The Illusion of Judgment

It is necessary for the teacher of God to realize, not that he should not judge, but that he cannot. In giving up judgment, he is merely giving up what he did not have. He gives up an illusion; or better, he has an illusion of giving up.” - A Course in Miracles - Manual for Teachers, page 27.2.1-3

Lately, it seems that words of wisdom about judgment abound - so it’s obviously more time for me to learn and move forward on this issue in my life. This time around, the lesson actually feels gentler...

I cannot judge anything or anyone because I can never know all the details of a situation or a person’s life. Just trying to imagine – let alone know – all facts past, present, and yes, even future, is impossible as a human being, not to mention exhausting! It is a great burden.

Now why would I want to give myself such a task as well as subject a situation or person to such an impossible way of my trying to make a decision? I’d only be doing it if I were insane, which when I’m in my ego, that is my mind’s state.

So, I gratefully lay down this illusion that exacts such a cost to me and my relationships. With that, I can happily and surely follow God’s guidance, knowing that it is only God who knows the whole story, including that each of us is guiltless and without sin.

Channels to God

“...to put aside our own desires,... to offer someone a helping hand. In this... we find happiness. And we find God. For in helping others, we open a channel to Divine guidance.” - In God’s Care, January 30

How many channels to God are there? – Let me count the ways:

- Helping others
- Praying
- Meditating
- Blessing others
- Singing
- Composing
- Playing a musical instrument
- Painting
- Sculpting
- Writing
- Laughing
- Inspiring others
- Hugging
- Loving
- Caring

...the list goes on and on.

How many channels to God are there? I am limited only by my imagination, by myself. For God is in me, through me, around me, and everything is a channel to God when I so choose.

Shower Time

I so love being in the shower. It’s not just that I’m a water person (a Cancerian), but I find it to be such a peaceful place. Shower time is prayer and meditation time for me!

Singing in general is a form of prayer for me. Even when I was an atheist, I felt something special inside me when I sang. When I came to believe, I realized what that feeling had been: connection with Spirit.

So, I’m usually singing in the shower, maybe even chanting. It might be only within my head, or in an outward alto voice, fortissimo. Sometimes I get into contemplation mode. Other times, I pray for others.

It really is a great time to connect with Spirit. And, when I don’t have to rush off but can luxuriate in slow mode – well, it’s pure heaven.

Warm water soothing my body, warm thoughts and feelings soothing my soul.

God is everywhere, blessing me in often simple ways...

Mid-Day Peace Break

I’m feeling a bit frazzled...it’s the afternoon already, there’s much to do, and I’ve not gotten centered since I woke up on the late side this morning. I want my peace back.

Dear Spirit of the Most High;

Grant me the peace that only You can give me.

May I breathe and know that with each breath you are right there with me – beside me, in me, all around me.

In the silence alone with You, all is well and all is calm.

May I remember that at anytime I can pause, breathe, and feel Your Presence, Your Peace.

Thank You.

Aahhhh.

Spirit and Humor

Spirit and humor...hmmm – how do they fit together? Well, that was the topic of last night’s Gilbert Spirituality Meetup, and it was a particular fun evening.

The facilitator for the evening, Elaine, said that she felt laughter was a quick and sure way for her to connect with Spirit. After attending this meetup, I get that.

During discussion, joy and humor were linked together, spiritually as well as physiologically. It was pointed out that humor could be used to offend others, and then surely Spirit is not in the midst of it. People shared stories of humor and we talked about some movies that were considered funny by some – and not, by others. However, we all seemed to agree that British humor was in a league by itself.

This was a more experiential meetup than usual. We each agreed to keep a smile on our face for 60 whole seconds and then shared on what that felt like. Some of us couldn’t seem to get our muscles out of a smile after the time was up :) And, we actually went around the circle and told some jokes culled from the Internet.

In discussion, story telling, and reading jokes, there was a whole lot of laughter and smiling going on. And, I’d say that with our uplifted state, we felt pretty connected to one another and Spirit.

