Repost: Inspiration from the Olympics

The Olympics are so inspiring! And this blog post by a Christian Science practitioner and teacher points out so many ways the Olympics have propelled mankind forward to break even more limitations!

Olympic Freedom

by Virginia Harris, CSB

Oh the glorious Olympics! It seems like everyday since the Games began there has been some new ‘first’, some previous limitation or barrier broken through, left behind, gone beyond!

Almost daily there are new world records being established, and each breakthrough lifts all of us by showing the potential to surpass previously believed limits. And once a threshold has been crossed, there is only going forward to cross the next.

But there have been so many other breakthroughs as well…

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Our God-given freedom

I once heard an analogy about a slave who worked for his master. He was unaware that the laws of the land had changed and he was no longer legally a slave. And no one told him. So he kept working for his master day in and day out.

To me, the point in this allegory is that even though God made us free, we have to know we are free in order to experience the benefits of that freedom.

Christ Jesus famously stated:

“…ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8 KJV)

What is Truth? This is a question that each person has to answer individually; but I believe we are each God’s child, and our tender, loving divine Mother-Father has given us freedom – freedom from sickness, disease, sin, limitation, lack, and sorrow. This is what Christ Jesus showed us.

We may think of freedom as democracy and individual rights. That is certainly one aspect of freedom. But we aren’t completely free until we realize that the material senses – the limitations, lack, sickness and death that are presented to us – cannot bind us.

When Jesus spoke of freedom the people around him said, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:33-34 NKJV)

“Truth brings the elements of liberty. On its banner is the Soul-inspired motto, ‘Slavery is abolished.’ The power of God brings deliverance to the captive. No power can withstand divine Love. What is this supposed power, which opposes itself to God? Whence cometh it? What is it that binds man with iron shackles to sin, sickness, and death? Whatever enslaves man is opposed to the divine government. Truth makes man free.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Eddy, p. 224)

Freedom comes from knowing God and knowing who man is – made in the image and likeness of divine Love.

The following excerpt is the most complete, detailed and pure description of man that I have ever come across:

“Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements…Man is spiritual and perfect…Man is idea, the image, of Love…that which has no separate mind from God; that which has not a single quality underived from Deity; that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker…Man is incapable of sin, sickness, and death.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Eddy, p. 475)

I’ve prayed with this description of man since I was a child and it has freed me from sickness, fear, lust, addiction, and lack.

Once we see and know who we are, we will never again believe anything that tries to say otherwise.  When we know God, how loved we are and that God made each of us spiritually and perfectly, we won’t believe anything that goes against that relationship.

Each day we can celebrate our independence and freedom from material limitations.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 NKJV

Independence


This past week I was working on being more independent. No one wants to feel like they are dependent on anything. We all want to feel liberated, confident and free!

True independence actually comes from our total dependence on God, divine Love. Divine Love, God, is the source of all happiness, health, supply, purpose, vibrancy, companionship, order, creativity, etc.  And these come into our experience when we lean on Him/Her, when we go right to the Source.

If I want to feel happiness, I know that God, divine Love, is supplying me with infinite happiness this moment. God is providing me the opportunities to express this happiness and share it with others. Happiness is a quality of God so it is inherent in us! We were made to be happy 🙂

If I want to feel more health, activity or strength, I know that God is the source of all energy and is giving me boundless strength right now! God did not create or send sickness to any of us. It is our divine right to dispute  sickness at all times! And our thoughts (the ones that come from God) protect us. Good thoughts are the best immune system you have!

If we want to feel more fulfillment in our lives, we can rejoice that we are the satisfied ideas of God, divine Love. God saw all that She made and it was very good! That sounds pretty satisfied to me.
Be watchful of any unconscious pull towards materialism or thinking that matter can make us happy. Rejoice in the simplicity, beauty and childlikeness around you right now! Sometimes when I look around my house and feel that I want “more” I remember that a baby, child or pet doesn’t care what you have. They feel and value the love, joy and comfort that is around them. We can be that child, too, and feel so satisfied with the positive, abundant qualities that are with us all the time.

Go for a walk; look for something “new” that you’ve never noticed before. I did that on a walk home with my dogs when I was feeling kind of bored with our route. Every few steps I strived to notice something new that I hadn’t consciously appreciated before. And now I see light, joy and comfort expressed all around me on this route. You may even want to stop and explore a new area that looks appealing. It’s important to keep exploring new things – expand & grow. Don’t contract or confine your viewpoint and experience. Grow! 🙂

So as we think about Independence Day, here in America, we can rejoice in knowing our complete freedom, our independence, comes from all the good that God, divine Love, is supplying us each moment. And we can be so grateful that the Truth does indeed make us free!