Sunday, March 30, 2008

Evil in reverse...

Here’s a way cool 3 minute video clip that will arrest your attention and catch you by surprise.

You have to watch it all the way through to reap the reward.

“The Truth (Vertigo)”

Friday, March 28, 2008

Deceptive labels

A reader sent in the below. It’s full of useful ideas on removing labels and not stereotyping ourselves or others.

I heard the neatest thing today out of a workshop on dealing with troubled kids.

In preparing his presentation for the children the speaker took a can of dog food and a can of fruit and exchanged the labels.

During the workshop, he showed the cans to the kids and had them pick one. They all picked the can of fruit. He opened it and they discovered dog food.

He used the surprise to point out that you can’t judge people by the labels society puts on them. You have to look inside to find out what's really in there and who they are.

He has another illustration where the kids have someone who really loves them write something about them on a label and then he puts the label on a can. Then he has them write what they think about themselves on several other labels, including what they think others think about them. He puts these self-written labels one by one over the top of the first label. Then they talk together about what was written, and strip the labels away one at a time until they get down to the label written by the person who loves them.

Sounds like material for some good Sunday school lessons!

Amen.

I can picture the faces of disgust on the children when they opened a can of presumed fruit, and found dog food!


But I reversed the experience in my mind and thought about times when we thought we were being served a can of dog food, but opened the lid—got to know someone better—and found a can of fruit!

This is the case with everyone on the globe. Many people are avoided because of how they look and act and where they come from, but inside that package covered with unattractive labels is a wholesome can of fruit!

There is a “can of fruit” in all of us no matter what the outward appearance.

May we all look for the fruit and not fear finding dog food!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

A prickly affair

On the last day of my family’s trip to Southern California last week, we visited the Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree Park is dry desert, but littered with fascinating features and sights that capture the imagination and awes the curiosity of visitors.

First stop for us was the Ranger station, where a kind and knowledgeable ranger headed us in the right direction for the best sights.

He warned us of Cholla cactus which he said, “Hurts like hell,” if you get pricked by its needles. We had no idea what one looked like, but decided to avoid them the best we could.

When we ventured upon a Cholla cactus garden, we exclaimed, “Aw, the Cholla cactus! Let’s go look!!”



We walked the trail through the prickly plants and saw with our own eyes what the ranger had warned us of. The points of the needles are so fine, that evidently you don’t realize they’ve poked you until it’s too late, and by then, the sensation of pain is going full bore. So we were told…

As we gingerly and VERY carefully walked through the garden, avoiding contact like Superman avoiding Kryptonite, I thought about how much easier it would be to remain pricker-free by staying out of the garden in the first place! I figured we could negotiate the Cholla for a few minutes without incident, but how often do people try to navigate prickly mental territory that would be easier to avoid altogether?

Indulging in a forbidden sin, for example, like telling a lie, committing adultery, stealing, moral assassination, talking behind other people’s back…basically anything that leads to a guilty conscience, or should lead to a guilty conscience, is a mental Cholla garden to stay away from.

It’s much easier to live a clean, moral, pure life than to slip into error, get stung by the vengeance of sin, and nurse one’s wounds until recovered.

When we slip, Christ always provides a way out, but as the old proverb states, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

We made it through the garden unharmed, but were all relieved after walking through the exit gate to not be constantly concerned about whether we’d accidentally brush up against a Cholla bush and get stung!

Cholla have a certain beauty to them from a distance, and close-up, but it’s a dangerous kind of beauty, which if it draws you up too close, grabs you in a very unpleasant way.



Ouch! I think I'll keep my distance...

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Our dog Rhodie

When our family returned from Indian Wells late at night a week ago Monday, we couldn’t find our dog, Rhodie. We decided she was with our neighbor caretaker, and went to bed unworried.

The next morning, however, my wife found her in a remote part of our yard lying listlessly on the ground. She was breathing, but wouldn’t respond to any stimulation.

