Is swearing as innocent as some people suggest?
A recent Associated Press-Ipsos poll reports that three-quarter of Americans encounter profanity in public frequently or occasionally. Many people believe swearing has been on the rise over the last 20 years.
Let’s hope this is a trend to be reversed!
There’s a reason the descriptor “dirty” is associated with many rude words. Foul language betrays foul thoughts.
God did not create us with a desire or inclination to swear. Our spiritual nature is to express love, understanding, patience and gratitude. These qualities are not offensive, but welcomed, and they keep us in good company.
Rather than swear, we can care.
The more we genuinely care, the more we want to say words that comfort others, help them, and bring them peace. This requires unselfishness on our part, for instead of reacting in rage or anger, we have to put any negativity aside and respond with love and goodwill. But we’ll stay happier and healthier for the effort, and those around us will appreciate our friendly disposition.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
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!!
Friday, March 24, 2006
The Land of Oz
Mortality is no more real than life in the Land of Oz as depicted in the classic book, “The Wizard of Oz.”
After reading the book or seeing the movie, the characters and place of Oz take graphic form in thought. It’s easy to picture the lion, the tinman, the scarecrow, the wicked witch, and the yellow brick road. Yet, in reality, these images have no substance, no concrete form, and no reality. They are products of
imagination. Harry Potter and the Hogwarts school of Magic are contemporary examples of the same phenomenon. They do not exist. Yet, for those who read the books and see the movies, it’s easy to picture these characters and places in thought.
Mortality, too, often makes a strong impression on human thought, building up images of disease, suffering, evil and misery. When held to, these images appear real, concrete and unyielding.
Jesus Christ demonstrated that images of evil could be changed and distilled. He removed disease from people’s bodies and stilled the storm by changing thought with spiritual truth.
Mortality is not the fixed existence it appears to be. With a spiritualization of thought, mortality will lose its foothold in the human consciousness and yield to the ultimate reality of all things.
God is Spirit, and God is all. All is spiritual. In Spirit, there is no disease, no suffering, and no mortality. Life is good. Life is immortal.
The sooner we view mortality as no more real than the Land of Oz, or the Hogwarts school of Magic, the sooner we see through its illusion.
Like Dorothy waking from her dream while safe in her bed in Kansas, we too can wake from the dream of living in matter, and experience Life in Spirit.
It’s a more enjoyable place to dwell.
After reading the book or seeing the movie, the characters and place of Oz take graphic form in thought. It’s easy to picture the lion, the tinman, the scarecrow, the wicked witch, and the yellow brick road. Yet, in reality, these images have no substance, no concrete form, and no reality. They are products of
imagination. Harry Potter and the Hogwarts school of Magic are contemporary examples of the same phenomenon. They do not exist. Yet, for those who read the books and see the movies, it’s easy to picture these characters and places in thought.
Mortality, too, often makes a strong impression on human thought, building up images of disease, suffering, evil and misery. When held to, these images appear real, concrete and unyielding.
Jesus Christ demonstrated that images of evil could be changed and distilled. He removed disease from people’s bodies and stilled the storm by changing thought with spiritual truth.
Mortality is not the fixed existence it appears to be. With a spiritualization of thought, mortality will lose its foothold in the human consciousness and yield to the ultimate reality of all things.
God is Spirit, and God is all. All is spiritual. In Spirit, there is no disease, no suffering, and no mortality. Life is good. Life is immortal.
The sooner we view mortality as no more real than the Land of Oz, or the Hogwarts school of Magic, the sooner we see through its illusion.
Like Dorothy waking from her dream while safe in her bed in Kansas, we too can wake from the dream of living in matter, and experience Life in Spirit.
It’s a more enjoyable place to dwell.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
More money
“I need more money,” a man struggling with debt lamented. “Can I expect my prayer to produce more dollars to pay bills?” He wondered.
Have you ever wondered the same?
When people see bills piling up on their desk, the temptation to conclude they need more money runs high. More money will pay the bills, but for a permanent solution to debt, more than dollars is required.
Wisdom, intelligence, order, discipline, foresight, honesty and integrity are the assets that meet financial needs over the long run.
