The Earth & sustainability

I’ve been thinking a lot about sustainability.

Part of the metaphysical definition for Earth in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures says:

“To material sense, earth is matter; to spiritual sense, it is a compound idea.”

From this spiritual sense perspective, Earth is an expression of Spirit and Life.  It is made up of God’s diversity and creativity, and every aspect of Earth, as an idea, is always perfect, harmonious and eternal.

Because the Earth is God’s self-expression, we can have an enlarged appreciation for the diversity, beauty and harmony of Earth. From trees we learn of strength and stability; from flowers we learn of joy and playfulness; from the sun we learn of warmth, comfort and energy.

All of the glories of the Earth are a way for us to know more about the perfection, wonder and infinite nature of the Creator.

So, in being a better steward and citizen of the Earth our motives can be love and appreciation for God’s spiritual Earth. We can be grateful that we can perceive the infinite nature of Life in a way that is tangible and appreciable to the human consciousness, and always see that these manifestations of life have their source in Spirit, eternal Life.

I’m enjoying taking actions to support those individuals and businesses which have these values of appreciation in mind when doing their business. Today, it can be so easy for businesses to get mesmerized into focusing completely on making more money; or as an individual we may focus on cutting corners or finding things cheaply regardless of where they came from.

But what an invitation to see that as stewards of the Earth, and children of God, the qualities of integrity, brotherly love, patience and sustainability are part of who we are.

During these tough economic times, we are called to understand that our supply comes 100% from God, good, and therefore doesn’t depend on us cutting corners, pillaging valuable resources, or destroying beneficial relationships.

Christ Jesus said:

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness [or right thinking], and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6, NKJV)

“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?…If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11 NKJV)

When Jesus’ students told him to send the crowds home because they had been listening to Jesus’ teachings all day and were hungry, Jesus told them they didn’t have to leave. They would be fed by staying in the Christ-light. In other words, we never have to leave the Holy Spirit in order to find food and money. He fed the crowds right there, out of his abundance, so they never had to leave Christ. God says we don’t have to leave Him (His qualities of integrity, virtue, honesty, compassion, brotherly love, justice) in order to make money. What a protection to us!

Jesus responded to temptation by saying: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV) In other words, man does not live by matter but by every impulsion, characteristic and direction of Spirit.

As you are governed by these spiritual character traits of God, you are naturally governed in harmony with all of God’s creation. And everyone, including the Earth, reaps the blessings of your obedience.

Is there really a void?

Recently, I was feeling an inner void.

Or so I thought I was!

This feeling reminded me of a deep inner void that I used to feel when I was in my teens and early twenties. During this time, I would look to the world to fill this void, but to no avail. Because I’ve been studying Christian Science consistently for the past several years, I felt I could handle this feeling of “void” in a more productive way.

In my prayers, I find it’s important to ‘identity the problem’. If we think we are feeling lust, anger, addiction or depression instead of realizing we are really feeling a void then we will often be distracted by these ‘symptoms’ and not address the root of the problem.

In my prayers I could see that there really is no void since God/Spirit fills all space. God/Spirit is beautiful and perfect, and made man and woman in the image and likeness of the loveliness, wholeness and completeness of Spirit.  So, where is this void? Spiritual understanding told me that in reality there was no void.

Who or what feels this void? Mortal man. Mortal man is a term that is synonymous with mortal ego. Mary Baker Eddy, the discover of Christian Science wrote, “Mortal mind sees what it believes as certainly as it believes what it sees.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 86)  This YouTube video explains this ego and it’s self-deception:

So, I could see that only mortal man, or the mortal ego, was believing in a void. Was I going to let this mortal ego boss me around by telling me lies about myself and how I was feeling? No! I then felt completely free of the feeling of depression that had been lingering around me for a few days. I needed to see that this feeling or emotion was outside of me, meaning not a part of me, and this brought about freedom and healing.

I’m so grateful that God has given us spiritual understanding, so that we don’t have to believe the lies of the ego anymore.

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there! And to each one of us who has expressed strength, courage, support and care for another.

We all include and express those Father-like qualities! They aren’t limited to gender. They are spiritual (just like Motherhood qualities are) and within all of us.

I deeply enjoyed this audio interview. I hope you will enjoy it, too. It really shows how no matter what the human fathering scene has been like in our life, we have always had and always will have our one, real, true Father God. God is tenderly loving and caring for each one of us. Christ Jesus illustrated such a tender, trusting relationship with our Father praying in such a way as: “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me…” (John 11:41-42 NKJV) and calling Him “Abba” or Daddy.

So if you are in need of some healing in the father scene – looking for a lasting sense of fatherhood in your life or wanting to be a better father – I hope this audio chat will inspire you!

Happy Father’s Day!

http://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/s8noczzvls
http://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/s8noczzvls