SILENCE OF OUR SOUL

In his book titled Creative Mind Ernest Holmes says: "As we sit in the silence of our own souls and listen, it will be the greatest thing we will ever do."

And from the writings of Kathy Hearn comes this paragraph.
"When we set an intention, we focus our attention. In doing so, we attune to the amazing coincidences, the synchronicities, and we may become aware of information that has always been present. When we realize that God speaks to us directly, we must be careful that what we listen to is God. The Divine authority is not a revelation which takes place without reason, but in reason."

I sincerely hope that each of you will have a great week filled with much love peace and joy!

ILLUSIONS IN GRAY

I would like to share with you a piece of poetry I wrote a while ago and had the privilege of reading it during a poetry jam here in Paducah a couple of years ago. I ran across it while going thru some of my notebooks . I hope you will enjoy.
ILLUSIONS IN GRAY
A simple life, yet woven thread by thread
Blending into the tapestry of life's illusions
Each experience colored by shades of gray
Distinguished by one's own perceptions
Judgements, yea right, wrong, good, evil
Truths, still unknown, concealed like nuggets
Buried, awaiting one's precipitant discovery

The light ceases to shine, but doth it really?
No wait, there, it cascades it's beacon outward
Twas only obscured potential, masked by clouds of darkness
Which contain doubts, fears, and a restless unknowingness

Light shines thru, where doth the darkness burrow?
Thru the mist of gray, it's rays burst forth
With many a sliver of radiant beauty
Distant, afar at first glance, tho it be

It caresses tenderly those colors of gray
Transforming the hues to reds, yellows
Blues, greens, all color that lies between

I see a tint of green, you say blue
But whose dream is this, mine or yours?
I say mine, so green it must be

It makes no difference that I can discern
For all the shades, the tints, the ambiguous hues
From the One Source they all did arrive

So make your dream one colored in blue, that's alright
This One Source I speak of, make it your heart's delight
For that's all you really have, whether you may believe it or not!

This Source, this Light, it possesses no judgements
It awaits your call, tis your humble servant
It has only to offer an unconditional love
It serves each of us equally, there are no favorites
If I want red it pours down red!
If you choose yellow then yellow it tis

I speak of colors, tho not the only illusion
Each path chosen to be trod upon by one
I imagine, twill be filled with many a winding turn
Taking one here, one there, one everywhere

What is it you choose? Where would you love to go?
What is it you would love to have manifest?
Tis all up to you, I hope you can plainly see

What color journey does your soul desire?
Which illusions to disrobe, which to retain?

Whichever the road, what ere the dreams
Walk proud each step, know you're never alone
Remember the Light, that one source of all
It dwells within you, awaiting your beck and call

Try heeding its tranquil summons to love
Enjoy your illusions, your colors, your dreams
Allow others theirs, no matter how they seem
Take freely from Life, but be quick to share

Be the color you choose, and do it with passion
For after the grandest illusion you've shattered
The soul is allowed to return to Its Source
Then you will know, you're at long last home
Where all is One, and One is All
Go swiftly my friend and I'll meet you there

THE MIND OF GOD

From the writings of Kathy Hearn I share the following: "All of us are invisibly rooted in the Mind of God. We find assurance when we recognize that Life that has no problems-The Mind of God within us already knows the solution. That knowing can only communicate through us. It speaks to us in the form of our intuition, which is nothing less than God in man waiting to be recognized. Everything we really need to know is always available. Our challenge is to become open and receptive tothe information."

ANOTHER ENDING FOR THE STORY OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN

So the woman saw that the tree was good to eat from and a delight to the eye, and the serpent said to her,"Eat of it, for when you eat of it, you will be as wise as God." But the woman said,"No, God has commanded us not to eat of it, and I will not disobey God." And God called to the man and the woman and said to them, "Because you have hearkened to My word and not disobeyed My command, I shall reward you greatly." To the man he said, "You will never have to work again. Spend all of your days in idle contentment, with food growing all around you." To the woman he said, "You will bear children without pain and you will raise them without pain. They will need nothing from you. Children will not cry when their parents die,and parents will not cry when their children die." To both of them he said,"For the rest of your lives you will have full bellies and contented smiles. You will never cry and you will never laugh. You will never long for somethingyou don't have, and you will never receive something you always wanted." And the man and the woman grew old together inthe Garden, eating daily from the tree of life and having many children. And the grass grew high around the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil until it disappeared from view, for there was no one to tend it.