My Work of Art

"In a sense, as we are creative beings, our lives become our work of art." – The Artist’s Way (by Julia Cameron, page xvi)

Hmmm. Yes, my life is a work of art. I would characterize it as a colorful work of art. I have led, excuse me – created – an interesting life over the years. Here are some highlights, meaningful, wide brush strokes with many details no doubt accompanying them on the canvas:

. Majored in philosophy and sociology in college
. Worked for a railroad
. Switched career from the transportation industry to the financial one
. Joined a 12 Step program at age 35
. Became greatly involved in volunteer work
. Left corporate world to work on graduate studies full-time
. Earned Master of Social Work degree
. Relocated from NY, my lifelong home town and city of 8 million people, to the 4,000 population southwest town of Taos, NM – solo at the age of 41
. Employed by Native Americans to help their pueblo community
. Launched my own business as The Computer Therapist, combining my geek skills with my therapeutic skills
. Met and married (first time) my twin flame – Rog – at close to 50 years of age
. My three best friends attended our wedding
. Have a dynamic partnership with my husband in our personal relationship, spiritual life, and our business.

But really, how much of my life did I consciously create? It is only since I started waking up spiritually, commencing with joining the 12 Step program, and coming to believe in God, that I feel I was creating what I wanted, no longer drifting aimlessly and without guidance.

My life – my relationships, my work – has been so much richer, so much more creative, since I started waking up and forging a relationship with Spirit. And after all, that’s no surprise since Spirit and creativity are intimately intertwined.

Teach Me to Pray

A poem by Virginia Ellis -

Please teach me, Lord ...
I want to know
Exactly how to pray.
I need some words
Which ones are right?
Please tell me what to say.

I've bowed my head
I have knelt down,
But ... should I be upright?
I've closed my eyes,
I've raised my hands,
Or ... should I fold them tight?

Do I stand up?
Should I sit down?
Dear Lord ... what do you like?
Are lights turned on Or are they off?
Maybe ... candle light?

Wear my glasses?
Take them off?
Be at my desk or table?
Should I whisper?
Speak out loud?
Do I quote the Bible?

What do you think
About the time?
Do You prefer the dawn?
Should I pray fast,
Or keep it slow?
Better short ... or long?

I'm new at this
What are the rules?
I want to do it right.
How do I know
You'll even hear
That I am in Your sight?

And while I sat there quietly, waiting for some sign, I heard a gentle voice say:

"Oh, dearest child of mine ...
Do you think I really care about the time of day,
Or whether you are standing up,
Or kneeling when you pray?"

"I don't care about your posture,
Or about the place you choose;
Just open up your soul to me,
I have no other rules.
Tell me what is in your heart,
And tell me what you seek;
Tell me of your sorrows,
And of those things that made you weak."

"Speak to me in private
About what concerns you most;
I know about your good deeds ...
You have no need to boast.
My child, you don't need lessons,
Just talk to me each day.
Tell me anything you want, dear child,
Anyone can pray."

The Action of Spirit

“Let us know that everything in our experience is the action of Spirit. Every action is taking place on the spiritual level, so that there can be a more complete and perfect expression of that divine life through each of us.”

- Science of Mind, December 24, 2008

Dance Partners

These are exciting times, full of great, transformative change, personally and globally.

And, I find myself in limbo (Rog too).

I don’t know what business work to pursue, projects to engage in, or relationships to put my energy into. So my recent days have largely consisted of doing some eBay work, researching, reading, relaxing, and, of course, spiritual practice. Let’s not forget coffee and meaningful conversation times with Rog too! Believe it or not, I feel at peace.

I may not be sure of what the next step is, but I am sure that if I keep my focus and connection on God, guidance will follow. God knows and shows me the way to and through everything in my life. God will lead me, I will follow - I’m up for the dance!

My Work

A reading this morning stated “An evolved soul judges no one, condemns no one, but realizes that all are on the road of experience, seeking the same goal...” (The Science of Mind, page 434).

