Nov 16, 2009 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2009. All rights reserved.
It seems in most every aspect of life, people are searching for answers, help and relief. We may often begin our search by examining the symptoms of a problem. Perhaps many believe that this process will help identify the cause of some phenomenon so that we can determine how to treat the situation.
In my recent prayers for some family members, an inspiration came to me that has changed how I approach my prayer regarding problems.
Various loved ones were (and some still are) struggling with physical illness and disabilities. Some have received a medical diagnosis, and others are afraid of getting one, fearing what it might be.
In trying to console a family member who was about to get a diagnosis that would reveal whether a tumor was benign, I pondered the meaning of “diagnosis.” The short definition could be simply stated as an “opinion.” Or a longer way to give a definition could be — “the evaluation of history, symptoms or signs and a review of data in order to reach an opinion or conclusion.”
The key word for me was – opinion. Somehow this word suddenly made an unwanted medical diagnosis less horrifying or daunting. And here’s why…
I spiritually reasoned that any opinion — or diagnosis — that is not the same as what God would say, think, know or conclude about his beloved children is always a misdiagnosis.
For me, this conclusion — although simply stated — has become very powerful, reassuring and hopeful.
I’ve decided that the only way I can approach my prayers is to begin with what I believe God knows as well as wants for his children. I believe that this approach is based upon what is spiritually and eternally true about God and His children. So, consequently, any other opinion or fear could never change, replace or destroy the spiritual truth.
I shared these thoughts with my family member, and she later told me they helped her gain a peace of mind before she went in for the examination and further testing. Gratefully, the tumors (it turned out to be more than one) were all medically determined to be benign.
My prayers that continue for other family members are holding firm to what I believe is the God-view for each one of them. No one can ever make me believe that a loving and good God wants his children to suffer.
I can’t help but consider how Jesus healed, and I recall that many times he didn’t even know the nature or name of the illness or condition. I read again about the dear woman who the Bible says had an issue of blood for twelve years and who had apparently been to many physicians in search of a cure. (Luke 8:43-48) Jesus didn’t know her plight before he healed her. She told him her story after she was healed.
I have to believe that Jesus must have maintained a spiritual point of view of everyone he saw regardless of the physical evidence or what opinions might be. This spiritual viewpoint would have surely been based upon what God sees and knows. And this point of view was transforming and healing and didn’t require an analysis of the problem.
Beginning with a focus on a problem, or sometimes many problems, has often been overwhelming. So much so in fact, that I have found it difficult to even know where to turn or how to begin to find a solution or make progress.
But as I approach a problem with first pondering what God would say or know, fears are calmed, hope is encouraged, fresh answers are discovered and in some instances, healings have been experienced and witnessed.
Don’t ever give up hope, my friends. God loves you. God sees infinite possibilities for your life. He knows your perfection. He discerns your unlimited potential. He is aware of your many talents and abilities. He is conscious only of your wholeness and goodness.
Anything that would have you believe otherwise is a misdiagnosis!
Nov 16, 2009 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2009. All rights reserved.
“All I need is a room with a view,” I told my husband, as we explored locations for celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary. The past few months had been filled with one “unexpected” or “unwanted” situation after another. Mostly, I longed for a break from all the commotion and wanted time to focus only on my marriage.
As we drove the narrow, winding road up the wooded mountain, I had no doubt that I was headed to a secluded, romantic hideaway. Then, suddenly, we reached the top, and what would become my very own Tuscan villa for the next three nights came into view. The serene atmosphere that embraced me as I walked to the front door assured me I was right where I needed to be.
The balcony view from our room provided a panorama of sky, hills, trees and lake. And almost immediately, a broader perspective took shape in my mind, helping me to see beyond challenges and dilemmas waiting at home to be solved.
I was again reminded of the prayer advice Jesus gave when he said, “Enter into thy closet.” (Matthew 6:6) I’ve thought about this many times when I’ve felt the need to get away from whatever was troubling me in order to pray, meditate and be quiet. My closet has taken many forms through the years — lying on the beach, fishing in a mountaintop lake, walking around our farm, drinking mochas at Starbucks or even shutting my eyes for a few moments in the midst of a busy day. This time my closet was sitting on an Oklahoma hillside!