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

I have always questioned the Bible's version of the beginning of humankind because it sounded a little more like a fairy tale or myth than actual truth.The bibles version just left me with so many questions and didnot make a lot of sense to me. The other day I read in my friend Euresso's blog the following story and thought I'd share it with now of course with the permission of Euresso who was kind enough to allow me to copy from his blog. In Euresso's words this is not intended to tear apart the biblical version but just to take a different look because the old interpretation leads to too much guilt and an unreasonable quest for perfection. The following is from a book by Harold Kushner titled How Good Do We Have To Be?
"Isn't this a harsh punishment for one small mistake? Pain and death, banishment from Paradise, for breaking one rule? Is God really that strict? And perhaps the most troubling of all, If the forbidden tree was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, does that imply that Adam and his mate had no knowledge of good and evil before they ate of it? If so, how could they have been expected to know that it was wrong to disobey God? And why were they punished if they had no sense of good and evil before they ate it?" How Good Do We Have To Be chapter 2

Rabbi Kushner reinterprets the Genesis story of not one of guilt, sin, and punishment, but instead a story describing our journey of evolution out of our animal life.
"It is the story of the first human being graduating, evolving from the relatively uncomplicated world of animal life to the immensely complicated world of being human and knowing that there is more to life than eating and mating, that there are such things as Good and Evil. They enter a world where they will inevitably make many mistakes, not because they are weak or bad but because the choices they confront will be such difficult ones"......."The story of the Garden of Eden is not a story of the Fall of Man but the emergence of Humankind"

Later I will follow this up with How the story of the Garden of Eden may have ended as told by Mr Kushner.
I sincerely hope that each of you will have a weekend filled with much love joy and inner peace!

OUR INVISIBLE SOURCE

As I've stated before I believe that within each of us lies that Invisible Source which I prefer to call Spirit that remains at our center being always calm and always ready to assist us in our daily travels on planet earth. This source is like a light that clears away the 'darkness" of life's misunderstandings, fears and doubts. I would now like to share a paragraph on this subject from the writings of Kathy Hearn who is Community Spiritual Leader for the United Centers for Spiritual Living. Ms. Hearn states: "Perhaps the greatest expression of the principal of divine guidance comes to us through our internal vibration. When our actions are grounded in God, in love, and when we make our lives constructive in such a way as to harm no one but to bless all, we move forward in a state of peace and calm; security develops, and we are aware that we have tapped our invisible Source. There is no limit to the power.

I AM ONE WITH GOD

From the Science of Mind magazine I found the following affirmations that I'd like to share with you now.The first one is titled From Within--I am conscious of the Divine Presence that is within me, the Source and substance of all my good. This good is always flowing to me and through me. I allow this presence to be fully activated as my life now. I live from the inside out.
2.I AM ONE -The fullness of Spirit is activated within me now. I express the life energy of peace, joy, and beauty. Every aspect of my life reveals the magnificence of God in all that I say and do. I am one with God.
3. THE LIGHT OF GOD-I stand in the light of pure Spirit. I stand as the light of pure Spirit. I know that I am guided by this light in all that I do. Open and receptive to this light, I allow it to shine as me. I am the light of God.
4.I RECEIVE MY GOOD- I am one with God. I recognize my oneness with all there is and see the beauty of God everywhere I look. I receive the good of God in all that I do. I let go, and I let God be God as me. All is well.

THE MASTER

I would like to share with you all the following prologue of Richard Bach's book called ILLUSIONS. Take from it what you will and I sincerely hope you find it thought provoking.

