(REVISITED)

In 1984, I resigned my job of 29 years; said good-bye to friends and family; and, with great aspirations and expectations, moved from Cleveland, OH, my home since birth, to Los Angeles, CA.  My sole purpose for this major move was, to surround myself with those who would support my further growth in spiritual understanding, to the end that I would eventually support others on their path.  However noble these undertakings were; nonetheless, my faith and conviction were challenged as I moved forward in this endeavor. 

The mind chatter that taunted me went something like, “if it doesn’t work out, you can always…;” while another aspect of myself, affirmed, “The Presence of Perfection, Love, and Wisdom guides the direction of my life.” This inner conflict between old thought patterns and my conscious awareness continued until there was no longer any power given to thoughts of limitation. 

I have discovered and proved, to myself, that whenever I am awake and aware of my true nature, my self-talk shifts from “prepare for the worse and hope for the best” to describing “the best-case scenario.”  I notice that whenever I am determined to stay awake and anchored in truth principles, the vision that pulls me is always greater than the shadows that taunt me. 

I am called time and time again to wrestle the angel of light until I see through the fog of erroneous beliefs and once again gain the clarity of a clear day. The philosophy of the Science of Mind has taught me that while I may not be responsible for what is happening in the world, I am, however, responsible for my response to world events.  Not only am I called to embrace the high prerogative of spiritual insight, but I am called to act upon that which I know is mine to do.

Rising above the shadows of homelessness; the shadows of hunger and starvation; the shadows of poverty; the shadows of sickness, disease, and death; and the shadows of hatred and bigotry requires the strength and courage to acknowledge that, yes, I walk among the shadows of the world; and, at the same time, I do not perpetuate and give substance to them by considering the worst-case scenario. Instead, I affirm God’s Wholeness and Sufficiency impart peace on earth and goodwill toward all beings. 

In other words, I envision a world that works for everyone. Then I contemplate that which is mine to do.

In the song, “We Have a Dream,” Tina Meeks sings, “just like Martin, I have a dream; and just like Gandhi I want peace; and just like Mother Theresa I want love.” She then goes on to “pray for our courage to rise above.”  For me, rising above means piercing the veil of materiality, and through the portal of meditation, hang out in the realm of the enlightened ones until I, too, may bring back to earth-consciousness a gift that supports all of humanity. 

This Weeks Affirmation

“There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.” 

By Amanda Gorman

“Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
~ Luke 12:32 ~

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
~ Proverbs 4:7~

Spiritual surrendering is when I release and I let go, letting the Source of all life do Its perfect work. It is a demonstration of faith. A popular gospel song suggests that once you have done all you can do, then it’s time to just “stand.” It’s another way of saying: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I hope,” as found in Psalm 130:5 (ESV) of the Holy Bible. I like to remind myself that the Lord of my soul is the Unfailing Law of Love, that always responds by corresponding with the energy frequency that I emit through my intentions, beliefs, and actions.

When there is a misunderstanding or a false belief regarding humanity’s relationship with The Over-Soul governing the universe, called God; there is often an underlying fear that the All-Powerful-One punishes and rewards us according to our behavior. When misunderstood, phrases like, “Let Go and let God;” and, “It is God’s will,” may further solidify false beliefs and validate the ego’s belief that it is an isolated being that must beg for God’s favor.

Gaining spiritual awareness takes time and consistent practice. It requires regular departure from the busy-ness of the day and taking an inward journey, becoming acquainted with the all-encompassing Presence in whom we live, move, and have our being. Immediately or eventually, the veil of illusion that seems to separate the physical realm from the spiritual realm is lifted. The concept of Oneness begins to dawn on the human mind. Soon the idea of God is expanded. It is so much greater than was previously imagined.

When an individual begins to let go of its lesser viewpoint of self with all its limitations and begins to embody a greater viewpoint of the Self that indwells all; it has been described as being born again. In the new awareness, there it the unwavering faith and confidence that with God, the great I AM, all things are possible.

In ever-increasing enlightenment, one begins to trust the outcomes of the specific good desired, refraining from outlining when, where, and how the good will come about. This cultivated consciousness simply knows “what;” while the indwelling Self knows “how.” The Buddha taught that attachment is the root of all suffering, and that non-attachment can help alleviate suffering and increase peace of mind.