Many people have received windfalls of cash, only to see it spent in short order because they hadn’t yet gained sufficient knowledge and understanding on how to manage funds wisely.
It’s not currency, in and of itself, that makes one rich. Intelligent ideas and their inspired action is what enable people to manage their economic affairs with prudence and economy and see financial needs met permanently.
So, if praying for more income, pray for an income of wise ideas and perspective. These ideas come from God, and they are coming in abundance. As we listen, we hear.
God sends His angels to your side, and they in turn inspire you to do whatever is necessary to exercise financial dominion. The primary need is always spiritual. Money is a secondary factor.
After miraculously being fed by a spiritual multiplication of loaves and fishes in the wilderness, a multitude of seekers sought out Jesus wanting more. Jesus fled their pursuit. When the crowd caught up with Jesus, they asked him why he had left them behind. He said it was because they were comforted by the loaves and fishes rather than by the Word of God which he preached. He rebuked their pursuit of material gain, and told them it was spiritual understanding they should be seeking. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life…” he instructed.
Yes, it’s okay to pray for supply, balance, and abundance in your life. But pray for these qualities to be manifest in your attitude, perspective and state of thought first. The intelligent decision-making and funds that manifest these qualities outwardly will follow.
Have you ever wondered the same?
When people see bills piling up on their desk, the temptation to conclude they need more money runs high. More money will pay the bills, but for a permanent solution to debt, more than dollars is required.
Wisdom, intelligence, order, discipline, foresight, honesty and integrity are the assets that meet financial needs over the long run.
Many people have received windfalls of cash, only to see it spent in short order because they hadn’t yet gained sufficient knowledge and understanding on how to manage funds wisely.
It’s not currency, in and of itself, that makes one rich. Intelligent ideas and their inspired action is what enable people to manage their economic affairs with prudence and economy and see financial needs met permanently.
So, if praying for more income, pray for an income of wise ideas and perspective. These ideas come from God, and they are coming in abundance. As we listen, we hear.
God sends His angels to your side, and they in turn inspire you to do whatever is necessary to exercise financial dominion. The primary need is always spiritual. Money is a secondary factor.
After miraculously being fed by a spiritual multiplication of loaves and fishes in the wilderness, a multitude of seekers sought out Jesus wanting more. Jesus fled their pursuit. When the crowd caught up with Jesus, they asked him why he had left them behind. He said it was because they were comforted by the loaves and fishes rather than by the Word of God which he preached. He rebuked their pursuit of material gain, and told them it was spiritual understanding they should be seeking. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life…” he instructed.
Yes, it’s okay to pray for supply, balance, and abundance in your life. But pray for these qualities to be manifest in your attitude, perspective and state of thought first. The intelligent decision-making and funds that manifest these qualities outwardly will follow.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Finding the mental villain
“What evil thought do I need to get rid of to be healed?” many people have despaired when suffering.
Frequently, negativity such as resentment, hatred, anger, jealousy, ill-will and their like are behind physical pain and mental anguish. The hurt feels physical, but the cause lies in the human mind. The harmful belief, however, may not be obvious.
So, how do we root the culprit out?
We don’t have to go on a mental witch hunt to be free. The more constructive and helpful way is to flood thought with truth and love.
For example, if you were to find a man dressed in black who is running around in a large warehouse that was very dark, what is the fastest way to find him? Would groping around in the black interior locate him quickly? Doubtful! The quickest way to find the intruder is to turn on the light.
Spiritual healing of mental error works the same way. We don’t have to focus on looking for evil. It’s better to concentrate effort on flooding thought with light—with spiritual light that automatically illuminates any evil that needs to be cast out.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love.”
In the presence of light, there is no darkness.
Let your light shine, Jesus Christ taught. The darkness will vanish.
Frequently, negativity such as resentment, hatred, anger, jealousy, ill-will and their like are behind physical pain and mental anguish. The hurt feels physical, but the cause lies in the human mind. The harmful belief, however, may not be obvious.
So, how do we root the culprit out?
We don’t have to go on a mental witch hunt to be free. The more constructive and helpful way is to flood thought with truth and love.
For example, if you were to find a man dressed in black who is running around in a large warehouse that was very dark, what is the fastest way to find him? Would groping around in the black interior locate him quickly? Doubtful! The quickest way to find the intruder is to turn on the light.