1.There was a Master come unto the earth, born in the holy land of Indiana, raised in the mystical hills east of Ft. Wayne.
2.The Master learned of this world in the public schools of Indiana, and as he grew, in his trade as a mechanic of automobiles.
3.But the Master had learnings from other hands and other schools, from other lives that he had lived. He remembered these and remembering became wise and strong, so that others saw his strength and came to him for council.
4.The Master believed that he had power to help himself and all mankind, and as he believed so it was for him, so that others saw his power and came to him to be healed of their troubles and their many diseases.
5.The Master believed that it is well for any man to think upon himself as a son of God, and as he believed, so it was, and the shops and garages where he worked became crowded and jammed with those who sought his learning and his touch; and the streets outside with those who longed only that the shadow of his passing might fall upon them, and change their lives.
6.It came to pass, because of the crowds, that the several foremen and shop managers bid the Master to leave his tools and go his way, for so tightly was he thronged that neither he nor other mechanics had room to work upon the automobiles.
7.So it wasthat he went into the countryside, and people following began to call him Messiah, and worker of miracles; and as they believed, it was so.
8.If a storm passed as he spoke, not a raindrop touched a listener's head; the last of the multitude heard his words as clearly as the first, no matter lightning nor thunder in the sky about. And always he spoke to them in parables.
9.And he said unto them,"Within each of us lies the power of our consent to health and to sickness, to riches and to poverty, to freedom and to slavery. It is we who control these, and not another."
10.A mill man spoke and said,"Easy words for you Master, for you are guided as we are not, and need not toil as we toil. A man has to work for his living in this world."
11.The Master answered and said,"Once there lived a village of creatures along the bottom of a great crystal river.
12."The current of the river swept silently over them all- young and old, rich and poor, good and evil, the current going its own way, knowing only its own crystal self.
13. "Each creature in its own manner clung tightly to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and resisting the current what each had learned from birth.
14. "But one creature said at last,"I am tired of clinging. Though I cannot see it with my eyes. I trust that the current knows where it is going. I shall let go, and let it take me where it will. Clinging, I shall die of boredom."
15. The other creatures laughed and said "Fool1 Let go, and that current you worship will throw you tumbled and smashed across the rocks, and you will die quicker than boredom!"
16."But the one heeded them not, and taking a breath did let go, and at once was tumbled and smashed by the current across the rocks.
17."Yet in time, as the creature fefused to cliing again, the current lifted him free from the bottom, and he was bruised and hurt no more.
18. "And the cretures downstream, to whom he was a stranger, cried,"See,a miracle! A creature like ourselves, yet he flies! See the Messiah, come to save us all!"
19."And the one carried in the current said, "I am no more Messiah than you. The river delights to lift us free, if only we dare let go. Our true work is this voyage, this adventure."
20."But they cried the more, Saviour! all the while clinging to the rocks, and when they looked again he was gone, and they were left alone making legends of a Saviour."
21.And it came to pass when he saw that the multitude thronged him the more day by day, tighter and closer and fiercer than ever they had, when he saw that they pressed him to heal them without rest, and feed them always with his miracles, to learn for them and to live their lives, he went alone that day unto a hilltop apart, and there he prayed.
22.And he said in his heart,Infinite Radiant Is, if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me, let me lay aside this impossible task. I cannot live the life of one other soul, yet ten thousand cry to me for life. I'm sorry I allowed it all to happen. If it be thy will , let me go back to my engines and my tools and let me live as other men.
23.And a voice spoke to him on the hilltop, a voice neither male nor female, lopud nor soft, a voice infinitely kind. And the voice said unto him,"Not my will, but thine be done.For what is thy will is mine for thee. Go thy way as other men, and be thou happy on the earth."
24.And hearing, the Master was glad, and gave thanks and came down from the hilltop humming a little mechanic's song. And when the throng pressed him with its woes, beseeching him to heal for it and learn for it and feed it nonstop from his understanding and to entertain it with his wonders, he smiled upon the multitude and said pleasantly unto them,"I quit."
25.For a moment the multitude was stricken dumb with astonishment.
26.And he said unto them,"If a man told God that he wanted most of all to help the suffering world, no matter what the price to himself, and God answered and told him what he must do, should the man do as he is told?"
27."Of course Master!" cried the many."It shuld be a pleasure for him to suffer the tortures of hell itself, should God ask it!"
28."No matter what the tortures, nor how difficult the task?"
29."Honor to be hanged, glory to be nailed to a tree and burned, if so be that God has asked," said they.
30."And what would you do," the Master said unto the multitude, "if god spoke directly to your face and said, "I command that you be happy in the world. As long as you live" what would you do then?"
31.And the multitude was silent, not a voice, not a sound was heard upon the hillsides, across the valleys where they stood.
32.And the Master said unto the silence, "In the path of our happiness shall we find the learning for which we have chosen this lifetime. So it is that I have learned this day, and choose to leave you now to walk your own path, as you please."
33.And he went his way through the crowds and left them, and he returned to the everyday world of men and machines.

