Go perfect into peace

The late evening hours after often ones of reflection, invocation, prayer and rest. I recently came across this poem about rest in a book of children's poetry. It was written by an eleven year-old boy named Peter. It may not be the most Scientific poem, but the language is gorgeous -- and isn't this concept lovely? "Go perfect into peace." For me, it's a beautiful description of entering the sanctuary of heartfelt prayer. God, may our clean hearts become conscious of Your eternal peace tonight, "free of fiery fury, bathed in the glowing tears of dawn." :)

Sleep and dreams

Rising up

I love this simple article called "Skyward flight" by Caroline Shrewsbury from the May 22, 1915 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel:

One day, while walking, I was attracted by a small bird that was flying away from a dog. The dog pursued the bird and was gaining on the tiny fledgling, which was but a few inches from the ground; and although flying at a good speed, as long as it continued on a level with its pursuer, just so long the dog followed it.

I watched the flight of the one and the chase of the other until a corner of the street was reached, and turned with them in order to watch the outcome, being interested in the bird's safety. Suddenly the little navigator of the air darted straight up and away from any possibility of being caught by its pursuer. The dog stood still, gazing upward; but as he was unable to proceed in the direction the bird had taken, he presently trotted off, leaving the winged creature free and safe in its upward flight. It seemed as if the bird had suddenly become conscious of its ability to rise and so escape the danger that threatened it, and this recalled Mrs. Eddy's words on page 261 of Science and Health, where she says, "Fixing your gaze on the realities supernal, you will rise to the spiritual consciousness of being, even as the bird which . ... preens its wings for a skyward flight." Again on page 260 she says, "Distrust of one's ability to gain the goodness desired and to bring out better and higher results, often hampers the trial of one's wings and insures failure at the outset."

Our safety always lies in rising up into the spiritual heights of Mind and dwelling there in conscious understanding of the allness of God. In Paul's epistle to the Colossians we read, "Your life is hid with Christ in God." Error cannot enter this domain of Spirit.

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Here, too, is a secular article that notes (in most subtle observation) that there are healers rising up all around us. This natural goodness and progress is a sign of the knowledge of good, the Science of God, within all of us. It's wonderful to have this trend -- "Healers rising up" -- publicly recognized, isn't it?

A Nation of Healers

By DAVID BROOKS Published: June 21, 2016

 

Integrity

Integrity is a such a needed quality in our world. The current Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines integrity as 1) the quality of being honest and fair; 2) the state of being complete or whole. It's interesting how honesty and fairness relate directly to being complete or whole.

This letter from Mary Baker Eddy on the topic of integrity is simply wonderful:

My Beloved Students: —

...The man of integrity is one who makes it his constant rule to follow the road of duty, according as Truth and the voice of his conscience point it out to him. He is not guided merely by affections which may some time give the color of virtue to a loose and unstable character.

The upright man is guided by a fixed Principle, which destines him to do nothing but what is honorable, and to abhor whatever is base or unworthy; hence we find him ever the same, — at all times the trusty friend, the affectionate relative, the conscientious man of business, the pious worker, the public-spirited citizen.

He assumes no borrowed appearance. He seeks no mask to cover him, for he acts no studied part; but he is indeed what he appears to be, — full of truth, candor, and humanity. In all his pursuits, he knows no path but the fair, open, and direct one, and would much rather fail of success than attain it by reproachable means. He never shows us a smiling countenance while he meditates evil against us in his heart. We shall never find one part of his character at variance with another.

Lovingly yours,

Mary Baker Eddy

-Mis. 147:1

God, use me

I came across this video of Oprah Winfrey's 1998 acceptance speech today. The whole thing is lovely, but what struck me was Oprah's prayer: "God, use me...Use me, use me. What would you have me to do?" (Speech begins at 1:00). It reminded me of this Lift that I recorded a year or two ago and never published.

What wonders God works through us when we're are available to be moved by Love.

Complete joy

Something wonderful about the life and teaching of Jesus is that they are all about joy.

An angel tells Mary of her pregnancy with these words: "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10).

And even before Jesus was born, the wise men "when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (Matt 2:10). Even an unborn baby (John the Baptist) leapt for joy after the news was announced (Luke 1:44)!

Then when John the Baptist later meets the mature Christ Jesus, he says "this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all" (John 3:29-31).

The topic of joy pops up again and again in Jesus' parables. For joy, Jesus instructs that we should sacrifice all for the kingdom of heaven: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Matt 13:44).

Jesus promises the faithful will enter a state of eternal joy: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matt 25:21).

Jesus defined his earthly mission when he said, "now I come to You [God], and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your Word." (John 17:13).

Christ Jesus said that joy is the result of following his Commandments: "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:10-11).

Jesus disciples came home with joy when they found that his teaching heals: "The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name'" (Luke 10:17).

Jesus said that their will be joy in heaven when one sinner changes his attitude: "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7).

Jesus tenderly promised his followers that "your sorrow shall be turned into joy (John 16:20).

Before Jesus was crucified, he told his followers and friends: "I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you" (John 16:22) and "until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).

And finally, when the disciples first encountered the risen Christ Jesus their reaction was "joy" (Luke 24:41) "and they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:52).

 

"For we are Christ’s, and Christ is Thine, O Father: His joy remains in us through endless days." -Christian Science Hymnal 356:3

Paul's prayer for spiritual growth

From the pen of the Apostle Paul:

"I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." -Ephesians 3:14-21 (NKJ)

The same prayer from the New Living Translation:

"I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." -Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)