I surely look at and accept my own life as one of experiences, traveling on a path of learning, doing the best that I can, awakening, and coming to know God in the fullest way possible. This mindset is transferable to all others I encounter on the road of Life. Simple, but not always easy.

I am reminded of the message I got this past Sunday: when I am in a state of worry, I am not in a state of spiritual consciousness. [Click hear to read a bit about it...] An evolved soul is an awakened soul, and that means I know that God is The Source for me and everyone else. I do not need to judge others, control others, be in fear, etc. If I am, I am not awakened, not in fit spiritual condition, not recognizing God is my Source and the One in charge.

My daily work is to grow my spiritual connection and strengthen my relationship with and faith in God - and then, it is to go out and practice it!

I rest in the knowledge that God is The One and Only Source. So it is, and all is well.

Reaching Bottom

In the 12 Step program one hears about “reaching bottom,” the idea that an individual has to get so far down, be in so much pain, before they will start on the road to recovery. Concerned members often pray that their fellows reach a bottom low enough to effect a change. However, although the founders and early members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) had very low bottoms before they started their recovery, it was believed that those who followed wouldn’t have to reach such depths, that their bottoms could be ‘higher.’

The solution the 12 Step program offers focuses on a person finding a Power greater than themselves to help them with their problem (alcohol, food, sex, gambling, etc.) and this occurs through having a spiritual experience or spiritual awakening. The book Alcoholics Anonymous quotes Dr. Carl Jung as saying that such experiences “...appear to be in the nature of the huge emotional displacements and rearrangements. Ideas, emotions, and attitudes which were once the guiding forces of the lives of these men are cast to one side, and a completely new set of conceptions and motives begin to dominate them.” (page 27).

I believe that reaching bottom applies to not only people but to companies, organizations, and even nations. The United States of America, and numerous other countries for that matter, has been on a downward spiraling path to the bottom for a while in politics, finances, health care, environment – the list goes on and on. Values and behaviors have deteriorated to a disgraceful degree. It’s leading to a huge wake up call – and that is a blessing.

But what if we – as a nation, a planet - didn’t have to reach a low, low bottom to get the message and make a change? I’d been thinking that the bottom is going to be terrifically low and painful before people start waking up as to what’s really important in life (and it ain’t money and material things I assure you). But perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps our bottom as a people, as a planet, is a high bottom and sufficient enough now for a transformation.

The words spoken yesterday throughout the U.S. Presidential Inaugural Ceremony - the oaths, address, and prayers -, and the response of the people makes me dare to hope that we have reached a sufficient bottom collectively.

I’m going to stop praying for the world and its people to reach their lowest bottom so that recovery can commence. Instead, I’m going to pray that the world be ready now to have that spiritual experience and awakening, that now people walk the walk of love, peace, and joy. That we are ready now to be what we truly are.

May God bless not just America, but all of us!

Practicing What Is Preached

Today was indeed an historical day for the United States of America in many ways and an historical inauguration.

In the 8 years that have passed since the last main presidential inauguration, my spiritual experience and knowledge have progressed and been enlarged, so I was particularly curious as to how religion and prayer would play a role in this political event.

I enjoyed the prayers, feeling they were mostly inclusive of all peoples, and full of admirable qualities that we all can strive toward. Now, I hope the sentiments expressed are put into action, including by the man who gave the Inaugural Invocation, Pastor Rick Warren.

Below is the Inaugural Invocation in its entirety taken from a Christian political blog site:

Let us pray.

Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory.

History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now, today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new President, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of goodwill today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus, who taught us to pray:

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

Blessings Everywhere

Rog and I left our home in Gilbert at 6:00 AM yesterday so that we could attend the 9:00 AM Unity of Sedona service in the beautiful Red Rock Country of Arizona. We were heading to Sedona anyway so why not incorporate a Sunday morning service and get some extra spiritual nourishment?

This Unity church is nestled among the trees of West Sedona, housed in a quaint space with large windows to view nature and more easily feel at One. Just lov-er-ly!

