My favorite event in the Winter Olympics is the figure skating. The precision, discipline, incredible concentration, years of practice, inspiration, dedication and commitment required to be the best in the world are awe-inspiring. The same rule applies to success in the other sports as well, no doubt.
I love listening to their stories of how they became one of the best skaters in the world. Invariably huge sacrifices were made along the way. Invariably, success required thousands of hours of practice, time many kids spend playing, watching TV, on Facebook or gaming. Often their families make huge sacrifices financially, even moving to different parts of the world to be close to qualified trainers. One skater from Japan changed her citizenship to Russia so she could train with her dream-coach for pairs in that country.
Most of us will never know what it feels like to stand in front of tens of millions of viewers on TV with a gold medal in hand for a job well done. We can only fantasize about what kinds of thoughts and emotions rush through the minds of those few who achieve such grand Olympic success.
But that’s okay. We all have our own niche to fill and only a few can be an Olympic champion. We can be a champion in other ways, and most significantly, a spiritual way.
The ultimate success in life will never be a material accomplishment, such as a gold medal, a high paying position, a family raised, or social, political, economic achievement. It will be spiritual growth, discovering spiritual reality as the all and all of existence—entrance to heaven!
Compared to spiritual life, everything in this world pales, and rapidly.
Just as it takes sacrifice to win a gold medal in figure skating, though, downhill skiing, or snowboarding, are we willing to make the sacrifices necessary to garner spiritual success? Are we willing to put in the hours of practice, the days of study, the years of commitment to reach the worthy goal of spiritual understanding? Are we willing to drop activities in our life that are not contributing to our goal, that hold us back, distract us, scatter us and dilute our effectiveness? Are we willing to make the investment required to be successful? Are we willing to sacrifice to be successful?
Jesus was not evasive about the demands placed upon the student who desired spiritual achievement. To the young man wanting to know what more he needed to do to be saved, Jesus said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Matt. 19:21). “Sell what thou hast,” means more than just losing attachment to material goods. It means to give up and get rid of mental commitments that distract from total spiritual mindedness. To reach spirituality we have to give up all materiality, and this is where the sacrifice comes in.
It only seems like sacrifice to the mortal mind that wants to hold on to matter as substance and wealth. But to the spiritually inspired, thought quickly sees that the loves of the worldly minded are poverty with God. There is nothing to give up at all, except a false belief of what true happiness and riches really are.
Like the aspiring Olympians catching a glimpse of what success looks like and thus becoming willing to sacrifice anything that gets in their way to acheive it, once we catch a glimpse of what spiritual success looks like, it’s much easier to sacrifice attachment to the world that gets in the way.
So, you can "skate for the gold" today--live for God, not for temporal glory, position or status, and reap the reward of peace, health and harmony that come from devoted spiritual mindedness.
Showing posts with label success. Show all posts
Showing posts with label success. Show all posts
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Is there something better than consumerism?
Here's an interesting article written by Amitai Etzioni for The New Republic and reprinted in Utne Reader, on the subject of society getting too weighed down in consumerism.
One might not agree with all his conclusions, but he does a good job of describing what he calls the "social disease" of consuming beyond need and the suffering that results.
Here's the link:
"Get Rich Now. The economy will never be the same. It’s time to rethink our definition of “the good life.”
One might not agree with all his conclusions, but he does a good job of describing what he calls the "social disease" of consuming beyond need and the suffering that results.
Here's the link:
"Get Rich Now. The economy will never be the same. It’s time to rethink our definition of “the good life.”
Monday, December 28, 2009
Prosperity gospel and the recession
I read an eye-catching article titled, “Did Christianity Cause the Crash?” in The Atlantic. Hanna Rosin, the author, argues that the prosperity gospel preached to tens of millions of Christians, promoted excess financial risk-taking that contributed to the housing bubble and its inevitable burst.
Here’s the lead into the piece:
“America’s mainstream religious denominations used to teach the faithful that they would be rewarded in the afterlife. But over the past generation, a different strain of Christian faith has proliferated—one that promises to make believers rich in the here and now. Known as the prosperity gospel, and claiming tens of millions of adherents, it fosters risk-taking and intense material optimism. It pumped air into the housing bubble. And one year into the worst downturn since the Depression, it’s still going strong.”
This article caught my attention because I frequently work with patients who have been influenced by the prosperity gospel. And it can be challenging at times to help them see the primary need, or supply, is not money, but spiritual understanding.
The prosperity gospel promises increased material wealth and gain if you follow the tenets and practices of those who preach it.
Millions of people already want the material riches before they ever step foot in a church, so to hear a preacher from the pulpit, supposedly anointed “from above,” tell them they can have their consumeristic heart’s desires fulfilled if they believe in God and have strong faith, is like a dream come true. Pray yourself to earthly riches, fame and success, the message comes across.
Rosin argues in her piece that Christians steeped in prosperity gospel teaching, acted on trumped up hopes and dreams that exceeded reasonable financial expectations. They bought homes they could not afford, believing that God would give them the money they needed to make future mortgage payments. The increased income did not come. Payments were missed, foreclosure took the homes, and millions of dreams were crushed, all contributing to the crash we're all familiar with now.
It can be a stretch to follow all of Rosin’s logic, but her reporting does provoke some serious thought about the theological errors and misrepresentation of true Christianity the prosperity gospel advocates.
Jesus Christ did not teach his followers to pursue or yearn for great worldly wealth and success. He taught them to seek the riches of Spirit and rest assured that their human needs would be met.
To the young man who wanted Jesus to tell his brother to divide his father’s inheritance with him, Jesus replied, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” It seems that Jesus did not care about the extra money and didn’t believe the boy needed to be concerned about it either.
Jesus did not hold out in front of public thought images or promises of worldly gain as a reward for following him. He promised eternal life for faithful followership, and the route to that goal may or may not be attended by much money. But every need will be met along the way.
There is a big difference between seeking spiritual gain first with human needs met as a consequence, and pursuing dreams of material gain through prayer to God. The first puts God first. The second puts mammon first.
It seems that prosperity preaching feeds on humanity’s lust and want of material comfort and gain. If followers put the pursuit of monetary gain first, above listening to the voice of Wisdom, poor financial decisions can result. The voice of Wisdom does not lead one down a path of financial ruin. It leads one down a path of discipline, balance, patience, contentment, and to choices that endure hardship.
The prosperity gospel has led many people astray. Whether Rosin is right or not, in her conclusions, each reader can decide. But reading the article is a wake-up call to anyone caught up into the "Pursue your dreams," type of wishful thinking the prosperity gospel engenders.
