Light a candle/Encienda una vela

Spiritual resource to share: your gratitude, your light
Recurso para compartir: su gratitud, su luz

Light a candle and share what you are most grateful for with millions of others around the world. Click here to share!

In this season of gratitude, I just wanted to say how grateful I am that we can all connect and align our thoughts and hearts to greater and greater good. Thanks for stopping by.

Encienda una vela y comparte que es el más agradecido con millones de personas alrededor del mundo. ¡Haga clique aquí para compartir!

En esta estación de la gratitud, estoy feliz que podamos todos conectar y alinear nuestros pensamientos y corazones. Gracias por su visitas.










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.

An annotated look at The Daily Prayer

Spiritual resource to share: study

The "Daily Prayer" is actually a requirement made by MBEddy that all who join with The Mother Church pray this prayer each day. The prayer is short, to the point and covers the inner discipline of one's own thinking to the nourishing expanse of mankind's every feeling.

It reminds me of a sunrise.

This is it:

Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine Truth, Life and Love be established in me and rule out of me all sin.
And may Thy word enrich the affections of all mankind and govern them.

I had a good time with http://www.onelook.com/ (an online collection of dozens of dictionaries) to dive deeper into the meaning of the words, sometimes going to dictionaries as far back as 1913. Here is what I found:

Thy kingdom come
Thy kingdom (An extensive scientific division distinguished by leading or ruling characteristics: domain; The rank, quality, state, or attributes of a king; royal authority; sovereign power; rule; dominion; monarchy; environment, surroundings, all that is governed by God) is already here

Let the reign of divine Truth. Life and Love be established in me
Let the dominant authority (of Truth , Life and Love) be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance in me

And rule out of me all sin
Rule:

• keep in check (Example: "Rule one's temper")
• decide with authority
• decide on and make a declaration about
• exercise authority over; as of nations
• be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance (onelook.com)

Sin:
The seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth.

• Sin is a transgression against God; transgression of the law of God;
• disobedience of the divine command;
• any violation of God's will, either in purpose or conduct;
• moral deficiency in the character; iniquity; as, sins of omission and sins of commission.

And may Thy word
Word: The spoken sign of a conception or an idea

Enrich the affections
Make better, richer, wealthy and improved affections those things we act upon; to produce an effect or change upon. To influence or move, as the feelings or passions.

Of all mankind and govern them.
Govern:

• direct or strongly influence the behavior of
• exercise authority over; as of nations
• bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulation

In other words:

The dominant and divine authority of God is here, now.
Let this authority be enlarged and primary in my life and let it eradicate any suggestion of separation from God.
And may God's actualized presence permeate all that stirs mankind bring us into conformity with all that is good and true and eternal.

© Spurious - Fotolia.com

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.

de las pequeñas bellotas crecen los robles poderosos crecen

(For the English version, please see the post below)

Semillas. He estado pensando sobre las semillas aunque es el otoño en el hemisferio norteño.

Es más sobre las semillas y su potencial para el crecimiento.

¿La pregunta se presenta - cómo sabe una semilla crecer? La respuesta: Su mapa ya es inherente en su diseño. (Oh, ¡éste es una analogía metaphysical perfecta!)

¿Cómo sabemos crecer? Confíamos en nuestro diseño inherente. Esto nos da otro punto de vista de la importancia de conocer a Dios y de la idea primero presentó en la Biblia en Génesis que nos hacen en la imagen y la semejanza de Dios.

Porque conocemos a Dios, nos conocemos a nosotros mismos.

Haciendo esto, podemos confiar en que nos equipan con todo lo que necesitamos cuando lo necesitamos.

Aquí están algunas ideas del diseño usadan por Dios:

Jehovah me ha aparecido desde hace mucho tiempo, diciendo: "Con amor eterno te he amado; por tanto, te he prolongado mi misericordia. -Jer. 31: 3

Los hombres y las mujeres inmortales son modelos del sentido espiritual, trazados por la Mente perfecta y reflejan aquellos conceptos más elevados de belleza que transcienden todo sentido material. - Ciencia y Salud con Clave de las Escrituras por Mary Baker Eddy p. 247:23

...me entretejiste en el vientre de mi madre. Te doy gracias, porque has hecho maravillas. Maravillosas son tus obras, y mi alma lo sabe muy bien. - Salmos 139: 13, 14

from little acorns do mighty oaks grow

Spiritual resource to share: what we are drawn to be

Seeds. I've been thinking about seeds. And obviously not because it is planting season here in the northern hemisphere. Its more about seeds and their potential for growth.

The question arises - how does a seed know how to grow? An answer: Its map is already inherent in its design. (Oh, this is just so ripe with metaphysical analogy.)

