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The Theological Science Society, Int.Telephone: (847)462-0410 P.O. Box 722 · Cary, Illinois 60013-0722 Email - tss.anne@sbcglobal.net This
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We are so grateful to our members whose support is regular and consistent. You know who you are, please know that you are a blessing. Many of our long standing members continue to celebrate the Birthday Anniversary of Dr. Carruthers. A huge thank you those who sent in an additional birthday remembrance in honor of Doctor or another loved one in their life. I also want to acknowledge those who increased their giving last month. We are still playing catch up but there is light at the end of the tunnel. It has been wonderful to see that many of you are increasing your good via the Unexpected Income Program. We practice these principles and KNOW that they work, yet it is still exciting to witness others experiencing the same good results. That brings us to news of our ailing computer. Last month I reported that we were going to try and hold off replacing the computer until we could easily purchase a new one. Well, time ran out and it was necessary to replace it before we encountered a major crash and total disruption of service. The Dell we purchased with the help of my personal credit card, is designed to take us into the future. We strive to be good stewards and make wise decisions. Warm Spring greetings to you! We have had a few delightful sunny spring days this month. The warmth of the sun lifts my spirit. Or perhaps it is the fresh blooming trees and bright colored flowers. However, the fresh blooming trees and bright colored flowers are but the effect, and the sun is the cause. The gardening supplies, seeds and seed trays I see in the stores is awakening the gardening urge in me again. Ahh, the sweet smell of the earth in April and May is enticing. As a result I have decided to share some sacred gardening principles with you this month. These principles are the same whether we are raising roses, or growing plants or raising our consciousness for the greater purpose and possibilities for ourselves and for our world. I want to use the idea of a rose since it was Dr. Carruthers’ flower. He often spoke of the opening and fragrance of the rose. Emmet Fox wrote that there is an esoteric significance to spring, he said: "Man has felt intuitively that there is a springtime of the soul - a time when the winter of limitation and separation is over, a time when the soul awakens to the Presence of God." So let’s begin to cultivate the soil by removing the rocks and boulders that we might prepare the soil to nourish seeds we want to plant. Our mind, like the garden plot can be a fertile place and we must first decide where we are planting our garden and what we shall grow there. Begin by turning over the soil, to remove the rocks and boulders; and break up the clumps of dirt. Even in an established garden, rocks continue to surface to the top year after year. It is as if a winter's accumulation of old negative thoughts and beliefs fill our souls. So let this springtime be the season for the removal of old prejudices, petty deceits and jealousies, false vanities, and the hundred and one little negative things that many of us hang onto so fondly. The need to forgive keeps us stuck in our old patterns. Pebbles become rocks and rocks become boulders. Rain will help to nourish soil while storms move us forward. Many nutrients are contained in rain. The rain releases those nutrients in soil and breaks down dirt to allow the nutrients to be accepted. Now in order for a seed to become a flower or a vegetable, it must change from a seed to a seedling to a plant. The same is true in our lives -- in order for us to grow into our greater spiritual purpose and possibilities, we must expand from where we are right now. Rain water transforms the seed into a plant. Rain can also be a metaphor for tears and sadness. Rain, tears and even sadness can also be a cleansing food for growth. There is usually no sun when it rains so we have the quiet and the darkness in which the new ideas can sprout - come forth safely. Many of us want change in our lives, yet we don’t want to change. We want our lives to be different, but we never ask, "How can I see this differently? What can I do differently?" We must not only want our lives to be different; we must be willing to BE different. This is what our current world situation is calling us, as humankind, to do - to be different. The crises we are facing all around us are calling us forward to change. Futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard says that "crises are evolutionary drivers." They have ALWAYS preceded evolutionary shifts because they cause us to change the way we are showing up in the world. Right now, globally, humankind is being called to shift what we think, what we say, how we act, how we interact with one another, how we treat mother earth, how we consume, how handle ourselves in moments of stress, etc., etc. If the seed does not grow and change, what happens to it? It dies. Neither the flower nor fruit ever comes forth. We are standing at the edge of cliff – and it could be as critical that we change as it is for the seed! This can only happen one person at a time, of course. But here’s the really cool thing, when we are willing and ready to do this, the second sacred garden principle comes into play. As the seed changes from seed to seedling to plant, the essence of the rose - which was there all along just hidden - becomes more fully expressed. As we are willing to change, the more of our essence -- which was there all along - is more fully expressed. I can hold in the palm of my hand the essence of a rose, but in seed form, it is tight, contained, restricted. Its essence is inside. With each change of the seed, more of the essence is unlocked. As our seed begins to germinate, the stem shoots up seeking light, and the roots push down for their nourishment. Plants always grow toward light. We too seek Light, it is our spiritual connection. It is the Divine Urge to express. If roots don't find nourishment, the plant withers. It is not obstacles that kills a plant or our ideas it is the root foundation. Seed germination is an interesting process. Seeds germinate under ground in darkness. Likewise we are told to hold our own council and not share our ideas until they are established. The germination process breaks the seed coat which allows the seedling to break ground seeking light. The first set of leaves are only temporary. They pave way for the "true" leaves which follow. In our own lives, the first hint of manifestation may be temporary. There is more and better to come. The seedling must be treated gently, for it is still tender: "The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly." Henry David Thoreau, Walden In nature and in our life we must leave room for things to grow. In the garden we thin out the weaker plants. Plants grown in tight containers become root bound, without the space to grow and flourish. Even with trees and shrubs, we prune them back to encourage new growth. Our ideas and desires also need room to grow and expand. Nature’s natural state of being is to stretch, then rest. The seed first opens, then sends roots down into the earth, and the visible shoots up to the surface. Those shoots then form the stalk and the stalks produce buds and then the buds become roses. In each of those stages, the essence of the seed is becoming more and more expressed. That process takes some time; it needs the