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Browse published articles attributed to Cheryl Petersen, with full-archive search.
Loneliness is a curse. Actual loneliness. Not self-imposed solitary confinement. Not boredom. Not being too lazy or arrogant to include other people in our life and love. But the loneliness that gnaws on our consciousness, and disregards our soul, is equal to the emotion that aches and craves to ...
This essay relates to my work, 21st Century Science and Health; a revision and update of Mary Baker Eddy’s book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Eddy lived in the 19th century and died in the year 1910. In the late 19th century, Eddy became a prominent spiritual healer and leader based on what she termed divine Science. She realized and proved that Truth was the crux of metaphysical healing.
I interviewed Liz DeHaven, who was bulimic during her younger years. Most of us can identify with Liz, doing something we thought was smart, at first, only to find out later it was self-destructive. Bulimia was Liz's secret until she realized she had the God-given ability to face the bulimia and put it behind her. Me. Did you have a weight problem in your younger years?
His weeping and trembling were honest, and to be expected. The man was not sniveling. He made great effort not to let the sobs become uncontrollable. His effort failed. Flowing from the depth of crushing stress and sorrow, the crying would not stop. Barely audible, he asked, “Kleenex please.” ...
For a number of years, Elementary school children would walk to our orchard and take a guided tour through the fruit trees and the animal farm. Their tiny arms and hands would grasp for juicy apples and cherries to snack on while we walked around and showed them the wind machines, tractors, and ladders. Then they all got to peer into the chicken coop and see hens lay eggs. One little boy was absolutely beyond himself when he saw a green egg. With trained composure, he asked his school teacher, “May I keep this egg?”
Organized religion and the hard sciences add to our stash of knowledge. Unfortunately, part of this knowledge is only religious fervor or junk science; in other words, human knowledge—information twisted by politics, personal ideologies, or money. Basically, human information is not scientific; therefore, humanity can get bogged down by the fervor and junk until we realize truth is not defined by human knowledge.
People say I’m not your typical Christian Scientist. I started practicing Christian Science in college, and 25 years later, I revised and updated the book most commonly linked to Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, written by 19th century icon, Mary Baker Eddy. I am not dedicated to church rituals, and I don’t avoid doctors—typical stereotypes associated with the faith. However, being typical or atypical doesn’t make me any more or less spiritual than my peers.
People ask me if I teach classes on Christian Science. Currently, the Christian Science milieu is awkwardly moving into a new phase and so I answer, “No, I don’t teach Christian Science in a formal setting.” The demand at hand is to generate tools for continued learning and that is where my energy is placed. Teaching Christian Science requires more than a love of its logic and beauty.
In upstate New York, where winter weather causes treacherous driving conditions, salt is generously scattered on the icy roads. Salt lowers the freezing point, causing the ice to melt. Needless to say, at 5 a.m., in minus 5 degree weather when I am driving to work, I find salt extremely useful. Salt is interesting. I also use salt in the kitchen, as a preservative or seasoning for food. And, it doesn’t surprise me that Christ Jesus was mentioned as using salt in a metaphor.
Hurrying down the stairs at the 59th Street subway station in New York City, I ran to jump on the A-line metro train just before the doors closed. Whew… I was on my way. However, the relief was short-lived. A stranger looked at me and determinedly expected me to answer his question, “Where are you going?” I responded, “175th Street in uptow Manhattan.” The person then said, “Okay, you are on the B-line which will end up in the Bronx.
Mountain climber, Ed Viesturs, climbed the world’s 14 highest peaks, without the use of supplemental oxygen. Viesturs describes the expeditions in his book, There are No Shortcuts to the Top. The way I see it, Viesturs synchronized with the spiritual perception of persistence and judgment. This is in contrast with trying to go along with the human perception of persistence and judgment, alias stubbornness and opinion. Human beings find it counterintuitive to synchronize with spiritual perspectives. We are trained to act as though human perceptions are reality.
