Christmas Still

By Yvonne Renoult

Christmas is here. 

Not just in the merriment and shopping rush. 

        or the Christmas parties and musical gatherings; 

But it is the quiet babe of healing to a world of sorrow. 

It is a revelation of an eternal gift,

not a birth of a savior

       that was absent and now appears. 

The illusions of materialism cannot hide it.  

Dark voices of false authority say in my head:

“there is no room for this precious and powerful gift

in the busy “inn” called your life. 

“You are too filled up with material demands

to make room for and to experience this message of peace, wholeness, contentment, inspiration, and spiritual sense.” 

Yet the birth of this meek idea gently persists--never stopping its mission

                    to bless me. 

There is only the most meager accommodations in my thought

          for this profound blessing.

          So ill prepared am I.

          So over-whelmed by responsibilities and obligations. 

Still the sweet idea designed to deliver me from limitation comes yet. 

Although hid in deep obscurity,

not advertised in boisterous sound bites, billboards, or social media,

                   Yet the “wiseman” in me still seeks and finds this hidden gift. 

                    The meek “shepherd” in me still sees the symbols of glorious light

                                that indicate its holy resting place. 

                    Still the songs of angel messages communicate a spiritual sense

                                within me. 

I am guided to the humble “manger” in thought

          in spite of the limitations and obstacles

          trying to prevent the birth of this promise to my life and to my world. 

The whole of creation responds and receives its grace

—    not even knowing the Christmas stillness that quietly moves it. 

YHWH IS LOVE

Galen L. Goldsmith CS

I Kings 19.11,12

Go forth and stand upon the mount before the LORD.

And the LORD passed by,

And a great and mighty wind broke the mountains

And shattered the rocks before the LORD

The LORD was not in the wind.

And after the wind, an earthquake,

The LORD was not in the earthquake.

And after the earthquake, fire,

The LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire, a still small voice

Long ago, a still small voice spoke to Elijah.

The Bible does not tell us whose voice it was,

But leaves us to wonder, giving us pause.

A thousand years are as one day with the LORD:

So I shall tell you today

What I heard the still small voice say.

In a precious day by heaven wrought

Came that blessed, far-off little thought,

Not heard with ears, but by the mind,

“Galen, awake.”                                                (winter, 1983)

It made me think, “Who am I?”

I settled in a mountain home, and as I worked one day,

High up in my consciousness

The still small voice spoke to say,

        ‘My name is Love.”                                  (summer, 1983)

It has no accent, no tone, no sound;

It is perfectly still and very clear.

I found it is easy to understand what it said to me

For we are akin to the Divine

By a mirrored likeness of Mind.

Yes, the still small voice is Love.

Love is good, little children; Love knows no sin.

But the LORD scourgeth every one received

And loveth those who are chastened.

A mighty river of Spirit began to purify my heart,               (winter 1985-6)

Teaching me what Love really, truly is,

One might think it harsh, but I am alive to tell it.

Presently, high in the mountains where I cared for an old friend,

I saw high above that same Presence again.                         (summer 1986)

        And I knew Love had always been with me;

        Neither had Love never erred; it is always unmistakably love.

Seeing now with the mind,

        that righteous indignant act of Christ Jesus,

        overthrowing the tables of the money changers

        in the temple of my consciousness.

        and my sins were undone:

        Omnipotence

Not by dint of sheer might, but by virtue of being right,

Love was, is, and ever shall be love.

Fathomless wisdom had proved these words,

Now written in heaven for me to see;

        I AM WHO I AM

The God of Moses! I thought,

And the still small voice politely concluded,

        ‘I am God.”

My gaze beheld no earthly sight, no mountain sky and bird in flight,

But substance became transparent and willing to reveal

The home of God called heaven, where reigns the LORD of hosts.

There I saw and knew a windless calm,

The peace which comes when all accord.

In all the realm of created life,

There is just one Mind, so there can be no strife.

No thought opposes,

        No one can be,

                Lost,

        Nor separated, LORD,

                 From Thee.

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom,

And the power,

And the glory,

Forever.          Matthew 6:9c-13

Your Mind cannot be compromised

By Anthony Whitehouse CS

We are always going to have an experience and a mind which either malfunctions or is subject to the vagaries and the misfortunes common to human existence until we figure out that that the mind we have cannot be compromised.

As long as we think we have a personal private mind then that mind can be compromised because we see it as OUR mind and therefore capable of being compromised.

However when we realize that Mind is God and not really capable of being reduced to personal sense then that Mind and all its faculties just cannot be compromised. It cannot malfunction because what we are operating with IS God.

If this is not our experience it is solely because we entertain the belief that Mind is capable of being compromised. Obviously it is not but the belief would hold otherwise and as a result we suffer the consequences.

So “ rise in the strength of Mind to reject all that is unlike God” and you will experience your new found understanding in a Mind that cannot be compromised .
It also helps to digest that Hassidic maxim that God cannot be served without Joy. The Hassidim go as far as to say it is a SIN to serve God without Joy. When you understand you have a mind that cannot be compromised you will necessarily have a much greater sense of joy about life.

So if you are struggling with a so called unhealed issue or incurable disease, abject poverty or a life full of pain just consider this simple fact: These things are but the product of the false belief that Mind can be compromised. It cannot be because Mind is God.