Rhodie is a golden lab, and has been with us around 15 years now. She is dearly loved and has added great joy to the family activity over the years. Suggestions that she may be nearing the end of her time on earth have surfaced in recent weeks as she has slowed down her momentum, so the first thought was, “This may be the time.”

I carried her up to the house and put her on her soft bed on the patio. She was limp, oblivious to my actions, and heavy to carry, but I succeeded in plunking her down in her favorite position. Motionless, she was not even slightly interested in eating or drinking.

Shortly, after walking away, I challenged the aggressive suggestion that she was dying. Yes, she had lived a long time, and yes, if she went, it would be okay. The family was prepared for that transition. I consented. But my Christian Science view of Life rebelled against accepting death under any circumstance.

Life is eternal! I protested. Rhodie is an eternal idea of God that was never born into matter, and will never leave matter, I affirmed.

I decided to improve my understanding of what Rhodie was as an idea of God, instead of buying into the picture of living and dying in matter.

And Christian Science teaches this truth. Christian Science, as Jesus taught also, explains that the physical body, as a shell of mortal mind, is never the sum and substance of anyone, including animals. We, in our true identity, are spiritual beings at-one with our Maker in Spirit.


God’s ideas lived before so-called material existence, and they live forever after it. Life is eternal in Spirit. It is never IN matter.

I caught a clearer glimpse of Rhodie as God’s idea in Mind, and not in matter, than ever before. It brought me great peace.


As a spiritual idea, she was not ill, she was not weak, she was not mortal, she was not dying, and never would die, I agreed. She was living her eternal spiritual life in Mind right now. And that truth would never change.

In a few hours, to the delight of all, Rhodie started to respond to taking in some water, and soon, food. She got up and moved a bit, very clumsily, then more, and soon started roaming the yard as was her customary practice in weeks past. It was a resurrection for the family to witness. Awesome!


Hmmm...I just realized that this all occurred at the beginning of Easter week. How cool...

Rhodie has been her usual self ever since. And everyone is happy about it.

“Never accept death as real and happening, even when it appears a natural thing to occur,” I gained from this experience.

Death is not natural, ever. Death doesn’t happen, ever. Life is the real, and it’s eternal.

When animals and people pass on, they do not die in the process. They continue living in Spirit, which is where they had always lived. This truth, understood, heals. It dispels, to increasing degree, the illusion of death and dying here on earth until we get to the full realization of Life in Spirit, where the suggestion of death doesn’t even occur in the first place. Oh what a glorious day that will be…

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

A window to God

While observing world class tennis players at Indian Wells last week, I was continually impressed with the precision, control, readiness, abilities and strategy of players. They were experts at their sport, and I learned much from watching them.


I also knew it was important not to idolize them because their talents and strengths even though individually manifest, originated from the one Mind we all hold in common. Its right and proper to honor the individuality expressed, but God gets the credit.

I thought about Mary Baker Eddy’s statement in Science and Health about how God is manifest through mortals. She wrote

"The manifestation of God through mortals is as light passing through the window-pane. The light and the glass never mingle, but as matter, the glass is less opaque than the walls. The mortal mind through which
Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality — much error — in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun."

I admire people who excel at their craft. It takes hard work, commitment, dedicated training and discipline, obedience to rules, and practice, practice, practice to reach their goals. These qualities are spiritual, virtuous and exemplary. They certainly need to be tempered with moral and spiritual values that keep the individual grounded in Truth, but I saw much evidence of love and care expressed on the courts. I saw the unpleasant opposite too…

But as I appreciated the virtues these players demonstrated in order to excel at their sport, and acknowledged the window into greater possibilities for quality tennis playing they exhibited, I marveled at how every individual in this world is a window into God in some way.

Not everyone is going to be seen on TV and played up in the newspaper headlines. But that doesn’t matter. It’s what we are spiritually that counts, not what others think we are materially.

