He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Once the shepherd has collected his flock from the pen they head up into the hills outside of the village. This can be some distance away. The shepherd knows where to lead them to find the grass and clover they need. Once they arrive he allows them to rest, lie down in green pastures. There was a time when I was overextending my time and energy. I just couldn't figure what to let go of, it all seemed important. And then I got really ill and couldn't get up for a few days. As I prayed, it seemed to me that my Shepherd was making me lie down for a while, undisturbed, with a gracious period of rest to pray about my life. Within a short time I knew just what I needed to do and was quickly well, up and about. I remember praying with Hymn 148. It begins; "In heavenly Love abiding, no change my heart shall fear;". That was what I needed to know. The third verse begins: "Green pastures are before me, which yet I haven't seen".
The sheep are also thirsty after the walk and the good shepherd knows how to find fresh water. It is often in streams which the shepherd can dam to make quiet pools. The sheep could easily drown if they fell into swift moving water. So it is important to create that stillness. Still water also gives a perfect reflection. We've all seen pictures like that, with mountains and clouds perfectly reflected on the surface of a lake. Mrs. Eddy has much to say about the concept of reflection in her writings. "Man is, and forever has been, God's reflection."
So you and I, as the cherished members of the Good Shepherd's flock, can know that our daily needs have been thought out and loving provided. We can expect our environment to be like the green pastures. We can look for those moments of quiet and stillness that allow us to see the perfect reflection. Mrs. Eddy sums it up with "Divine Love always has met and always will me every human need".
Go in peace today.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Shepherd thoughts - part one
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
When I first read the Bible I was instantly drawn to Psalm 23. I was not at all surprised to find that it was written by David, a shepherd himself. It was my favorite prayer and finding Mrs. Eddy's spiritual interpretation of it in our textbook was a delight. The year I studied Psalm 23 I tried to come to it with fresh eyes, to look much deeper for meaning. It was a year of discovery.
To me, God is our Shepherd, and He cares for us with as much devotion as the Biblical shepherds cared for their flocks. Most of the sheep were owned by families that treated them like cherished pets. At night, the flocks were kept in a guarded pen. Each morning, the various shepherds would appear and call out to the sheep of their flock. Each sheep knew that call and came obediently. They trusted their shepherd to guide them safely to food and water and to watch over them until they returned at night.
Those sheep understood that under the care of their shepherd, all their daily needs would be carefully thought out. They would not have to do without anything. All they had to do was obey and follow him. What a blessing to make this first sentence our own, apply it to our daily needs, feel that same trust in the Good Shepherd whose sole concern is our welfare and well being. He knows us all by name There are no unwanted ones, none abandoned or alone. Our Shepherd is Our Father Mother God and we are the beloved sheep of His pasture.
More tomorrow
Go in peace, little flock.
When I first read the Bible I was instantly drawn to Psalm 23. I was not at all surprised to find that it was written by David, a shepherd himself. It was my favorite prayer and finding Mrs. Eddy's spiritual interpretation of it in our textbook was a delight. The year I studied Psalm 23 I tried to come to it with fresh eyes, to look much deeper for meaning. It was a year of discovery.
To me, God is our Shepherd, and He cares for us with as much devotion as the Biblical shepherds cared for their flocks. Most of the sheep were owned by families that treated them like cherished pets. At night, the flocks were kept in a guarded pen. Each morning, the various shepherds would appear and call out to the sheep of their flock. Each sheep knew that call and came obediently. They trusted their shepherd to guide them safely to food and water and to watch over them until they returned at night.
Those sheep understood that under the care of their shepherd, all their daily needs would be carefully thought out. They would not have to do without anything. All they had to do was obey and follow him. What a blessing to make this first sentence our own, apply it to our daily needs, feel that same trust in the Good Shepherd whose sole concern is our welfare and well being. He knows us all by name There are no unwanted ones, none abandoned or alone. Our Shepherd is Our Father Mother God and we are the beloved sheep of His pasture.
More tomorrow
Go in peace, little flock.