The minister’s talk on prosperity was abundant with many messages for me. The main and most powerful one was to bless everything, everyone, all the time.

But, perhaps the greatest message – or rather the one I was in greatest need of hearing at that moment – was that when I’m worrying about something or someone, I am not in a spiritually awakened state. Oish! And too, when I am being judgmental or critical, I’m not in a spiritually awakened state. Of course, none of this is news to me – just a great reminder.

Now lately I have been feeling at peace in many matters and hence have deemed myself spiritually awakened – at that moment. I have been in the flow and it has felt wonderful. But, ah, how easily I can slip, especially when it comes to challenging people in life. When I realize that all they’re really doing is crying out for love, I snap back into the spiritually awakened me, and love them and bless them.

I choose to treat everything and everyone as a blessing. Thank You, Spirit, for all the blessings you shower upon me.

Self-Disclosure

The real gift of love is self-disclosure. - John Powell

To me self-disclosure means that I am being honest – with myself and others. It is there that I am real, that people can see the true me. It is there that connection can take place (although that is not the only way), for we get to see how much we are so alike as human beings. We are no longer alone.

Radiating Love

I will radiate love and good will to others that I may open a channel for God’s love to come to all. – Paramahansa Yogananda

As I exude love and good will to those I meet, I engage in a holy encounter – and Spirit is surely with us. Then I feel closer to Spirit, which puts me in the state to exude more love and more goodwill – and again, Spirit is surely with us. This is a wonderfully uplifting spiral for all, one to continue into eternity.

In the Hands of God

Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone; but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing and God everything. – St. Ignatius Loyola

I strive to take action based on guidance, but leave the results to Spirit. I put myself in the hands of God, in God’s care.

Infinite Possibilities

“We are surrounded by infinite Possibility ... It can pass into expression through us only as we consciously allow It to do so.” The Science of Mind, page 46.

This has been a week full of extra blessings from the Universe, and it became real food for thought yesterday.

First, I was delightfully surprised to receive a FedEx envelope containing a $100 gift card with notification that I’d won a runner-up prize for a sweepstakes I’d entered a few months ago and then promptly forgot. It was related to the Super Bowl no less, something I’m not much interested in.

An hour later a particularly pleased client gave me an additional $5 in payment. Still later in the day, when I was making plans to meet with a friend tomorrow night for a drink, she made it known that it was to be her treat. A-b-u-n-d-a-n-c-e!

So, what’s this all about (Alfie)? I feel like Spirit is showering me with these financial gifts and I am looking for a cause. Like, what did I do to bring this forth so that I can keep doing it to bring more forth? [N.B.: I did not say, “What did I do to deserve this?”; that’s not in my belief system.] You know, law of attraction kind of stuff. But I really think it’s about a message(s) that Spirit is trying to get through to me.

And, perhaps that message is about my being. Certainly I have been taking better care of my spiritual health and hence have been more trusting, faith-filled, and serene. My belief system can limit me, but Spirit is always with me, always pushing me towards my good – it’s up to me to be open to the infinite possibilities. And, I am!

These are exciting times. I welcome infinite Possibility, claim my abundance, and offer thanksgiving in all circumstances. Thank You, Spirit.

Truth

How do we know what's true? Science? Intuition? Meditation? Perhaps there is no way to know the truth...

This was the topic of Monday night’s Gilbert Spirituality Meetup. The discussion was interesting, the personal sharing insight-provoking, and the discussion touched upon a number of other topics, some of which have been themselves the focus of a full evening.

Here’s some bullet points about what I heard regarding truth:

 The observer influences the object being perceived.
 Repeated thoughts create beliefs, which lead to one’s truth.
 Truth changes as we change.
 Truth is either “relative” or “absolute.” Relative truth is phenomenal, behavioral, or intellectual. Absolute truth is that which you can’t understand but which you know is true.
 There are levels of truth: known, unknown, unknowable.
 Truth cannot be rationalized.