I thought about the smile, faithfulness and care a clerk always show me when I check at out a local grocery store. She is missing teeth, appears to have had a very hard life, and likely lives on a small salary. But she smiles on anyway. She loves anyway. She works faithfully without complaint. She is devoted. She is an example. She is a window into the land of Love where what we have spiritually is more important than what we lack materially.

I pictured a huge house with billions of windows around the perimeter of the building. And thinking of Eddy’s transparency metaphor above, I labeled each window as a mortal. According to the cleanliness of the window, one could peer inside of the home through that window—the home being heaven.



I like that analogy. It reminds me that mortals are not children of God. Yet, the individuality of God is hinted through mortals that allow the light of Truth to shine through them to some degree. As we follow the light shining through that mortal back to God, and don’t get mentally stuck on the physical personality, we capture the real individuality of man made in the divine likeness. Then we begin to discern the real individuality of our neighbor as a spiritual being, and not as a mortal body.

Is your window pane clean today?

Monday, March 24, 2008

Christian Science or Scientology?

A comedian took to the streets to ask bystanders what split-second choice they would make when presented with two options.

In part of his routine, he asked, “Christian Science or Scientology?”

A short video clip from Mo Rocca 180 captured the responses. It’s a bit of fun to watch…

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Who's your daddy?

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN. One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice. 'Oklahoma,' they answered. 'Great to have you here in Tennessee,' the stranger said. 'What do you do for a living?' 'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great...just what I need, another preacher story.'

The man started, ‘See that mountain over there? (Pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'

He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?' But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd.

Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?'

The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

'This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy... 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God.'

With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great daddy. You can stand up proud!'

'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again.

Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a child of God.'' And he’d walk on by with his head held high.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Roger Federer

One of the highlights of our trip to Indian Wells was watching Roger Federer warm-up for a tournament match with only a few feet between ourselves and his practice space on court.

If you're not aware, Federer is the Tiger Woods of tennis these days. He is an incredibly accomplished and successful tennis player.

I'm not into personality worship, for the absorption of thought into material individuality is a dangerous place to go. But I've also learned that the talents and abilities of my fellowman are windows into the infinite individuality of God that we all collectively reflect.

Roger's finesse, grace, overflowing talent, poise on the court, and intelligent use of a racket are an inspiration to millions.


I admire his calm under pressure. He never, or rarely, appears flustered, upset or bothered by mistakes, by opponent's successes, or by the score if he is behind. He stays focused on his game, on doing his very best with every point. And he succeeds in his intent.

It's a lesson for life. Don't hold onto your errors and mistakes. Let them go and focus on doing the best you can in the moment you're in. It works for Roger. It can work for us too.


At Indian Wells, there are several practice courts in outlying areas surrounding the main stadium. Fans flock to these courts to watch their favorite stars warm-up. Roger was a main attraction. Hundreds of kids and their parents, would line the four sides of the court to watch.

The children and adults behind Roger in the above picture waited patiently for an hour, while Roger worked on court, in hopes of getting his autograph when he exited the gate.

Roger lived up to their expectations, signing dozens of balls to the delight of many. Many balls went unsigned, for the crush of the crowd was overwhelming, but Roger's love for his fans was evident, and the care he showed warmed the hearts of many.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

A weekend of tennis lessons

What a weekend! My family and I attended three days of the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament happening in Indian Wells, CA. We wanted to expose our budding tennis player son to high quality talent, plus my wife and I were anxious to see what we could learn to improve our game.

We learned plenty!

I spent half days working in my practice, and the other half on the sidelines observing some world class tennis players. What a treat.

I picked up many spiritual lessons during this time, many that can be related to life in general.

For instance, during the Gonzalez versus Ancic match, Gonzalez got upset with himself for making errors. From the stands, Gonzalez seemed like a really nice guy, someone you'd like to have as a friend, but when he hit a random ball out of the stadium in disgust one time, the umpire penalized him. Another time he threw his racket with anger into the air and it landed noisily on the ground.


The protest acts seemed innocent enough for they were not directed at anyone outside himself, but another time he hit a ball as hard as he could straight up into the sky and the rocket speed projectile landed on a spectator’s shoulder in the stands.