Friday, September 7, 2007
I love the hymnal
I was not raised in Christian Science but found it in my early twenties. We did not sing as part of my church experience. So it was quite a feeling when I attended a Christian Science service and everyone stood to sing together. Later, as I began to seriously study it, I was drawn to the hymnal as a source of comfort. There is a companion book, a concordance to the hymnal that includes notes about the composers and writers. Serving as First Reader in our branch church involves choosing the three hymns for the Sunday service. This week I am considering hymn #232.
As I researched this hymn I discovererd that the words were writtten by Margaret Glenn Matters, a Christian Science teacher. The words illustrate a definition in the glossary of Science and Health: MOTHER. God; divine and eternal Principle; Life, Truth, and Love. The concordance says that this is probably the first hymn that has directly addressed divine Love as Mother.
Each verse of this hymn ends with the assurance that man is the child of God, God's own child, the loved of Love. I had not thought of God that way growing up. Finding Christian Science at the time in my life when I had just become a mom myself, it was quite a revelation. I loved my own Mom deeply. It has taken maturity and life experience to see just what a wonderful job she did in giving me such a happy childhood. I can easily make a list of her qualities, the qualities I hope I express with my children. Seeing God as my divine Mother takes prayer to a new level.
My mom had found her religion when she married my dad. She raised us within that church. But it never brought me the comfort I wanted, it never measured up to my personal view of what God is. All my life I pictured Him as the Good Shepherd. I did not believe He was harsh or condemning. I just couldn't accept the idea that innocent babies arrive with a sin already attached. I questioned my teachers and struggled with religious education until my early teens when I left that church and began my own search. My dear Mom understood. The first time I read Science and Health and found Mrs. Eddy's lovely interpretation of Psalm 23 I knew I had found what I had been looking for.
Over the next few days I would like to share some of the things that came to me as I studied Psalm 23 for a year. That was a wonderful journey and has stayed with me. It is my favorite way to connect with God and His love for me. More tomorrow.
Go in peace.
As I researched this hymn I discovererd that the words were writtten by Margaret Glenn Matters, a Christian Science teacher. The words illustrate a definition in the glossary of Science and Health: MOTHER. God; divine and eternal Principle; Life, Truth, and Love. The concordance says that this is probably the first hymn that has directly addressed divine Love as Mother.
Each verse of this hymn ends with the assurance that man is the child of God, God's own child, the loved of Love. I had not thought of God that way growing up. Finding Christian Science at the time in my life when I had just become a mom myself, it was quite a revelation. I loved my own Mom deeply. It has taken maturity and life experience to see just what a wonderful job she did in giving me such a happy childhood. I can easily make a list of her qualities, the qualities I hope I express with my children. Seeing God as my divine Mother takes prayer to a new level.
My mom had found her religion when she married my dad. She raised us within that church. But it never brought me the comfort I wanted, it never measured up to my personal view of what God is. All my life I pictured Him as the Good Shepherd. I did not believe He was harsh or condemning. I just couldn't accept the idea that innocent babies arrive with a sin already attached. I questioned my teachers and struggled with religious education until my early teens when I left that church and began my own search. My dear Mom understood. The first time I read Science and Health and found Mrs. Eddy's lovely interpretation of Psalm 23 I knew I had found what I had been looking for.
Over the next few days I would like to share some of the things that came to me as I studied Psalm 23 for a year. That was a wonderful journey and has stayed with me. It is my favorite way to connect with God and His love for me. More tomorrow.
Go in peace.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
The Practice - A Poem written in 2000
The Practice
Matthew 14:14
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
He didn't sit in a room
waiting for the phone to ring.
He arose in thought
available, approachable,
ready to see prefection,
knowing there were no sick, or sad, or bad.
And great multitudes came,
from far and near,
seeking healing, wanting to hear
from one who saw them as already perfect
why this was so.
He was moved.
Conscious of their distress,
with a desire to aleviate it,
he moved among them
never repulsed or condemning,
always loving and compassionate.
Thus he healed
seeing them only
as they were,
and are,
and ever will be.
At one with their Father Mother, God.
Already perfect and whole.
Never separated from Love.
To practice is to go forth,
knowing only one Mind,
feeling the love of Love expressed,
healing the belief of sickness,
uplifting the deadened thought,
casting out error,
cleansing sin with Truth.
