"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow."
~ Helen Keller
Showing posts with label light. Show all posts
Showing posts with label light. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Let the light shine
Last week I visited a Christian Scientist who is staying at a nursing home in my home town. When I was checking into the facility, the manager of the complex asked me if I would come to their next in-service meeting to introduce Christian Science to her staff. I agreed, not knowing what she wanted me to say or for how long.
At 1 p.m. last Monday, I showed up at their meeting expecting to speak with 3 to 5 people. The living room was filled with over 20 nurses and staff! I was so surprised, but delighted for the opportunity to share my faith.
The first question I asked was, “How many of you have ever heard of Christian Science?” Two people timidly raised their hands. The rest were clueless. And one of the women who raised her hand asked if we were Tom Cruises’ religion—Scientology! I assured her we were not.
Wow…no one, for the most part, had even an inkling that a religion called Christian Science existed. This was good from the point of view that there were no negative views I had to deal with. But it was a crime, from the perspective of how obscure Christian Science has become to a large part of our society. This needs to change…
I explained some basic teachings of Christian Science along with its emphasis on the power of prayer to heal not only emotional and mental troubles, but physical ailments too.
There were many “What if…” questions that needed to be addressed.
“What if he falls and breaks his head open, and bleeds all over…?” types of concerns were voiced. I encouraged them to trust their judgments and do whatever seemed wisest under the circumstances they were facing. Their fears rapidly melted on that score.
In the middle of the “What if...?” questions, I took a moment to reassure them of the power of prayer to heal and to trust this man’s prayers. I even prompted them, depending upon where their comfort zone was in discussing spirituality, to encourage this resident in a prayerful direction when there were issues that needed to be worked out.
One nurse asked what I would do if I had a cold. Would I take medicines, or change my diet, or drink lots of water,...or do a number of other material options she listed. I told her I would do none of those things, for prayer brings a much faster and better result. Her eyes got big. She was surprised to hear such an answer, and looked a bit incredulous that prayer was a viable possibility. She was very courteous and not disrespectful at all. In fact, the whole group was very sincere, very respectful and thoughtful during the 20 minutes or so I was able to speak with them.
I left feeling good about the meeting and grateful for the opportunity to share.
Today, the daughter of the resident at this facility visited her dad. During her time there, a couple of nurses came into the room where she was sitting, and mentioned how helpful the talk on Christian Science had been, which was nice for her to hear. But even more interesting was what followed.
During the visit, one of the nurses was working with her dad, and at one point he got a bit difficult to converse with on a subject that was bothering him. The nurse tried all the human options she could think of to settle his problem, but to no avail. Finally she piped up, “You could pray to God for a solution!” He acted a bit startled, but immediately responded, and that was the end of the trouble.
I was so happy to hear about the willingness of this nurse to step out of her comfort zone, perhaps, and encourage this man in his spiritual path.
People warm up to Christian Science when they learn the truth about it. It is such a pure teaching full of incredible hope and promise. It might take baby step after baby step to reach its full potential, but the journey is worth the travel and the effort is worth the reward.
I’m grateful for the opportunity that arose to share what I believe in this week with those nurses.
Jesus told us to let our light shine. As I learned at that meeting, though, it needs to shine brighter and with fewer “bushels” placed over the flame, for there are way too many people out there who have never heard about Christian Science. That empty void of knowledge needs to be filled.
At 1 p.m. last Monday, I showed up at their meeting expecting to speak with 3 to 5 people. The living room was filled with over 20 nurses and staff! I was so surprised, but delighted for the opportunity to share my faith.
The first question I asked was, “How many of you have ever heard of Christian Science?” Two people timidly raised their hands. The rest were clueless. And one of the women who raised her hand asked if we were Tom Cruises’ religion—Scientology! I assured her we were not.
Wow…no one, for the most part, had even an inkling that a religion called Christian Science existed. This was good from the point of view that there were no negative views I had to deal with. But it was a crime, from the perspective of how obscure Christian Science has become to a large part of our society. This needs to change…
I explained some basic teachings of Christian Science along with its emphasis on the power of prayer to heal not only emotional and mental troubles, but physical ailments too.
There were many “What if…” questions that needed to be addressed.
“What if he falls and breaks his head open, and bleeds all over…?” types of concerns were voiced. I encouraged them to trust their judgments and do whatever seemed wisest under the circumstances they were facing. Their fears rapidly melted on that score.
In the middle of the “What if...?” questions, I took a moment to reassure them of the power of prayer to heal and to trust this man’s prayers. I even prompted them, depending upon where their comfort zone was in discussing spirituality, to encourage this resident in a prayerful direction when there were issues that needed to be worked out.
