked up from a 1966 Reader’s Digest.

The Christmas Invitation
Luke 2:7

It was the biggest event of the year in the little town of Cornwall – the annual Christmas pageant, starring many of the people of the town.

When it came time for casting the various parts, every parent wanted their son or daughter to be included. On audition day, it didn’t take long to match every part with just the right person. But then there was Harold. The little guy really wanted a part. But because of his learning disabilities, the directors kept passing him over. But Harold just kept popping up again, asking for a part. Finally, the directors gave in and gave him what they judged to be a no-risk part – the innkeeper who comes to the door and tells Mary and Joseph the inn is full. It was a part with only one simple line.

Little did they know that the stage had been set for the most memorable Christmas pageant they had ever seen.

The night of the pageant, you had to get there early just to get a seat.

Backstage, the shepherds were putting on their bathrobes, the angels were adjusting their haloes, and everyone was reviewing their lines. The directors were going over Harold’s line with him one more time – “Remember, Harold – ‘I’m sorry, we have no room.’” Slowly, but surely, Harold repeated his line.

The men of the church had built a set that portrayed Bethlehem in the background, a manger on the right, and the inn on the left.

As Act One neared its end, a weary Mary and Joseph trudged up to the inn door, desperately looking for shelter. Joseph knocked on the inn door. Nothing happened. Backstage the front rows could hear the director whispering, “Now, Harold!” The set began to shake as Harold struggled to get the inn door open. Then, standing there in his bathrobe, Harold listened as Joseph begged for a room for his pregnant wife.

Harold said nothing.

Again, the backstage whisper - “I’m sorry, we have no room.”

Another long pause.

Finally, Harold struggled through his line – “I’m sorry . . . we have no room.” Then he slowly closed the door.

It was as Mary and Joseph began to turn away that totally unforgettable moment came – the one no one would ever forget.

Suddenly, the set started to shake again as Harold again struggled to get the door open. Before the stunned director could get to him, Harold opened the door and ran after the departing Mary and Joseph. And loud enough for people in the basement to hear, Harold shouted - “Wait! Wait! You can have MY room!”

We cannot ignore those in need

With the recent killings at the mall in Omaha and the shooting sprees at two churches in Colorado, my heart searches for a solution to stop the mindless murders.

What appears more vivid than ever to me is the fact that we cannot ignore our neighbors in need. And by “neighbors in need,” I’m talking about those who are struggling with depression, despondency, hopelessness and despair.

In news about Robert Hawkins, who killed 8 before shooting himself in Omaha, Nebraska, reports said that “Hawkins was kicked out by his family about a year ago and moved in with a friend’s family…” The article title refers to Hawkins as a “depressed teen.” I’ve read similar reports about others who have gone on random shooting sprees.

Aren’t reports like this signs that we cannot ignore the downcast in our societies without repercussion?

For too long, perhaps those who prosper and move along in life with greater ease than others wrestling with internal demons and feelings of personal failure, thought they could keep on going without regard for their neighbors’ needs. This error is finally coming to a head as those feeling besieged react against the darkness their thinking is embroiled in with violent protest. They lose their sense of reason and rebel in ways that get people’s attention, even if the outcome is horrific. The more horrific, the greater chance of attention, the illogic goes.

How do we stop this?

I don’t think anger, hatred and malice in kind is going to help and heal. These mass shootings are a call on our humanity and spirituality to lift struggling souls out of their pits of despondency before they resort to extreme and hurtful actions.

I’ve always figured that people who lash out in hate are really saying, “Please love me. I need to feel some love in my life.”

Jesus said it well when he instructed, “Love your enemies.” I see this directive as a command to love the evil right out of those who would harm us before they can do harm.

We cannot walk on by those struggling in life and believe there will be no consequence. We are seeing in terrible ways, that there are consequences to allowing our children to drift morally and spiritually afar. They need a spiritual grounding to guide them and inspire them out of trouble when times get tough. They need someone to put loving arms around them, give them a comforting hug and let them know they are not alone. They need to know there is hope.

“Love your neighbor as yourself,” has never had more meaning and relevance than today.

We cannot walk on by our neighbors in need, especially our children, and leave them to their suffering. If we do, we risk a ricochet effect like what we’ve seen in Omaha and Colorado that bears unbearable consequences. We can avert these tragedies with love—much love. We can and we must share this love to save our civilization.

Giving time

Wondering what to give this Christmas?

Here’s a thought-provoking blog post by Nipun Mehta, which is no one I know, on the benefits of giving your time over spending your money for gifts that have meaning.

