"You are the only person on earth who can use your ability."
~ Zig Ziglar
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Three yellow roses
Sent in by a reader...
I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 7 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.
He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands.
He knew I loved yellow roses.
With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on.
Shopping for one person took time, a little more thought than it had for two.
Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how he had loved his steak.
Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones, dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.
She saw me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don't know."
I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes.
"My husband passed away eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. "Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together."
She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.
I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone.
I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I saw first, the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine. As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. "These are for you," she said, and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms.
"When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for."
She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.
I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone.
Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.
I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 7 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.
He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands.
He knew I loved yellow roses.
With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on.
Shopping for one person took time, a little more thought than it had for two.
Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how he had loved his steak.
Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones, dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.
She saw me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don't know."
I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes.
"My husband passed away eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. "Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together."
She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.
I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone.
I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I saw first, the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine. As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. "These are for you," she said, and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms.
"When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for."
She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.
I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone.
Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Top of Europe
There are not enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe the spectactular views one is able to take in from the sight-seeing vantage points in Switzerland. Our trip to Jungfraujoch was one of those unforgetable adventures.
The bottom picture below shows the building constructed on that peak that serves as a platform for breathtaking views for miles and miles around in Switzerland, Italy, Germany and France all at once.
I share a few pictures here of views we captured on our train trip to the Top of Europe. The train, which ran on a cog rail, traveled through a tunnel several kilometers long that took 300 workers 16 years to build back in the early 1900s.
The bottom picture below shows the building constructed on that peak that serves as a platform for breathtaking views for miles and miles around in Switzerland, Italy, Germany and France all at once.
I share a few pictures here of views we captured on our train trip to the Top of Europe. The train, which ran on a cog rail, traveled through a tunnel several kilometers long that took 300 workers 16 years to build back in the early 1900s.
The viewing platform for Jungfrau and surrounding country
Monday, August 25, 2008
Back home from Switzerland
Wow. This has been a full two weeks with my family, my practice, and learning about another part of the world.
As I type this, I’m flying over the Atlantic Ocean thinking about all the spiritual lessons learned, the progress to be grateful for, the ever-increasing unity and harmony in my family, and the new opportunities that lie ahead.
I never go on vacation, truly, in the traditional definition of the word. I do not see my life as divided into compartments, into fun, time-off, and work. Work for me has never been “work,” as many people think of work in terms of drudgery, duty and obligation. Work for me is fun.
The full-time practice of Christian Science is pure joy. It’s all about experiencing more and more of God’s goodness and healing power everyday. It’s not a 9-5 job, or a position lorded over by an uncaring boss and an unforgiving set of rules. It’s a way of life. It’s a spiritual discipline that infiltrates the actions, words, and conduct of those who practice its laws.
But the full-time practice also requires time devoted to one’s patients, and that’s why occasional time-outs, or at least, partial time-outs, called vacations, are needed to be sure I spend adequate time with my wife and children.
This last trip to Switzerland was a success on all fronts. For 15 consecutive days, the four of us were together 24 hours a day, and we had a wonderful time. Because of traveling demands, we each had to express patience, understanding, care and attention to each other in deeper ways than living independently in the fast lane back home often requires, and we came out better for it.
Yesterday, the tour guide commented to our travel group of 40 that this was the first time she didn’t take someone to a doctor on this long of a trip. She was amazed. Typically, 3-4 people end up sick and needing a doctor, she reported.
I thought back to the first day when she was laying down the rules for us to abide by. One expectation she outlined was that if anyone exhibited any kind of health problem, she wanted them to think about going to a doctor for immediate treatment. She didn’t want any contagious disease spreading rapidly through the bus. She made a big deal about this. Not because she was paranoid. She wasn’t. She was striving to prevent a repeat of bad past experiences, and she only knew a stringent medical model to follow.
Curiously, the first 3 days of travel were a bit chilly and rainy. Travelers started coughing, including one of our children. It got rather out of hand, and in our case, I feared being told we had to go to a local doctor.
That evening, to bring the health problems to a close, my family prayed together for our own health, and for the protection of the whole bus load of people.
We affirmed that we all lived in an atmosphere of divine Love where health prevailed, and that only goodness was circulating in that vehicle. We knew that everyone expressed a perfect God, which included perfect health, and that divine law kept everyone healthy regardless of whether it was rainy or not. The material view of weather didn’t matter. Only the spiritual truth about weather had an impact.
Looking back, the coughing stopped the next day or so, and that was the end of any evidence of health problems, that I was aware of. I’m not sure I heard a single cough on the whole bus for 12 days after that. And, as the guide reported, there were no medical issues the entire trip. Hooray! And thanks to God’s ever-present care.
Weather is always a concern when traveling in Switzerland and expecting to see the Alps, for it rains frequently, which means view-obstructing clouds! Anticipating this fear beforehand, I did some preemptive prayer work to know that the views we sought were spiritual ones, and always clear and unobstructed. There would be no mental clouds of fear or doubt in the way of us seeing the great vistas of Truth that lay before us in the land called Switzerland. I did not worry about rain and clouds, or fear bad weather. I knew it rained in Switzerland, and expected it to rain, but also expected to be rewarded for trusting in God’s wise planning and disposition of events as we proceeded with the tour. And that was the case.
It was quite amazing to witness…but the day of our drive to the base of the Matterhorn was terribly stormy. The next day, when we rode the gondola to the top, all clouds evaporated and the view was spectacular. Our bus driver said it was the clearest view he had seen in the five years he had been driving that route. He went to the peak with us.
And our stop at Jungfrau, advertised as the “Top of Europe,” was equally as impressive. Cloudy weather sandwiched our arrival and departure, but the day of our train ride to the summit, the sky cleared and the view was jaw-dropping. Our guide said she had never seen a clear day like that in the 2 years she had been taking groups to the top.
And the list of blessings goes on.
I’m happy to be headed home now. I look forward to getting back into the full swing of the practice and preparing the teens for school.
With Jenna in her senior year, we have college to think about. Oh boy! Can’t wait for the tuition bills…but, I consider them already paid. God is the provider, and the provision is in place before there is a perceived need. We are going to listen carefully for God’s plan.
I’m posting a few random pictures below that we thought were particularly beautiful. I am not an experienced photographer by any means, but had a lot of fun clicking away. My wife has the better camera, and much more experience at snapping the picturesque shots, so the better pictures you see likely were taken by her. But I get a good one in now and then…
Enjoy
Wooden bridge across river in Lucerne
As I type this, I’m flying over the Atlantic Ocean thinking about all the spiritual lessons learned, the progress to be grateful for, the ever-increasing unity and harmony in my family, and the new opportunities that lie ahead.
I never go on vacation, truly, in the traditional definition of the word. I do not see my life as divided into compartments, into fun, time-off, and work. Work for me has never been “work,” as many people think of work in terms of drudgery, duty and obligation. Work for me is fun.
The full-time practice of Christian Science is pure joy. It’s all about experiencing more and more of God’s goodness and healing power everyday. It’s not a 9-5 job, or a position lorded over by an uncaring boss and an unforgiving set of rules. It’s a way of life. It’s a spiritual discipline that infiltrates the actions, words, and conduct of those who practice its laws.
But the full-time practice also requires time devoted to one’s patients, and that’s why occasional time-outs, or at least, partial time-outs, called vacations, are needed to be sure I spend adequate time with my wife and children.
This last trip to Switzerland was a success on all fronts. For 15 consecutive days, the four of us were together 24 hours a day, and we had a wonderful time. Because of traveling demands, we each had to express patience, understanding, care and attention to each other in deeper ways than living independently in the fast lane back home often requires, and we came out better for it.
Yesterday, the tour guide commented to our travel group of 40 that this was the first time she didn’t take someone to a doctor on this long of a trip. She was amazed. Typically, 3-4 people end up sick and needing a doctor, she reported.
I thought back to the first day when she was laying down the rules for us to abide by. One expectation she outlined was that if anyone exhibited any kind of health problem, she wanted them to think about going to a doctor for immediate treatment. She didn’t want any contagious disease spreading rapidly through the bus. She made a big deal about this. Not because she was paranoid. She wasn’t. She was striving to prevent a repeat of bad past experiences, and she only knew a stringent medical model to follow.
Curiously, the first 3 days of travel were a bit chilly and rainy. Travelers started coughing, including one of our children. It got rather out of hand, and in our case, I feared being told we had to go to a local doctor.
That evening, to bring the health problems to a close, my family prayed together for our own health, and for the protection of the whole bus load of people.
We affirmed that we all lived in an atmosphere of divine Love where health prevailed, and that only goodness was circulating in that vehicle. We knew that everyone expressed a perfect God, which included perfect health, and that divine law kept everyone healthy regardless of whether it was rainy or not. The material view of weather didn’t matter. Only the spiritual truth about weather had an impact.