Divinity demonstrated.
Searching around in the garage for something else, I found the notebook I kept as I was preparing to go into the full time practice of Christian Science. I look forward to browsing through the articles and seeing where my thoughts were at that time.
Like this: Do not work against error but feel the Love that dissolves it.
Go in peace.
Matthew 14:14
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
He didn't sit in a room
waiting for the phone to ring.
He arose in thought
available, approachable,
ready to see prefection,
knowing there were no sick, or sad, or bad.
And great multitudes came,
from far and near,
seeking healing, wanting to hear
from one who saw them as already perfect
why this was so.
He was moved.
Conscious of their distress,
with a desire to aleviate it,
he moved among them
never repulsed or condemning,
always loving and compassionate.
Thus he healed
seeing them only
as they were,
and are,
and ever will be.
At one with their Father Mother, God.
Already perfect and whole.
Never separated from Love.
To practice is to go forth,
knowing only one Mind,
feeling the love of Love expressed,
healing the belief of sickness,
uplifting the deadened thought,
casting out error,
cleansing sin with Truth.
Divinity demonstrated.
Searching around in the garage for something else, I found the notebook I kept as I was preparing to go into the full time practice of Christian Science. I look forward to browsing through the articles and seeing where my thoughts were at that time.
Like this: Do not work against error but feel the Love that dissolves it.
Go in peace.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
casting our net
I love this story. Jesus had reached adult life, he had gone to John to be baptised and then on into the wilderness to be tempted in preparation for his ministry. Now, he began to lecture and to gather students. We know Simon Peter and his brother were devout because they had already been disciples of John the Baptist, who then directed them to this new teacher. Even early in his work, Jesus attracted crowds. And on this day he was by the lake of Gennesaret. It must have been mid morning as the fishermen had finished their night work and were sitting on shore, cleaning out their nets. Jesus asks Simon Peter, who was still aboard his boat, to push out from shore and let Jesus speak to the crowd. So we know Simon Peter must have been sitting near him as he spoke. When he was finished, he asked Simon Peter to launch out into deeper water and let down the nets. Now those were large and cumbersome, just cleaned, so this was no small request. It would require faith on the disciple's part to be willing to lay them all out again, especially in daylight, when the nets were visible to the fish. But, impressed by what he had heard, Simon Peter obeyed, and now the nets were so full that he needed to call to his partners to come help him bring in the catch. It was enough to fill both ships.
As I thought about that, it occured to me that these men were part of an operation involving multiple boats and men. Their catch would have been important to the people of their town, who might have gone hungry without it. It was their livelihood and would have meant no income for the fishermen that day, and possible no food for their own families. Quite a few people were then provided for with this unexpected bounty.
It was time for Simon Peter and the others to consider a career change, becoming fishers of men. Prior to this event, Jesus had been a guest at Simon Peter's home and healed his mother-in-law. One wonders how the news was recieved that Simon Peter was abandoning his profession to follow this new teacher. But the text of the gospel indicates that they forsook all and followed him. Physically followed him as he began to visit other towns and taught in their synogogues.
This must have made a big impression on them and would be a reminder when Jesus met up with them again after the resurrection, for they had again toiled in vain, having returned to their old profession.
Every year I do a personal metaphyical study. One year, as I prayed, it came to me to study this idea of 'casting your net'. It was when the whole internet thing was affecting so many people, around the time I had gone into the full time practice of Christian Science and was about to put my name in the Christian Science Journal, a publication read world wide. One thing that has surprised and delighted me on this spiritual journey is the way people find ways to ask me about Christian Science and healing. I have become a fisher of men. And I love it. This is what Jesus instructed his followers to do....heal.
I thought about how those fishermen took care of the nets. At the end of their fishing they pulled them out of the water, removed the fish and then once on shore spread them out. They would have inspected them for holes and cleaned away any debris or weeds. Not a bad idea as we start our day. Check the state of your thinking, know there are no gaps in good, no empty spaces, a perfect design in place. There needs to be time devoted exclusively to Bible study and prayer for oneself. We need to be willing to devote as much care and attention to our spiritual wellbeing as we do to our chosen profession. And not be surprised when others are drawn to us seeking this light.
