Fear and Contagion

Good morning. What should I talk about today? The coronavirus, of course. It’s all over the news. Current statistics indicate it’s infected more than 100,000 in 91 countries, and killed more than 3,400 people. It started in China, most of the cases are from there, and it continues to spread.

Reactions range from Elon musk saying “It’s dumb.” to an online comment: “ We’re all doomed. DOOMED, I TELL YA. I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE AS BAD AS THE 1918 Spanish flu.” Now we have states of emergency in many places, including here in Los Angeles.

I hadn’t really gotten hysterical about it. Then I saw a chart with mortality rates by age group....and the biggest rate was for 80 and above: 21%. That’s the most susceptible group, especially with health conditions such as high blood pressure.

I experience high blood pressure. I’m over 80. Is there a target on my back? I needed to do something. “I’ll buy some hand sanitizer at CVS,” I thought, but they were sold out. A lot of products are sold out everywhere.

I got a couple extra bars of soap to have on hand, and I’m working on not touching my face. That’s actually hard, as I get little itches on my face and desperately want to scratch. Social distancing is the other recommendation...so I went to a brunch on Friday with some ladies I hadn’t seen for awhile, and we elbow bumped, instead of hugging or shaking hands.

But aside from that, and staying home a lot, I didn’t find a lot of useful advice out there. The media seems to be driving the hysteria about this much more than I remember from past flu seasons and the H1N1,SARS, and MERS epidemics. With the Ebola panic, I did buy some prepper stuff. But I’ve been healthy.

I saw this comment online: “Last cold season, 2018-2019, 12,469 died from the flu, 10,493 from the common cold, and over 4,000 from texting while driving. Where’s the outrage and sensationalism?” It IS kind of surreal. I’m wondering if this is because the virus is novel, so we have no built up immunity.

But what’s a Religious Scientist to do? I liked these comments from Rev. Ann Rea:

“Thoughts, fears and preparations around the coronavirus are already their own world-wide pandemic. The exponential growth of this energy and these thought forms are a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY for those of us who live, believe and teach the Principles of New Thought to elevate the world’s Consciousness.”

She suggests we enlist in focused work: to know the Truth, speak the Truth, think the Truth and BE the best version of the Truth we can, moment by moment, and not be distracted by effects and conditions.  Let’s apply collectively the principles of Science of Mind and embody the Force for Good to stop and dissolve the virus, seeding Oneness, Loving Kindness, Compassion and Gratitude in its wake.

We could do that through our Center’s Power of Eight prayer groups, by praying to dissolve the virus as well praying for our individual desires. We can join other Religious Science efforts through such mediums as Zoom calls to confront our fears and pray to heal our world physically, mentally, emotionally and gloriously as we know the spiritual Truth of our Being.

And so it is.

The Afterlife

In looking for a topic for this morning’s Creative Thought, I came upon “The Discovery,” a Netflix film  in which Robert Redford plays a scientist who has absolutely proven the existence of an afterlife, that part of our consciousness goes to another plane. 

The “afterlife” has been a topic of great interest since mankind first realized he was going to die. How weird and unfair!  What? We’re born, we’re alive, we think, we feel, we evolve, we mature, we experience all kinds of things, learn all sorts of things, work our way through various challenges...and then pouf!  It’s all over, and then what? Either something...or nothing.

The concept of an afterlife has been the bedrock of many religions, but based on faith.
Now, in the film, there’s scientific proof that there’s something more, right? But what?

That’s where the film falls down, because proving the afterlife existence is one thing, and very intriguing, but then ...what is it? what’s it like? Before I get too excited about proof of an afterlife, I want to know. What’s the big reveal?

As the film progresses, the professor is working on a secret project using an electronic gizmo wired to his head to record, by flatlining, what happens in moments after death. But he dies in one of his experiments, and his son, played by Jason Segal, carries on the investigation.

The story bogs down in a romance and an ending reminiscent of “Ground Hog Day.” After death, people are caught in a loop to  relive traumatic moments or poor choices, with opportunities to rectify past mistakes and make new choices. We’ve seen it before; nothing new here.

The film reviewers were pretty consistent. Brilliant premise, poor execution. They gave it a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes.

I was looking for a Science of Mind hook in the film. Ernest Holmes has a chapter on “Immortality” in his book, The Science of Mind.  The physical body passes but our spirit continues in its own individual stream of consciousness, forever expanding, he says.  Basically we make our transition; we go back to Source. Still, it's’ a mystery.

The television series, “The Good Place,” deals with the afterlife over four seasons. At the finale, characters who have arrived in actual heaven, where everything is absolutely perfect, find it boring. No challenges. No purpose. They can choose to go through a doorway, which ends their existence and simply allows their energy to rejoin the Universe.  Sounds rather SOM.  Back to Source.

So I came to this conclusion. Why focus on the “afterlife?” It’s a mystery and we have enough to think about, to do, be and have on this plane of existence. Life itself is pretty amazing. It’s a fantastic gift.  Yes, filled with challenges. Yet it’s often the challenges which help us to evolve and grow.

Holmes reminds as  to prepare NOT to die, but to live. Don’t dwell on death, but on life. Create your experience, Live your best life.

And when the time comes, “as the eagle, freed from its cage, soars to its native heights, so the soul, freed from the home of heavy flesh, will rise and return unto its Father’s house, naked and unafraid.”

And so it is.

Rampage of Gratitude

A few days ago two friends and myself were sitting in my living room, enjoying snacks and communication. I say communication, because one of them  has come down with a form of ALS that affects her speech, which is no longer understandable. So she has a pad, sort of an etch-a-sketch device, which helps.
   
Also, when I suggested she look into the computer driven speech device that Stephen Hawking used, she showed us an app on her phone where she could type and it would be converted to speech. So that also was a good tool.
   
Both are limiting, but that didn't limit her enjoyment of our afternoon. My other friend later asked me how we could bring more smiles and happiness into our friend's life. In addition to the ALS diagnosis, her husband recently suffered a health crisis and is still in a rehab facility. So she is home alone. We plan to create another opportunity for the three of us to get together, perhaps for an event.
   
I felt my own disappointments fade away in our friend's presence. How frustrating and limiting to suddenly be unable speak clearly.  We participated in Chorale together, but that’s no longer possible for her. And something like ALS can progress.
   
The last few months I’ve been feeling somewhat depressed, living on my own and having to deal with the maintenance mode of life alone, with no supportive partner to share the day’s events, as well as the health, financial and home management challenges. It’s just me, pretty much 24/7.
   
Then I’m reminded to clear out cobwebs of negativity and connect with the God force within. All my petty concerns pale as I realize how much I have to be grateful for.
   
Science of Mind magazine’s recent issue contains “Daily Guides” based on  Rev. Dr. Michele Medrano’s “Rampage of Gratitude,”  which includes a brief essay, inspirational quotes by Ernest Holmes and others, and an affirmation. She listed so many things to be grateful for, and many of them applied to me.     Gratitude for Love: “...when we consciously remember WHO loves us, and whom WE love, and  feeling gratitude for it, we get the gift of love and the grace of gratitude at the same time. We are blessed, and we are a blessing.”
   
