PERCEPTION

Tonight is the last night it will be below zero, for a little while at least. It is forecast to be -21F. We have a ground source geothermal heat system. The main part of our house is over hundred years old and probably leaky. When it gets down to -10F we fire up one of our wood stoves. When it gets down to -20F we will often fire up the other. We have one in the dining room and one in the living room. It increases my chores but it is well worth it. If one was satisfied with house temps in the 60s the heat pump would do well on its own. We like it cozy. I like to be comfortable wearing a t-shirt. T-shirts and jeans are my informal wear. {Come to think of it- that is my formal wear too}

It actually has been a spate of beautiful weather. The Sun has been bright and one can feel the heat returning. I am amazed that the animals are so little affected by the cold. Of course the sheep are very wooly but the goats aren't. The goats get out and Sun themselves. They enjoy themselves whatever the weather is.

Don't you sometimes see that we live in paradise? Several times in the last few days I was struck by the incredible beauty of the world. Yet, there are times when I can traverse the same landscape, and see only the out-picturing of a dismal mind. Wow, we can look at the same landscape and see two entirely different things. I know you know that. We all do it. And all the time.

Our teachers have emphasized that is our choice what we see. By now I think we all know it. Yet we find ourselves being lured back into seeing a world created by dismal thoughts.

Let us not lose hope or get unduly frustrated. If we have intent to see correctly we will. Like anything else it takes practice. We have been programed to experience life through a haze of fear thoughts. We have been encouraged to be afraid of everything. We can't see paradise when we are afraid.

We were created by source to be happy. We were meant to create our surroundings with love. There must have been a time when we knew our connection with source and we experienced paradise. At some point we decided to create without source. It was probably okay for quite awhile. However, separation invites fear. When we knew all is one; what was there to fear? We knew our 'Oneself'. When we decided to be separate; then whom is the other? Fear entered in, that was the end of paradise.

Now we are on our journey back. Only our perception keeps us from seeing reality. The reality that all is one and all is Love. Hang on to those glimmers of paradise. Notice the peace in your mind when you see the beauty of the world. We can have that peace all the time. Through that peace we will bring the new world into focus.

Keep in mind that perception is our choice. We can see heaven or hell in the same data matrix. We don't need to make negative interpretations.

Imagine a circle. The circle is filled with dots. The circle is a  lens of our mind. The dots are thoughts. Now draw a line down the middle. All negative thought are on one side, the positive on the other. We don't need to attempt to erase the negative half. That creates conflict. Just look through the positive side of the lens. The thoughts, that are focused on, become dominant. Those thoughts, that are ignored, gradually fade away. 

Throughout the day let's pay attention to what part of the lens we are looking through. Looking through the positive side of the lens is very reinforcing.

Let us open our eyes and greet life with great joy.

Love and Peace,  Gregg