Ten years later — a time to forgive

It’s the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. It’s a time to pause and honor those who lost their lives in what may be the worst attack on American soil, ever.  

The last ten years may have altered the course of history in ways that will take decades to describe. Yet, I feel it is time time to do all we can to move forward. So, for me, I want to focus on how to forgive.

For me, moving forward begins with forgiveness. The anger, sadness, and confusion which surrounds the September 11th attacks may never be entirely understood, but I know attempting to understand the insanityPublic Domain / World Trade Center prior to 2001 which caused the attacks will never heal anything.

Honestly, I feel the only I can describe 9/11 is with the word insanity. So for me, to move forward I need to start with the opposite—divine intelligence. Christian Science has taught me that the origin and keeper of all true intelligence and wisdom is God, divine Principle.

So how do I begin? Through Christian Science, I’ve learned that I must always begin with my thought, my views—I must start locally. I also must begin by handling and casting out the fear, anger, prejudices, worry, and doubts in my own thought through God’s pure love which removes these impediments. Once the fear is handled and removed, I can begin to look outward—move globally—in thought.

The basis of this healing power and law, divine Love, was best expressed by Christ Jesus who showed mankind, through the crucifixion and his resurrection, that life is eternal. He also showed mankind that forgiveness is the key to moving forward. At the very height of being crucified, Jesus forgave them who were blinded by a jealous and insane will for human power. This may have been a key point to why he was able to be resurrected. Rather than hanging on to sadness, anger, and confusion, Jesus turned whole-heartedly to divine Love and its uplifting and purifying power.

Jesus knew that no matter what, God, divine Love, was not the cause of hate, error, or evil. He knew that God does not punish man for being, or doing good. Rather, Jesus knew that God was a loving Father, the Protector (see Psalm 91) who is infinite good. And Jesus reflected that grace and compassion even at the darkest point of his excellent career.  

For me, divine Love, and reflecting compassion is where I want to begin. With intelligence I know God is not the cause or author of such ugly circumstances. With compassion I can see that all people are my brothers and sisters. Rather than looking back with disgust, I prefer to look forward with hope and understanding. I know that God, divine Love, will lead us all out of the darkness of hate and fear. On this basis I feel I can help the world get to a better place. 

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  
—Luke 23:34

The Christian Scientist cherishes no resentment; he knows that that would harm him more than all the malice of his foes. Brethren, even as Jesus forgave, forgive thou. I say it with joy, — no person can commit an offense against me that I cannot forgive. Meekness is the armor of a Christian, his shield and his buckler. He entertains angels who listens to the lispings of repentance seen in a tear — happier than the conqueror of a world. To the burdened and weary, Jesus saith: “Come unto me.” O glorious hope! there remaineth a rest for the righteous, a rest in Christ, a peace in Love. The thought of it stills complaint; the heaving surf of life’s troubled sea foams itself away, and underneath is a deep-settled calm.

—Mary Baker Eddy, Message for 1902, p19

The beauty of Soul — You!

Do you long for beauty? How do we find more beauty in our lives?

This morning I was looking out the window over breakfast and I was enthralled by all the lush green leaves and grass outside. Spring is in full force, and I can’t say I mind in the least. I love the lilac bushes, the flowering trees, and the stunning flowers. I have say I’m a big fan of color, where ever it shows up. I love the amazing range of hues, saturation, and depth color can offer. The range of colors that exist fascinate the eye. Simply put, color is beautiful.

But beauty’s origin is not found in physical appearance, body type, or in wearing expensive clothes. Beauty is more than physical and material forms. Beauty is a quality of thought and its origin is found in divine Mind, or Soul — the source of all lovely goodness.  

To find more beauty in yourself, start by acknowledging the qualities of good as being in God, or Soul, and therefore eternal, infinite, and unlimited. Because beauty is found in Soul, it is not subject to time, age, social status, orFloral arrangement found at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston money. The beauty of Soul is unlimited and is found in you, now!

To understand this better, start by taking the time to write down the qualities you love, whether they are qualities you see in yourself or qualities you’d like to have more of in your life. Take those qualities and associate them first with God, divine Love, and deeply consider their unlimited supply.

