An Anything-But-Routine 2015

A bright red poinsettia sits on my desk here at Unity. There is a penguin snow globe and an angel ornament there too. I have been entering things "to do" on my 2015 calendar for a few weeks now.

Rebecca and I came in to work today to prepare the Burning Bowl bulletin and supplies. I look forward to having Rev. Rachel Sue Ritz here to facilitate that service on January 4th. I only learned today that the dragonfly on the cover of that bulletin is a symbol for change - we can count on that, can't we?

It's getting cold again now - after we've been lucky to have a few days of 40s and even 50s for high temperatures. It's time for me to turn off the computer and get home. I've already mentioned that the next week will be my time of reflecting back over 2014 and setting some intentions for 2015 - one of my favorite things to do at this time of the year.

I didn't want to leave the office, though, before sending you all my best wishes for an anything-but-routine 2015!

~ JEAN

The Log in my Eye

My husband told me he was working on clutter in our kitchen while I was in Illinois a couple weeks ago. I was highly enthusiastic and supportive when he told me that. Unspoken to him, I hoped that meant he would get rid of stuff we don't use any more.

When I returned he had, in fact, purchased a large table with shelving to store all the things he termed clutter. Nothing was gotten rid of, it was just rearranged to look better.

I groused to myself  ... and then had a big realization.

Do you know this Bible verse? Why do you see the splinter that's in your brother or sister's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

I realized that I have a lot of clutter in several of "my" spaces in our house and I had best get working on the log in my own eye.

~ JEAN

Manna from Heaven

Give us this day our Daily Bread
From the Lord's Prayer

Manna is defined as miraculous food, a sudden happening that brings good fortune, a Godsend, a bonanza, a windfall.

Last Sunday Dr. Bob Rosenthal talked about manna during his workshop called "The Exodus Path of Miracles." The workshop was based on his book From Plagues to Miracles, The Transformational Journey of Exodus, From the Slavery of Ego to the Promised Land of Spirit.

What I heard is that the manna that appeared every morning for the Hebrew people wandering in the wilderness was exactly as much food as they needed for the day - their Daily Bread. I internalized that as a metaphor telling me that when I wake up every morning I will have whatever I need for that day. That feels pretty darn good.

I took some other notes during the workshop: Wherever we go, God is with us; We get what we need for our journey; And more on the daily manna story: stay present, don't look too far ahead and leap to conclusions about how things should go - these conclusions are probably ego-driven. Just ask for peace today. Intentions precede miracles and miracles are short cuts on our spiritual path.

I had a powerful insight the next day: I remembered a statement I made at a previous workshop: I wanted to publish a book that received a positive review in the New York Times and was an Oprah Book Club selection. My insight was that my true vision is to honor my father by publishing his letters home while he was serving in World War II. All the rest is ego.

I accept the manna each day that helps me to accomplish my purpose. The rest I leave to Spirit.

~ JEAN

Vulnerability

I’ve been thinking a lot about vulnerability lately.  Recently, in a job training I attended, we watched a TED Talk by Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, on the subject of vulnerability.  At the time, this subject was nowhere near the forefront of my mind, so I found myself caught off-guard by the impact that the content of Dr. Brown’s message was having on me as I watched the video.

Vulnerability is possibly the very LAST thing I am interested in exploring.   There is not a bone in my body that wakes up in the morning and says, “Oh, what a great day to be vulnerable!”  On the contrary, I’m sure I expend inordinate amounts of time and energy, both consciously and unconsciously, on a daily basis finding ways NOT to be vulnerable in my interactions with others and with the world as a whole.  I’m very good at putting up walls to protect myself, and  until now, I’ve never really been interested in laying aside my armor.

The thing about Dr. Brown’s talk that struck the deepest chord with me was her assertion that vulnerability is essential to connection, which, of course, is why we’re here.  Connection is what gives purpose to our lives.  Without connection, life has no meaning.  And in order to truly connect with one another, we have to be willing to be vulnerable.

Great.

Dr. Brown has done some studies on the subject of vulnerability and finds that she can easily divide human beings into two groups – those who have a strong sense of love and belonging, and those who struggle for a sense of love and belonging.   And she believes that the difference between these two groups boils down to their sense of worthiness.   People in the struggling group tend to fear that they are not worthy of connection.  People in the group with a strong sense of love and belonging – she calls them the “whole-hearted” – embody the following traits:

• Courage to be imperfect
• Compassion to be kind to themselves and others
• Connection as a result of authenticity
• Willingness to let go of who they think they should be to be who they are
• Willingness to embrace vulnerability
• A belief that what makes me vulnerable makes me beautiful
• An understanding that vulnerability is essential to connection

Dr. Brown asserts that vulnerability is the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, and of love.