Jesus’ next piece of advice to us is to “shut the door behind you” before we begin to pray. The door shut on any worries and concerns the moment I walked onto our balcony. The wide landscape that filled my gaze broke the spell that was hypnotizing me into a state of uneasiness. I knew a resurrection of my peace of mind was imminent. I was no longer preoccupied with tomorrow or next week but focused only on the present moment and the beauty, calm and love that was with me in that moment.
Now that I’m home, once again facing the “unwanted” stuff, I am trying to hang on to the peace of mind I felt on my Oklahoma mountain.
With the Easter season upon me, I’ve been wondering if the disciples were searching for peace of mind when they went fishing after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Perhaps they were trying to make sense of everything they had experienced and witnessed. Perhaps they were unsure of what they needed to do next with their lives.
Jesus prepared breakfast for them, and it seems that what Jesus told them at this last meal on the shores of the Galilean Sea (John, Chapter 21) — along with everything they had witnessed and were yet to witness with Jesus’ ascension — resulted in their spiritual awakening. This awakening transformed any doubts, pride and grief into clarity, humility and repentance. And their newfound understanding and commitment changed their lives and the world forever.
I’ve started to realize the importance of a morning meal — the morning communion with our Father-Mother God — which provides spiritual nourishment and direction for our day. Certainly, the delicious breakfast each morning on our Oklahoma hillside was filling and satisfying as we prepared for our day’s activities. But even more invigorating and inspiring was the time my husband and I spent each morning studying our Bible lesson together.
The Psalmist promised, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105)
I’m learning that when disappointments, fearful speculations, regrets, complaints or any of life’s miseries or pressures threatens to bury us into a tomb of despair, there is a spiritual view that will show us the way up, out and onward. There is no problem too large or daunting for divine power to remove. And this spiritual view is what we can count on in any situation — wherever we are — to inspire, encourage, reassure and guide us along our way.
I can’t always escape to that “room with a view.” Perhaps you can’t either. But we can rest assured that God’s point of view is available to us 24/7, that His wisdom will lead us to what’s good for us, and that He will give us the strength and ability we need to tackle anything coming at us.
(For those curious or interested: www.lagovistabedandbreakfast.com)
Nov 16, 2009 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2009. All rights reserved.
There is panic today in the hearts of many. Some are disheartened because they see no solution in sight. Some believe they can trust no one for viable answers.
A preoccupation with fears and worries often incites panic.
When multitudes desperately begged Jesus for help and answers, he taught them a prayer that was described by Christian healer, Mary Baker Eddy, as the “prayer which covers all human needs.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures)
Prayer enables us to feel God’s presence and know we are enveloped in His love. And there is power in His presence.
I have suffered many times from panic attacks. When faced with conflict, dilemmas, or any turmoil — whether it was real or perceived — I’ve often become a physical and emotional wreck. So I can testify that when the going gets tough, leaning on God is better than panic.
Taking some deep spiritual breaths in times of crisis, pressure and immense stress, enables us to be comforted and reassured by God’s ever-presence. Panic is replaced by peace, and peace quiets fear and calms anxiety. We reach a state of mind that fosters inspiration and revelation. And then, we can see solutions realized and implemented. Problems that at first seem huge or beyond repair become small (or much smaller) and fixable.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) More than a promise, this is a fact and a lesson I have learned — and I must admit — sometimes need to relearn.
The Psalmist wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me….” (Psalms 23:4) It could be said that the “valley” represents any difficult or terrifying experience we face. “For thou art with me” is an eternal Truth that dissipates fear.
The Lord makes us strong when we are weak.
Several days ago I felt like I was getting hit with one catastrophe after another. I found myself waiting for the next shoe to drop. And it did. The pressure in my head and chest was building until one night I could not even lie down and breathe normally. I felt like I was going to explode.