Looking back, the coughing stopped the next day or so, and that was the end of any evidence of health problems, that I was aware of. I’m not sure I heard a single cough on the whole bus for 12 days after that. And, as the guide reported, there were no medical issues the entire trip. Hooray! And thanks to God’s ever-present care.
Weather is always a concern when traveling in Switzerland and expecting to see the Alps, for it rains frequently, which means view-obstructing clouds! Anticipating this fear beforehand, I did some preemptive prayer work to know that the views we sought were spiritual ones, and always clear and unobstructed. There would be no mental clouds of fear or doubt in the way of us seeing the great vistas of Truth that lay before us in the land called Switzerland. I did not worry about rain and clouds, or fear bad weather. I knew it rained in Switzerland, and expected it to rain, but also expected to be rewarded for trusting in God’s wise planning and disposition of events as we proceeded with the tour. And that was the case.
It was quite amazing to witness…but the day of our drive to the base of the Matterhorn was terribly stormy. The next day, when we rode the gondola to the top, all clouds evaporated and the view was spectacular. Our bus driver said it was the clearest view he had seen in the five years he had been driving that route. He went to the peak with us.
And our stop at Jungfrau, advertised as the “Top of Europe,” was equally as impressive. Cloudy weather sandwiched our arrival and departure, but the day of our train ride to the summit, the sky cleared and the view was jaw-dropping. Our guide said she had never seen a clear day like that in the 2 years she had been taking groups to the top.
And the list of blessings goes on.
I’m happy to be headed home now. I look forward to getting back into the full swing of the practice and preparing the teens for school.
With Jenna in her senior year, we have college to think about. Oh boy! Can’t wait for the tuition bills…but, I consider them already paid. God is the provider, and the provision is in place before there is a perceived need. We are going to listen carefully for God’s plan.
I’m posting a few random pictures below that we thought were particularly beautiful. I am not an experienced photographer by any means, but had a lot of fun clicking away. My wife has the better camera, and much more experience at snapping the picturesque shots, so the better pictures you see likely were taken by her. But I get a good one in now and then…
Enjoy
Wooden bridge across river in Lucerne
The miracle in the monastery
While driving through another Swiss village, our tour guide pointed to a monastery on a hill in the distance. She said that her group used to visit that building years ago, but had ceased visiting it. In a moment of elation she interjected, “The only time I have ever seen a miracle in my life was in that monastery years ago.” And she continued to explain…
She said that while a monk was explaining the history of the hospice to her group of travelers standing in the sanctuary, one of the women went into painful contortions. She, the tour guide, became very alarmed as this woman struggled and strained and could barely contain herself. The suffering lasted about 5 minutes, then ceased. The woman became a picture of peace and calm.
After the talk, the tour guide rushed over and asked her what the matter was. The woman cried and said, “I can see!” Sixty years of age at the time, she explained that since she was a little child, she was blind in one eye. During the past few minutes, she said, that without warning, she was struck with severe pain in that blind eye. After intense struggle, the pain ceased and she could see. She was exuberant.
Her ability to see color was also restored. She started pointing to the different colors on people’s clothes and the flowers and the paintings, colors she hadn’t been able to see for almost 6 decades.
Alarmed and unsure about what she was hearing, the tour guide insisted the woman accompany her to a local doctor and get checked out. She obliged, and the doctor said the woman was fine, and could not believe she had been blind in one eye.
The restored woman returned home to Australia, and reports came back later to the tour guide that the healing was permanent.
The tour guide chuckled and said, “So, the next year when I returned to the monastery, I told the monk about the healing that had happened in his sanctuary, and he responded, “Garbage! Nothing like that ever happens here.” He refused to believe anyone had a healing as described there in his church home. The tour guide found the monk’s response contradictory and hard to believe, but nonetheless, said she was telling the story the way it happened.
After hearing the story, I asked myself, “Are we all ready and willing to accept miracles of healing at anytime? Or are we like the doubting monk who wasn’t even open to the possibility?”
She said that while a monk was explaining the history of the hospice to her group of travelers standing in the sanctuary, one of the women went into painful contortions. She, the tour guide, became very alarmed as this woman struggled and strained and could barely contain herself. The suffering lasted about 5 minutes, then ceased. The woman became a picture of peace and calm.
After the talk, the tour guide rushed over and asked her what the matter was. The woman cried and said, “I can see!” Sixty years of age at the time, she explained that since she was a little child, she was blind in one eye. During the past few minutes, she said, that without warning, she was struck with severe pain in that blind eye. After intense struggle, the pain ceased and she could see. She was exuberant.
Her ability to see color was also restored. She started pointing to the different colors on people’s clothes and the flowers and the paintings, colors she hadn’t been able to see for almost 6 decades.
Alarmed and unsure about what she was hearing, the tour guide insisted the woman accompany her to a local doctor and get checked out. She obliged, and the doctor said the woman was fine, and could not believe she had been blind in one eye.
The restored woman returned home to Australia, and reports came back later to the tour guide that the healing was permanent.
The tour guide chuckled and said, “So, the next year when I returned to the monastery, I told the monk about the healing that had happened in his sanctuary, and he responded, “Garbage! Nothing like that ever happens here.” He refused to believe anyone had a healing as described there in his church home. The tour guide found the monk’s response contradictory and hard to believe, but nonetheless, said she was telling the story the way it happened.
After hearing the story, I asked myself, “Are we all ready and willing to accept miracles of healing at anytime? Or are we like the doubting monk who wasn’t even open to the possibility?”
Some of the views along the way...
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The eagle eye
While traveling through Switzerland, I have been impressed with how much time and resources that have gone into protecting the land from invading enemies over the centuries. There are castles everywhere!
Yesterday, we stopped at a viewpoint while going over a pass, and there was a commemorative statue of an eagle overlooking the valley below. The eagle was built and placed there to remember a handful of soldiers who stood guard over the pass during WWII. It was a strategic location to protect the country from invasion.
As I looked around at the surrounding territory, the location was obviously the right one to protect. On each side were high Alp peaks that made traveling impossible except through the valley pass. The only route through was right where that eagle was stationed. The squeeze point was the point of vulnerability that needed to be protected for the safety of all behind that point.
In seeking a spiritual lesson, I thought about the passageways of the human mind that need to be protected—points of vulnerability, if you will.
To progress in life, we have to defend ourselves from the invading armies of fear and error that would steal our joy, health and well being.
There are places in everyone’s thought that are super strong, like those Alp peaks on either side of the pass. They don’t need protecting, so much, for the pertinent truth is clear. But there may be other aspects to life we feel unsure about that need shoring up. These channels of vulnerability need extra guard until our demonstration of immunity to harm is made.
For example, if we’re inclined to gluttony, the temptation to overeat would be a point of vulnerability that needs extra defense work. Or, if we overspend, the temptation to buy things we don’t need is a point of vulnerability that needs extra defense work to keep the invading army of debt from overwhelming our home front.
The eagle statue is engraved in my mind, for now, as a firm reminder that I must stand guard and watch over any valleys of vulnerability I feel in my life until I have demonstrated them out of my life. I must not be naïve and ignore any passageways the enemy of fear might pursue to try and invade my thought and throw me off guard.
“Watch,” as Jesus instructed. With an eagle eye…
Yesterday, we stopped at a viewpoint while going over a pass, and there was a commemorative statue of an eagle overlooking the valley below. The eagle was built and placed there to remember a handful of soldiers who stood guard over the pass during WWII. It was a strategic location to protect the country from invasion.
As I looked around at the surrounding territory, the location was obviously the right one to protect. On each side were high Alp peaks that made traveling impossible except through the valley pass. The only route through was right where that eagle was stationed. The squeeze point was the point of vulnerability that needed to be protected for the safety of all behind that point.
In seeking a spiritual lesson, I thought about the passageways of the human mind that need to be protected—points of vulnerability, if you will.
To progress in life, we have to defend ourselves from the invading armies of fear and error that would steal our joy, health and well being.
There are places in everyone’s thought that are super strong, like those Alp peaks on either side of the pass. They don’t need protecting, so much, for the pertinent truth is clear. But there may be other aspects to life we feel unsure about that need shoring up. These channels of vulnerability need extra guard until our demonstration of immunity to harm is made.
For example, if we’re inclined to gluttony, the temptation to overeat would be a point of vulnerability that needs extra defense work. Or, if we overspend, the temptation to buy things we don’t need is a point of vulnerability that needs extra defense work to keep the invading army of debt from overwhelming our home front.
The eagle statue is engraved in my mind, for now, as a firm reminder that I must stand guard and watch over any valleys of vulnerability I feel in my life until I have demonstrated them out of my life. I must not be naïve and ignore any passageways the enemy of fear might pursue to try and invade my thought and throw me off guard.
“Watch,” as Jesus instructed. With an eagle eye…
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Lots to get or to give?
The question of the day to answer for me was…
Do you see yourself as a person who has lots to give, or lots to get?
Yesterday, my daughter wanted to do a bit of shopping here in St. Moritz, where we’re staying for two days. So I agreed to go with her for a couple of hours.
