Our Good Shepherd

The Bible:
Ps 25:1-3 (to :),4-10
Ps 73:22-24
Luke 4:14 Jesus
Luke 15:1-7
John 10:1-7,9-11 by, 14-16
John 13:34,35
John 14:1,2,4-6
Mark 6:32-39,41-44
Mark 10:17-30,46-52
I Pet 2:25
I Thess 3:11-13

Science and Health:
46:25-26
288:29
30:5-25,30
25:13-18 np
286:9
138:17-3
350:6-23
494:30
37:16
594:12
353:7
494:5
180:27
178:32
326:3-22

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 330:1-4
Hymn 245:1-3
Hymn 343:1-4

Happy Christmas!

I do love this poem by Mary Baker Eddy - it has been in my thought for the last week leading up to Christmas day. It really brings to mind the eternality of the Christ idea, which Jesus exemplified in every aspect of his life - from the special circumstances of his birth to the way he lived his life and taught others to the gift of his resurrection and ascension. The Christ is here - always and in all ways. How wonderful to have this time to pause to appreciate and celebrate this great gift from God!

Much peace and joy to all during the holiday and through the new year!

Christmas Morn

Blest Christmas morn, though murky clouds
Pursue thy way,
Thy light was born where storm enshrouds
Nor dawn nor day!

Dear Christ, forever here and near,
No cradle song,
No natal hour and mother's tear,
To thee belong.

Thou God-idea, Life-encrowned,
The Bethlehem babe —
Beloved, replete, by flesh embound —
Was but thy shade!

Thou gentle beam of living Love,
And deathless Life!
Truth infinite, — so far above
All mortal strife,

Or cruel creed, or earth-born taint:
Fill us today
With all thou art — be thou our saint,
Our stay, alway.

Christ the King

The Bible:
Isa 11:1-5
Isa 9:6,7
Matt 1:18-25
Luke 2:21,22,25-38
Matt 2:1,2,7-12
Luke 2:40,52
Luke 4:15,32-37
Luke 5:18,20-25
Matt 20:29
Matt 21:1-9
Rev 12:10 (to :)
Luke 19:38 Blessed

Science and Health:
332:9-11 Jesus,19 Jesus,23-30 Jesus
312:31-22
316:12 (only),21
26:12
135:26
25:31
270:22-24,31
381:31
131:26
473:6-7,18-3
141:13
191:8
vii:2-13,17
95:28-5
230:6
150:4
565:13

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 362
Hymn 310
Hymn 417 (Joy to the World)

Something for Halloween

What better time to consider the story of the witch of Endor in I Samuel than on Halloween! Follow the links for the full citation, or, if you have the program Concord, copy the links into the Citation Document window and view them there. Enjoy!


The Bible:
Deut 18:9-11,13
Isa 8:19-20,22
I Sam 28:3-20 (to :),25 Then
I Sam 31:1 (to :),2 (to ;),6
Lev 19:31
Lev 20:6 the,7
Acts 15:40
Acts 16:9-13,16-18
Acts 19:17-20 and fear
Gal 5:19-23,25
I John 4:1 (to :)

Science and Health:
86:13-20
352:12-32
587:1
594:22-24 (to .)
73:3-14,19-25
82:9-28
77:22-27
80:12
81:1
74:3,29
75:1-11,25-5
71:1-9,21
72:1-13
284:31-32
99:18-29

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 2
Hymn 39
Hymn 64

Servant Leadership

I've loved this concept of servant leadership for a long time. I did some exploring online about it and its history. Check out these sites if you are interested in learning more, too:


Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership - Robert Greenleaf was the one who started the modern concept of servant leadership


10 Principles of Servant Leadership - from Hampton House at Butler University - I love what they have for #3!


Wikipedia's article on this subject - always helpful and lots more great links


And here are some ideas on this wonderful concept from the Bible and Science and Health. Follow the links to read the citations, or, as always, you can copy and paste the citations into the Concord software program and view them there (including all the hymns!).


Much love to you all!

The Bible:
Matt 4:17 Jesus
Matt 5:1-3,5,13
Matt 7:12
Mark 8:34-36
Mark 9:30 (to ;),33-41
Mark 10:31,35-38 (to :),40-52
John 13:1,4-7,12-17,34,35
John 15:13,14,16
II Cor 5:5,9
II Cor 6:1,3,4,6,8,10 as poor
Gal 6:2,3,5-7,9,10
I Pet 5:5 Yea,6

Science and Health:
51:28-8
54:8
48:10
64:8-10
270:22-24
142:18-20
4:3
34:18-23
272:3-8
30:26
25:22-9
451:2
454:14-2
453:14-15
444:16-19
570:14-18,23-24
367:17
323:32-4
518:15-19

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 131
Hymn 403
Hymn 162

A little twist on an old favorite

Here's a new take on an old favorite verse from Psalm 23 that I found today. Verse six of this psalm is the Golden Text for the Christian Science Bible Lesson this week, so I took a little time to explore it more deeply with a variety of Bible translations, a couple of commentaries and the Hebrew lexicon in Strong's Concordance.