Fortunately, the unsuspecting landing spot was a tough man with broad shoulders and he took the hard impact in good humor. Gonzalez was a bit horrified when he realized what he had done, and apologized to the man. The incident quickly passed, and his fans loved him all the same.


But I started thinking about the unintended consequences out-of-control temper can have on others, even when it is not specifically directed at them.

Gonzalez was not mad at this spectator, but his anger affected the gentleman anyway.

I decided that anger is never innocent even when directed at oneself. It can have harmful consequences in unexpected places if not checked.

For example, have you ever had a family member who got angry with him or herself, and his or her anger depressed the whole mood of the home? Maybe even threw it into turmoil? it's a case of unintended consequences and unintended victims!

To ensure we are an influence for love and harmony only, it’s healthy to keep anger under check, even when it feels justified. It never is. God designed us to express love and spread peace and harmony. Our thoughts and actions do affect others around us, and it’s always to our advantage, and everyone else’s, to be a positive influence, and not the source of rage-driven tennis balls that land harmfully in unsuspecting places.

“Love one another,” as the Bible teaches, and this rule includes not getting angry with ourselves. We are worthy of God’s unqualified love too! I hope Gonzalez forgives himself more rapidly in the future.

More lessons learned to come…





Thursday, March 13, 2008

The Nocebo Effect

A reader sent in a link to a fascinating article on The Nocebo Effect.

You’ve heard of placebos, I suspect. Placebos can be pills given to a patient that are supposed to have no effect, but in fact, have a positive effect because the patient is expecting help from them.

Nocebos are the opposite of placebos. With a nocebo, a patient expects harm to result and they accordingly have a bad experience. The harm that results is not from any material causation, but because of their belief.

For instance, have you ever known a person that expects the worst to happen, and that’s what they get? The worst! Their belief is a nocebo. There would have been no bad effect if it hadn’t been for the harm they created out of their own fears.

I remember a patient many years ago who complained of several physical problems, and had her reasons for why they existed. No amount of prayer seemed to help. She insisted she had to go to a doctor to find out what was wrong. She went and was told by the physician that there wasn't a thing wrong with her. "It was all in her head," he said. She came home, and finally allowed prayer to heal her.

Her insistence that physical reasons existed for her suffering acted as a nocebo, and until that belief was gone, spiritual healing proved elusive.

In the first two-thirds of the above article you’ll find some thought-provoking examples to ponder. The information is a metaphysical eye-opener for any who underestimate the bad effect of negative expectations.

Divine Mind's rescue

Last weekend, my brother took my family out on a long adventure into the woods on our snowmobiles in the Blue Mountains of Oregon State. We had a grand time exploring new territory, improving our riding skills and enjoying the natural beauty and scenic views.

On our way back at the end of the day, however, we came upon a solo snowmobiler standing on the edge of a trail waving us down in desperation. Panicked and afraid, he poured out his story.

He had been riding through the woods with one other sled, ridden by a friend and his 9 year old daughter. He had lost them, and his friend was totally inexperienced in riding snowmobiles, let alone navigating the wild woods. My brother did his best to calm the guy down, and told him we’d look for the lost ones.

At first, suggestions ran wild that it would take hours and hours to find these two wandering out who knew where. It was the end of the day, and darkness was not far away.

I immediately calmed the internal fears wanting to take over, and prayed for a quick solution.

In my prayers, I knew that we lived in a universe of Mind, and that this all-knowing, all-wise Mind that encompassed us, knew where every single item in God’s creation resided. God knew the placement of every tree, every rock, every pine needle, every animal, and where those two riders were presently located. Everyone in the search party reflected the one Mind, and therefore knew what divine Mind knew. This knowledge of God, including awareness of where these two individuals were presently located, was present in our thinking, I was sure. So, it would be obvious to us where to look and find the man and the girl.