Honestly, shopping can be one of the most exhausting activities on earth. I do it once in a while because I need clothes to wear and other odds and ends, and I don’t mind looking for fun on occasion. But I frequently last about 20 minutes and my enthusiasm meter starts sinking quickly. My wife really dislikes shopping, which is a good thing by the way! It sure helps keep the bills down.
Anyway, getting sidetracked…as we were walking down the street, and mostly window shopping, I asked myself why shopping often leaves me feeling depleted if I do it for very long.
Then it hit me, “Shopping is about getting stuff. It’s not about giving. It’s about getting.” And when you think you need to “get something,” you obviously believe you lack something, and you unwittingly start to manifest the belief of lack in other ways than just what doesn't sit on your shelf at home.
I started to reason my query through spiritually.
Life is Love, as we learn in Christian Science. Life is experienced at its best when we are engaged in some activity of Love.
Love is about giving, sharing, caring, and participating in the beneficence of God’s grace upon one and all, and these kinds of mental engagements uplift thought, inspire attitude, and give wholesome meaning and purpose to life. They keep us healthy too.
As I pondered my question, I realized that if we begin our day with, “I need something,” we’re reasoning out from a premise of lack. And I’m not talking just about getting things. It could be getting attention, getting famous, getting known, getting money, getting someone to do something our way, getting revenge, getting angry, and all of their kin. An attitude that believes it needs to get something believes it lacks something. And this is not a cool way to live. It’s can be downright miserable, honestly.
I realize there are millions of people in the world who have yet to receive the basics for human survival, like food and shelter. I’m not talking about those kinds of needs. That’s a whole different subject to address.
But back to my question…”Do I see myself as someone who has lots to give, or as someone with lots to get?”
As I walked around the lake at St. Moritz this morning with my son and wrestled with the implications of answering this question aright, I easily concluded that “I have lots to give!” And I truly do. Why? Not because I possess a lot of good myself. I don't. I don't possess any good. I reflect it as God's image. And God is infinite. As God's image, I have lots to give...in fact an infinite amount of goodness and love to give.
I’m still learning it, but two decades ago when I entered the full-time practice of Christian Science, I came to terms with the truth that God is my Source, my Supplier, and my Sustainer. The world could not offer me anything that was better and more enriching than what came directly to me from divine Love, I decided. Life is not about getting. That is the self-centered mortal way of vainly seeking what comes only from Spirit. Life is about giving.
In giving we receive, and in true unselfish giving we receive mightily and abundantly. It’s just the way the law of Love works. Give and you shall receive, as Jesus taught and demonstrated.
This was a very productive day in the spiritual course of things, and I'm grateful for it. I like the idea of consciously knowing, “I have lots to give!” It’s very freeing. I encourage you to give it a try, if you haven’t already!
Do you see yourself as a person who has lots to give, or lots to get?
Yesterday, my daughter wanted to do a bit of shopping here in St. Moritz, where we’re staying for two days. So I agreed to go with her for a couple of hours.
Honestly, shopping can be one of the most exhausting activities on earth. I do it once in a while because I need clothes to wear and other odds and ends, and I don’t mind looking for fun on occasion. But I frequently last about 20 minutes and my enthusiasm meter starts sinking quickly. My wife really dislikes shopping, which is a good thing by the way! It sure helps keep the bills down.
Anyway, getting sidetracked…as we were walking down the street, and mostly window shopping, I asked myself why shopping often leaves me feeling depleted if I do it for very long.
Then it hit me, “Shopping is about getting stuff. It’s not about giving. It’s about getting.” And when you think you need to “get something,” you obviously believe you lack something, and you unwittingly start to manifest the belief of lack in other ways than just what doesn't sit on your shelf at home.
I started to reason my query through spiritually.
Life is Love, as we learn in Christian Science. Life is experienced at its best when we are engaged in some activity of Love.
Love is about giving, sharing, caring, and participating in the beneficence of God’s grace upon one and all, and these kinds of mental engagements uplift thought, inspire attitude, and give wholesome meaning and purpose to life. They keep us healthy too.
As I pondered my question, I realized that if we begin our day with, “I need something,” we’re reasoning out from a premise of lack. And I’m not talking just about getting things. It could be getting attention, getting famous, getting known, getting money, getting someone to do something our way, getting revenge, getting angry, and all of their kin. An attitude that believes it needs to get something believes it lacks something. And this is not a cool way to live. It’s can be downright miserable, honestly.
I realize there are millions of people in the world who have yet to receive the basics for human survival, like food and shelter. I’m not talking about those kinds of needs. That’s a whole different subject to address.
But back to my question…”Do I see myself as someone who has lots to give, or as someone with lots to get?”
As I walked around the lake at St. Moritz this morning with my son and wrestled with the implications of answering this question aright, I easily concluded that “I have lots to give!” And I truly do. Why? Not because I possess a lot of good myself. I don't. I don't possess any good. I reflect it as God's image. And God is infinite. As God's image, I have lots to give...in fact an infinite amount of goodness and love to give.
I’m still learning it, but two decades ago when I entered the full-time practice of Christian Science, I came to terms with the truth that God is my Source, my Supplier, and my Sustainer. The world could not offer me anything that was better and more enriching than what came directly to me from divine Love, I decided. Life is not about getting. That is the self-centered mortal way of vainly seeking what comes only from Spirit. Life is about giving.
In giving we receive, and in true unselfish giving we receive mightily and abundantly. It’s just the way the law of Love works. Give and you shall receive, as Jesus taught and demonstrated.
This was a very productive day in the spiritual course of things, and I'm grateful for it. I like the idea of consciously knowing, “I have lots to give!” It’s very freeing. I encourage you to give it a try, if you haven’t already!
Lake with St. Moritz in the background
Friday, August 22, 2008
Be content with what you have
One of our early stops was at the Gruyere castle and neighboring town.
Have you ever heard of Gruyere cheese?
The Gruyere family ruled over a beautiful lush valley and surrounding area for 500 years, building a family fortune, castle, and powerbase. However, Michal, one of the descendants who eventually ruled, was not content with what he had. He borrowed money from neighboring aristocrats and merchants to finance expansive ventures and lavish spending habits. He went heavily into debt and failed to repay his creditors.
Finally, the creditors, many headquartered in Bern, joined together to collect their due.
Organizing a raid against Michal, they stormed his castle and took all of his valuables and treasures, stripping Michal of his prestige, remaining resources, and ability to rule. Michal lost his castle and his kingdom, and his family’s dynasty ended.
The Gruyere family ruled over a beautiful lush valley and surrounding area for 500 years, building a family fortune, castle, and powerbase. However, Michal, one of the descendants who eventually ruled, was not content with what he had. He borrowed money from neighboring aristocrats and merchants to finance expansive ventures and lavish spending habits. He went heavily into debt and failed to repay his creditors.
Finally, the creditors, many headquartered in Bern, joined together to collect their due.
Organizing a raid against Michal, they stormed his castle and took all of his valuables and treasures, stripping Michal of his prestige, remaining resources, and ability to rule. Michal lost his castle and his kingdom, and his family’s dynasty ended.
Backside of Gruyere Castle
The castle sits on a hill with a beautiful view.
While we walked through the grounds I remembered the Biblical verse, “Be content with what you have.”
Michal was not too smart to squander away 500 years of family success in the span of a few greedy years.
In jest, I told my children, “If you don’t want to lose your castle, don’t go into debt!”
Debt can have a supportive role to play at times when managed correctly, held to a minimum, and used for purposes that enable the debt to be paid back. But in this age, when taking on debt has been taken very lightly in many cases, I’m doing my best to teach my children the evils of debt when incurred for selfish purposes.
In jest, I told my children, “If you don’t want to lose your castle, don’t go into debt!”
Debt can have a supportive role to play at times when managed correctly, held to a minimum, and used for purposes that enable the debt to be paid back. But in this age, when taking on debt has been taken very lightly in many cases, I’m doing my best to teach my children the evils of debt when incurred for selfish purposes.
Gratitude for what one has, however modest, can spare many a year of suffering for getting in deeper than one is able to climb out of.
My children chuckled and said, "Yeah, dad." They've heard this message before!
It is enriching to understand that the treasures of Truth and Love are the greatest riches of all. When one makes the pursuit of understanding, wisdom, and sound decision-making a priority, and stays constantly grateful for what one has, it's much less tempting to take on debt that can't be repaid. Wisdom steers us clear and helps us find spiritual solutions that keep us free of enslavement to the world. Then we can avoid the fate of Michal and preserve the hard work that's been done.
It is enriching to understand that the treasures of Truth and Love are the greatest riches of all. When one makes the pursuit of understanding, wisdom, and sound decision-making a priority, and stays constantly grateful for what one has, it's much less tempting to take on debt that can't be repaid. Wisdom steers us clear and helps us find spiritual solutions that keep us free of enslavement to the world. Then we can avoid the fate of Michal and preserve the hard work that's been done.