The more mental weight we throw into the scale of Spirit, the less we think about worldly gain, money, getting monetarily rich and pursuing earthly dreams. These all fall to the wayside for the greater riches and wealth of spiritual understanding and demonstration.
Prosperity, in Spirit, is not measured in material quantities or by things owned, but by spiritual understanding gained and love lived. There is a big difference!
Here’s the lead into the piece:
“America’s mainstream religious denominations used to teach the faithful that they would be rewarded in the afterlife. But over the past generation, a different strain of Christian faith has proliferated—one that promises to make believers rich in the here and now. Known as the prosperity gospel, and claiming tens of millions of adherents, it fosters risk-taking and intense material optimism. It pumped air into the housing bubble. And one year into the worst downturn since the Depression, it’s still going strong.”
This article caught my attention because I frequently work with patients who have been influenced by the prosperity gospel. And it can be challenging at times to help them see the primary need, or supply, is not money, but spiritual understanding.
The prosperity gospel promises increased material wealth and gain if you follow the tenets and practices of those who preach it.
Millions of people already want the material riches before they ever step foot in a church, so to hear a preacher from the pulpit, supposedly anointed “from above,” tell them they can have their consumeristic heart’s desires fulfilled if they believe in God and have strong faith, is like a dream come true. Pray yourself to earthly riches, fame and success, the message comes across.
Rosin argues in her piece that Christians steeped in prosperity gospel teaching, acted on trumped up hopes and dreams that exceeded reasonable financial expectations. They bought homes they could not afford, believing that God would give them the money they needed to make future mortgage payments. The increased income did not come. Payments were missed, foreclosure took the homes, and millions of dreams were crushed, all contributing to the crash we're all familiar with now.
It can be a stretch to follow all of Rosin’s logic, but her reporting does provoke some serious thought about the theological errors and misrepresentation of true Christianity the prosperity gospel advocates.
Jesus Christ did not teach his followers to pursue or yearn for great worldly wealth and success. He taught them to seek the riches of Spirit and rest assured that their human needs would be met.
To the young man who wanted Jesus to tell his brother to divide his father’s inheritance with him, Jesus replied, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” It seems that Jesus did not care about the extra money and didn’t believe the boy needed to be concerned about it either.
Jesus did not hold out in front of public thought images or promises of worldly gain as a reward for following him. He promised eternal life for faithful followership, and the route to that goal may or may not be attended by much money. But every need will be met along the way.
There is a big difference between seeking spiritual gain first with human needs met as a consequence, and pursuing dreams of material gain through prayer to God. The first puts God first. The second puts mammon first.
It seems that prosperity preaching feeds on humanity’s lust and want of material comfort and gain. If followers put the pursuit of monetary gain first, above listening to the voice of Wisdom, poor financial decisions can result. The voice of Wisdom does not lead one down a path of financial ruin. It leads one down a path of discipline, balance, patience, contentment, and to choices that endure hardship.
The prosperity gospel has led many people astray. Whether Rosin is right or not, in her conclusions, each reader can decide. But reading the article is a wake-up call to anyone caught up into the "Pursue your dreams," type of wishful thinking the prosperity gospel engenders.
The more mental weight we throw into the scale of Spirit, the less we think about worldly gain, money, getting monetarily rich and pursuing earthly dreams. These all fall to the wayside for the greater riches and wealth of spiritual understanding and demonstration.
Prosperity, in Spirit, is not measured in material quantities or by things owned, but by spiritual understanding gained and love lived. There is a big difference!
“Christianity causes men to turn naturally from matter to Spirit, as the flower turns from darkness to light. Man then appropriates those things which "eye hath not seen nor ear heard." Paul and John had a clear
apprehension that, as mortal man achieves no worldly honors except by sacrifice, so he must gain heavenly riches by forsaking all worldliness. Then he will have nothing in common with the worldling's affections, motives, and aims.” Mary Baker Eddy
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
One measure of success
To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Keep going anyway...
"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God;
It never was between you and them anyway."
~ Mother Theresa
Friday, October 2, 2009
The most important achievement
What’s the one most important achievement you will make throughout all of earthly existence?
Many people look to the accumulation of fortunes, riches, and treasures as indicators of grand success.
Some people seek fame, recognition, and standing in their community.
Some people want to change the world through social reform and political activism.
But when it comes down to the last minute on earth, right before check-out, and you hastily gather up all you can to take with you down the pathway of progress, what will you have to show for your hard work and effort? It will be the love you lived and expressed, and only that love.
The fame, fortune, things purchased, position gained and position in society mean nothing as thought ascends Spiritward. What we find and discover in Love is what stays with us and remains. Living in love is the one most important achievement we can make on earth, and no other claim will surpass it.
Understanding the preeminence of love enables us to love our enemies, not fear injustice, stand strong when things look hopeless, and never cave to despair or discouragement. Why? Because when we have love, and accept the blessings of divine Love, we have everything. There isn’t anything the world can do to us to keep us from love and reflecting divine Love.
Jesus faced horrible persecution, but he kept on loving. He loved his way right into the kingdom of heaven, and said we had to do the same.
Nothing is more important than love.
When your husband keeps throwing his dirty socks on the floor, it’s no big deal compared to love in the home.
When your wife doesn’t put your tape measure back in the tool box, it’s no big deal compared to love in the marriage.
When your teenager flunks an important test…well, that is a big deal…but not as important as being patient, understanding, helpful and compassionate.
Love is the most important accomplishment of your day, your week, your year, your life!
Without love, everything else pales to nothing. Without love, everything else doesn’t matter much. Without love, what is there?
Love is everything.
Love is life. Love is joy. Love is happiness. Love is eternal life.
When you love, you have everything that is truly significant, substantial and important.
Live to love, and you’ll find yourself standing on the winner’s platform at the end of the race.
Live to love, and you’ll be the best you can be.
Love.
Many people look to the accumulation of fortunes, riches, and treasures as indicators of grand success.
Some people seek fame, recognition, and standing in their community.
Some people want to change the world through social reform and political activism.
But when it comes down to the last minute on earth, right before check-out, and you hastily gather up all you can to take with you down the pathway of progress, what will you have to show for your hard work and effort? It will be the love you lived and expressed, and only that love.
The fame, fortune, things purchased, position gained and position in society mean nothing as thought ascends Spiritward. What we find and discover in Love is what stays with us and remains. Living in love is the one most important achievement we can make on earth, and no other claim will surpass it.
Understanding the preeminence of love enables us to love our enemies, not fear injustice, stand strong when things look hopeless, and never cave to despair or discouragement. Why? Because when we have love, and accept the blessings of divine Love, we have everything. There isn’t anything the world can do to us to keep us from love and reflecting divine Love.
