It would be difficult not to know that this is Super Bowl Sunday here
in the U.S. and probably much-watched across the globe. For some
people football has become their religion. There are few
churches that can match the turn-out at a professional football game
and for that matter for some college football games. And when it
comes to financial support, the price of a ticket at a professional
football game, especially the Super Bowl game, causes the tithes
received in most churches to pale in comparison. As the Master
Mind Jesus so wisely put it, "For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also."
There are people who believe that
watching football is not spiritual but as Dr. Joseph Murphy (author of
"The Power of Your Subconscious Mind") stated, everything is
spiritual. I believe that the enthusiasm and the spiritedness of
the sport takes people away from the routines of life and adds a spark
to their spirit. Few football fans think about the possible
concussions or other injuries in this rough sport but everyone knows
these things are possible. Much like the people in churches who
rarely think about the religious dogma fed to them and the
consequences of its action in their minds.
In American football the end zone
refers to the scoring area on the field, according to gridiron-based
codes of football. It is the area between the end line and goal line
bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an
opposite side of the field. A player in possession of the
football scores a touchdown when the ball crosses the goal line and
enters the end zone. This goal line and end zone represent the
limitations of the game. No matter how great a team may play,
without scoring the game cannot be won.
Many people feel the same constraints
in their personal lives that rules in a football game causes ... after
all, who would have thought an ounce and a half less air in a ball
would ever make a difference in a game. The great quarterback
Joe Montana says it makes no difference ... but then, he doesn't have
to play within the constraints of the game anymore. And
this is the way it is in the "game of life" ... we can play
within the constraints of the culture and society or we can seek to
experience that which gives us infinite possibilities for our
lives.
Please study these words
from the mystical Ernest Holmes: "The
Power of Life within you is a spiritual power, able to bring to you
permanent peace, increasing happiness and joy, and greater material
abundance. Those things
which have made man miserable and unhappy can be eliminated through
the conscious use of this Power.
God could not visit fear or hate or impoverishment upon us,
because God must be just the opposite to all of these things.
It is, then, really necessary that the world should have a new
concept of God; a new idea must be born in the minds of men about the
nature of God and their relationship to this Divine Creative Spirit."
We begin to think more
expansively when we realize true self-confidence. As the great
teacher Emerson stated: "Every heart vibrates to that iron
string." We must trust ourselves in order to move through
the constraints imposed on us by the pervasive culture of
conformity. As we realize that we can draw on the Power and
Intelligence of G-d and are confident in doing so, we will begin to
find expansive ideas come to our awareness. Confidence is
synonymous with faith. We must foster the idea in our mind that
when we affirm that G-d Intelligence responds to us, we can expect the
corresponding action to our faith.
Dr. Joseph Murphy gives us this
wonderful meditation for the riches of faith. He reminds us of
the words of the Master Mind Jesus said to those who came to him for
healing; "Thy faith hath made thee whole." Let's let
these words become personal to us: "I
positively believe in the Healing Power of God within me. My
conscious and subconscious mind are in perfect agreement. I
accept the statement of truth, which I positively affirm. The
words I speak are words of spirit and they are truth.
I now decree
that the Healing Power of God is transforming my whole body, making me
whole, pure, and perfect. I believe with a deep, inner certitude
that my prayer of faith is being manifested now. I am guided by
the Wisdom of God in all matters. The Love of God flows in
transcendent beauty and loveliness into my mind and body;
transforming, restoring, and energizing every atom of my being.
I sense the peace that passeth understanding. God's Glory
surrounds me, and I rest forever in the Everlasting arms."
Dr. Murphy's meditation speaks to the infinite Good that exists for
everyone. Intelligence, Power, Spirit, Life are all infinite and
we are a part of this infinity. We must insist in our mind on
the best in life and know that the best will be drawn to us.
When our desires are in tune with the nature of the Infinite they
cannot fail but be made manifest for us. As we demonstrate our
faith in our self and in G-d, we shall truly realize the joy that is
ours to experience.
We must never worry
about the small stuff ... especially how many ounces of air are in a
football ... and keep our focus and our faith directed towards the
good and more good that is ours to experience. Our only
constraints are in our mind ... and we can displace them by knowing
that the end zone in the Spirit is infinite.
AND
SO IT IS!
Keep
the
faith!
Rev.
Henry Bates
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