Richard Bach----Illusions The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

THE GREATEST FREEDOM

Well now I have been asked by a commenter what stuff am I smoking? YOW!! You know what though, I just may be crazy with my beliefs and all but they bring me so much inner peace Im gonna hld onto them until I feel they are no longer "right" for me. At least I am open minded enough to say that I can and would change my beliefs if something causes my heart to tell me so.But in themeantime I will say that the GREATEST freedom I found was when I discovered I DIDNOT have to be RIGHT. So therefore I never have to defend my beliefs or prove them to anyone except myself. Man, I think it must be really hard to have to be "right" all the time. Just a thought though. I hope all of yu folks have a most wonderful weekend. Be safe and enjoy evry moment.

WHERE'S MY BIBLE

Man Ive been hearing so much these days about the bible I thought its time for me to take another visit with it.For my anonymosu friends who visit I first say this again is only my take on what the bible says. Im almost sure your assessment will be quite different so dont judge me too harshly for what I see. I open the bible and it begins In the beginning........... Wait theres a problem already.... With my beliefs God has no beginning and thus no ending.....how is this? I wish I knew! But I am well aware that God, The One Life, Buddha, Oversoul, Universal Mind,Great Spirit, or any other name we ascribe to God is definately infinite. And as human beings we are working with a finite mind where all things have to have a beginning and ending. If the bible are words direct from the entity God I just wonder why He didnt begin by telling all of us how He came to bring about all the universes and man and woman? Seems to me that would have cleared up a lot of questions right off the bat. Was this universe and earth itself made in just 1 day as it says in Genesis?If that is the case how come scientists have proved that the planet has been here for millions of years? The story of Adam and Eve just doesnt feel good to me either.Again science has offered a more concrete idea of how life was evolved from the single cell organism instead of God just "making" a full grown man and putting him in the Garden of Eden before deciding to take out a rib from man and create woman. I mean if God just created man form the dust why did He have to take a rib from the male? I think that maybe the writer of Genesis was a little male biased and wanted to make it clear that woman was put here to be "under" the rule of men. But then I could be wrong maybe God did it just to have us humans forever wondeer about the creation and how it got started.This is just one thought I have had about the bible and wanted to share it with you.Which everway you believe all this got started is fine with me and I dont think it really matters all that much anyway.But again I may be wrong! Sure hope all of you have a wonderful funfilled and safe weekend.

