So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

— Genesis 1:27

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

You Are 

Beautiful … p. 60

You are beautiful because of you: there are none other like you. You do, however, have one thing in common with all others — that of Goodness. It is this ever-present God-given trait within you that is critical to your well-being. And, not least, it is that which unites us in our humanity.

Goodness, albeit a very real phenomenon, is ofttimes obscured by the circumstances of life. As such, it is not to be taken for granted. Its presence, both intellectually and spiritually, requires none other than a firm belief in your own goodness coupled with the self-discipline to make it a conscious reality.

Anger and uncertainty in your life tend to obscure the goodness: you feel lost and alone in a turmoil of emotions that, left unchecked, pull you ever deeper into despair. By being honest with yourself and confronting that which gives rise to your unhappiness you at once quiet the mind and slow the beating of your heart, thus allowing rational thought to come into play. Only then can you begin the ascent to recover that wondrous sense of Elysian Goodness; that which is your very birthright.

Goodness requires that you first love yourself. This in turn enables you to give freely of yourself to others, thus sustaining and enriching your life. Thus too is your beauty recognized.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

— I Peter 2:20

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Moral Compass … p. 59

It is our moral responsibility to be true to ourselves and to others. Just as it is good for the soul when we look for the goodness in others.

Giving freely of ourselves refreshes the soul and allows us to love our fellow-man. A prerequisite being that we free ourselves of judging others.

Our moral compass, no less our instinct, compels us to do unto others that which we would have them do unto us.

There are, in truth, but a few guideposts to follow if we are to achieve and maintain a balance in life. That which starts us on our journey is to reign-in the mind. Because we have allowed our lives to be governed by worldly matters we have neglected the immortal soul: that which gives rise to our own spirituality. Reclaiming our divine Goodness means quieting the mind, allowing the soul to soar: life no less so.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

— II Corinthians 4:6

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Peace of Mind … p. 58

Peace of mind and a sense of well-being are conditions essential to an enlightened soul. To our own misfortune, however, no less that of others, what with our insatiable pursuit of things material, few know such contentment.

Nothing short of an about-face is required if we are to break this addiction to worldly matters, while at once awakening the need to nourish the soul.

Begin by being true to yourself and to others, knowing that each day you have done your best. Love yourself, that you may love others. Only thus may we embrace our own diving spirituality.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread?  perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

— St. Mark 8:17-18 

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Nurture 

The Soul … p. 57

Take the time to think about your “inner being;” that which is not of the flesh, but is the very essence of our being — the immortal soul.

Whether we like to think about it or not, our soul, which in turn gives rise to our spirituality, plays an important role, nay, the most important role in our well-being. Even so, we too often fail to nurture the soul, that it might play its proper role in our life. Worse still, to the extent that we do think about the soul, we tend to assuage our conscience by shunting such thoughts aside, to a place out of sight and out of mind. We may be certain, however, that neglect of the soul, in whatever form is at our own peril.

Begin by putting wasteful thoughts aside with thoughts of God’s abiding Love, for where your mind is, therein lies your treasure. With this new-found heart of Love, begin by sharing with others the blessings you’ve been given. Enriching the lives of others is, in itself, its own reward.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

— St. Luke 18:28

King James Version of the Bible

“Reflections From Infinite Mind”

I Know 

Nothing … p. 40

Quite unknowingly, and to our own peril, we too often let the precious gift of life slip away from us. We are not at fault for this unless or until we realize the error of our ways and fail to act. Failure to act, to consciously set about changing our life for the better, is to deny knowledge of our “other self,” our true spiritual inner Being, such that we may never know ourself; neither the blissful happiness of living in God’s presence and He in ours.

The key to this Elysian state is ever at hand and available to all: in all humility and selflessness, we silently acknowledge to God that we know nothing, while at once surrendering our mortal willfulness to the divine will of God. As we sincerely give ourself over to God we sense His overwhelming presence. Thence do we know our reason for being.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

— St. Matthew 19:21  more 

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Goodness … p. 56

The quality of goodness and the human soul are of a piece in that both exist as one: they are the inseparable essence of our being. Were this to be acknowledged and kept foremost in our consciousness, goodness would ever be our guiding light.

As fate would have it, goodness in itself can be perceived for what it is. Not so with the soul, whose divine spiritual presence can only be sensed and made known through goodness. Clearly not only are goodness and soul of a piece, they are interdependent.

A goodness-filled life frees the soul to manifest God’s enduring Love.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

— Psalm 40:3

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Who We Are … p. 55

As though it were the natural order of things, we regularly go about our business in ways that give us little time to reflect on who we are.

