We create our world through the lens of our attitudes and feelings. Negative thinking and judgment adds darkness into the world, dims the light of the soul, and adds layer upon layer of veil to the almost-universal delusion that we are separate from God.
Negative thoughts and judgments cause us to feel separate from, instead of one with, each other and God. They create disharmony and limit our ability to feel grateful and loving. Gratitude and love open the heart and connect us with the object of our affection, whether it be God, nature or human beings. Criticism and condemnation tend to shut the heart down, making it difficult to realize that every person is, in essence, divine. For every soul is an eternal being, created by God from out of God’s own spiritual substance, and will in time realize its nature as immortal spirit and its oneness with God.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus spoke to a multitude . . . He didn’t speak to just the disciples or other important people. He spoke to people like you and me, there to hear His words.  Part of what He said was:

“You are the light of the world.”[1]  Isn’t that amazing. You and I are the ‘light of the world’. Just think of the moral role that puts upon us. The world is dependent upon us to shine our light with goodness and love. Let us not fail.

We see people full of love and compassion. They radiate and give off an energy of love and joy, so powerful, it touches us. This energy is the light. And, the more forgiving and loving you are, the more love and joy you have in your life, the more you shine, the more you will touch others.

Verses throughout the Bible speak of darkness and light. Here are a few:

“Be careful, lest the light in you be darkness.[2]

      For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness.”[3]

     “Open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light.”[4]

     “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”[5]

      "Let your light so shine before men …”[6]

You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men. Increase the light. The light will push back the resisting darkness. Overall, the light is winning: witness the fall of the Soviet empire and the Berlin Wall, the election in our country of a wise and intelligent president who seems to genuinely care about the well-being of everyone, and the willingness of many in Iran to question the authority of those in power, even at great personal risk to themselves.

Moreover, prior to 1996, there were many psychic predictions of horrible disasters that were to occur before the year 2000. These events never happened. They were nullified or perhaps lessened and postponed by the love, selfless actions and prayers of many.

ENVISION WITH ME ... See within your mind’s eye ...
A light that dawns within your consciousness.
Softly, slowly, as if it were a blanket falling upon a sleeping baby,
Cast a net of love-filled light to cover the earth. ...
See all people in peace and harmony. ...
See light dispel darkness, as if darkness didn’t matter. ...
Increase the love and light. ...
And give it all to God. ...

Those who bring light into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. Giving and receiving are reciprocal. And each person’s happiness is important to everyone else, for we are all one in spirit and share the same collective experience.

Shine on.   —Mary Ann

I often tell people what Jesus told me, "Whatever you do, do it with love."  It must give them the impression that there is a bit of pollyanna in me, that I think I never do anything wrong, and my head is in the clouds unwilling to acknowledge the darkness around me. 

I am realizing that I must explain further, that since we live in the midst of darkness we can't ignore it and thus it will go away. Truly I am very aware of the depth of darkness these days. All I have to do is watch the news on television.  I am also aware that when I give love to others, it is always reciprocal and returns back to me. If you feel unloved, love someone. Doesn't take much: a smile, a pat on the back, a phone call.   —Mary Ann