Go in peace.
As I thought about that, it occured to me that these men were part of an operation involving multiple boats and men. Their catch would have been important to the people of their town, who might have gone hungry without it. It was their livelihood and would have meant no income for the fishermen that day, and possible no food for their own families. Quite a few people were then provided for with this unexpected bounty.
It was time for Simon Peter and the others to consider a career change, becoming fishers of men. Prior to this event, Jesus had been a guest at Simon Peter's home and healed his mother-in-law. One wonders how the news was recieved that Simon Peter was abandoning his profession to follow this new teacher. But the text of the gospel indicates that they forsook all and followed him. Physically followed him as he began to visit other towns and taught in their synogogues.
This must have made a big impression on them and would be a reminder when Jesus met up with them again after the resurrection, for they had again toiled in vain, having returned to their old profession.
Every year I do a personal metaphyical study. One year, as I prayed, it came to me to study this idea of 'casting your net'. It was when the whole internet thing was affecting so many people, around the time I had gone into the full time practice of Christian Science and was about to put my name in the Christian Science Journal, a publication read world wide. One thing that has surprised and delighted me on this spiritual journey is the way people find ways to ask me about Christian Science and healing. I have become a fisher of men. And I love it. This is what Jesus instructed his followers to do....heal.
I thought about how those fishermen took care of the nets. At the end of their fishing they pulled them out of the water, removed the fish and then once on shore spread them out. They would have inspected them for holes and cleaned away any debris or weeds. Not a bad idea as we start our day. Check the state of your thinking, know there are no gaps in good, no empty spaces, a perfect design in place. There needs to be time devoted exclusively to Bible study and prayer for oneself. We need to be willing to devote as much care and attention to our spiritual wellbeing as we do to our chosen profession. And not be surprised when others are drawn to us seeking this light.
Go in peace.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
three 'steps' on your spiritual journey
This week's Bible lesson contains a familiar statement that has been illumined in a new way for me. I just love it when that happens. The Bible is so amazing. Layers and layers of meaning that continue to inspire and guide us in practical ways.
Here is the sentence that lit up for me in a new way. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23) . Three steps to take on our spiritual journey. Many times when I have read this first one, deny himself, I took that as a sort of withholding of something, a sense of doing without. But this week I am applying that in a new way; set aside the material view of myself, deny that self. Deny reality to those things that are not a part of my true identity. Balance that out with affirmations of what is really true about me instead.
The second one, take up your cross daily, always seemed to indicate accepting something as a 'cross to be borne'....but...here is the insight that really lifted that one. In ancient times many of the people were nomads, no fixed building as home, traveling with tents. This phrase can also be interpreted as 'take up your tent peg'. They held their tents in place with ropes tied to a cross-shaped peg. In the morning, they would pull those out of the ground as they prepared to move forward. How about making a commitment to 'pull up your tent peg', be ready to move away from what is holding you back or tying you down.
And that 'follow me'. When I was little the snows could get pretty deep during our New Jersey winters. My dad would lead the way down the sidewalk and we would literally follow in his footsteps. How comforting to think the Our Father in heaven is doing that for me today. Clearing the path. Showing me what steps are safe to take.
So today I will resolve to deny those limiting claims about myself and affirm instead my loving, loveable, and lovely reflecting of God, good. I will take up my 'tent peg' and expect to grow today as I move forward through prayer. And in moving forward, I will follow the Master in healing work.
Not a bad way to start the day.
Go in peace with your tent peg.
Here is the sentence that lit up for me in a new way. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23) . Three steps to take on our spiritual journey. Many times when I have read this first one, deny himself, I took that as a sort of withholding of something, a sense of doing without. But this week I am applying that in a new way; set aside the material view of myself, deny that self. Deny reality to those things that are not a part of my true identity. Balance that out with affirmations of what is really true about me instead.
The second one, take up your cross daily, always seemed to indicate accepting something as a 'cross to be borne'....but...here is the insight that really lifted that one. In ancient times many of the people were nomads, no fixed building as home, traveling with tents. This phrase can also be interpreted as 'take up your tent peg'. They held their tents in place with ropes tied to a cross-shaped peg. In the morning, they would pull those out of the ground as they prepared to move forward. How about making a commitment to 'pull up your tent peg', be ready to move away from what is holding you back or tying you down.