Gruyere cheese at a local factory
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Jumping to the wrong conclusion
Have you ever made a wrong snap decision about someone, and then treated them in a hurtful way that you later regretted?
I heard a sobering story today that illustrates the evils of jumping to the wrong conclusion.
In centuries past, the Alps were treacherous and dangerous places to travel. Many brave souls braved the threat nonetheless, and hundreds, if not thousands, lost their lives in the attempt.
To aide stranded travelers, a society of monks set up a rescue mission of sorts through one of the frequently traveled passes. They trained St. Bernard dogs, who were especially equipped to brave the rugged weather, to seek out, sniff out, and aide people who got sick, lost, buried in avalanches, or stranded on their way.
Barney, called the greatest St. Bernard of all, built a long list of successful rescue missions, including that of a young child he found barely alive in the snow on the unforgiving slopes of the mountain. The boy’s parents, who lived down in the valley, were in trouble, and taking a mind of his own to save them, he decided to get to the other side of the mountain where help was available, and bring aide back to save his folks. He didn’t make it. The storms were too much. But on one of Barney’s solo treks, he found the boy. And no one knows how, but somehow, Barney got the unconscious lad on his back and brought him to the monastery where the monks resuscitated him.
Another time, Barney found a deserter of Napoleon’s army unconscious and teetering on the edge of death. Barney licked the man backed into consciousness. Barney lay close to the man to warm him up. When the soldier finally came to, looked up and saw the big beast, in alarm, he reacted out of fear and killed the dog. That was the end of Barney, the man’s savior and of dozens of other lost travellers.
The story is a tragedy.
I thought of times in human life when similar bad endings occur, if not as severely.
At times, people are doing what they perceive to be nice things for others, but the other person doesn’t see the act that way. The recipient sees evil where the giver believes they are bestowing good. The recipient acts cruelly, and the giver is disheartened, saddened, and their spirit is killed to a degree, by the unkindness returned.
How does one prevent such unfortunate circumstances from occurring?
I suppose one way, is to never react in fear, and secondly, to carefully weigh the motives and intent of the giver. When patient, thoughtful and caring, we can make clear judgments and wise decisions. A genuine love and care for the well being of everyone around us cultivates a propensity of goodwill toward the individuals we meet.
After hearing the story of Barney, I decided to make an extra effort to correctly see, acknowledge and honor all the Barneys of the world!
I heard a sobering story today that illustrates the evils of jumping to the wrong conclusion.
In centuries past, the Alps were treacherous and dangerous places to travel. Many brave souls braved the threat nonetheless, and hundreds, if not thousands, lost their lives in the attempt.
To aide stranded travelers, a society of monks set up a rescue mission of sorts through one of the frequently traveled passes. They trained St. Bernard dogs, who were especially equipped to brave the rugged weather, to seek out, sniff out, and aide people who got sick, lost, buried in avalanches, or stranded on their way.
Barney, called the greatest St. Bernard of all, built a long list of successful rescue missions, including that of a young child he found barely alive in the snow on the unforgiving slopes of the mountain. The boy’s parents, who lived down in the valley, were in trouble, and taking a mind of his own to save them, he decided to get to the other side of the mountain where help was available, and bring aide back to save his folks. He didn’t make it. The storms were too much. But on one of Barney’s solo treks, he found the boy. And no one knows how, but somehow, Barney got the unconscious lad on his back and brought him to the monastery where the monks resuscitated him.
Another time, Barney found a deserter of Napoleon’s army unconscious and teetering on the edge of death. Barney licked the man backed into consciousness. Barney lay close to the man to warm him up. When the soldier finally came to, looked up and saw the big beast, in alarm, he reacted out of fear and killed the dog. That was the end of Barney, the man’s savior and of dozens of other lost travellers.
The story is a tragedy.
I thought of times in human life when similar bad endings occur, if not as severely.
At times, people are doing what they perceive to be nice things for others, but the other person doesn’t see the act that way. The recipient sees evil where the giver believes they are bestowing good. The recipient acts cruelly, and the giver is disheartened, saddened, and their spirit is killed to a degree, by the unkindness returned.
How does one prevent such unfortunate circumstances from occurring?
I suppose one way, is to never react in fear, and secondly, to carefully weigh the motives and intent of the giver. When patient, thoughtful and caring, we can make clear judgments and wise decisions. A genuine love and care for the well being of everyone around us cultivates a propensity of goodwill toward the individuals we meet.
After hearing the story of Barney, I decided to make an extra effort to correctly see, acknowledge and honor all the Barneys of the world!
Some of the Alps travellers faced
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
St. Moritz
We drove through the town of Maurice, Switzerland, today, and heard a most interesting story of why the town was named Maurice, plus hundreds of churches, and even two countries, including Mauritania, after the namesake of Moritz.
Moritz was much loved in this region during his time, which was in the late 200s AD. He was a leader of a Roman army stationed in the area. He was also a Christian.
The legend of Moritz began to build when he was first ordered by the High Command in Rome to harass Christians in the neighboring territory which is now France. He refused to comply. As punishment, his army was decimated, which meant one in ten of his soldiers were killed.
A second command came to persecute Christians. Moritz refused again, and as punishment, his army was decimated a second time, 600 of 6000 troops being murdered.
A third command was issued to do the same, and again, Moritz refused. This time his entire army was murdered, including Moritz. And that was the sad ending of his life. But the locals remembered the favor he had bestowed upon them, and have commemorated him ever since holding him in high esteem.
The story teller mentioned that Moritz was ahead of his time, for Constantine converted to Christianity around 325, I think she said, and then the tables turned. Constantine had issued an order for people to convert to Christianity, and if they didn’t, they were persecuted.
“Oh, the horrible atrocities that are committed in the name of religion,” I heard in the bus, as one rider expressed dismay over the evils religious groups commit against each other.
Her final comment gave me pause, for I’ve heard this exact type of statement many times before, and it’s always made me uncomfortable.
For example, I believe people who call themselves Christians and kill in the name of Christianity are not acting in accord with Christian teachings. They are following a selfish agenda and using Christianity as a cloak to cover their crimes. Jesus never taught people to kill. He taught his followers to love their enemies, not to murder them.
The comment, “The awful crimes that are committed in the name of religion,” tends to skew the picture of what the real problem is. The evil is not religion, but the evil motives and deeds of criminals who hide behind religion and use it to justify their wicked deeds, but couldn’t be further from living it in their heart.
The comment tends to give religion a bad name, and unfairly so. Religion has many good qualities that serve billions of people in many positive ways. It’s the criminal instinct manifest as lust, greed, hate and dark ego that need to be exterminated, and not allowed to mingle and mix with religion so closely that people can’t tell the difference. Religion is not the criminal. Abuse of it is.
It’s amazing what topics rise to the surface for mental wrestling when taking a road trip through Switzerland….
Moritz was much loved in this region during his time, which was in the late 200s AD. He was a leader of a Roman army stationed in the area. He was also a Christian.
The legend of Moritz began to build when he was first ordered by the High Command in Rome to harass Christians in the neighboring territory which is now France. He refused to comply. As punishment, his army was decimated, which meant one in ten of his soldiers were killed.
A second command came to persecute Christians. Moritz refused again, and as punishment, his army was decimated a second time, 600 of 6000 troops being murdered.
A third command was issued to do the same, and again, Moritz refused. This time his entire army was murdered, including Moritz. And that was the sad ending of his life. But the locals remembered the favor he had bestowed upon them, and have commemorated him ever since holding him in high esteem.
The story teller mentioned that Moritz was ahead of his time, for Constantine converted to Christianity around 325, I think she said, and then the tables turned. Constantine had issued an order for people to convert to Christianity, and if they didn’t, they were persecuted.
“Oh, the horrible atrocities that are committed in the name of religion,” I heard in the bus, as one rider expressed dismay over the evils religious groups commit against each other.
Her final comment gave me pause, for I’ve heard this exact type of statement many times before, and it’s always made me uncomfortable.
For example, I believe people who call themselves Christians and kill in the name of Christianity are not acting in accord with Christian teachings. They are following a selfish agenda and using Christianity as a cloak to cover their crimes. Jesus never taught people to kill. He taught his followers to love their enemies, not to murder them.
The comment, “The awful crimes that are committed in the name of religion,” tends to skew the picture of what the real problem is. The evil is not religion, but the evil motives and deeds of criminals who hide behind religion and use it to justify their wicked deeds, but couldn’t be further from living it in their heart.
The comment tends to give religion a bad name, and unfairly so. Religion has many good qualities that serve billions of people in many positive ways. It’s the criminal instinct manifest as lust, greed, hate and dark ego that need to be exterminated, and not allowed to mingle and mix with religion so closely that people can’t tell the difference. Religion is not the criminal. Abuse of it is.
It’s amazing what topics rise to the surface for mental wrestling when taking a road trip through Switzerland….