In verse 50:16 of the Quran, it reads, “. . . . . and We know whatever thoughts his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein”. Jesus called this Presence, Father (First Cause), and announced “The Father and I Are One.”

The timeless nature of God, this One who always hears and always answers is always at the point of our own vision and acceptance. It is the manifestation we seek that reveals Love, Harmony, Beauty, Wisdom, Peace, Abundance, Joy, and all the good we can imagine. This Eternal and Self-Existent Cause of all life is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

IT IS what IT IS, forevermore.

This Weeks Affirmation

“God sees through my eyes, hears through my ears, touches through my hands, and speaks through my voice. I am one with God.”

https://bmindful.com/affirmations/oneness#google_vignette

(Revisited)

What I notice is, anytime I am inattentive, it’s like sleepwalking. My body shows up in the present moment, but not my mind.  In this absent-minded state of consciousness, I may be influenced by opinions and ever-changing facts. In such moments I am highly susceptible to mistaking the false for the real. At such times, my vision for the future is often cloaked in “wishing” and “hoping,” rather than conviction and faith.

Ernest Holmes imparts his wisdom, saying “Let us in the stillness of our own soul go back to that ineffable Presence which is Peace and proclaim It even in the midst of confusion, that Peace which is the Power at the heart of God.”   

Following Holmes’ teachings, I know that spiritual discernment is key in the development of my evolving consciousness.  I anchor my go-to affirmations and prayers in the universal principles of Oneness, Love, and Peace, to name a few.  These eternal verities are my measurements of Reality, the Truth that is the same today, yesterday, and forever. From this perspective, the balancing act of being in this world but not of it is harmonized and my assessment of spiritual supremacy operating in human affairs inspires me to know that all is well. 

The wonderful thing about The Truth is, it is never threatened, nor does it depend on what I believe. Instead, it is, in fact, my perceptions and my beliefs that are the cause of my suffering or my unwavering assurance.  The good news is, at any time I may change my thinking and change my life.

I consider the words of The Apostle Paul: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Now, what I notice is, anytime I am awake, alert, aware, and involved in the present moment, whether it is walking, talking, eating, or washing my hands, I find I am filled with great clarity. This intentional focus causes the energy of insight and right judgement to rise up within me. In this state of consciousness, I am a clear, conscious, conduit, through which Divine Wisdom and Intelligence flow unobstructed, guiding all my decisions into right action. 

I affirm the inevitable presence and power of the One Spirit, God, now and in the future.

I like living on the affirmative side of life, and at the same time I am careful not to put my head in the sand about the apparent conditions that I face daily.   For example, as our nation experiences the labor pains of giving birth to its next expression of “the land of the free and the home of the brave,” I offer my cultivated consciousness as a midwife for the expected blessing.

In my awakened state of consciousness, I realize the evolution of Life is forever stretching into the eternal; therefore, I capture the present moment and participate fully.   I listen for the Indwelling Presence to reveal to me that which is mine to do.

This Weeks Affirmation

I am fully present in every moment, as God magnifies all that I am.
By Robbin G. Ruffner, RScP Emeritus

“In Him we live and move and exist.”
~ Acts 17:28 (NIV) ~

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
~ John 15:7 (NIV) ~

“I fast from fear and feast upon faith.”
~Ernest Holmes, 365 Science of Mind (p.296.3) ~

It has been said that spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. The above verses from sacred scripture and the writings of Ernest Holmes are good examples of what this means.

First of all, let’s consider that the “Him” in the first verse is not referencing an anthropomorphic being; i.e., a deity that is humanlike. But rather, it is referencing a Presence that permeates eternity. It is like referring to the air we breathe, saying “she” was foggy today. Interpreters of the high mysticism of the spiritual realm, in whom we live, move, and have our being, used many metaphors to provide a context to describe the Love-Intelligence that transcends words and concepts.

If one took the words from the Bible literally, the second quote would suggest that it is possible to remove ourselves from The Presence and from Its Divine Mind. This couldn’t be further from the Truth. Actually, when understood from a spiritual perspective, it describes the inseparable unity that exists between The Presence of God, and humanity.