And that 'follow me'. When I was little the snows could get pretty deep during our New Jersey winters. My dad would lead the way down the sidewalk and we would literally follow in his footsteps. How comforting to think the Our Father in heaven is doing that for me today. Clearing the path. Showing me what steps are safe to take.
So today I will resolve to deny those limiting claims about myself and affirm instead my loving, loveable, and lovely reflecting of God, good. I will take up my 'tent peg' and expect to grow today as I move forward through prayer. And in moving forward, I will follow the Master in healing work.
Not a bad way to start the day.
Go in peace with your tent peg.
Friday, August 17, 2007
prisms and magnifying glasses?
As I prayed for someone who is experiencing vision problems the word 'magnify' came strongly to mind so I looked it up in the dictionary. It means to cause to appear greater with the use of a lens. It also means to glorify and praise. That lead me to several Bible verses; Ps 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together" and Ps 69:30 "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving". When I turned to the hymnal I found references to Mary's song of praise given in Luke 1:46 "My soul doth magnify the Lord, sing all in glad accord!", "I magnify and bless Thee, for faithful is Thy word.", and "I magnify and bless Thee, for Thou hast made me whole." (Hymn 153)
Turning to Mrs. Eddy's writings I was interested to see how often she paired magnify with prism. A prism is a transparent form, usually glass, that separates white light into the spectrum composed of seven bands of color. Seven is often used to mean completeness. (As I mentioned yesterday Mrs. Eddy gives seven synonyms for God in the glossary) Binoculars contain a pair of prisms. The faces of the prism reflect the light rays internally so that an upright non-reversed image is seen. Great metaphysical implications. Here is what Mrs. Eddy wrote in a Message to The Mother Church in 1901: "Divine Science is not an interpolation (to explain the meaning of something) of the Scriptures, it is redolent with health, holiness, and love. It only needs the prism of divine Science, which scholastic theology has obscured, to divide the rays of Truth, and bring out the entire hues of God. The lens of Science magnifies the divine power to human sight; and then we see the allness of Spirit, therefore the nothingness of matter." And in Science and Health; "To mortal sense Science seems at first obscure, abstract, and dark; but a bright promise crowns its brow. When understood, it is Truth's prism and praise. When you look it fairly in the face you can heal by its means, and it has for you a light above the sun, for God is the light thereof." (page 558)
So today, despite our rainy weather and dark skies, I will be thinking about prisms and the light of understanding. I will pray with the seven synonyms and magnify that application as I praise and glorify Our Father. I will be seeing the non-reversed image of man as the exact reflection of God.
Go magnify in peace.
Turning to Mrs. Eddy's writings I was interested to see how often she paired magnify with prism. A prism is a transparent form, usually glass, that separates white light into the spectrum composed of seven bands of color. Seven is often used to mean completeness. (As I mentioned yesterday Mrs. Eddy gives seven synonyms for God in the glossary) Binoculars contain a pair of prisms. The faces of the prism reflect the light rays internally so that an upright non-reversed image is seen. Great metaphysical implications. Here is what Mrs. Eddy wrote in a Message to The Mother Church in 1901: "Divine Science is not an interpolation (to explain the meaning of something) of the Scriptures, it is redolent with health, holiness, and love. It only needs the prism of divine Science, which scholastic theology has obscured, to divide the rays of Truth, and bring out the entire hues of God. The lens of Science magnifies the divine power to human sight; and then we see the allness of Spirit, therefore the nothingness of matter." And in Science and Health; "To mortal sense Science seems at first obscure, abstract, and dark; but a bright promise crowns its brow. When understood, it is Truth's prism and praise. When you look it fairly in the face you can heal by its means, and it has for you a light above the sun, for God is the light thereof." (page 558)
So today, despite our rainy weather and dark skies, I will be thinking about prisms and the light of understanding. I will pray with the seven synonyms and magnify that application as I praise and glorify Our Father. I will be seeing the non-reversed image of man as the exact reflection of God.
Go magnify in peace.
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