I know that my children, although living distant from me, are loving and caring. My son calls me often on the way home from work, and we all enjoy Skype calls, plus occasional visits. I have a loving place to go for the holidays, and for that I am grateful.

Another: Gratitude for my Body. “Body obsession is rampant in our culture,” she writes. I know I've been guilty of that. The obsession is because we FEAR some terrible disease or rejection for imperfection. Giving doses of deep gratitude for our body helps us to stay healthy.
  
Holmes says: “Every time we think of our body, we should think of it as our spiritual body. Think of every organ, action, function of our physical body as being pure and perfect Spirit, and think of God as being is us and around us and through us.”  I am grateful for the good health that I enjoy, and especially for my rapid healing from two recent falls.
   
There are so many things to be grateful for ...our gifts, talents, joys, abundance, humor, beauty, music, nature, successes, friendships, our soul and even our failures, challenges, enemies, pains and grief, as we learn and grow from them. They all contribute to who we are.
   
With Thanksgiving approaching, we can be thankful for life itself, for the opportunity to be here, to be expressing ourselves on this plane of consciousness. We can affirm:
  
“The good of the universe is abundantly present in my life right now. I see it, I claim it and I accept it.”
   
And so it is.

Another Year, Another Fire

When deciding what to talk about this morning, I knew it would have to be about fire. Because...it’s 2019 and we’re in the midst of another fire. I’ve been feeling headachy, nauseous and even a bit dizzy from the smoke.
   
 I went back to my blog, revlizwritings, and noted that wildfires were the topic of two previous Creative Thoughts: In November 2018,when the Woolsey fire decimated Paradise and thousands were mandated to evacuate local areas, and then in December 2017. The scenes on the television were similar: homes destroyed, evacuations mandated, and first responders battled blazes on the ground while tankers and helicopters made drops of water and fire retardant. Lives were lost and words like “armageddon,”and “apocalyptic” were used in news stories.
  
 I focused on “Gratitude” in 2017, saying: ”It’s easy to get sucked into negative thinking by all the things that go on in what we call this plane of reality or the world of conditions. But I feel a surge of gratitude for all the personnel and resources mobilized to combat this incredible firestorm.
  
 I am grateful to live in a country, this USA, where we can pull together what’s needed for a catastrophe of this magnitude....and to see examples of generosity of spirit, of people pulling together in times of crisis.”  Rev. Mike exemplified that generosity of spirit in today’s firestorm when he came to the Center on Friday to provide sanctuary for people in need.
   
Fire is a double-edged sword.  While we see fire’s destructive force, it’s played a pivotal role in our evolution as human beings.
   
In Smithsonian Magazine’s article, “Why Fire Makes Us Human,” Jerry Adler writes: “Wherever humans have gone in the world, they have carried with them two things, language and fire. As they traveled through tropical forests they hoarded the precious embers of old fires and sheltered them from downpours. When they settled the barren Arctic, they took with them the memory of fire, and recreated it in stoneware vessels filled with animal fat. Darwin himself considered these the two most significant achievements of humanity.
   
“It is, of course, impossible to imagine a human society that does not have language, but—given the right climate and an adequacy of raw wild food—could there be a primitive tribe that survives without cooking?
  
 “In fact, no such people have ever been found. Nor will they be, according to a provocative theory by Harvard biologist Richard Wrangham, who believes that fire is needed to fuel the organ that makes possible all the other products of culture, language included: the human brain.”
  
 “Wrangham also believes that human beings evolved to eat cooked food, which provided more energy than raw foods, didn’t have to be chewed as long and as vigorously, and thus freed up time for other activities, including development of the intellect. Fire provided other benefits...heat and light for living spaces, sanitization of food, and more. 
  
 Fire is  incredibly powerful and useful, but can be deadly and destructive as well. Uncontained fire throughout human history has destroyed whole cities.

 Rome in Nero’s time comes to mind, as does the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which leveled that city. In America a number of other fires, caused by everything from candles and electrical sparks to meteor showers and lightning have devastated towns and killed thousands. Often dry conditions and high winds fuel the flames, just as they do here.
   
Yet we can still be grateful. We have evolved from those primitive humanoids living in caves to who we are today, and fire has been pivotal.  And gratitude can be calming, boosting our mitochondrial enzymes, and healthy for our mind, body and spirit. We can ask ourselves: what am I personally grateful for today?  For me, it’s knowing that our first responders are on the job, protecting me from the fire’s expansion.
   
As Ernest Holmes says, “Gratitude is one of chief graces of human existence and is crowned in heaven with a consciousness of unity.” He also says, “Today I expect and accept every good thing that comes to me, for I know Divine Abundance is manifesting in all my affairs. I give thanks for the good that is forever flowing into my life.”

And so it is.

Consciousness

Recently I mentioned to some Religious Scientists that as a breast cancer survivor, estrogen responsive type, I habitually avoided soy, chlorinated swimming pools, and anything I deemed estrogenic. I’ve done a lot of other things for my health, and I’ve survived 25 years.

 I also referenced a news story about a professional female swimmer who developed breast cancer, even though she felt she was doing everything right. It could be the chlorine in the swimming pool, I said. And another minister said, It’s her “consciousness.”

So that got me thinking. What exactly is consciousness? It’s a key, if not THE key, to our teaching.  There are hundreds of times Ernest Holmes discusses consciousness in his book, The Science of Mind.

In surfing the Internet, I found debates on consciousness.  Can science actually explain it using  psychology, neurology, biology and/or physics? No, it turns out there’s no consensus on what “consciousness” actually is.

Going back to the metaphysical, Holmes says consciousness is mental awareness--the tendencies and patterns of our thoughts, feelings, actions --the totality of our personal mental atmosphere. We develop our own lens on life, but we are, in reality, individualized expressions of  the One Mind, and Universal Consciousness expresses through us at the level of our receptivity to it.

So the limits on our own life experiences come from limiting how much of Universal Mind and Power we allow into our own cauldron of mental activity. How much faith do we have? How much belief? Can I just speak my word and demonstrate what I desire? Do negative thoughts and feelings bring on what I really do not want? These are big questions.
   
For me, I’m a “treat and use your feet” practitioner. Yes, I use affirmative prayer, known as Spiritual Mind Treatment, block out negative thinking as best I can, and back it up with action toward my goals. My actions then become part of my mental atmosphere.

For health and healing, I'm proactive: Gluten free, dairy free, probiotics, supplements, exercise, turn off WiFi at night to reduce EMFs, experiment with gadgets like red light therapy, PEMF mat, magnets, a magnetic pulser and more.

So I wonder...am I overdoing it? Does this signify my belief, my faith, is lacking?. Body management is taking up an inordinate amount of my time as I age.  I want to enjoy time left, not deal with physical challenges.

Recently I took a fall at home and injured my foot. It hurt like the Dickens. My whole foot was swollen. I'm living alone, so.what to do? I hobble to the couch, then to the garage where a walker is hanging on a nail, and make it to the kitchen for an ice pack.

I felt too sick to go to my health clinic, so I did the RICE treatment. Then I also used my red light therapy and magnetic pulser gadgets, wore a foot boot and elastic support, and basically lay around, getting fat.