How do we know how to grow? Trust our inherent design.

This gives another angle to the importance of knowing God. And of trusting the idea first presented in Genesis that we are made in the image and likeness of God.

By knowing God, we know ourselves. Doing this, we can trust that we are equipped with everything we need at the time we need it.

Here are some design ideas used by God:

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Immortal men and women are models of spiritual sense, drawn by perfect Mind and reflecting those higher conceptions of loveliness which transcend all material sense.

Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

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.

Just Trust

Spiritual resource to share: yielding to God

“Nothing I do has any impact.” Have you ever said that to yourself? The answer to that may be “You’re right!” Christ Jesus’ remark “I can of mine own self do nothing” has helped me overcome discouragement, disappointment and situational depression a number of times. The simple understanding that God (all-powerful and all-knowing) is the One who is governing shifts thought away from the small ego or self and moves it over to God.

Some years ago, I was increasingly getting tired and it was getting harder and harder to be inspired about the day and even get out of bed and go to work. Soon, I simply felt depressed and depleted. It was subtle at first, but I later realized that I had accepted that there was some opposing force to the work I was doing. Believing this to be possible had a demoralizing effect. MBEddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures “By conceding power to discord, a large majority of doctors depress mental energy…” I’m not a doctor nor was I going to a doctor at that time, but I could so relate to that sentence. It continues… “Knowledge that we can accomplish the good hoped for stimulates the system to act in the direction Mind points out.”

As I continued praying, I didn’t dive into reasons why I continually felt this way, or try to change those things or people I thought were opposing me. I dropped the focus on me and attempts to sleep or find other ways to flee from this gnawing negative feeling.

I focused instead on the nature of God as Truth and Love. Truth is the quality most associated with purity, steadfastness and stability. I thought about (and still do think of ) the nature of God as Love: it is inclusive, intimate and works unconsciously in the human heart.

Love and Truth are forces always operating, always transforming, and always expanding from a permanent basis. Much like light entering a darkened room.

I could trust the light of Truth and Love. I gained a better understanding of MBEddy’s statement that “(evil) is neither person, place or thing.” In the omnipotence of Love I saw that there were no lesser minds spewing out opinions that could ever obscure Truth. I realized I could not be targeted nor could I target any one thing or person.

It was my trust in Truth that helped me see that good works are possible. In another idea from Science and Health, MBEddy writes, “Truth overcomes both disease and sin and reassures depressed hope…It imparts a healthy stimulus to the body and regulates the system.” And in the organization I was working in, there soon grew a healthy stimulus to the organizational body. And I could go forward trusting Truth and Love to regulate the system.

So my answer to the feeling of futility and depressed thought? Just trust. Amazingly simple. Profoundly effective.

Picture by Sonja Maneri "Omnipresent" copyright 2004



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.

Looking at healing from a scientist's perspective

Spiritual resource to share: synergy

I love this group! When I get together with my Science and Health discussion group, I always find new insights into some of my most favorite and familiar passages. (We are reading Science and Health slowly - about 30 - 50 pages every 2 weeks. This allows for a deep dive into its ideas.)

Yesterday's meeting, we were discussing the first section of the chapter "Science, Theology and Medicine" and the first section dealt with the science of Christian Science. We have some good science background in this group: a PhD in biological sciences, a licensed engineer, and a former student at IIT (many years ago).

Here are some of our insights:

Mary Baker Eddy uses the pronoun "I" significantly more in this chapter than in other chapters. This makes the chapter more autobiographical. It also speaks of her experiences in testing and trying out various assumptions. The whole section outlines how she made the discovery, tested it and established underlying principles.

"Science," the engineer in the group explained, "is more about a process of discovery than the end in and of itself."

"And there needs to be tangible evidence of this Science. It can't only be theory." was another comment.

This aligns with MBEddy's own statement:

The term CHRISTIAN SCIENCE was introduced by the author to designate the scientific system of divine healing.
The revelation consists of two parts:
1. The discovery of this divine Science of Mind-healing, through a spiritual sense of the Scriptures and through the teachings of the Comforter, as promised by the Master.
2. The proof, by present demonstration, that the so-called miracles of Jesus did not specially belong to a dispensation now ended, but that they illustrated an ever-operative divine Principle. The operation of this Principle indicates the eternality of the scientific order and continuity of being.

Reading the first section of this chapter has given me another dimension on my practice of Christian Science. I re-read the chapter from the perspective of a scientist, from the perspective of how I have "discovered" Christian Science on my own.

We are always discovering more about the infinite nature of God. We are all proving - healing by healing - the very nature of our relationship to an all-loving, omnipotent Principle.

