People are often quick to express their opinion, and even argue that their opinion should be our action. But it’s not always in our best interest to follow what other people think we should do. They may be wrong.
In this video, I talk about how the best decisions we make are influenced by spiritual truth, rather than another’s opinion. When we act on truth, we are guided rightly and end up in a good place.
This vlog was filmed in Salmon Lake State Park, Montana, where my wife and I camped in September 2021.
When we love someone that normally includes their opinions at times. We need to be mindful that we love and respect their being but we also need to recognize that they may have opinions that are not according to the Truth of Being. It is at these moments that it really means that we need to be diligent in our thoughts.
Thank you!
I will pray and know the truth by starting my day this way with SpiritView ❣️
If one had not been raised with Christian Science, Does it ever seem that it’s difficult to look the other way whim it comes to “educated” opinions??
Having gone the route of holistic healing and spending years of being fascinated with what the books were telling me about the body, I spent years with the idea of mind/body/spirit~ and trusting the wisdom of that thought.,.
Since I clearly see along the way it has led me to Christian Science, I also see that I fall back into that way of thinking at times. Specifically thinking that a massage will help me feel better. I spent many years practicing that with people and felt satisfied bringing comfort to lots of people. My education led me to believe at looking at the body and CS is telling me to look away from the body.
Perhaps someone can shed a light on this for me-
How do I KNOW The difference in opinion and TRUTH?
Thank you❣️
Dear Susan, I also was not raised in CS and spent many years studying and applying holistic health and mind/body/spirit so I understand where you are coming from. My thinking (the thoughts that error offers) often tries to go back there, and honestly at times it does pull me in that direction, briefly. But I can (we can) always return to what you suggest in your comment, Absent from the body and present with the Lord (2 Corin 5:8).
Mrs. Eddy herself went this route earlier in her life, so we are in good company. From what I’ve read, she studied and practiced homeopathy and other alternative forms of health care of her time, before coming into the true and full understanding of Being.
I think it is a process. God works with us as we lean on Him more. More Light comes in. We won’t Know truth humanly because mortal mind and mortal opinions are always full of nonsense and wrong information, but divine Mind IS our Mind so we do KNOW, in the true sense, as we acknowledge this again and again. You (we) are on the right track with Evan and this loving SpiritView forum/community and our CS studies. Much love to you.
Dearest Rose,
I thank you deeply for taking the time to respond to me. After returning from a sun shiny walk and rethinking all I shared this morning, I came home to lovely birds singing and my yellow rose continuing to unfold.
And your response was the “icing on the cake” for me this morning.
I continue to be grateful for SpiritView and this platform Evan is so wonderful to share.
Thank you❣️
“Continuing to unfold” Your yellow rose and your thinking, of course.
What a dear and honest question regarding “educated” opinions..
What I have found helpful is to ask myself : “ “Is this mortal mind thinking or divine Mind knowing.”
The first can tell me a massage feels good just like a large slice of chocolate cake taste good.. Both can be true to my mortal experience. But, I want to experience God so for true satisfaction I’ll walk the spiritual “God knowing” path to find not temporary relief or pleasure but eternal satisfaction as God’s complete and satisfied child.
I can always trust the fountain of God’s giving is pouring forth only which is pure, satisfying, and fulfilling.
Thank you John
From the lesson;
505:16–21
Spirit imparts the understanding which uplifts consciousness and leads into all truth. The Psalmist saith: “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.” Spiritual sense is the discernment of spiritual good.
And,
James 3:17
Dear Susan J. So many of us studying CS have come to our current understanding and application of this loving teaching via many differing routes. Our individual progress is between oneself and God . Evan tells us in this vlog how to deal with human opinion, plus the Church doesn’t dictate from above …but it is our guidance and support. In other words , just keep your sights on seeing more clearly a life full of expressing Love for God and others. Becoming more spiritually minded isn’t a competition … it’s an individuals expansive, tangible revelation . Believe me , you will know when this Truth becomes clear via an insight or beautiful healing. Just remember that whatever seems to be discordant or worrying , ’ man is not material, he is spiritual ‘ And that, right Now❣️
thank you, Evan. Excellent vlog.