One nurse asked what I would do if I had a cold. Would I take medicines, or change my diet, or drink lots of water,...or do a number of other material options she listed. I told her I would do none of those things, for prayer brings a much faster and better result. Her eyes got big. She was surprised to hear such an answer, and looked a bit incredulous that prayer was a viable possibility. She was very courteous and not disrespectful at all. In fact, the whole group was very sincere, very respectful and thoughtful during the 20 minutes or so I was able to speak with them.
I left feeling good about the meeting and grateful for the opportunity to share.
Today, the daughter of the resident at this facility visited her dad. During her time there, a couple of nurses came into the room where she was sitting, and mentioned how helpful the talk on Christian Science had been, which was nice for her to hear. But even more interesting was what followed.
During the visit, one of the nurses was working with her dad, and at one point he got a bit difficult to converse with on a subject that was bothering him. The nurse tried all the human options she could think of to settle his problem, but to no avail. Finally she piped up, “You could pray to God for a solution!” He acted a bit startled, but immediately responded, and that was the end of the trouble.
I was so happy to hear about the willingness of this nurse to step out of her comfort zone, perhaps, and encourage this man in his spiritual path.
People warm up to Christian Science when they learn the truth about it. It is such a pure teaching full of incredible hope and promise. It might take baby step after baby step to reach its full potential, but the journey is worth the travel and the effort is worth the reward.
I’m grateful for the opportunity that arose to share what I believe in this week with those nurses.
Jesus told us to let our light shine. As I learned at that meeting, though, it needs to shine brighter and with fewer “bushels” placed over the flame, for there are way too many people out there who have never heard about Christian Science. That empty void of knowledge needs to be filled.
Monday, July 28, 2008
You are a ray of light
I like to think of myself as a ray of light. How about you?
“Let your light shine,” Jesus Christ urged.
As a ray of light shines out from the sun, each of us is a ray of light radiating out from the sun of Soul. As we let our light shine, our God-given goodness radiates and permeates the thought-atmospheres we work in. People around us feel that light and are benefited from it. We are benefited too, because we are living true to our spiritual identity as a reflection of divine Light, and it feels really good!
Oftentimes, people don’t live like they are a ray of light, though, but more like a sponge. Rather than being proactive with good thoughts, they soak in negative feelings from undesirable sources.
Rather than warding off depressing emotions, for instance, they get depressed too. Or rather than defending their loving disposition from anger, they become angry too. And so on down the list of negative emotions. Like a dry sponge soaking in any liquid nearby, they become a reservoir for negativity spewed around them.
But this need not be.
Spiritually considered, we are not sponges. We are whole and complete rays of spiritual goodness radiating the brilliance of the divine Light!
Sooooo, don’t be a sponge for error. Be a light for Truth! The experience is better, and the effect much healthier.
Shine away!
“Let your light shine,” Jesus Christ urged.
As a ray of light shines out from the sun, each of us is a ray of light radiating out from the sun of Soul. As we let our light shine, our God-given goodness radiates and permeates the thought-atmospheres we work in. People around us feel that light and are benefited from it. We are benefited too, because we are living true to our spiritual identity as a reflection of divine Light, and it feels really good!
Oftentimes, people don’t live like they are a ray of light, though, but more like a sponge. Rather than being proactive with good thoughts, they soak in negative feelings from undesirable sources.
Rather than warding off depressing emotions, for instance, they get depressed too. Or rather than defending their loving disposition from anger, they become angry too. And so on down the list of negative emotions. Like a dry sponge soaking in any liquid nearby, they become a reservoir for negativity spewed around them.
But this need not be.
Spiritually considered, we are not sponges. We are whole and complete rays of spiritual goodness radiating the brilliance of the divine Light!
Sooooo, don’t be a sponge for error. Be a light for Truth! The experience is better, and the effect much healthier.
Shine away!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Adjusting to the light
Last week, the children and I went on a 40 mile snowmobile ride that took us up to the Bone Springs warming hut in the Blue Mountains. There’s around 10 feet of snow in the Blues right now, which is phenomenal for this time of year.
It was a beautiful sunny day with the sun glistening brightly off the snow as we zipped up the hills, over the snowdrifts, through the fluff and along steep canyon walls.