We all coordinated plans, and struck off into the woods on our search. I was at total peace, confident the situation would be resolved promptly. And, to our utter joy, about three minutes later we found the two putting around in the woods, not knowing what to do or where to go, and thrilled to see someone who knew where they were!

God sent us to them, and we escorted them back to safety.

The forlorn dad was very happy to see his daughter again!

My brother showing us how to ride on one ski...

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

A heartening story

A reader shared this story with me today that warms the heart and brightens hope.

I was told that the state of Maine had a large number of snowmobile fatalities last weekend, around seven. Most often, accidents result from people riding intoxicated, without their helmets or in violation of other responsible riding rules, I understand.

In one instance, though, a group of snowmobiles were trailing each other across a frozen lake, and they all made it easily to the other side, except for the last sled which was driven by a young girl. The ice broke before she reached bank, and the machine went underwater pulling her down with it. The other sled drivers ahead of her did not immediately notice.

Before she went underwater, she screamed, and it so happened that a man feeding horses nearby heard her yell. Ordinarily, he would not have been outside, but in this one case, had moments earlier decided to go outside and feed his finance’s animals. He ran to the bank, and trained in ice rescue, knew what to do to save the drowning child.

The girl, meanwhile, who was underwater, had been told internally to take off her helmet. She obeyed, and quickly discovered an air pocket in her helmet to breathe in. The rescuer, after getting another man to help, and tying a rope to his waist, made it out to the crash scene, which was quite a way out in the lake, pulled the girl from underwater, and brought her to shore alive.

When I hear stories like this, they remind me of the wisdom of staying calm in moments of crisis. God is always speaking to us, giving us the direction we need to remain safe and secure. But we mustn’t let the noise of fear and doubt shout out that voice and prevent us from hearing the divine direction that serves to save us.

Calmness enables us to hear God’s guidance and know what to do.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Placebo effect

I had to chuckle when I read in the Christian Science Monitor last Wednesday, March 5, that
Researchers writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association said subjects in their study of the "placebo effect" indicated that a dummy painkiller worked far better if it reportedly cost more.

Sounds like an incentive for pharmacuetical companies to charge more for their products...

Hmmm...perhaps the medicine of Mind is a better way to go...

All children are special

“Each child is special and unique in their own individual way!” I frequently remind myself when working with children.

In raising a son and a daughter with my wife, it has been a constant lesson for me to not see our kids in my likeness.

Let me ask you: If you are a parent, have there been times when you wanted your children to be like you in some form? I’ve had the desire more than once. But I’ve also learned that I get into trouble when I outline what activities my children should like to do or not do. I have to back off and remember that they are God’s likeness, not my likeness. Then they are free to find their niche, and everyone is happier.

I enjoyed the video clip, "Raising small souls," brought to my attention by a reader this morning. The short show reminded me of how unique and special are each of God’s children. But as I watched, I also realized there are qualities and attributes we all have in common—our spiritual heritage from God that includes a common denominator of divine Love.

God is the one infinite individuality that all of God’s offspring express. Each of our individual natures, as children of God, traces back to one spiritual nature in divine Love that unites us in one.


So, in as much as I may excel in piano, my son in trumpet, my daughter in swimming, and my wife in horticulture, we’re all still one in Love. The human distinctions are not important compared to the spiritual commonalities. And when we remember this truth, we see that we’re all alike in the most important ways—in God’s way—as image of Love. And what we are spiritually is all that matters in the Big Picture of Life.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

The dangers of blind loyalty

Have you ever been very loyal to another, only to find yourself betrayed by them unexpectedly?

I have. In fact, recently, and I’ve been wrestling with how to prevent myself from being taken advantage of by another’s adverse change of heart in the future.

When I read the Bible lesson yesterday, the passage “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another,” jumped out for scrutiny.

In the past, I’ve interpreted this verse as wise counsel to stay out of debt, to not put yourself into a position where you’re serving creditors, and becoming enslaved to worry and fear about how to pay bills more than you are paying attention to serving your debt and duty to God.

As I listened for fresh inspiration, the words, “Owe no man your loyalty,” screamed out for attention.

