MATCHING ENERGY

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

It was back in the mid 1980’s when I took a class where the facilitator frequently used the word “energy” in a context that was unfamiliar to me. She would say things like so-and-so’s energy was really big, or so-and-so’s energy was subdued,  or the energy in the room is scattered today.  At the time, I thought, ” What is she talking about?”

Back then, the word ‘energy’ had a limited meaning for me. For example, I agreed with meanings found in the dictionary, such as: “the capacity for doing work,” or usable power (such as heat or electricity) and, “the resources for producing power.” I did not consider the concept of energy as a “spiritual force flowing through all people.” At the time I unknowingly separated science and spirituality, while at the same time affirming the unity of all life.

Since then, I realize the word energy, depending on how it is used, is synonymous with the term undifferentiated substance, as referenced in the Science of Mind. It is also used synonymously with “Life, Spirit, Divine Energy. Aristotle used the word to convey the realized state of potentialities, as opposed to their unrealized state (p.588).” In physics it is the quantum field: i.e., a universal energy field that connects all consciousness and matter. 

I now realize the depth of meaning in the way my mentor used the words. For instance, when walking into a room one may immediately feel a sense of hostility –or feel a sense of welcoming. These intuitive hits occur without spoken words. At such times we are at choice. We may react to hostility by matching that energy, i.e., giving as good as we get. Or we may respond by lifting the mood with kindness, letting others match your energy. Remember the teachings of the mystic Jesus: If I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)

I now realize when Ernest Holmes says, “There is something in the Universe  which responds  and corresponds to our mental states” (The Science of Mind, p.319). He speaks about Divine Energy. Words found in The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield) read: “Where attention goes, energy flows; where intention goes, energy grows” imply our thoughts, focus, and intention set this Law of Correspondence in motion. 

With this illumined understanding comes the responsibility to “stand porter at the door of your mind (Mary Baker Eddy). It is here that we choose to either match the energy we find ourselves by letting it grow or initiate a flow of energy that is a blessing to all humanity.

We become a beneficial presence in the world when the energy we release matches The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, as follows.

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 
Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; 
Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; 
And where there is sadness, joy. 
O Divine Master, 
Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled, as to console; 
To be understood, as to understand; 
To be loved, as to love; 
For it is in giving that we receive, 
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. 
Amen.”


This Week’s Affirmation

“I feel myself to be a perfect instrument in Life’s divine symphony.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p.182.2, Ernest Holmes ~

God’s Will – Our Willingness

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

 “Do Perfect God, Perfect Man, Perfect Being
~ Ernest Holmes ~

The archaic language from another time and culture often blocks us from receiving a clear understanding of our innate nature which is the doorway to that which frees us from the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” that show up as the false evidence and noise of the world.

 For example, while it is easy to feel the beauty and poetry of the words found in The Lord’s Prayer, they sometimes carry the hidden belief that somehow, we are pleasing The God-Being that inhabits the universe and winning “His” favor in so doing.

 The words are not speaking to a Deity, but rather they describe the nature of the Infinite One, much like Step 1 in a Spiritual Mind Treatment (affirmative prayer). The personal interpretation of these words brings life and meaning to the sincere seeker of Truth.

 When one takes the time to be with these words of ancient wisdom, starting with “Our Father,” their meaning begins to reveal hidden treasures, and one begins to realize the Everlasting Truth being imparted. They are words of Light, illuminating our path of freedom. They become a transformative factor in our lives when we are willing to receive these words that heal today.

 The word “will” and the context it is used, is a key factor when we begin to dive deeply into the ancient wisdom teachings about the inseparable relationship of the human and divine that co-exist in and as us. In some regards this unity of The One may be likened to the Yin and Yang of the eastern philosophy of Taoism.  

 There is a story found in the bible (John 5:6), where Jesus (the Master Teacher, Spiritual Genius, and Illumined Mystic), asks of one who had been suffering for years with a debilitating illness, “Wilt thou be made whole? In other words, are you willing to be well again? Duh, we may think, of course the answer is yes. After all, who wouldn’t want to be well?

 Willingness is about taking responsibility for your life by making the choices that are in alignment with your true nature of peace, love, harmony, joy, health, and wealth. Our good thoughts about these things are great and eventually become our mindset. However, remember, “faith without works is dead.” The choices, decisions, intentions, and self-determination are the substance that sets in motion the necessary action that ignites the Law of Good. We are not making something happen; instead, we are letting something happen.