When we got to the top and took off our helmets, we were amazed to see the Bone Springs hut buried in snow. The “hut” is a small building with a wood stove inside for people in the wilderness to find warmth or protection if in trouble. The white stuff was so deep, that your feet on the ground where above the top of the door. We descended through a narrow tunnel down to the entry that had been carved out by shovels, only to find ourselves blinded when we stepped inside the structure. We could see almost nothing even though light was pouring in behind us.
I stopped and sought out a spiritual lesson from the pitch darkness I saw before me.
I knew the room had light in it, for the door was open behind me. But I could not see. My eyes were accustomed to the bright light outside reflecting off the white snow. They were not accustomed to the dark and were not taking in enough light to see. I knew that if I waited long enough, my eyes would adjust, and forms would start to appear. And sure enough, in a few minutes I could see everything in the room with ease.
I thought about different mindsets people entertain that have similar effects.
For example, take someone who is naturally a grateful and joyous person, who sees good in everyone. Suggest to them that nothing good is going on, life is miserable, and they should feel miserable, and your comments are likely to have as much effect on them as a passing shadow has on the ground it temporarily darkens. They will not be convinced because they know better. And they will not “see” the miserable soul’s point of view.
Or conversely, take a small spirit who is all caught up into self, living in their own self-centered world, and put them it with people of a generous out-going spirit, and they likely will still feel isolated and lonely. They do not “see” the love that is all around.
Mary Baker Eddy said it well when she wrote,
It was a beautiful sunny day with the sun glistening brightly off the snow as we zipped up the hills, over the snowdrifts, through the fluff and along steep canyon walls.
When we got to the top and took off our helmets, we were amazed to see the Bone Springs hut buried in snow. The “hut” is a small building with a wood stove inside for people in the wilderness to find warmth or protection if in trouble. The white stuff was so deep, that your feet on the ground where above the top of the door. We descended through a narrow tunnel down to the entry that had been carved out by shovels, only to find ourselves blinded when we stepped inside the structure. We could see almost nothing even though light was pouring in behind us.
I stopped and sought out a spiritual lesson from the pitch darkness I saw before me.
I knew the room had light in it, for the door was open behind me. But I could not see. My eyes were accustomed to the bright light outside reflecting off the white snow. They were not accustomed to the dark and were not taking in enough light to see. I knew that if I waited long enough, my eyes would adjust, and forms would start to appear. And sure enough, in a few minutes I could see everything in the room with ease.
I thought about different mindsets people entertain that have similar effects.
For example, take someone who is naturally a grateful and joyous person, who sees good in everyone. Suggest to them that nothing good is going on, life is miserable, and they should feel miserable, and your comments are likely to have as much effect on them as a passing shadow has on the ground it temporarily darkens. They will not be convinced because they know better. And they will not “see” the miserable soul’s point of view.
Or conversely, take a small spirit who is all caught up into self, living in their own self-centered world, and put them it with people of a generous out-going spirit, and they likely will still feel isolated and lonely. They do not “see” the love that is all around.
Mary Baker Eddy said it well when she wrote,
Walking in the light, we are accustomed to the light and require it; we cannot see in darkness. But eyes accustomed to darkness are pained by the light.
Interestingly, when we walked out of the hut into the bright sunshine, the light was so piercingly bright we had to close our eyes for it was too much to take in until our eyes adjusted again.
The lesson I took back down the mountain was to have patience when standing in apparent darkness. Just as I knew there was light in that room, even though I couldn’t see, with patience, my eyes adjusted appropriately and objects became discernible. There was light where there seemed to be no light.
In life we may find ourselves in situations that appear very dark. But there is light present to brighten the view. We may need to be patient while our mental eyes adjust to the light and let it in, but as the light dawns on thought and illuminates the view, what we thought was absent becomes discernible.
God is all. God is Light. The Light is everywhere. We live in the Light! And this truth, accepted and understood, can dispel a whole lot of darkness.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
A window to God
While observing world class tennis players at Indian Wells last week, I was continually impressed with the precision, control, readiness, abilities and strategy of players. They were experts at their sport, and I learned much from watching them.
But as I appreciated the virtues these players demonstrated in order to excel at their sport, and acknowledged the window into greater possibilities for quality tennis playing they exhibited, I marveled at how every individual in this world is a window into God in some way.
Not everyone is going to be seen on TV and played up in the newspaper headlines. But that doesn’t matter. It’s what we are spiritually that counts, not what others think we are materially.
I thought about the smile, faithfulness and care a clerk always show me when I check at out a local grocery store. She is missing teeth, appears to have had a very hard life, and likely lives on a small salary. But she smiles on anyway. She loves anyway. She works faithfully without complaint. She is devoted. She is an example. She is a window into the land of Love where what we have spiritually is more important than what we lack materially.
