Covering Imperfections Long Enough to Heal

Don’t Postpone Taking the Wheel

In 1922, there were about 1,500 vehicles in Beijing, China, reported Peter Kessler in his book, Country Driving. Within another 10 years, China had fifty thousand miles of roads laid. An auto boom was in the air. Until the Japanese invade northern China in1937.

The war crippled the auto industry, postponing the boom over half a century because although the war ended, Leader Mao came to power and the Communist government made it impossible for the people to buy cars.

Finally, during the Reform years, a new reality motivated a new infrastructure on a major scale. New cars, new roads, and people getting their licenses, not an easy task when you have no motor skills for driving cars that can speed up to over 60 miles per hour.

It was one thing to learn on a Model-T, adapting to speeds of 14 miles per hour, but when you are given a car that has developed almost a century, the learning curve is a whole different ball-game. Fortunately, it is not impossible to catch up to speed, but the learning needs solid serious consideration, otherwise gross mistakes are made and accidents happen.

We can learn through understanding, not through the school of hard knocks.

The same goes for spiritual power.

If our spiritual progress was postponed, due to a conflict in our mind or the tyranny of outside forces, take a breath. It is not impossible to catch up to speed and be living out the new reality of spiritual power, but pay attention to the new learning curve. Take it a step at a time.

It is natural to look to a teacher when we are learning something new. But, if you find a teacher who assumes you see what they do, tell them to snap out of it. A person who is familiar with driving sees the road ahead, along with other cars, even the buildings being passed by. But, a neophyte does not.

Anytime we tackle a new experience, think and move methodically. We can speed up, increments at a time.

From Science and Health, “Evidence of progress and of spiritualization can definitely be seen in the world.”

Billions of Socks

Did you know that one company, Datang Hosiery Group, in China, makes a third of all the socks sold in the world? (Peter Hessler, Country Driving)

Let’s see…I own about 7 pairs of socks plus I have at least 3 single socks hanging around in the laundry room.

There are almost 7 billion people in the world. That could add up to 49 billion pairs of socks and 21 billion single socks.

So, of this total, Datang Hosiery produced over 16 billion pairs of socks and 7 billion single socks (although I think the singles use to have a mate).

It is silly to underestimate the power of one.

“For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Duet. 34:12, NIV)

“And this was [John the Baptist’s] message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” (Mark 1:7, NIV)

From 21^st Century Science and Health, “Having one God, one Mind, unfolds the power that heals the sick.

“A limited mind manifests all sorts of anomalies, and causes the mind-in-matter theory to be seen as conflictive. No one has found temporal mind, life, or love sufficient to satisfy the demands of human lack and anguish. Our desires and aspirations ache to be fulfilled and a reward is felt when we stop limiting infinite Mind to finite resources. Infinite Mind can’t lose its character as inexhaustible Love, eternal Life, omnipotent Truth.”

 

 

Positive Deviance and Martin Luther King Jr

Martin Luther King Jr., another individual who lived up to a standard far surpassing what the common human mind could envision, even while hate, fear, self-righteousness, and stupidity tried to defeat his emphatic trust in love, justice, forgiveness, and wisdom.

But, courage, bravery, positive deviance, and insight have their Day.

Although the jealous and myopic minded may belittle Martin Luther King Jr., even thinking someone else would have done a better job of advancing the human rights movement, the bottom line is: no one else did lead. No one else did what needed to be done. Other leaders were busy busy busy defending the quickly dwindling territory they owned. Fortunately, many of those very leaders got their act together, dropped their agendas, and supported Martin Luther King Jr.

The human rights movement is not dead and certainly not reached a pinnacle. Because human beings have a habit of balking at positive deviances, God sent Christ-spirit to embolden humanity to act on that which God manifests: fairness, integrity, health, humor, purpose, activity, newness, and so on.

From 21^st Century Science and Health, “A person’s gaze, fastened fearlessly on a ferocious beast, often causes the beast to retreat in terror. By meeting hateful prejudice with fearless love, Martin Luther King, Jr.[1] sent hate to its own defeat. These occurrences represent the power of Truth over error. Exercise the power of intelligence, to displace unintelligent behavior.”

[1]Luther King Jr., Martin (1929–1968) American Civil Rights Leader.

Vital Behavior in Mind Healing

Prompted by the book, Influencer: The Power To Change Anything, I searched for a vital behavior that is a driving force behind my healing experiences.

Vital behavior: I interpret.

Interpret is a verb. To interpret is to bring out the meaning of the Word of God by performance or execution. (www.Dictionary.com)

The Bible is bursting with Mind-healing.

To assume the Bible can be read as though it is literal truth, or God’s exact Word, is mistaken. Every word in that book of books is interpretation. Furthermore, readers of the Bible are interpreting the interpretation.

When I had second degree burns on half of my face, I recalled the story of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego who were unhurt after being thrown in a fire. (Daniel) I didn’t assume, “Those guys were lucky. God really had their backs.” I interpreted it practically, through 21^st century knowledge and through my current situation. I performed my interpretation which basically amounted to: If those guys can do it, I too can come out of a fire unharmed.

My face healed by the grace of God.

I also read statements from Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health, a book with an interpretation of Mind healing strategies. But, I did not go along with other peoples interpretations of Science and Health, for the sheer fact they were only their interpretation of Eddy’s interpretation.