WHAT IS SCIENCE OF MIND

After reading the continuing posts from L M about how Science of Mind is heresey and that Im doomed for living by its principals I now feel the need to share with my readers what SOM says about itself. And as far as LM repaeting that I think I am a God he is just twisting my words into something that is only a partial truth as to what I did say.Myself and SOM followers do believe that ALL living forms are an incarnation of God's Spirit and that we ALL use the ONE MIND of God in out expression as human beings on earth. LM tries tomake it sound like I am an ego driven person who is trying to deceive others inot believing I am God and that anything I say is TRUTH. I will say that anything I believe true is MT TRUTH and mine only. That doesnt mean I feell you or anyone else should have to follow my truth to find salvation and peace of mind. LM seems intent on arguing anything I print so as to justify his beliefs in his own mind. I know I could easily just delete his comments but I choose to let him speak his words and I encourge him to continue to live by his faitha nd truth as long as it brings him peace of mind and satisfaction.DO I agree with LM's beliefs? NO NO NO I dont. I studied the religious dogmas along with many other writings since I am not one sighted enough to beleiive that the Bible is the Only book written that has merit to it. While LM in his own words said anything written by anyone who does not believe the way he does is not worth the paper it is printed on. Dont take my word for that just look at one of his comments under my entry THE LARGER LOVES. Ifyou have a moment take a look at he poem and see what you think about it. Does it have any merit? I truly believe it does but according to LM it doesnt because it came from a SOM reader and contribitor.How anybody can say this poem doesnt have merit is way beyond me. I just dont get it. Also Id like to say that LM just keeps on saying I believe I or we can do ANYTHING we want, well thats taking my words out of context.Of course we can do what we want to do. But that doesnt mean I do things that hurt other people, atleast not on purpose.By living to my own personal standards that I have developed over the years by reading SOM, the BIble, and many many other teachings I strive to accept everybody as they are without condemnation(DO I judge others as LM is quick to point out? Yes I do but I dont condemn them for their beliefs and I never tell them they are WRONG in their beliefs and as long as they are not hurting anyone else I have no problem with the way they are living their life.Another thing Id like to clear up is that even tho I do ascribe to SOM this blog is not intended to bring anyone to accept this teaching.Maybe I have described my blog in the wrong words I dunno.My only reason is that I want to share my philosophy with Anyone who is looking for ways to enhance their spiritua growth.Im not trying to convert anybody to anything!! Just sharing because in the past I have heard from people who have told me they were able to use some of my writings to help them find inner peace and contentment. And for me that is reason enough to continue. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said and I paraphrase--"To know that even one life has breathed easier because you wer here is to have succeeded." In one of LM's comments he mentioned that I had almost caused a friend of his to go down the wrong path. I think I know who he is talking about and all I did was offer to answer any questions she had as to my philosophy. She emailed me a couple of tiems and I answered with sincerity and truth but after the 2nd email she never wrote again. So therefore I just removed her name from my address book and never wrote her again. But if she ever does change her mind and gets past the "help" LM has given her and wants to know more about me all she has to do is write.Now if I was trying to convert people do you think I would have just dropped it that quick?But one reason I feel for this lady is that I knkow the "religion" she is a part of does make her feel guilty because she told me as much.And personally I feel any religion or any truth that teaches any kind of fear or wrath or condemnation isnt worth the paper it is written on to borrow a phrase from my friend LM. Any way with all that having been said I would say to anyone who feels the desire to see what Science fo Mind is all about is to just go to their web page and check it out for yourself.Again I dont see how anyone can find fault with a way f life that teaches love is in all and is all.Now I am posting SOM's What We Believe so maybe it can clear up exactly what it is.

WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe in God, The Living Spirit Almighty; one, indestructable, Absolute, and Self-Existent Cause
This One manifest Itself in and through all creation, but is not absorbed by Its creation. The manifest universe is the Body of God; it is a logical and necessary outcome of definite Self-knowingness of God

We believe in the individualization of the Spirit in Us, and that all people are individualizations of the One Spirit.
We believe in eternality, the immortality, and the continuity of the individual Sou, Forever and ever expanding.
We believe that heaven is within us, and that we experience it to the degree that we become conscious ot it.

We believe the ultimate goal of Life itself is to be a complete Freedom from all discord of every nature, and that this goal is sure to be attained by all.

We believe in the Unity of all life and that the Highest God is Personal to all who feel this indwelling Presence.

We believe in the direct revelation of Truth through our intuitive and Spiritual Nature, and that anyone may become a revealer of truth who lives in close contact with the indwelling God.

We believe that the Universal Spirit, which is God, operates through a Universal Mind which is the law of God; and that we are surrounded by this creative mind which receives the direct impress of our thoughts and acts upon it.
We believe in the healing of the sick throught his power of mind
We believe in the control of conditions through the power of this Mind
We believe in Eternal Goodness, the eternal loving-kindness; and the Eternal Givingness of life to all
We believe in our own soul, our own spirit, and our own destiny;
For we understand that the life of All is God

THE LARGER LOVES

I came across this piece of poetry I had clipped out of a Science of Mind magazine some years ago. I think this is a wonderful piece of work and one of my favorites. I wanted to share it with all of you today. May your weekend be filled with lots of love , peace and joy for you and yours. The following poem was written by John D. Engle, Jr.

THE LARGER LOVES

The larger loves will never ask for proof.
They are their own proof, and they are secure
in knowing that there is a certainty
beyond the reach of doubt, a trust that glows
although it need not be defined or spoken

The larger loves allow the soul to fly
to heights that only larger loves can know,
beyond the petty and the commonplace,
beyond mere speech to telepathic skills
that only larger loves can use and understand.