To lift my spirits, I affirmed:“Things are always working out for me,” along with treatments for health and healing.

Eventually I made it to a doctor, who found no fractures on the X-ray. It was a bad sprain. After an inactive three weeks, I’m able to put on my sneakers and walk around. It could have been worse, but wasn’t. I feel light, joyful and incredibly grateful for this healing, resiliency and willingness to use whatever tools, even weird ones, toward health and healing, while being open and receptive to Cosmic Consciousness.

So I don't just treat for healing. I help it along. Treat and use my feet! Being proactive seems to be the lens with which I currently view life. After all, the One Mind, the Universal Consciousness, is putting these tools in my path, so I figure it’s all God.

And so it is.

See service on 9/25/19:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER5MwgU8sVw

Lucifer

I recently got hooked on the Netflix series, “Lucifer,”  a fantasy comedy-drama-police procedural with a different perspective on the Devil, known as Lucifer Morningstar. He retires from Hell, moves to Los Angels with his demon bodyguard, opens a nightclub, and settles into a hedonistic lifestyle.

He makes Faustian deals with many people in exchange for favors, and displays impressive powers, such as superhuman strength, super metabolism for prodigious drinking, super speed, reflexes, and reactions, shape-shifting from his human body to a terrifying devil with blazing red eyes, a brilliant command of knowledge and languages, musical talents in singing and piano, and most importantly, invulnerability and immortality. The actor playing him, Tom Ellis, is devilishly handsome, charismatic, beautifully articulate and witty. So..what’s not to like?

Originally the most beautiful and perfect of angels, Lucifer, the Biblical story tells us, rebelled against his father, God, and was cast out of Heaven to become ruler of Hell. He reigned there for eons as well as roamed the Earth to stir up temptation and evil.

In “Lucifer,” he angrily feels victimized and rejected by Dad, i.e.,God, and determines to enjoy his human form on Earth.  Misunderstood by humans who see him as the incarnation of evil, he rants that he is not at fault for the worst things humanity does, as God created humans with free will. We choose what we do. Lucifer’s job is to punish, that’s all.

He becomes a police consultant to LAPD Deterctive Chloe Decker, solves crimes and learns about punishment the law and order way. As it turns out, he is only vulnerable in the presence of this Detective, who he comes to care about. He works with a therapist on his issues and the process of self-actualization. As one character says to him, “You know what your weakness is? You want to be good.”

The series drew a number of condemnations when it first appeared, with a Christian group calling the show as a mockery of the Bible and their religion, as well as spiritually dangerous for glorifying Satan as a caring, likable person. One critic  responded that the fictional show is a metaphor; “Lucifer’s journey is all about self-sacrifice, selflessness, justice, consent, free will, agency, redemption and forgiveness,” topics which Christians can recognize and discuss.

It’s also about difficult choices, and love.

So is there a Science of Mind message in all this?  Ernest Holmes  has 11 references to “Devil” and 55 references to “evil” in the Science of Mind.  “Evil is not an entity, but an experience on the pathway of self-unfoldment,” he says. “It is not a thing of itself but simply a misuse of power. It will disappear when we stop looking at, or indulging, in it. We cannot stop believing in it as long as we indulge in it, so the mystic has always taught the (human) race to turn from evil, and do good.”

Holmes reinforces the idea that we have free will. “The cosmic engine is started but man guides it in his own life.” Sin means making mistakes. These mistakes are punished by the Law of Cause and Effect.

Even in the “Lucifer” fictional Hell,  punishment is being stuck in a loop of guilt, ever-repeating one’s Earthly sins. There is a way out, through forgiveness and redemption, but Lucifer says no one takes it.

The devil is a myth, says Holmes, and evil an illusion, which we can cast out from our thoughts; we can cease doing evil and do good.  And we can, like “Lucifer,” engage in the gradual unfoldment of our inner self.

Apparently Season Five is coming, so more “Lucifer” adventures, whether on Earth or in Hell, are on the way.

And so it is.

Service 7/28/19 on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhzrNFeaQHo

The Divine Spark

  
   

The concept of a “divine spark” hit the news recently, when one national leader reportedly chastised another for calling certain vicious gang members “animals,” as they, like everyone, has a divine spark within. I was surprised to see a mystical idea expressed in that arena.

So I decided to explore the question: What is a divine spark? According to Christian author William Lane Craig, the idea of a divine spark, most common in Gnostic and mystical religions, is that every human being possesses either a connection with God or a "part" of God. The goal of life, then, is to allow the divine spark to influence us toward love, peace, and harmony. Upon death, the divine spark returns to God

Lane writes,  even though each of us possesses a soul-spirit, or divine spark, only a person redeemed by Christ can truly connect with God, so without a relationship with Jesus there can be no light or “divine spark.”

Ernest Holmes doesn’t specifically use the term “divine spark,” but teaches that we are all spirit having a human experience. We don’t have to be redeemed by Christ; the spark is there, we are expressions of God in action, and we have within us a power that can overcome every obstacle in our life and set us safe, satisfied and at peace, healed and prosperous, in a new light, and in a new life. 

So if everyone has this divine spark within, and God is all Good, how do we reconcile this belief with the viciousness, the evil, the atrocities, the suffering and more that we see in our world? 

Holmes says that man is made out of and from Life and must partake of the Divine Nature from which he springs. We are what we are, and we use this nature for better or for worse. We have volition and choice.

Surely if God or Universal Intelligence is imbued with goodness, he says, then it could not ordain that man ultimately be other than a perfect expression life. But God could not make an automatic individuality, and this explains why man suffers and behaves in discordant ways.

So man has free will, free to discover the divinity within, or not.  Potential man is just as perfect as the inherent God. The only way God can evolve a spontaneous individual is to let him alone and allow him to awaken to himself. Man must be created with the possibility of limitless freedom and left alone to discover himself.

We must know that the Universe is for us and not against us, he continues. But you might say, “the Universe is NOT for us, look at the evil, the limitation, lack and physical pain and anguish of the human race.” ....We shall have to learn that evil is neither person, place nor thing of itself, but is an experience which we are allowed to have...because of our divine individuality...until through negative experiences we learn to use the Law affirmatively. If we are free we can choose more than one course of action as an experience.

He adds that there is no sin but a mistake, no punishment but inevitable consequence. Wrong doing must be punished by the Law of Cause and Effect.  The age-long discussion of the problem of evil will never be answered until we realize that evil is not a thing of itself. It is simply a misuse of the Law of Freedom.

Evil will disappear when we no longer indulge in it, he concludes Then, and not until then, will the problem of evil be solved for the entire race. So while a vicious gang member, or other apparent evil doer, has a spark of divinity within, he has not claimed it, is not expressing it, and his behavior is in discord with the perfect Goodness of the Divine.

Thus, if we judge that person as an “animal,” which seems a blanket insult to all animals, it is the discordant, vicious behavior we are calling out. His divine spark is hidden.

And so it is.

