Category: Life

Is Life controlling you…or time?

Published on by lindseybiggs2 Comments

close-up-of-brick-circleIt’s so easy to get caught up in being in a rush these days. There are often many demands made on us. How do we navigate these waters and maintain a sense of peace?

“Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases [time] in proportion as the other [eternity] is recognized.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 468)

Imagine that…time ceasing! As I think about that, there is great sense of stillness, unity and serenity.

How do we recognize and bring eternal life in to our day right here and now?

I think it’s helpful to recognize that we are not on a timeline, but we are at one with the entire sphere of Life. What we see and know of human life is just a limited perspective and a fraction of the whole Life.

Christ Jesus demonstrated eternal Life in his resurrection and also in the lives of others whom he saved from death (see Luke 7:11-17, Matthew 9:18-26, and John 11:1-44).

He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11: 25, 26)

So, clearly, Life is about much more than material cells and atoms.

Dr. Eben Alexander, the author of the New York Times bestseller “Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife”, said in a recent interview, “The most profound revelation of all this was that the brain doesn’t create this kind of deeper message of soul, spirit, or consciousness at all.”

Certainly there is much peace and realizing that we will never really die. Our consciousness and identity are eternal and permanent.

“All that is beautiful and good in your individual consciousness is permanent” (Unity of Good, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 8). So all the love and the good within us is here to stay.

How can understanding that Life is eternal give us greater dominion over time?

I had an experience recently that illustrated that.

I was late. My meeting was about to start in 10 min. But there had been demands at home with family that I had needed to attend to. What to do? I recognized that I clearly had a choice. I could get all frazzled and in a tizzy. I could give up this sense of peace and dive into the invisible pressure that comes from time. Or I could maintain a sense of peace, recognizing it as a God-given quality, and trust that God is governing me and others, and I can never be punished (or cause others to be delayed) through doing good for others. I opted for peace. I got in the car. I did not speed. I praised God all the way. I prayed to recognize His qualities of poise, grace, kindness, patience, love and tenderness that are always with me. I arrived at the meeting right on time, even though there was no way humanly that I could have done so. The meeting commenced and all was very harmonious. I marvel at this beautiful spiritual lesson.

We always have a choice. We never have to let go of the spiritual dominion and poise that God has given us.

Now, I don’t mean that we should be apathetic and inconsiderate towards others. In the example above, no harm was caused to others by the demands from family that I had to take care of. And the spiritual dominion and peace that God gave me saved me from acting impatient and rushed, which can often cause others to feel agitated and hurried.

I’m so grateful for this small way, and the big ways, that we can prove Life is eternal, spiritual and harmonious right here and now.

Out with the old & in with the new

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment
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Last week, I came to a crossroads with my technology devices. My computer and phone had been acting up for months, and I was fed up! To top it off, the home button on my smart phone had stopped working making it very hard for me to use.

I emailed a Christian Science practitioner for clarity and support because I was fed up, and I didn’t have time to spend hours on the phone with tech support or funds to buy new computers and phones. I’ve also learned that our experience is primarily mental and metaphysical — technology, like everything else in life, is an extension of our thought and can work perfectly in accord with harmonious thinking.

After reading her email and praying for direction myself, I saw even more the value and importance of having a good, working phone. And perhaps I was being a little resistant to change by hanging on to an old phone and phone plan, ignorantly thinking it was better or no different than anything else out there.

Boy, was I wrong! When I checked my phone plan, I learned that I could upgrade my husband’s and my phone for free to the newest model. On top of that, a new phone plan was available that gave us better features at a cheaper price.

Upgrading my phone resolved the glitches I was having. Everything runs so much smoother and faster now. And here I was being resistant to change for nothing!

I found these Bible passages to be applicable to this situation:

…put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Eph 4:24)

The willingness to put of “the old man” and the old conversation about limits, history, etc., opened the door for new things that were even better than before — an important lesson that is applicable to other areas in life, too.

Take a moment for spirituality!

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment
A little more grace, a motive made pure, a few truths tenderly told, a heart softened, a character subdued, a life consecrated, would restore the right action of the mental mechanism, and make manifest the movement of body and soul in accord with God. —Mary Baker Eddy (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 354)

 

This passage came to thought as I was praying. Isn’t this what the action of the Christ — the divine message from the God to man — does in the world?

Whatever challenge we are facing — or the world is facing — this spiritual action and humility will restore harmony, and bring our experience in line with the divine.

Whether you are dealing with fear or sickness, being a care-giver for someone, or governing a nation, this spiritual action can and will restore health and harmony in every situation.

Are you too busy for Love? Perhaps take a moment to call someone you have been thinking about. It will make a world of difference to them!

Have you been thinking condemning thoughts about someone in your family or community? Take a moment and witness God’s love for them. Feeling God’s love will lift you up, too!

Have you been running out of patience in a situation? Take a moment to feel calm and reflect on God. You will be able to run miles on this freshness and renewal!