“Perhaps the simplest way to state the proposition is to say that we are surrounded by a Mind, or Intelligence, that knows everything; that the potential knowledge of all things exists in this Mind; that the abstract essence of beauty, truth, and wisdom coexist in the Mind of the Universe; that we also exist in It and may draw from It. But what we draw from It we must draw through the channel of our own minds. A unity must be established, and a conscious connection must be made, before we can derive the benefits which the greater Mind is willing to reveal or impart to us.” ~Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind
The more immersed I become in the Science of Mind philosophy, the more I realize—it doesn’t pull any punches.
This teaching is expansive and compassionate, yes—but it is also direct. The Universal Mind is always available. Infinite Intelligence is never withheld. The Good is omnipresent. And yet Holmes reminds us that what we draw from It must come through the channel of our own minds.
There is no spiritual bypassing here.
Spirit does not force itself into expression. It responds. It mirrors. It creates according to the level of consciousness through which it is invited to act.
This is where the teaching becomes deeply practical—and where I often think of Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King didn’t just hope for a better world. He held a vision so clear, so unified, so rooted in spiritual conviction that it reshaped collective consciousness. He didn’t wait for conditions to change before he acted. He aligned his thinking, his words, and his actions with a higher idea of justice, dignity, and beloved community—and then he lived from that place.
That is Science of Mind in motion.
Spirit worked through him because he was willing to be a conscious channel for it. His clarity of vision became a mold into which Universal Intelligence could pour courage, creativity, resilience, and love. The results were not accidental—they were lawful.
Science of Mind teaches that Spirit works for us, by working through us, and as us. But the Law responds only to what we consciously accept and embody. Passive awareness doesn’t produce active demonstration. Agreement with truth is not the same as living it.
This teaching asks us to participate.
I often compare it to electricity. The power is everywhere—constant, infinite, reliable. But unless there is a clear circuit, unless the wiring is intact, unless the switch is flipped, the room stays dark. When the light doesn’t come on, we don’t blame the source—we check the connection.
Science of Mind invites us to do the same with our lives.
When something isn’t working, the question isn’t “Why is Spirit withholding?”
The question is, “What am I believing? What am I expecting? What am I consistently declaring?”
The question is, “What am I believing? What am I expecting? What am I consistently declaring?”
Universal Mind can only express through the mold we provide. If our thinking is vague, conflicted, or rooted in fear, the demonstration will reflect that—not as punishment, but as precision.
And here is the grace: nothing is wrong with us.
We are not broken.
Nothing is missing.
We are not separate from the Good we seek. As Emma Curtis Hopkins is often quoted as saying, “There is good for me and I ought to have it.”
Nothing is missing.
We are not separate from the Good we seek. As Emma Curtis Hopkins is often quoted as saying, “There is good for me and I ought to have it.”
Everything we need is already within us. Our work is not to become something else, but to become a clearer channel—to establish unity, to make conscious connection, and to allow the Infinite to move through us with intention.
Dr. King showed us what is possible when a human being lives aligned with a higher vision. Science of Mind reminds us that the same Power that moved through him is present for each of us—right here, right now.
The Power is within you.
The Mind is already present.
And the channel… is yours to open.
The Mind is already present.
And the channel… is yours to open.
Sometimes the Universe doesn’t whisper. Sometimes it knocks you flat and waits to see what you believe next.
You’re cruising along in your brand-new car, minding your own business, when—bam—you get rear-ended or sideswiped. No, this didn’t actually happen to me. It’s an analogy.
Or you’re flying down the mountain, doing what you love, when another skier takes you out and suddenly, you’re in a toboggan headed to the emergency room. Again—an analogy.
My point is simple: life happens.
God. Spirit. Mother Earth. The Universe—whatever name you use—is not picking on you. And neither is life. Disappointment, loss, and uncertainty are not punishments; they are part of being human. Very few people make it through this life without being knocked sideways at least once.
And then there are moments when the curveball isn’t theoretical—it’s personal.
What do you do when you’re a minister, life feels golden, and you’re told there is a high probability your husband has colon cancer?
The first thing you do is reach out for prayer—because faith does not mean bypassing fear. Sometimes faith begins with letting yourself fall apart long enough to be honest. Sometimes strength looks like asking for help.
And then comes the deeper work.
You remember that things don’t just happen to “other people.” They happen to us. Even when we teach this philosophy. Especially when we teach it.