Jesus faced horrible persecution, but he kept on loving. He loved his way right into the kingdom of heaven, and said we had to do the same.
Nothing is more important than love.
When your husband keeps throwing his dirty socks on the floor, it’s no big deal compared to love in the home.
When your wife doesn’t put your tape measure back in the tool box, it’s no big deal compared to love in the marriage.
When your teenager flunks an important test…well, that is a big deal…but not as important as being patient, understanding, helpful and compassionate.
Love is the most important accomplishment of your day, your week, your year, your life!
Without love, everything else pales to nothing. Without love, everything else doesn’t matter much. Without love, what is there?
Love is everything.
Love is life. Love is joy. Love is happiness. Love is eternal life.
When you love, you have everything that is truly significant, substantial and important.
Live to love, and you’ll find yourself standing on the winner’s platform at the end of the race.
Live to love, and you’ll be the best you can be.
Love.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Susan Boyle
The Susan Boyle phenomenon is sweeping the globe... The Christian Science Monitor posted an article online today telling us more about what is behind the incredible stir she has started.
The Susan Boyle phenomenon: Redefining beauty, grace and success?
The Susan Boyle phenomenon: Redefining beauty, grace and success?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Success between you and God
The community I live in has been amazingly insulated from the economic downturn facing the rest of the country and the world. Residents invested in the stock market have felt an impact, but the local economy is strong. Stores report robust sales. Hiring is on the increase. House prices have not declined like elsewhere. People are comfortable and happy. Money is flowing into our area because we have large talent and capacity for cleaning up the environment that is in demand worldwide.
One lesson I learn from watching the bubble economy we have in the Tri-Cities right now, is that when the world around you appears to be sinking, you do not have to sink with it. You can stay afloat.
Now, I don’t have any special spiritual reasoning why the Tri-City economy is strong, and will not speculate on that topic. But I do value the lesson of “Come out and be separate,” as Paul taught in the Bible.
Too often, people believe they have to suffer because everyone else is suffering. And this is not the case. All we need to succeed comes direct from God. Each of us has the ability to demonstrate this truth independent of what anyone else is experiencing.
God is the source of all supply. Prosperity and success are not functions of employment rates, interest rates, or the flow of credit. Success is between us and God, and amounts to listening to God, following divine direction, and fulfilling good and worthwhile purposes. What our neighbor is doing does not affect what we can be doing.
We must “Come out and be separate,” from any belief that denies us success.
This rule applies to health too. If a neighbor is unhealthy, that doesn’t mean we have to be unhealthy. We can stay healthy and help our neighbor too. God is the source of health, and the supply never stops flowing through us. This rule applies to a healthy body and a healthy economy.
So, if you think you have to suffer financially because the economy is in a slump, think again. This belief is illusion. You live in a divine economy where God meets every need. Your supply, coming from above, is just as robust, strong and present as ever.
God is your source. God is your supply. This truth, understood and accepted, is a bubble of protection that keeps your house in vital economic order. And it will put you in a position of being able to help others find their bubble of protection too.
One lesson I learn from watching the bubble economy we have in the Tri-Cities right now, is that when the world around you appears to be sinking, you do not have to sink with it. You can stay afloat.
Now, I don’t have any special spiritual reasoning why the Tri-City economy is strong, and will not speculate on that topic. But I do value the lesson of “Come out and be separate,” as Paul taught in the Bible.
Too often, people believe they have to suffer because everyone else is suffering. And this is not the case. All we need to succeed comes direct from God. Each of us has the ability to demonstrate this truth independent of what anyone else is experiencing.
God is the source of all supply. Prosperity and success are not functions of employment rates, interest rates, or the flow of credit. Success is between us and God, and amounts to listening to God, following divine direction, and fulfilling good and worthwhile purposes. What our neighbor is doing does not affect what we can be doing.
We must “Come out and be separate,” from any belief that denies us success.
This rule applies to health too. If a neighbor is unhealthy, that doesn’t mean we have to be unhealthy. We can stay healthy and help our neighbor too. God is the source of health, and the supply never stops flowing through us. This rule applies to a healthy body and a healthy economy.
So, if you think you have to suffer financially because the economy is in a slump, think again. This belief is illusion. You live in a divine economy where God meets every need. Your supply, coming from above, is just as robust, strong and present as ever.
God is your source. God is your supply. This truth, understood and accepted, is a bubble of protection that keeps your house in vital economic order. And it will put you in a position of being able to help others find their bubble of protection too.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Harbor no fear of failure
As many of my long term readers know, I took up tennis about 5 years ago, and have learned many spiritual lessons along the way, some of which I’ve shared on this blog.
I’m not a natural athlete, so how to swing a racket, hit a ball with control, and score a point, have taken a lot more work for me than perhaps to others who have run around on fields, thrown balls, and scored points since they were little kids.
But I’m progressing. Yay!
I started working with a new coach a few months ago who has brought my game a long way in a short time.
At his persistent urging, I swing at the ball with gusto and confidence now, can put on the proper topspin, and make some impressive shots.
I’m learning to drop my caution and “go for it.” It makes all the difference.
A handicap of mine on court has been caution. Not a conscious state of mind, but an unconscious fear of failure, I’ve recognized. Rather than over hitting the ball by throwing caution to the wind, I’ve pulled back and pushed the ball over the net. Well, I get the ball over the net, but I wouldn't do anything with it to win a point, and it comes wailing back at me. Not a winning strategy.
One of my “court” prayers has been to conquer the fear, let go of caution, and trust the stroke to place the ball correctly if I hit the ball correctly. It works, fabulously. Caution is leaving my game. And I'm playing much more effectively!
Fear of failure is a horrible detriment to progress.
I’ve watched my son learn to play tennis over the last 5 years, and he’s never had a fear of failure. He just goes for it every time. In his early years, he was constantly hitting the ball long, and I could easily beat him in games with my cautious strokes. But through trial and error he learned to hit the ball correctly and now he pounces all over me. It’s not even a contest anymore he is so far ahead of me in tennis skill. He didn't let fear hold him back.
I’ve applied the lesson to spiritual healing.
As fear of failure amounts to failure on the tennis court, it also becomes a huge hurdle to progress in spiritual healing.
If we harbor a fear of failure when we turn to God in prayer, we pull-back in our faith in God’s ability to heal us. Our confidence is weak, our prayers half-hearted, and our hope undermined.
