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Recently I had a wonderful conversation with a friend about her desire for progress. She was feeling stuck in her life, her relationship, job. So we talked about the benefits of exploring new opportunities.

We realized we are continually faced with choices. We will always have opportunities to progress if we choose progress. Circumstances can be seen as obstacles, insurmountable. Materialism may look great, for a while. We may feel content with “living the dream.” Simple status quo. (This is how I am, can’t be any different. Circumstances won’t let me change. I’m really fine thanks, just as I am)

Bu we basically know we don’t live in a vacuum. It’s never all about us! Pretty much every decision we make has an impact somewhere, if only in the mental universe we live in. And the good news is that by consciously taking steps too small to fail, this can lead to different expectations in our lives.  Cleaning a kitchen. Smiling at a neighbor. Anticipating good instead of bad. Sounds almost silly. But tiny tweeks in our thoughts change how we see ourselves. We can’t help this, – we live what we are!  So best to be the best we can be.

More small decisions, maybe moral omes. Do I go the speed limit? Do I answer texts and drive?! Am I late for work? Am I dependable? (God is dependable. How do I see myself, as dependable?) Many more…..you choose!

To be frank, deepening spiritual progress is at the heart of all real change.

Because sincere desire for more harmony, strengh, health, must have a spiritual basis or it won’t be permanent progress. Progress that changes us for the better is first progress in loving and understanding God more as your God, your Life, your only Mind. That’s what makes us obedient, discerning, responsive.

So we might ask ourselves, and answer with sincerity, some challenging questions such as:

Do I even want fresh insights into my life, my actions, my relationships, purpose, my possibilities for progress? Would I welcome new views, or resist them?

What are the benefits of making space in my life for this deeper commitment to the study of this practical divine Science?

How can I contribute more to “my world,”- such as my family, office colleagues, church, through a purer,  less judgmental, more compassionalte spiritual view?

Would I love to have a clearer understanding of God and my relationship to Him? How could that change the possibilities for my life?

Would understanding the power of God and His government help my confidence in working to heal myself and others?

Am I ready for the discoveries, the rewards, the benefits, and perhaps the demands?

We do know that whatever true progress we make is up to us individually. Our desire to be better Christians, better Christian Scientists, better healers, is what can effectively lead and improve our lives, our choices, and our work.

As we are faithful to our study and consistent prayer, our spiritual progress will be evident because our lives will naturally be uplifted, joyful, with improved health and harmony, safety amd security- because we love God more and matter less.

As we progress in this deepening love of God, the effect will be a more spiritual expression of God’s creation in everything we think and do. And this progress, which certainly is a blessing to ourselves, is a blessing to all mankind.

i’m looking forward to exploring  the small steps and fresh insights, ok? Hugs all!

 

Let’s start with a story.

I saw a new view of Love’s care in our community a few Wednesdays ago. It was the teamwork of love and I was privileged to feel a part of that healing experience.

I stopped in to get a tea before going to our noon church meeting. As I ordered, I heard a very significant sound and turned to see a young woman falling to the hard concrete floor behind me.  She had come in alone and and had been waiting in line.

The twenty or more people seated on couches nearby remained surprisingly calm. A girl immediately slipped over to the young woman’s side and said, “I will call 911.” I turned around and quietly knelt down beside her. She didn’t appear to be breathing.

With my hand gently on her I quietly assured myself that she was fine and I said to her,”You are o.k. You are safe. You are fine. You are well.” (There was no evidence that that was true, but I was certain that it was.)

I was so grateful that as I had walked in the store, I had been contemplating ideas from the Christian Science Bible Lesson for that week about “Substance.” Working with the idea that real “Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay,” as Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p. 468), this assured me that Truth, Life, and Love are the real substance.  That’s really what constitutes man. Then what matter appears to be is not the real. I could feel the inspiration of that idea. Right where the problem was, right there in truth was Life in all its goodness, vitality  and activity. So matter didn’t seem to be a big fearsome thing.

I had been loving these truths though I felt no obligation to make something happen, but to be clearly confident myself about what was true.

As people waited quietly for emergency help, even though there was no response from the lady, there was never anything in that place except the feeling that everything was being taken care of. I continued to kneel by her and recognize the very presence of Life. Since it is spiritual, not in matter, it couldn’t be hurt, injured, or lost.

It seemed a significant period of time passed, maybe even five minutes, and she began to breath, short breaths and then soon deep natural breaths.

A young man appeared over my shoulder and said to me, “Get her to respond.” I moved back and put my hand on him so he could go to her. I had to smile because not only did he have a zillion tattoos but he had a big ring in his nose and a mohawk. I remember thinking, angels come in all sorts of garb. His care was tender and very kind.

As she responded, I assured her that she was well and safe.. She asked that someone call her husband. An individual found her phone and the emergency password, and reached her husband, who came within a few minutes. Three very kind firemen came in, again with no drama or sirens. Soon she began to speak. Her husband assured her and everyone that she was fine.

There were no strangers there. Only folks caring for each other. I’m still blessed, recalling how neighbors did beautiful, synchronized, Love-impelled teamwork.

Time to leave, I thought. Everyone safe. Happy. Strong. Well. A privilege to be a small part of a community whose response to a need for a stranger was love.

Welcome to Connections,  the place for my pupils, guests and invitees to be in touch.

….and as each of you walk through the door of my heart, know that I think of you with such tenderness and love. You are very special to me, and I know, to each other.

Recently, Love impelled me to take a few short steps to bring us together regardless of where we live or where we are on the planet. This time together (I’m calling this our “blpam” not “blog”) is something I have wanted to do for a very long time. Now it seems is the right time.

We come together for a weekend once a year, but our hearts are together whenever we think about each other. Some of us talk together, but some are in far parts of the world. I know there are so many ways to to be in touch.

Using our blpam as time to be together, getting comfortable with each other, we can post ideas, stories, healings, find and share inspiration. We can ask questions of one another, and use this journal as a support, discovering  how we can best share with one another.

Each day for each of us is a treasure, or a challenge, a time for growth and progress, always an opportunity to deepen our prayer and spiritual understanding, and in all ways, to serve.

We are a unique bunch, – we are happy, fun, sometimes intense, sometimes afraid, always supportive, filled with life and the discoveries of our journeys, and good soldiers along our roads.

I hope you’ll take this opportunity to come on in, take off your mental shoes, have a cup of tea and sit down and spend some wonderful time together.

More to come…