I pictured a huge house with billions of windows around the perimeter of the building. And thinking of Eddy’s transparency metaphor above, I labeled each window as a mortal. According to the cleanliness of the window, one could peer inside of the home through that window—the home being heaven.
I also knew it was important not to idolize them because their talents and strengths even though individually manifest, originated from the one Mind we all hold in common. Its right and proper to honor the individuality expressed, but God gets the credit.
I thought about Mary Baker Eddy’s statement in Science and Health about how God is manifest through mortals. She wrote
"The manifestation of God through mortals is as light passing through the window-pane. The light and the glass never mingle, but as matter, the glass is less opaque than the walls. The mortal mind through whichI admire people who excel at their craft. It takes hard work, commitment, dedicated training and discipline, obedience to rules, and practice, practice, practice to reach their goals. These qualities are spiritual, virtuous and exemplary. They certainly need to be tempered with moral and spiritual values that keep the individual grounded in Truth, but I saw much evidence of love and care expressed on the courts. I saw the unpleasant opposite too…
Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality — much error — in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun."
But as I appreciated the virtues these players demonstrated in order to excel at their sport, and acknowledged the window into greater possibilities for quality tennis playing they exhibited, I marveled at how every individual in this world is a window into God in some way.
Not everyone is going to be seen on TV and played up in the newspaper headlines. But that doesn’t matter. It’s what we are spiritually that counts, not what others think we are materially.
I thought about the smile, faithfulness and care a clerk always show me when I check at out a local grocery store. She is missing teeth, appears to have had a very hard life, and likely lives on a small salary. But she smiles on anyway. She loves anyway. She works faithfully without complaint. She is devoted. She is an example. She is a window into the land of Love where what we have spiritually is more important than what we lack materially.
I pictured a huge house with billions of windows around the perimeter of the building. And thinking of Eddy’s transparency metaphor above, I labeled each window as a mortal. According to the cleanliness of the window, one could peer inside of the home through that window—the home being heaven.
I like that analogy. It reminds me that mortals are not children of God. Yet, the individuality of God is hinted through mortals that allow the light of Truth to shine through them to some degree. As we follow the light shining through that mortal back to God, and don’t get mentally stuck on the physical personality, we capture the real individuality of man made in the divine likeness. Then we begin to discern the real individuality of our neighbor as a spiritual being, and not as a mortal body.
Is your window pane clean today?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The right kind of light
Light is light, right?
Wrong.
There are different kinds of light, I’ve learned from my family’s recent visit to the Lewis and Clark caverns in Montana. And depending upon the light you’re relying upon to see, you take in different sights. It’s quite an amazing concept to consider from a metaphysical point of view.
The Lewis and Clark caverns are a series of caves, tunnels, and caverns that weave deep into the mountainside of southern Montana. The cathedral rooms and openings along the way are filled with geological wonders and marvels.
When we began the tour, rock formations were all different shades of brown, from pure luminescent light shades to deep dark chocolate. But near the end of the trek, the guide suddenly announced how thrilled she was to show us the next cathedral room because it had the latest in lighting technology installed. The light most nearly approximated sunlight of any artificial light they could put in, she explained.
As we entered the room, we all oohed and awed because hues of red that we had never seen before were dripping from the walls. No more dull brown! The room was radiant with color. They were the same type of rocks but different light, and an incredibly different view. She pointed out that incandescent light, which was used in all the previous rooms, does not allow one to see all the colors there are to see in those dark settings. Use the right kind of light, and you get the right kind of view, we learned.
I pondered the lesson for everyday life.
I wondered, “How often do we walk through life in boredom and dullness of thought because we’re looking at the scene about us through a lacking light?” By lacking light, I mean a light that does not reveal the full picture.
For example, Christian Science teaches that we are living in the Kingdom of heaven now. Most people don’t believe this because they look at life from a material point of view. They believe that matter is real and defines their existence, and this false belief would be a “lacking light” that paints a picture of dullness and depravity to their sense of things, realized. It’s not the truth, but nonetheless, to the one who believes the illusion, to the one who walks in the lacking light, that’s what he sees. And the Kingdom is not apparent to their view.
Another person could walk through the same environment they did, but experience great joy and health because they look at the environment with a more inspired light.
We need to be mentally walking in the right light, the Light of Truth, to see the Kingdom all about, I decided.
