How funny would it be if, every morning, instead of getting up and looking out through your own windows to see the views, instead you ran over to your neighbors’ house, and looked out through their windows?
Sounds funny, but often we are doing just that when we choose to let other’s views color our own, without careful consideration. Perhaps we find ourselves thinking or acting in ways that really are not in line with our own natural spiritual inclination, or inspiration, or with what we know is truly right or best for us. This can simply darken our own joy for living, misdirect our decisions, make us afraid, insecure, or even affect our ethical choices. Mary Baker Eddy alerts us to “being influenced erroneously” in the Rule for Motives and Acts” *
This can be a temptation in small ways and very significant ways. Have you ever bought something just because the ad told you to?! (Never!) The first time I ever went to Costco (then Price Club) with a friend, I put everything in my basket that she put in her basket until I realized I didn’t need a new sewing machine! Caught myself!
Have you ever held an opinion that you really didn’t consider completely? Have you ever felt you lacked something or were limited because “the world” told you that you didn’t have enough or weren’t good enough? Or educated enough? Or loved enough?
Here is wonderful guidance for being sure we are looking through the windows that Love is giving each of us. J.B. Phillips, an English minister, gave this, from Paul in Romans, to his young congregation who felt they didn’t understand the traditional Bible.**
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.” J.B. Phillips’ famous translation of Roman 12:2.
We each have our own unique place and relationship with our source, our Father-Mother God. Divine Mind, divine Love is our guide, our protector, our provider.
We should really check to see whose house we are in when we look out someone else’s windows!
Resolved: I am valuable and can trust the views from my own windows!
Any thoughts???
* Church Manual p. 10
** Phillips wrote it in bomb shelters durng the London Blitz, WW [[.
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Thank you for putting it so succinctly. And I love the resolve, –“I am valuable and can trust…” Sometimes that is the biggest challenge. Loads of Love.
Thanks again, Duf…..this idea of looking through other’s windows applies to the current political scene and pretty much everything else. -raising kids, relationships, what we should eat, etc! It just struck me as a funny act,- get up, get dressed….and …run to your neighbors to see what they see
(think.) But we do it all the time! In so many unguarded ways. And it undersuts our own worth and value, like you said. So the resolve is good… We sre well equipped to think! We just need to do it! Love working on staying home!! Hugs, honey!