Take A Dive

We see ourselves rightly only when we see the Self that is in all. No one can have a real or lasting joy and happiness stored up for oneself alone, everything is meant to be shared.    ~Ernest Holmes

Last year, Patte and I were out at sea...on a cruise. It was my first cruise and four themes came up:

1) Movement towards somewhere
The month of October's theme was falling forward. We are always at movement and falling forward is our natural movement.

2) Abundance of opportunities and being provided for
If you haven't been on a cruise before, the journey offers you all you can eat, gamble, swim, buy, dance, and be entertained. You just have to be present and willing to receive … you just have to show up. Now all is available but not all is given. There's a map and a timetable, but you have to get yourself there ... you must walk the talk of your desire.

It is impossible for you to receive that which your mind refuses to accept. If you desire to receive more you need to consciously develop the ability to mentally encompass it. You make your life mean, little, and limit its possibilities when you refuse to accept the whole gift of God. ~Ernest Holmes, Thoughts Are Things 

3) Life is an adventure
Went zip-lining – reminders: ...strap in and take the leap or hike ...options: rappel, take the ladder or climb wall

God is Life and Life gives Itself to us. It does not give some of Itself, It gives all of Itself. But the gift without a receiver cannot complete itself in individual life. ~ Ernest Holmes, Living the Science of Mind 

And we went snorkeling ...you have to get in the water, with equipment, ...receiving the beauty that is within ...share the food (ourselves) and watch fish come

4) Receiving is as Important as Giving
Not taking....receiving

Until we can receive with an open heart, we're never really giving with an open heart. When we attach judgment to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgment to giving help. ~Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection Receiving is as Important as Giving  

For some it is hard to receive. They say or think, “You shouldn’t have” or “I don’t deserve this” or “This old thing, I’ve had it forever.” When you accept without qualifications, you honor the other person's flow of giving and abundance, as you receive abundance. Giving and receiving not just spiritual idea - survival ...photosynthesis: we exhale carbon dioxide which nourishes plants ...plants use carbon dioxide and release oxygen -necessary for our life ...28% rainforests, 70% marine plants

Every breath is making a difference for all life by this giving and receiving ...is ultimate source of our continued abundance ...awareness shows the Universe we are living a prosperity consciousness Generosity and gratitude is living with arms wide open ….like photosynthesis - free to give and free to receive automatically ...is ultimate of embracing the gifts of life ...recognizes Something greater than we are, infinite and available, is the Source of all that we have, give and receive The magic word here, is living in gratitude.

Rudyard Kipling was a very famous writer late 1800's, early 1900's, and made a great deal of money at his trade. Wrote Jungle Book, Gunga Din, The Man Who Would Be King. A newspaper reporter came up to him once and said, "Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over $100 a word." Mr. Kipling raised his eyebrows and said, "Really, I certainly wasn't aware of that." The reporter cynically reached into his pocket and pulled out a $100 bill and gave it to Kipling and said, "Here's a $100 bill Mr. Kipling. Now you give me one of your $100 words." Rudyard Kipling looked at that $100 bill for a moment, took it and folded it up and put it in his pocket and said, "Thanks.” 

Everything in life works in circles, spiritually and materially. While there is more attention on how to give, the consciousness of receiving is just as important ...it is a mutual experience, reflecting our unity with each other and with Spirit. You don't have to be out at sea to notice all that is being offered to you and meet it with openness and gratitude. Meditate on what it means to receive; and, in that, the gift you give to others by receiving generously. It's one of the ways we keep on singing. 

Affirmation 

Today I know with all confidence... 

A glorious Divine abundance is active in my life. My prosperity comes through the source and substance of my supply...SPIRIT ...all Knowing, all Being, all Love, and all Giving. I dedicate my mind and heart to the thoughts, feelings, beliefs and actions that honor this glorious Divine abundance. Knowing it comes from an inexhaustible supply, I joyously receive my bounty right now. I live, breath and thrive in the flow of my bountiful Good.

An Ethical Morality

Archaeologists in France discovered traces of copper wire located in a thousand year old cave and announced it was really a French scientist who invented the telephone. Upon hearing this, British archaeologists told of traces of plastic in a 2,000 year old cave and declared an English scientist had discovered fiber optic cable 2,000 years ago. Not to be outdone, Israeli archaeologists laughed as they told of investigating a 5,000 year old cave where they found nothing...declaring ancient Jews had discovered wireless communications 5,000 years ago.

Our best communications are wireless, voiceless and use no plastic. They are communications in thought, feeling, belief and action. No words need be said aloud ... being is the key. But what is being? You could describe it as your nature or essence. "Great," you might say, "what is our nature, our essence?"