I thought, “Whoa!” Isn’t loyalty a good quality? But then I thought about my recent sour experience where I did have loyalty to another, and thought they had loyalty to me, but when selfish pursuit entered the equation, without warning the loyalty suddenly meant nothing. My trust felt betrayed.

As always, I know these types of trials serve to lift us higher and closer to God.

I remembered Hymn 204 from the Christian Science Hymnal, which refers to God sending His witnesses to speak the truth, and states in part,

No trouble shall touch them, no foes that appear,
Shall e'er from their loyalty move them;

And the lightning bolt of inspiration struck me; it was loyalty to God that I needed to perfect, and not loyalty to mortals.

Loyalty to a mortal can be blind and misguided.

For example, blind loyalty to a good boss may work fine 98% of the time, but if the boss had a temporary lapse in ethics or discretion, our unwitting compliance could lead to evil consequences that harm the innocent and injure our career.

Mortals are fallible.

But divine Mind is infallible, and this is where our loyalty needs to be placed—to the right and the true, to the moral and the spiritual, and not into mistake-prone mortals.

When we put our trust in God, rather than in man, we are able to more clearly sort out the right from the wrong and make better decisions for everyone involved. This rule works for marriage, family, church and any other relationship we are involved with.

“Owe no man your loyalty…” and no man will be able to violate your trust and faith.

Throw my loyalty more consistently to Truth, I decided, and my relationships with others still would be healthy and a joy, but also strengthened, protected and purified by my commitment to right and keener discernment of lurking errors that need to be admitted and faced up to along the way before they stab me in the metaphorical back.

I feel a lot lighter today! No burden of false loyalty to carry around anymore...

Cheers

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Wingsuits of Mind

I admire people who break the limits of matter-based thinking, exceed conventional expectations and demonstrate the limitless possibilities of Mind.

A reader sent me this link to a short video of a brave and fearless man named Espin flying in his wingsuit that certainly falls into this category. His gravity-defying feats will take your breath away…

He did fly upon the wings of the wind.” Psalms

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Watch out for the killer biscuits

This story is so funny, I wanted to share it with you…


Killer biscuits wanted for attempted murder

Linda Burnett, 23, a resident of San Diego, was visiting her in-laws and while there, went to a nearby supermarket to pick up some groceries. Several people noticed her sitting in her car with the windows rolled up, her eyes closed with both hands behind the back of her head. One customer who had been at the store for a while became concerned and walked over to the car.

He noticed that Linda’s eyes were now open, and she looked very strange. He asked her if she was okay, and Linda replied that she’d been shot in the back of the head, and had been holding her brains in for over an hour. The man called the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head.

When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of her head. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the heat, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the wad of dough hit her in the back of her head.

When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brains. She initially passed out, but quickly recovered and tried to hold her brains in for over an hour until someone noticed and came to her aid.

According to Snopes.com, this story is not true, but evolved from a comedian’s routine many years ago. It’s still a blast to read though, because it points out how absurd human mind conclusions can be when drawn from physical sense testimony.

While most of us would likely not repeat the above scenario, how often have we repeated the act in different situations, and with more serious consequences?

I’m thinking of the recent spate of flu cases across the country. How many people have caught the flu, not through material contagion, but from seeing it in others and believing they’re going to catch it too?

Like the Pillsbury dough container exploding with great noise, the media advertises the flu with great ado, and if one hasn’t avidly protected their thought from the mental contagion, they might at some point believe they’ve been “shot in the back of the neck” too and start manifesting the same symptoms.

The physical senses can be so misleading at times. They cannot be trusted.

Jesus Christ instructed, “
Watch!” And he meant watch for spiritual truth so one doesn’t get tricked by the human mind into drawing erroneous conclusions.

God created us spiritual beings governed rightly by spiritual sense. When we listen to spiritual sense and not to physical sense testimony, we draw the right conclusions about our health and well being and spare ourselves much grief.

Watch out for those "killer biscuits!"

 

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