A taste of Switzerland
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Conquering fear of heights
Do heights ever make you uncomfortable? They do me, at times. I’ve never been fond of looking over the edge of a super deep canyon, or riding in a gondola car that takes one to atmospheric heights. I’ll do it, and I’m getting better at it, but still have progress to make.
Today, I made major progress in finding peace about heights while riding in a gondola car to the top of the Matterhorn.
It was one of the most jaw-dropping rides I’ve ever taken in terms of spectacular scenery and views on the way. But what caught my attention even more, was that we were really really high up! When I looked down over of the sides of the car, I wanted to close my eyes and stand in the middle of the car.
I asked myself, “Why do you feel nervous about being hundreds of feet above deep crevasses, rocks and valleys below?” The answer was easy. “Because this car is man-made, the cables are man-made, they are material, and they will eventually fail, and they might fail today!” And to emphasize the point, mortal mind continued with, “And you can’t argue with that can you? You are in danger, and that’s just the way it is.”
My spiritual sense instantly rebelled at the suggestion that I was in a helpless or hopeless situation. I knew that wasn’t true, but I was struggling with the “This car is man-made and might fail,” part.
I thought backward to Truth, and remembered that God is the creator of all things. The human mind might call God’s creations, or ideas, Gondola cars, cables and steel towers, but in actual spiritual fact, all things that exist are spiritual, immortal, and indestructible. They do not fall apart, and they do not fail.
I suddenly realized that I felt fear because I was seeing myself as mortal in a material situation. No wonder I was afraid! That would always be a precarious position to be in. Nothing is reliable in mortality.
So, I did a freeing reversal of everything mortal mind was trying to convince me of. I reversed the belief that the gondola was man-made. That was impossible. All engineering ideas come from divine Mind. The whole cable-car ride to the top of the mountain, and the safety of it, was designed in Mind and revealed through the engineers that put those towers in place. The same Mind that created the original idea, was maintaining it. I was not riding in a material car made by human hands. I was standing in the omnipresence of Love. The force and power of Love was holding us in the sky, not cables and towers. The cables and towers may have represented the invisible support of the divine, but they were not the support. The support was divine.
With this breakthrough in reasoning, I found quick peace in knowing the hand of God was literally underneath that car holding it in place while we traveled from one peak to the next. There was no space between me and safety. There was no distance between me and firm ground to stand upon. I was standing upon spiritual ground, and it would not fail me.
My fear melted. I relaxed and enjoyed the view. It was breathtaking.
I got a more profound glimpse than ever that we truly live in a universe of divine Mind, not an atmosphere of matter. The reason I had been afraid is because I was thinking I lived in a material situation that was dangerous. Once I accepted that I live in a universe of Spirit, and was traveling in it, the fear dissolved.
From the top. The Matterhorn in the background.
I’m sure I’ll be tested again, but this was a banner day for conquering fear of heights! In the heights of divine Mind, there is nothing to be afraid of.
Oh, and the view from the top, once I got there, was awesome beyond words. It was worth the mental obstacles I had to overcome to get there. As is true with all new heights we attain in our metaphysical journey Spirit-ward.
View of Matterhorn from Zermatt, where we stayed.
Monday, August 18, 2008
What castle do you live in?
Today our bus stopped in front of the Chillon Castle, just outside of Montreaux, Switzerland. When I looked over the precipice to see the bottom of the massive structure and I saw water all the way around the base, I exclaimed, “Wow! A real castle!” I hadn't seen one with a moat before.
If you haven't seen Chillon Castle in person, you’ve likely seen it in a movie. It’s very famous, if not by name, then by looks.
Chillon Castle was built on a rock just out of the reach of land. A drawbridge connects the mainland to the front door. And waaaay down the sides of the castle there is water all the way around. A moat type of waterway is on one side, and Lake Geneva on the other. It’s very impressive—if you’re into castles.
While touring the monument I started to ponder why castles had outlived a meaningful purpose, other than to serve as tourist destinations. Kings, dukes, counts and their like, built them to protect their political, economic, and territorial claims. But over time, enemies discovered the weak spots of such structures, and they were not sufficient to protect kingdoms any longer. For instance, Chillon Castle could hold enough food and supplies for 40 days habitation by its dwellers. If under siege, what were the trapped to do after 40 days? So, rulers had to find more effective ways to protect their kingdoms.
Castles became obsolete, ineffective, and burdensome.
I thought about other kinds of castles that people live in today, not of brick and mortar, but of beliefs and fears.
For example, believing a mighty portfolio of stocks and bonds protects from future misery and suffering, is a type of castle. It might feel like an impenetrable wall of defense against poverty and lack while the value and size increases, and other factors stay happy in life. But what if the enemy strikes in a different way, through the belief of a hopeless disease, for instance, and the money suddenly has no relevance. A health cure is needed which money cannot buy.
Or what about basing one’s happiness on the presence of family and friends, and putting them all around you. Then one day, they start to disappear for myriad reasons. Isn’t that a type of castle that eventually fails to deliver on its promise?
Or what about body appearance, believing the perfect body makes one successful, wins opportunities, gains social status, and brings happiness? Then, one day, the body doesn’t conform to the material ideal any longer and disappointment and despondency set in. Isn’t that a type of castle that eventually fails us?
What about body and drugs? Isn’t there frequent belief today that the body is a type of castle, a dwelling place that needs to be protected from invaders, called germs, viruses, and bacteria? To defend the castle, the body is filled with drugs (fighting soldiers). But people continue to get sick anyway, and with ever worsening diseases. This castle of human belief is not impregnable. The enemy keeps getting in.
Over time, and through substantial spiritual growth, it will be learned that the body is not our castle, and drugs are not our defenders. We are reflections of Soul, and our spirituality is absolute immunity against any potential invaders.
What castle do you live in?
After thinking through the above, I decided that the safest castle to dwell in is a consciousness of Truth and Love. The child of God’s creating is not a vulnerable mortal having to fend off invading material enemies. The child of God is a spiritual reflection of divine Light that is truly impregnable to any evil or threat because no darkness can enter the Light. The Light is a safe place to dwell! A castle of Light is a safe place to sleep at night and reside during the day.
Chillon Castle was built on a rock just out of the reach of land. A drawbridge connects the mainland to the front door. And waaaay down the sides of the castle there is water all the way around. A moat type of waterway is on one side, and Lake Geneva on the other. It’s very impressive—if you’re into castles.
While touring the monument I started to ponder why castles had outlived a meaningful purpose, other than to serve as tourist destinations. Kings, dukes, counts and their like, built them to protect their political, economic, and territorial claims. But over time, enemies discovered the weak spots of such structures, and they were not sufficient to protect kingdoms any longer. For instance, Chillon Castle could hold enough food and supplies for 40 days habitation by its dwellers. If under siege, what were the trapped to do after 40 days? So, rulers had to find more effective ways to protect their kingdoms.
Castles became obsolete, ineffective, and burdensome.I thought about other kinds of castles that people live in today, not of brick and mortar, but of beliefs and fears.
For example, believing a mighty portfolio of stocks and bonds protects from future misery and suffering, is a type of castle. It might feel like an impenetrable wall of defense against poverty and lack while the value and size increases, and other factors stay happy in life. But what if the enemy strikes in a different way, through the belief of a hopeless disease, for instance, and the money suddenly has no relevance. A health cure is needed which money cannot buy.
Or what about basing one’s happiness on the presence of family and friends, and putting them all around you. Then one day, they start to disappear for myriad reasons. Isn’t that a type of castle that eventually fails to deliver on its promise?
Or what about body appearance, believing the perfect body makes one successful, wins opportunities, gains social status, and brings happiness? Then, one day, the body doesn’t conform to the material ideal any longer and disappointment and despondency set in. Isn’t that a type of castle that eventually fails us?
What about body and drugs? Isn’t there frequent belief today that the body is a type of castle, a dwelling place that needs to be protected from invaders, called germs, viruses, and bacteria? To defend the castle, the body is filled with drugs (fighting soldiers). But people continue to get sick anyway, and with ever worsening diseases. This castle of human belief is not impregnable. The enemy keeps getting in.
Over time, and through substantial spiritual growth, it will be learned that the body is not our castle, and drugs are not our defenders. We are reflections of Soul, and our spirituality is absolute immunity against any potential invaders.
What castle do you live in?
After thinking through the above, I decided that the safest castle to dwell in is a consciousness of Truth and Love. The child of God’s creating is not a vulnerable mortal having to fend off invading material enemies. The child of God is a spiritual reflection of divine Light that is truly impregnable to any evil or threat because no darkness can enter the Light. The Light is a safe place to dwell! A castle of Light is a safe place to sleep at night and reside during the day.
Chillon Castle from Lake Geneva
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The sound of music
While driving a scenic route through part of the Alps today, we stopped at a viewpoint to take in the majesty of the mountains around us. While our eyes feasted on snowcapped Mount Blanc in the distance, our ears were greeted with the most unexpected sound.
Cowbells! Cows were everywhere in the hills.