Personally, since coming to believe in God, my notion of what is true has changed. Just like when I held an atheistic philosophy which had me perceive the world one way, as a theist I see the world in a way that reflects that view. And, where once I thought I was so logical and strictly in my head that I could be 100% objective about matters, I now see that is not so.

Once again my heart and mind resonated with a lot of what was said. We members have a lot of similar ideas and experiences regarding spirituality. It’s fun to see it revealed.

Here’s one last point of information that was shared: Do you know the difference between a metaphysician and a physicist? Metaphysicians don’t like to do the math!

Gift From Spirit

This poem started materializing in my right brain as I lay in bed this morning debating whether to get up and start the day or hang out underneath the warm flannel sheets.

I don’t think I’ve written a poem since learning haiku in elementary school (I’m 53 now!), so this is an astounding occurrence for me. It could only have originated from Spirit.
______________________
In the wee hours of the morning as I lay in bed
I listen for messages from God
I so yearn to be at peace, hear God’s guidance, and be led.

Morning is a special time for serenity and peace
In prayer and meditation I find
It’s the opportune space for the connection that I seek.

As I go about my day focused on God, life goes well
I’m never far from Source or my good
Walking with Spirit, being in my heart, I choose to dwell.

- Joyce S. Kaye

Peace Disturbed

I let my peace get disturbed this afternoon....Yes, I LET it get disturbed. However, the good news is that I was so aware of it. The not so good news is that I still had a rough time reinstating it because I kept replaying the incident and my negative feelings.

So it was perfect timing that tonight was the bimonthly Gilbert Spirituality Meetup. I got out of my head and the day’s events and focused on the people and the interesting conversation.

Once again here is proof that when I take the focus off of me, am of service, and lend an ear to others, I am a better human being and able to reconnect with Spirit.

And, of course, my peace was restored.

Praying and Peace

Today was such a wonderful day! Actually, the past several days have been pretty nifty I’ve noticed.

Today included coffee time with Rog (aka spiritual conversation and nourishment), an uplifting Unity service, singing, connecting via email, an hour long call with a dear friend in which we made plans for her to visit next month (yippee!), fun eBay auctions ending with some monies earned, etc. A full, busy, and rich day – and, I’m feeling the joy.

I think I’ve been having these types of days more and more frequently in recent times because I’m feeling more and more at peace. I’m connecting with Spirit more, staying in the present moment where I hold onto to faith and trust. And, in different ways throughout the day, I’m praying.

A reading this morning talked about making your life a living prayer by praying all the time. I’ve heard this before and I love it! As a living prayer I’m always mindful of God, growing closer and closer to Him. This enables me to focus on all that is good and the best within me, to give with a full and thankful heart, and to be at peace. It doesn’t take much, and the journey as well as the destination is fulfilling.

Dear God - I pray to be a living prayer throughout my waking hours and to go to sleep with a prayer of thanksgiving on my lips, and peace in my heart.

Evening Prayer

Evening Prayer
By Chris Celine

Divine Light,
Mother-Father God ~~
I surrender to You this day.
I give everything about this day into the Blessed Arms of Love.
I forgive myself for any mistaken ideas and painful images I have made.
I willingly accept the healing Grace of True Love.
Where I forgot the truth of my beloved self,
Where I forgot the truth of my beloveds,
I open my heart and mind
And accept the healing of my limited made-up past.
I am so willing, Dear God, to be healed as I sleep.
I am willing to begin again.
I place tomorrow in Your hands.
I am willing to wake up and experience a happy dream,
A new day,
A new opportunity to remember Love.
Amen.

[http://www.chrisceline.com/services/prayers/evening.html]

Morning Prayer

Dear Lord,
I give You my hands to do Your work;
I give You my feet to go Your way;
I give You my eyes to see as You see;
I give You my tongue to speak Your words;
I give You my mind that You may think in me;
I give You my spirit that You may pray in me.
Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me - love the Father and love all humankind.
I give You my whole self, Lord, that You may grow in me, so that it is You who lives, works and prays in me.
Amen.

