citizens of the world - revisited

Spiritual resource to share: our humanity

I read this book and loved it from the first page! M. L. Rossi, author of the smart and sassy book, What Every American Should Know about the Rest of the World writes “Just call me a cultural romantic. I love to explore other worlds. I love to live where the history is unfamiliar; the architecture thrills me; the language, the food, the rituals are altogether exotic. I love being immersed in the entirely foreign, being in a place where I have to learn about life there from scratch.” I could so relate!


Her book has pointed out simply and clearly what is needed to become a well-informed global citizen. She goes on to share two of the ways to do this:

1. To understand where you are in the world, you need a map
2. Life is a lot easier if you know the language.

Maps and vocabulary are going to be key ingredients to becoming a global citizen. But there may be more to it.


Prior to becoming very familiar with traveling to other countries, I did some coursework with intercultural communication at a university. It was interesting to know of different customs, cultural mores, the development of a people’s pride, etc. These were almost like mental exercises to test one’s level of credibility of other cultures and determined how static or flexible was one’s sense of values. I learned that the more unlimited the mindset, the more unlimited the life experience.


So maps, vocabulary, tolerance, credibility, flexibility and an open mindset are all part of being a global citizen. If we add to each of the qualities above a more spiritual view, I think we have it all. Here are some key spiritual qualities that I have exerised along my travels and stays:

Equality - To understand where you are in the world - you need to understand we all have an equal place in the world. It is knowing that there are other ways to think and to live. This means respect, humility and accepting that you will need to lean on a power higher than yourself to be able to truly love mankind.


Speaking love - Life is a lot easier if you know the language. To be able to speak another’s language is an act of humility and respect (especially if you can speak the language well!). However, it is even more important to actively love the individuals I
am coming into contact with for the first time whose ways and culture are quite different from mine. “When the heart speaks, however simple the words, its language is always heard from those who have hearts.” writes Mary Baker Eddy. Love is a universal language.


And “Love is the fulfilling of the law” as it says in the Bible. I have found when I nurture those qualities of humility, and love, and respect and wisdom, I am shown the appropriate ways of showing respect and care. I will be welcomed in to more people's experiences and experience a richness and depth to life that I have come to love.


Credibility – understanding that you can love, help, heal, receive gifts from others graciously gives you a humble authority to see and do good.


Tolerance – comes easily when you are open to learn, to not judge and to ask questions. There are other ways to see beauty, progress, success, fulfillment. There are an infinite number of ways to think and to be. Be firm in your understanding that we are all rooted in universal qualities such as Truth, intelligence. The expressions of these qualities are infinite, but we can be confident that these qualities are evident in every experience we encounter.


Discernment - The exciting thing I have found is that we DO have one Father and Mother - Everyone IS my brother and sister! Understanding cultures helps me to see what in my thought is original thought and what may be a result of my picking up influences around me. It also helps me protect my thought against prejudices and stereotyping.


Flexibility – always be ready to be surprised. Realize that you don’t know what you don’t know and be open to learning. In a world of infinite good and infinite possibilities, goodness blooms in many different ways. On the other hand, I enjoy other cultures, in that i enjoy seeing how diverse, how infinite is God's expression in His children. There are whole new ways of expressing marriage, family, education, commerce, leisure and more.


An open heart – let in the glory of Life. Life’s lessons are learned from everyone and everything. Seeing with an open heart puts infinity on the faces of strangers and places. It is also knowing that there is one heartbeat – a pulsating force of Love that flows through each of us. I have grown so much in the atmosphere of those who have grown up in cultures different than my own. The largest lesson is to learn to
love and listen.

I have come to see that each one of us is a country, a continent, a compound idea of infinite Spirit. Did you know that MBEddy defines both earth and man as a compound idea? My ability to have a little more compassion has grown, as I exercise my thought in contemplating others' perspectives. My relations with others have improved as I learn to listen more and be open to new ideas.