There comes a time though, whether as a result of outside forces in our life or those that well up from within, we are forced to confront this question. In doing so, we have the opportunity to go within, to probe our consciousness and spirituality, intent on finding our true self.

An unwavering belief in our own innate goodness is essential, as it serves to uplift our spirits and strengthen our conviction. Humility and stoical honesty, we come to learn, are necessary complements if we are to find that which we have so longed for.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

Take a good look at God’s wonders — they’ll take your breath away.

— Psalm 66:5 

The Message

“Providential Guideposts”

Harmony 

of Being … p. 54

The wondrously divine force within us — that which we know to be God — is at one with the mystic force governing all of nature and the universe. Human behaviour notwithstanding, we are in every sense a part of this whole. Thus are we subject, like all else, to the so-called “laws of nature,” that is to say laws ordained by God.

That we may do honour to this relationship, to become one with God and Nature, we must first realize harmony of being — to become sound of mind, body and soul: that of coming to know thyself.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

Harken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

— Job 37:14

King James Version of the Bible

“Reflections From Infinite Mind”

A Man-Made Quirk … p. 39

Man is prone to do evil. Although this tendency is clearly a part of the human condition, mankind as such is not inherently evil. Were this so, it would follow that God possesses this same quirk, which we know would be a bold lie. God is aught but good, ever an impartial presence.

The doing of evil is alone a particular man-made quirk, a choice we consciously make, always to our own misfortune. We have equal opportunity, and better reason, were we instead to choose the path of goodness, compassion, understanding and love. These are all God-given traits — the essence of life — our true inner spiritual self.

God is our soul, our eternal self. Our body, albeit temporal, is but the temple for the soul. Clearly, and as we well know, we humans are a duality: that of soul and of body; our soul — our providential guidepost — forever pure; our body, governed by the five senses and subject to the vagaries of mortal mind. Our purpose, indeed our reason for being, is to live our life in the spiritual realm, to be one with God and to manifest His goodness and love by way of our mortal self. All else, at the very least, is error.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

— Psalm 71:8

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Personal 

Choice … p. 53

As is ever the case in matters of personal well-being, the mind plays a pivotal role, that of hero or villain.

One such villainous thought known to take hold in the mind is self-doubt. Along with this, a number of equally self-destructive correlative emotions are triggered, any or all of which serve to reinforce our weakened sense of self-confidence: discomfort; loss of composure; unworthiness; comparison with others.

Thoughts of self-doubt have no place in the mind. At the very least, they are undeserving of consideration and should be dispelled.

A change of attitude is called for; one that confirms our own self-worth. Reason alone points the way: in a state of absolute repose we consciously turn the mind to thoughts of self-love and love of others. Ever-lurking negative thoughts are put to rout, our self-respect renewed. And, not least, our innately God-given Goodness is affirmed.

When all is said and done, changing our outlook for the better is a matter of personal choice; that of a blessing.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

Samuel said to them, “Don’t be fearful. It’s true that you have done something very wrong. All the same, don’t turn your back on GOD. Worship and serve him heart and soul! Don’t chase after ghost-gods. There’s nothing to them. They can’t help you. They’re nothing but ghost-gods! GOD, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people. GOD took delight in making you into his very own people.

— I Samuel 12:20-22 

The Message

“Providential Guideposts”

Healed and 

Made Well … p. 52

With God’s Goodness comes the Light of the Soul; whence comes life itself. Sheltered by this divine triumvirate of purity, we are thus ushered at birth into the curiously uncertain ways of the world.

Fate alone determines our home environ and upbringing, whether that of love or otherwise. Human will and intuition, although present at birth, play but a minor role in our survival and well-being throughout infancy and early childhood. Similarly, our capacity for reason is of little help early on, as this trait is a concomitant of developing maturity. Thus, for better or worse, do we become prey in our formative years to all that befalls us.

Midst all the worldly dross that has come to veil our soul and threaten our spirituality, we ofttimes lose our way. In the doing, we tend to forget God’s role in life. Only when we reclaim our birthright, namely, God’s Goodness and His Love, will we as well reclaim our humanity.

Mindful contemplation, whereby thoughts of God’s divine Love take us to a higher spiritual plane, enables us to love ourself and others. Thus blessed, and in giving freely of ourself to others, we are healed and made well.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

— Isaiah 60:20  more 

King James Version of the Bible

“Reflections From Infinite Mind”

At Home In a 

New-Found Place … p. 38

Seemingly strange,

Though true as can be,

That part of you

Seeking the new 

Is not your true Being,

Soul-filled and free,

The spiritual person

That forever is “me,”

But always and ever

The person you see.

All that is good, and

All that endures

Lies not afar, but within.