Then, take these qualities, and acknowledge that because all beauty comes from God, Soul, all good qualities are in you, too! You are Soul’s image and likeness — you are therefore soulful and beautiful. Then, look for ways to put them into practice. One quick way to do so, which requires only a little bit of time and thought, and no money — see these good qualities as present in your friends, family, roommates, schoolmates, or co-workers, just as you would for yourself. Even if it takes 10 minutes, look for and acknowledge the good in the people you see in your daily life.

If you want to see beauty in yourself, sometimes the best place to start is by seeing the beauty that is in others. Sometimes all the ugliness we accept in the world around us, also taints the way we see ourselves. Or, it is the other way around: by accepting ourselves as disfigured, we feel everyone else is ugly and disfigured, too. 

If there are qualities of beauty you’d like to see more of in your life, don’t accept the opinion that they are not a part of you, or certain mortal genes. Rather, see them as ever-present, or eternal — a permanent part of your complete spiritual design and make up. Soul, the great architect, designed beauty and when Soul designed you, you were made beautiful. 

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings…
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. 
— Psalm 17:6-8, 15 

Comeliness and grace are independent of matter. Being possesses its qualities before they are perceived humanly. Beauty is a thing of life, which dwells forever in the eternal Mind and reflects the charms of His goodness in expression, form, outline, and color. It is Love which paints the petal with myriad hues, glances in the warm sunbeam, arches the cloud with the bow of beauty, blazons the night with starry gems, and covers earth with loveliness.

The recipe for beauty is to have less illusion and more Soul, to retreat from the belief of pain or pleasure in the body into the unchanging calm and glorious freedom of spiritual harmony. 

— Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p.247

Power options included

Choices. They are always there even when we get backed into a corner and things look hopeless. Whether you’re dealing with a business, personal finances, relationships, or health care. Everyday we are learning that we have choices, how to make better choices, and how do both consistently.

As a matter of fact, you always have a choice. Sometimes we forget that we can just pause and think. Have you ever spoke to a sales person who is so good at what they do, that within minutes you feel you have to buy what they’re selling? I’ve found myself in that situation several times. But I’ve learned I can stop and think about my options — buy, not to buy, or sleep on it.

Whether we’re buying something, crossing the street, or making a life-changing decision, we never have to buy what fear — limited, anxious thinking — is selling. You are never without power, because God is backing you with infinite and eternal integrity.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
—Isaiah 41:10

In her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy has a wonderfully simple, yet profound statement: “The time for thinkers has come (p.vii)” We are all thinkers! The amount of thoughts we have in a day range in the thousands. But we can specifically choose the thoughts we want to dwell on, and we can choose the very direction our thoughts take. Divine Mind (God) is alway providing us with the dominion, direction, and a reassurring love — good ideas — that enable us to keep moving forward. All we have to do is listen for them and choose to follow Mind’s intelligent direction.

Science and Health also defines progress as a “law of God” on page 233. This means God’s law only supports forward movement and must include making good decisions. And because progress is a law of God — a law which cannot be broken — we can take courage and know that this law precludes failure, and it excludes the beliefs that God’s good plan for you could be incomplete, fragmented, or include penalties for good choices.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
—Luke 12:32

Recognize the options you have, right now. Even if they are basic choices: do I turn left or right, stop or go, walk or wait. If you come to a choice that is more “gray”, and you are unsure about which direction to take, don’t get paralyzed in fear. Always give yourself the option to pause and think. You are empowered to trust God’s plan which only leads forward toward more harmony, peace, and even bliss.

To recognize the good options you have, start by acknowledging that you have dominion (power and strength) which comes only from divine Principle, Love, who is infinite good. You can’t make a wrong turn in Love’s kingdom — Love’s intelligence is everywhere! And then be willing to pause and listen for instruction, from Mind, who provides good and beautiful options for you. Be patient for those ideas which provide a sense of peace or that which is apparently good and right. Then act on those ideas. Let your highest sense of right direction lead you. And know that if a change in course is needed down the road, divine Love will provide a good, clear direction for you to follow.

Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must “have her perfect work.”
—Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p.454

Mind power

Ideas fresh & strong flowing from Soul*—divine Mind.
Mind's power is permanent and continuous.