Two of my favorite citizens of the world are my mother and a former colleague. What they have in common was that they love people deeply and unconditionally. My mother has not yet traveled outside of her country, but every friend I have ever introduced to my parents, from Ethiopia, Iceland, Germany, Cameroon, Colombia, Brazil, Colorado, next door – it almost doesn’t matter where they are from – she just loves them. Likewise, a former colleague: She speaks nine languages and moves from one culture to the next with hardly a blip. They both know what it takes to be a global citizen. The best "global citizens" I know are those who love most unconditionally. They love beyond cultures and borders. It is to know that we are all God’s children and we are all welcomed and at home in the world.


Being a citizen of the world, we know each of us has a place and a purpose. Each nation has its own color and unique contribution to the world. With love, humility and respect, we can all find our way to bring more progress and peace to all mankind at the street level and on a global scale.











To share your thoughts on this or to explore this idea further, please feel free to be in contact with me, add your own comments below, email this article to a friend, or add to the healing finds and sites on the web to the right.

the language of the heart

Spiritual resource to share: sincerity

Learning a second language (mine is Spanish) has always been expansive for me in knowing that there are worlds of ways to perceive things that go beyond our native language.

For instance, did you know that in Japanese, there is a word for the essence of a rock? In German, "zwischenraum" is a word for the space between things, and in Spanish the phrase for "to give birth" is "dar a luz" - which literally means to give to the light.

It takes humility to learn another language. I have visited a number of Spanish -speaking countries to use my second language skills and have found that it also takes a willingness to make yourself a little vulnerable as well as I have had to adjust my academic Spanish to the everyday spoken Spanish of that country! But the trade off is that you are entering another world, another way to see things. And if there is love in your heart for that country and respect for its people, doors will open up for you. It's well worth it. In Miscellaneous Writings, Mary Baker Eddy sums it up nicely:

When the heart speaks, however simple the words, its language is always acceptable to those who have hearts.

I thought of this whenever I find myself in a situation where I am not familiar with the "language" be it a visit to another country where English is not spoken, a party of people I have not yet met or being part of a discussion on an unfamiliar topic. If I bring a heart - sincere to understand, connect and contribute - there is always a level of acceptance.





click on image to see more about the 20 language families in the world


To share your thoughts on this or to explore this idea further, please feel free to be in contact with me, add your own comments below, email this article to a friend, or add to the healing finds and sites on the web to the right.

Conversations with God ...and the California Eagle

I have been IMing Scott (aka California Eagle) off and on for a few months now. After one inspiring conversation, I asked him if I could put our discussion on my blog and he said GREAT! In a short period of time we covered a lot of ground: spiritual growth, the difficulty in religion and explaining evil; death and inspiring revelation that God loves us and wants only good for us!

Here is a way of kind of listening in!

californiaeagle23: I have to ask you something!....Have you read the book "Conversations with God" by Neil [Neale] Donald Walsh?

Kim: I am familiar with it and have read portions. There is a film coming out produced by Spiritual Cinema.

californiaeagle23: Yup I know. What is your take on it?

Kim: Overall, good. There has been a deluge of books coming out exploring spirituality at a more intimate and practical level. I think these books, like Conversations with God are meeting a deep hunger we all have -- to know who we are, what we are here for and what is the meaning for life. These books are all good.

californiaeagle23: Do you know most of the concepts in the Conversations with God book....like...there is no such thing as the Hell we think there is, and that there is no such thing as the devil, and the only thing God wants us here for is to co-create with him, and to remember who we are....and that God has granted us the same exact powers he has.... and that since we were created in the image and light of him, he would not want to have us burn in hell -- or what we think is "hell.” He says that "Hell" is not knowing who we truly are....: it is not the fiery wrath that everyone thinks it is

Kim: I have not read the book through. But the sentiment is one that is somewhat similarly discussed in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by MBEddy. Now THAT book I could talk about! Would you like me to share some ideas from that book?

californiaeagle23: yeah i would really like to hear your thought about it....because the logic described in that book [Conversations] truly makes sense to me: one of the things that I am having trouble grasping or really understanding is that....why would religion tell us that there is a hell......where we burn....when in reality....why would God want that for his children if we were created in the image and light of him, and truly are him....

