Tag: spirituality

Facing your fears…like the Hobbits did

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

Recently my husband and I watched “The Hobbit” and the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

The “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, in particular, is quite intense with epic battle scenes and constant toil for the characters. I often find myself echoing the Hobbit’s sentiment of being a peaceful people who don’t like adventures. Even watching these movies can be quite exhausting!

As one might already know, watching the extended version of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy is quite an endeavor in and of itself. So I figured I should get the most out of it. Well, I did because I had a spiritual breakthrough!

We might want to run away from the challenges that confront us, like Bilbo & Frodo Baggins wanted to. However, we have the “sword of Truth”, the “armor of goodness” that we can wield to overcome the deception of evil.

For instance, was the ring that Frodo was carrying actually physically heavier as he was climbing up the mountain of Mordor to throw it into the fire? I don’t think so. The ring weighed the same as it always had. However, the resistance to good and the temptation of evil is what seemed to be heavier in Frodo’s thought and he had to summon the courage and will to overcome it.

What if Jesus simply wanted to have a peaceful life and avoid conflict? We wouldn’t have his supreme example of overcoming every obstacle of evil and demonstrating the victory of good, divine Love and spiritual Life. Jesus’ example proves what is possible, and his life-work has been inspiring to me many times.

So, though I may echo the sentiment of the Hobbits, I can feel the dominion of their victory by the end of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The young Hobbits return home with an understanding of what it takes to overcome evil (love, unity, strength, etc). Conquering their fears, instead of hiding from them, has made Middle-earth a better place for all of its inhabitants.

Liking v. Loving

Published on by lindseybiggs1 Comment

I had the wonderful realization last night that I don’t have to like everyone, but I do get the privilege and have the ability to love everyone. While it might seem easier to love the people that we like, Jesus shows us how to go deeper.

He said, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

This makes me think of Jesus disciples being in one big love fest where everyone gets along and no one has any conflict. However, we have evidence in the Bible that some disciples found it hard to get along. I like to think that even if we don’t like someone we can still have the humility and unselfishness to work together, as Jesus’ disciples did. And we have the spiritual understanding to know that each individual is made in the loving image of God.

In a way, this way of loving each other is a lot simpler than trying to get human personalities to blend. It goes straight to the divine, to the Truth and spiritual state of things. It frees me from even wasting time trying to get human personalities to match up when I can go right to the true idea and get to know each one as the son and daughter of God.

The good news

Published on by lindseybiggs2 Comments

We hear a lot of news that isn’t so good these days. Some is troubling, some induces stress while still other news is just shocking and troubling.

Each of us probably craves to hear more good news. For instance, when I shared good news with a relative recently, she sighed “thank goodness, we were in need of some good news.”

Is there reliable, practical good news that we can turn to everyday? (Here’s a hint: the word gospel means good news).

I love and cherish, more than anything, what Christian Science has revealed to me about the gospel: that heaven isn’t a far off place, but it is here and now with us; we are each spiritual beings right now made in the image and likeness of Spirit; we are living eternal life now; we have an inseparable relationship with our loving, perfect Creator; God is our Father and our Mother who nurtures, comforts, protects, sustains and leads us; each of us has a perfect, indestructible relationship with God.

I often breathe a sigh of relief when I remind myself of this Truth every day.

We have the duty and privilege to protect and love our consciousness. Have you ever thought of your consciousness as a place to protect and love? Even if you are not someone who watches or reads much news, we still get “news” coming into our thought all the time. When you are driving it might be an image of an accident; or when you check your bank account, it may be a feeling of stress; or when you hear someone cough, it may be a fear of sickness.

It’s important to  your life, health and well-being to guard your consciousness. And one way to do this is to take plenty of time each day, to refresh your consciousness with the good news that makes up the fabric of your being and is life everlasting. This will sustain and satisfy you and each of us more than anything else can.