More to come.......







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.

eliminación del conflicto

Recurso espiritual a compartir: humildad con gratitud

¿Esta usted envuelto en una tormenta de opiniones en conflicto? Esto me ocurrió recientemente. Y no podía conseguir liberarme de esos argumentos mentales silenciosos que continuaban repitiendo una conversación reciente y cómo debería haberla manejado mejor.

Sin embargo, las discusiones pararon.

Y qué paró estas discusiones? Fue mi disposición de silenciar estos argumentos mentales y escuchar profundamente, cómo Dios podía estar percibiendo toda esta situación.

Escuchar significó poner a un lado mis opiniones, reconocer que no soy personalmente responsable de hacer que la gente escuche mi punto de vista sobre las cosas, y entender que Dios es el único poder que controla toda Su creación. Con humildad podía aceptar todo eso.

La humildad me salvó. Eso y la gratitud por lo que la otra persona hizo. No podría decir lo suficiente sobre cómo una perspectiva humilde me ha salvado de otros momentos difíciles, y me trajo más progreso y amor.

MBE habla de la humildad como una virtud que triunfa sobre la carne, y es el genio de la Ciencia Cristiana. Ella escribe que la humildad, junto con el conocimiento de sí mismo y el amor son fuerzas divinas. La humildad es un peldaño hacia un reconocimiento más alto de la Deidad. (véase "El Camino" de Escritos Misceláneos. p. 355).

Más tarde esa misma semana, se dió una oportunidad para compartir con este individuo una expresión sincera de la gratitud que sentía por el trabajo y el progreso logrados. Había una sensación de alivio. Quizás ambos nos sentíamos liberados de la idea de que necesitábamos mantener cierta postura. Sentí serenidad y cariño, y creció mi confianza en que nunca existe una situación tan fuera de control, en que el Amor divino no pueda volver nuestros pensamientos y vidas a su estado natural de armonía, progreso y amor.

To read the English version click here.

first snowfall

Spiritual resource to share: redemption



Last night it fell -- all over our yard, driveway, rooftops, everywhere. I woke up to see this perfect blanket of snow. "The first snowfall always makes me feel as if we are all redeemed," said a friend once, and I am reminded of it every first snowfall of the season.

I am reminded of God's love for each of us. "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." I am reminded that there is a tender loving kindness that is all powerful - God. God draws us to Him.

In the Lord's Prayer there is a section that says:

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;

Mary Baker Eddy gives its spiritual sense and writes:

And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death.

God has created us in Love. God would no more lead us into temptation as Love would lead us to death. God's love for us continually guides us. And we are all redeemed: forgiven, loved, cleansed -- white as snow.



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.

How to pray about anything!

Spiritual resource to share: creative solutions



This is such a wonderful resource! I'd like to introduce you to a series of WONDERFUL tips and thoughtful cards written out for you to take with you and read during the day. These are developed by one of my mentors and a fellow practitioner Beverly G!

Delightful!

In one section of Bev's website, there is a series of short articles that presents each of its topics with seven points of how to pray about each of them. They deal with tips on safeguarding thought, calm contented rest, affordable housing and safe travel and more.

In another section, there are printable cards that are downloadable to help you throughout the day. They have helpful healing ideas about relationships, hope, financial resources and more.

Enjoy!









photo by Gabe Korinek 7/07 ©


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.

Movie night!

Spiritual resource to share: meaningful movies

Did you ever wish there were a list of movies that were thought-provoking, engaging, that celebrate the human spirit, and made you laugh and cry? Movies that stretched you and kept you thinking about it afterwards? I think I found such a list!

My son's school is hosting a Respect and Diversity Film Festival this weekend with a great line-up of films. So, here's the list! I have seen most of these, but not all.


Would love to hear comments from you all -if you have seen these movies, what you liked about them and what movies you would add to this list.

Check these out (if you want more details on these movies, go to Yahoo Movies or Movie Review Query Engine and type in the name of the movie):

• One Giant Leap
• Babel
• Born into Brothels
• What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
• Milagro Beanfield Wars
• Real Women Have Curves
• Billy Eliot
• Mask
• Bend It Like Beckham
• White Men Can't Jump
• Children of a Lesser God
• School Ties
• Erin Brockavich
• Life Is Beautiful
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Smoke Signals
• The Dinner Game
• Motorycle Diaries
• Osama
• Remember the Titans
• Napolean Dynamite
• Children of Heaven
• Hotel Rwanda
• Good Will Hunting

plus some of my favs:

• Monsieur Ibrahim
• Casa de los Babys
• Water
• Lagaam
• L'Auberge Espagnole
• My Life as a Dog
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  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.