A Prayer for the Philippines

Let us come together in the conscious awareness of the Presence that connects us to It and to one another. We bring It alive in our minds and our being, invoking the infinite Truth that has always been and will always be, knowing we are unified with It and grounded in It.

As such I speak my word for all who have been affected by the typhoon in the Philippines. I know that the Divine Grace of God brings to wholeness all things that are disrupted, injured, destroyed, and displaced; that the Goodness that is God is present in the middle of all events; and that which appears as horror, terror, and loss is balanced by the love and light that is Spirit. I speak my word knowing that that which appears lost in fact is found and that that which appears damaged is in fact intact. I surrender my need to question why and my human response to suffer and instead know that God transcends suffering, and goodness is both the Cause and the Effect. I know that this event brings to life within all the compassion, understanding, and generosity that rises above the day-to-day affairs and awakens within all individuals the love and givingness of humanity. I know that in all ways, everyone affected by this storm is supported, nourished, and guided, that the effects pass and that the loss of life is mitigated by the gain of a closeness that supersedes the temporal and transforms the afflicted.

It is with loving gratitude that I recognize this as my truth, and I surrender it and release it into the Divine Mind that is All Mind. As I do this, something awakens within me and guides me to do all that needs to be done to comfort, support, and love all who suffer, knowing that Spirit is present and active as the body of humanity.

This is what I know. I let go and let it be my truth.

And So It Is.
Dr. Kenn Gordon

Remembering the WASP—Forgotten Heroes of WWII

As we celebrate Veterans Day each November, it is good to remember all who have served our country through the armed forces. Until recent years, one group seemed to have been forgotten—the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), the first group of women trained to fly American military aircraft. In 1943, 25,000 women applied to become pilots. A total of 1,830 were accepted into training, and those who were accepted had to pay their own way to the training program in Texas. In December 1943, 1,074 women graduated. The program was vigorous—the “Army way”—with a graduation rate similar to that of the male pilots. The WASP unit was deactivated December 20, 1944, having flown about 60 million miles in operations. Their missions were noncombat, intended to free male pilots for combat. They ferried planes from the manufacturing plant to military bases and ended up doing much more, often flying planes considered to be the most dangerous to fly. Thirty-eight WASP were killed in the line of duty. When the unit was deactivated, their records were classified and sealed. These women did not receive Veteran’s Benefits as they were considered civil service employees. However, in 1977, Congress granted veteran status to those who had served as WASP; in 1979, official honorable discharges were issued. In March of 2010, former WASP were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service during World War II. Let’s salute these women who led the way and served their country!

Crossing the Chasm—Radical Forgiveness in Action

In her film Unlikely Friends, Leslie Neale documents the stories of victims/survivors of violent crimes who, by making the choice to forgive their perpetrators, bring about profound healing and rehabilitation. You will be inspired as you watch a trailer of this film.

Life Sentence Life Purpose: A Memoir
Mickey Owens and Kim Whiting

In prison, healing can take many unusual forms. For Mickey Owens, writing offered a way to cope with the hopelessness and despair of life in prison. Sharing his memoir with his unlikely friend Kim Whiting opened doors to a sense of freedom that he did not ever hope to experience. The connection changed both Mickey and Kim, and it will also change the reader. Tom Lagana, coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul calls Life Sentence Life Purpose “An amazing story that will change the way you view prisons, the people who live in them, and the very meaning and purpose of life.” In an exclusive excerpt from Life Sentence Life Purpose, Mickey Owens shares a bit of his journey of discovering that even in prison one can shine a light of love and hope and how he became determined to “Light Up This Joint.”

Also from Kim Whiting

Like Leslie Neale, creator and director of the film Unlikely Friends, Kim Whiting was called to understand the spiritual journey of those in prison. She, too, shares her insights and understanding of the transformational power of love and forgiveness.

The Beautiful Ripple Effect of Forgiveness
Kim Whiting

For a reason only fully known by God, I have several close friends who are male convicts—and not your average seven-to-fifteen years in medium security breed of convict, but the kind who are in maximum security for life. What I’ve learned about prison from these friends is that it is a microcosm for the world at large in which almost every human issue is magnified. Through this magnifying glass, what works for all of us comes into focus. Through this magnifying glass, the stunning power of forgiveness, particularly self-forgiveness, is crystal clear. Read more….

Thanksgiving
Ernest Holmes

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name.

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom...Hallowed be thy name!

The attitudes of praise and thanksgiving are salutary. They not only lighten the consciousness, lifting it out of sadness and depression; they elevate consciousness to a point of acceptance. Praise and thanksgiving are affirmations of the Divine Presence, the Divine abundance, and the Diving givingness. It is only when we live affirmatively that we are happy. It is only when we recognize that the universe is built on affirmation that we can become happy.

Excerpted from A Holmes Reader for All Seasons by Ernest Holmes, Science of Mind Publishing. This book is out of print, but the e-book version can be purchased at scienceofmindarchives.com.

The staff of Science of Mind magazine wishes you and yours a joyous holiday season.