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Suzy Seibert's avatar

Keith, I am late reading your Substack because I was traveling —and now am catching up. Thank you so much for the important reminders! I keep praying for guidance to move forward and do my part to overturn hate and put out fear that would try to hold the world captive to evil.

Thank you so much for being such a bright light, a beacon in the darkness.

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Keith Collins's avatar

Thank you so much, Suzy. We have lots of work to do, and prayer is indeed the best way to get started.

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Susan Johnson's avatar

Another great essay Keith. Thank you! It brought to mind two things. First, this thought about the “spirit of Truth” being the lever which elevates mankind. I love that thought because Truth just goes on being Truth, no matter. And the call to us to reprove, rebuke, exhort.

The spirit of Truth is the lever which elevates mankind. I have neither the time nor the inclination to be continually pursuing a lie — the one evil or the evil one. Therefore I ask the help of others in this matter, and I ask that according to the Scriptures my students reprove, rebuke, and exhort. A lie left to itself is not so soon destroyed as it is with the help of truth-telling. Truth never falters nor fails; it is our faith that fails.

(The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 130:12)

Secondly, the definition I found of “iniquity” as “gross inequities”. There’s plenty of food for thought there and every reason to reject iniquity wherever it presents itself to us.

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Keith Collins's avatar

Thank you Susan. The lies will eventually exhaust themselves because they can't compete with truth and its permanence. Fidelity to truth is stronger than fidelity to nation, party or person. It's where we have to stand.

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LC Macalla's avatar

I really appreciate your wide reading and analysis, Keith, and find it interesting to consider Mary Baker Eddy's writings in the context of current news reporting. Many observers have commented that our current administration is running the country as one would a Reality TV show. Wikipedia says, "Critics argue that reality television shows do not accurately reflect reality …" In that context, Eddy's comment, "To put down the claim of sin, you must detect it, remove the mask, point out the illusion …" is taking on a whole new twist for me.

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Keith Collins's avatar

I like your angle on this, L.C. Remove the mask!

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Patt Saunders's avatar

Thank you so much, Keith.

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Keith Collins's avatar

Thank you Patt!

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Teke's avatar

Amen. Amen. Amen, Keith!

How ‘bout now?! … (ASAP):

A national Constitutional Convention (or Something) representing the 3.5% …journalists, teachers, community and religious leaders, commentators, historians, authors

entertainers, athletes, military leaders, thinkers, and …

all those you stated above,

women and men and young people representing the sum of all of us and shining the light on what Democracy can, should, and must be … what we can do if we’re United!

We do need an awakening, or, a rebirth … on a collective level that gathers lightfull thinkers together …rather than all your/our disparate voices going out into the void (as so many bright embers lacking oxygen).

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Teke's avatar

You, (I think, especially), and an increasingly long list of wisdom seekers and finders are doing such crucial work for the present enlightenment…and for future historians to see that truth is always a presence, even in a deep valley of shadows…

Thankyou!

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Keith Collins's avatar

Yes, truth constantly needs to be defended. Who knew? But I believe you’re right: The army is growing. Glad you’re part of it, Teke!

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Keith Collins's avatar

Thanks Teke. You've got the spirit exactly. A logical opposition would be the Democratic Party, but they are struggling with fear themselves. I like your idea of a national Constitutional Convention of the 3.5%, called and organized outside the normal political structure. Not sure yet what I can do, beyond writing from Switzerland (to most Americans that seems like the moon), but we do what we can until new ideas come. Thanks for your support, and what you are doing from your end.

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Keith Collins's avatar

Teke, I sent a letter to subscribers a couple of months ago, asking if they are interested in contributing a guest column for Be Not Afraid. Is this something that might interest you?

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Teke's avatar

Thank you for asking Keith. Goodness knows I rant and rave around the house enough! …Not sure how it would look in print, but I’m wondering these days, especially about the balance between the masculine and the feminine qualities in humankind, and how the feminine true strength of spirit is on the ascendancy… Even perhaps in in places like Afghanistan…. and how that may drive the moral arc of the universe.

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Keith Collins's avatar

Interesting. Put your thoughts together in some kind of essay format and I’ll take a look.

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