The verse reads: (Ps 23:6)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I've looked up a few of the words in this verse before - mostly "goodness," "mercy," the ones that seemed more important, but I'd never paid much attention to the first word - "surely" until today. And have always taken it as an affirmation (which it is), that without a doubt, goodness and mercy will be with me. Or, as one commentator says, they are like two angels who pursue you, determined to run you down. Fun thought!

Anyway, I checked on "surely" and found that, in addition to that affirmative, the Hebrew word used in this verse can also mean "only." So, "only goodness and mercy shall follow me" - nothing else but that goodness and lovingkindness that God has for his loved creation. No curses or blights, no plagues or illnesses - nothing bad can pursue me, much less catch up to me - only goodness and mercy.

Or, as Patterson puts in in the Message Bible:

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

Just makes you feel wonderful to think about it!

Much joy!

No plague shall come nigh thee

The Bible:
Ps 119:107
Jer 8:22
Jer 30:10 fear,11 (to :),12,13,17 (to ;),22
Ex 15:26 I am
Ps 25:1,2,4-6,7 according,17,18,20,21
Ps 91:1-5 (to ;),6,7,9-11,14-16
John 1:1-4,14,18
Matt 4:23 Jesus
Matt 5:1,2,5,8
Matt 8:2-4
John 8:12,32,47
Luke 17:12-19
James 5:13-15 (to ;)
Ps 103:1-4,11

Science and Health:
153:25-15
196:25-8
197:11-16
399:3-6,11-17,20-28
394:17-5
395:21
xi:9
142:26-12
143:26-31
288:31
176:21-7
418:29
390:20,29
393:8-18
474:31-2

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 99
Hymn 175
Hymn 280

Test Time

It is that time of year again I think – midterms! I was remembering when I began taking classes for a graduate program about a decade ago. I was at an unfamiliar university. In a program that was new to me. I had an overload of classes. And I held a teaching assignment in an unfamiliar subject. And now -- tests!

I was scared. So scared, in fact, that I could hardly study. Every time I tried -- with my textbooks, notebooks, cue cards, handouts -- I got nowhere. I couldn't focus on anything except how hard these tests were going to be. How did I get into this graduate program anyway? Why was I doing this to myself?

Taking a walk on the Sunday morning before all of these exams, I really reached out to God for an answer. A Bible passage I'd always liked came to mind: "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Timothy 1:7)

I thought about the statement, rolled it over and over in my mind. And then something about it struck me -- there's a distinction between fear and the three good things listed: power, love and a sound mind. God doesn't give us all four, but only the latter three. Fear doesn't come from God, and I didn't want anything that didn't come from God.

I sincerely believe that the only thing I can have comes from God's abundant love, the source of everyone's intelligence, including mine. It was giving me the strength, and the love, and the sound mind I needed to take the tests.

As I thought about these ideas that fall day, I started to feel joyful. My fear dropped off, because God's good was filling me up with a sense of goodness. I began to think more clearly. When I got home, I found I could focus on the work I needed to do to prepare for these tests. Any time the fear tried to sneak back in, I thought about that Bible passage and how fear and a sound mind cannot mingle. Soon the fear would go away again.

I took four tests that week. I did great on the three that were most important to my degree. The fourth, however, did not go so well -- but all was not lost. A couple of days later, my advisor called. He actually apologized for not realizing that I was so overloaded that semester! He didn’t understand that I was actually teaching a class on my own, not just assisting a professor with one. He strongly encouraged me to drop that problematic course, which I gladly did.

The next time tests came along (and you know they did!), I was off to a much better start. I didn't have to conquer fear again -- just the subject matter.

Here's a link to an idea from Science and Health, too, that describes what these spiritual views can do for us, whether a student or not, why the study of divine Science is so helpful in all ascpects of life.

Embraced by the light

I’ve still been thinking about that idea of all-encompassing light that I blogged about the other day, and wondering about how that would feel – to be so embraced by light. Perhaps this is trying to put a spiritual concept into physical terms, but it seems to me that this light would be the sum total of all the wonderful qualities that God is: good, love, joy, vitality, trust, wisdom, etc. Certainly there would be some response that we’d feel to that. Peace, the feeling of being so loved, warmth, and bliss are some that spring to my thought. Just an overwhelming sense of being in harmony with everything and so loved – and so able to love.

Have you seen the TV show “Saving Grace”? I think it is on TNT and was new this summer. I wasn’t going to watch it, but somehow ended up catching an episode, and then another, and soon was hooked. Anyway, in this show, Grace (played by Holly Hunter) is an Oklahoma City police detective who leads a pretty wild lifestyle. Not a strong moral compass and that doesn’t bother her. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and at least some of her family. She is also agnostic at best, perhaps atheist. One evening, after a pretty rough day and some heavy drinking and partying, she is driving home, way over the speed limit, hits a man walking along the side of the road, and crashes her car into a speed limit sign.