Fear of failure in prayer can begin really small, like a baby seed planted in a fertile garden. It might start with an observation of someone else’s prayer that didn’t bring the intended result, or arguments from a neighbor contending that prayer doesn’t work on significant issues, or from aggressive ad campaigns touting medicines as the cure for the problem we’re praying about. Whatever the influence may be, each time we entertain a suggestion of failure and harbor a contemplation of it, it’s like watering and fertilizing that small seed in the garden which then germinates and grows into a bigger plant.
It’s best to keep the alien seed out of the bed in the first place before it grows into a monster that appears to tower over us! Don’t harbor any suggestion of failure. Don’t let your prayers get hobbled by caution and doubt.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, — a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love.
I love those words “absolute faith.” Powerful, and right on.
From what I’m learning on the tennis court, caution, fear and doubt are losing strategies. They hamper freedom of movement, cause one to back off when he should be forging ahead, shackles play with indecision, produces wimpy shots that lose the game, and prevents one from advancing to the next level of play.
Failure in Science is impossible. Spiritual healing is not about fixing a body, restoring matter or repairing the human mind. It’s about reflecting God, and that comes naturally to us as children of God.
We are spiritual—now! And our spirituality possesses all the strength, health, sight, might, intelligence and life needed to fully express God. We do not lack. And that’s a truth you can pray out from with confidence.
No more fear of failure….
I’m not a natural athlete, so how to swing a racket, hit a ball with control, and score a point, have taken a lot more work for me than perhaps to others who have run around on fields, thrown balls, and scored points since they were little kids.
But I’m progressing. Yay!
I started working with a new coach a few months ago who has brought my game a long way in a short time.
At his persistent urging, I swing at the ball with gusto and confidence now, can put on the proper topspin, and make some impressive shots.
I’m learning to drop my caution and “go for it.” It makes all the difference.
A handicap of mine on court has been caution. Not a conscious state of mind, but an unconscious fear of failure, I’ve recognized. Rather than over hitting the ball by throwing caution to the wind, I’ve pulled back and pushed the ball over the net. Well, I get the ball over the net, but I wouldn't do anything with it to win a point, and it comes wailing back at me. Not a winning strategy.
One of my “court” prayers has been to conquer the fear, let go of caution, and trust the stroke to place the ball correctly if I hit the ball correctly. It works, fabulously. Caution is leaving my game. And I'm playing much more effectively!
Fear of failure is a horrible detriment to progress.
I’ve watched my son learn to play tennis over the last 5 years, and he’s never had a fear of failure. He just goes for it every time. In his early years, he was constantly hitting the ball long, and I could easily beat him in games with my cautious strokes. But through trial and error he learned to hit the ball correctly and now he pounces all over me. It’s not even a contest anymore he is so far ahead of me in tennis skill. He didn't let fear hold him back.
I’ve applied the lesson to spiritual healing.
As fear of failure amounts to failure on the tennis court, it also becomes a huge hurdle to progress in spiritual healing.
If we harbor a fear of failure when we turn to God in prayer, we pull-back in our faith in God’s ability to heal us. Our confidence is weak, our prayers half-hearted, and our hope undermined.
Fear of failure in prayer can begin really small, like a baby seed planted in a fertile garden. It might start with an observation of someone else’s prayer that didn’t bring the intended result, or arguments from a neighbor contending that prayer doesn’t work on significant issues, or from aggressive ad campaigns touting medicines as the cure for the problem we’re praying about. Whatever the influence may be, each time we entertain a suggestion of failure and harbor a contemplation of it, it’s like watering and fertilizing that small seed in the garden which then germinates and grows into a bigger plant.
It’s best to keep the alien seed out of the bed in the first place before it grows into a monster that appears to tower over us! Don’t harbor any suggestion of failure. Don’t let your prayers get hobbled by caution and doubt.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, — a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love.
I love those words “absolute faith.” Powerful, and right on.
From what I’m learning on the tennis court, caution, fear and doubt are losing strategies. They hamper freedom of movement, cause one to back off when he should be forging ahead, shackles play with indecision, produces wimpy shots that lose the game, and prevents one from advancing to the next level of play.
Failure in Science is impossible. Spiritual healing is not about fixing a body, restoring matter or repairing the human mind. It’s about reflecting God, and that comes naturally to us as children of God.
We are spiritual—now! And our spirituality possesses all the strength, health, sight, might, intelligence and life needed to fully express God. We do not lack. And that’s a truth you can pray out from with confidence.
No more fear of failure….
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Time to redefine success
One of the rich opportunities the present economic turmoil has provided mankind is the chance to redefine success.
All too often success has been measured in material terms, such as in the size of one’s paycheck, the number of bedrooms in one’s living quarters, a job held, the prestige garnered from position, and so on. But with lay-offs, down-sizing, declining house values, wiped out portfolios and other declines in material worth and stature, these standards for success can leave one feeling destitute and impoverished, if accepted. And this need not be. God loves us all of the time and gives us everything we need to live happily and fully no matter what story financial numbers tell.
To feel this love, though, we need to measure success in the same way God provides it.
Jesus had the right idea of success when he told his followers to seek the riches of heaven. He knew that temporal treasures brought only temporal joy and could not be relied upon for permanent happiness and support. He taught, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” And then added, “…and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When we put seeking God first, we do not humanly lack. We spiritually gain. And this is what millions of people yearn to feel more of today—gain! And it comes from seeking the riches of Spirit which are freely available to all.
I look forward to the day when worth and value is measured more widely in spiritual terms.
Won’t it be a treat when a neighbor’s worth is seen not according to the size of his salary, but according to how much love he shows toward others?
Won’t it be a delight when the love and care a stay-at-home parent shows her children is valued as highly as the service of a CEO managing the distribution of wares?
Won’t it be a brighter day when people measure success by how much spirituality they live and experience rather than in how big their IRA has grown?
True success is spiritual.
If one’s house value has shrunk, or savings vanished, or job disappeared, it is not necessary to feel unsuccessful, for success is not according to these things. Success is turning to God for help, finding it, and living true to one’s spiritual individuality. Anyone can do this regardless of material standing and they can feel the blessings that come from being spiritually minded.
When I look at the value of some mutual funds I’ve purchased in the past, it’s tempting to get depressed. But when I realize the value of those funds have nothing to do with my eternal life and well being with God, it’s easy to find reasons to rejoice and be happy.
If you are beset by concerns of failure, you might give redefining success a try too. You’ll likely find a whole lot more to be grateful for than you realized, and feel much more successful for the effort.