Kim: good questions! It is like if God is love -- then why is He portrayed as unloving??

californiaeagle23: exactly! Its like....the book [Conversations] throws all religion out the window: and shows how institutionalized it is: and how it tries to teach something that is not real: and is totally against what God wants

Kim: In Christian Science God is seen as Love ( see 1 John 4:8) and as all powerful. If God is all powerful then nothing else but God as Love has power. Thus, evil has no power. If we give evil power, we are either saying that God is NOT omnipotent or we are saying that God is good AND evil, thus not all-loving.

californiaeagle23: well the book goes onto say that we make judgments of what is good and evil....and that it is really all relative: and there is really no such thing as good and bad. we just place those labels on people: based on our judgments: that are all relative: because what may be good to one person, is bad to another....or vise versa

Kim: I understand that good is the reality and evil is the unreality. Good has its own creative power, but evil needs someone to believe in it because it has no power of its own - thus it is relative. It is a hard thing in religion ( or theology ) to validate evil. There are many ways religions explain the source of evil, why bad things happen to good people, etc. But it is hard to explain simply because there is no logical basis for evil.


californiaeagle23: .......[The ideas in Conversations] make me look at life so differently....: Have you seen "The Secret?"It goes above and beyond all religion: and it troubles me a little bit....: but at the same time it brings me peace ; but its like, there are so many other people out there that need to read this....because my heart tells me that this is the truth... and that the institutionalization of religion.....is what is hurting people, and not showing them the truth...just carrying out its agenda, but do you see what i am saying kim....

Kim: I understand what you are saying. In understanding God as one - all powerful - and understanding ourselves as made in His image and likeness, we have a principle or law to work out the problems of being. Evil - is something to be corrected, erased and replaced with the Truth of Being. That Truth can be a real comfort to others and can relieve suffering....

californiaeagle23: its like the logic of each point.....throws religion out the window....i think that is what took me back so much about the book

Kim: there are many religions - when you say "throw religion out the window" do you mean the religion that you grew up with?

californiaeagle23: yes....throw the religion i grew up with....its like....I know there is a God...but my beliefs after reading this book [Conversations] have completely changed so you will always just "Want" to be happy: but if you say "I AM happy" then you will be getting somewhere in your growth.

Kim: wonderful! Stating I AM happy is stating a great scientific Truth. you are starting at the correct standpoint when you start with Truth!

californiaeagle23: exactly: and its like....when you say....I WANT....you are expressing lack.....and when there is lack in...there will always be lack out: and you will always just want....and the universe will be like that....

californiaeagle23: if you pray...."God please do this or do that or have this happen for me..." when you pray like that you are expressing lack...and will only get more lack

Kim: Yes, your prayer is acknowledging the presence of lack. Difficult starting point.

californiaeagle23: but if you say..."God thank you for helping me find success, and more abundance in life" that is what you will get over time...: time is the buffer between what is, and what is to come and by vibrationally aligning yourself with that in which what you want, and already feeling like you have it, you can create anything and everything you want in this life

Kim: I think it is not time but awakening. When we awake to see what we already have. See the story of Hagar in the Old Testament where a woman is banished to the desert with her son and feels that all is hopeless -- until she hears an angel message to open her eyes -- which she does and she sees a well in front of her. The water from the well sustains her and her son and they live. It wasn’t that her prayer made the well appear, but her prayer made her open her eyes to see what was already there.

californiaeagle23: yes, I read it: and being in the attitude of gratitude....attracts more of what you want

Kim: Yes! Let's take this higher

californiaeagle23: yes: real quick.

Kim: Prayer is not simply a form of positive thinking or an Aladdin's lamp!! It is not for the blessings of acquiring things, but for the blessing of knowing we are governed by divine Mind who is the source of abundance, blessings, and goodness.

californiaeagle23: exactly: that is what prayer is

californiaeagle23: on "The Secret" there was this woman diagnosed with breast cancer and in 3 months she healed herself just by saying daily "Thank you for my healing" with no chemo or no radiation

Kim: gratitude is a powerful healing agent bringing purity, protection, openness, willingness, humility and acknowledgment of God into thought and thought determines the outward and actual.