After trying to resuscitate him unsuccessfully, she prays, “Oh, God, please help me.” And that’s when Earl enters her life. Earl looks like an Earl, a bit rough looking, perhaps a biker, flannel shirt and jeans, but the thing is Earl’s an angel. Certainly not what most of us would expect to see when an angel came in answer to our prayer! ;-) But what would Grace expect (if anything)? Certainly Earl appears like the type of person she already relates to, would be comfortable with, in everyday life.

Well, Grace being pretty much a “non-believer,” Earl had some proving to do, and this is where light started to come in. And of course this involves angel wings – and boy does he have wings! Large, bright white and glowing. And when he envelopes Grace in those wings, or more correctly, the light from those wings, it’s like she melts. You can just see this amazing sense of peace, intense joy, pure happiness and love wash over the woman, and she absolutely basks in this feeling. Maybe this is a glimpse of how that light of God in that city at the top of the hill feels. (BTW, the man Grace hit is immediately healed – and gone – and her car and the road sign are unscratched.)

So do we need Earl to come along and spread his wings to feel the impact of God’s light? I think we have our Earls and that we have these moments (hopefully we all do!) and we get these glimpses in our lives. We get them when that special someone gives us a hug, when a friend says or does just the right thing at the right moment, when we are engrossed in a piece of beautiful music or art, when a physical or emotional ill is healed. Think what it will be like when we get to the top of that hill and experience that light full-time. Who wouldn’t want that or to do what it takes to get there?

The allegory in Miscellaneous Writings gives some examples on what prevents people from even trying, perhaps even noticing that light and the path to it, and hints at the dangers that challenge us along the way as we struggle to that city “four-square.” And I think Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy is a great guidebook to help us along the way, to help us overcome those roadside dangers and pitfalls, and to enable us to reach that holy city filled with the light of God.

Unlimited Capabilities

Seems like you hear from everyone, "Oh, I have too much to do! I don't have time for [insert meeting, lunch, event, opportunity, etc. here]." These are some ideas that I think help with this perspective that can be so mesmerizing, keeping one from doing what perhaps we really should be doing at times.


Just click on the links below to see the citations, or copy and paste the references into the Citation Document pane in the Concord software program to view them there.


Much joy!


The Bible:
Eccl 3:1,9-11 (to :),15,17,22 (to :)
Mark 1:14,15,39-45
Mark 3:7-10
Mark 5:21-42
Matt 11:25 Jesus (to ,),28,30
Rom 8:28 we
Gal 5:7,8
II Cor 3:4-6 such (to ;)
II Cor 9:1,6,8,11

Science and Health:
255:12-14
595:17
468:28-2
469:4-5 Life is not (to .)
428:19
322:3
312:24-26
387:3-26
248:12-4
260:13-20
288:27-28
128:4
385:7-11
89:21-22
326:16


Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 97
Hymn 253
Hymn 82

Everywhere there’s light

In Mary Baker Eddy’s book of collected writings, Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, there is an interesting six page article called “An Allegory.” I was reading it again this morning and didn’t make it past the end of the first sentence before I had to pause for a while. The sentence is: (323:2-6)

Picture to yourself "a city set upon a hill," a celestial city above all clouds, in serene azure and unfathomable glory: having no temple therein, for God is the temple thereof; nor need of the sun, neither of the moon, for God doth lighten it.

Obviously MBE is indicating here chapter 21 in Revelation where John describes the holy city, New Jerusalem. Though I’ve read this part of Revelation many times and have read this allegory a few times before, this morning I really had to sit back and ponder this depiction of light.

No sun, no moon, stars, street lamps, etc., just God giving light to the city. So the source of light is God, infinite Spirit, who I think of as omnipresent – everywhere present, always present. So the source is all around the city, not from some specific point and it is always “on”. And so it struck me, do you know what isn’t there? Shadows! The light is coming for all over; essentially is. You would need light to come from an object or point and then for it to shine on some thing that could block some of the rays in order to create a shadow. But this isn’t the case in the celestial city, the realm of God. God just shines and surrounds all spiritual creation in His light. Kind of cool, I think.

An image that this concept brought to my mind is from Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Don’t know if you ever watched this show, but periodically Captain Sisko would have encounters with a group of infinite beings called “the Prophets.” When he is with them, he is enveloped in light. Everything around him is white light. Hmm, don’t think he had any shadows, either. I think this might be a useful image to use to try to picture what this total surround of spiritual light might be like.

But what a great thought – to be shadow-less, to have no darkness on you or cast by you. This is what the true spiritual being is like. So to me this indicates that my role is to expect this light, see this light, and do what I can not to block it from shining purely, perfectly everywhere I go, in encounters with others – essentially to be expressing those good and wonderful spiritual qualities that reflects that light of Divine Being and helps to obliterate the shadows that cloud my own and others’ sense of life.

I think this is just the tip of the iceberg on this perspective of light and so I will be picturing for myself this "city that is set on a hill" awash in light for a while. What does that look like to you?

What is the question?