Great.

I recognize, now that I’ve listened to this talk, that in my efforts to numb my sense of vulnerability, I also effectively numb my experience of joy, of gratitude, and of happiness because, as Dr. Brown says, we can’t selectively numb emotion.  If we numb the bad, we also numb the good. 

I’m not entirely sure what I plan to do with this new information.  For now, I’m just sitting with it and allowing myself to become aware of my sense of vulnerability and my normal patterns of behavior to avoid feeling vulnerable.   If you’re interested in listening to Dr. Brown’s TED Talk and diving in to the subject of vulnerability yourself, you can find the talk on her website: http://brenebrown.com. 

~REBECCA

Endings and Beginnings

"When we stand at the end of one life experience ... we remember that every ending also has a beginning. We may be tempted to keep looking back, but once we turn our eyes to the path ahead, we find new opportunities awaiting us." From "Endings," the Daily Word for October 31st.

My 12th year of marriage ended and my 13th year of marriage began on October 12. I drew an "angel card" for the year ahead and received: Beauty.

My 63rd year on earth ended and my 64th year began on earth began on November 6. I drew an "angel card" for the year ahead and received: Birth.

Every year in late December and early January I spend time journaling about the year that is ending and set some resolutions and intentions for the year that is beginning. I love spending that time reflecting and visioning. Often I'm sitting in my big overstuffed easy chair with a fire burning brightly in our wood-burning stove. That's when I will draw an angel card for the year 2015 and I hope to participate in the 2015 White Stone meditation on Sunday, January 11, introduced to us (well, me at least) by Rev T.

I'm so grateful for all the ways I receive guidance - I have faith that they are all the voice of God coming to me in various forms.

* * * * * * * * *

This Daily Word speaks to me so positively because it doesn't just focus on the past, the endings of my life, it points me ahead to the beginnings, to the anticipation of my "unfolding journey." I look forward to the promise of how Beauty and Birth play out in the months ahead. I am interested to find out what my third angel card and the White Stone meditation message will be.

* * * * * * * * *

Along with our sunflowers, I planted a bunch of nasturtium seeds last spring. The flowers were so beautiful and full for several months in the summer and fall (above left); then, after a couple of below freezing nights, their run ended (right). Just like the 187 bulbs my husband and I planted this fall that promise daffodils in the spring, we can look forward to planting new flowers at the beginning of next summer.

Wishing you interesting endings and promising beginnings.

~ JEAN

A Year Ago ...

on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I got my sister's phone call from Illinois that my dad had suffered a stroke. I was able to spend a week with him before he made his transition on December 15.

I am thankful for the many gatherings we all had last year. It was the first time since I got married in 2002 that I had Thanksgiving dinner with members of my Illinois family. I met the newest baby in our family and saw many of my nephews and nieces and their spouses and children. I was at the hospital every day with my mom and dad. He was able to speak some and we had some special moments during that week.

In the last year I have been back to Illinois to visit four times including just 10 days ago. I stay at my mom's town house where she and my dad lived together for 19 years. I feel joy to be with my mom and sadness that my dad is not there too.

I've been crabby and irritable lately; then I realized that what I really have been feeling is grief. My intention is to be aware of those feelings and still feel joy for this holiday, my favorite.

My stepson, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren are coming for dinner on Thanksgiving Day. My husband is cooking (yea! leftovers!); I'm assisting and cleaning up.
They're bringing dessert. I'm looking forward to the seven of us having a special day together.

And I'll call my mom sometime that day to tell her I'm thinking about her and I love her.

May each and every one of you have a joyful Thanksgiving.

~ JEAN

Know Any Good Mechanics?

It's Day 262 of my 365-day experiment with practicing the Law of Mind-Action.  I realized this morning that I spent the first half of this year moving through the "mind" part of this law, and now I'm firmly rooted in the "action" part.  I'm still working daily with my affirmations and with my emotions and with aligning my thoughts with the energy of Spirit.  But I'm very aware that to practice this law fully, I have to look beyond "right" thinking and be willing to practice "right" action.  In other words, it's not enough to have a good philosophy - I also need some good mechanics.