Spiritual healing of mental error works the same way. We don’t have to focus on looking for evil. It’s better to concentrate effort on flooding thought with light—with spiritual light that automatically illuminates any evil that needs to be cast out.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love.”
In the presence of light, there is no darkness.
Let your light shine, Jesus Christ taught. The darkness will vanish.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Unity in marriage
“How can I get along better with my spouse?” Many wives and husbands ask themselves.
One way, is to do a better job of expressing divine Love.
Selfishness, impatience, close-mindedness, anger, human will and their kin are enemies to harmony in the home. They divide, isolate and alienate. To rid the family temperament of arguing and ill-will, the mental atmosphere governing the family must be free of the evil in thought that leads to outward conflict.
When we consciously decide to love more, we decide to hate less. We can’t love and hate at the same time.
Love is more than a pleasant human emotion. True Love is God, the mightiest power in the universe for harmonizing relationships and inspiring good-will.
A solid step to harmonizing with our spouse is to first harmonize with Love. Let the love of Love take over your attitude and perspective replacing any resentment, bitterness, or strife with forgiveness, compassion and understanding.
Getting along better with our spouse typically includes doing a better job of expressing God’s affectionate nature. The Love we express softens hearts, grabs attention, resolves difficulties, inspires cooperation, and solidifies oneness.
Feeling more united with divine Love is an important step to feeling more united with our partner.
One way, is to do a better job of expressing divine Love.
Selfishness, impatience, close-mindedness, anger, human will and their kin are enemies to harmony in the home. They divide, isolate and alienate. To rid the family temperament of arguing and ill-will, the mental atmosphere governing the family must be free of the evil in thought that leads to outward conflict.
When we consciously decide to love more, we decide to hate less. We can’t love and hate at the same time.
Love is more than a pleasant human emotion. True Love is God, the mightiest power in the universe for harmonizing relationships and inspiring good-will.
A solid step to harmonizing with our spouse is to first harmonize with Love. Let the love of Love take over your attitude and perspective replacing any resentment, bitterness, or strife with forgiveness, compassion and understanding.
Getting along better with our spouse typically includes doing a better job of expressing God’s affectionate nature. The Love we express softens hearts, grabs attention, resolves difficulties, inspires cooperation, and solidifies oneness.
Feeling more united with divine Love is an important step to feeling more united with our partner.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Getting enough sleep
“How do I get a good night’s sleep?” tired people are asking.
Sleep has turned into big business in the United States, according to Forbes magazine. Millions of slumber-seekers are turning to pills, therapies, sleep labs, gimmicks, expensive mattresses and products promising better rest. Yet, the problem of sleep-deprivation continues to grow.
A spiritual solution is needed.
Rest is not a state of unconsciousness. True rest is a peaceful and harmonious state of spiritual consciousness.
Anxious, fearful, self-centered thoughts torpedo attempts to rest. They keep one awake, disturbed and concerned about tomorrow. Spiritually inspired thoughts, focused on the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, are peaceful objects of attention that calm and rest perspective.
When it comes to getting better sleep, the primary need is not for more hours of unconsciousness, but for a more spiritually inspired consciousness.
Go to bed with peaceful thoughts of God in control of your life, and you will wake with peaceful thoughts of God in control of your life. The slumber from beginning to end will be restful.
“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
Sleep has turned into big business in the United States, according to Forbes magazine. Millions of slumber-seekers are turning to pills, therapies, sleep labs, gimmicks, expensive mattresses and products promising better rest. Yet, the problem of sleep-deprivation continues to grow.
A spiritual solution is needed.
Rest is not a state of unconsciousness. True rest is a peaceful and harmonious state of spiritual consciousness.
Anxious, fearful, self-centered thoughts torpedo attempts to rest. They keep one awake, disturbed and concerned about tomorrow. Spiritually inspired thoughts, focused on the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, are peaceful objects of attention that calm and rest perspective.
When it comes to getting better sleep, the primary need is not for more hours of unconsciousness, but for a more spiritually inspired consciousness.