On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp6b8WIX1Po
Treatment and talk start at 9:45

On Positive Thinking

I’ve been reading Barbara Ehrenreich’s Bright-Sided, How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America, in which she debunks the American cultural emphasis on a cheerful, optimistic and upbeat frame of mind. She traces it’s origin from reaction to the cold, unforgiving gloom of 19th century Calvin Puritanism to the arrival of the New Thought movement, with which we, as Religious Scientists, are associated. Positive thinking, as well such ideas as The Law of Attraction, came out of this movement. They are delusional, she indicates, rather than realistic.

In the chapter “Smile or Die,” she describes her own experience with the pink ribbon culture of breast cancer, with its dictate to have a positive attitude so the mind-body can boost the immune system to defeat cancer. Otherwise, if you developed cancer, your negative thinking brought it on. If you became terminal, you weren’t positive enough.

She took issue with this and with the characterization of breast cancer, not as a problem, but as a gift deserving heartfelt gratitude, a passport to a better life and connection to the Divine. She noted reports of some women being expelled from support groups when their cancer metastasized and it was clear they would never graduate to become “survivors.”

She sees tyranny in positive thinking, a heavy burden on patients to repress anger, sadness or disgust, especially if their cancer progresses.

Happily, she did survive, but angry that blame falls on patients rather than such suspicious carcinogens as hormone replacement therapy or other toxins. “Breast cancer, I can now report, did not make me prettier or stronger, more feminine or spiritual. What it gave me, if you want to call this a ‘gift,’ was a very personal agonizing encounter with an ideological force in American culture that I had not been aware of before -- one that encourages us to deny reality, submit cheerfully to misfortune, and blame only ourselves for our fate.”

I got to thinking about my own experience with breast cancer almost 25 years ago. I had conventional treatment, and then I did everything I could to get well. Even my surgeon recommended positive thinking, with Bernie Siegel’s book and a video on boosting the immune system. I went to a support group, where we were able to vent our suppressed emotions, even if negative, as well as positive thoughts for healing. When my mind drifted to negative catastrophic thoughts, I sang a song to myself that I had written about being radiantly healthy.

I did everything I could to heal myself. I went to the Optimal Health Institute with its raw food and wheat grass regime. I changed my diet, read voraciously, took supplements, even went back to graduate school.

Like Barbara, I suspected that hormone replacement therapy produced the cancer. I didn’t blame myself. But anger and focusing on the negative wasn't helpful. I didn’t deny the reality of the condition, but I chose positive thinking plus a personal action plan. 

Eventually, I discovered Science of Mind and embarked on a spiritual path. I learned to use Spiritual Mind Treatment, which emphasizes affirmative prayer plus positive action. “Treat and Use Your Feet.” Unlike Barbara, I am grateful for the gift of a spiritual path, and a connection to the Divine.

And so it is.

The Happy Poet

As a film buff, I find myself looking for principles of Science of Mind in the stories. Recently I saw an indie film, The Happy Poet, which was written, directed, and edited by Paul Gordon, who also stars. It’s a low-key comedy about an introverted, low energy, emotionally flat corporate refugee and struggling entrepreneur, Bill, with an M.A. in poetry, who dreams of operating an organic sandwich stand.

He manages to get a $750 start-up loan from a smug bank officer, who puts down his idea and suggests that a hot-dog stand would be a better choice. He buys on installment a used hot-dog stand from a cranky, stiff-necked owner, and proceeds to offer his “eggless egg” sandwiches and hummus pitas in an Austin, Texas park.

His first customers want hot dogs, but he attracts into his orbit two characters, a pot dealer, who  partners as a  deliveryman, and an aging hippy, who gushes over the food and is rewarded with free handouts. Also, he attracts a pretty woman with whom he fails awkwardly to develop a relationship. They all brainstorm and come up with the name, "The Happy Poet" for Bill's business.

Well, the premise sounded promising, but the low-key, mumblecore style couldn’t hold my interest. I fast-forwarded to the end and was surprised to see that Bill, the poet, had his own brick and mortar "The Happy Poet" restaurant, powered by solar energy; a fleet of delivery people, wearing green "The Happy Poet" T-shirts, on bicycles; an electric "The Happy Poet" car; a mobile food truck run by his pregnant wife (the aforementioned love interest); and a business partnership with the two characters, now friends. With his arm around his two partners, in his monotone, deadpan voice, he declares: “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”

So what happened? I had to go back and see how all this transpired. After a number of ups and down, bumps and wrong turns, betrayals, money issues, missed opportunities with the love interest, and a brief detour into “hot-dog day,” he achieves his dream.

The hippy happened to have a cousin, Derek, a venture capitalist who has shown interest in Bill’s idea. But Bill is not very convincing as an entrepreneur. Derek confronts him, with, “I don’t think you believe in "The Happy Poet.”

Bill’s initial phlegmatic responses become a bit more passionate. With as much indignity and passion that he can muster, he bristles. “I believe in "The Happy Poet." I believe in "The Happy Poet" more than you could know, Derek. I’m "The Happy Poet," not you. I’m "The Happy Poet.” And with a few insults to Derek, he walks out.

We see Derek with a knowing smile. And we see Bill striding tall and confidently. What do you know? He mustered up some energy and passion, in that polite, inimical low-key style.

Next thing we see he has enough money to pay off his bank loan and the hot dog cart, which he returns. “I got lucky,” he says. He also has the confidence to leave an organic sandwich on the porch of his lady love. Thus the happy ending.

But was it luck? I see it as the Law of Attraction in action, powered by his generous nature, his authenticity, his talent with organic food, his perseverance, and the strong belief and passion for his vision. Basically he affirms, “I AM 'The Happy Poet.'” And that’s what he becomes.  This unassuming, introverted guy can inspire all of us as we pursue our own dreams.

And so it is.

The Law of Attraction in Action

A recent L.A. Times article, “A role that bit him like a spider” by Sonaiya Kelley,  discussed the latest Spider Man animated film which introduces Miles Morales, a Black and Latino incarnation of the superhero Spider-Man, into the Marvel Comics universe.  Shameik Moore, an actor, rapper, singer, and dancer of Jamaican descent, was chosen from hundreds of people who auditioned for the role.

Moore has said that he manifested the role. While filming a previous movie, a colleague gave him a journal and he began writing, “I am Miles Morales. I am Spider-Man.,” manifesting the thought into existence. He is quoted as saying, “Out of all the kids auditioning for this movie, I was chosen. How important is [the role] to me? I mean how important is it for Miles to save the universe?”

He further says: “I attracted that to me. It took a few months to really solidify it, but it ended up working out.”

This got me thinking about the Law of Attraction. It warrants a chapter in Ernest Holmes’ Science of Mind. “Thought can attract to us that which we first mentally embody, that which has become a part of our mental make-up, a part of our inner understanding. “

He adds, Our conscious and unconscious thought makes up our mental atmosphere, which is either attracting or repelling. Like attracts like. Whatever one reflects into Mind tends to take form.

Ernest Holmes didn’t invent the Law of Attraction. The concepts have been around for centuries; even Buddha and Christ alluded to it, without specifically calling it The Law of Attraction. It first appeared in print by the Russian theosophist Helena Blavatsky, and first articulated by Prientice Mulford, an early New Thought author.