And yes—then you realize you have a blog to write on The Way It Works… and suddenly the teaching isn’t abstract. It’s alive.
In the Science of Mind textbook, Ernest Holmes reminds us that the Law is impersonal—neutral, precise, and always available. It responds to consciousness, not circumstance. It doesn’t create the event, but it governs how we meet it. The Law is not cruel—but it is exact.
So, here’s the practice when appearances are loud:
I don’t deny what’s happening—but I refuse to give it ultimate authority. I acknowledge the fear—and I choose not to live from it.
I don’t know the outcome of this diagnosis—or even if there is one—but I do know where I stand.
It is my work to hold space for healing.
And as a prayer practitioner, I know that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes it’s physical. Sometimes it’s emotional. Sometimes it’s a deep remembering of who we are beneath the circumstance.
So, I lean into the teachings that changed my life. I choose to know the Truth even when evidence tries to convince me otherwise. And when I’m standing in the forest and can’t see clearly, I let others point out the trees.
I choose abundance over fear, knowing that lack is never about resources—it’s about consciousness. I choose love, light, peace, and joy—not because life is easy, but because that is the world I am committed to living in.
The Way It Works isn’t something I talk about when things are going well.
It’s something I live—especially when life asks me what I really believe.
UPDATE: Paul’s pathology and CT scan came back negative. The mass and appendix still need to be removed and that is much less stressful.
Thank you to my prayer posses you know who you are!!
Happy New Year! We have booked another 365 days.
I love the Science of Mind teachings—probably because they gave me the tools that helped me change my life. They opened a kind of Pandora’s box within me, one that invited me to take responsibility for all the wins (few at the time) and all the missteps (more than I could count—or would want to share).
In his own words, Ernest Holmes defined Religious Science as “a compilation of the opinions of philosophy, the laws of science, and the revelations of religion applied to the aspirations of (wo)man.”
Since 2026 (2+0+2+6 = 10 = 1) is all about beginnings—and February’s Chinese New Year ushers in the Year of the Fire Horse—I’ve decided to take a deeper dive into the wisdom of the sage who changed my life: Ernest Holmes.
So, we begin with The Thing Itself.
The Thing Itself is the Power behind all creation. It is known by many names:
Judaism—YHWH
Christianity—God
Islam—Allah
Hinduism—Atman
Taoism—Tao
Indigenous and Earth-based traditions—Great Spirit
Judaism—YHWH
Christianity—God
Islam—Allah
Hinduism—Atman
Taoism—Tao
Indigenous and Earth-based traditions—Great Spirit
The Thing Itself is all of that, because all of those are It.
Many paths. One destination.
Many paths. One destination.
In our Declaration of Principles, Ernest Holmes wrote:
“We believe in God, the Living Spirit Almighty; one, indestructible, absolute and self-existent Cause. This One manifests itself in and through all creation but is not absorbed by its creation. The manifest universe is the body of God; it is the logical and necessary outcome of the infinite self-knowingness of God.”
“We believe in God, the Living Spirit Almighty; one, indestructible, absolute and self-existent Cause. This One manifests itself in and through all creation but is not absorbed by its creation. The manifest universe is the body of God; it is the logical and necessary outcome of the infinite self-knowingness of God.”
This is that which has always been, will always be, and is present right here and right now. It does not have a favorite person, team, religion, or country. It loves all things unconditionally.
People often ask, “Well, what about this person?” or “What about that action?” Here’s the truth: we are all individualized expressions of God in form. And with free will, we get to choose whether we live from that awareness—or forget it.
It can be tempting, even as ministers, practitioners, or students of this philosophy, to place blame. Yet one of the greatest lessons of Science of Mind is this: you are responsible for your life. And on a global scale, we are responsible for our collective life.
It’s not that God—the Thing Itself, YHWH, Allah, Atman, Tao, the Great Spirit—doesn’t care. It’s that the invitation is to recognize the power and presence of It within you. Not from an egoic place, but from the truth that It is in, through, and as everything.
I may not be able to change the world, but I can change the way I see it.
I may not be able to change my country, but I can change what I focus on.
I may not be able to change my neighbors, but I can change how I choose to show up with them.
I may not be able to change my country, but I can change what I focus on.
I may not be able to change my neighbors, but I can change how I choose to show up with them.
If you want a better world, a better country, a better neighborhood—practice being a better person.