Material light, artificial light, even sunlight, is not adequate to reveal the Kingdom. The Kingdom is Spirit, found in Mind, and the light of Christian Science reveals the eternal Life we possess from living in this Kingdom as children of God. I filled with gratitude to have this light of Christian Science to walk in.
As Jesus preached, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
How close is your hand?
Very very close.
And that’s how close the Kingdom is.
So, I decided to pay more attention to what light I mentally walked in. No more lacking light for me! I protested. I could choose to walk in the light of Spirit.
So, I’d recommend to anyone, “Walk in the divine light today, the light of Truth, and you’ll see a spectacular array of spiritual wealth, substance, and joy-producing phenomena all around. This infinite good was there all along, but it takes the light of Christian Science to see it. And you have that light. It’s readily available in Science and Health.
Enjoy the view!
Wrong.
There are different kinds of light, I’ve learned from my family’s recent visit to the Lewis and Clark caverns in Montana. And depending upon the light you’re relying upon to see, you take in different sights. It’s quite an amazing concept to consider from a metaphysical point of view.
The Lewis and Clark caverns are a series of caves, tunnels, and caverns that weave deep into the mountainside of southern Montana. The cathedral rooms and openings along the way are filled with geological wonders and marvels.
When we began the tour, rock formations were all different shades of brown, from pure luminescent light shades to deep dark chocolate. But near the end of the trek, the guide suddenly announced how thrilled she was to show us the next cathedral room because it had the latest in lighting technology installed. The light most nearly approximated sunlight of any artificial light they could put in, she explained.
As we entered the room, we all oohed and awed because hues of red that we had never seen before were dripping from the walls. No more dull brown! The room was radiant with color. They were the same type of rocks but different light, and an incredibly different view. She pointed out that incandescent light, which was used in all the previous rooms, does not allow one to see all the colors there are to see in those dark settings. Use the right kind of light, and you get the right kind of view, we learned.
I pondered the lesson for everyday life.
I wondered, “How often do we walk through life in boredom and dullness of thought because we’re looking at the scene about us through a lacking light?” By lacking light, I mean a light that does not reveal the full picture.
For example, Christian Science teaches that we are living in the Kingdom of heaven now. Most people don’t believe this because they look at life from a material point of view. They believe that matter is real and defines their existence, and this false belief would be a “lacking light” that paints a picture of dullness and depravity to their sense of things, realized. It’s not the truth, but nonetheless, to the one who believes the illusion, to the one who walks in the lacking light, that’s what he sees. And the Kingdom is not apparent to their view.
Another person could walk through the same environment they did, but experience great joy and health because they look at the environment with a more inspired light.
We need to be mentally walking in the right light, the Light of Truth, to see the Kingdom all about, I decided.
Material light, artificial light, even sunlight, is not adequate to reveal the Kingdom. The Kingdom is Spirit, found in Mind, and the light of Christian Science reveals the eternal Life we possess from living in this Kingdom as children of God. I filled with gratitude to have this light of Christian Science to walk in.
As Jesus preached, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
How close is your hand?
Very very close.
And that’s how close the Kingdom is.
So, I decided to pay more attention to what light I mentally walked in. No more lacking light for me! I protested. I could choose to walk in the light of Spirit.
So, I’d recommend to anyone, “Walk in the divine light today, the light of Truth, and you’ll see a spectacular array of spiritual wealth, substance, and joy-producing phenomena all around. This infinite good was there all along, but it takes the light of Christian Science to see it. And you have that light. It’s readily available in Science and Health.
Enjoy the view!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Avoid the blindness of materialism
While headed to Yellowstone Park for a vacation, my family stopped at the Lewis and Clark caverns in southern Montana. Wow! What an incredible panorama of rock formations these caves have to offer. If you’re ever driving through the area, I highly recommend taking the tour.
At one point in the tour, our group was 325 feet below the surface of where we entered the caverns. It’s an amazing and long winding trip that ta
kes one through several runs, cathedral rooms, down beaver alley (a sit down on your bottom and slip down the narrow glistening smooth rock-slide that has been shaped to the angular outline of the human buttocks from much use), to the pristine pool of water, to hundred of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, slow flow water, bacon, water falls and much more.
In one room, as typical with most cave tours, the guide had us turn off all lights and cover all luminescent objects, including the blinking lights on kid’s sneakers. When the room went pitch dark, everyone oohed and awed at how dense the darkness was. You could not see your hand in front of your eyes, it was so pitch black. Then our leader lighted a single candle in an old-fashioned mining lantern, and she told us the story of Ralph Pierny (sp?).
