What do you do when you have what you consider to be a good idea to share with another, but the other party is not interested in hearing what you have to say?
Jesus had wise words for his disciples when he sent them out to preach the gospel to local villages. He prepared them for rejection and taught them how to respond in a way that would not impede their healing ministry. He counseled them, “If any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town” (Matt. 10:14, RSV).
He taught them to not push themselves on others or force their ideas on unreceptive ears. He taught them to move on, but also the importance of not letting any lingering negativity travel with them.
“Shake the dust off your feet,” he instructed. The dust would be any resentment, anger, criticism, or harsh judgment. He taught them to love, not to hate.
We can do the same.
If others are not receptive to our ideas, that is not a call to get angry or upset. It’s a signal to keep moving, trusting that God provides the right opportunities for good ideas to bear fruit in circumstances that support those ideas.
Harboring resentment stymies our progress. It’s not our friend. Keep moving with Love.
Such helpful advice . How easy it is to , unwittingly .
, harbour a little sense of “ judging “ if others do not listen to our sharing of Truth . We may think we are not reacting – but are we truly knowing that all communication is from God to his idea , man – regardless of what may seem to be the human appearance ,
Have we purified our own thought of all resistance to Truth ? I am asking this of myself on a daily basis – the answer is quite enlightening ! ,
Thank you, Evan. It’s always a relief to “shake the dust from our feet”. And thank you, Wanda for reminding us to “purify our own thought of all resistance to Truth”.
We do not need to harbor resentment if someone isn’t listening to our
spiritual communications. if we realise that if they are spiritually based, and that they are God’s thoughts, not our personal thoughts.. We can hold onto them and continue to benefit from them ojrselves,, and if we do that, even though no-one seems to have
been listening, they are still doing good if we hold onto them and let
these thoughts speak for themselves., Man has no thoughts of his own, they are really only what God is giving us to know and share. We are God’s ideas, and an idea cannot have another idea of its own, separate from its source.
“ man has no thoughts of his own “ love that Maggie !
Yes – one Mind only – speaking to all – Truth expressed the only thing going on . Which is why we can shake off the dust of nothingness when it tries to erroneously present itself to us as a false belief .
Lovely. Thanks, Evan!
Very good point, dear Evan! I must work on that. Have a blessed day, everybody!
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1dj31tvk1am?s=copylink
I hope I was able to share this week’s Sentinel Watch. It deals with this very subject. Just excellent!❣️
“Forgive and move forward” By Janet Clements. From the November 15, 2004 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/2004/11/106-46/forgive-and-move-forward
*This link may/may not open for those without a subscription to JSH-online.
Here’s a pdf version that should open for all:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62695ab8d9b2bd4b35caf7ec/t/627577e38bbe1110ba04e0eb/1651865571760/FORGIVE+and+move+FORWARD+11.15.04.pdf
“Forgive and move forward” By Janet Clements. From the November 15, 2004 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/2004/11/106-46/forgive-and-move-forward
*This link may/may not open for those without a subscription to JSH-online.
Here’s a pdf version of the article that should open for everyone:
static1.squarespace.com/static/62695ab8d9b2bd4b35caf7ec/t/627577e38bbe1110ba04e0eb/1651865571760/FORGIVE+and+move+FORWARD+11.15.04.pdf
Thank you J. Here’s a shareable link everyone can use.
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1w8i9wg4roe?s=copylink
Thank you RobertH! 🙂
Be sure to empty your pockets …before starting the laundry..
MIND , Clean up the Facts before we act..
Mind is is always fresh, just press the button,
nothing personal..Christs the action man of Love running the infinite cycle
our Father designed. Happy day to all, …
hanging clean thoughts outside and see them
reach out..thank you.
Delightful metaphor Tina! Thank you.
The following exchange between Jesus and John’s disciples opened my eyes one day to the importance of letting our “practice” of Christian Science, versus our “preaching,” speak for us.
——–
20 When the men had come unto him [Jesus], they said, “John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, asking, ‘Art thou he that should come, or look we for another?’”
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues and of evil spirits, and unto many who were blind he gave sight.
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, “Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard: how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me.”
——–
Back in the 1970s my Aunt told me that she was a member of a small CS church and by Tuesday if she hadn’t had a healing that week she got busy because she wanted to be able to give a testimony at the Wednesday testimony meeting. I’ve noticed these days when attending Wednesday services, most people just “talk” CS instead of share how they have “demonstrated” CS. We shouldn’t be content with just talking CS. Our demonstrations are what speak for us…and by that I don’t just mean physical healings, I mean being compassionate with others, patient, kind, encouraging, loving, forgiving, etc. It’s those qualities, lived every moment, that will make others ask us about CS.
Thank you Evan and all for advising spiritual restraint in our interactions with others.
When controversies arise, I always remember this account from Acts 5; 35, 38- 39, when Peter and other apostles were preaching and were thrown into prison. When they were released they went to the temple again and continued to preach. When they were arrested again and brought to Gamaliel, a Pharisee and doctor of the law, he said, “Ye men of Israel, take heed unto yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel be of men, it will come to naught; But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
We can always trust the Christ to speak to everyone, and divine Mind to govern.
I have a friend who has a disability and many people do not let listen to her or they ignore her altogether. Evan or anyone do you have any suggestions in handling this situation. Because of this she has very lonely…Thank you
And from No and Yes 9;4, Mrs. Eddy writes, ‘It is true that the mistakes, prejudices, and errors of one class of thinkers must not be introduced or established among another class who are clearer and more conscientious in their convictions; but this one thing can be done, and should be; let your opponents alone, and use no influence to prevent their legitimate action from their own standpoint of experience, knowing as you should, that God will well regenerate and separate wisely and finally; whereas you may err in effort, and lose your fruition.”
What would it be to harbor resentment towards the blind. That should not be our purpose as a child of God, but rather to express what God expresses to us: the grace of divine Love.