All too often success has been measured in material terms, such as in the size of one’s paycheck, the number of bedrooms in one’s living quarters, a job held, the prestige garnered from position, and so on. But with lay-offs, down-sizing, declining house values, wiped out portfolios and other declines in material worth and stature, these standards for success can leave one feeling destitute and impoverished, if accepted. And this need not be. God loves us all of the time and gives us everything we need to live happily and fully no matter what story financial numbers tell.
To feel this love, though, we need to measure success in the same way God provides it.
Jesus had the right idea of success when he told his followers to seek the riches of heaven. He knew that temporal treasures brought only temporal joy and could not be relied upon for permanent happiness and support. He taught, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” And then added, “…and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When we put seeking God first, we do not humanly lack. We spiritually gain. And this is what millions of people yearn to feel more of today—gain! And it comes from seeking the riches of Spirit which are freely available to all.
I look forward to the day when worth and value is measured more widely in spiritual terms.
Won’t it be a treat when a neighbor’s worth is seen not according to the size of his salary, but according to how much love he shows toward others?
Won’t it be a delight when the love and care a stay-at-home parent shows her children is valued as highly as the service of a CEO managing the distribution of wares?
Won’t it be a brighter day when people measure success by how much spirituality they live and experience rather than in how big their IRA has grown?
True success is spiritual.
If one’s house value has shrunk, or savings vanished, or job disappeared, it is not necessary to feel unsuccessful, for success is not according to these things. Success is turning to God for help, finding it, and living true to one’s spiritual individuality. Anyone can do this regardless of material standing and they can feel the blessings that come from being spiritually minded.
When I look at the value of some mutual funds I’ve purchased in the past, it’s tempting to get depressed. But when I realize the value of those funds have nothing to do with my eternal life and well being with God, it’s easy to find reasons to rejoice and be happy.
If you are beset by concerns of failure, you might give redefining success a try too. You’ll likely find a whole lot more to be grateful for than you realized, and feel much more successful for the effort.
Friday, November 14, 2008
The preponderance of medical thought
Yesterday, I received a glossy, professionally produced booklet in the mail from one of three hospitals in my community. No expense was spared in the production of this brochure.
As I glanced through the stories and figures included, I was stricken by how deeply embedded into my community fabric the activities of this hospital had become.
On top of the $245,000,000 in assets they own, and the large facilities and sponsored clinics being built near and far, they claim to serve 175,000 patients annually and have 1500 workers on their payroll. Many of these employees are highly paid professionals, hundreds being doctors and nurses.
My community is not very large! Richland has around 50,000 residents. The region boasts 175,000 residents or so, but there are two other hospitals nearly as large as this one in the area.
I am grateful for the care, love and interest the hospitals have in alleviating suffering and helping people find better health. My family certainly was blessed to use their services in the delivery of our children.
What alarmed me was the huge quantity and preponderance of community thought and attention being focused on seeking medical relief, as opposed to finding help through spiritual means.
Christian Science is all about finding strength, health and well being in Spirit. Faith in matter works against faith in Spirit. The student of Christian Science has to actively guard his or her thought from the influence of matter-based thinking to succeed in spiritual healing.
Mary Baker Eddy understood the downward pull of matter-based thinking and its detrimental effect on spiritual healing when she wrote,
The universal belief in physics weighs against the high and mighty truths of Christian metaphysics. This erroneous general belief, which sustains medicine and produces all medical results, works against Christian Science; and the percentage of power on the side of this Science must mightily outweigh the power of popular belief in order to heal a single case of disease.
With 1500 doctors, nurses, aides, and administrators daily working in my little city to promote and advocate medical procedures, prescriptions and methods for my neighbors, a student of Spirit-based healing may feel a bit out numbered!
But numbers mean nothing in Science. The number One is all that counts, and that means one God, one Mind, one power.
One with God is the majority. But to experience the spiritual benefits of being at-one with God, one must fervently and vigilantly defend his mental space from antagonistic intrusion and not be unwittingly or unconsciously pulled in the opposite faith-sapping direction. It can be a very subtle temptation to lose faith in Spirit because of feeling other people's faith in medicine all around.
"Come out and be separate," Paul counseled.
Christian Science is the best healthcare system on planet earth today!
As I glanced through the stories and figures included, I was stricken by how deeply embedded into my community fabric the activities of this hospital had become.
On top of the $245,000,000 in assets they own, and the large facilities and sponsored clinics being built near and far, they claim to serve 175,000 patients annually and have 1500 workers on their payroll. Many of these employees are highly paid professionals, hundreds being doctors and nurses.
My community is not very large! Richland has around 50,000 residents. The region boasts 175,000 residents or so, but there are two other hospitals nearly as large as this one in the area.
I am grateful for the care, love and interest the hospitals have in alleviating suffering and helping people find better health. My family certainly was blessed to use their services in the delivery of our children.
What alarmed me was the huge quantity and preponderance of community thought and attention being focused on seeking medical relief, as opposed to finding help through spiritual means.
Christian Science is all about finding strength, health and well being in Spirit. Faith in matter works against faith in Spirit. The student of Christian Science has to actively guard his or her thought from the influence of matter-based thinking to succeed in spiritual healing.
Mary Baker Eddy understood the downward pull of matter-based thinking and its detrimental effect on spiritual healing when she wrote,
The universal belief in physics weighs against the high and mighty truths of Christian metaphysics. This erroneous general belief, which sustains medicine and produces all medical results, works against Christian Science; and the percentage of power on the side of this Science must mightily outweigh the power of popular belief in order to heal a single case of disease.
With 1500 doctors, nurses, aides, and administrators daily working in my little city to promote and advocate medical procedures, prescriptions and methods for my neighbors, a student of Spirit-based healing may feel a bit out numbered!
But numbers mean nothing in Science. The number One is all that counts, and that means one God, one Mind, one power.
One with God is the majority. But to experience the spiritual benefits of being at-one with God, one must fervently and vigilantly defend his mental space from antagonistic intrusion and not be unwittingly or unconsciously pulled in the opposite faith-sapping direction. It can be a very subtle temptation to lose faith in Spirit because of feeling other people's faith in medicine all around.
"Come out and be separate," Paul counseled.
Christian Science is the best healthcare system on planet earth today!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Loss is gain
More than once I've had a conversation with people who were concerned about what constitutes success and failure in life. One woman I talked wtih had a yearning to spend more time in the practice of healing others through Christian Science, but was concerned that time spent in the practice would deprive her of opportunity to be successful in a secular career.
I knew the feeling well. I struggled with the same conflict after graduating from college many years ago.