The story of Jesus healing the blind man (John 9) that is in this week’s Christian Science Bible lesson has become a favorite in the last couple of years. What really did it for me was reading Peterson’s paraphrase in The Message Bible, especially the first five verses:

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world's Light." (John 9:1-5)

I love how in this edition, Jesus really turns around the disciples questions – makes them realize that they need to change the basis from which they are perceiving this man and making their query. And why even look for a cause, since the cause they were looking for was a popularly held theological belief: Something is wrong with this person so someone must have sinned. And it might not have even been this person who sinned. Maybe God was taking it out on the son of the sinner.

To me, it’s like Jesus is saying you are starting from the wrong premise – you need to start with God as I am showing Him to you – God as Life, Truth and Love. And so what you should look for are the effects that must result from God’s causation. And those effects must be good as God is good. Jesus is shedding a clear light on these old philosophies and revealing that they are not true. And this understanding, this higher perspective, removed the man’s blindness.

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy wrote (476:32-5):

Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick. Thus Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is intact, universal, and that man is pure and holy.

I think this explains perfectly what Jesus did in this instance to heal this man of blindness and what he was telling his disciples (all of us!) so that we can “be energetically at work for the One who sent” him. Right now in my life, I feel like this passage from Science and Health and that story from John reveal the crux of practicing the love of Christian Science. This view might change, but for now I am earnestly trying to ask the better questions, checking to be sure that the basis of the question is from the right view of God and Her pure and perfect creation.

Prayer and Fasting

Muslims around the world are in the midst of the holy month Ramadan, so seemed appropriate to think about some ideas on prayer and fasting, which are at the heart of these special days. I read the first three Bible citations from the New International Version, especially because of Isaiah 58, and this is what these verses are linked to below. Check it out in that version and maybe some others, but it is really clear and interesting in the NIV.

The Bible:
Ps 35:9,13 I,18,24 (to ;),28
Ps 109:22,24,26
Isa 58:1-11,14
Luke 4:1-15
Luke 6:6-10
Matt 4:25
Matt 5:1-3,6
Matt 6:5 when,6,9-13,16-22
Matt 17:14-21
Joel 2:12,13 (to 5th ,)


Science and Health:
1:6
260:24
261:31-7
296:6
7:17
15:23
201:9-14,17-5
241:5,19-27
220:22
53:3-5
242:9
107:1
109:11-24
254:16
21:9
490:8
41:6
20:27
60:29
99:23

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 64
Hymn 410
Hymn 237

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

Oh, what a beautiful Mornin'
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I've got a beautiful feelin'
Everything's goin' my way.

Rogers & Hammerstein

I woke up this morning with this refrain from the well known song “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” from the musical Oklahoma singing in my head. There was no logical reason for it to be there. I enjoy musicals, but they aren’t a big part of my life. I truly hadn’t thought about this musical in ages. So I had to take it as a sweet message from my Father-Mother God. Really it was a lovely way to wake up with this gentle melody running through my thought.

So, being a fairly curious person, I had to ask why. Why this song, Father? What am I supposed to get from its words? Well, I realized that I have had an urge to appreciate mornings more. I’ve never thought of myself as a “morning person.” Not that I wake up grumpy – I’m usually in a good mood, even my husband says so (phew!). But I don’t exactly look forward to waking up, getting up, and getting going on the day. And for me being up before 6:30 is pretty amazing! So this was a great message to get, to brighten my outlook on starting the day. As I lay in bed and thought about the words and began to pray, I really was feeling more positive about this day’s beginning.

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy defined morning as “Light; symbol of Truth; revelation and progress.” (p. 591) Certainly only good things there! And I do want to progress, to be awake for revelation. A great reminder and something to continue to pray with as each morning comes along – whether it is at 6 AM or later in the day.

But I am thinking the message of this melody is more than that for me today. I have been thinking and wondering quite a bit lately about what I am doing with my life of late and about the mix of activities that I am participating in currently. There is a lot and it all takes quite a bit of my time, in addition to trying to finish fixing up our house (two-and-a-half years and counting!) and generally care for it. So I’ve been asking, “Am I supposed to be doing all of these things? Am I giving to each activity the care and attention it deserves?” They mostly all go together well in their focus, but… should something be dropped?

So the last two lines of the refrain feel significant to me in this regard right now. I can have a “beautiful feelin’” – a happy, secure, peaceful sense – that “everything’s goin’ my way” – because, as it says in Science and Health, “All is under the control of the one Mind, even God.” (p. 544) and I am learning more and more to trust this fact, and that the result of divine Mind’s or Love’s control is and must be good for all of Her creation, because God is Love. And this gives me a sense of peace, that I can trust that God will provide for me the opportunity and ability to do well for these activities, that She will help me see more clearly – in the light of the morning – what I should or should not be doing. I’ll know when I need to and don’t’ need to fret.
So I think I’ll be singing this song, or at least the refrain for today and the next few days. We know what hymn Laura Matthews is singing today. How about you? What song is in your heart and inspiring your day?

Have a beautiful morning!

Infinite capabilities

When a friend emailed me this morning with her giant to-do list, hoping for some spiritual uplift to help her face this growing mountain, I realized that this was why one of my favorite quotes from Science and Health was bouncing around in my thought this morning. Here's the story about how it became a favorite...