In my anguish, I prayed. I began with The Lord’s Prayer. As my uneasy thoughts began to calm, I let go of the internal struggle. I put aside all the details weighing on my heart. I stopped my mind from hurrying to tomorrow or next week or next year. And I focused only on feeling God’s presence.
“The Lord will bless his people with peace.” (Psalms 29:11) And He blessed me with peace. My weary night turned into restful breaths and sleep. And the next morning, I awoke refreshed and still confident of God’s ever-presence.
Stay grounded in your spirituality, dear friends. Rest your thoughts on the spiritual rock, or knowledge, that affirms God’s presence, omnipotence and goodness. Then you’ll be like that wise man Jesus told about in the parable who “built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
Panic paralyzes, cripples, blinds and stifles. Panic is a reaction — an unconscious choice — that serves no good purpose and isn’t helpful or productive.
When our first instinct is to panic, we can consciously choose to pray. Prayer reassures and reminds us that anything is possible, that possibilities are infinite, and that God is with us. And prayer will enable us to move forward, reach new heights, overcome hurdles, and break new ground.
There is no good time to panic, my troubled friends. Pray and you will persevere.
Nov 16, 2009 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2009. All rights reserved.
An article on msnbc’s website, “Anonymity can turn nice people nasty,” claims that “one minute, they’re nice normal people. The next they’re frothing at the mouse.” Posted last October, the article suggests that today’s “faceless” communication encourages disrespect. It references a study published in the journal Psychological Reports (February 2008). For the study, the goal of which was to determine if anonymity resulted in antisocial behavior, 20 men and 50 women were randomly assigned to four experimental groups. It concluded that anonymity is more apt to result in rudeness, since only participants who did not identify themselves came across as blunt or rude.
Yet faceless communication can hardly be avoided today. People rely on e-mail, cellphones, Blackberrys, iPhones. Each allows us to be in touch with friends or strangers without ever having eye contact or observing body language. And social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, have completely changed the landscape of our personal connections, allowing us to build community and reconnect with others with the click of a mouse.
While these advancements increase in fascination and usefulness, many agree they’ve fostered a lack of respect toward one another. The article contends that current forms of faceless communication, together with those that have existed for decades, contribute to an increase in abusive interactions. For example, customer service representatives tell of being treated rudely on a daily basis; online bloggers type insults without apparent care for their impact; and reports of online taunting and bullying continue to rise. David Pogue, New York Times technology columnist, wrote of those engaged in online name-calling: “It may be that anonymity removes whatever self-control they might have exhibited when confronting their subjects in person” (“Try to play nice, wicked wide web,” December 31, 2006).
I admit that the anonymity of my contacts with others has at times made it easy to say what I’d never say in person.
Such reactions are a direct call for the prayer that can move society toward more loving thoughts and actions, ones that encourage individual responsibility and progress while still valuing technological innovations. The Apostle Paul’s question is still apt in today’s world: “Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?” (Acts 7:26, New King James Version). As the sons and daughters of one divine Parent, would we really want to communicate something through cyberspace or by phone that we wouldn’t say face to face?
I admit that the anonymity of my contacts with others, whether online, over the telephone, or even in my car, has at times made it easy to say what I’d never say in person. But mean-spirited and careless communication leads to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, even violence—and it’s important for people to be held accountable for their actions.
Jesus, the master communicator, looked to God, Love itself, to instruct him in all matters. His Sermon on the Mount is an incredible guide for personal interactions, whether texting, blogging, or talking face to face. The sermon emphasizes kindness, forgiveness, love—even loving those perceived to be enemies.
Prayer that goes to God with the conviction that He is the source of all communication elevates individual and collective thinking.
And Jesus’ life example showed how to live without holding grudges, insulting or scorning others, but with tolerance, patience, and respect. “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” he taught (Luke 6:31, New International Version). The Sentinel’s founder, Mary Baker Eddy, referred to this golden counsel as “a divine rule for human conduct” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 301). She also observed, “Our thoughts beget our actions; they make us what we are. . . . A deep sincerity is sure of success, for God takes care of it” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 203).
