PEACE IS SEXY * OBJECTS OF CREATION

At the Pentagon peace rally the other day, a Republican protestor against the protestors held up a sign saying "PEACE SUCKS." I know it isn't sexy to stop arguing or fighting. I know it's more fun to gossip, vent, scream, yell and find fault with others. I know it is more exciting to watch a train wreck than a healing, but it doesn't help heal anything, in fact it keeps us stuck. Bad news proliferates because of our constant nurturing of it. I'm not saying stop shining a light on the bad guys like Rove, Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, Delay, and corrupt corporations. I'm saying let's also uplift each other by seeing the hope that is right around the corner. We need to see our innate goodness and know that truth will thrive as good people come into power.

JOY
I have been experiencing moments of pure joy lately. It all started when I consciously decided to shift my thought to seeing the beautiful in life. Believe me it hasn't been easy, in light of all the bad news in the world. But ever since I took a class in spiritual physics (metaphysics) I began to practice "reversing my thought" and looking up. Literally looking up at the treetops, at the higher laws in operation. In other words, the spiritual invisible goodness running things. Now I'm madly in love with life, people, trees, flowers, nature — and I'm seeing things I never saw before! It's amazingly beautiful out there. I'm seeing more and more beautiful objects of creation.

I have also shed my jealousy of others and have begun to see everything with new eyes. Suddenly a new sense of compassion and love for strangers in the news and on the street — even people who seem gruff and don't smile back. I saw a sad-looking Hispanic gardener on our street the other day, and I silently blessed him. He looked up and beamed back at me. Think of all the people who seem invisible, as if no one cares about their burdens.

My ideal day: going on a road trip with the kids in the back of the minivan. We went to Tahoe over the holidays, and I can't tell you how majestic the snow-covered treetops are as you drive up to Lake Tahoe. It looks like heaven. In fact the town we went to is called "Heavenly." I get a calm peaceful feeling whenever I see a picture of Tahoe or Sedona, so I keep a postcard of Heavenly, right by my computer.

For the past few years I have not behaved in a very admirable way toward my husband. He used to annoy me when he wouldn't listen or care about anything I was interested in, especially politics. But I began to look at him differently. Everytime he annoyed me I would thank him for the good. I became sweeter and more loving and lately, I have fallen back in love with him. The kids are actually nicer too.

Joy is coming back. Despite the horror stories in the news, I truly believe that if we keep our eyes on the "beautiful, the good and the true" as Paul said -- if we "think on these things" and we will bring these into our lives proportionate to our thought.

Man is the offspring of Spirit. The beautiful, good, and pure constitute his ancestry. - Mary Baker Eddy.

In reality, man is not material, he is spiritual. We are just so focused on the material, we forget where we came from and what we're made of. Man's misguided belief in duality (his belief in a devil, in "evil as a force" as big as God) causes most of his problems. But THERE IS NO OPPOSING FORCE. I know it seems like there is, and this is difficult to wrap your mind around, but try it. Try focusing on only the good in life. It will change everything. Only good is real and eternal. But as I said earlier, I know peace isn't always sexy.

Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8). Paul’s list contains elements that all point to God.

Paul’s list contains “things that are honest,” “things that are just,” “things that are pure,” “things that are lovely,” “things that are of good report,” “virtue and praise.” And, he tells us to think on these things. All of these things lead us to a life that is peaceful in Christ. Paul tells us to “think on these things.” We are to keep them in our mind. He wrote in Romans, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

We are to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6): we are to put our trust in God. We are to pray to Him for everything: “but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). And we are to meditate on Holy things.

This is THE SECRET. They just left out the Christ.

Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you Smile (except really mean thoughts about George Bush.)