Ralph had been a CCC (civil conservation corp) worker back in the 1930s when the cave was being prepared for tours. Ralph had other plans though, that stepped out of the bounds of his responsibilities. He was going to steal some of the stalactite formations to take back home to Ohio and sell for personal profit.
One Friday, after work was finished for the week, he snuck back into the Cavern alone to loot his booty. Deep in the Caverns, busily about his dishonest deed, the single candle he had brought with him burned out. And there he stood in absolute darkness with no other means of light.
The guide explained that the human mind cannot compute darkness and begins to hallucinate after a period of time. We all tried to imagine what we would do if stuck in that cavern 300 feet below the surface of the ground with absolutely no light.
In the dark, we could not see anything. We didn’t know what direction to turn, where the alley out was located, what rocks to avoid tripping on, what holes in the ground to avoid. We couldn’t do anything. We’d be stuck, maybe forever! And that’s exactly the situation that Ralph found himself.
Three days passed for Ralph, until Monday morning when roll call was taken outside, and the work party realized Ralph was missing. They sent a search party into the cave, and found him alive, a bit dehydrated, but otherwise, quite fine. Ralph confessed his criminal intent and said he never wanted to experience that again. At times he was lying on the floor and thought he was standing up, the darkness was so confusing, he relayed.
I pondered the guide’s statement of “the human mind cannot compute darkness,” for days afterward.
I thought about different kinds of darkness the human mind often faces other than pitch black in a cave, like immorality, greed, and self-centeredness.
How was Ralph so stupid to take only one candle, I wondered? I decided it was because he was blinded by his dishonest intent. And this is true with all crimes. The criminal eventually, if not from the start, makes major errors in judgments and calculation because he is walking in mental blindness to some degree.
I thought about the blindness of dense sensualism--thought so engrossed in physical sensation that it loses touch with Spirit. I considered the blindness of selfishness, hate, anger, rampant consumerism, and materialism, the belief of living in matter. When thought is absorbed into the belief that happiness, life, mind, and substance is in the flesh, it loses touch with reality, and starts floundering around as if in darkness, just like Ralph trying to find his way out of the cave without light. He could not.
We need light to find direction and stay alive, I concluded. We need a shining hope outside of ourselves to survive.
Ralph could not save himself. He needed help.
We need help too. We need God to save us from the darkness of mortality. Christ is the light God sent to deliver us from evil, and Christian Science is the Christ-light shining brilliantly today leading mankind out of the pit of error into the glorious dawn of Truth.
I’m grateful to know my Light. I’m grateful to know my Light will never burn out or forsake me. I’m grateful to know the Light is wherever I am, even before I get there, and will never fail to lead me to where I need to be.
The story of Ralph Pierny has been a powerful teaching tool for our children who heard and experienced the account firsthand on the cavern tour. My wife and I quickly jumped on the opportunity to illustrate the various types of darkness for them to avoid in coming decades as they learn to lead ethical and spiritually progressive lives.
I will not soon forget the saga of Ralph Pierny either!
At one point in the tour, our group was 325 feet below the surface of where we entered the caverns. It’s an amazing and long winding trip that ta
kes one through several runs, cathedral rooms, down beaver alley (a sit down on your bottom and slip down the narrow glistening smooth rock-slide that has been shaped to the angular outline of the human buttocks from much use), to the pristine pool of water, to hundred of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, slow flow water, bacon, water falls and much more.In one room, as typical with most cave tours, the guide had us turn off all lights and cover all luminescent objects, including the blinking lights on kid’s sneakers. When the room went pitch dark, everyone oohed and awed at how dense the darkness was. You could not see your hand in front of your eyes, it was so pitch black. Then our leader lighted a single candle in an old-fashioned mining lantern, and she told us the story of Ralph Pierny (sp?).
Ralph had been a CCC (civil conservation corp) worker back in the 1930s when the cave was being prepared for tours. Ralph had other plans though, that stepped out of the bounds of his responsibilities. He was going to steal some of the stalactite formations to take back home to Ohio and sell for personal profit.
One Friday, after work was finished for the week, he snuck back into the Cavern alone to loot his booty. Deep in the Caverns, busily about his dishonest deed, the single candle he had brought with him burned out. And there he stood in absolute darkness with no other means of light.
The guide explained that the human mind cannot compute darkness and begins to hallucinate after a period of time. We all tried to imagine what we would do if stuck in that cavern 300 feet below the surface of the ground with absolutely no light.
In the dark, we could not see anything. We didn’t know what direction to turn, where the alley out was located, what rocks to avoid tripping on, what holes in the ground to avoid. We couldn’t do anything. We’d be stuck, maybe forever! And that’s exactly the situation that Ralph found himself.