Many books and Internet sites target The Law of Attraction. It’s been popularized by the film, The Secret, and several commercial enterprises are selling the secret behind “The Secret,” to really make it work. For about $50, you can learn to manifest your dreams with energetic vibrational language, or balance your intention point-- that space between heart and mind -- to send correct signals to the Universe.

Of course there are those who say the Law of Attraction doesn’t exist. Neil Farber, M.D. Ph.D., writing in Psychology Today, says that it is  “metaphysical pseudoscience with conclusions based on erroneous, unfounded, and often incorrect assumptions.” And he outlines all the erroneous assumptions, many of which I don’t find in our own teaching.

For example, he mentions the focus on material wealth with no action,  no plan, and no deadlines needed. Challenges are negative thoughts to be avoided, as is compassion -- so don’t get involved with any charity or helping the needy, which attracts more negativity and poverty. Don’t join support groups, with mental or physical problems, such as AA, which will make your problems worse. Blame yourself for any illness or negative event.

This doesn’t sound like the way we use the Law of Attraction here, or the way I’ve been using it. Spiritual Mind Treatment addresses The Law of Attraction in a way that brings the Spiritual element to the forefront, and also says: “Treat and Use Your Feet.” Be proactive.

We declare our truth in the present moment, re-framing negative thoughts to positives; we also develop plans, goals and timelines, and get support help when we need it. Therapy, medical treatments for illness are all seen as expressions of God in action. We don’t play the victim; we empower ourselves to go forward in life as co-creators with God, to manifest our dreams.

To attract the role of Miles Morales, the actor was proactive and prepared. He was co-creating with Universal Mind when he used the tools of manifestation.

And so can we all.

Fire and Smoke

“Surreal scenes unfold as a fire ‘like Armageddon’ barrels toward West Hills," screamed an L.A. Times headline yesterday. TV coverage of the Woolsey Fire confirmed this, as did a number of evacuees interviewed by news teams.

“Armageddon,” said one. “Apocalyptic," said another. Shelters for the displaced are set up; freeways closed; Pepperdine University students ordered to shelter in place. Some people camped out on Zuma Beach.
  
You’d think we’d be used to these disasters in California, but we’re not.  A whole town, Paradise, burned to the ground? The entire city of Malibu mandated to evacuate, as well as thousands of others in Calabasas, Agoura, Hidden Hills, Bell Canyon, parts of Thousand Oaks and Simi? Homes --some million dollar homes - totally destroyed, people losing everything, some losing their very lives.
 
Outside, the air smelled of smoke. I decided to stay indoors.
  
It was in December of last year that I spoke about the wildfires and high winds accelerating the spread. Then it was burning hillsides, evacuations, people driving through walls of fire, first responders battling blazes on the ground while tankers and helicopters made drops of water and fire retardant.
  
It was all very  heartbreaking and sad. Eventually the fire was contained; recovery for some is probably still going on. Now we have a repeat, and it’s worse. Residents of Thousand Oaks hadn’t recovered from the mass shooting of a few days earlier, and now this.
  
Even though we can get sucked into negative thinking by all this going on in our world of conditions, we can still feel gratitude in the enormous effort made by all the personnel and resources mobilized yet again for this devastating firestorm.
  
Through the Internet I found resources, such as the Red Cross and other volunteer organizations where we can donate funds, supplies, shelter, humanitarian help for animals and more. We know we’ll get through this, and we can also offer our prayers, our Spiritual Mind Treatments of healing love, in support.
 
 I looked in Ernest Holmes’ Science of Mind for something inspirational, and found this brief Meditation: (p.537)

“Despair gives way to joy at the thought of Thee, Indwelling Good.

I cannot be sad when I think of Thee.
My sorrow is turned to gladness and my shame to rejoicing.
My tears are wiped away and the sunlight of the Spirit shines
  through the clouds of depression and lights the way to Heaven.
 Thy Joy has made me glad.”    

And so it is.

Trust, Belief, Faith and Knowing

Recently, I was exercising on the elliptical at my local gym and, as usual, I had a paperback book to read. Upon leaving, I realized I had forgotten my book. I went back to the machines and even checked the restroom, but the book wasn’t there. So I asked the young lady at the desk if it had been turned in, which it wasn’t, and to let me know if it turned up. She took my name and telephone number to call me, and I did a Spiritual Mind Treatment on the way to the car that the book would be safely recovered. It was a library book, and it’s expensive if lost, but possible to replace more cheaply.

After a few days, when she didn’t call, I ordered a replacement from Amazon. The next time I went to the gym, she smiled as I came in and said, “I have your book.”

So I realized....I had lost faith. The Spiritual Mind Treatment went to work as soon as I declared it, but I didn’t have patience. I didn’t trust the treatment would work, and I ordered the book. Meanwhile, the treatment had been activated and book recovered.

So this is a small thing, right? Why bring it up? Because sometimes a demonstration isn’t immediate. Sometimes it’s working and we don’t know it. And in my case, my trust in the process had eroded. It was a small thing but caused me to really examine my relationship to affirmative prayer and Science of Mind.

I’ve been having a number of physical challenges this year, everything from sleep apnea, urinary tract infections, cataracts, intestinal infection, dental issues, a leg injury and to top it off, a broken toe. Then anxiety about all this and other issues around aging swirled around in my head until insomnia kicked in. So sometimes I feel like a basket case. Too much monkey mind; too much anxiety and fear.

So I decided to immerse myself in the teaching; I’m taking SOM 103 with Reverends Kathy and Jessica, and it’s bringing me back to basics. Even though I’ve taken these classes before, and even become an ordained minister. I’m finding fresh inspiration in reading again about the Principles of Successful Living, Mental Equivalents and the Law of Attraction, Spiritual Mind Treatment and meditation.

It’s not enough to simply declare our intention with our objective mind. We must work at it until the subjective mind, our unconscious mind, believes what we say. I can declare: “There is One Supreme Intelligence which governs, guides and guards, tells me what to do, when to act and how to act.” But it’s not enough to just say it: I must know it, see it, feel it and BE it; If I do this every day I can build my trust, my belief, my faith in the creative process.  Only then can I get to truly KNOWING the Truth.

Meditation helps, because this is when we can quiet the mind, relax the body, and be open and receptive to Spirit. This little book, “The Joy of Meditation,” offers different ways to meditate. I like "Letting Go With Balance.”

First, I sit in the silence and periodically let go of, and release, every problem, all fear and anxiety, until I feel a sense of freedom. Then in the second part I interject the silence with declarations that God is able -- able to heal each and every concern. With this meditation I’m working to let go of all those monkey mind anxieties, and accept my highest good. As I practice this, my goal is a more balanced, healthy life.

And so it is.

Let's Tidy Up

This month’s theme at the Granada Hills Center for Spiritual Living is “Prosperity, Abundance, Wealth.” Living in my home for 43 years, raising a family, being a wife and then a mother, and then living alone for the past 10 years, I see the material evidence, certainly, of abundance.

An abundance of stuff. I’ve decluttered at different intervals, but there’s still a lot of stuff in the house...stuff I don’t really use or need.

I recently embarked on another decluttering mission, and ended up with 12 boxes of clothes, shoes, purses, books, a straw hat and a wedding dress waiting for a truck for the take away.