- http://www.circleofprayer.com/morning.html

Coffee Time

Thanks to this blog project, I’ve been spending time on the Web looking at a wealth of sites on things spiritual (sometimes religious too although that’s not of prime interest to me) that I hadn’t taken the time to before although I wanted to. I’ve also landed up signing up for e-newsletters. I am grateful this project is accomplishing what I had hoped it to.

In today’s Beliefnet’s daily inspiration, there was a link to a video by Martha Williamson, who you may recall was Executive Producer of the television show, “Touched By An Angel.” The following was included in one of the posted comments to that video:

Remember the small things in life, because someday you will realize that the BIG THINGS ARE THE LITTLE THINGS. [Posted by: Wayne Hulehan | January 6, 2009 10:25 AM]

I read this soon after my morning coffee time with Rog. During this daily ritual, our intention is to have our conversation focused solely on Spirit. We start off with an extemporaneous prayer, then share what’s happened in our spiritual life thus far that day. We may have been awake only 30 minutes, but have already been engaged with Spirit in new learning, meditation, inspirational reading, etc.

In this time not only do we get to be together, but we get to share our path, help one another sort things out, and in general, help foster both of ours spiritual growth. It is time so well spent.

When we have our afternoon coffee time, conversation is more about business and every day life. Still, we get to connect with one another, our love, and Spirit.

A coffee break may seem like a little thing to most people, but in my world, coffee time with Rog is always a BIG THING. And, I’m grateful that I won’t need to remember that - because I know it now.

Showers of Gratitude

Often when I’m in the shower – just me and the delicious warm, wet water, I take time to talk to Spirit. It can take the form of prayer, chatty conversation, and/or soulful singing. I cherish the time and can sometimes forget that the water meter is ticking.

I showered this morning right after I got out of bed, before having my quiet time with Spirit, not my usual habit. So I made sure that I took time to be with Spirit while cleaning my physical body. I started with a “Thank You for this day, thank You for my life,” then started sharing a gratitude list.

Lo and behold, when I got to my reading time, Unity’s Daily Word focused on gratitude. I like the synchronicity of that – especially since another reading stated “We will experience no coincidence today. All situations that transpire...have their purpose” (From In God’s Care, January 7). Also, I like the additional enforcement for my consciousness. Thinking of what I’m grateful for is always an uplifting experience for me - and I suspect for most everyone.

So here’s the full reading from the Daily Word – enjoy!

Today's Daily Word - Wednesday, January 7, 2009
GRATITUDE
With an attitude of gratitude, I attract greater good into my life.

I am grateful for all the good in my life and aware that by being grateful, I am attracting even more good to me.

Gratitude is more than just thankfulness. It is a deeper awareness that because God is present within every person and situation, ultimate good is also present.

As I begin each day both in the awareness that God is all good at all times and with the assurance that I am one with God, I have the strength, patience, and faith to face any situation. My gratitude increases with each prayer of faith and each acknowledgement that wherever I am, God is.

I thank God for this day and for all the good it holds in store for me and for those I hold dear.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God."--Colossians 3:16

Memo from God

To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: GOD
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

This is God.
Today I will be handling all of your problems for you.
I do not need your help.
So, have a nice day.

I love you.

[I received this years ago; I do not know who the author is...]

My Thoughts Stayed on Thee

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. - Psalm 62:5
“One of the most serious and powerful facts in human nature is that you are likely to get what you are basically expecting. Spend years developing the mental attitude of expecting that things are not going to turn out well, and you are likely to get that result. You create a mental condition slanted to an unhappy outcome. If, on the contrary, you develop and maintain a mental attitude of faith and expectancy—hoping, dreaming, believing, praying, working—you will create conditions in which every good thing can and will grow. Fill your mind with the positive power of spiritual expectancy, and God and His good will flow toward you.”

