"My opinion? I'll pass."

Stick to the facts, the spiritual facts.

By Barbara Ohlson Brown

Some time ago I had a red-letter day. For an entire day I had no opinions. What's special about that? It was the culmination of much prayer, spiritual research, and growth. For that one day I was as faithful as ever to having one Mind, the divine Mind, as my sole guide and support.

It came during the media frenzy surrounding the White House scandal in the United States. I was weary of the same news stories, with the same pull and tug on emotions. Also, listening to talk radio during my commute had gradually replaced my quiet time. I was being drawn into having some kind of opinion regarding each hourly topic, and even into formulating an opinion regarding the people that called in to share theirs. I decided that the next day I would not turn on the radio, watch any news, or read the newspaper. What I did instead was thoroughly enjoy a longer spiritual study time.

Particularly helpful to me was an insight in the account in the Bible of Samuel seeking a new king for Israel. God directed Samuel to Jesse to seek the next king among Jesse's sons. After one of the sons was refused, "the Lord said unto Samuel. Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: ... for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (I Sam. 16:7). Then after seven sons were refused, the youngest son, who was tending the flocks in the field, was finally called and appointed. This passage spoke to me of the importance of character. Although any one of Jesse's sons seemed a likely candidate to Samuel, the future king would need moral courage and strength coupled with gentleness, wisdom, and humility. These were the qualities that I, too, needed to cherish, instead of being drawn into the drama in the news.

I thought of this description of God from Science and Health: "God. The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal" (p. 587). Certainly if I could know the people referred to on the news as God knows them—as His children, whom He dearly loves—I would not be expressing an opinion but instead holding to the spiritual fact about them.

It took me years to break the habit of being critical.

Christ Jesus spoke of his judgment as just, or righteous (see John 5:30). I don't believe he was judging from a personal view, but from the right view—God's view, or the truth about His children. Couldn't I follow Jesus' example and hold to this true concept of those in the news, the broadcasters, and even the public? Certainly I could. But that would mean not being opinionated or critical. I had to lift my thought to the spiritual facts of being.

But, you may ask, why would having an opinion be so bad? Years ago, part of my job was to critique the sales floors in my division. One was considered quite accomplished if he or she could "slice-and-dice" the manager's displays and department in one easy sentence. It took me years to break the habit of being critical and to see that it never was and is not now part of my true nature as God's likeness. I eventually learned that this type of opinion or criticism glorifies oneself by indulging in self-will, self-justification, and self-righteousness.

More recently, while praying for healing of a persistent physical trouble, I woke one night to this question: "Whose opinion is it that you're not free?" What an eye-opener for me. In that instant, I saw that having my own opinion meant believing in two gods, two minds. Which was I going to call God? Which was I going to believe? Was I accepting another mind that could relate to physical discomfort, limitations, and social degradations? Or was I accepting the Mind that is God, the one loving Father-Mother and His creation? In truth, each of God's children discerns and expresses the purity, goodness, and truth that has this Mind, God, as its source.

I hope that the next time I'm asked for my opinion, I will remember the spiritual fact that I am God's child, subject to divine Truth and Love. There's no better way to experience a red-letter day.

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MORE MINDFUL, LESS OPINIONATED

September 13, 1999

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