The trip was a success. The family drew even closer together, as usually happens on these excursions. There were moments of sharing and caring that don't show up in ordinary life back home. We get to know each other a little bit better, understand each other's hopes and dreams a little bit more, and spend extended periods of time together which has a natural way of unifying our relationship with each other and strengthening family ties.
Now, to catch up on my blogging...
While in Jasper, we stayed at the Patricia Lake Lodge. A very nice place, by the way, neatly located on the edge of Patricia Lake nestled under the mighty shadow of Mt. Pyramid.
At the end of the living room in our second story apartment type room, was a spacious window overlooking a tidy balcony and acres of trees at the base of Mt. Pyramid, a majestic mountain indeed.
I faced a comfortable lounge chair toward the window, put an ottoman in front of it, and turned that corner of the room into my practitioner office while there.
The first morning, I awoke to this view from my window...
And exclaimed, "Where did the mountain go?" Heavy fog and clouds had settled into the valley. I knew there was a handsome peak to be seen—somewhere!
I thought about foggy states of mind that obscure thought from seeing spiritual reality. Christian Science reiterates time and time again what Jesus Christ taught—that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand—God’s goodness is here and now! But some people have a hard time finding it, recognizing it, and acknowledging it. Why? Because of foggy, cloudy states of mortal mind that obscure the mental view from discerning the goodness of God that is always present. Some even argue there is no God.
Fear, doubt, self-righteousness, pride, ego, arrogant scholasticism, ignorance, disdain, hate, strong faith in physical evidence, materialism, and more, cloud judgment and hide divine reality from the human perspective. Jesus constantly worked to break through this mesmerized dull thought to help others see more of what was only a thought away. “Having eyes, see ye not!” he lamented (Mark 8:18).
What clears the fog away? The love of God at work, embracing humanity in the love of Christ that is ever-active in consciousness, inspiring more humility, faith in Spirit, and a love of things spiritual that naturally opens perspective to see God’s universe all around. And what a glorious picture it is when honestly discerned.
The fog did clear away that day, and this is what stood behind it all along.
What an inspiring view to behold while working from my "office" chair.
Don't let the fog of mortal mind obscure your view today!
4 comments:
That's very interesting, Evan, particularly since I've written about this fogginess myself, and a way of clearing it, just today!
I'm not sure you're aware of it, but 'scholasticism' refers to a particular method of learning/teaching back in medieval times. Perhaps you mean 'arrogant intellectualism? Also, I'm wondering if its possible to toss out a term like 'mortal mind' and go with something a bit more modern - like state of consciousness perhaps. After all, there's no such thing as a mortal mind, as MBE says (p.114) even though she sure uses the term a lot!
The photos were great, thank you.
Hi DrDee
After I blogged the scholasticism phrase, I briefly thought about the exact point you mention. Arrogant intellectualism certainly applies.
My concept of scholasticism was learnedness from schools, which typically is a good thing. But when the "learned" take an arrogant position of "I know all. You know nothing or very little," it is detrimental to open minded expansive spiritual thinking.
Thanks for sharing.
Good Morning, Evan! Thanks once again for sharing your insights, and the way some of them came to you. The fog covering the mountaintops: what a good analogy.
Good is ever-present. We just simply must learn to look through the misty-ness (misty-mess!) of limited thinking! (Dr. Dee, I agree that the term 'mortal mind' that Mrs. Eddy uses to describe the so-called mind of so-called mortals is sometimes confusing, but, let's face it, "...English is inadequate to the expression of spiritual conceptions and propositions, because one is obliged to use material terms in dealing with spiritual ideas." (Read Science and Health, pg. 349 for lots more on this subject!)
Aren't we grateful that Christian Science teaches that the human mind is learning that, in truth, we ALREADY know all that the one Mind, God, KNOWS!
:<))
Now that I know what you mean, I certainly agree. Thanks for clarifying Evan.
As to the comments about 'mortal mind' I don't find it confusing, just not relevant in the 21st century. I think its helpful to try and reinterpret some of these of these quaint phrases into more modern language. Paraphrasing is a good thing, it signals an understanding of the concept, and it makes the concepts more comprehensible particularly to 'outsiders'. Blessings :)
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