Practical Spirituality

Can a cause live on when the reformer gives her life? The assassination of Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007, devastated her countrymen in Pakistan and stunned the international community. Bhutto was a force for democratic change.

Visionary? Yes. Committed? Absolutely. Bhutto returned to the upheaval in Pakistan from relative safety in France to lead the charge against the current regime. What is it that always seems to put reformers in harm’s way…and threatens to jeopardize the progress that they represent?

The simple answer is that reformers create enemies who insist on stopping reform by whatever means. Reformers know this. In her life Bhutto likely received numerous death threats. But clearly, this was not enough to stop her from engaging in the fight.

The reformer and his enemy are inverted images: the reformer disregards the prospect of physical harm in the interest of the greater good, while the enemy looks to preserve his own power base, regardless of the pain and suffering of others. One is selfless, the other selfish.

Mary Baker Eddy, herself a 19th century revolutionary in the fields of theology, medicine and women’s rights, wrote: “The reformer has no time to give in defense of his own life’s incentive, since no sacrifice is too great for the silent endurance of his love. What has not uselfed love achieved for the race? All that ever was accomplished and more than history has yet recorded.”

There is no doubt that violence is a shock, but can it truly stop progress? Not if the force impelling the reformer is spiritual, divine. For then it is a living and eternal idea.

Several years ago Benazir Bhutto herself observed: “You can imprison a man, but not an idea. You can exile a man, but not an idea. You can kill a man, but not an idea.”

Bless you, Benezir. For therein lies the protection and superior power of the reformer’s vision. Ideas that advance a civilization, bless the citizenry and bring an improved view of enlightenment spring from humanity’s inevitable evolution to a higher state of consciousness that more fully embodies our unity with God. Wouldn’t it be clear then that God is supporting — even causing — this progress?

Who, then, could successfully oppose this power?

Whatever Benizir Bhutto stood for, in the direction of good and progress, remains. She knew it and we can too. The world’s spiritual community can stand with her followers in this difficult time, praying to know that the power of good — God — is supreme. This is our act of unselfed love for the Pakistanis, and for the entire world. The progress will continue.

“Each successive state of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love.” (Science and Health page 66)

Doesn’t it seem that life-lessons always come from left-field? I mean, they are totally unexpected and never, ever sought out. But I have to say in all honesty that my most rattling experiences are the ones that compel me to go to the Divine for comfort and guidance. And the result is always, without fail, uplifting and positive. It’s kinda like I go through a space “worm-hole” into a different perspective of life.

The experience I referred to in my last blog has been like that. At one point, when I had already busted through layers of fear and anxiety and felt more secure in the Supreme providing the only justice in the divine and human experience, I started to doubt and second-guess the outcome. I called my spiritual mentor to share this. She said, “When you are convinced of the truth of the situation, what is there to worry about?”

Duh. The truth is, either God is the governing power of the universe — and all that is in it — or She isn’t. Either Her creation (and all ideas in it) is created pure and innocent or it isn’t. Either justice is Divine — and divinity is embracing humanity — or it isn’t. Decide. With conviction!

I’ve had so much evidence in my life that proves the existence of the controlling hand of the Divine in any situation that choosing this time to know God as All-in-all was a no-brainer.

What I realized was happening in my consciousness is that I was making “…Mind the basis of operation…” I was choosing the divine Mind as my reference point, my perspective and foundation from which to think about and view my experience. When this is the starting point, then the result has to be within this context. Meaning, Mind, as the governing Principle and intelligence of being, must cause a related effect of good.

No doubt about it.

Here in New Mexico it is pretty easy to find spots where you feel like you are perched above the towns and neighborhoods — the daily activity of life — and look out unobstructed to earth’s horizon line. Yesterday was a day like that — I actually saw mountains behind mountains that I didn’t realize were there.

Metaphysically-speaking, today I feel like I have that same grand view and that same exhilarating feeling. Over the past several weeks, I have been in a deep spiritual study dive. The impetus was a disturbing legal situation that appeared to be deteriorating badly. But the really compelling thing was to expand my spiritual understanding about who God is, who I and my fellow man are, and what is our relationship to God. Yep, pretty much what spiritual development is all about — just the stories and experiences change.

I’m sitting on a mountaintop today after what feels like a long climb. I know there are more mountains-behind-the-mountains to climb in the spiritual journey, but the mountain that was in front of me just weeks ago has been summitted and it feels good. The legal issues are resolved but what is really cool is the spiritual freedom I feel. Many mental breakthroughs have occurred and spiritual lessons learned.

“If you launch your bark upon the ever-agitated but helpful waters of truth, you will encounter storms. Your good will be evil spoken of. This is the cross. Take it up and bear it, for through it you win and wear the crown.” (Science and Health, page 254)

Yep, I encountered storms. Yep, my intentions to help were turned upside down. But rather than be heavily burdened by this, I learned that taking and bearing the cross means embracing it. A spiritual mentor I called described this as embracing the activity of the Christ. The blessing in this is the crown, and it is assured.

Hah! There is no weight (or wait!) in bearing this — because, actually, I am lifted up by the love and comfort of God. This is victory. Yeah, like sitting on top of the world.

Ever get in a situation and wonder, “How did I possibly land in this place?” Or, “There must be some lessons in this experience, but dang if I can see them.” I just read a really inspiring story about a guy who knows WHY he landed in a distressing place and WHAT he learned.

“A Story of Grace” (Christian Science Sentinel, October 1) is about a guy named Doug Sytsma who was put in jail for several days because of a serious disagreement with a contractor that led to criminal charges. He went into the jail having given up on any kind of spiritual pursuit and practice…and came out with a renewed sense of his inseparable relationship with God. And, not only was he transformed, he helped heal a cellmate of a debilitating back condition.