Go to bed with peaceful thoughts of God in control of your life, and you will wake with peaceful thoughts of God in control of your life. The slumber from beginning to end will be restful.
“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
What is a normal day?
What kind of day do you expect to have each morning?
Do you expect 24 hours filled with joy, health, peace and progress? Or do you expect to find misery, suffering, pain, and reasons to despair?
It’s a good question to ask, because you are living out your expectations.
Some people go for months and years feeling depressed and tired. Without realizing it, they start to believe that a dark day is a normal day.
Other people go for years feeling good on a regular basis expecting to be happy and healthy, and they remain so.
What are your expectations for life? Are they good? Could they be improved?
God has given us a good life to live, and through committed prayer and obedience to God’s will, we can experience an enjoyable life.
God is our Life, and God is good.
Life is not meant to be downcast and drudgery. Pain and suffering should not be accepted as normal. Joy and inspiration should be the standard.
If needed, break out of the rut of low expectations and embrace your spiritual Life which is filled with love and peace.
Living in harmony with God, health and happiness are normal. Suffering is not.
Enjoy!
Do you expect 24 hours filled with joy, health, peace and progress? Or do you expect to find misery, suffering, pain, and reasons to despair?
It’s a good question to ask, because you are living out your expectations.
Some people go for months and years feeling depressed and tired. Without realizing it, they start to believe that a dark day is a normal day.
Other people go for years feeling good on a regular basis expecting to be happy and healthy, and they remain so.
What are your expectations for life? Are they good? Could they be improved?
God has given us a good life to live, and through committed prayer and obedience to God’s will, we can experience an enjoyable life.
God is our Life, and God is good.
Life is not meant to be downcast and drudgery. Pain and suffering should not be accepted as normal. Joy and inspiration should be the standard.
If needed, break out of the rut of low expectations and embrace your spiritual Life which is filled with love and peace.
Living in harmony with God, health and happiness are normal. Suffering is not.
Enjoy!
Monday, March 6, 2006
No more bother
I asked a co-worker if he’d like to eliminate bother from his life. He replied, “Yes, I know a couple of people I’d like to eliminate right now!”
I said, “I didn’t ask if there were people you wanted eliminated. I asked if you wanted to eliminate bother!”
There’s a big difference between eliminating what we think is a bother to us, and eliminating the predisposition to being bothered in the first place.
Christian Science has taught me to take responsibility for my thinking, which means, if I feel bothered by another person’s actions, my irritation is not the other person’s fault. It’s the effect of how I’m thinking about that person.
While riding on an airplane one time, a baby near my seat started crying and giving her mother terrible fits. A passenger next to me got very mad and upset with the two. I had been in a similar situation when a young father, so had an idea of what kind of desperation the mother might have been feeling. I was not bothered, but felt compassion and prayed for the baby’s peace of mind. The child soon calmed down and remained quiet for the rest of the trip. My neighbor calmed down too.
As I thought about how the passenger next to me and I had opposite reactions to the same circumstances, I realized that it wasn’t the baby’s crying that made my neighbor mad. It was his negative attitude about it. And it didn’t help that he was thinking only about himself.
This lesson applies to all of our relationships. It’s never another person that causes us bother. It’s our view of that person’s actions that upsets us. A remedy for eliminating the bother is to look for something good to focus on and consider the other from an unselfish vantage point.
How? One way, is to get a more spiritually inspired view of the individual God created in the first place.
God is good and made each of His children good. No matter how different, and even unusual, another person may appear to us, they are just as important, significant and special as any other individual. They have an important reason to exist, and it helps to seek out that reason, value the worth, and honor the contribution they have to make. The more we love and the less we judge, the better for everyone involved.
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment,” John wrote.
“Righteous judgment” includes looking at others from a spiritual point of view.
The more time we pray looking for good in our neighbor, the less time we have to feel bothered by their actions.
I said, “I didn’t ask if there were people you wanted eliminated. I asked if you wanted to eliminate bother!”
There’s a big difference between eliminating what we think is a bother to us, and eliminating the predisposition to being bothered in the first place.
Christian Science has taught me to take responsibility for my thinking, which means, if I feel bothered by another person’s actions, my irritation is not the other person’s fault. It’s the effect of how I’m thinking about that person.