I had been taught that success involved making lots of money, or gaining a name, or finding fame of some sort. I loved my spiritual studies and time spent with God, but I found the pursuit of spiritual education was at direct odds with seeking fame and fortune in the world. To seek material gain required me to forsake the pursuit of spiritual gain. I could not pursue the riches of Spirit with my whole heart at the same time that I pursued the riches of matter. They required opposite states of thought to seek. It was one or the other.
Finally, I settled on seeking the riches of Spirit, and happily let the matter-seeking go. It was one of the wisest decisions I ever made.
So, when my inquirer voiced concerned about being seen as a failure by peers if she put the study and practice of Christian Science first in her life, I blurted out, “Success in the world is failure with God.” And likewise, “Success with God is failure in the world.”
The two simply don’t mix.
To seek spiritual gain is to not seek material gain. Spirit and matter are exact opposites, like black and white. They do not mix or mingle.
We all have priorities, and they are either Spirit focused or matter focused. Success with God requires Spirit focus. And getting to know God is the greatest success one could ever have for it leads to eternal life. What else is there? Nothing! And that’s what matter is…nothing.
I was just reading the Sermon on the Mount in The Message, and the second beatitude which the King James version translates,
This is so true.
When we cling to things, worldly goals, persons or stuff, we set ourselves up for loss. These things all disappear someday and leave a void behind that has to be filled spiritually. Why not seek the real substance today and prevent the struggle with loss later?
When we cling to things and people, we don’t cling to God. When we cling to God, we find freedom from things and their surround.
This may be a lesson that is working out in the world economy today. Millions of people are losing financial wealth in the trillions of dollars. It is a hard lesson and a hard way to learn what constitutes true substance, but there is a spiritual treasure to be gained that far outweighs the temporal loss. It is the treasure of Truth.
When we have Truth, we have it all, and our human needs are met too.
Loss is gain, Jesus taught in many different ways.
Loss of material hopes and affections leads to gain of spiritual love and understanding.
How can this be? Because trials send us to God, and there we find Her care.
True wealth is spiritual, and it is freely given to each of us. It comes through the gateway of understanding and by the grace of divine Love. As we put selfish interests aside and faithfully follow Christ down the pathway to Truth, we find spiritual riches, and they take care of us along the way, just as they did our Master.
It’s not what we lose on earth that matters much, but what we gain in heaven. To actively practice Christian Science, the laws of God, and continue to gain in spiritual understanding day by day, is the most rewarding occupation I can imagine ever engaging. To get to know God amounts to grand success, and there is no temporal gain that comes even close in value.
Success with God amounts to failure in the world for what the materially minded person considers to be success is the opposite of what the spiritually minded person seeks. And success in the world leads to failure with God, because the pursuit of material goals, ambition and desire requires one to put material aims first and God second.
Which shall be our choice? And when will we make it?
I knew the feeling well. I struggled with the same conflict after graduating from college many years ago.
I had been taught that success involved making lots of money, or gaining a name, or finding fame of some sort. I loved my spiritual studies and time spent with God, but I found the pursuit of spiritual education was at direct odds with seeking fame and fortune in the world. To seek material gain required me to forsake the pursuit of spiritual gain. I could not pursue the riches of Spirit with my whole heart at the same time that I pursued the riches of matter. They required opposite states of thought to seek. It was one or the other.
Finally, I settled on seeking the riches of Spirit, and happily let the matter-seeking go. It was one of the wisest decisions I ever made.
So, when my inquirer voiced concerned about being seen as a failure by peers if she put the study and practice of Christian Science first in her life, I blurted out, “Success in the world is failure with God.” And likewise, “Success with God is failure in the world.”
The two simply don’t mix.
To seek spiritual gain is to not seek material gain. Spirit and matter are exact opposites, like black and white. They do not mix or mingle.
We all have priorities, and they are either Spirit focused or matter focused. Success with God requires Spirit focus. And getting to know God is the greatest success one could ever have for it leads to eternal life. What else is there? Nothing! And that’s what matter is…nothing.
I was just reading the Sermon on the Mount in The Message, and the second beatitude which the King James version translates,
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted,reads in The Message,
You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
This is so true.
When we cling to things, worldly goals, persons or stuff, we set ourselves up for loss. These things all disappear someday and leave a void behind that has to be filled spiritually. Why not seek the real substance today and prevent the struggle with loss later?
When we cling to things and people, we don’t cling to God. When we cling to God, we find freedom from things and their surround.
This may be a lesson that is working out in the world economy today. Millions of people are losing financial wealth in the trillions of dollars. It is a hard lesson and a hard way to learn what constitutes true substance, but there is a spiritual treasure to be gained that far outweighs the temporal loss. It is the treasure of Truth.
When we have Truth, we have it all, and our human needs are met too.
Loss is gain, Jesus taught in many different ways.
Loss of material hopes and affections leads to gain of spiritual love and understanding.
Trials are proofs of God’s care,Mary Baker Eddy wrote.
How can this be? Because trials send us to God, and there we find Her care.
True wealth is spiritual, and it is freely given to each of us. It comes through the gateway of understanding and by the grace of divine Love. As we put selfish interests aside and faithfully follow Christ down the pathway to Truth, we find spiritual riches, and they take care of us along the way, just as they did our Master.
It’s not what we lose on earth that matters much, but what we gain in heaven. To actively practice Christian Science, the laws of God, and continue to gain in spiritual understanding day by day, is the most rewarding occupation I can imagine ever engaging. To get to know God amounts to grand success, and there is no temporal gain that comes even close in value.
Success with God amounts to failure in the world for what the materially minded person considers to be success is the opposite of what the spiritually minded person seeks. And success in the world leads to failure with God, because the pursuit of material goals, ambition and desire requires one to put material aims first and God second.
Which shall be our choice? And when will we make it?
Friday, November 2, 2007
Never give into discouragement
My 14 year old son has been working on a major project to complete for his science class. It has been weeks in the works and due for final presentation this afternoon.
Fascinated with dry ice bombs a few months ago, and how adding a little water to dry ice in a closed compartment causes CO2 to vaporize, build pressure, and then explode its container in a ferocious blast, he decided to build a dry ice propelled car. This was a very ambitious project for it required him to design and build a vehicle plus a gas chamber to contain the dry ice explosion that would propel the car forward.
Last Saturday was the big-push day to finish the work.
His equipment was built and ready for experiments to be run. But the day got off to a bad start when the pressure chamber slipped out of his hands and crashed to the floor breaking into many pieces. Weeks of work busted in a second. Oh, he was disappointed. I feared he was going to give up and quit.
I wanted him to grow spiritually out of this and learn from experience that success will come if you don’t give up. Success doesn’t always come easily. So mom and I cheered him up, went to the store for more parts, and got him back in business within an hour or so. The speed of the fix-up was alone an answered prayer.