In Doug’s words, “I had stayed long enough not only to learn valuable spiritual lessons but to help my cellmate and witness his healing.” You gotta read this story to get all the lessons. Check out www.spirituality.com after October 1 to read it online.

See, I am in a situation right now that has felt like I landed in a foreign place. Not like going to jail, but I have had a sense of feeling trapped, for sure. There are major challenges to be overcome in this particular organization that I volunteer for and it has been stressful. I have been praying persistently and addressing each issue as they appear — but every day for weeks it has felt like a new surprise, bigger and worse than before, appears.

Now, there has definitely been progress…but it seems like a major struggle to overcome each one. “Why am I here?” has been a constant lament…but everytime I think that, there is this little voice that says, “You know why you are here…to bear witness to the Christ.” Which must be true because I feel like the only valuable contribution I am making is my constant prayer.

But sheesh, I have been feeling so burdened by it. A friend was sitting across from me at one of our meetings last week and said, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look like the morgue!” It actually woke me up…where is my joy in bearing witness for the Christ?

So, I have been praying to know that no one and no thing can take away the inherent joy I have as God’s beloved child. “Thou shalt not steal” is a commandment to mortal mind: thou shalt not steal my joy.

When I read this story by Doug this morning, it was like a confirmation of what I have been struggling against. I have been fighting even BEING in this place, regardless of bearing witness to what God knows to be true about the situation. I am right where I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to be doing, and that is to see that God’s government over all human activity is supreme, is harmonious, is blessed. There is joy in this.

Phew…I have been a bit overwhelmed recently by the effects of many egos in a room…pick a room, any room in some of the activities I work with. In all of these cases, the intention is not to be destructive, but it is a heavy dose of “my way or the highway.” In other words, human agendas, opinions and wills.

The problem is that many of these agendas are based on fear or panic, which leads to faulty reasoning. “Many egos in the room” is another way of saying that there are many minds in operation that have to be dealt with, managed, avoided, maneuvered, etc.

I know of only one way to succeed in a situation like this. Look to the one Ego, the one Mind for inspiration, support and guidance.

“There is but one I, or Us, but one divine Principle, or Mind, governing all existence…All the objects of God’s creation reflect one Mind, and whatever reflects not this one Mind, is false and erroneous…” (Science and Health)

This divine Principle is Love, the Creator of all being who wants and gives only good to Her creation. This means good ideas, ideas that bless all and never harm a single living being.

As the Ego’s reflection, no one can actually be afraid of anything that would lead to bad ideas or actions. The starting point, then, is to be totally secure in the Ego’s love, protection and abundance of good. And that begins with me.

How am I seeing myself and my ideas? Am I seeing myself as the reflection of all that is good in the Divine? Or am I just one of the fearful egos in the room? When I clearly and firmly identify myself as a reflection of the divine Ego, and see my fellow man as the same reflection, then all that can be in my experience — in the room — is an abundance of ideas that are peace, joy, safety, confidence, harmony. No egos in the room, only good ideas.

Basically, this means that I have to eliminate my fear and my will or agenda of how things should be done. My purpose in life is to do God’s will: love the Divine supremely so that I reflect only Her qualities, AND love my neighbor as myself….see that my neighbor can only reflect these qualities too.

When this is done (I am working on it!), then all I can hear is God’s voice in the form of inspired ideas that result in good for everyone. Hey, this also means that I can recognize and support the good ideas that God is communicating to others too!

Hmmm, I just thought — this is an example of unselfish and unconditional giving. All ideas that come from God are meant to be shared completely, to bless, uplift, inspire.

There is only one Ego in any room, filling it with the light of love, peace and good will.

In the middle of the night I woke up — don’t know why — but decided to use the time to pray. I started making this my nocturnal habit several years ago when one of my spiritual mentors suggested it. “Somebody in the world,” she said,  “needs your prayers right at this moment.” That puts some urgency to it, eh?

Last night what came to me was a phrase from Science and Health: “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.” I have grown up with this statement as it is printed in big letters in almost every Church of Christ, Scientist I have attended.

Isn’t this the most comforting statement about the ever-active and ever-presence of God’s love for each and every one of us? And no matter how I felt coming in to church, seeing this statement on the wall — and believing it to be true — would give me hope.

So I am very familiar with this statement. But in the quiet and stillness of last night, I got a new insight. What I realized is that this statement of God’s law illustrates  the coming together of the spiritual fact and the human experience. This is what Mary Baker Eddy describes as the human and divine coincidence.

John saw the human and divine coincidence, shown in the man Jesus, as divinity embracing humanity in Life and its demonstration,–reducing to human perception and understanding the Life which is God.

Ooooooh, “divinity embracing humanity” in every good activity, every day. This is how we perceive and understand the all power of God. Not in some ethereal way, but in a practical, hands-on experiential way. (Hmmm, it just hit me that not only do individuals need this evidence, God needs us to know this so that we can know Him!)

This coincidence is not chance or capriciousness or fluke. This is the law of spiritual being that everyone can rely on. It is the assurance of every divinely-led cause having a positive effect in one’s actual experience.

What’s important to know, however, that the realm of the spirit is in thought, not in physical activities. So what happens before the physical effect conforms to harmony is one’s thought aligned (conforming) with the Divine consciousness: thoughts of goodness, compassion, purity, selflessness. When any thoughts unlike God are eliminated, replaced by what is good and right, thought is now open and receptive to divine ideas. These ideas guide us to right actions, to create new programs, to connect with helpful people — whatever needs adjusting from inharmony to harmony.

The “divine embracing humanity” is the law of coincidence or agreement/meeting between God and each of His children. Simply look to Divine Love for inspiration and you will feel and see Love’s effect in your life.