Ken’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES OF LIVING WITH GOD WHEN WE ARE (RE-BORN) IN THE SPIRIT.
Thursday, January 12th, 2023
By Ken Cooper, poet from Great Britain
Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES OF LIVING WITH GOD WHEN WE ARE (RE-BORN) IN THE SPIRIT.
inspired by The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“LIFE”
for Sunday, January 15, 2023
- In Ken’s NEW poem “LET GO THE PAST: KNOW THE NOW OF LOVE” we learn to drop the baggage of the past and live with God in the now.
- In Ken’s poem “BEAR WITNESS AS GOD’S CHILD” we see how Nicodemus is born again!
- In Ken’s analysis “THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS” we are reminded of the commitment required, but also the benefit so brought, – the ability and desire to love our neighbour as ourselves, and as we love God. This is Life.
[Ken writes:] “What would be the reaction if you were in court as a prisoner and the judge announced that in the face of all the evidence he was giving you a life sentence! Definitely long-term imprisonment! As a man of “Genesis 2”, this would be sadly true! But we are the man of Genesis 1, and we have the only true Life sentence that is, given by God. (“Not guilty!” see SH 442:5–7) It has no beginning or end, but is the forever Now of life as His kingdom. Our joy is that we express GOD who is LIFE, and there is nothing that can take that away. We live in the eternal Now of God’s infinite Love, expressing Spirit, untouched by non-existent matter. When we get rid of the belief of matter, when we see its nothingness, we are completely, perfectly, free! Full of Life!
“This is so well shared in the Golden Text: “As you have now been raised with Christ to share that new life of resurrection away from the dream of mortality, so seek the rich, eternal treasures that are in heaven, where Christ abides, seated in honour at the right hand of God.”. What a blessed life we thus have, – full of rich eternal treasures! Isn’t this what Love gives to all, how Love expresses Itself? We can all feel the right hand of God holding us, his arm embracing us, One Mind, Soul, Truth, Love, knowing us!
“The Responsive Reading expands on this glory and grace:
“God loves you dearly. So robe yourself in that love, lead a holy and blessed life, – seek to understand all those you meet, be compassionate, showing kindness to all. Be gentle, humble, and patient with yourself and others.
Watch what God does and do the same! Be an imitator of Him in everything you do, follow Him as a dearly loved child imitates his father, for you are His dear children.
Live your lives as Love expressed—the same sort of love which Jesus gave us and which he perfectly shared when he gave himself up for us in sacrifice to God. His great love for us was special to God, much like an aroma of adoration—a sweet healing fragrance that blessed us all.
“This “sweet healing fragrance” is a delightful definition of gratitude, both when we give gratitude to God and to each other. It is the aroma of Life – GRATITUDE IS LIFE EXPRESSED. It makes me think that the kingdom of heaven surely includes the aroma of perfection, the spirituality of man in full blossom!
This was the challenge faced by Nicodemus in Section 1, – how to be born again in the spirit!
In my new poem “LET GO THE PAST: KNOW THE NOW OF LOVE” the tendency to get wrapped up in all the old baggage and clothing of the past is revealed as a life sentence of materiality, from which there is no escape:
“Waiting, ever waiting, in the spacious waiting room,
I’d brought along my luggage, – completely filled the floors!”
How much does our reminiscing of the past fill our thoughts? Become so much a part of us that there is no room for anything else! Constantly checking on material progress fills the floors and prevents progress!
“Self-righteousness, self-will, all the things I’d ever done,
Frustrations, lack of healing, the list went on and on.”
What kind of life does this represent? It is our choice, and what we choose affects not just ourselves but those with whom we have contact. When we listen to God the message is clear:
“Oh, Beloved Son!
Don’t look back! I made you whole! Leave all those things behind!
They have no use, live in the NOW! Just know I made you free!”
Just imagine the freedom that would come if there was no recollection of the past, only the proof of present good! Which is true? How many of us get trapped in the past, recounting health problems, relationship stresses, loading their “self” testimony on anyone that will listen. “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) God does not analyse problems, He cannot know what isn’t there! The I AM THAT I AM is the instant expression right now of God’s love for you, of Love, Truth, Life, yes, the present perfection of GOD expressed as man.
WE CAN HAVE NO GREATER FREEDOM THAN OUR LIFE IN THIS NOW OF ALL-GOOD!
“I was with God already, His kingdom is at hand!
I could not think of what I’d left, saw good just everywhere!
There was abundance in God’s things, and they were there to share!
“The past had gone, the present shone, not just from way above:
Oh thank You, Father-Mother God! I KNOW THE NOW OF LOVE!”