I came across a little graphic novel, “The Life-changing Manga of Tidying Up, A Magical Story,” by Marie Kondo. The heroine, 29-year-old Chiaki, is living in the midst of immense clutter. She signs up for a tidying lesson with Konmari, who promises tidying up will change Chiaki’s life and fill it with joy.

Chiaki needs first to visualize her ideal lifestyle and how tidying up can dramatically change her life. Konmari says material things need to be functional, informational, emotional, or possess rarity, but most important...they must spark joy. Take each item in hand and ask: Does it spark joy when I touch it? Is this something that’s going to make me happy?

The novel proceeds with various tips:  Fold clothes rather than hang, and fold with gratitude for the way they protect you. Unread, neglected books that don’t bring joy are discarded. Store so things are easily accessible.

Sentimental items are last. The principle here:  Your life now is more important than memories of the past. What really matters is not the past but the person you have now become, thanks to those past experiences.  Space can now be used NOT for the person you once were, but for your future self.

Once the home is filled with only things that spark joy, it becomes a joyful place. Real life begins. Konmari says if people are unable to discard things, they are either attached to the past or afraid of the future. So tidying up can set ourselves free.

By clearly identifying our own joy point, she says, we can gain confidence and trust in our own future.  Space opens up for positive things to happen out of the blue, to have different experiences and more.

So I realized: 12 boxes is not enough. There is a whole lot of remaining stuff that doesn’t spark joy, that’s attached to the past, and can be discarded. Then I have the space, the mindset, the clarity,   and confidence for Spirit, as Ernest Holmes says, to manifest an abundance of whatever I need to make my life NOW happy, opulent, and joyful.

And so it is.

Come From Away

I saw segment on TV recently reporting on tourists going to Gander, Newfoundland where people are “nice.” Imagine that.  “Being Nice” is a tourist attraction, an antidote to all the negativity and non-niceness surrounding us on a daily basis. Particularly in the media.

Turns out this story is about the Canadian town of Gander, where planes were  rerouted immediately as North American airspace shut down on 9/11. By the end of the day, 7,000  "plane people" in 38 jets were waiting on the tarmac while the Red Cross, town councils and various churches strategized  the logistics of processing, feeding and bedding them down for the night.

Gander is not a huge town, not wealthy, with only basic infrastructure. Yet somehow thousands of stressed visitors of all ages, needs and languages were taken care of for a week after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

People opened their hearts and homes, cooking meals, offering rides, showers, and telephones. They scoured their closets to find, sheets, blankets,  pillows and towels, while stores donated such basics as as toothbrushes and underwear, and the school bus drivers, then on strike, paused to help out.

Ten years later, two Toronto writers. Irene Sankoff and David Hein visited for the Gander anniversary celebration, and were inspired by the dancing, music and the stories to write a script for a musical called Come From Away,

“Come From Away” is a Newfoundland expression for a foreigner, or someone from beyond the province. The musical articulates the compassion and kindness Newfoundlanders showed to strangers from all over the globe during events around 9/11.

The writers interviewed the two mayors, police, volunteers, an airline captain, passengers and others, Characters in the musical speak lines taken directly from those interviews. Before opening in New York, the cast and crew performed two sold-out shows in Gander's hockey arena.

Former Gander mayor Claude Elliott has been quoted: "The tragedy. What they must have been going through — so far away, can't get home, want to be home with their family, and we all got to put ourselves in that position, and that's terrifying...And to be in a strange land."

The musical,  books as well as a documentary, send a message of how kind deeds, and opening our arms to those in need, can improve the world.

Kevin Tuerff, author of a book about his experiences, said: “I think this musical is the jump-start to the heart we need.”  Actor Rodney Hicks, who plays several characters in Come From Away, wants the musical’s feel-good message to travel beyond Broadway. “I believe it’s the universe’s design, really, all we can do is be there and tell the truth every night. This show is bigger than any of us. I want to share this with the world.”

Reviews have been mostly positive. “It’s a necessary balm for this mean time.” Deadline Hollywood.  It’s..”about community; and in this particular community, everyone’s a member..” Huffington Post. “It’s a singing reminder that when things are at their worst, people can be at their best.” New York Daily News.

Ernest Holmes would have loved this musical, because it’s about love.  He writes: “Love is the greatest power in the Universe, it is the basis and the source of everything... Love heals, forgives and makes whole... Unless we learn to love, we can’t get love in return... Love is the central flame of the Universe, nay, the very fire itself...Today, I am immersed in Love. I feel Love as a stream of light bringing Peace and Joy to every area of my life, healing every condition, and bringing harmony to my experience.”

And so it is.

Science and Science of Mind

In Religious Science, we study and apply the principles of Science of Mind developed by Ernest Holmes and his book, The Science of Mind. We learn how to do Spiritual Mind Treatment, and how to use our thoughts, words, actions and feelings as powerful tools to manifest what we desire to experience in life. It’s a metaphysical teaching, and the strength of our belief  propels us forward, knowing that as expressions of God in action, with the cosmic power of Creative Mind flowing to us, through us and for us, we are supported in our dreams and goals.

So could there be a scientific explanation for this? Dawson Church, in his book Mind to Matter, explores scientific research and discoveries that support the concept that the energy fields of our brains are literally creating reality. He examines studies in the fields of biology, physics, psychology, epigenetics, electromagnetism, wave phenomena and quantum mechanics that demonstrate how thoughts can be creative.

The idea that our individual local minds are part of the universal nonlocal mind is examined from the scientific viewpoint, supporting what we already know: we are individualized expressions of the One Source, the One Power, and we can use that power to transform our lives.

We may be able to heal ourselves because the body is constantly regenerating, replacing cells and rejuvenating itself at a frantic pace. Every second, 810,000 cells are being replaced...in blood vessels, digestive tract, heart, brain, eyes and more. And they regenerate in an energy field. The type of energy field bathing our body and in which cells regenerate determines biological outcome.

So what kind of energy fields drive the best outcome? Church  concludes, and various studies support, that when we create mental, emotional and spiritual fields of love and kindness, we provide a healthy energetic ecosystem in which our bodies regenerate.

So we need to lower our stress levels, shift our consciousness to cut our cortisol levels, and direct our mental state in a positive direction to effect healing. For example, the“bliss molecule” anandammide,  generated by meditation, has been shown to inhibit the formation of cancer cells. If we can shift and maintain positive mental states for a few weeks, then trillions of cells can be shaped by them.

In the laboratory, some of the electromagnetic frequencies that stimulate healthy cell growth are the same fields which can be generated by our consciousness on our brains.  Church looks especially at brain waves theta, alpha, gamma and delta. He teaches workshops on EcoMeditation, to train our brains in a particular ratio of brain waves to achieve a peak state.

EcoMeditation is based on best practices from a variety of disciplines, such as Heartmath, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique tapping), and Neurofeedback. (One EcoMeditation source of instruction can be found at: https://annesiret.com/eco-meditation/.)

We’re fortunate here at the Center to have workshops on meditation and Mindfulness. The scientific spin from Church’s book, Mind to Matter, can prod us to add these practices to our daily routine.