In fact, it speaks about the benefits that one receives whose consciousness (or conscious awareness of Truth) remains awake and aware of its Source in all things. The Presence is First Cause. The Presence is that great and grand Creative Energy Field that makes all things out of Itself. The Presence is Divine Mind whose intelligence yields words of Peace, Harmony, Love, Wisdom, Joy, Beauty, and Abundance.

Each one of us is an individualization of this One Cosmic Whole. While we can never be separated from It any more than we can be separated from the air we breathe, we may fall asleep (metaphorically speaking) from time to time, causing a false belief of separation, and turning to secondary causes to fulfill our dreams. The promise is, when you remain in a consciousness of unity, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. The power of God is our birthright.

~ ~ ~ ~

The origin of all experiences begins with a word; e.g., an idea, a belief. Scripture tells us, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God (the principle of good), and the word was God. When we remain in this consciousness by abstaining (fasting) from limited thoughts, and partaking liberally (feasting) with ideas of Peace and Harmony, they inevitably bring Joy to our lives.

The Science of Mind is a philosophy, a faith, and a way of life that deals with the practical application of these universal truths that mystics of all time have known. The whole premise is based on cliches’ like, “Learn how to think. . . learn how to live.” Or, “Change your thinking . . . change your life.” These mental practices have a tendency to align us with The Divine Mind in whom we live, move, and have our being.

Meditation, Life Visioning, Affirmative Prayer, Journaling, Inspirational Reading are some ways we remain anchored in God Consciousness, becoming a beneficial presence of Love, Light, Wisdom, and Peace on earth.

This Weeks Affirmation

“My mind is one with God-Mind, in which everything is possible.”

www.unity.org/article/monthly-affirmations-unity

“It is your Father’s good pleasure to give. . .”
~ Luke 12:32 ~

“Faith is the substance . . .”
~ Hebrews 11:1 ~

“—all’s love, yet all’s law.
~ Robert Browning ~

When the good we desire is secretly lodged in the quietness of our hearts, and then, suddenly, that good appears in a practical, tangible way, we are amazed by this “glad surprise.” At such times as these, there is a deep sense of The All-Pervasive-Presence that is ever so near. In this exalted state of acceptance, praise, and thanksgiving, there is a tendency for the one who receives this divine grace to express heartfelt gratitude, and in so doing, provides an opening for even greater and greater good to unfold as health, wealth, harmonious relationships, or whatever it is the heart longs for.

Truth be told, there is never a time when we are separated from this magnificent Law of Good. Actually, it is our very own words, thoughts, and feelings. These creative forces, the ceaseless activity of the mind, when filled with conviction, become visible. They become the people, places, and things we have imagined life to be.

When we become conscious of this phenomenon, just as great thinkers and mystics before us have; we begin to use this powerful Law of Mind for specific purposes. We begin unleashing unity, peace, beauty, wisdom, and intelligence into the world through our words and actions. This spiritual consciousness perpetuates a world that works for everyone.

The choice to align one’s self with the rhythm of the Divine Mind in whom we live, move, and have our being, takes courage and discipline. In some instances, we may experience an “exact struggle of the soul;” especially when one’s gaze has been a downward view of apparent conditions. However, we may be assured, the former things that no longer serve begin to fall away when the creative energy of our words, thoughts, and feelings no longer sustain them.

In some ways the choice means being a mid-wife to one’s own new birth; providing self-care and an unwavering faith that affirms that what awaits you, is indeed an expanded life of the Light. The awakened one begins to see as God sees . . . Omnipotent Good at every turn.

In summary: Practicing the presence of a Power for Good operating in the universe by affirming absolute oneness with It, causes a breakthrough in consciousness that gives birth to a higher sphere of life, living, and purpose. The evidence, or manifestation that shows up is the natural, necessary, and logical outcome of the mindset one has entertained and embodied.

Meditation, Life Visioning, Spiritual Mind Treatment, Inspired Reading, and Journaling are some spiritual practices that are supportive in attaining a realization of the Truth that sets us free from every sense of limitation.

This Weeks Affirmation

I live my life with love, grace, and perfect ease.

By Keith D. Childers