Ken’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of the divinely Mind-full manifestation of infinite perfection in us and the universe.
Friday, August 19th, 2022
By Ken Cooper, poet from Great Britain
Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of the divinely Mind-full manifestation of infinite perfection in us and the universe.
inspired by The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“MIND”
for August 21, 2022
- Ken’s Christian Science Sentinel poem “Free” concludes “His thought is me”.
- In Ken’s poem “Oh Stand in awe”, we see Bible citation B14 fulfilled: “I offer You my grateful heart! You have made me special, beautiful, as marvellous as the whole of creation, uniquely made to express all that You are. That’s a simple fact.”
- Ken’s Christian Science Sentinel poem The Rosebud is another example of God’s thought expressed perfectly.
- In Ken’s poem The Fall of Jericho we see and hear defeated the challenge of the lie of mortal invincibility…
[Ken writes:] “There is One God, therefore One Mind. This week’s lesson is full of Bible verses that celebrate this fact, and they are all summarized in the simple statement from the scientific statement of being “All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation”. (citation S1, p. 468:10-11) There is nothing else. The lesson is full of examples of this fact and its consequences, finishing with this truth: “..man is the likeness of God, pure and eternal, having that Mind which was also in Christ” (cit. S30 p. 467:13). That is all that we do. As Kathy Fitzer so clearly expressed in her Cedar Camps Met, “GOD IS THINKING YOU. YOU HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST”, indeed, as she says, “We are His Thought”. This dispenses with any idea of duality, for what God is thinking is all that there is, and man can only do what God directs. This is our perfect, Mind-filled, infinite expression! His thought! My Christian Science Sentinel poem “Free” concludes “His thought is me”.
The Golden Text as ever sets the scene: “The Lord is constantly thinking of us, blessing us with His goodness for all times.” and the Responsive Reading shares the blessings, gladness and peace that results:
Celebrate God all the day! Revel in His presence and constant activity!! Let your joy be full and constantly overflowing. Be glad in God all the time!
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and definite requests, with constant thanksgiving, talk to God about all your needs and be thankful that He has already answered!
And God’s own peace, so much beyond human conception, shall be ours as well, guarding over us, and fully brought to light and understanding through Jesus Christ.
Finally my brethren, fill your hearts with Truth, Honesty, Justice, Purity, Loveliness, whatever is commendable. Keep thinking about all these things, whatever is truly worthwhile and praiseworthy, and never stop so doing.
Do all this, and what you have learned and received, heard and also seen in me, – when you practice these things in your daily life, you will know and experience the God of peace, ever with you. (RR, selected Combined translations)
How do we practice these things in our daily lives? We listen for God’s Word, which is always speaking. And what God speaks is expressed as man, and reflects the full beauty of all that God is. In my poem “Oh Stand in awe”, we see Bible citation B14 fulfilled: “I offer You my grateful heart! You have made me special, beautiful, as marvellous as the whole of creation, uniquely made to express all that You are. That’s a simple fact.” (citation B2, Psalm 139:14 combined translations). As it’s a simple fact, we can readily accept it, and not be diverted by false images.
Oh, stand in awe of what you are:
True substance, Life and Love expressed.
Glorious, shining as a star
Maintained by Mind at God’s behest.
We are maintained by Mind because there is nothing besides Mind to do anything else. As Mind is infinite, what Mind thinks is all there is. We have no choice but to be obedient to this Mind, – for how can the voice of God not have its immediate fulfilment. When God speaks, (in the beginning was the Word, the Voice of God), man listens and does what God says, what God thinks:
“I know what I think about you, for I always have good plans for you, plans for eternal peace and not torment, and I promise you, they will all be completely fulfilled, for what I think is always ever true, and is now.” (citation B3, Jeremiah 29:11 combined translations) . This completeness now is everything that man gloriously is!
Great gratitude in endless praise,
I thank Thee God for all I be.
As Love’s reflection thus ablaze:
I am this marvel: GOD MADE ME!
I AM NOT JUST THE RESULT OF GOD’S THOUGHT, I AM GOD’S THOUGHT. What is more perfect than that! There is, can be, no deviation, for the infinite God is infinite good, and what Mind knows is all there is to know, all we can reflect and be, all we now are. As the poem goes on to indicate, man is the expression of every synonym, including “MIND MADE ME”. There is nothing more to ask or seek.
