Response to tragic Connecticut shooting

When I heard about this tragic shooting,  I thought “what can we do to prevent this type of action in the future?” (this incident following just a few days after a mall shooting in Portland).

The answer I heard spiritually to my question was “to love one another.” Community members across the globe have the ability to love each individual in the community. This love defies space and time because it is divine Love, the love that is God, reflected. If this Love is expressed by each of us, it can be felt by each one in the community. No community member can seem “anonymous”, slip through the cracks and impelled to commit such an action when this universal love includes everyone.

“[K]eep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease and death cannot enter them. It is plain that nothing can be added to the mind already full. There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited.” (Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellany, p. 210)

This unselfish act of loving our neighbors and keeping our consciousness filled with good, benefits, uplifts and blesses our communities. It is the Christ-consciousness that perceives and responds to needs before they arise. It is each individual feeling loved, satisfied, content and fulfilled.

What an unselfish gift to give to one another this holiday season and beyond! As we keep our minds filled with Truth and Love and love one another, there will be no way for evil to enter and disrupt our communities and world.

Peace and blessings to you, your family and community.

Reblog: What 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai is teaching the world

by Mark Sappenfield (Reblogged from CSMonitor.com)

“Don’t worry, Baba. I am going to be fine and victory will be ours.”

According to a Monitor report Thursday, these were the words spoken by 14-year-old peace activist Malala Yousafzai to her father shortly after she was shot in the head by Taliban extremists in Pakistan.

In truth, they were words spoken for the entire world… Read more

A gratitude attitude & my grandparents

I find thinking of others and feeling grateful so healing.

I’ve been thinking of my grandparents recently. They are moving to a senior community tomorrow about a half hour away from their current home. My aunt has been so kind in finding a place for them, making the arrangements and taking care of the move.

I admire and am so grateful for the way my family looks out for one another. This move affects all of us particularly because “Grandma’s house” has been the place that our family has congregated since I was a child. Over the past several years, though, we have all seen how much upkeep a large house takes and that all of the “stuff” they have accumulated or saved for us isn’t really necessary for any of us. I’m grateful for the freedom they will find in their new apartment, and for the community and activity they will get to enjoy.

I’m trusting in God that there can’t be any loss from their move. For example, we have other relatives homes where we can all get together for the holidays. I know that God prepares a place and makes radiant room for each of us. God takes care of all the details. Trusting all the accommodations to God leaves my family in the prime position of witnessing God’s love and blessings for all of us, without stress or worry.

As I mentioned in the beginning, being grateful and thinking of others is healing. As I focus my thought more on my family, the world and other loved ones, I become more grateful – more aware of good. These thoughts naturally bless my home, family, body, and experience. These are just the wonderful side-effects – or spiritual law – of thinking of others and feeling grateful.

So, if you’re feeling down today, open your thought to gratitude. It is sure to brighten your day.

By the way, Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Day!