While riding on an airplane one time, a baby near my seat started crying and giving her mother terrible fits. A passenger next to me got very mad and upset with the two. I had been in a similar situation when a young father, so had an idea of what kind of desperation the mother might have been feeling. I was not bothered, but felt compassion and prayed for the baby’s peace of mind. The child soon calmed down and remained quiet for the rest of the trip. My neighbor calmed down too.
As I thought about how the passenger next to me and I had opposite reactions to the same circumstances, I realized that it wasn’t the baby’s crying that made my neighbor mad. It was his negative attitude about it. And it didn’t help that he was thinking only about himself.
This lesson applies to all of our relationships. It’s never another person that causes us bother. It’s our view of that person’s actions that upsets us. A remedy for eliminating the bother is to look for something good to focus on and consider the other from an unselfish vantage point.
How? One way, is to get a more spiritually inspired view of the individual God created in the first place.
God is good and made each of His children good. No matter how different, and even unusual, another person may appear to us, they are just as important, significant and special as any other individual. They have an important reason to exist, and it helps to seek out that reason, value the worth, and honor the contribution they have to make. The more we love and the less we judge, the better for everyone involved.
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment,” John wrote.
“Righteous judgment” includes looking at others from a spiritual point of view.
The more time we pray looking for good in our neighbor, the less time we have to feel bothered by their actions.
Saturday, March 4, 2006
What to do with downtime
Americans have more leisure time then ever, but don’t know how to use it to their advantage, the Washington Post reports in the article, “Leisure overload?”
Over the decades, workers have become more productive, wages have risen, hours worked per week have decreased and discretionary time has increased. But many feel more stressed out and anxious than ever. Why the contradiction? One might ask.
Could it be we need more spirituality-based activity in our leisure time?
Have you ever gone on a long vacation and come back home more tired than before you left? I have, and I learned from the experience that a true vacation is not getting away from a job sight or home front. It’s getting away from burdensome thoughts and perspectives.
Enduring rest doesn’t come from tanning on the beach or walking through the woods. Genuine rest comes from soaking in spiritual inspiration and gaining new spiritual insights. One can do these things while lying on the beach or walking through the forest, but without some type of spiritual improvement and regeneration, these activities have little positive effect.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “God rests in action….The highest and sweetest rest, even from a human standpoint, is in holy work.”
It’s easy to fill leisure time with endless ways of entertaining the material senses. But the effect of sensual over-indulgence typically leaves one feeling empty and wanting. I've found that the more fulfilling way is to fill those hours with activity that brings me closer to God and feeling more spiritually minded. The fresh inspiration we gain stays with us long after the hours seeking it have passed!
So, when you're looking for something to do with your next day off, seek out your spiritual options, and plan accordingly. The good effect from being spiritually productive will take you up a few notches in the scale of true happiness and leave you feeling genuinely rested for the effort.
Over the decades, workers have become more productive, wages have risen, hours worked per week have decreased and discretionary time has increased. But many feel more stressed out and anxious than ever. Why the contradiction? One might ask.
Could it be we need more spirituality-based activity in our leisure time?
Have you ever gone on a long vacation and come back home more tired than before you left? I have, and I learned from the experience that a true vacation is not getting away from a job sight or home front. It’s getting away from burdensome thoughts and perspectives.
Enduring rest doesn’t come from tanning on the beach or walking through the woods. Genuine rest comes from soaking in spiritual inspiration and gaining new spiritual insights. One can do these things while lying on the beach or walking through the forest, but without some type of spiritual improvement and regeneration, these activities have little positive effect.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “God rests in action….The highest and sweetest rest, even from a human standpoint, is in holy work.”
It’s easy to fill leisure time with endless ways of entertaining the material senses. But the effect of sensual over-indulgence typically leaves one feeling empty and wanting. I've found that the more fulfilling way is to fill those hours with activity that brings me closer to God and feeling more spiritually minded. The fresh inspiration we gain stays with us long after the hours seeking it have passed!
So, when you're looking for something to do with your next day off, seek out your spiritual options, and plan accordingly. The good effect from being spiritually productive will take you up a few notches in the scale of true happiness and leave you feeling genuinely rested for the effort.