And so it is.

The Power of Vision

A recent Wall Street Journal article reminded me of the power of vision. The article, “Schwarzenegger Recalls the Good and the Bad,” by Chris Kornelis, recounts Arnold Schwarzenger’s careers and how having a vision has been key to his success.

His two terms as governor of California and sci-fi film icon status as “The Terminator” are the best known of his successes. He’s also been a real estate investor and was a millionaire even before his rise as a film star.

The article reports that Schwarzenegger says “his best and worst bets have had less to do with writing checks and more to do with investing his time and effort in getting ahead -- as well as having a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve and preparing for a job.”

As a teenager in Austria, he saw videos of the U.S.. with the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State building, huge highways, big Cadillacs with the big wings in the back. He decided he wanted to come to America and his ticket was through bodybuilding. He began to train, joined the Austrian army, and continued to train -- always set on moving to America. After winning Mr Universe age 20, he was invited to train in the U.S. by Joe Wieder.

“Coming to America opened up all the doors that I didn’t even think about,” he says. “My movie career happened, and then my political career and the money, the millions I made, it goes on and on. Everything I have accomplished in life is because of America.”

He says he made it to America because he had a vision. As a teenager he visualized  himself on stage winning Mr. Universe and using that as entree to America.

“The No. 1 lesson of being successful is having a vision,” he says. “Because when you have a vision of where you want to go in life and what you want to be, then it is just a matter of doing the work to get there.” 


He noted one of his worst bets was taking the role in the film, “Hercules in America.”

Since he didn’t speak much English, he was instructed not to talk during the meeting with the producer. But in the film, he was in over his head with no acting training and no emotion behind his memorized lines. This set his film career back a few years.

He advises, “You have to find the sweet spot between having courage and being confident but also knowing that you’re deep into it and you’re not ready for something.” But the experience taught him an important lesson.

“We learn not only just from our success, but we learn actually more from our failures. I really learned to never do anything that you’re not really prepped, overly prepped for. Just like in bodybuilding, don’t go in the competition if you haven’t done the reps. The same is with anything else. Don’t do it if you haven’t done the reps or if you didn’t put the mileage behind it.”

I thought, “There’s an example of Science of Mind in action.” Have the vision. Make it happen. Or as in Spiritual Mind Treatment, “Treat and use your feet.” Think it. Say it. Do it. And the Universe supports you.

As Ernest Holmes says, “...our outlook on life must be transformed by the renewing of the mind, and even when the results are not immediately forthcoming, we must still maintain a calm serenity of thought. We must relight the torch of our imagination by ‘fire caught from heaven.’ We must remain faithful to this vision for a realization of the Presence of God is the secret power of our work.”   

And so it is.

The Spiral of Life

I came across mention of Fred Kofman, author of the new book, The Meaning Revolution...the Power of Transcendent Leadership, in which he argues that  companies can improve long-term growth by helping employees feel that what they do day in and day out makes a difference, that this need to belong and make a difference accounts for some 85% of employee motivation, with incentives such as salary and benefits accounting for only 15%.

The basis is that we have an unspoken and universal anxiety stemming from the fear that our life is being wasted--that the end of life will overtake us when our song is still unsung.

It reminded me of a story about Steve Jobs, convincing the CEO of Pepsi to come to Apple where he, with Jobs,  could make a “dent in the Universe” rather than devote his life to  “sugar water,” And Jobs certainly did make a “dent in the Universe” with his products. such as the iPod and iPhone.

Certainly we don’t want to leave this plane of consciousness with our song “unsung.” But what if we aren’t able to pull it off?  Should that be a major cause of anxiety? Or despair? It seems very limited, very secular, very Earth-bound in its focus. It ignores our spiritual nature, our expressions as spiritual beings having a human experience.

This quote by Ernest Holmes relates to this concept of a “wasted life.”

“The ultimate goal of life does not mean that we shall ever arrive at a spiritual destination where everything remains static and inactive.  That which to our present understanding seems an ultimate goal will, when attained, be but the starting point for a new and further evolution.  We believe in an eternal upward spiral of existence.  This is what Jesus meant when he said, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions.’ ”

Writer Mark Gilbert interprets the quote this way:

 “Life is about the journey, not the destination. This includes in this lifetime and beyond this experience.

"Reaching some specific goals in this life or the next is a
 very limited way of looking at our spiritual experience.


"The spiral direction reminds us that not only do we go upward, we cannot veer too far from our center.  We may temporarily regress or go backwards, but ultimately life always has an upward direction, even when we think it is not headed that way. 

"The spiral also points out that we may come to what seems to be a similar step in our path as we have traversed before, but we are at a higher turn of the spiral and have a better vantage point and can see and choose what to do from this level of greater experience.



"Finally, there is an acknowledgement that when we do think we have “arrived,” no matter what that looks like, just wait–we are about to launch into a higher adventure.” 


Finding meaning in work is a positive goal. Desiring to sing our song while we still can is another worthwhile goal. It can motivate us to do, be and have what we most long for in this life.

But with a strong grip on the philosophy of Science of Mind, and a deep knowing, we can keep growing and enjoy the journey. We can look to our never ending eternal upward spiral of existence and release any anxiety about a “wasted life.”



And so it is.

Navigating Elderhood Part II

I have been in discussions with Rev. Nancy about developing a fall program focusing on Navigating Elderhood. One interesting resource is Harvey W Austin, M.D.‘s book, Elders Rock!, in which he calls on seniors, or those on that path, which includes all of us, to: “Don't Just Get Older. Become an Elder.”

There’s much more to life than simply aging, he says. We can grow wiser, more compassionate, and become a powerful contributor to the life of our families and the larger community. The world needs Elders, who have been sidelined, ignored and dis-empowered from their traditional roles as the Third Stage of Life, the wisdom givers.

With the development of towns, cities, industrialization and technology, the world view and extensive life experiences of elders have diminished and the three stages of life, Youth, Adult and Elder, have devolved to two stages, Youth and Adult. The Adult stage, with its emphasis on accumulation, exploitation of the planet, and the insatiable quest for more, is bringing the planet to an unsustainable level. Austin sees Elders as a force to bring balance to the world, to dispel the myth that old is not as good as young, and to humanize and heal society..

He acknowledges the reality of the declining body. Yes, I’ve been experiencing it lately. I could use a hearing aid, some dental implants. possibly cataract surgery and Friday night, for the first time, I tried out an APAP machine that blows air into my nose to keep my breathing channels open when I sleep. And all this is just from the neck up.

Austin’s response is “So What?” Elderhood isn’t a soccer game that demands a strong body. “Elder is not an age of life, rather it is a stage of life. It is a way of being. And it is a way of being by choice. Each of us has a choice whether to focus on the declining body, or on the upsurge of spirit that an Elder can exhibit,” he writes. Our beliefs, our perceptions, determine which path we will take. Senile or wise Elder, that’s the choice and the stand we take. He offers a prescription for Elderhood in his book.