A gardener doesn't simply wish a beautiful garden into existence.  She clears the land and tills the soil and takes into consideration which plants will thrive in her particular location.  She ensures that they have plenty of water and plenty of sunshine (or shade), and she takes steps to control pests that may be detrimental to her project.  Each day or each week, she gets down on her hands and knees and pulls the weeds that would otherwise rob her plants of water, sunlight, and nutrients.  No amount of visualization or positive thinking will keep her garden beautiful without the help of good, solid gardening practices.

If a person wishes to improve his health and fitness, it isn't enough to tack up a photo of the perfect physique on his bedroom mirror and affirm that his body should transform to match the image.  To be truly healthy and fit, he needs to eat right and exercise, get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water, manage his stress, etc.  There's no way around it.  To be healthy, he must not only maintain the vision of a healthy physique.  He must also be willing to adopt healthy habits.  

The same is true when it comes to prosperity and financial health.  In New Thought, it's easy to get lost in the magical thinking that says, "if I just say enough prayers, if I just repeat my affirmations 100 times a day, if I just keep my vision board up-to-date, if I'm just cheerful and peppy all the time, God will send me all of my heart's desires."  It's true that being clear about what I desire is an important part of the prosperity process.  But being clear about what I desire is only half of the equation.  Staying focused on my desires is how I ask God for what I want.  ACTION is how I receive it.  Just like in gardening and in health and fitness, there are actions I must take in conjunction with my prayers and affirmations to ensure financial health.  Like - at the very least, I must spend less than I earn. 

Motivational speaker Tony Robbins offers the following steps to creating lasting change:

1. Have a vision.
2. Make sure you have a strong reason that's going to be compelling enough to keep you motivated.
3. Review it and feel it every day.
4. Raise your standards - change your definition of what's normal or acceptable for you.
5. Establish new rituals (daily/weekly/monthly action steps) to back up your standards. 

You can see how the steps above incorporate both the "mind" and the "action" parts of the Law of Mind-Action. They encourage a balance between being and doing.

At this point in my experiment, I'm feeling pretty solid on the thinking aspect of my practice, but I'm aware that I have a lot to learn with regard to mechanics, especially as they relate to financial health.  So I'm thankful for all of the good resources out there that can help point me in the right direction.  And I'm thankful that God is my co-pilot.  I don't have to navigate this territory alone.

What changes are you wishing to make in your life in the upcoming year?  Do you have a clear vision of what you desire?  Can you imagine what it will feel like to have it?  What daily/weekly/monthly rituals can you create to support your vision?  What are the mechanics that are essential your success?  Unity's fifth principle is the principle of action.  For me, the fifth principle will be front and center in 2015.  How about for you?  Are you ready for action?

~REBECCA

Faith

Today is Day 248.  In five days, I will be attending my 25^th high school reunion.  Sometime during the course of the last year, I had the brilliant (smell sarcasm?) idea to volunteer to coordinate the reunion.   So I gathered a small team and stepped up to lead the charge.

Fast-forward to last Monday.

The venue had been booked for quite some time.   We had guaranteed the caterer that we would have at least 40 people in attendance.  We had set the menu.    We had been talking up the event on Facebook for weeks and weeks.  And now it was three days past the RSVP deadline, and only sixteen people had said they were coming.  OMG!  Feeling anxious, I messaged my team – they were as worried as I was.  I got on the phone with the caterer – he informed me that no matter how few people attended the reunion, we would be on the hook for the cost of 40 dinners plus fees, per our contract.  At that point, we had received approximately $1,000 from ticket sales.  I was told that the balance would be around $1,500 no matter what, and I was pretty sure that estimate was low.  Plus, I had put $500 of my own money down as a deposit.  Did I mention that only sixteen people said they were coming?  OMG! 

My team made a plan to use a “full-court press” approach and reached out directly to as many classmates as possible to see if we could increase ticket sales.   In the meantime, I still needed to set up the bank account and deposit the checks I had received.  But as I was lying in bed on Monday night, it occurred to me that setting up an account for this event might not be as simple as just signing on the dotted line.  There were probably some important steps I needed to take before going to the bank . . . very quickly my worry turned into complete and utter panic.