Everything we read, see, feel, remember, is only an interpretation. Likewise, everything other people read, see, feel, or remember is only an interpretation. Not truth in and of itself.

Truth heals. The truth is, no one else’s interpretation of God or healing is ours. We have to interpret truth and love for ourselves. When we do so with honesty, pluck, grace, and all those good things, the result is amazing.

Vital behavior: Interpret with God

Keeping the Interest

I attended the Meridale Community Church last Sunday.

Pastor Bruce and wife, Dawn, Helstrom from Meridale Church

Pastor Bruce Helstrom spoke from the pulpit but during the sermon, he’d ask the audience to help him answer a question.

This was a sign of respect for the thoughts of the congregates. It also gave individuals a sense of society. As Pastor Helstrom recognized and appreciated the members social status and function, he was keeping their interest in church.

From 21st Century Science and Health, “The arrogance of being a church official is the ruler of this world. Arrogance has nothing in Christ. Humility, honesty, and charity have divine authority.”

Recalibrated Consciousness

Here is a mouthful, but quite interesting:

Consciousness has changed dramatically over the last few centuries due to individual inspiration and a nonhierarchical collaboration. Science has pierced through superstitions. Technology has recalibrated spatial and temporal orientation. Education has revealed the similarities between human beings, doggedly proving that there is no superior or inferior person. A conscious “self” has emerged from the tribal mentality. The cosmos itself interprets an infinite. And, a theological religion is yielding to the empathic religion as religious thinking, through faith and reason, struggles to keep up with these new concepts without twisting them to suit a human ideology or outgrown beliefs.

Audio 21st Century Science and Health

Sammy in Seattle

Recently, a Liz emailed me and asked if I had an audio version of 21st Century Science and Health. I went into my computers archives and found multiple files of an audio version of the first edition of Science and Health. But, I didn’t know what to do with the files.

My son-in-law, after returning home to Seattle from their France trip, clicked, searched, converted, clicked, uploaded, and poof, resurrected the audio version as a whole. I emailed the link to Liz and she responded by telling me they work nicely.

I then began my travels home to upstate New York after saying goodbye to Hamish and Sammy. Nine hours later, I walked out of the plane into seven degree weather and snow on the ground. Yep, I’m home!

If you are interested in purchasing an audio version of 21st Century Science and Health, let me know. The cost is $20 and can be paid through PayPal. Email me: 4CherylWrites(at)gmail.com

 

 

Junkies of All Sorts

Jeff junked the junky habit about four years ago, and now goes to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, instead of the bars. He began reading Science and Health, and after becoming acquainted with me, he asked why I don’t stress a habit of reading the book (he figured out, I can drop a bottle of booze in the garbage as fast as I can drop a Science and Health in the garbage). But why?

Human habits need to be watched carefully. Any habit can become addictive, leading to a myopic thought process that fails to make real progress. Granted, the dedicated habit of reading spiritual literature is better than getting drunk, but both mindsets make it doubly hard for an epiphany to take place. If a mindset strongly suggests or insists on, say, reading Science and Health, there is a lurking element of willfulness that can obstruct genuine healing.

It is the human mind’s determined habit to want a habit. When people ask me to tell them what to do, what to read, what to say, where to go, or what kind of sex is more spiritual (yep) I generally decline the request and pray to respond to the will of principled love and truthfulness.

Jeff began relating. He clearly remembers lying on the floor in jail and experiencing an epiphany of love. His turning point wasn’t due to some new habit. The new habits came afterward and improve each day out of love. There is no set standard of human behavior that guarantees healing, because inspiration and progress come from God, from within.

 

Wedding Dress Shopping

I’m cleaning the house before Carly and George return home (while eating caramel popcorn, a present from my sister). But, this weekend, before I fly home to New York, we’ll get to see Bryan and Jamie, who are engaged to be married.

Jamie and Bryan

Before Carly went to France, we drove to Kennewick to go wedding dress shopping with Jamie. Bryan came along and we had a good time. Jamie selected a lovely dress. But, more than anything she realized how much she really is loved.

We’ve known Bryan since he was about 16 years old. He and Carly were boyfriend and girlfriend. His upbringing wasn’t so great and he kinda just lived at our house. The fact we all are so close was weird to Jamie, until Bryan explained to her how we treated him. We treated him as though he was definitely worth our time, attention, prayers, lectures, and money.

We laugh today, but sometimes it wasn’t so funny. He kind-of resisted our love and care mainly because all he knew was to argue and be angry with family. He wasn’t able to get his driver’s license until he was 18 because no parent would help him when he was younger. So, we drove him places. My husband was good about attending his basketball games. At the end of Bryan’s senior year, when the coach asked the parents of all the players to come down, Bryan asked us to come down and be thanked. His parents missed every game.

Then came time for college. Support, encourage, cheer, go to school with him, study with him, we did it. Bryan took over 5 years to graduate, but he did it.

Bryan met Jamie a few years ago. She just lost her mom to a sudden death and although I was a bit unsure as to whether or not to ask, I offered to take her wedding dress shopping. She agreed and was sincerely thankful, just as I was.

As much as human beings want to be loved, we sometimes are afraid to let others love us.

Let’s not be afraid to let others love us.