Recently in trying to figure out where my skyrocketing heartbeat, high blood pressure and insomnia  were coming from, I decided I was experiencing good old anxiety -- something I decided to call the LAD Anxiety Syndrome. LAD stands for Loneliness, Aging and Death. The doctor said, Oh, that’s a  "phase of life" issue. It's not original to me at all, but typical of this phase of life, especially death anxiety, which is an underlying, universal and basic fear to all humans. It's also a fear we tend to put on the back burner, individually and as a culture.

Austin advises the Elder to confront death, up front and personal, rather than get stuck in denial. Your view might shift, he says. "You may conclude death is not only confrontable, but even an exciting aspect of life." I don't know about that, but as Religious Scientists, we can turn to Ernest Holmes who  says: “The experience of dying  is but the laying off of an old garment and the donning of a new one.” We simply transition into the spiritual realm.

But not yet! Before that happens, there is much that Elders can bring to the world in terms of service, and much we can do to live a life of joy, loving relationships, creative expression, leadership, conflict mediation, social activism and more. As Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

So those of us at the back end of life, who still have "gas in the tank," as Rev. Mike has said, can start where we’re at, work on ourselves to become the best that we can be, and determine how to share our unique gifts, life experience and wisdom as we navigate this daring adventure of Elderhood.  

And so it is.

Navigating Elderhood

Recently I was experiencing physical symptoms, so my process, with the help of the Internet, was to analyze them. Awakening with a skyrocketing heartbeat and blood pressure, and hearing my heartbeat as tinnitus on top of my existing tinnitus, was freaking me out.. Pulsative Tinnitus, it’s called, with various possible causes. Then insomnia kicked in. Through a process of elimination, I decided I had good old anxiety. Was this generalized anxiety? No, I narrowed it down to something I called the LAD Anxiety Syndrome, plus an overriding need for life purpose. LAD stands for loneliness, aging and death.

Loneliness: my husband transitioned, close friends died or moved away, and I was spending more time in isolation in my home. With the Internet, Amazon and Netflix, why go out? Aging: I can see the body changing in ways I don’t like. Death: it seems to be coming closer.

I mention the LAD Anxiety Syndrome to my doctor. Oh yes, that’s “phase of life issue.” I’m not so clever after all; it’s simply common for elders. It’s even in the DSM-IV, the diagnostic manual for therapists as Code V62.89 Phase of Life Problem.

Well, we can’t do much about aging. Maybe we can slow it down with vitamins, exercise and healthy lifestyle choices, but it’s happening. We can’t do much about death. Maybe we can postpone it until our nineties or even over 100, but it’s happening.

I figured the only thing I can do something about is the loneliness. Get out, make new friends, socialize even though I’m basically an introvert. Work on developing purpose and legacy for this stage of life.

On the medical front, I had my carotid artery checked, a Holter 24-hour heart test, some blood tests and a home sleep study for apnea. Doctor added a small dose of beta blocker for blood pressure and skipped heart beats.  I declined the statin for now, resisting becoming another walking basket of pharmaceuticals.

Thinking back to my studies in counseling psychology, I recognize that I’m in one of the later stages of Erik Erikson eight stages of psychosocial development. At each phase of life we face a challenge --  pursue growth and evolution or make choices that thwart it.  In Stage 7, from ages 40 through 64, we choose generativity versus stagnation. With generativity we contribute to society and support future generations, making our lives count for something. Stagnation leads to a self-centered, stagnant life.

I fall into Stage 8: from age 65 to death, the issue is integrity versus despair. If we choose integrity, we see our lives as a positive force and allow wisdom to emerge. We essentially move away from any despairing thoughts of being useless, irrelevant or burdensome, to sharing our wisdom and worth with the world.

Ernest Holmes in Science of Mind doesn’t have much to say about aging, other than old age is an idea of “race consciousness,” and that Love is stronger than any other force in the Universe. We can treat: “My life in God is ageless, deathless, abiding...I am harmonious, peaceful, free and unafraid.”

As for death, “The experience of dying  is but the laying off of an old garment and the donning of a new one.” We simply transition into the spiritual realm.

For loneliness, we can use the Law of Attraction. “..we should cultivate an attitude of friendship toward everybody and everything. The one who has learned to love all people will find plenty of people who will return that love.” He quotes Emerson: “If you want a friend, be a friend” In other words: be proactive.

Developing purpose is the same throughout life: “Conscious thought is the starting point of every new creation,”  he says. So start where we’re at, check out strengths, gifts and talents, and determine how to share them in navigating elderhood.

And so it is.

Brad's Status and Me

As a movie buff, I sometimes take my ideas for Creative Thoughts from films. Recently I saw Brad’s Status, which one reviewer called “one of the most humane movies you’ll see this year.” 

It stars Ben Stiller as Brad, who at age 47, is experiencing a midlife crisis. Youth has faded, roads have not been taken, and as he takes stock of his life he compares himself against friends from his college days.

There’s Billy, who sold his tech company at age 40 and now lives a life of luxury in Hawaii; Jason, wealthy hedge-fund manager cavorting in his private jet; Nick, a successful Hollywood director, also living a a lavish lifestyle; and Craig, a best-selling author, Harvard lecturer and political pundit. Brad fantasizes about their lives, and how his life pales by comparison.

He’s comfortable, runs a non-profit that links needy organizations to wealthy benefactors. has a loving wife who works in government, and a musical prodigy son who is Harvard material.

But it’s not enough. He’s insecure, jealous, just not measuring up to his fantasies, and time is running out. You’ll have to see the film to see how Brad works through his insecurities, how the fantasies about his friends are not what he supposes, how everyone, despite outer appearances, has their challenges in life, and how he comes  to realize what matters most in life.

The film reminded me of my own mid-life crisis, sometime in my forties. I looked at time left. What would I do with it? After some bouts of anxiety and insomnia, answers came. Time to  leave the stay-at-home mom role to go back to work, and then on to graduate school in counseling psychology. The insistent frenzy in the outer world about women’s liberation prompted me to do more, be more, and to move out of my comfort zone.

So now, some forty years later, I find myself well past the mid-life crisis and into what I call my “late-life crisis.” The ten-year anniversary of my husband’s transition is coming up, giving me pause. My old nemesis anxiety, accompanied not only by insomnia but some heart irregularities, brought me to nocturnal self-examination. 

What have I been doing for the past ten years? And not just the past ten years, but my entire life so far? Should I have done more? Been more? Somehow made more of an impression in the world? A bigger footprint? Did I waste my gifts and talents? Yadda yadda yadda! Monkey-mind was having a field day.

At these times it’s good to see what Ernest Holmes has to say. In Science of Mind he writes:  “Man does not exist for the purpose of making an impression upon his environment. He does exist to express himself in and through his environment. There is a great difference. Man does not not exist to leave a lasting impression upon his environment. Not at all. 
It is not necessary, if we should pass on to tonight, that anyone should remember that we have ever lived. All that means anything is that while we live, WE LIVE, and wherever we go from here we shall keep on living...It is quite a burden lifted when we realize that we do not have to move the world.”

In the final scene of Brad’s Status, Brad is in bed, having gone through some gentle transformations. He turns to the camera and says, “I’m alive!” He is fully present in the moment, and can experience love, joy, beauty and and all that this gift of life has to offer.

 And so it is.