Heaven, Sunday Service

Today I truly accept that Heaven is here on earth. I live my life in the Christ consciousness, welcoming and expressing Love in all actions, thoughts and words. I am here now living in heavenly bliss. And so it is.

Heaven Now

Over two hundred years ago poet William Blake wrote these immortal words:

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower 

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand 

And Eternity in an hour"

The words are beautiful and somewhat mysterious. If you think deeply about it,Blake is saying that when we look with our spiritual eyes, we see God everywhere. We are able to see the eternal, infinite nature of Divine Life in the simplest objects. Can you see heaven in a wild flower? Can you see heaven in your child's eyes? Can you see heaven in your everyday activities?

In those days the accepted meaning of "heaven" was the afterlife reward for those who lived well according to their religious tradition.
The first definition in dictionary.com is:

" the abode of God, the angels, and the spirits of the righteous after death; 

 the place or state of existence of the blessed after the mortal life."

In the Science of Mind, we do not believe the heaven is a "greater later" but rather heaven is a state of consciousness of happiness, which we can choose any time we wish.

Rickie Byars-Beckwith wrote the wonderful song, "I'm Choosing heaven today."

One of my favorite teaching stories is about a mean-spirited man and en enlightened being. The man had a bird, in his hand and dared the master with these words, "Divine Master, if you are all-knowing, tell me whether the bird in my hand is dead or alive." He thought that whichever answer the master chose, he would either kill the bird or set it free. The wise master said, "It is up to you, son. It is up to you."

The power of choice is one of our greatest gifts. We can choose happiness, or sadness, generosity or stinginess, love or indifference. Choose wisely.

You are the one who can make your life heaven or hell.

Body, Sunday Service

My body is a temple of God. I surrender it to Spirit within. I use it as an instrument in which Love is expressed. I shift my awareness from body identification to Spirit identification which heals both ny body and mind. And so it is.

Body, Sunday Service

My body is a temple of God. I surrender it to Spirit within. I use it as an instrument in which Love is expressed. I shift my awareness from body identification to Spirit identification which heals both body and mind. And so it is.

Memorial Weekend

I am almost ready to leave for our annual retreat in Lake Arrowhead.

I love this retreat. The setting is so beautiful, the food is great. The conversations are thought-provoking and the after-hours activities are connecting. 

Last year, based on our Friday evening discussions, he entire weekend opened to the theme of authenticity and asking for what you want. It was very powerful.

We will see what this weekend brings.

On Monday, we salute the veterans and then give thanks for those who lost their lives defending their country.

Some ministers use the Memorial Weekend to remember all pour loved ones who are on the other side. I think this is a good practice.

We can always be thankful for our freedoms.

I grew up in Canada, where both veterans and those who have died in combat are honored on remembrance Day, November 11th. When I was a child I memorized the poem, "In Flanders Field."

I have come to understand death differently. I now believe that when we die, we are surrounded by such beauty and love, that there is no longer any quarrel with anyone.

What do you believe?

Why Do We Fall In Love?

"What we regard as normality is our collective, protective madness,

in which we repress the grim truth about the human condition." - Ernest Becker

The Same Reason The Flowers Grow. 

Work, Sunday Service

I am am instrument of God's Peace. I use my talents and abilities to spread Love. I surrender my job to God and remember my real job is to love the world back to health. My life's purpose is to Love. And so it is .

Working With Love

In her book, A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson writes:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

This is a very famous quote and one from which we can learn a great deal.

This week we will be discussing returning to love at work. 

Marianne's main point is that when you do what you love, not because of a paycheck, but simply because you love what you do, you will be compensated. She also explains why it is so important for us to let our real values and beliefs shine through our actions.

So are you authentic at work? Are you doing what you love to do? If you don't love what you do, why are you doing it? 

If the answer is I need the money, this is an answer that is spiritually keeping you in lack.

Do what you love and the money will follow. Williamson says that for her it took two years giving lectures about these principles before she was paid anything. Why did she keep doing it? She did it because she was using the same principles in her life to bring her peace in all things.

It is why the practitioners and ministers in this and other New Thought Centers do what we do. We do it because practicing these principles has changed our lives. I know it has changed mine.

Do you want to shine at what you do? Then do it with love and you certainly will. Joseph Campbell, encouraged us  to "follow our bliss." Below you will see Jason Silva's shots of awe on this idea.

Relationships, Sunday Service

I accept the Christ within, I see the beauty within me as who I really am. I am not my weakness, I am strength. I am not my anger, I am Peace. I am not my small-mindedness. I am much, much more and I express my authentic self. And so it is.

My Relationship with my Mother

I have many ideas vying for attention when it comes to my relationship with my mother. I will share some of my memories with you.

When I was two or three, mom was reading the story "Bambi" to my older sister, Kathryn, who would have been seven or eight. When it came to the part of Bambi's mother being shot by the hunter, mom was concerned that Kathryn would be upset. She wasn't, I was. Big tears were running down my cheeks. When asked why I was crying I said, I was crying for Bambi's mother. I was likely crying for fear that something bad would happen to my own mommy.

When I was school-aged, I was a very fussy eater. My mom was having a battle of wills with me over some horrid dish containing onions. It was lunch and she said I had to sit there until I ate it. I was very late for school.

What I remember after that, is that mom often tried to hide onions in my food, but I was very certain that they were evil and would not eat them. My sister wouldn't eat liver. My brothers didn't eat most vegetables. I remember Mom cooking six different meals for us! Was it love or did she just give up? 

Lela Clark holding brothers John and Gerald

Lela & Gordon Clark holding sister Kathryn

Clark Family 1954

When I was a teenager, the battle of the wills intensified about almost everything. Boys. Clothes. Life. Smoking.  She would yell at me and I would yell right back. I often said hateful words about how I didn't fit with this family, I hated her, etc. I am so sorry Mom for the way I treated you then.

When I was ready to go to university, she sewed four or five magnificent outfits for me. They were very stylish and I loved those clothes. At the same time, in her own closet, the newest garment was over ten years old! I appreciate you Mom.

Mom always took my side, even when I wasn't right. She assumed that the other person must be in the wrong. She was always very loyal to our family.

She was always very good with babies and sometimes good with little children. The battle of wills continued through many generations. When one of my nephews didn't want to wear shoes, and she thought he should wear shoes, there was a great deal of screaming and crying... and usually she won.

Over the years there are so many things that I have come to appreciate about Mom. She is a wonderful athlete as evidenced by all the trophies she won for curling and later for shuffleboard. 

Lela doing a back bend

Some of Lela's trophies

She had amazing flexibility. She could do many yoga poses such as the back bend and plow well into her seventies. 

This costume won first prize

Lela Clark, my mom, is also one of the most creative people I have ever met. She loved to design and make costumes whether it was for us as children for Halloween or whether it was for herself and her team-mates for a curling bonspeil. When I was a teacher, I would often borrow her latest costumes to wear at Halloween. No pattern, just an idea, and voila...there it was.

There are lots of painful memories I could write because that is how it is with mothers and daughters. But Sunday is Mothers' Day and I will stick to the happy memories.

I love you, Mom and I am grateful that you are my mother.

Hell, God and You

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I am aware of Love's presence within me and all others. I relax and surrender to the unconditional Love of my inner child. I experience and express Love in all actions. Love is my true purpose and ultimate reality. And so it is.