I’d been working for an employer for a couple of years, essentially in the same position, though the focus of the work had changed during that time. I loved the work, loved working for my boss, but was feeling like I needed to grow in other ways. After a discussion with my boss, we agreed I’d start moving into a new position which included activities I was already doing for the team plus some other projects to manage. The key to this transition was that we had to find a replacement for my current role. I really did dislike the idea of giving up that position as I loved the work, but I really felt like I needed something more at that point. A few months went by and we were not coming up with a suitable candidate to fill my current position. So I tried to work both of these jobs, the primary challenge being that these activities needed work environments that were essentially opposites. My then current position was an “on demand” response sort of activity while the new role needed quiet and thought. I became frustrated as I wanted to do well at both, especially at this new role, but felt like I was failing each, and my boss.

One day I was really struggling with frustration over all of this and reached out to God more earnestly than ever. I’d been praying but still felt stuck and stymied. What I got from this yearning was this quote: "We are all capable of more than we do." (89:21-22) Well, I had to laugh - and did! Can you believe it?! God has such a great sense of humor! There I was, wanting to divest myself of things to do, and He's reminding me that I really can do more! And I'm capable of doing more, not just able. Here are some of the definitions for capable:

2 obsolete : COMPREHENSIVE
3 : having attributes (as physical or mental power) required for performance or accomplishment 4 : having traits conducive to or features permitting
5 : having legal right to own, enjoy, or perform6 : having or showing general efficiency and ability

Well, that laughter totally broke the mesmerized sort of feeling I was under induced by the feeling of burden. That feeling of being overwhelmed had kept me focused on feeling like I was overwhelmed and stopped me from seeing what was true - that, as God's reflection, as the expression of infinite Mind, I have “all the attributes required for accomplishment” and the “legal right to enjoy or perform.” I thanked God and was finally able to really pray about this issue, really open my thought and listen to what the divine Mind had to share.

My prayer then was, "Father, whichever role you want me to be in, that's what I'll do. If it’s this new activity, great. If it is staying where I've been and letting someone else take on the other, then I will be happy with that decision. What job do You want me to have?"

The answer I got was totally surprising - totally from left field! I distinctly heard this, "Person X's position."

I thought, "Yeah, right. Person X would never leave that job; it's perfect for Person X. Now, really, what do you want me to do?"

And I got the same answer, "Person X's job."

"Okay," I thought, "It would be a very good fit for me, and would mean doing something I'd love and have wanted to do, have studied about how to do, so would use my talents. But no way will Person X ever leave that spot. So, You figure it out, Father, and let me know."

So things continued for another month or two as they had been, except I felt at peace and was finding ways to work in both activities (One was just deciding that I was leaving work by 7 or 7:30 each evening. That way I could do the reading that I needed to do for the new position from the more quiet space of home. No phones ringing. No, "Hey, Bets, where's....").

Then one day my boss asked me talk to her in the conference room. The hairs literally stood up on the back of my neck! The way she phrased it, I knew something was up. It was a phrase we'd joked about a few times, that one should be a bit worried when your boss said this to you. Yikes! She’s saying it to me! So we sat down in the conference room, and guess what? She told me I was being asked to take Person X's position as Person X was being assigned to something new. I about fell over! Literally, I was reeling in my seat! Wow! God is awesome in how He works!

So the next few weeks were full to say the least as the transition was accomplished. I had to pass along activities from the new role I had been trying to take up, and, lo and behold, we never really did hire someone specifically for the old position! Another woman working on the team easily picked up the essential elements of that position. Another sentence from Science and Health added on to the one above as my guiding thought and prayer during the transition: "All is under the control of the one Mind, even God [variously inserting the different synonyms and qualities of God – such as Love, Truth, omniscience – as were needed by the moment]." (544:16-17)

I worked in this new position for about nine months, loving it and learning so much, and then new transitions came along. But the lesson about my capabilities – never limited – has stuck with me, thank Goodness!

A Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement - was last weekend. Thought it would be interesting to explore a little of the history of this High Holy day and think about the spiritual import of atonement. Links are provided for the citations, or copy and paste them into the Concord program and view them there. G'mar khatima tovah! - or -"May you be sealed for a good year!"


The Bible:
Lev 16:2-10,12-18,20-22,29-34
Ps 51:1--3,10-13,15-17
Heb 3:1 holy,2
Heb 8:1-3 We have such,6,10-13
Heb 9:1-3,6,7,11-15,24
Heb 10:1-4,12,14,19-24
John 1:1,2,14,16,17
Matt 4:17 Jesus,23
Matt 26:3,4
Matt 27:1,2
Mark 15:25,37,38
Isa 53:1-5
I John 2:1,2
I John 4:10
Rom 5:11 we also

Science and Health:
18:1-11 np
19:17-24
20:14-8
26:21
39:6
23:1
5:3
405:24
12:10
6:18-24,26-27
497:13 We
316:21
332:32
240:18
407:17
253:18-19
304:14
24:11
202:3
481:2-3,5

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 423
Hymn 263
Hymn 299

Overcoming anger and strife

Just click on the links to view each citation or copy and paste the list into the citation document pane of the Concord software program to view them there.