May I share this Christian Science Sentinel link, – Inspiration for a Healer by Paul Grimes. It includes this paragraph in particular:
“I am God, and there is none else” (Isa. 45:22). I made all things real and complete. Don’t try to understand that which is not—know what is! The power of prayer is the knowing of what is. If I didn’t create it, it never was created; therefore, it never can be in thought, because I am Mind. This truth is absolute, and I know no other. I never created the material. There is no material condition.”
There is no luggage.
In my poem “BEAR WITNESS AS GOD’S CHILD” the need for a complete change in our outlook, getting rid of the luggage and baggage of materiality, is illustrated by the story of Nicodemus. (citation B3, John 3:1-7)
“Rabbi, thou art come from God, in everything you do
It shows the wonders God has wrought for He’s at one with you.”
His answer takes me by surprise. I find it very odd:
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see my God”
Mary Baker Eddy writes “The human history needs to be revised, and the material record expunged”. (Retrospection &Introspection, p. 22:1). Expunged is a lovely word! “Removed, deleted, obliterated”, – gone!!! What freedom is that!
“Be born again, baptised as new. Let Spirit be your key.
Release the lock, reach out your hand. The kingdom here is free!
What’s flesh is flesh. It can’t get in. Let loose the Adam dream.
Be born again. Repent in thought. Let Spirit be your theme!”
We can all be born again because the material belief has no substance, it cannot face the infinite light of Spirit. This is our new life, as shown in the Golden Text, – there is no better! God is our Father-Mother:
“I’m born again of Spirit: and like Jesus pure and mild,
I’m fashioned by “Our Father”, God, and witness I’m His child!”
“Forsake all flesh and be baptised, let Spirit shine through you,
Reflecting God, we follow Him, and witness what is true.”
When we witness what is true, the judge confirms “Not Guilty!” and we are free!
Section 2 shows the impact and joy of being with God: “How precious is Your unfailing love, O God! You protect Your people just as a bird protects her young under her wings. We can trust in You to be always looking after us.
You are our ever-flowing source of life, a fountain bubbling up and full of joy, supplying all we ever need. In Your infinite understanding we also understand and our lives are lit with and reflect the full Truth of Infinite Being.” (cit. B8, Psalm 36:7,9). Reflecting the full Truth, the past disappears, and this material sense is removed completely when we so spiritualise thought “A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive.” (cit. S12, 463:12–13). This is true freedom, spiritualising thought, being reborn in the Spirit.
So how is this done? See Section 4! My analysis in “THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS” responds:
“The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (Mark 12:29, 30)”
The lawyer was told that if he did this he would live! This is a message to all of us! So how do we do this?
“With my very life, my whole being, as a parent loves their child, unconditionally, without question, at any moment, forever forgiving. There is no room for any other love, or false idol.”
There is no room for any luggage, view of one’s self as material. When our whole thought is turned to God, it cannot be looking at matter, history, it is looking at the Now of God’s Love, Truth, Spirit, the actuality of Life being God. This is some commitment, – loving God with all thy strength:
“Nothing half-hearted here! No need to hold anything back, but every need to give my all, every last ounce, inch, thought, all my valour, effort, desire. The awesome recognition that when governed and controlled 100% by Love it is Love that provides all the strength ever needed. When I love God with all my strength I am myself, for Love is reflected in love, and I am Thy beloved son.”
Is this feasible? What God sees is. We can know this Truth. Our perfection is our starting point. Like in mathematics, the most complex equation is already present and proved, but it is based on 2+2=4. This is a starting point, and in our lives, we can take one minute and devote that minute to God. And then two minutes, three….4+4=8, we prove what we know. Take the first step! “Each successive stage of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love” (cit. S10, 66:14) “Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.” (S&H p. 506:13). Jesus was at one with God, 24/7, and he proved what he taught, and prayed for us to share in that love: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; …” (John 17:20–23 (to ;))
As Paul writes, in citation B20, 2 Corinthians 5:17 : “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This is the fulfillment of the first commandment.
In the perfection of Life, we are enveloped in Love, and we also discover the fulfillment of the second commandment, “THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF”.
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)”
“Your fruits will prove what the understanding of God brings to man.” (cit. S25, 496:13–14)
BEING FRUITFUL IS OUR HAPPY, CONSTANT LIFE IN GOD.
Bible verses are taken from my combined translations, a free copy of which is available on an excel spreadsheet for those who may be interested. The spreadsheet also includes a genealogy from Adam to Jesus, with related notes. Shared with love. Write to Ken on kengcooper@btinternet.com.
Copies of these poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS at the bottom of the online version of this Poetic Prelude to this week’s Bible Lesson. The full range of Ken’s videos on YouTube can be found on KenGCooperPoetry. All Ken’s poetry and other writings can be found on Ken Cooper Poetry.