 “…thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-13) This quote from the infamous prayer is an example of how once we begin walking in the direction of our soul’s sincere desire, our expanded consciousness is unified with the Indwelling  Spirit, and we experience the evidence of our willingness  to accept  the  nature of God within us  that is always the will of God.


This Week’s Affirmation

“Today I am inwardly aware that there is a secret way of the soul, there is a secret pathway of peace, there is an invisible Presence forever externalizing Itself for me and through me.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p.172.2, Ernest Holmes ~

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“Hush child, can’t you see I’m studying?”

Little did my mother know at the time she admonished me for interrupting her quiet time, that she was practicing a form of meditation. You see, she would frequently pause during her busy day and withdraw from outer world for a while in order to re-group, receiving the energy and focus that equipped her with all she needed to move forward doing what was her’s to do. She called this process “studying” ~ not a bad metaphor for “contemplative meditation,” a term she never heard, yet engaged in the practice with regularity. 

The Practice itself is a spiritual one inasmuch as it is the act of aligning one’s self with an Invisible Intelligence and Energy that renews, restores, and rejuvenates. Spiritual practice is an essential aspect of the ever-expanding awareness, or consciousness, of the inherent goodness that is the divine birthright of each and every one of us. 

Most of us unequivocally believe in a Universal Presence and Power, the very Source of our existence. While this All-Encompassing Creative Force is called by many names, e.g., Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, Brahman, and God, to name just a few, the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient and nature of this One-And-Only is agreed by all.  Yet, time and again, when faced with unexpected challenges, there is a tendency to slip into the erroneous mindset of separation, fear, lack, limitation, sickness, and all sorts of crosscurrents that are in opposition to the divine. 

The cultivation of an unwavering faith in the unity between Divine Life and human experience requires a committed, disciplined, intentional practice, to the end that Love, Peace, Wisdom, Beauty, Harmony, and Joy that is inherently ours, sustains us at all times. This does not mean to imply we become exempt from challenges. It does mean that we may arrive at a consciousness that affirms the words of the psalmist: “yea, though walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.”

“To fall into a habit is to begin to cease to be.” ~ Miguel De Unamuno ~

With all that said, if not careful spiritual practices, like spiritual rituals, may become rote. They may become a habit or a tradition; a routine requiring no effort: a ‘doing’ rather than ‘being.’  True practice is a time to purposefully remember, acknowledge, listen, and align oneself with the Soul’s Beloved. Spiritual practice can be likened to Holy Communion.

Showing up at a designated time, at a designated place, and assuming a certain posture sets the tone for the Practice that follows and establishes a sense of receptivity. However, the Practice itself may vary from time to time depending on the spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical need at the moment. Therefore, a well-supplied tool box, filled with successful tools for daily living, is essential.

Make sure the following practices are included in your daily process: gratitude, lowly listening, centering, movement, silence, journaling, life visioning, affirmations, prayer, inspirational reading, and inspirational music, to name a few.


This Week’s Affirmation

“I listen for guidance and follow my inner voice.”

https://www.everydayspirit.net/post/spiritual-practices

DOMINION

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“There is nothing either good or badbut thinking makes it so
~ William Shakespeare ~

“Change your thinking – change your life.”
~ Ernest Holmes ~

Recently I was sitting in meditation and opened my eyes to gaze into nature’s magnificent beauty stretched before me. The bright sun beaming down on the thick foliage of the woods became the perfect canvas that reflected images of the items in the room I was sitting.

At first, I did not believe my eyes. So, I re-focused for greater clarity, and sure enough there they were, chairs, lamps, books . . . just hanging out in midair.   In that moment I realized the sunlight, shining on the items on the inside … reflected their mirror-image on the outside. I got it! So, I relaxed more fully and gazed at the no-thing outside my window, appearing so real. 

I noticed every time I changed my physical position, the images moved accordingly.  It was fascinating to see the dominion I had over something that was beyond my control. That paradoxical insight reminded me that there is an Absolute Law, a Changeless Principle, if you will, operating in the universe for which I may direct or apply in my life. 

I closed my eyes again to contemplate how this phenomenon related to how the Law of Mind Action works; i.e., “as above, so below; as within, so without,” etc. Suddenly, I felt the flickering of sunlight. When I opened my eyes, the images were gone. Oh, how I enjoyed this holy communion and how sweetly and gently Spirit reinforced my awareness of the Presence, Power, and Love of God, all around. 