right conditions. But given time and proper conditions, an exquisite rose is formed. And so it is with us. The essence of magnificence and possibilities is already present! It was planted there by the Divine at our inception. Jesus and other great avatars have modeled it for us! But for it to be expressed through us, we must nurture our budding Godselves. It is through REGULAR prayer, meditation, trust in God, spiritual education, contemplation, present moment awareness, and communion with like-minded people that we develop a habit of spirituality that opens us up for infinite possibilities. We change -- perhaps we even crack! We may retreat to put down roots, but as those roots start to take hold, we begin to sprout and blossom -- and our Essence, our Divine Perfection, our God selves begin to appear! And is not that the message of Easter which we just celebrated? Easter is the awakening, it is moving from the appearance of death to a divine awakening. With your indulgence, I would like to share a part of my Easter message with you. There is nothing in the life and teachings of the Master Teacher Jesus more profound, more meaningful or more holy than the lessons taught and the messages we find around his resurrection. In THE GOSPEL of MATTHEW, Chapter 28, verses 1 – 6, we are told: In the evening of the Sabbath, when the first day of the week began to dawn, there came Mary of Magdala and the other Mary to see the tomb. And behold a great earthquake took place; for the angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and went up and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his garments were white as snow. And for fear of him, the guards who were watching trembled and became as if they were dead. But the angel answered, saying to the women, You need not be afraid; for I know that you are seeking Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just as he had said. And it is those last sentences that the profound and meaningful lesson of Easter is found: - You need not be afraid; for I know that you are seeking Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just as he had said. - You need not be afraid; I know you are seeking Jesus who died, but he is not here for he has had a Divine Awakening. - You need not be afraid; I know you are seeking Jesus who seems to have ended, but he really is more alive than ever before. - You need not be afraid; I know you are seeking Jesus whose life appears to be over, but who in fact is experiencing a fresh, heightened beginning. The resurrection story tells us that death is not the end – rather it is the beginning of an elevated state. It is true whether this ending comes in the form of death of the physical body, death of a relationship, death of a job, death of a 401K, death of an economic structure, death of an idea, death of a habit, even the death of a dream. I am not minimizing the effect that some deaths have on us from the perspective of our human emotions. All deaths hurt our hearts. And those who loved Jesus hurt on Friday as they were taking him down off the cross. Someone they loved, a dream they had, their future, had died. Biblical accounts tell us Jesus did die, and with him, it seemed all the hope and promise his life brought died as well. Yet in the account found in the Gospel of John 20:7 tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the other grave clothes but had been placed at the head of that stony slab. That is why the angel said with such certainty to the Marys: He is not here, for he has risen, just as he had said. The significance of the folded napkin was understood. For in the Hebrew tradition of that day, the folded napkin had to do with a master and servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. Then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished... Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkins meant, "I am finished..." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because... The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!" Jesus wasn’t done yet, he was coming back. Showing us in a profound way that death is not an ending but an opportunity for a Divine Awakening! Some of our greatest crucifixions have revealed the possibility for our greatest resurrections. What looks like a death in your life right now? A relationship? A Job? A loved one? And I ask you right now, what new life will you allow this "death" to awaken in you? Perhaps a deeper commitment to love? The fuller expression of your creativity? A deeper integrity in your financial and business affairs? A closer relationship with the God of your being? Only you can decide what the resurrection will mean for you. You have the spark of unlimited possibilities within you, because the Christ light shines from within you. But you have the right and the responsibility to decide what your Divine Awakening will be. The following story was sent to me by Positive Christianity. It is entitled Allowing the Christ to Shine Through You, and brought tears to my eyes as I read it. As I faced my God in Heaven, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us lay our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each square was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to God in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth.My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you." May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through. I’d like to shift back for a moment and look at Jesus’ death and resurrection as a metaphor for the idea that at any moment, any time, we can choose to let an old way of thinking, believing, acting, behaving die so that we can RISE UP! So I ask now – not how are you going to respond, but rather how could you be proactive? - Is there a FEAR in you that today you could let die? - Is there GUILT in you that today you could let die? - Is there SHAME in you that you could today let die? - Are there FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY, INTERNAL TAPES OF I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH in you that today you could let die? - Is there ANGER in you that today you could let die? - Do you have an unsupportive or unhealthy HABIT that today you could let die? If you choose today to let any or all of those things die -- the glory of God that is within you would today be resurrected! Remember - God Is NOT Done With You Yet. Remember the good is already there within you as your Divine Potential - it is always there! We really are here by Divine Appointment. We really are here for a Sacred Purpose. Our lives are really meant to be used for something beautiful and holy. Now, I will end with the words of Michael Pollan, in Second Nature: A garden that never died eventually would weary. Robbed of springtime, unacquainted with the extraordinary perfume that rises from the soil after it's had its rest, the garden winter doesn't visit is a dull place. The return every spring of earth's first freshness would never be kept if not for the frosts and rot and ripe deaths of fall. So when I go out from the garden for the last time in autumn, I always leave the gate open behind me. This month, please do not forget to nourish your soul with laughter and sharing time spent with family and friends. Find time also to rest and relax as nature does. Going to you now is my love and best thoughts. May your life grow as a garden in beauty and abundance. With gratitude and appreciation for your loving support, Dr. Hugh G. Carruthers and Rev. Anne S. Muelleman |
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My Dear Friend and Fellow Member,