Three days passed for Ralph, until Monday morning when roll call was taken outside, and the work party realized Ralph was missing. They sent a search party into the cave, and found him alive, a bit dehydrated, but otherwise, quite fine. Ralph confessed his criminal intent and said he never wanted to experience that again. At times he was lying on the floor and thought he was standing up, the darkness was so confusing, he relayed.
I pondered the guide’s statement of “the human mind cannot compute darkness,” for days afterward.
I thought about different kinds of darkness the human mind often faces other than pitch black in a cave, like immorality, greed, and self-centeredness.
How was Ralph so stupid to take only one candle, I wondered? I decided it was because he was blinded by his dishonest intent. And this is true with all crimes. The criminal eventually, if not from the start, makes major errors in judgments and calculation because he is walking in mental blindness to some degree.
I thought about the blindness of dense sensualism--thought so engrossed in physical sensation that it loses touch with Spirit. I considered the blindness of selfishness, hate, anger, rampant consumerism, and materialism, the belief of living in matter. When thought is absorbed into the belief that happiness, life, mind, and substance is in the flesh, it loses touch with reality, and starts floundering around as if in darkness, just like Ralph trying to find his way out of the cave without light. He could not.
We need light to find direction and stay alive, I concluded. We need a shining hope outside of ourselves to survive.
Ralph could not save himself. He needed help.
We need help too. We need God to save us from the darkness of mortality. Christ is the light God sent to deliver us from evil, and Christian Science is the Christ-light shining brilliantly today leading mankind out of the pit of error into the glorious dawn of Truth.
I’m grateful to know my Light. I’m grateful to know my Light will never burn out or forsake me. I’m grateful to know the Light is wherever I am, even before I get there, and will never fail to lead me to where I need to be.
The story of Ralph Pierny has been a powerful teaching tool for our children who heard and experienced the account firsthand on the cavern tour. My wife and I quickly jumped on the opportunity to illustrate the various types of darkness for them to avoid in coming decades as they learn to lead ethical and spiritually progressive lives.
I will not soon forget the saga of Ralph Pierny either!
The error, which says that Soul is in body, Mind is in matter, and good is in evil, must unsay it and cease from such utterances; else God will continue to be hidden from humanity, and mortals will sin without knowing that they are sinning, will lean on matter instead of Spirit, stumble with lameness, drop with drunkenness, consume with disease, — all because of their blindness, their false sense concerning God and man. Mary Baker Eddy
Friday, March 9, 2007
God knows the way
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!"
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
~ Minnie Louise Haskins
“Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!"
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
~ Minnie Louise Haskins
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Can you see the light?
"To be able to stand in the midst of darkness and live as though all about you was light is the final test of the human spirit."
~ Edward Griggs
In describing the new heaven and new earth that was revealed to him and he recorded in the book of Revelation, John wrote:
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
May the brilliant light of divine Love brighten your space wherever that may be and cast the dark dreary earth shadows aside.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Let your light shine
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
~ Marianne Williamson
~ Marianne Williamson
Monday, November 27, 2006
Let the light within glow bright
"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."
~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Friday, November 3, 2006
Bright stars
“Every luminary in the constellation of human greatness, like the stars, comes out in the darkness to shine with the reflected light of God.” Miscellaneous Writings, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 340:27.
You don’t have to appear in a full length feature film to be a natural star.
I enjoyed reading about residents in the English district of Salisbury honoring selfless volunteers in their community. You may or may not want to read the article. It’s a bit newsy. But it’s heartening to see a growing recognition around the world of people who give without expecting anything in return. We all benefit from their generosity, compassion and quiet service. We can learn from their humble example.
Flickr photo
Monday, October 9, 2006
The light within
A prayer from worldprayer.org
May the long time sun
Shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on.
~kundalini yoga
May the long time sun
Shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on.
~kundalini yoga
Friday, September 29, 2006
Open the curtains
The human mind is like a house with windows and curtains in every room to the outside world. Over the house is a bright sun shining massive amounts of light all around, illuminating a beautiful landscape and scenery to behold.
A person sitting in the house in a room with the curtains closed sees nothing of the light and beauty around his abode. He sits in darkness wondering why life is so dim and dreary.
The occupant who throws opens the curtains and lets in the light rejoices in the warm sunshine and the awe-inspiring flowers, grass and trees surrounding his home. Beckoned by the beauty and promise of adventure, he walks out the door to participate, leaving the structure behind.