The Bible:
Prov 15:18
Prov 16:27-30,32
Prov 28:25,26
Prov 29:22,23
Prov 20:3
James 3:13-18
Matt 4:17 Jesus,24,25
Matt 5:1,2,5,9,21-24
Matt 22:35-40
James 1:20-22,26
II Tim 2:24-26 the servant
Acts 15:1-23 (to ;),30,31
Gal 5:19-26
Phil 2:1-5
II Cor 13:11 Be,12,14

Science and Health:
467:9
128:27
192:4
342:2
273:29-3
280:30
399:23
403:16-20
213:27
58:5
231:16
276:1-16
9:17
405:5-15,19 Immortal
12:10
447:5-9
456:17-20
4:3-9
202:3
469:30-5
519:17

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 371
Hymn 376
Hymn 31

Psalm 23

I woke up with this Psalm in my thought this morning, so posting it as a prayer for all remembering and affected by the events that occurred six years ago today. This version is from Science and Health, which substitutes "for the corporeal sense, the incorporeal or spiritual sense of Deity." (p. 578)

Psalm XXIII

[DIVINE LOVE] is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[LOVE] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [LOVE] leadeth me beside the still waters.
[LOVE] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [LOVE] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for [LOVE] is with me; [LOVE'S] rod and [LOVE'S] staff they comfort me.
[LOVE] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: [LOVE] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever.


A friend mentioned recently that he was reminded helpfully that this psalm says we are _walking through_ the valley - not stopping, camping out, building homes or otherwise residing there. It's just a part of the path and we do get by it or through it. So keep on journeying! Your Shepherd is right there with you.

Peace to you all.

Owning and voicing our gifts

I’d been reading this sweet little book by Julia Cameron, Blessings, each night before going to bed much of last year but stopped half-way through a while back. Not sure why, just stopped the habit. Last night I picked it up again from the table near my bedside where’s its been for these past months and opened it to the chapter (each “chapter” is like a journal note on a topic, just a page or two of spiritual insight and uplift) where I’d left off, and was amazed. Here’s what Ms. Cameron had to share on the topic “I voice the universe in an original way” (page 92):

I bring to life a unique and powerful voice. My insights and perceptions are important blessings. Voicing my insights and perceptions is important to the world. I am an irreplaceable individual whose gifts benefit all. Owning my gifts, inhabiting them, and expanding them are my gifts to the world and those with whom I share it. As I become larger, more colorful, and more truly myself, I create for others the realization that it is safe for them to become larger, more vibrant, more fully alive. Moving upward and outward in a spirit of creative community, I am non-competitive and truly collaborative, growing larger myself while helping others to achieve their true size as well. The cosmic web is alive with greater and greater consciousness, larger and brighter possibility. As I extend my hand in my immediate world, I alter and enlarge the benevolence of the world as a whole. My every action is sweet and significant. Knowing this, I consciously and creatively act for the highest good. My unique voice and consciousness bless all.

The ideas in this passage from Blessings reminded me immediately of something from Mary Baker Eddy’s booklet Pulpit and Press (p. 43) which I hadn’t thought of for a while:

"What if the little rain should say,
'So small a drop as I
Can ne'er refresh a drooping earth,
I'll tarry in the sky.'"

Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God? You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duodecillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle. A dewdrop reflects the sun. Each of Christ's little ones reflects the infinite One, and therefore is the seer's declaration true, that "one on God's side is a majority."

Wow! I needed this idea. Thought it might help others, so wanted to be sure to share it here. Such a good reminder to ask myself, “Am I using the ideas, gifts, talents, etc. God has given me, especially in the way He would like me to use them? Or am I holding back and thus perhaps not helping another feel the fullness of their expression too?” Oh, so likely that I do, certainly have many times over held back from sharing or following through on an idea for fear – fear for being wrong, sounding dumb, off-base, weird. But, if these ideas, inspirations, etc. that I've gotten are from God, there is not, cannot be anything dumb about them, nothing about each one of them and how I would express it that is not on-target. Okay, maybe they might seem weird, at least to others, but what's really wrong with that? Just being fully unique!

I especially appreciate Ms. Cameron’s reminder that, by expressing our true selves more fully, we help others express themselves more vibrantly, joyously, wholly. That’s generosity at work, too. Changes one’s motives about why we share and express our God-given talents and being, doesn’t it? Not for our own display, but to fully express and therefore give praise to God, and to help lift up our neighbor. Hmmm, doesn’t that sound like the two Great Commandments? (Mark 12: 28-34)

I am so grateful for this reminder and will endeavor to watch more that I don’t hold back, don’t do less than express myself and talents as God knows me, and hope and know that this fuller expression of me will help others along as well. Great tie-in to this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson, too, if you are checking that out.

