Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son
John 14:13 … Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. John 16:24
Tucker is a very lucky pup. My son adores him, running several times a day, playing Frisbee or hiking each weekend in the mountains of Colorado. Where Christopher goes, Tucker follows. This is not insignificant. It takes discipline, hours of learning, and years of relationship for Chris and Tuck to develop an intimacy that engenders the will to follow, to trust. Of course, it is not perfect. Sometimes Tucker is distracted by a squirrel or even a bear! His distraction could be his death. He could run off a cliff, follow a pack of coyotes, or simply get lost. Mostly however, he is faithful to his master and friend and works hard to please him. Pleasing him makes Tucker happy!
This simple sketch of relationship reminds me a little of my developing intimacy with Jesus. It takes time to know the Master, to see that His Guidance is my wellbeing. It takes discipline to refrain from temptation and distraction. When I turn away to worldly idols and other authorities, I am prey to loss of Life, in danger of losing my way, making mistakes that could have been avoided. Alone I am nowhere, the journey meaningless. Still, it takes willingness and intention to listen for Him. As I do, I find His Presence comes to live in me. I anticipate and feel Him as axis of divine order. I love following Him.
Tucker and Chris have taught me a few things about discipline and following. If Tuck is ignited by a whiff of poo where he simply cannot resist a roll, or if he desperately wants to pick up a rotting carcass, Chris commands firmly, Leave it! Tucker does the most incredible thing… he looks to Christopher, back to his prized possession and then lets it go. He puts it down! He chooses to listen, his wagging derriere proof of pure joy.
In my meditations, I have been saying, leave it to mind poop, ego distractions and dead thinking that pulls me from happiness. It’s a wonderful release to objectify my thought that way and feel the intellect put it down. In its place I pick up the name of Jesus (Jesse). I search for His Presence, His Love instead of the distraction. Pretty soon my mind falls silent and I rest, peaceful and open to His Guidance.
It is not easy to follow any master. We have so much baggage around that word. I must have had a hundred past lives as slave, a heap of resistance! Sacrificial images from historical Christian preaching and guilt are projected all over the demi-god, hiding His true nature. As a teacher of Spirit, I reach to find new language, words with which everyone can relate. I want to share with a broad audience. But in my meditation I can’t identify with the opaque. My process, my practice, my life, is centered in Christ, lived in His Name.
Jesus made this inner co-habitation possible for humanity because He lived then, as He does now in Our Father’s Name, saying, I have come in My Father’s name, John 5:43 and 10:25 …the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. He offered us a way of abiding in God proclaiming, Father…hallowed be thy Name.
Jesse is the God-man for Whom I am able to leave it, in Whom my fear and doubts are healed, and where I go to ask everything. Jess is the one I seek as intimate Friend because together we bring miracles, healing and forgiveness to the world. It’s not that other words, like Krishna or Buddha or Being are not a perfect threshold for another, but in my practice, His Name is gateway and field of God, the Logos spoken in the beginning as divine principle and order of all Creation. This Word is a living Poem through which I peer into radiant, eternal Truth and back at the world with new perception. Our unified Vision includes a view of my authentic Self, divine and human, also the word and living breathing poetry of God.
He offers Himself now, (behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matt 28:20), abiding in our being as the universe of eternality and infinite Life, the Christ Consciousness become personal, finite, real through incarnation and At-one-ment.
What does A Course in Miracles say? The Name of Jesus Christ… is but a symbol. But it stands for love that is not of this world… MT-23:4
…He has recognized himself as God created him, and in so doing he has recognized all things as part of him. There is now no limit on his power, because it is the power of God. So has his name become the Name of God…MT-23:2.6
Is he still available for help? …Would the greatest teacher be unavailable…? MT-23:3.11
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
He welcomes your call. He has given you His Name, the Name given to Him as Power and Life, The Name of the Christ. Do not leave it, but hold it in your heart and ask for everything.
Is it true, until now you have asked nothing in (His) name? John 16:24
We meet Thursday Sept 26, at St. Michael’s Church, 112 Randolph Ave, Milton. Meditation begins at 7:30. All are welcome. Everyone is named Christ in this place.
all love,
MaryBeth
MaryBeth Scalice, MA. Ed.D. is a therapist and teacher trained in Humanistic and Transpersonal Therapy. Her work integrates humanity and divinity, psychology and spirituality. MaryBeth facilitates heart opening retreats and individual consultations. President of The Foundation of Open Hearts, (www.foundationofopenhearts.com.) she describes her vocation: to open the heart to the true Self. She has twenty-five years as teacher of A Course in Miracles. Her new book Write, Beloved, Write is now available on amazon. com or by writing to mbopenheart@aol.com.
Hey! Did you know we have a block of tickets for the CMC International Conference in LA, July 2020?
The Foundation of Open Hearts purchased 10 tickets at the lowest possible price and they are available now to you. Last year was my first as a presenter, and I am going again! Check out
miracles@earthlink.net. Look for 20/20 Vision for the Real World, May 21, 22, 23, and 24.
then call Alda to register. 857 526 3974. Tell her please that you want to have one of our discounted tickets.