Jesus preached, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Heaven is at hand!
How close is “at hand?”
How close is your hand?
It’s closer than close. It’s attached. You have it now. It’s here. You’re in the kingdom at this moment.
Christian Science explains that heaven is not a physical place, but a state of Mind. We find heaven, not in a material world, but in spiritual consciousness.
Material sense is the darkened room of the house that has all the curtains closed. The view is dismal. Throw open the curtains—open thought to Spirit—and the light pours in.
Spiritual awareness is an open window to the kingdom of heaven at hand.
So, if you’d like a brighter day today, fling open the draperies of the human mind. Toss off a material sense of your environment, and consciously live in the omnipresence of God, good.
Let the light of Truth and Love flood your perspective and illuminate heavenly good abundant.
Let God light up your life!
A person sitting in the house in a room with the curtains closed sees nothing of the light and beauty around his abode. He sits in darkness wondering why life is so dim and dreary.
The occupant who throws opens the curtains and lets in the light rejoices in the warm sunshine and the awe-inspiring flowers, grass and trees surrounding his home. Beckoned by the beauty and promise of adventure, he walks out the door to participate, leaving the structure behind.
Jesus preached, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Heaven is at hand!
How close is “at hand?”
How close is your hand?
It’s closer than close. It’s attached. You have it now. It’s here. You’re in the kingdom at this moment.
Christian Science explains that heaven is not a physical place, but a state of Mind. We find heaven, not in a material world, but in spiritual consciousness.
Material sense is the darkened room of the house that has all the curtains closed. The view is dismal. Throw open the curtains—open thought to Spirit—and the light pours in.
Spiritual awareness is an open window to the kingdom of heaven at hand.
So, if you’d like a brighter day today, fling open the draperies of the human mind. Toss off a material sense of your environment, and consciously live in the omnipresence of God, good.
Let the light of Truth and Love flood your perspective and illuminate heavenly good abundant.
Let God light up your life!
“Christians rejoice in secret beauty and bounty, hidden from the world, but known to God.” Mary Baker Eddy
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
The light and the closet
People wonder how they can keep a perspective of goodness when there are so many bad things going on in the world.
Christian Science teaches us to know God as omnipresent good. The more we know God’s ever-present goodness, the more of that goodness we experience everyday, and everywhere we go. It improves the mental environments our thoughts rest upon.
There’s a story…
A discussion was going on between a lightbulb and a closet in a very unique bedroom. Each was extolling its own virtues.
“Look at my brilliant shine,” said the bulb to the closet. “Isn’t it a beautiful sight to behold?”
“You do have a bright glow,” the closet replied. “But you should see my handsome darkness. It’s some of the highest quality most desirable darkness eyes have ever beheld.”
Becoming curious, the little light queries, “Really! I’d like to see some of that darkness. Will you let me take a peek?”
“Sure,” said the closet, as it door swung open. “Come on over and look.”
The lightbulb, glowing in all its bright glory, looks into the closet, but everywhere it looks, there is only light. “Where’s the darkness,” the bulb protested. “I don’t see any darkness. I only see light!”
In the same way a lit bulb illuminates its surroundings with light, our spiritual-mindedness illuminates our mental surroundings with love and peace.
“Let your light shine!” Jesus instructed his followers.
A light is not impressed with darkness. A light just shines, and the darkness goes away.
Be a faithful light!!
Christian Science teaches us to know God as omnipresent good. The more we know God’s ever-present goodness, the more of that goodness we experience everyday, and everywhere we go. It improves the mental environments our thoughts rest upon.
There’s a story…
A discussion was going on between a lightbulb and a closet in a very unique bedroom. Each was extolling its own virtues.
“Look at my brilliant shine,” said the bulb to the closet. “Isn’t it a beautiful sight to behold?”
“You do have a bright glow,” the closet replied. “But you should see my handsome darkness. It’s some of the highest quality most desirable darkness eyes have ever beheld.”
Becoming curious, the little light queries, “Really! I’d like to see some of that darkness. Will you let me take a peek?”
“Sure,” said the closet, as it door swung open. “Come on over and look.”
The lightbulb, glowing in all its bright glory, looks into the closet, but everywhere it looks, there is only light. “Where’s the darkness,” the bulb protested. “I don’t see any darkness. I only see light!”
In the same way a lit bulb illuminates its surroundings with light, our spiritual-mindedness illuminates our mental surroundings with love and peace.
“Let your light shine!” Jesus instructed his followers.
A light is not impressed with darkness. A light just shines, and the darkness goes away.
Be a faithful light!!