Start by owning this truth: The Thing Itself is no farther from you than the nose on your face.
It’s hard to believe we’re closing out another year. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m older now—as Joni Mitchell so eloquently sings, “I look at life from both sides now”—or if it’s because we’re constantly inundated with information. Either way, life can feel like it’s moving at breakneck speed.
I know some people push back on making resolutions—or even claiming January 1st as the “real” start of a new year. Some people use their birthday. Some follow the Chinese Zodiac. I actually love all of it. I’m not married to the calendar, but I am committed to reflection. Because reflection is how I tell the truth about my life.
So as 2025 comes to a close and we set our sights on 2026, I’m asking myself three simple questions:
- What am I really proud of?
- What would I do differently if I could?
- What do I have zero intention of repeating?
Because here’s the thing: we are not just living for today. We are writing tomorrow with the way we live right now. I am the ancestor future generations will speak of. And so are you.
It doesn’t matter who we love, where we worship, how we vote, where we live, or what color our skin is—what matters is how we treat ourselves and each other. That’s the legacy. Individually and collectively. The world doesn’t just need our opinions; it needs our integrity.
And if that sounds big… good. It is big.
Unity isn’t a nice idea—it’s a practice
Unity doesn’t mean we agree on everything. It means we remember we belong to each other anyway. And that lines up perfectly with the CSL Global Vision that calls us to live and grow as one global family—respecting and honoring the interconnectedness of all life.
So I’m asking myself: What would change if I lived like that was true? Not just when I’m in a good mood. Not just when people “deserve” it. But as a spiritual practice.
Ernest Holmes drops a mic (as usual) in Creative Mind and Success:
“Every person is surrounded by a thought atmosphere. This mental atmosphere is the direct result of thought which in its turn becomes the direct reason for the cause of that which comes into our lives.”
Your thought-atmosphere is real. It’s what you carry into a room before you ever say a word. It’s what you feed with your attention—your scrolling, your conversations, your fears, your prayers, your gratitude. And it shapes what shows up.
So here come the honest questions:
- How much time in 2025 did I waste comparing myself to other people?
- How much time did I spend gossiping or judging others (and no, I don’t get a pass by calling it “discernment”)?
- How much time did I spend grateful for my life exactly as it is—and exactly as it is not?
- How often did I tell the people I love that they matter to me?
I can’t get 2025 back. But I can decide what kind of ancestor I’m going to be in 2026.
2026 doesn’t need a “new me.” It needs a more awake me.
Less excuses. More integrity. Less judgment. More love in action.
I don’t need perfection—I need presence.
Less excuses. More integrity. Less judgment. More love in action.
I don’t need perfection—I need presence.
And I’m in.
Have you ever fought changing? I know I have! The wave of what is keeps you treading water so fiercely you don’t think you have the capacity to do anything different.
That’s why The Joy of Becoming first made me laugh out loud. And then it made me stop and think. Changing was a process for sure, and it wasn’t always joyful. And I wouldn’t do it any other way because I experience joy every day of my life now.
I’m not saying I don’t have my moments or let’s be honest days and yet hands down my worst days now our light years better than when I felt like I was drowning.
In the Science of Mind Textbook, Ernest Holmes says, “We are not becoming this Life but are now in and of this Life. There is no other Life. God is not becoming: God IS. God is not growing; God is complete. God is not trying to find out something; God already knows. (p. 292.4)
And as Lyle Lovett would say, “That’s the difference between God and me.”
Yes, I am a manifestation of It in form and I am a work in progress; It is not. If you have ever taken any classes from Landmark, which I have, the introductory class asks the question, “what is life?” People come up with all kinds of answers and the response is, “Life just is”. Just like God, it doesn’t judge it just responds. The difference is God is that ever present, all-knowing, all-seeing, absolute power that loves us unconditionally.
Why wouldn’t we want to be more of that? And it’s a choice. Each one of us has the opportunity every single day to change our thinking (on things big or small). Think about it, if you decided to change one thing every single day in 2026 by the end of the year not only would you have 365 new ways of being, you’d be a brand new, different you.
So, here’s the challenge you can keep on keeping on – complaining about issues big and small or you can join me in giving up one thing every day in 2026 – an item, a thought, a habit, whatever you chose. Write them down every single day and next year at this time we’ll be celebrating the Joy of Becoming.
One thing a day. Write it down. Do it anyway. See you next year—different.