If you are not aware, Swiss farmers put a bell on each cow, I assume, in order to find them easily when they roam around in the forest. The bells ding on the necks of the bovines while they nod their heads up and down grazing on lush green grass. From our vista point, we could hear dozens, if not hundreds, of bells chiming throughout the hills.
At first, we didn’t notice the tinkling we were so busy taking in the scenes. But finally someone said, “Listen. Hear the bells!?” We all quieted down and listened. Our jaws dropped. Our eyes lit up. Huge smiles swept across our faces.
The chiming of the random bells was gorgeous. Beautiful! It sounded like different musical bell choirs here and there alongside the hills. Like wind chimes gently sounding in a breeze.
A group of bells would be happily dinging to our right, countered by another group of cheery bells dinging on our left, and all around in between. The hills were alive with music! It was awesome. It was absolutely delightful.
Right where one had expected to find only the quiet of peaks and the stillness of pasture, a musical choir of bells were chiming away a melody of peace and contentment.
I thought of the many times in life when we get our thought so focused on a specific objective, that we miss out on good things happening all around us. We live in a universe of Mind that is filled with signs of wonder and awe. But we have to take time out to listen and hear.
Can you hear the bells of joy chiming from where you stand at this moment? Are you listening? Do you notice?
For the attuned ear, the music is inspiring.
The valley of bells in the early morning light
Cowbells! Cows were everywhere in the hills.
If you are not aware, Swiss farmers put a bell on each cow, I assume, in order to find them easily when they roam around in the forest. The bells ding on the necks of the bovines while they nod their heads up and down grazing on lush green grass. From our vista point, we could hear dozens, if not hundreds, of bells chiming throughout the hills.
At first, we didn’t notice the tinkling we were so busy taking in the scenes. But finally someone said, “Listen. Hear the bells!?” We all quieted down and listened. Our jaws dropped. Our eyes lit up. Huge smiles swept across our faces.
The chiming of the random bells was gorgeous. Beautiful! It sounded like different musical bell choirs here and there alongside the hills. Like wind chimes gently sounding in a breeze.
A group of bells would be happily dinging to our right, countered by another group of cheery bells dinging on our left, and all around in between. The hills were alive with music! It was awesome. It was absolutely delightful.
Right where one had expected to find only the quiet of peaks and the stillness of pasture, a musical choir of bells were chiming away a melody of peace and contentment.
I thought of the many times in life when we get our thought so focused on a specific objective, that we miss out on good things happening all around us. We live in a universe of Mind that is filled with signs of wonder and awe. But we have to take time out to listen and hear.
Can you hear the bells of joy chiming from where you stand at this moment? Are you listening? Do you notice?
For the attuned ear, the music is inspiring.
The valley of bells in the early morning lightSaturday, August 16, 2008
How to get there
Learning to live life in Spirit seems like the old joke about the person who asked the New York policeman how to get to Carnegie Hall -- "practice, practice, practice"........
Friday, August 15, 2008
Off to Switzerland
“Why Switzerland?” a number of our friends asked us when we told them we were travelling there this month. My wife told them, “I’ve always wanted to see the Alps.” And I told them, “My wife has always wanted to see the Alps!” Seriously, there are more reasons for the trip...
Kathy loves the outdoors, the trees, the mountains, and fresh smell of greenery in the air, and we were looking for a place in Europe to take our children and expose them to another part of the world before they headed off to college. I also had a few hundred thousand air miles ready to expire if I didn’t use them soon. So, after a year of planning, saving, and more planning, we packed up our two teenagers, and off to Zurich we flew on August 10.
Every parent has a different way of bonding with their children, I suppose. It all comes down to love and attention, and there is no substitute. But I have to say, a family trip together now and then, has always been a benefit for me in raising our son and daughter. With our busy daily lives, we are apart so much of the time. On a trip, we’re together 24 hours a day for several days in a row, and issues, thoughts, comments, observations, cares, and concerns surface in conversation and action that otherwise never make an appearance, or at least, not a well noticed one. I get to know my children better every time we travel together, and I believe they get to know me better too. The mutual experiences we share make for a closer, happier and healthier family. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a far away vacation to make this happen. A camping trip to the mountains works very well, or a day working on a major project in the yard, or building something together, and more have similar effects.
But regardless, on the 10th we were off to the airport at 5:15 a.m. ready for a big family adventure.
On the way to catch our first plane, we had our standard prayer-session that we always do when beginning a trip. We reminded ourselves that we travel in the omnipresence of Love, that God keeps us healthy and well every moment, that there is no danger wherever we go—only the safety and protection of divine Love in which we live and move and travel. We agreed to keep an understanding and cheerful attitude toward each other, to always look for the good, to not let any conflict or divisiveness stir between us, to support each other, look out for each other, and help each other have a wonderful time.
Our connections where very tight on the way over, but each flight arrived early, and the weather was excellent all the way. Our bags made it with us. Hooray! And we arrived at our designated hotel in great shape.
We’ve never stayed in a major metropolitan hotel before that had dairy cows grazing blissfully in a neighboring pasture. The dong-dong of the cow-bell on the head mistress of the handful of bovines was a delight to hear. And the lush greenery everywhere, combined with colorful flowers gracing yards, and balconies, walks and windowsills, were just the touch that promised the beginning of a wonderful adventure in the land of cheese and chocolate.
Our trip was off to a good start…
Bern, one of our first stops
Kathy loves the outdoors, the trees, the mountains, and fresh smell of greenery in the air, and we were looking for a place in Europe to take our children and expose them to another part of the world before they headed off to college. I also had a few hundred thousand air miles ready to expire if I didn’t use them soon. So, after a year of planning, saving, and more planning, we packed up our two teenagers, and off to Zurich we flew on August 10.
Every parent has a different way of bonding with their children, I suppose. It all comes down to love and attention, and there is no substitute. But I have to say, a family trip together now and then, has always been a benefit for me in raising our son and daughter. With our busy daily lives, we are apart so much of the time. On a trip, we’re together 24 hours a day for several days in a row, and issues, thoughts, comments, observations, cares, and concerns surface in conversation and action that otherwise never make an appearance, or at least, not a well noticed one. I get to know my children better every time we travel together, and I believe they get to know me better too. The mutual experiences we share make for a closer, happier and healthier family. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a far away vacation to make this happen. A camping trip to the mountains works very well, or a day working on a major project in the yard, or building something together, and more have similar effects.
But regardless, on the 10th we were off to the airport at 5:15 a.m. ready for a big family adventure.
On the way to catch our first plane, we had our standard prayer-session that we always do when beginning a trip. We reminded ourselves that we travel in the omnipresence of Love, that God keeps us healthy and well every moment, that there is no danger wherever we go—only the safety and protection of divine Love in which we live and move and travel. We agreed to keep an understanding and cheerful attitude toward each other, to always look for the good, to not let any conflict or divisiveness stir between us, to support each other, look out for each other, and help each other have a wonderful time.
Our connections where very tight on the way over, but each flight arrived early, and the weather was excellent all the way. Our bags made it with us. Hooray! And we arrived at our designated hotel in great shape.
We’ve never stayed in a major metropolitan hotel before that had dairy cows grazing blissfully in a neighboring pasture. The dong-dong of the cow-bell on the head mistress of the handful of bovines was a delight to hear. And the lush greenery everywhere, combined with colorful flowers gracing yards, and balconies, walks and windowsills, were just the touch that promised the beginning of a wonderful adventure in the land of cheese and chocolate.
Our trip was off to a good start…
Bern, one of our first stopsThursday, August 14, 2008
The second coming
Last May, I spoke about Christian Science to a Seventh Day Adventist college class of around 25 students. I’ve spoken to this comparative religion class several times in the past, and it has always been a very good experience.
This time, though, I said something unusual.
Part way through the discussion, one of the young women asked, “What about the second coming?” Without hesitation, I blurted out, “Oh, the second coming has already happened!”
Well, if you know anything about Adventist theology, students spend a large amount of time studying the Book of Revelation, thoroughly researching the second coming, and thinking about what it will look like on earth when Christ returns, according to their interpretation of the Bible.
My announcement rather stunned the class and it stunned me too, to be honest. They were educated to see the second coming as a very physical and literal event on earth, and to happen sometime in the future. I feared my decree had suddenly dumped me into a boiling pot of soup, and I was going to be meat for lunch!
The young gal politely responded, “What do you mean?” Jumping on my opportunity to explain, I replied that the second coming happens within the lives of each sincere follower of Christ as the teachings of Jesus are accepted, understood and lived out in daily life. The class seemed satisfied with this elaboration, but nonetheless, the pronouncement, “The second coming has already happened,” was emblazoned on the blackboard of those students’ minds.
When I had a chance to think deeper about this discourse after the class, I was quite happy with how the discussion turned out. It had not been my choice, but it was a brave step to make that declaration, and I did not suffer from my public testimony. Surely, some students’ interest was piqued enough to get them thinking deeper about what the second coming really is.