Kim: In many of the books coming out - it may seem that we are the creators of our wealth - that positive thinking is what is needed to get us what we want.

californiaeagle23: yes....but there is a missing link to that knowledge...: you need to feel like you already have it....and send out those feelings to the universe to answer; its the feeling that causes the attraction, not just merely positive thinking

Kim: But the highest form of prayer is more than just going after a feeling. It is an acknowledgement of God as omnipotent good and we are here to reflect that goodness in millions of different ways. It is more than the feeling that causes the attraction. It is waking up to what already is. Prayer is not about human accomplishment but about divine acknowledgment that God already has met and already will meet every human need.

californiaeagle23: yes: i don't know...this is just amazing: you should pick up the Conversations with God book and read it just to see what I am talking about....because my words don't do it justice

Kim: I know that it has helped many people and inspired them with their lives, so you are not alone! it is amazing the study of what is infinite and good and true brings infinite blessings! I have read parts of it and enjoyed it.

What I have found in my journey is that many of these books - by Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsh, people who write about the spirituality of everything, etc.... have some of the ideas that I have been studying and practicing throughout my life. For me, they speak in very accessible language many infinite truths. I keep going back, however, to Science and Health. This is the most pithy book on the subject of healing through prayer., my relationship to God and the universe. I am amazed how constantly challenged I am by it and how much I grow from it. I have been healed by reading this book. (check out my website www.kimckorinek.com under Healing Resources)

Kim: so I find where I applaud books that come out delving deeper and deeper into practical spirituality and the understanding of a universal God governing all, I get most out of Science and Health and keep coming back to it.

californiaeagle23: hmmm interesting. yeah its like after reading this book, and watching the secret.....i can achieve anything i want in this life

Kim: I am delighted to hear how your spiritual journey is evolving.

californiaeagle23: because if feel like i have the highest spiritual truths of the universe

Kim: We receive according to our asking, but if we pray with the wrong motive, we don't get it. That's a Jesus statement.

californiaeagle23:agreed: for me i feel in complete line with what i want, why i want it, and what I plan on doing....: its like for me.....the money is secondary.That didn't happen until my father died: for me its about the relationships with people: helping people realize their full potential: helping people get to where they want to go: and having me help them get there: and touching the world one card at a time, helping people with their health, and helping high school student athletes get into college to play their sports

Kim: MBEddy writes "Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind and happiness would be more secure in our keeping if sought in Soul. " Sounds like you are looking in the right direction!

californiaeagle23: I truly want from my efforts to be a full time MLMer [Multi Level Marketer....aka Network Marketer], and to be able to have the freedom to run my business dealing with the high school athletes

Kim: It sounds like you are tapping into this happiness already.

californiaeagle23: and with what I know now.....i know that is possible: its like i am infinitely happy: i am higher than high .... its like....life is not about me: that is my attitude: and the attitude that i have is....I have nothing to lose: and another thing i live by is....If you want to make God laugh show him your plans : and another....Life is a journey back to God

Kim: I love that! Life is a journey back to God.

californiaeagle23: its like....i don't have the attachment to material things like i did before my father died...because i have the inner happiness inside of me, and the attitude that everything that is material really is meaningless in the end: but that doesn't mean i would still like to have the nice house, and nice cars, and nice lifestyle

Kim: And you realize you have the substance of Life - forever

californiaeagle23: exactly: this life is not the only one i have: it goes on into the spirit world : where i will be reunited with my father again

Kim: Thought does determines experience. It is interesting to think about what death does not do. As children of God we reflect eternal life. We are ideas of God. Eternal. Your father's life is eternal as well. What death does not do is separate us. How can death separate two eternal ideas joined by the one Father-Mother God?

californiaeagle23: i know.....i have already experienced so much of my father since he has passed...i have to tell you something....

californiaeagle23: I went to a spiritual medium.....: and my father came through so strong with his personality his wit and it was just so peaceful to know....and experience what I did in that session: and it made me realize that we don't know the time of our death, and also that the most important thing in this life are not things, but rather the relationships with have with people....because in the end, those are the only things that we take with us on into the spiritual world

Kim: I have been told it is not difficult for someone to pick up the strong impressions another has made on your own thought. It is even more wonderful you don't need another person to feel God's presence -- the same presence your father can feel now! You are connected by God. And we live in a spiritual world now. Jesus Christ said many times - the kingdom of heaven is within you.

californiaeagle23: yup: its just in a different dimension

Kim: The more awake we are to the spiritual things of God, the more we see that all things are possible to God

californiaeagle23: yup

Kim: This has been a great conversation!