When people act on an opportunity, naysayers will show up as spectators and stop at nothing to prevent progress or create a general feeling of confusion. But who are the naysayers? Are they hazardous, or do they autodestruct? Is the naysayer outside us, or inside? Naysayers are not people per se but attitudes, sometimes fearful, sometimes sanctimonious, but attitudes not applicable to progress, or the sense of heaven on earth. The definitive answer to naysayers is to love the hell out of them.
Are the views on religious authority changing? You bet, and like so many changes in the history of religion, that change is coming from the people who are at the bottom of the pyramid. As a student of Christian Science, I understand those at the top of the Christian Scientists hierarchy don’t like the idea of saying the Church’s views are changing because it implies their views were wrong in the past. But, in truth, the institutional church is always changing. No question, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, has changed dramatically over the last 125 years.
Andrea Bocelli’s CD, Romanza, was playing on my car stereo. But, I wasn’t following the rule to listen. Because I was driving in hectic traffic, I was concentrating on following the rules of the road. Sure enough, the traffic light ahead turned yellow, I slowed down and followed the rule to stop. The light turned red. I waited. Traffic passed in front of me until my traffic light again turned green. However, instead of following the rule to go, an intuition told me to pause. I looked to my left in time to see a car speed by in front of me.
Mary Poppin’s comeback, “That’s a pie crust promise, easily made, easily broken,” echoes in my head as I listen to partners repeat marriage vows to one another. Weddings may be impressive, but statistics have it; human beings are not good at keeping their promises. The divorce rate is such that almost every person now-a-days has been affected, directly or indirectly, by broken vows. How do we experience a promise fulfilled? A vow is a declaration made by one person to another, binding the person who makes the promise to do, or not do, a specified act. Vows are important.
Grandma made me smile. Almost one hundred years old, she was lucid and bright as we caught up on the family news. Then after a bit, Grandma paused before thoughtfully telling me, “Cheryl, our human minds make us stupid, so pay attention and don’t follow its impressions, follow Love and wisdom.” She backed up her philosophy with a story. Grandma told me, “In the early 20th century, getting a gas powered vehicle was a milestone on the farm. Cheryl, you can’t imagine how much more useful a truck was compared to using horses.
Thinking and behavior, in the name of religion and church, seem foul sometimes. Instead of avoiding or blaming, a little experiment can be done. Religion and church can be evaluated to determine if they really are the source of thinking and behavior. This effort has to be scientific, minus the ...
Wow, she is gorgeous. Blond, comfortable, fun looking. And, driving a 69 Camaro! I love the paint job; a creamy yet rich yellow color, with a wide black strip across the top. Gotta be custom. Is it a Z28? WHAM. The gawker rear-ended the Camaro. The back window of the Camaro shattered and ...
“He gets earaches often. Here is the medicine to give him, however the medicine causes him to have convulsions;” This instruction, for the foster child we received into our home, was ringing in my ears late one night as he woke with an obvious earache. Is this child destined to live out a series ...
Sin is attractive, devastating, and subtle. Obviously, sin can’t be specifically defined, yet we know it must be dealt with. How? Being told not to sin and then being told we are sinners is futile. However, it has been noticed that sin decreases as goodness increases—unites. Civil Rights leader, ...
When considering buying a car, new or used, research is critical. Reliability, suitable gas mileage, and practicality are important considerations. After finding a car that seems appropriate, take it out for a test drive. Does the car rattle? How is the road noise? How well does the vehicle take ...
“I can’t find my black socks,” the husband calls out to his wife as she is getting the children ready for their family outing. A minute later, on the verge of exasperation, the wife goes to her husband. He is still searching through the top dresser drawer where she told him he ...
Ugh. Why am I told to believe Christ Jesus died for my sins? As if that will help me get to heaven? This dogma doesn’t compute; it needs a major overhaul. A serious piece of information is missing. People who lived centuries before Christ Jesus, walked with God and did just fine, some even ...