Turn thoughts of the mind

To the light,

Give yourself over to God;

Know His grace:

Be at home

In this new-found place.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

— St. Matthew 5:16

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Change of Attitude … p. 51

The Mind, left to its own devices, tends to create wasteful thought. Such thought diminishes our ability to function at our God-given best. It thus becomes clear that we have a moral obligation to dismiss such destructive thought from the mind.

This may require a change of attitude; one that enables us to always look for the good in others. This in itself, while spiritually uplifting, serves as well to focus our thoughts on others’ attributes.

In all humility, we learn to listen, while withholding judgment. Our trust in others is made manifest, only to find that we too are similarly blessed.

We take pleasure in honouring others’ unique qualities, all the while knowing that, just as we are, is enough.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

— St. Mark 4:39

King James Version of the Bible

“Reflections From Infinite Mind”

A Luminous Thread … p. 37

Imagine, if you will,

A luminous thread

Of pure white light

Aloft in the universe

And throughout

All of nature:

A thread beginning

And ending

Within the aura

Of your own Being.

Know it to be real,

That you are one 

With all else;

One with Divine Mind,

With the All-in-all:

You are one with God.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

— Acts 9:18

King James Version of the Bible

“Reflections From Infinite Mind”

Becoming Whole … p. 36

Give way to the voice

That bestirs the soul,

Pay heed to the light within.

’Tis God you are hearing,

Your light His:

Have faith in His goodness,

Be at peace; become whole.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

ARISE, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

— Isaiah 60:1

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

We Find Our Home … p. 50

In the mistaken belief that we alone are masters of our own destiny, we do ourselves a grave disservice, for help is ever at hand.

Engrossed in the ways of the world we are prone to forget that we have within us a much higher power: God’s Goodness and His Love, a divinely spiritual force that, when allowed to play its proper role, is life’s ultimate guide.

By asking God to come into our life and learning to Walk in His Way, we become grounded, while at once coming to know inner peace. God’s Guiding Light carries us to a gladsome place of self-love and a love of others.

In the fulness of God’s divine Love and Goodness, we find our Home.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

— Joel 2:27

King James Version of the Bible 

“Providential Guideposts”

Forever 

Changed … p. 49

It is now widely acknowledged that the human brain is a dynamically malleable organism offering limitless possibilities for intellectual development and growth.

Such scientific findings have long been within the purview of philosophical thinking; a belief coeval with that of mankind’s spiritual development.

In the fullness of God’s Love ethereal thoughts of the mind transform the workings of the brain, and with it our very being. We are forever changed, defined by God’s abiding Love.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

— St. Matthew 6:33

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Our Own Disquiet 

To Self-Recovery … p. 48

In coming to terms with our own disquiet it is well to share our thoughts with someone who we intuitively know will listen and understand.

Ofttimes this alone will show us the way to self-recovery. To be sure, the path is not an easy one, requiring commitment, awareness and, not least, a refusal to compromise on that which we instinctively know to be right for us. It is an irrefutable truth that nothing in life is more important, neither more rewarding, than coming to “Know Thyself.”

— Garry D. Kilbourn

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

— St. John 3:31

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Truth Cannot Be 
Destroyed … p. 47

“Truth cannot be destroyed” is an age-old axiom the rings true for mankind and for all else in nature.

Truthfulness and Goodness are synonymous. Goodness, of itself, is inherent in our God-given soul. Although goodness cannot be taken from us, it can become obscured what with worldly affairs.

For each of us our preeminent responsibility in life is to maintain and declare our goodness. In doing so we are ever in touch with God — He who is the source of our Goodness. Simple utterances of “Thank you, God” throughout the day, all the while manifesting God’s Love for ourself and others, lends credence to His purpose.

— Garry D. Kilbourn

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

— I John 1:5 

King James Version of the Bible

“Reflections From Infinite Mind”

Goodness 

Ever Prevails … p. 35

Pay heed to GOODNESS,

A precious gift of God’s grace.

GOODNESS, in itself,

Is the light of the soul,

The embodiment of 

LOVE and of TRUTH.

GOODNESS is made real

Through love of ourself

And of our fellow-man,

Giving comfort and joy 

To all.

— Garry D. Kilbourn 

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

— St. John 4:24

King James Version of the Bible

“Providential Guideposts”

Spiritual 

Transcendence … p. 46

There are two equally important, interdependent factors at play in our becoming one with God. Firstly, we intuitively know that God lives in us and we in Him. Secondly, instinct alone tells us that were we to compromise this relationship we would be renouncing life itself.

In achieving this state of blissful tranquility, consciously or unconsciously, we have surrendered our very being to God while at once freeing ourselves of worldly entrapments.

Having undergone a spiritual transcendence, we rejoice in the triumph of knowing who we are.

— Garry D. Kilbourn