You and I are Mind's image in action,
        good, pure, and whole;
        untouched, unscathed, unharmed.
We remain in the safety of Soul, Mind,
        surrounded only by Love.

One power alone governs me—Mind.
My only mind is Spirit, the divine Mind—
          limitless in form, memory, wisdom.

This divine Mind is only capable of good decisions — intelligence!
And there's nothing artificial about it.
           It only produces natural, beautiful, and good things.
Divine Mind cannot go awry! It is omniaction, omni-present, and is eternal and infinite good.

You and I, our very being and identity, is forever safe in this infinite, divine Mind.

* Mind, Soul, Love, Spirit listed in this poem are four of seven synonyms for God named in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy on page 465 in a answer for "What is God?" The seven listed synonyms in Science and Health are: Life, Mind, Spirit, Soul, Love, Principle, Truth.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the power of good

Facing any enemy, especially anything as subtle and destructive as racism, is not easy. Adversity in all its forms remains a tough challenge to resolve. But Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. helped light a fire and showed the United States of America that the light of good shines on and it cannot be extinguished. I'm celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this weekend because of his hard work, the good he helped accomplish, and for the non-violent ideals of loving your enemies that he strived to demonstrate.

The basic principle of loving your enemy is not an easy one to accept, let alone do. However, this principle, over coming evil with good, is the basis for Christian power over injustice in all its forms. Christ Jesus' most important demonstration, the resurrection, proved that injustice cannot kill spiritual activity, nor its goodness.

Right now people are asking, "How does one begin to face down injustice, practically?" One may answer the call by going to a rally, signing a petition, or joining a peace movement. But there is an even more local place to start: within thought. I like to begin by simply praying. In silent prayer I start with good, that is God, who is omnipotent and omnipresent, and with the support of the Bible, Genesis 1:26-27, that I refelct God's goodness. I also acknowledge everyone reflects good. I acknowledge this fact for my family, all my neighbors, everyone on this planet, and even those who may hate me.

By always beginning with God, I'm learning that divine Love, the source of all good and the only cause and effect — this is the only real way to understand why evil intentions and aims, can never harm me, or any part of God's creation. Genesis, chapter one, in the Bible spells out a sequence of events, of which, all were seen to be good, by the sole source of intelligence and presence in the universe God, the Supreme Being. Christian Science has shown me that false logic, like the belief of good causing evil, must be rooted out and destroyed by focusing on, trusting in, and acknowledging only the omnipotence of divine goodness, while also desiring to have more love and compassion, and even more good in all areas of my life. I love how this idea is stated in the Bible:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. — I Corinthians 10:3-5

And despite the fact that we may see violence and injustice anywhere in the world it is important to not lose heart or get frustrated. Doing good and loving  our enemy takes courage and is a learning process. Understanding how to love, or learning to think and act unselfishly, never happens all at once. But once we begin by trusting in the power of good, and taking a stand against bullies, even though we hate the evil deed, we are empowered by Principle, divine Love, to overcome evil with the power of compassion. When anyone strives to be good and to love his enemy, this is the power and means by which we stop and destroy evil, and bring justice to places where there seems to be none. I don't believe this is naive, or pollyanna thinking. And neither did Dr. King who faced injustice in some of its most cruel forms:

... Greek language comes out with the word, "agape." Agape is more than romantic or aesthetic love. Agape is more than friendship. Agape is creative, understanding, redemptive good will for all men. It is an overflowing love that seeks nothing in return. Theologians would say that this is the love of God operating in the human heart. When one rises to love on this level, he loves every man. He rises to the point of loving the person who does the evil deed while hating the deed that the person does. I believe that this is the kind of love that can carry us through this period of transition. This is what we've tried to teach through this nonviolent discipline. — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (an excerpt from his December 18, 1963 speech at Western Michigan University)

Today, and during this weekend, I pause to salute Dr. King's work in uplifting African Americans, as well as all Americans. To this end, I am grateful for the good that was accomplished, and I continue to trust that this good will continue to unfold, and unfurl its wings to lift us all into a better, more active, and collective desire for ever-present goodness in our thinking and our actions. And at this very moment, I trust that God, Truth, is unfolding the everpresent Christ, an ever active love for good, in every one's heart.