But an hour later, the chamber slips again and busts. This was not good. Tyler was absolutely crushed in spirit.
The experiments had not been going well. The car hadn’t move a millimeter with the first set of explosions. And one of his best friends who was at our house working with him as a partner on the project had quit helping because he thought the project was “too much work.”
Hopelessness hung heavy in the air.
I shut the bedroom door and had a short talk with my Tyler, my son. I told him that some projects in life take a lot of work to get right. But that’s okay. God gives us everything we need to succeed. And if we persevere and not lose our faith, we’ll figure out what we need to do and be able to follow through.
Back to the store we went, got the needed parts, and fixed his equipment once again.
We analyzed his pressure chamber and car to figure out what needed to change to get that car to move. After a few modifications, he experimented again.
With hope and confidence restored, he cheerily proceeded.
Finally, a hint of success.
One explosion moved the car a few inches, then a foot, then four feet. Amazing! He was ebullient, jumping through the roof with enthusiasm. It had been a long series of weeks and then hours that day getting to the point of finally seeing some success, but his hard and determined effort paid off.
As a parent preparing a child for life in the big world out there, I was so glad he had not caved into despair. That was my prayer all day! He learned a valuable life-lesson that will benefit him for decades to come.
Stick to it! Don’t give up. Overcome the obstacles. God gives you what you need.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible. Exceptions only confirm this rule, proving that failure is occasioned by a too feeble faith.”
If there is a daunting project facing you at the moment, you have what you need too.
Reasons to feel discouraged are not uncommon in the human mind, but they are foreign to the divine Mind. The more we rely upon God for help and the less we listen to the limited material sense of things, the sooner we find solutions to problems we face and the more certain is our success.
Fascinated with dry ice bombs a few months ago, and how adding a little water to dry ice in a closed compartment causes CO2 to vaporize, build pressure, and then explode its container in a ferocious blast, he decided to build a dry ice propelled car. This was a very ambitious project for it required him to design and build a vehicle plus a gas chamber to contain the dry ice explosion that would propel the car forward.
Last Saturday was the big-push day to finish the work.
His equipment was built and ready for experiments to be run. But the day got off to a bad start when the pressure chamber slipped out of his hands and crashed to the floor breaking into many pieces. Weeks of work busted in a second. Oh, he was disappointed. I feared he was going to give up and quit.
I wanted him to grow spiritually out of this and learn from experience that success will come if you don’t give up. Success doesn’t always come easily. So mom and I cheered him up, went to the store for more parts, and got him back in business within an hour or so. The speed of the fix-up was alone an answered prayer.
But an hour later, the chamber slips again and busts. This was not good. Tyler was absolutely crushed in spirit.
The experiments had not been going well. The car hadn’t move a millimeter with the first set of explosions. And one of his best friends who was at our house working with him as a partner on the project had quit helping because he thought the project was “too much work.”
Hopelessness hung heavy in the air.
I shut the bedroom door and had a short talk with my Tyler, my son. I told him that some projects in life take a lot of work to get right. But that’s okay. God gives us everything we need to succeed. And if we persevere and not lose our faith, we’ll figure out what we need to do and be able to follow through.
Back to the store we went, got the needed parts, and fixed his equipment once again.
We analyzed his pressure chamber and car to figure out what needed to change to get that car to move. After a few modifications, he experimented again.
With hope and confidence restored, he cheerily proceeded.
Finally, a hint of success.
One explosion moved the car a few inches, then a foot, then four feet. Amazing! He was ebullient, jumping through the roof with enthusiasm. It had been a long series of weeks and then hours that day getting to the point of finally seeing some success, but his hard and determined effort paid off.
As a parent preparing a child for life in the big world out there, I was so glad he had not caved into despair. That was my prayer all day! He learned a valuable life-lesson that will benefit him for decades to come.
Stick to it! Don’t give up. Overcome the obstacles. God gives you what you need.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible. Exceptions only confirm this rule, proving that failure is occasioned by a too feeble faith.”
If there is a daunting project facing you at the moment, you have what you need too.
Reasons to feel discouraged are not uncommon in the human mind, but they are foreign to the divine Mind. The more we rely upon God for help and the less we listen to the limited material sense of things, the sooner we find solutions to problems we face and the more certain is our success.
The "Dry Ice Bomb" car!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Success?
What is Success?
To laugh often and love much;
To win the respect of intelligent persons
and the affection of children;
To earn the approval of honest critics and
endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To give of one's self without
the slightest thought of return;
To have accomplished a task, whether
by a healthy child, a rescued soul,
a garden path, or a redeemed social
condition;
To have played and laughed with
enthusiasm and sung with exultation;
To know that even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.
~ Anonymous
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Common work, uncommon joy
"To do a common thing, uncommonly well, that brings success."Have you ever believed you needed something more to be successful?
~ Henry John Heinz
“I need more money.”
“I need more support.”
“I need to live in a different place.”
“I need…???”
Any of these feelings feel familiar?
It helps me to remember that to be successful at whatever we do, the primary need is always spiritual, and often includes greater gratitude for what we already possess.
When I farmed years ago, I studied what differentiated the successful farmers from the unsuccessful growers. The difference wasn’t who had the most land, the largest bank account, the newest equipment, or the better luck. It was those who worked the hardest, loved their work the most, and learned how to do a better job at growing their crops. It was the spiritual qualities they possessed and faithfully reflected that prospered their business.
Planting seeds, irrigating plants, and picking fruit, for those in the agriculture industry, are very common “things.” But those who do it uncommonly well stand out far and above those who don’t.
Doesn’t the same rule apply to every type of employment?
Look around you and you’ll notice countless “common” people who are successful, not because they are movie stars or of special privilege, but because they are doing something common uncommonly well.
Teachers, salespeople, mothers, coaches, fathers, students, cooks, lawyers, programmers… The best ones take a common task and do it unusually well.
Each of us can do the same!
It’s not material factors such as financial backing that determine success. It’s God’s qualities in action that reward worthy effort and breed achievement.
Each of us are the talented offspring of the one infinitely intelligent divine Mind. We were created able, capable, wise, discerning, full and complete.
What appears to be common work can be turned into uncommon joy as we exercise these divine qualities abundantly and live true to our spiritual endowments.
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Don't quit
Don't Quit!
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,when he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse, that...
You Must Not Quit.
~ C. W. Longenecker
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,when he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse, that...
You Must Not Quit.