Section 2 has the inspiring story of Samuel running to Eli, convinced Eli had called him. But it was God calling, as God is always calling each of us. As God’s thought, we share one Mind (see citation B6, I Sam. 3:1-19), and because there is One Mind that knows all, we cannot help but be guided to do what God plans, and citation S9 (506:18) shares that gentle unfoldment of all good, the timeless inevitability of the bud blossoming. When we listen, we hear, and as God’s thought, we obey and find all good, we see and express what we are. My shared Christian Science Sentinel poem The Rosebud is an example of God’s thought expressed, and it concludes:
“No need for anxiety, for
His wondrous plan
Is for me to express what
already I am.”
Section 3 shows how listening to the one Mind we find all the help we need, “Please listen, God, and answer my prayer! Respond to the cry from my heart!” (citation B8, Psalm 61:1) The instruction to “Stand porter at the door of thought” (citation S12, 392:24) is in effect saying “Listen carefully to what the Word is always saying, – listen out for what God, Truth , is uttering, and follow the direction of Mind. Trust, and you will find peace already there”.
There are many instances in the Bible where it was only in listening, in receptivity, that progress was made. The story of Samuel in Section 2 is one. (cit. B6, I Sam. 3:1-19) “Here am I” is such a powerful statement of humility and complete trust. It reminded me of one of my favourite stories, – that of Joshua, when faced with the citadel of Jericho, – a problem that had no apparent physical solution. In my poem The Fall of Jericho we see and hear the challenge of the lie of mortal invincibility:
“But Joshua he loudly cried:
“ Fear not, for God is on our side!
What we must do is kneel and pray;
God will then make clear the way.”
When we begin by listening, we open our thoughts to the one Mind, and when we are obedient to that Mind, God’s purpose unfolds. The command to shout (despite all the evidence to the contrary) was blessed:
We looked amazed at what now found,-
The walls were rubble on the ground!
For we had won, yet not been harmed;
We’d had no cause to be alarmed!
The power of God once more revealed.
Our victory was always sealed.
As it says in citation S21, 180:25-27: “When man is governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows that with God all things are possible”.
This poem led me to write two of my favourite poetry lines, and it follows from the above quotation:
There is no problem that won’t go:
We just remember Jericho.
What Joshua did was to commit to God entirely, and it reminded me of a healing I had when there was an epidemic of mumps in the city of Coventry where I worked. Over a weekend, I exhibited all the symptoms, – it was like the walls of Jericho, – invincible, obvious, and looking like having to miss several weeks of work. I sought help from a practitioner who told me mid-week to get up and sing all of Mary Baker Eddy’s hymns. Not what I wanted to hear! However, I had listened, and was then obedient! By the end of the first hymn I was singing loudly! I carried on singing and before I had finished all her hymns I was healed. (see The Fall of Jericho Christian Science Journal article). Not only was I healed, the “citadel” of mumps had also been removed, and there were no further reports of illness in the local news. The manifestation of Mind is universal.
Section 5 again refers to the need to listen, for when we listen we must decide to whom we will listen! (see citation S27,167:11-12) “We cannot serve two masters…” Who will be our model and example? Citation B15 is clear: “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus, for he is your model. Have the same attitude, the same humility. With Christ as your example of how to run and live your lives, you will become like him. That is your target, that is the revelation of how you truly are!” (Philippians 2:5 Combined translations).
How do we reach this state? By humbly stating: “Here am I”, and this brings God’s infinite blessings.
It brought to thought the outstanding article by Adam H. Dickey: God’s Law of Adjustment (January 1916 issue of The Christian Science Journal). He makes it quite clear that we must abandon all our human thoughts and thinking, and rely wholly on God, the one Mind, for only in that way will the law of adjustment have the freedom to operate in favour of good. When we pray “Here am I” it is a recognition that God is ever-present, for God is the only presence: “Here am I”……
LET GO! LET MIND! THAT’S ALL THERE IS TO KNOW! THAT’S PEACE.
Copies of my poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ONLINE VERSION OF THIS POETIC POSTLUDE 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.
A FREE copy of my combined translations is available on an excel spreadsheet for those who may be interested. They have been collated over several years from BibleGateway translations, taking the best from the many translations provided, and taking further inspiration from Christian Science in their compilation. They cover over a thousand key Bible verses, taken from both the BibleGateway verses for the day, and from the Weekly lessons. Reading all verses from any one book is insightful and motivating. The spreadsheet also includes a genealogy from Adam to Jesus as I have set out, with related notes. Shared with love.
Write to Ken on kengcooper@btinternet.com.