So own your voice and share it! Be that little rain drop that drops from the clouds and bless the world! I'll be trying to do so more. Hmmm, that sounds like more incentive to share in this blog-way. :)

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I read this book a year ago and debated about commenting on it, but decided not to after all. But when I took a weekend trip a couple of weeks ago, it just kept coming up in my face. Over and over it was there at bookstores (in town and at the airport), front and center. A number of people pointed it to me, “Have you read this book? It is sooo good!” Hmmm, not sure I totally agree, but it was an interesting read but an unsatisfying ending to me. But, as this book kept coming up in my face so much, here I am adding my thoughts to the blogosphere on it. And it really does have a valuable spiritual lesson – that of the power and importance of honesty. Or perhaps, more accurately, it depicts the devastation of dishonesty.

If you aren’t familiar with the book, here’s a bit of a synopsis. David and Norah Henry, into the start of their marriage after a whirl-wind courtship, are racing to the hospital in a snowstorm in Lexington, Kentucky in the 1960s. She is about to give birth to twins. He is a doctor and must handle the delivery himself, along with the help of Nurse Caroline Gill at his own clinic. Their son is born first – whole and healthy. Their daughter arrives next, with all the signs of Downs Syndrome. David has flashbacks to his childhood, to a sister with the same condition and the misery this created for his mother and difficulties for the family. He makes a decision – to have the girl sent to a home via the nurse and tell his wife their daughter died in childbirth (Norah being unconscious from drugs and pain). Caroline Gill does her duty, at first. She takes the girl to the home David directs her to, but she is disgusted by what she finds and decides to raise the girl on her own. From there, life falls apart for the Henrys and becomes an adventure for Caroline Gill.

Now David has the huge secret of his decision, based on his own assumptions about his wife and her abilities, their relationship, etc., that he must continue to hide from Norah. And their relationship begins to fall apart as he begins to withdraw (from guilt, as a protection). Norah has no idea why this man, who she really didn’t know all that well yet, who was tender and caring, has changed, has closed in on himself. It isn’t until the end of the story that she and their son learn the truth, that they discover this daughter/sister they didn’t know, not until after Norah and David are long divorced and David has died.

For me, the lesson of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is summed up in this statement from Mary Baker Eddy’s book Science and Health (p. 453):

“Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is human weakness, which forfeits divine help.”

David depicts this weakness. He can’t live up to the obligations and issues that a child with Downs would create. And he assumes this weakness is true of his wife. He cloaks the action in the guise of relieving his wife of a difficult life, assuming she is like his mother, that she is not strong enough to face this type of challenge. And so falls into the trap of dishonesty and the strain of maintaining this lie (BTW, David knew Caroline ended up keeping his daughter, who she named Phoebe. Caroline regularly sent him information and pictures about Phoebe and her life – an action that likely drove David’s guilt deeper and caused him to retreat further within himself.).

I don’t know anyone with a child with Downs, but have certainly read and heard stories of those that do. These stories always depict people that truly rise to the occasion, that reach new levels of strength and love, that find special family bonds as the whole family unites to care for this precious one. David took this opportunity away from his family. From the characterization of Norah, she seems like one who would have cared for their special needs daughter with grace, love, and great strength. If David had been honest, if he had let Norah in on the decision, life would certainly have been totally different for the Henrys. But I don’t think it could have been worse than how it turned out, for sure! They could have found that spiritual strength to propel them along this path that was different than expected but that still would have been filled with joy and love, based on an honest, open decision from moment one of Phoebe’s appearance in their lives. Caroline Gill certainly had a wonderful life with Phoebe and did much good for many based on this dear girl’s presence in her life. It became more than it would have been otherwise.

Okay, yes, just a story, but a great lesson in the importance, the criticalness of honesty. And probably a good one about not making assumptions about others, too, cause you know what they say, when you “assume” you make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” ;-0

So, not a whole-hearted recommendation of this book, but don’t let this stop you from reading it if you feel drawn to it.

Awaken to the Light

These are some ideas in response to a very sad accident that recently happened to a little boy that attended the school where a friend works. Many were praying for him and his family, but, sadly, he passed on a few days after the accident. The prayers have been helpful, though, as they've supported the family and its friends through the next steps they've been challenged with. My friend reports that many obstacles and issues have come up, but all have been met in really neat ways - definitely ways that have been guided by God.

As with the other posts of these reading, you can view the citations by the links provided or by copying and pasting the references into the Citation Document pane in Concord and clicking on them there. Thanks!


The Bible:
Ps 57:8-11
Ps 139:1-3,11,12,17,18
Isa 52:1 (to :),2,7,9,10
John 1:1-5,9,12 as,16
John 11:1-15,17-27,32-34,38-45
Rom 13:11 now,12
II Tim 1:7,9,10
Eph 5:14 Awake

Science and Health:
95:28-32
190:21
510:27-1
491:17-23,28
292:27-31
493:28-11
128:22 If
218:32-2
230:6
251:8
474:31-2
592:21
584:1
72:12-13
323:24
75:12-24
250:22-32
427:26-3
429:31
288:31-2
305:22
557:18

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 35
Hymn 101
Hymn 161

Rivers of Life

There's been LOTS of rain in our area and now extremely high rivers and flooding. I've never seen the river just a couple of blocks away from our house so incredibly high - hitting the bottoms of bridges and wash over a bit at the worst point. So wanted to pick some readings that might give some comfort and a spiritual perspective on rivers and their use.