Californiaeagle23: I know: I love intellectual conversations like this

Kim: How would you feel if I editted this for typos and put this conversation on my blog? Please feel free to decline if you want. But you bring up some wonderul universal questions and comments!

californiaeagle23: I would love that! Have people feel free to contact me: here is my e-mail address....: CaliforniaEagle@cox.net and I am a junior at Boston College.

Kim: WELL - if you are looking for college kids to hang with who are talking about these ideas all the time, check out the Christian Science Reading Room on Massachusetts Ave near the corner of Huntington and Mass Ave -- Back Bay area. Check the Reading Room out. I have a good feeling that you will find some peers thinking a lot like you!

californiaeagle23: kim i really appreciate it

Kim: ok - I need to get going - i have an appointment. But stay in touch - check out my blog tomorrow, you will be on it!

Resources talked about in our conversation:
The Secret
Conversations with God (which is now a whole institution)
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
The spirituality of everything - Publisher's Weekly
The story of Hagar in the Old Testament


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Happiness in everyone's language

Happiness! What a goal, what a word! It is described as something "spiritual, born of Truth and Love," a state of inner awareness that enables a person to maintain an inner calmness, and as related to joy.

The Beatitudes represent one of the cornerstones of Jesus Christ's teachings and maps out the path to happiness and well-being.

Here is The Message's rendering of these sacred teachings. Although this translation is considered controversial among Christian scholars, some feel the it provides a fresh look at sacred texts:

"You're blessed when you‘re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."

"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,' you find yourselves cared for."

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you deeper into God's kingdom."

Here are some other teachings re: contentment and happiness taken from the book Oneness:

God provideth everyone with his daily food; why O man, art thou afraid? - Sikhism

Contentment is the greatest wealth. - Buddhism

A tranquil mind gives life. - Judaism

Contentment is the root of happiness, and discontent the root of misery. -Hinduism

True wealth is no in vast riches, but in self-contentment. - Hadith sayings of Islam

Every little yielding to anxiety is a step away from the natural heart of man. -Shintoism

Have the happiest of days!

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la lengua del corazón

Recurso para compartir: sinceridad



Me gusta mucho todo que es inclusivo cuando aprendía una segunda lengua (mi segunda lengua es español). Ha sido siempre expansiva para mí en saber que hay mundos de maneras de percibir las cosas que van más allá de nuestra lengua materna.

¿Por ejemplo, usted sabía eso en japonés, hay una palabra para la esencia de una roca? Y en alemán, el "zwischenraum" es una palabra que explica el espacio entre las cosas..

Necesita humildad para aprender otra lengua. ¡He visitado muchos países hispanohablantes para utilizar mis habilidades de lengua y para haber encontrado que también necesita una buena voluntad de hacerse un poco vulnerable tan bien! he tenido que ajustar mi español académico al español hablado diario de ese país.

Pero la compensación es que usted está entrando en otro mundo, otra manera de considerar cosas. Y si hay amor en su corazón para ese país y el respecto por su gente, las puertas se abrirán para usted. Vale el esfuerzo.

En Las Escrituras Misceláneas, Mary Baker Eddy escriba:

Cuando el corazón habla, no obstante es simple las palabras, su lengua son siempre aceptables a las que tengan corazones.

Pensé en esto siempre que encontrarme a mí mismo en una situación donde no estoy familiar con la "lengua" sea una visita a otro país en donde el inglés no se habla, una fiesta de la gente yo no conozco todavía o siendo parte de una discusión sobre un tema desconocedor. Si traigo un corazón - sincero entender, conectar y contribuir - hay siempre un nivel de la aceptación.



For the English version, click here and scroll down to "The language of the heart"