On the one hand, I realized, the Law is All-Powerful and not a respecter of person, responding to all alike.  On the other hand, I have a choice, moment to moment regarding how I apply the Great One in my individual life by positioning myself to receive that which I desire to experience.

~ ~ ~ ~

Everything in the physical world of experience reflects what we, individually, and collectively have accepted in our minds as being true. Enlightenment, through a spiritual practice of meditation, reveals the truth.  

The more anchored we each become in the awareness of our True Identity, affirming our true nature as spiritual beings having human experiences, the more we become witnesses, without attachment to the impermanence of ever-changing phenomena all around us. This does not mean becoming indifferent or apathetic, resulting in a sense of hopelessness and fear; but rather, cultivating a consciousness that asks, “what is mine to do?”

Just as the sun reflected the items in the room where I was seated; likewise, the Universal Law of Mind reflects onto the screen of life, the thoughts, beliefs, and emotions we embody. 

 Needless to say, there are times the things we are seeing and experiencing seem overwhelming. “Seem” is the keyword. It is all evidence, reflecting the images of our minds. “Change your thinking – change your life” is a slogan often used when describing how to use The Science of Mind. As we heed this lesson, notice how the images we witness change accordingly.


This Weeks Affirmation

“I am creating a beautiful life.”

https://www.youtube.com/@kdcFLOW

Originally Posted on August 29, 2023

BLESSINGS AND GRATITUDE

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

Planet earth has often been compared to a classroom. It is here we learn to move through the material, physical realm, while completely dependent on the invisible, spiritual realm of our lives. The phrases, “we are in this world, but not of it,” and “we are spiritual beings, having a human experience,” describe this phenomenon.  Even the biblical phrase, “In my Father’s house there are many mansions,” suggests the various levels, or grades of awareness one may experience while traveling through this thing called life. 

Staying with the classroom metaphor for a moment, imagine with me how we gradually move from one self-created experience to another. Each stage providing a lesson that seems like a balancing act of our feelings, thoughts, and emotions in response to what is happening in our lives.  At the same time, the challenge is to cultivate the ability to stay in alignment with the Love, Peace, Harmony, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Joy of the Spirit. It is a process of moving to higher and higher states of consciousness; i.e., a continuous ascension from glory to glory

When I was a child, there was a little ditty taught in Sunday School that you may have learned as well. It went like this: “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings! Name them one by one! Count your many blessings, see what God has done!”

What a wonderful foundation it establishes in the mind of the young one! The instructions for this spiritual practice are very clear. It is one of focus and intention, resulting in a realization of Truth.   The “catchy” tune is inviting, making the process a joyful experience. 

Throughout the years, one may begin to remember overcoming a serious health challenge; or, experiencing the healing power of love; or, the blessing of financial sufficiency received in an hour of need.

Obviously, the simple lesson is to remember the many times we have experienced spontaneous grace. In so doing, there is a tendency of restored peace, faith, and harmony to the mind. The practice becomes an avenue through which more and more good flows.  Soon we move into a state of deep gratitude. 

Ernest Holmes defines “appreciation, gratitude and thanksgiving as the motive power which attracts and magnifies the hidden potentialities of life.” He also teaches,” there is something in this attitude of thanksgiving that carries us beyond the field of doubt into one of perfect faith and acceptance, receptivity…realization.”  

These lessons support us tremendously as we move through the apparent uncertainty, separation, and division of the human experience, both individual and collective that are all around us. While we do not put our heads in the sand, ignoring the out picturing of these circumstances; we do not fall prey to the belief of hopelessness. Instead, we move with confidence, doing what is ours to do; while remembering God’s unlimited grace. 

In such a moment, the former things fall away … providing a space for the greater-yet-to-be to unfold. The Presence and Power of Unlimited Potential is within every one of us.

Let us join hands in the awareness that All is One, and the only time is Now, singing our new song:

“I am so blessed. I am so blessed.
I am so grateful for all that I have.
I am so blessed. I am so blessed.
I am so grateful. I am so blessed.”


This Weeks Affirmation

“I am so grateful and blessed for the opportunity to live a life of love, joy, and peace.”

Keith Childers

Original posted April 4, 2023