Click on the links to see the references, or copy and paste the citation list into the Citation Document pane in Concord to view the references there.

Happy swimming!

The Bible:
Ps 46:1-5
Ps 124:1,4,8
Ps 69:13-16 as
Isa 33:2,5,6,20,21 (to ;),22,24
Isa 43:1,2 (to :),3 (to :)
Isa 66:10,12 (to :),13,18
Ezek 40:2-4
Ezek 47:1,3-6,8,9,12
Jer 29:11-14 (to :)
II Kings 5:1-5,9-14
Ps 23:1-3 (to :),6
Rev 21:2-4 I John,5 (to 1st .)
Rev 22:1,2,17

Science and Health:
540:5
122:1-7
189:18
260:19-28
150:31
394:25
570:26
108:30-10
205:22
276:19-28
593:14-17
203:27
254:24-32
506:18
454:21
103:32
284:31-32
85:30
201:17-18
572:12
573:3
234:4
13:2

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 71
Hymn 80
Hymn 182

Mind knows and you're the knowing

I've been thinking about everyone going back to school and these readings are some ideas to add to the spiritual backpack. The title is an maxim my grandmother used to say to my mom and uncle as she sent them off to school.

You can copy and paste the citations into the citation pane in Concord if you have that program. Otherwise, follow the links to see each. I've put all the Bible citations in King James version, but have some fun and check out other translations for some of the references.

The Bible:
Gen 1:1,3,4 (to :),26 (to :),27,28 (to ,)
Ps 111:10
Ps 147:5
I Kings 3:5-28
Prov 2:1-11
Prov 3:5-8,19,35 (to :)
Dan 2:1-30 in,46-49
II Tim 1:7
Rom 11:33-36

Science and Health:
310:10
331:11 The
591:16
469:12-21
488:23-24
502:27-5
515:21-8 Man
591:5
475:5-10,13
476:9-10,21-22
470:16 (to 2nd .),21-30
336:9 Immortal
258:13-16
257:12-29
478:14-17,20-27
372:1 (only),3
524:19-24
218:25
191:30-5
468:9-11 There
89:18-20
235:11-13
128:4
275:20
215:12

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 73
Hymn 215
Hymn 65

Fully protected

Just wanted to share something that happened today that was kinda cool.

I had to take my husband to the airport this morning for a bit of a trip he is taking. On the drive back home, I was in the midst of a “close call” incident on the interstate. The car in front of me started applying its brakes. I touched mine, thinking, “Oh, what now,” as the person had done this a few times in the little while s/he was in front of me. Then instinctively I realized that this was a real, full stop and that I had to hit my brakes – hard! I did and stopped just short of the bumper of the car in front of me. The only real thought I had at the time was to look in the rearview mirror to insure that the car behind me was stopping – which it did in time. In fact, cars in the lanes on each side were stopping. I couldn’t figure out what was going on until the car in front of me started up – angling to the left. There in front of it was a white, metal, high-backed deck chair laying in the lane. I glanced around – though traffic was at a stand still for the moment, all was at peace – no bumps or fender-benders.

I drove on when I could, which was quickly, and just thought “Wow! Thank you, Father!” How wonderfully protected everyone in that area of that interstate was at that moment. I really was deeply grateful.

As I drove along, I started thinking more deeply about this incident. And I remembered that, especially on the way to the airport, I’d been praying with a couple of ideas that I’ve been thinking about lately – and thinking about them in relation to all the drivers on the highway this morning, the flight my husband was about to take – his whole trip really, and some other things going on in my life right now. Both of these ideas are from Science and Health:

544:16-17
“All is under the control of the one Mind, even God.”

412:23 (to ,)
“Mentally insist that harmony is the fact, …:”

To me, these relate really well. We can all insist on harmony as a fact in all aspects of our life because God, divine Mind, infinite Love, is in control. Nothing is outside of His reference and She makes sure all is orderly, perfect, compatible. I can’t imagine the One who is all wise would or could create things to be in disarray (though at times things sure feel like they are!). I really feel that these prayers supported the harmonious outcome of this “near miss.”

But was perhaps more interesting to me was that I was totally calm after this incident. Just at peace, ready to continue the drive. Other times I’ve been in “close calls,” and the one time I had an accident in my car, I was totally shaking afterwards – barely able to drive. But not this time – not a quake or jitter. When I got home, I took some time to read and study the Christian Science Bible Lesson for this week, with a subject of “Spirit.” In this Bible study guide, two verses from Psalm 16 are quoted, including verse 8:

“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be
moved.”

I remember looking this verse up in a few different translations once. In a few of them, the word “shaken” is used instead of “moved.” Ah! There it was. I’d been setting the Lord before me in my thought that morning drive, and those wonderful thoughts of Her total control didn’t leave me any room to feel shaken or upset by what happened, might have happened, almost happened. Her protecting hand was so evident for all those drivers. What’s to be upset about – all was well!

I’ve just been really grateful for this bit of an example of God’s protecting care in my day today. What examples and experiences have you had of Her loving care in your life lately? Would love to hear!

Much joy!