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Clearing the atmosphere

20/8/2015

 
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Clearing the atmosphere

 
While studying in a Master’s program I spent several weeks during summer break working for Exxon in a bullpen or, as you might call it, an open-plan space office. At that time smoking was normal, and, with a few exceptions, everyone smoked. I didn’t smoke and felt uncomfortable in this environment. But I couldn’t quit, this was my job. Already on the second day I called on a spiritually -minded friend for some advice. It came in the form of these words from spiritual teacher and author Mary Baker Eddy:

„Never breathe an immoral atmosphere, unless in the attempt to purify it."

This resonated with me right away. I could see that I was not a victim thrown into circumstances I couldn’t control - I understood my real job to live in love and service, in short, to be a constructive force for good. I truly endeavored to serve good, instead of sticking out an unpleasant situation  as a victim, even though it was with the help of God. I don’t want to be misunderstood: The adjective „immoral“ in the quote is not to be understood in a personal way! It also doesn’t mean something like „what would be nice but is forbidden“. My understanding of “an immoral atmosphere” is an atmosphere that rejects good, God; An environment  that attempts to erode our right to “self-government, reason, and conscience” (Mary Baker Eddy); A circumstance that undermines our entitlement to be a thinker. Essentially, a context in which the ability to be an individual is subverted and the anguish of materialism is covered up by superficiality.

As I went to work the next day -- and the following thirty days -- I looked at it differently. I contemplated the omnipresence of Love, with its sweet fragrance of care and cooperation. I exercised mindfulness by becoming aware of the omniscience of Mind, the supreme intelligence of the universe. I honored Life as the sole source of spiritual being - everyone’s true being. After a while I took up my work, and it was only after I had completely finished my time there that I realized the issue had dissolved into clear air. It was erased from my attention. Since I doubt that suddenly everyone around me quit smoking (but, hey, why not?), it had something to do with my focus. I had entirely stopped wanting the others to stop smoking, which opened a place for me to live free from exterior impairment. I was cared for all along. It is as spiritual teacher Bicknell Young once said: "If we want a thing, the moment we stop wanting it, we will prove we have it. Because we have stopped denying its presence."

I cherish this experience. There is true empowerment in knowing that we can see a better plan for everyone wherever we are. A friend of mine, a professor for computer science, told me some months ago: ‘You either program your own software or you are being programed by the defaults and pre-sets of the software industry. There is nothing in between.’ Here is a spring board for a spiritual lesson, right? So in the line of this: Doesn’t the humility to let Love program all the minutiae of our lives make all the difference? And isn't here a realistic opportunity for bringing calm to work, provided by Love?

Giulia link
20/8/2015 07:00:06 am

I can very well relate to your story, Annette. People at work can either smoke (well, not anymore) or be grumpy or complain all the time or swear or be unnecessarily unfriendly. But, as we can't change others, we should focus on ourselves and what we can do with our own thoughts. While ignoring the annoying situations at the bakery I thought of what I can do when I quit this job, I thought of how my novel should be like, I came up with stories to be told and realized that some things truly matter and others don't. Thanks for this beautiful post!


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