A lot of things are inherent in life - change, birth, death, aging, illness, accidents, calamities, and losses of all kinds - but these events don't have to be the cause of ongoing suffering. Yes, these events cause grief and sadness, but grief and sadness pass, like everything else, and are replaced with other experiences. The ego, however, clings to negative thoughts and feelings and, as a result, magnifies, intensifies, and sustains those emotions while the ego overlooks the subtle feelings of joy, gratitude, excitement, adventure, love, and peace that come from Essence. If we dwelt on these positive states as much as we generally dwell on our negative thoughts and painful emotions, our lives would be transformed. ~Gina Lake, What About Now?  Reminders for Being in the Moment

Our essence is interwoven with the Divine. We express this essence through personality and volition.

The true essence of who you are, balances itself upon a cushion of purity, benevolence, and holiness. ~Garey Gordon, The Values Pursued Life: Excellence and Greatness from Within

So, it begs the question, is our Divine Nature ethical or moral? Let's get some definitions on the table, first. Ethics are a code or rule of right or wrong. Morals are a personal ideas of right and wrong which comes from ones conscience. The Science of Mind and other New Thought philosophies are not guilt-based or rooted in a rigid set of rules. They teach an alignment with our true nature of divinity, and respect and recognition of divinity in others. This way of life is holistic, stemming from a matrix of mind, heart and intuition/imagination. It's not about what to think, but how to think!

"How to think, what do mean by that? And what is this "Being" thing?" Maybe this will help:

You don't be happy - you Be joyful

Happy is an experience, joy is the essence of our nature. Joy comes from an intentional connection to all that is in creation.

You don't be learning - you Be transcendent 

Evolving in the revelation of knowledge learned and experienced, especially in "aha" moments and spiritual practices, is a transcendent transformation of you.

You don't be smart - you Be wise 

Knowledge and intellect never override intuition. Intuition, always constructive, is a knowledge-gift sourced from the Divine.

You don't be surviving - you Be on purpose 

Instead of playing the averages or statistics, let's live with intention and deep meaning. Instead of a lackadaisical, rudderless existence, let's be empowered by a purpose. One that gives, as well as, receives.

You don't be thoughtful - you Be the Thinker 

Don't just be part of the creation - Be a creator.

You don't be an exploration - you Be an explorer 

What do you Be? What is your nature?!? The essence of being is our enactment of our Divine nature

The Science of Mind is reaching out to a truer concept of God, immanent in the universe as the very substance, law and life of all that is. The difference between the older way of thinking and the new is that we have come to see that the One Supreme Cause and Source of all that exists, is not a separate Being outside His world, but is in fact the actual Spirit of Life shining through all creation as its very Life Principle, infinite in Its working and eternal in Its essence. ~Ernest Holmes, How to Change Your Life

The title of this blog is An Ethical Morality. And that is conduct which is becoming of your authentic self. But how is this done?  Let's look at two ways:

1) Stay in integrity with your own divine nature. People feel conflicted by two potential courses of action. Unfortunately, most focus too much and too often on the fallacy that outward choices come first. Then they attempt to reason their way back to the greater truth. Like a politician who says what he sees as the 'in' thing or lie to opine, then when caught in this falsehood or a change it public opinion, has to walk back that opine, speaks out of a lack of integrity and authenticity. Instead, if  we focus on aligning with our own highest nature and what represents the greatest in all concerned, then we can allow choices to move from the greater truth and lead to the natural actions that flow from Divine Intelligence.

Right action will be compelled through right knowing. Therefore, when we know the Truth, It will compel us to act in a correct manner. The Science of Mind

2) Non-judgment opens us up to allow divine love and wisdom to be the guiding light for inspired moral action and to see people and situations as they are, rather than through our own biases. Divine Love invokes our compassion, brings warmth to our choices, decisions, and actions and Divine Wisdom grounds us in our intuitive discernment of the situation, moving from clarity of sight to pragmatic action, inspire, motivated and moved from love and wisdom, not fear.

Our essence is a Divine discontent. Like the Universe, we are bred to spread, ever-expand, and journey to an adventurous life. While we do so, let's do it with an ethical morality.  I invite you to be bold and courageous, go the distance with your creativity, find truly enlightened, intuited solutions and actions; and move from seeking comfort, to seeking Divine right action. Seek a sincere inquiry into Truth, removed from fear and personal bias.  Lift your gaze to a higher consistent standard of Truth. It will lift us all into the more expansive possibilities of the soul, where graceful living thrives.

Affirmation 
I Am Living Gracefully
I move with simple elegance, showing my Divine Self with honor, dignity, and kindness; as well as respecting the Divine Self in others. I have goodwill for all, sharing compassion and benevolence to those in need. I know I Am held in the hands of grace, safe in the arms of Love, and rejuvenated, strengthened and enlightened all day.
I Live This Day in Grace!