~ C. W. Longenecker
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Working your way to success
I learned a lot about success and failure from watching my dad farm. He made some huge miscalculations during his career. Like the time he bought a large piece of property out in the middle of wheat country and planted it to alfalfa. The neighbors sprayed herbicide for their wheat by plane, and the chemical drifted onto dad’s crops, stunting them severely and sending him almost into bankruptcy. Or the time we planted plum trees, spent tens of thousands of dollars nurturing them into bearing only to discover there was no market for the fruit. We had to rip out the orchards and start over.
Yet, for the big mistakes that were made, dad was a very successful farmer. He also made some very wise and good decisions along the way that far outweighed the errors.
In this human experience, mistakes happen. It’s part of our learning curve Spiritward. But we do not have to fear them, and we must not let them halt our efforts to improve, do better and try new ideas.
It’s said that Thomas Edison tried 10,000 times to make a light-bulb. When someone asked him how he felt about his many failures he replied, "I haven't failed. I've ruled out ways that don't work, that's all. Each try brings me closer to the one that will."
I like that. Ruling out ways that don’t work!
This doesn’t warrant careless behavior and reckless actions, but it does free thought to consider new possibilities and act on them without fearing the consequences. We can always change course as the way gets clearer.
God is an ever-present source of ideas, inspiration and guidance that keeps us heading in a progressive direction. As we listen, we hear, and the way may appear foggy at first, but as we march forward with an expectancy of good the path grows clearer, the fog lifts, and victory is ours.
Yet, for the big mistakes that were made, dad was a very successful farmer. He also made some very wise and good decisions along the way that far outweighed the errors.
In this human experience, mistakes happen. It’s part of our learning curve Spiritward. But we do not have to fear them, and we must not let them halt our efforts to improve, do better and try new ideas.
It’s said that Thomas Edison tried 10,000 times to make a light-bulb. When someone asked him how he felt about his many failures he replied, "I haven't failed. I've ruled out ways that don't work, that's all. Each try brings me closer to the one that will."
I like that. Ruling out ways that don’t work! This doesn’t warrant careless behavior and reckless actions, but it does free thought to consider new possibilities and act on them without fearing the consequences. We can always change course as the way gets clearer.
God is an ever-present source of ideas, inspiration and guidance that keeps us heading in a progressive direction. As we listen, we hear, and the way may appear foggy at first, but as we march forward with an expectancy of good the path grows clearer, the fog lifts, and victory is ours.
In the big picture, we don't fail. We eliminate options that don’t work! And that gets us closer to success.“The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.”
~Mary Baker Eddy
No job too big
“Is the job too big, or your thinking too small?” a friend asked herself out loud to me recently when figuring out how to tackle a major project at her office.It’s a good question.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by work demands? Wondered how to get everything done before a dreaded deadline arrived?
August 2001 was a month when I was tempted to throw up my hands and declare I had more to do than I could handle.
With an unusual turn of events I suddenly faced a Mt. Everest sized proportion of critical decisions and activities that had to be finished within a three week period.
At the end of July 2001 I had been asked to work in Boston at my church’s world headquarters. I needed to sell our house in Washington State, buy a house in Boston (3000 miles away), move my family and report to work ASAP. I had a two week class to teach in the meantime. Unfortunately, my mom passed on in early August, and being the executor of her estate, I suddenly had the responsibility of speaking at her funeral, managing her possessions, selling her house, and buying another smaller house for her husband. On top of that I had to carry on my own full-time job which was very demanding. I was overwhelmed with things to do. I felt like I needed three of me to get it all done.
“With God, all things are possible,” I reminded myself daily.
Was the job too big or my thinking too small?
I prayed to get a limited personal sense of things out of the way.
From a human perspective, the work demands were daunting, to say the least. From a spiritual perspective, the work was done. God had the details already figured out.
Just like the principle of mathematics has solved every possible math problem we could ever face, the divine Principle of the universe, God, has already solved every human problem we ever face. My prayer was to yield to the divine plan and let it happen through me. The job was not too big for God.
In my prayers, I knew it was the one Mind that was going to coordinate the move of my family, sell and buy four houses, teach my class and heal my patients. The one Mind fully comprehends and knows all things. There is no lack of knowledge, no lack of understanding, fear or worry in the one Mind, I accepted. The one Mind was my Mind, and I could trust the guiding hand of the divine influence to coordinate all the activities before me in the best possible way for the most appropriate, timely, and efficient outcome.
I clung like adhesive bond to these truths, and events evolved in almost miraculous ways as every task was accomplished on schedule and to everyone’s satisfaction. All loose ends were tied up quickly, jobs finished and my family in Boston by the end of August. I took a deep breath of relief when finally reporting to my new job the first day, and very grateful to God.
What we cannot do, God can do.
If God can keep the planets in their orbits, and the seasons in their places, He can keep our workload under control and in order. Our prayer is to let it happen through us.
Is there any job too big for God? Not really. As we let God take over our thinking, He’ll figure out a way to get the work done.
Why work?
”The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get from it, but what they become by it.”
~John Ruskin
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Does God want us to be rich?
It’s the feature article in Time magazine this week.
Many popular preachers in mainstream America today preach a prosperity gospel, the lead article claims, promising health and wealth to those who follow their church’s teachings. The reporters query as to whether God intends His followers to be wealthy or not as a reward for faithfulness.
I sighed when I read the article for its premise implied that wealth is measured materially and spiritual success is defined by a worldly status quo.
Are true riches material? I don’t think so.
I find relief in knowing Jesus Christ did not focus on worldly gain and social stature in his ministry. He focused on spiritual growth and commitment. True wealth to Jesus was heavenly, not earthly. It didn’t make any difference to him how much money someone possessed if their heart was in the right place. He loved the rich and the poor.
Perhaps a better question to ask would be, “Do you realize how rich you already are?”
God made us all rich from the beginning—rich with eternal life. Materialism cannot give us anything better.
Many popular preachers in mainstream America today preach a prosperity gospel, the lead article claims, promising health and wealth to those who follow their church’s teachings. The reporters query as to whether God intends His followers to be wealthy or not as a reward for faithfulness.
I sighed when I read the article for its premise implied that wealth is measured materially and spiritual success is defined by a worldly status quo.
Are true riches material? I don’t think so.
I find relief in knowing Jesus Christ did not focus on worldly gain and social stature in his ministry. He focused on spiritual growth and commitment. True wealth to Jesus was heavenly, not earthly. It didn’t make any difference to him how much money someone possessed if their heart was in the right place. He loved the rich and the poor.
Perhaps a better question to ask would be, “Do you realize how rich you already are?”
God made us all rich from the beginning—rich with eternal life. Materialism cannot give us anything better.