Courtesy of PealeCenterforPositiveThinking.com

As we think, so we are. I carefully watch my thoughts today. I keep my mind on God’s presence in my life, and as I go through the day, I remember that God is always with me, guiding me, and moving me along my journey with love and blessings.

Remembering God and keeping my thoughts on God, I find peace and joy. I am grateful.

Poised

I went to a Unity service this morning. The minister was just back from a trip to Ecuador where he has a second home. He said that throughout all his travels around the world over the years, whether for the Marine Corps or church business, he had always felt protected. This last trip was different.

Joel told of his adventures, in the comical way that he so well does. And in the end, the message was he needed to “stay poised in the Christ Mind.” With working so much before his trip, he had not taken care of the state of his soul, and his outer world reflected it.

The message was apropos, since I’ve been praying for peace of mind regardless of what is going on in the outside world. I’m developing a peace that will “deal with all things in my life with equanimity.” I’m told that eventually this will lead to Nirvana – sounds good to me!

I cannot access the Kingdom when I’m out of sync with Source. So I continue to pray, seek guidance, and develop the kind of consciousness that allows me to deal with all the vicissitudes of life in a peaceful way.

Are You Listening?

The Universe is always speaking to us using nature, intuition, and other means to get its message across. But are we listening? The sooner we pay attention to what the universe is telling us, the less we fight the river. - Science of Mind, 12.03.08

One way the Universe - or Spirit - sends me messages is through dreams. And, in the wee hours of this morning, I got some timely messages that I am prepared to take note of.

I had some powerful dreams about Santa Fe, NM. I had lived there for about 7 years until moving to AZ almost 6 years ago. While there, I was not a happy camper and found myself to not be the upbeat person I usually am; I felt my soul was dying.

Having grown up and lived in New York City for 41 years, a melting pot of 8 million people or so, New Mexico was a very different place to live than I was accustomed to – and I did not take well to it. I have not kept in touch with the vast majority of people I met there, and I’ve only been back once since “leaving Dodge” and that was solely to attend a conference. It’s a time of my life that I’ve simply not wanted to be reminded of.

But it seems that now that we are preparing to move to a smaller and more rural community, it is time for me to heal my New Mexico stint. There will be some similarities between where we relocate to in AZ and the places I lived in and people I met while living in NM. I want to build a joyful, full life in our new community, so it behooves me to heal my past and make peace with NM.

Thanks, Spirit, for the message. I’m listening, and I am open to Your guidance.

The Destination

Our outlook on life must be transformed by the renewing of the mind, and even when the results are not immediately forthcoming, we must still maintain a calm serenity of thought.
- The Science of Mind by Ernest Homes, page 218

Ah... “...maintain a calm serenity...” Yep, no matter what is going on in the world, what truly matters is what’s going on inside me. I must be vigilant to take good care of myself so that I can face the outside world and engage in relationships in a loving, peaceful, joyful way.

A reading this morning talked about detaching from the destination so that you can enjoy the journey. In fact, detaching from the outcome allows one to connect to the journey. And, actually the journey is the destination.

Once again, the message for me is to be in the Now. In the Now there is peace and no fear - which is where I was headed again as I laid in bed early this morning - ugh! I made a quick about face, chanting the Prayer for Protection, and getting back on the God track. The God track is the only place I want to be. The Faith track, the Now Track, the Joy Track. Staying in the Now, I peacefully enjoy the journey, knowing the ultimate destination is Home.

New Year's Prayer

Thank you Lord for giving me
The brand new year ahead
Help me live the way I should
As each new day I tread.

Give me gentle wisdom
That I might help a friend
Give me strength and courage
So a shoulder I might lend.

The year ahead is empty
Help me fill it with good things
Each new day filled with joy
And the happiness it brings.

Please give the leaders of our world
A courage born of peace
That they might lead us gently
And all the fighting cease.

Please give to all upon this earth
A heart that's filled with love
A gentle happy way to live
With Your blessings from above.

~ Charlotte Anselmo

[I found this on: http://www.mamarocks.com/new_years_prayer.htm]