Oh my, thank you God for dear Evan, I hope you realize how much this idea you have shared today has helped me and solidified for me what I have been doing right and what I still might need to do in order to not be impressed by human opinion no matter who it’s coming from.
Much Love and gratitude Evan, God’s good and faithful servant!
This is so helpful, Evan, as a dear friend has been avoiding me after we had a brief
disagreement as to what we both thought to be right. In today’s world of so-called
“disinformation” or “misinformation”, we often find that what some consider one of
these, turns out to be the truth and really The Truth (or God’s interpretation) of our
True Being. Knowledge of True understanding is often looked upon as being misinformed,
but really when the facts finally do come out, the truth is exposed for what it really is.
I believe Dis – information is dissing or negating the truth and Mis – information is
missing the truth. Opinions are when we let mortal ego get in the way, whereas seeing
ourselves and others in the True light of Being, being one with our Father/Mother
God, sees everyone as spiritual and perfect, with Truth being in control.
Quit having opinions were words which came into my thought one day. It wasn’t an issue I was thinking about or praying about. It seemed pretty random and unlike my own thinking. I assumed it was from God. I liked having opinions. I was well-read on many subjects. Having daughters-in-law helped curb speaking my opinions out loud. My son and daughter-in-law gave me a cup which read: I don’t need Google. My mother knows everything. Cute. With my sons, I could say, “one way of looking at the situation, or something to consider but it’s your decision.” They appreciated the input, and were independent thinkers, so would use or reject the ideas. Once they married, however, I learned to withhold my opinions more unless asked for insight. But in the last year, I realized there is an even higher way. Just know the spiritual facts about a situation. By not having an opinion, or trying to sort something out in my mind, there is space for divine Mind to speak. It’s mentally freeing not to have opinions. I can mentally try to sort a situation out which is a bit of a gummed-up mess and my solution is often or sometimes wrong, or I can resort to divine Mind and affirm spiritual truths about the situation and a path opens up.
Thank you, Evan, and everyone for your insightful comments. Lindajane, your post was very wise. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful.
And I had the opportunity to share your post with a friend at work (not a CS but of another religion and prays). She brought up this very idea about in-laws and sharing opinions. So I shared your post with her (I changed D Mind to God to make it more understandable for her). She loved it and was very appreciative.
That’s great to hear the lesson was helpful to someone else. My other son – after he married – said actually kind of tenderly, “Mom, you don’t have to verbalize every thought that comes into your head.” Oops. When my sons were living at home, I was always trying teach them lessons about life, business etc. but realized once they married the transition to keeping quiet was important. Unless they ask for insight. And they do occasionally. With in-laws, it helps to tip-toe around situations and wait to be called upon. Then you are welcomed more willingly it seems. They see you are not inserting yourselves into their situation or getting between them and their spouse. And God has a sense of humor. That son was getting a PhD in Economics – before marriage – and I asked his what his latest paper was on. He sighed and said, “Mom, you wouldn’t understand.” I knew one day he would realize he was more educated then me. That was the day! In the next phone call he asked what was new, and I said a Harvard economics professor had emailed me to ask if I would review her new book. I didn’t think too much about it as I often got requests for reviews so I didn’t connect the dots as he might see it as of super interest. (I was a top 50 Amazon Reviewer where folks want your opinions as a reader which is somewhat different.) He asked the name of the professor, and I heard him typing furiously to read about her expertise. He called a few days later and asked if I could offer my opinion about the topic of his upcoming paper. Ha-ha. But not having opinions about personal situations is helpful in depersonalizing you so it’s easier to see yourself as idea in Mind than human being with lots of human history offering up opinions tied to that history. Would I rather be humanly smart with a supposed limited I.Q. or infinite idea of infinite Mind with access to unlimited intelligence and divine direction? Door two. The fun thing to do with books on business is to see the spiritual principles behind what works in business. For example, treat everyone as valuable from the CEO to assistants to custodians to maids (as precious images of God). You can get so much done if you do this – not that you do it for that reason, but because it’s the Truth. As power is diffused in an organization, and if they know you care about them and respect them, they will do anything they can for you for a worthy purpose to have a fantastic meeting, for example. That same son, after getting an internship at the NY Federal Reserve the summer of his senior year in high school, afterwards said the VP of the Reserve talked to the 3 interns who earned the internship regarding doing well in business and life. My son said, “Mom, you know that stuff you’re always telling us about business, the Vice President of the NY Federal Reserve told us the same things today.” That was humbling.