According to my understanding, the second coming is not a human descending out of the sky, but the revelation of divine Science dawning upon human consciousness and redeeming the human mind from all sin, disease, and death beliefs.
I believe that the second coming has already happened with the discovery of Christian Science, and it’s continuing to happen as people understand God better and live out spiritual truth in meaningful, practical ways everyday. I’m grateful to be a part of it.
This time, though, I said something unusual.
Part way through the discussion, one of the young women asked, “What about the second coming?” Without hesitation, I blurted out, “Oh, the second coming has already happened!”
Well, if you know anything about Adventist theology, students spend a large amount of time studying the Book of Revelation, thoroughly researching the second coming, and thinking about what it will look like on earth when Christ returns, according to their interpretation of the Bible.
My announcement rather stunned the class and it stunned me too, to be honest. They were educated to see the second coming as a very physical and literal event on earth, and to happen sometime in the future. I feared my decree had suddenly dumped me into a boiling pot of soup, and I was going to be meat for lunch!
The young gal politely responded, “What do you mean?” Jumping on my opportunity to explain, I replied that the second coming happens within the lives of each sincere follower of Christ as the teachings of Jesus are accepted, understood and lived out in daily life. The class seemed satisfied with this elaboration, but nonetheless, the pronouncement, “The second coming has already happened,” was emblazoned on the blackboard of those students’ minds.
When I had a chance to think deeper about this discourse after the class, I was quite happy with how the discussion turned out. It had not been my choice, but it was a brave step to make that declaration, and I did not suffer from my public testimony. Surely, some students’ interest was piqued enough to get them thinking deeper about what the second coming really is.
According to my understanding, the second coming is not a human descending out of the sky, but the revelation of divine Science dawning upon human consciousness and redeeming the human mind from all sin, disease, and death beliefs.
I believe that the second coming has already happened with the discovery of Christian Science, and it’s continuing to happen as people understand God better and live out spiritual truth in meaningful, practical ways everyday. I’m grateful to be a part of it.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Can you think for yourself?
One lesson learned in the practice of Christian Science is that you have to often ignore what the physical senses tell you in order to reason correctly. If the senses say the body is sick, to heal the body, you cannot keep agreeing with the senses, or the body stays ill. The belief has to be corrected with spiritual truth. And to do that, one has to stop taking in the sense testimony and start reasoning correctly, from a spiritual point of view.
How successful are you at denying the evidence of the senses in order to reason correctly?
Here's a fun test of reason over sense-testimony that a reader sent to me recently.
Give it a try and see how you do.
COLOR WORD TEST
The exercise came as follows...
How successful are you at denying the evidence of the senses in order to reason correctly?
Here's a fun test of reason over sense-testimony that a reader sent to me recently.
Give it a try and see how you do.
COLOR WORD TEST
The exercise came as follows...
Can you follow directions?
Bet you can't get 100 on the first try.
This is pretty neat! See how you do with the colors. Have fun!
It takes an average of 5 tries to get to 100%. Follow the directions. It's harder than it seems, as it should be!
Friday, August 8, 2008
My piano teacher
Last Saturday, I received news that my piano teacher of younger years, Cherry Courteau, had passed on. I was asked to play at her memorial service, which I agreed to do. The service was held yesterday.
The news of her passing was sobering, for Mrs. Courteau, who lived for 90 years, occupies a very special place in my heart. Not only did she teach me how to practice, and to love to practice, she provided an opportunity in my life to prove that the seemingly undoable is doable.
During the service, a mother of one of Mrs. Courteau’s other students who took lessons when I did, stood up and told the congregation what had transpired between Mrs. Courteau and me when I was a sophomore in high school.
At that time, I decided that I wanted to compete in the Young Artists competition, which is the major competition for musicians in our region. The winner of each division gets to play with the regional symphony orchestra before a very large audience at one of their regular concerts. It’s a high honor for local musicians to win.
When I told Mrs. Courteau that I wanted to enter, she flat refused to cooperate. She told me bluntly that she would not coach me for the competition, and that if I wanted to enter I’d have to find another teacher.
She didn’t turn me down because she didn’t like me. Quite the opposite. She refused to cooperate because she didn’t feel qualified to coach a student to qualify for competition. She felt insecure and was afraid of failure, which was quite the opposite of her outward demeanor toward life, but nonetheless, it was an internal demon she wrestled with. I sensed this at the time, and with my can-do Christian Science attitude, I looked her in the eye and said, “You are my teacher, and you are the one to teach me this music to enter this competition.”
For a shy young teenager, this was a very brazen statement to make to a venerable, experienced and wise to the world elder. But it’s what I said, and I meant it.
She was taken aback, became a bit tongue-tied, and reluctantly consented. I learned yesterday, that I was not the first student she had turned down, but I was the first student she agreed to help.
The mother testifying at the service said that when her daughter found out, she wanted to enter too. So, Mrs. Courteau really had her hands full now!
I entered the senior division, and the young lady entered the junior division. As it turned out, we accompanied each other’s concertos.
Together, the three of us bonded, supported each other, laughed together, cried together, struggled together and advanced together as we worked on our pieces for hundreds of hours over the next year. It felt like climbing Mt. Everest with no climbing experience. We had to learn everything about competing from the start.
The mother went onto explain to the audience yesterday that we made it to the final competition, and “Wowed,” the audience. She claimed that a judge afterward told her, “They were unbeatable.” We both won our respective divisions, which seemed incredible and impossible at the time. I had never thought of actually winning, only performing.
I’ll never forget the moment the winners were announced. I was sitting next to Mrs. Courteau, and when our names came over the loudspeaker, she had this look of “Unbelievable,” all over her face. She lit up like a high-powered spotlight. Her arms went up into the air, and she could hardly contain her always polite and lady-like self. I bumped her on the shoulder with a gesture of, “See, I knew we could do it!” And the three of us hugged and laughed and laughed and laughed. It was an amazing unforgettable moment.
When I performed for the judges, after untold hundreds of hours of practice on that single piece of music, I lost most all sense of matter. I knew the music so well that I did not think about the mechanics of playing the piece any longer. My fingers flowed effortlessly and without error. I was not aware of the audience or the judges. I got lost in the melody. I was in the “flow,” as some athletes would say. It was a spiritual 15 minutes, even more special than when I performed the piece with the orchestra in front of over a thousand people. And it was all because of what Mrs. Courteau had taught me about the value of practice, and the commitment, dedication, and persistence required to win whatever race we decide to run. We came out of this “race” winners together, and it was a highlight of my teen years.
Mrs. Courteau will always have a very special place in my heart.
The news of her passing was sobering, for Mrs. Courteau, who lived for 90 years, occupies a very special place in my heart. Not only did she teach me how to practice, and to love to practice, she provided an opportunity in my life to prove that the seemingly undoable is doable.
During the service, a mother of one of Mrs. Courteau’s other students who took lessons when I did, stood up and told the congregation what had transpired between Mrs. Courteau and me when I was a sophomore in high school.
At that time, I decided that I wanted to compete in the Young Artists competition, which is the major competition for musicians in our region. The winner of each division gets to play with the regional symphony orchestra before a very large audience at one of their regular concerts. It’s a high honor for local musicians to win.
When I told Mrs. Courteau that I wanted to enter, she flat refused to cooperate. She told me bluntly that she would not coach me for the competition, and that if I wanted to enter I’d have to find another teacher.
She didn’t turn me down because she didn’t like me. Quite the opposite. She refused to cooperate because she didn’t feel qualified to coach a student to qualify for competition. She felt insecure and was afraid of failure, which was quite the opposite of her outward demeanor toward life, but nonetheless, it was an internal demon she wrestled with. I sensed this at the time, and with my can-do Christian Science attitude, I looked her in the eye and said, “You are my teacher, and you are the one to teach me this music to enter this competition.”
For a shy young teenager, this was a very brazen statement to make to a venerable, experienced and wise to the world elder. But it’s what I said, and I meant it.
She was taken aback, became a bit tongue-tied, and reluctantly consented. I learned yesterday, that I was not the first student she had turned down, but I was the first student she agreed to help.
The mother testifying at the service said that when her daughter found out, she wanted to enter too. So, Mrs. Courteau really had her hands full now!
I entered the senior division, and the young lady entered the junior division. As it turned out, we accompanied each other’s concertos.
Together, the three of us bonded, supported each other, laughed together, cried together, struggled together and advanced together as we worked on our pieces for hundreds of hours over the next year. It felt like climbing Mt. Everest with no climbing experience. We had to learn everything about competing from the start.
The mother went onto explain to the audience yesterday that we made it to the final competition, and “Wowed,” the audience. She claimed that a judge afterward told her, “They were unbeatable.” We both won our respective divisions, which seemed incredible and impossible at the time. I had never thought of actually winning, only performing.