Seven Questions on Giving Time

Moving about freely

This quote arrested my attention and wouldn’t let go.

“Movement is thought liberated.”

~ Charlie Chaplin

I remember in my early days of practice, a newcomer to Christian Science visited my office one morning. She entered the room with one arm under her coat, but I paid little attention to it. She asked about healing for a relationship issue with a family member.

During our time together, I talked about God’s omnipresent Love at work on her behalf providing common ground for her to get along with her kin. I addressed her fears and allayed her concerns. She was all ears, soaking in every truth I shared and eager to learn more.

There was a definite release of strain, tension and worry in her thought while we conversed with each other.

A few minutes after she left, I looked out to the parking lot, and saw her jumping up and down and swinging her arms above her head like she had been just released from prison or something. I was perplexed as to what she was doing.

She raced back to my office with a wide smile on her face. Barging into my space, she proclaimed, “My arm! My arm! My arm is healed!” And she went on to explain that her arm had been uselessly lying in a sling under her coat, but now it was all healed. She was filled with awe over the rapid recovery and the fact that we hadn’t even talked about it.

Looking back, I believe her thought was liberated from some type of fear during our meeting that freed up that arm to move normally. The healing was quick.

“Movement is thought liberated.”

What thought-liberation are you ready for today?

The roots of Christmas

The following fact about the origins of Christmas printed in The Tri-City Herald as a letter to the Editor today gave me much to think about.

It read, in part,

“December 25 originally was the celebrated ‘birthday of the sun god’ and a time of merriment for ‘sun god’ worshippers. Roman Emperor Constantine ‘became a Christian.’ To give political cohesion and stability to his empire of pagan and Christian populations, he merged pagan and Christian practices. Thus, December 25 officially became the birthday of the ‘sun god’ and the son of God.”

Wow. What an eye-opener. It makes me ask how much of my celebration of Christmas is influenced by “sun god” worship (a matter-god), compared to how much time and thought energy is spent on worship of the one true God, infinite Love.

How close is God?

A woman told me she didn’t feel close to God. She said the crisis facing her family felt overwhelming and made her feel helpless and left wondering, “Will God ever help me?”

I replied, “God is the authority, dominion, power and wisdom you express in dealing with the family troubles.”

She was stunned with awe at my comment, she later told me. She had never thought of God in such intimate terms as being dominion and authority expressed through her. She had been harboring a distant sense of God as being a far off power waiting to be summoned to the scene that may or may not respond.

This is a common error, I find, in my interaction with people seeking God’s help. They hold a material sense of God as being, perhaps a person, like Jesus, that occupies a physical space and is remote to their immediate experience. Or they might follow a contradictory concept of God where on one hand they intellectually proclaim God as all-powerful but on the other don’t believe their affirmation because they also believe evil is real and powerful.

When a person believes in evil, their faith in God is sapped.

Christian Science is the one teaching in the world that totally solves the good versus evil dilemma that the human mind so often gets caught up in. Evil is not real, it instructs. Evil is illusion of the human mind, and the human mind that believes it is illusion too.

Understanding God, and I mean TRULY understanding God, to be all-powerful good, destroys the illusion. This is accomplished by degrees in the human experience, but nonetheless happens as the pilgrim faithfully treks down the path the Master Jesus Christ has mapped out before us.

Jesus conquered all evil, including death, and we will too. And the sooner, the better.

But back to, “How close is God?”

God is never separate from our life and existence. God is the substance of every good quality, every virtue, and every moral and spiritual action we take. God IS the good we live and express, and CAN live and express. As offspring of the divine, we are God in action.

I love this definition of God from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy:

GOD. The great I AM; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence.

God is the “I,” and we are the “AM.” Now, how much closer to God can we get than that!

Happy day!

Johnny the bagger

Here is a must see video for anyone wondering whether they can make a difference in the world.

It’s short.

Johnny the bagger

Hmmm...right way to pray?

I laughed when I read the below story sent in by a reader. It certainly shows how prayer can be turned around at times to serve our purposes rather than God’s…

After starting a new diet I altered my drive to work to avoid passing my favorite bakery. I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and as I approached, there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed ... "Lord, it's up to you, if you want me to
have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery." And sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was! God is so good."

I’d say this prayer was designed to get what the driver wanted rather than what God wanted! Wouldn’t you say? All we have to do is keep “driving around the block” until our wishes are fulfilled!

Hmmm...we all might have our occasions when we've done the same...

I wonder what happened with his diet…