I love the thought that “there is space for divine Mind to speak” and “it’s mentally freeing not to have opinions”. Thank you for sharing this perspective Lindajane.
You are welcome. It’s fun to learn from each other.
Loving the idea of not having opinions, thank you Lindajane. Very freeing. The kind of opinions we are speaking about are almost always mortal insinuations anyway, so why should we attach them to ourselves and think of them as part of our identity. Here’s to instead allowing “space for Divine Mind to speak.”
Yes, and not insinuating ourselves into a situation by voicing an opinion. By not cultivating an opinion, it may free us from feeling the situation needs to be controlled by us, or we are responsible for the outcome in some way. By stepping back mentally and vocally, and acknowledging God’s presence, it accesses God’s power which is greater than ours and always right. They are yoked to God or the Christ, and not to us.
Thanks for sharing this ! This has been such a learning experience for me as well ! I’m ever grateful to have Christian Science to guide me with sure wisdom !
– Everyone is a child of God with the Mind of God informing their perspective. Seeing only what God sees and knowing only what God knows.
– “I saw more clearly that I was an idea of God, and there’s nothing material about an idea. Therefore I could not be subject to materials laws of health, which amount only to a collection of popular beliefs.” (Barb Grant)
– “We are connected through our shared understanding of divine Love, divine Truth. If we feel “distracted” by suggestions of personality and personal opinion, then we’re not quite in “one accord” (i.e. all together, unanimous). If we see someone as a personality, then we’re in effect, seeing them as having a personal power from a source other than God…” (Christie Hanzlik)
– If you wish to know the spiritual fact, you can discover it by reversing the material fable… (Science & Health p. 129:7)
Facing the influence of “universal belief”:
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/afdvrb221i?s=e
As a late postscript to this conversation, I would like to add that in my readings and studies of Mary Baker Eddy’s life I’ve learned that she was never found to be neutral about any vital issue. She had definite viewpoints, and spoke publicly, taking a stand for what she felt was right. She kept abreast of the events of her day, and took an active role in advocating for justice and reform. Her life example instructs us that we too can take a stand for Principle without fearing the opinions of the world.
Thank you Evan, for this important toppic. Some time ago you had a similar toppic. But in connection with your healing you give us here, I see it in a different light then some time before.
The headline of the article Angie is giving us today is “Facing the influence of universal belief.” Thanks for it, dear Angie. Looking forward to read it later.
The universal opinions are that it is right what doctors find out and say. I had to deal with that and still pray to know the divine Truth about those diagnosis when it was neccessary to go to a doctor ; for instance for the company I worked for.
Today, I pray to understand it better that accidents are unknown by God. And accidents in former times are as unreal as today, because in truth we live and move and have our being in God, divine Love. And we as children of Spirit are untouched by matter and any error. Of course this is to be demonstrated, but it is the great Truth! As Evan says, we can see it from a spiritual point of view.. And we can ask, what is the truth God sees, and what is God thinking about this situation. These last two sentenses Evan gave us, helped me very much in a situation I still pray for to know the Truth about it better. Only God’s opinions are relevant, because He created man and universe to His image and likeness and called it very good – and that’s it !!
Evan thank you very dearly for leading us to ponder more deeply the subject, to which you always give us a healing and spiritual view!♡
Just looove everything about today’s vlog, Evan’s message and the conversation, thank you everyone!