I’ll never forget the moment the winners were announced. I was sitting next to Mrs. Courteau, and when our names came over the loudspeaker, she had this look of “Unbelievable,” all over her face. She lit up like a high-powered spotlight. Her arms went up into the air, and she could hardly contain her always polite and lady-like self. I bumped her on the shoulder with a gesture of, “See, I knew we could do it!” And the three of us hugged and laughed and laughed and laughed. It was an amazing unforgettable moment.
When I performed for the judges, after untold hundreds of hours of practice on that single piece of music, I lost most all sense of matter. I knew the music so well that I did not think about the mechanics of playing the piece any longer. My fingers flowed effortlessly and without error. I was not aware of the audience or the judges. I got lost in the melody. I was in the “flow,” as some athletes would say. It was a spiritual 15 minutes, even more special than when I performed the piece with the orchestra in front of over a thousand people. And it was all because of what Mrs. Courteau had taught me about the value of practice, and the commitment, dedication, and persistence required to win whatever race we decide to run. We came out of this “race” winners together, and it was a highlight of my teen years.
Mrs. Courteau will always have a very special place in my heart.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The power of silence
In this rush-rush contemporary world, it can be hard to find silence. And with busy-busy schedules it can be even more difficult to find moments of quiet peace.
Yet, moments of peace are critical to spiritual listening and growth.
They not only allow us to find sweet solace and comfort, they possess a power of themselves that brings depth and richness to our life and to those around us that feel the touch of the calm we find within.
Yet, moments of peace are critical to spiritual listening and growth.
They not only allow us to find sweet solace and comfort, they possess a power of themselves that brings depth and richness to our life and to those around us that feel the touch of the calm we find within.
See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence;
See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...
We need silence to be able to touch souls.~ Mother Teresa
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
What are you wearing today?
Every so often, a major metaphysical concept lands in my thought that holds my attention for weeks. Here’s one of the latest…
Paul wrote in II Corinthians:
In this quote, Paul likens what we call mortal existence to dwelling in a tent. He wrote, “Our bodies are like tents…” Meaning, the mortal body is like a tent.
A dweller in a tent is not the tent, nor a part of the tent. His identity and individuality exist apart from the tent. He can walk out of the tent at will.
Mortal belief argues that we “are the tent,” that we are a mortal body, stuck in the flesh and governed by physical law.
Jesus Christ proved that life and identity are not “stuck in the tent,”—are not in the mortal body—when he survived the crucifixion. The Pharisees tried to kill Jesus by attacking the mortal body,--“the tent.” But they failed because Jesus did not live in the tent of mortal belief. Jesus lived in the Spirit of God, and thus was out of the reach of his enemies.
We have his example to follow. We do not have to live “in the tent” either. We can correctly identify ourselves as image of God, without flesh, and remain out of the reach of mortal enemies.
Christian Science explains what Jesus understood. We are not mortal bodies. We do not live “in the tent.” We live in the Spirit of God, and depend upon Spirit to sustain us, maintain us and give us health, strength and life, right here on earth.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science wrote,
The “tent,” or physique, does not sustain us. The “tent” is not our home, our dwelling place, or our source of health and life. God makes us who we are, and spiritually so, not a material form.
So, when I get up in the morning and prepare to dress, I ask myself, “What am I going to wear today? Am I going to dress in the tent of mortal belief—of flesh and bones—and carry the extra weight and false identity around? Or am I going to dress in the garments of Spirit that radiate love, joy and peace, and be a free child of God?”
What’s your choice?
Paul wrote in II Corinthians:
Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked. These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. II Cor 5:1-4, CEV
In this quote, Paul likens what we call mortal existence to dwelling in a tent. He wrote, “Our bodies are like tents…” Meaning, the mortal body is like a tent.
A dweller in a tent is not the tent, nor a part of the tent. His identity and individuality exist apart from the tent. He can walk out of the tent at will.
Mortal belief argues that we “are the tent,” that we are a mortal body, stuck in the flesh and governed by physical law.
Jesus Christ proved that life and identity are not “stuck in the tent,”—are not in the mortal body—when he survived the crucifixion. The Pharisees tried to kill Jesus by attacking the mortal body,--“the tent.” But they failed because Jesus did not live in the tent of mortal belief. Jesus lived in the Spirit of God, and thus was out of the reach of his enemies.
We have his example to follow. We do not have to live “in the tent” either. We can correctly identify ourselves as image of God, without flesh, and remain out of the reach of mortal enemies.
Christian Science explains what Jesus understood. We are not mortal bodies. We do not live “in the tent.” We live in the Spirit of God, and depend upon Spirit to sustain us, maintain us and give us health, strength and life, right here on earth.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science wrote,
Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements. The Scriptures inform us that man is made in the image and likeness of God. Matter is not that likeness. The likeness of Spirit cannot be so unlike Spirit. Man is spiritual and perfect; and because he is spiritual and perfect, he must be so understood in Christian Science. Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique.
The “tent,” or physique, does not sustain us. The “tent” is not our home, our dwelling place, or our source of health and life. God makes us who we are, and spiritually so, not a material form.
So, when I get up in the morning and prepare to dress, I ask myself, “What am I going to wear today? Am I going to dress in the tent of mortal belief—of flesh and bones—and carry the extra weight and false identity around? Or am I going to dress in the garments of Spirit that radiate love, joy and peace, and be a free child of God?”
What’s your choice?
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The universe is huge
Can the human mind fathom how big the universe is?
In an article titled, “Is there alien life?” published in the Washington Post National weekly, July 28, Edward Weiler, an astrobiologist, is quoted as saying, “We now know the number of stars in the universe is something like 1 followed by 23 zeros. Given that number, how arrogant to think ours is the only sun with a planet that supports life, and that it’s in the only solar system with intelligent life.”
Aside from his argument that it’s only a matter of time before intelligent life is discovered elsewhere than on earth, that number “1 followed by 23 zeros,” grabbed my attention.
How big is that number?
100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Can you count that high? Hmmm…may take a while…
In Christian Science, we talk about infinite Mind, unending ideas, untold riches, and other ways of describing bounty without limit, but do we really fathom the immense scope, breadth and width of what we speak?
The material so-called universe is but a miniscule glimpse of the divine universe that exists.
Divine Mind is infinite. No end, no boundaries, no ceilings, no stoppage, no lack….We live in this universe right now.
Similar to believing one lives on earth, and there is no intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, sometimes we believe we live in our own little orbit of existence, stuck with our own problems, and no help coming from elsewhere. But this isn't true. We live in a universe of Life that is brimming with helpful ideas and healing solutions coming at us from all directions. We need only listen and welcome them in.
Next time you hear the suggestion, “I don’t have enough. I lack. I can’t do it. I’m at the end of my rope. There is no solution. It’s hopeless…” remember how big divine Love’s universe is that you live in.
For every star, there’s a healing idea. And it is shining it's light on the path before you.
Over time, scientists will likely discover even more stars than “1 followed by 23 zeros,” because they have only begun to discover the huge cosmos that exists in the realm of Mind we live in.
You and I have barely begun to discover the rich bounty of ideas divine Mind offers to enrich and strengthen our lives. There is no end to the good we have to experience. It's ongoing and forever...
Enjoy the stars!
In an article titled, “Is there alien life?” published in the Washington Post National weekly, July 28, Edward Weiler, an astrobiologist, is quoted as saying, “We now know the number of stars in the universe is something like 1 followed by 23 zeros. Given that number, how arrogant to think ours is the only sun with a planet that supports life, and that it’s in the only solar system with intelligent life.”
Aside from his argument that it’s only a matter of time before intelligent life is discovered elsewhere than on earth, that number “1 followed by 23 zeros,” grabbed my attention.
How big is that number?
100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Can you count that high? Hmmm…may take a while…
In Christian Science, we talk about infinite Mind, unending ideas, untold riches, and other ways of describing bounty without limit, but do we really fathom the immense scope, breadth and width of what we speak?
The material so-called universe is but a miniscule glimpse of the divine universe that exists.
Divine Mind is infinite. No end, no boundaries, no ceilings, no stoppage, no lack….We live in this universe right now.
Similar to believing one lives on earth, and there is no intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, sometimes we believe we live in our own little orbit of existence, stuck with our own problems, and no help coming from elsewhere. But this isn't true. We live in a universe of Life that is brimming with helpful ideas and healing solutions coming at us from all directions. We need only listen and welcome them in.
Next time you hear the suggestion, “I don’t have enough. I lack. I can’t do it. I’m at the end of my rope. There is no solution. It’s hopeless…” remember how big divine Love’s universe is that you live in.
For every star, there’s a healing idea. And it is shining it's light on the path before you.
Over time, scientists will likely discover even more stars than “1 followed by 23 zeros,” because they have only begun to discover the huge cosmos that exists in the realm of Mind we live in.
You and I have barely begun to discover the rich bounty of ideas divine Mind offers to enrich and strengthen our lives. There is no end to the good we have to experience. It's ongoing and forever...
Enjoy the stars!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Are you paying attention?
"If you aren't happy in the here and now--You aren't paying attention."
~Unknown
