Category: Love/relationships

What can we do better? Love more.

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

The United States has seen several mass shootings in the last few years in schools, universities, a movie theater and places full of innocent people.

The most recent shooting in Santa Barbara caused me to consider: what can we do better? What can our country do better?

The answer to me is: to see each other as the spiritual reflections of God.

We have all seen a reflection — it mirrors the original. So man (including all of us) is the mirror image of God, though not the original.

“All that God imparts moves in accord with Him, reflecting goodness and power…As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God…God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 516)

To me, this means that man reflects the beauty, grace and goodness of God. When we see our neighbor, our parents, and our children, we can see them in this light. Seeing their spiritual identity, we know that hatred, fear, sin, etc. are a counterfeit impression of who they really are.

So what can we do better? Love more. Love the way God loves by seeing His creation as we really are — made in His/Her “image and likeness”.

No one is excluded. No division. No separation.

St. Paul writes,

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39).

Nothing — no place, no person, no experience — can separate us from the Love of God or the love that we can express towards each other.

 

Let the divine light shine

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

Each day is filled with such inspiring ideas about God’s love and perfect creation. I write many blogs in my mind, but often don’t get them down on my computer!

Today I read an inspiring article called “What you think counts“.

It explains how healing can happen when you entertain good thoughts about those around you.

The article shares this illustration:

…let us assume you are sitting in your living room with a friend. It is twilight, and you say, “I wish to read this article,” and you turn on a strong overhead light. This light enables not only you but also your friend to read. Neither had a darkness of his own. No, there was only one darkness, and one bright light dispelled it. Two lights were not required to dissipate the one darkness. The one bright light sufficed.

Each one of us has the light of Christ — divine goodness and love — to shine!

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

It helps me to think of this as “let God’s light shine”, so I don’t feel tempted to think I have a personal power/light separate from God (after all, Jesus also said, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” Mark 10:18).

Doesn’t this illustration make you want to shine this divine light brightly so that everyone can feel and experience divine goodness and the healing power of Love? It shows me that YES what we hold in thought does make a difference and each thought can be utilized to shine that light and bless others!

Have a happy day shining that light and blessing those around you!

 

The Beatitudes teach us about friendship

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

I love the Beatitudes.

They illustrate beautiful qualities of character — the kind of person you want to be around.

They exemplify the perfect friend.

      • Humility — there is no quality more amazing to me than humility. It is beautiful, graceful & gracious.
      • Comforting — we’ve all had times when we’ve been down and turned to a friend for comfort. It’s a wonderful feeling. And to be able to give comfort when someone else is down gives a sense of satisfaction.
      • Selfless & generous — someone who can share and isn’t greedy.
      • Appreciates good activities (and good clean fun!)
      • Satisfaction in right-doing — does the right thing, even if it’s not popular (even if you don’t want to).
      • Forgiving — doesn’t focus on the past or hold a grudge.
      • Genuine — honest, authentic (not fake).
      • Peace-loving (instead of drama-loving) — looks for the best in you and others (doesn’t get in to gossip).
      • Loyal, faithful & devoted — to his/her beliefs as well as to your friendship.
      • Confident & courageous — stands up for what is right; sticks up for beliefs as well as friends.

See what I mean? It’s a perfect model for friendship (or business partner or neighbor). Christ Jesus exemplified this and showed us we can, too — that it is right and normal. He wouldn’t have said it if we couldn’t be it!

Enjoy giving & expressing these qualities today. You’ll be thanked for it!