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| Eva-Maria |
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| photo by Andre (and Stella) -- dear friends from Cameroon/Africa |
It has been said: Realistic optimism, a paradoxical notion,
implies seeing the world as it is, but always working positively toward a desired
outcome or solution.
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| Roby Azzah -- a dear friend |
Speaking of one of the underpinnings of Christianity, Mrs. Eddy
pointed to the 91st Psalm. She explained that this Psalm “contains more
practical theological and pathological truth than any other collection of the
same number of words in human language except the Sermon on the Mount of the
great Galilean and hillside Teacher,” She also said “that the first verse of
this Psalm emphasizes an essential point of Christian attainment—dwelling ‘in
the secret place of the most High’," and then she asked, “But what
is the sacred secret of the Almighty? So far as experience reaches and Truth has unfolded its immortal idea through spiritual sense, this secret is
spiritual Love, whereon David has based all Christianity, all healing, all salvation”
(Christian
Healer, p. 172/173).
--Eva-Maria
He that dwelleth in the secret place
of the most High
shall abide under the shadow
of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord,
He is my refuge,
and my fortress: my God;
in him will I trust.
…
--The Bible, Psalm 91--
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| excerpt from an oil painting by Eva-Maria |
pictures by E-M
Spiritual stillness within gives us an entrance to a
prayer of love. Each of us, consciously or unconsciously, prays the
prayer of love. In its stillness we feel a deep yearning ... to love, and
to be loved. The response to this yearning is found in the
Christ-consciousness, Jesus pointed to, “. . . behold, the kingdom of God is
within you” (Luke 17:21). I understand that to mean, the kingdom of God
is the consciousness of God as Love. When we are able to be conscious of
God as Love … wherever we are … we’ll see the manifestations of Love
everywhere, and a spiritual optimism will take hold to help us smile,
especially at challenging times. "As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man
to man" (Proverbs
27:19).
A Christian Science practitioner new on the job was called to
see a patient. He went and ... found the man on his deathbed. Surprised,
the practitioner leaned over him and said, “You can’t do this to me you are my
first patient.” The man opened his eyes, looked at the practitioner, smiled,
and then he started to laugh, and continued to laugh, and laugh! He
was a changed man … and he got off his deathbed. He was healed!
--Eva-Maria
The shadow of
ingratitude
Vanishes in the sunlight
Of gratitude.
--E-M
Divine Love always has met and always
will meet every human
need.
--Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 494—
God did not promise us we would find the perfect spouse, the
perfect house, or the perfect job … He promised us that we would find Him.
Having found Him, surprise of surprises, He will add all the
above.
(Perhaps not all … but enough … (smile))
-Eva-Maria—
Song of Love
Beloved,
let us love: for Love is God;
In God
alone hath love its true abode.
Beloved,
let us love: for they who love,
They only,
are His sons, born from above.
Beloved,
let us love: for love is light,
And he who
lovesth not dwelling in night.
Beloved,
let us love: for only thus
Shall we
behold God who loveth us.
--Horatius Bonar--
To those leaning on the sustaining infinite,
to-day is big with blessings.
--Science and Health, p. vii:1-2—
If I were to wish for anything,
I should not wish for wealth and power,
but for the passionate sense
of potential, for the eye which,
ever young and ardent,
sees the possible.
--Soren Kierkegaard, 19-century Danish philosopher from
his “Either/ Or” volume I of Diapsalmata (1843, translated 1987)
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| photo by Gary Finn, a friend |
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| all photos by E-M |
No mortal
sense can still or stay
The flight of
silent prayer,
Unceasing,
voiceless, heart desire
That seeks
God everywhere.
The heart’s
own longing lifts it high
Where words
can never reach,
Though human
lips may never form
That glory
into speech.
The voices
that are worldly wise,
With mortal
modes in tune,
Are mute in
that transcendent hour
When God and man
commune.
--Samuel Greenwood—
Mary of Magdala
“O gentle Mary,
don’t cry. Know,
For you, who have
been sorely tried,
Brief will be your
grief,
And doubt and fear
will swiftly fly
When you embrace a
matter-free thought keenly,
And follow me to
learn of our Father’s power,
And trust in Him, in
good, and love serenely
That spiritual
perception, the healing path
Called
Resurrection.”
She, bearing witness
to Jesus, replied,
“I will not fear the
darkest night, dearest Master.”
Forgotten were
mind’s sore vexations as morning
Turned bright before
her eyes.
Pure of heart, Mary
was the first to behold
The risen, living
Christ!
-- Eva-Maria Hogrefe --Published in the Christian
Science Sentinel, March 29, 2010
NOTHING LIKE A YESTERDAY
When was the last time you felt complete,
so complete, nothing dared to approach you?
Nothing like a yesterday, or a tomorrow.
Nothing that could speak.
Nothing that could ever point to something
That would ever need to be done.
Nothing that could not do anything,
Anything but adore you.
Adore you. Adore.
--Hafiz
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| photo by Susannah West -- a dear friend |
When
I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have
always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can
seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it—always.
—Mahatma
Gandhi
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| by E-M |
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☞ I very much appreciate your input! Thank you!
Warmly,
Eva-Maria
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