Prayer that goes to God with the conviction that He is the source of all communication elevates individual and collective thinking. Such a starting point has a way of transforming misguided or reckless action into harmonious and gracious interchange. Having the means to communicate more fully and freely around the world is a gift, which has dissolved barriers of all kinds. Collective prayer that acknowledges divine Love as the grand Communicator will guard and guide interactions for both giver and receiver. And prayer, inspired by Jesus’ counsel, will help protect and elevate it.
Nov 16, 2009 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2009. All rights reserved.
Sharing our life lessons offers hope, encouragement and inspiration to others.
It’s comforting to have someone empathize with us. It may not be possible to walk in each other’s shoes, but it helps us and them when we try. Everyone has feelings and hopes — they don’t have to be the same as ours for us to relate to and support each other. Celebrating our similarities and differences helps build respect for one another and helps us clarify our own beliefs, values and goals, too.
There have been times when I was depressed and a friend would share a similar experience they had. Before this I felt alone and like the only person in the world who had to deal with whatever it was. Hearing how someone else has worked through a calamity is encouraging, even if their solution is different from what could work for you.
One friend said her “Aha!” was realizing she could retire early. She wrote, “Recent layoffs caused me concern so I checked my retirement benefits to see what would happen if I should be asked to leave now. I found that I could retire now, not collect until 2010, and there was virtually no difference in the amount I would receive in retirement benefits. We were able to pay off our home this year so my loss of income for 15 months won’t be an issue, and now I will have the time to travel to Denver more often to see my mom while she still has some quality time left. God has certainly lined everything up perfectly. WooooHoooo!!!!”
After getting her feelings hurt by someone in her Writer’s Group, this friend said a recent article I wrote resulted in an “Aha!” moment for her. She wrote, “I was reminded of a time as a child when I was asked to leave a group because I was too hyper and not “fitting in” with the rest of the girls. (It was a Brownie Scouts troop.) There have been times in my life when that event, along with others of the same nature, has led me to leave groups or people before being asked to leave. I read your article on letting go of grudges and realized I could let go of the hurt of that time long ago and that I had options on how to handle the present situation. The thoughts in your article led me to get past an old pattern of withdrawal when I had been angered or hurt.”
A friend shared, “I suppose my greatest “Aha” experience was when my daughter had to have surgery for scoliosis. I had just taught her how to do the back flip off the diving board at the lake. At the same time the school discovered the scoliosis through a routine screening at school, her teachers called me in for a parent teachers’ conference and from there I discovered she was having seizures. All this happened within a three week period. To make a long story short, none of her doctors could give me a definite answer as to whether, when they put her to sleep to do the surgery on her back, she would wake up or go into a coma because of the seizures.” This mother shared how her prayers resulted in the realization that God was the divine Parent of both herself and her daughter — the Father-Mother God who was ever caring for, protecting, and loving all of His children. She said, “The weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders.” The surgery went well.
Another mother wrote, “The moment when I knew my life would never be the same was when my son was born. Before I became a mother, I never thought about parenthood so deeply, but suddenly I realized that parenthood changes everything. Suddenly you’re living for the sake of another person, and you have to think about his/her needs at all times, often ignoring your own needs and desires. And the bond is eternal, because our spirits live eternally. Our children and our parents inevitably die, sooner or later, but the spirits live on forever, and therefore there is an eternal connection between a person and his/her parents. A person can have more than one husband or wife, but each of us has only one father and one mother. When I think about the influence my father and especially my mother had on me, it reminds me to be very careful how I speak to and act with my son.”
One friend shared about the “Ahas!” that come when she is learning something new. She describes herself as a slow learner. When her husband tries to teach her something new on the computer, for example, it may take a few times before an “Aha!” clicks and she gets it.
I’ve certainly had to repeat many life lessons before I truly understood their importance and value!
“Ahas!” — Life’s grand lessons — come in all shapes and sizes. Some may seem rather inconsequential while others result in dramatic changes in our life. But all “Ahas!” effect and influence our life in some way, making each one significant and important.
Once again, may you have many “Aha!” moments, my friends, and share these precious lessons with everyone you can!