The larger loves do not manipulate, do not expect,
do not insist on rules to fit behavior.
are slow to anger, invulnerable to hurt.
will not submit to jealousy or scorn.

The larger loves breathe freedom and respect.
They know a flame restricted must expire.
so they do not restrict. Instead they feed
the growing flame of joy with fuel of faith.

They have the strength to let what will be, be.
They have the wisdom to let wisdom rule.
They do not question the unquestionable
nor deny the undeniable,
but they do ponder the imponderable,
for they exist to fulfill love's mystery.
John D. Engle Jr.

FATHER GOD

When Jesus referred to God as "father" did this mean father as in a male incarnation? At first glance this would seem to be so but further study in the meaning of the word father may surprise some of you. I read in one of Dr. Errico(see previous posts) writings the true meaning of this word in the Aramaic language which was the language the bible was first written in. Dr. Errico tells us when we in the Western world use the word father we categorize it in the male gender but this wasn't necessarily the way Jesus may have meant it.In the near east where Jesus was raised the expression "father" is very dear and precious.It is still used by Aramaic-speaking people as a term of endearment. It is used like we use the words honey, sweetheart, precious, darling etc. These words are not gender-specific. They may be used when referring to a girl, boy, woman, or man.Sisters will call each other father, parents may call thier children father even friends will call each other father. Therefore the real meaning of "Father" is simply "Beloved". Dr. Errico states that the term father as used by Jesus is an endearment that expresses the idea that there is no hatred, wrathfulness, violence, retaliation, or meanness in God because God is love and not a person.

THE GIFT

My blog has come under some attack as being heresey lately. I realize this is coming from 1 individual who has told me he had a visit from God or something to that effect and now he knows the "real" truth about God and all things spiritual. So he has accused me of spreading untruths even tho I have told him time and again that this blog only represents "MY" personal beliefs.Still he replies to my blog with words Im sure meant to make me see the "light". All this has reminded me of a story I once read concerning the Buddha. In it there was a man who had heard about the Buddha and how he was so at peace that he didnt let anything bother him. Now this man decided that the Buddha must be a fake if he claimed to have that much inner peace.So he set out to find the Buddha. When he came upon Buddha he went into a rant calling the Buddha every filthy name he could come up with. He ranted and raved and tried his best to get Buddha to respond.After several minutes of this he finally saw the Buddha was not ging to get angry sohe became quiet. The Buddha smiled at him and asked if he was through with his rantings. The man did not reply so Buddha then asked him a question--If someone brings you a gift and offers it to you but they refuse to accept the gift then who does the gift tehn belong to? The man replied I suppose the gift would belong to the one who had brought it in the first place. The Buddha smiled. Right you are my friend and todayI am refusing this gift of anger and name calling you offer to me so it now will return to you its rightful owner. With these words the man turned and quickly ran away no longer wanting to hurl insults at the Buddha.

Now I must admit I have a long way to go before I can honestly say that things other people say dont bother me because they sometimes do. But even now I can remember to refuse any gift from anyone I choose so God help me to remain centered and calm when I am being attacked!

THE GOSPEL

Another paragraph from Mr. Rocco Errico concerning the gospel is what I'd like to share with you this evening.Again Mr Errico is an expert in the original writings of the bible which was written in aramaic and changed into the english language by other authors. Mr Errico tells us that the word for "gospel" in Aramaic is swartha. It also means 'joyful hope, expectation, and news that makes glad." The gospel, then, is the joyful expectation or message. The word swartha is not to be confused with the book titles of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. The Aramaic word here is Karozootha, meaning "preaching,declaration," but it is also translated as "gospel". Each of their(Matthew Mark Luke John) books is their own "spin" or preaching on the teachings of Jesus. Therefore, the four gospels are a mixture of Jesus' teachings with interpretations based on the views of these authors of the books of "gospel"
And as a thought of my own Id like to add that I sincerely believe that the only reason Jesus Himself did not write any books of his own was because He was so in tune to humans ways of thinking and doing that He knew His writings would be misinterpreted or used in the wrong way. If Im not badly mistaken the only account of Jesus ever writing anything down was when he used a stick to write in the sand knowing it would quickily be erased when the tides came in. Just a little food for thought as you continue on your path to true enlightenment. May God bless you and yours now and always