“[Jesus] lived in a world of spiritual realization far beyond that of which the average man has any understanding.” - Ernest Holmes

Can we begin to accept that we can rise above averages, and that we don’t need to live in the consideration that Jesus, or any other mystical prophet, was somehow greater than we are? I think it’s time!

“Owning your own feelings, rather than blaming them on someone else, is the mark of a person who has moved from contracted awareness to expanded awareness.” - Deepak Chopra

If there is one thing that I still see as a constant in our society, it is the capacity and seeming need we have to blame. It’s a challenge as a new thought minister to recognize this. It is also daily work to keep my own mind from moving to a place of blame when I am faced with certain experiences and circumstances that seem beyond my control.

Today’s section of the sermon on the mount is a metaphor for this concept.

“The Science of Mind does not necessarily create a new religion or sect, for it may be added to any spiritual system of thought since it is a compliment to all.” - Ernest Holmes

There is a great deal of confusion among even the most deep adherents to the Science of Mind as to whether we are a religion or something else. It’s pretty clear from Ernest Holmes’ view that this was never intended to be a religion. And it isn’t, in the same way Buddhism is not a religion. It is a philosophy and a way of life.

“The Universe and the light of the stars come through me.” - Rumi

There is so much about us that is magnificent. Sometimes we forget. At least, I forget sometimes. Spiritual practice is all about remembering.

This week I’ve spent some wonderful time remembering who I am and it is in perfect alignment with today’s continued deepening into the Sermon on the Mount.

Well… where the heck have I been? I start… I stop… there is no consistency.

Well, I get it, the starts and stops can be a little challenging. The excuse I offer is this… on March 15 Tucson New Thought took possession of a new space that we are calling our full time home. Since that time I have been deep in trying to make sure the space was suited to our needs. I had broken down my home office and only today have I finally pulled together a semblance of an office space at the new Center location… and now I am able to start blogging again.

So, where did we leave off?

We were still on the Beattitudes, the first section of the Sermon on the Mount.

Picking up with Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 8…

“In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
-Eric Hoffer

How resistant are you to new things? This is a question I ask myself, not infrequently. To be honest, I think I have let go of a lot of resistance over the years, partially because I understand now that “what I resist persists.” When I am open hearted, I get to live in cooperation with God, with nature, and with humanity.