Now mind you, the reunion was not the only thing weighing on my mind.   I’ve also been juggling schedule concerns, family concerns, money concerns, parenting concerns, car concerns, house concerns - you know what I mean.  And having just started a new second job which requires lots of hours of training, my beloved routine has been altered.  I’ve been out-of-sorts, sleep-deprived, and worst of all, I have been neglecting my regular spiritual practice.  (Thank God for First World problems.)

So on this particular Monday night (now early Tuesday morning) I was lying in bed, and all of these worries seemed to be descending on me at once.  I had a huge knot in my stomach.  My head was spinning.  I was thoroughly gripped with anxiety and fear.  When I thought about all of the things that were hanging over my head, I started to cry.  The mental and emotional burden felt so intense that I thought I might actually die right there and right then – lying in my bed, agonizing over the stupid reunion bank account.  Did you ever have a moment like this?

And then a single word popped into my head - faith.  

No matter what is happening in my outer world, I always have faith in my spiritual toolbox.  Faith that God is with me no matter what.  Faith that things have a way of working themselves out.  Faith that everything is happening for a reason.  Faith that I can handle whatever comes my way.  There IS a lot of uncertainty in my life right now – the reunion, the new job, finances, my schedule . . .  everything feels very up-in-the-air.  But there is one thing I can rely on no matter what is happening in the world around me.  And that is faith.  In the wee hours of that Tuesday morning, one little word was like a tiny ray of light piercing the immense darkness I was experiencing.   Things haven’t all magically gotten resolved since then.  I still have a lot on my plate.  But my consciousness shifted ever so slightly in that moment, and these past several few days I’m feeling better equipped to manage the uncertainty. 

No matter what challenges I might be facing, no matter how desperate circumstances might seem,  I always have my faith to hold onto.  The reunion’s going to be fine.  Thanks to the full-court press, people have been coming out of the woodwork to RSVP.  We should have close to 40 people in attendance.   Plus, the high school sent us a check unexpectedly for the balance of our class’ account – just over $500, so I’ll get my deposit back! Things have a way of working themselves out.

Later in the week, when I was describing my harrowing Tuesday morning to Jean, she showed me the Daily Word for that day.  Guess what it was – FAITH.

~Rebecca

One Presence ...

A couple weeks ago, the Daily Word was "Sacred Space." My physical sacred spaces are: My sitting room with my comfortable chair, candle and various spiritual books; Being outside; Being at Unity, whether working or worshiping, is sacred space.

The affirmation for that day said: I create sacred space inside of me." As I took my dogs out for a walk that afternoon, I repeated that affirmation several times - imagining a space inside me where I can always access Holy Spirit. On that walk (and every walk) I paid particular attention to the birds singing, the breeze on my face and the cool air on my skin.

Although I love the outdoors, I know I don't have to be in a beautiful place to be in sacred space. In fact, all I have to do is remember our first principle: There is One Presence and One Power in the universe and in my life: God the Good, Omnipotent.

~ JEAN

In an Instant ... or Slowly Over Time

Yesterday's Daily Word was "My Dream." Part of it reads: "When I reflect on what I want to do, who I want to be, and where I want to go, my heart's desire is revealed. It may unfold in an instant or slowly over time."

Here is a short nature story.

Last winter's harsh weather killed a lot of plants and trees including our juniper bush. My husband has been removing the brush and roots from that plant over the last month or so.

I told him my objective for that space, when

empty and open, was to plant a bunch of spring flowering bulbs. He bought two bags of daffodil bulbs for me on one of his trips to Lowe's. On another trip to Lowe's, together, we bought three more bags of bulbs, some topsoil and grass seed for that area.

A week ago he finished leveling the soil and together we started digging. Groups of eight or ten plants look best together. In relatively short order, we had planted all 187 bulbs in 5-6 inch deep holes. Then he spread and raked in the grass seed. The above picture is what it looked like.

In the last seven days we have had rain, sun, rain again and sun again. And it seems like, in an instant, grass has begun to grow - an inch or more in some areas.

The bright green (foreground) is the new grass, the dark green (background) is the established grass.

The bulbs will, of course, show up much more slowly - in the spring.

I am open to knowing both in an instant and slowly over time what is mine to do.

~ JEAN

CONFERENCE

This past week, Jean and I had the privilege of attending the annual Unity Worldwide Ministries Eastern Region Fall Conference in Richmond, Virginia.  The Eastern Region of Unity Worldwide Ministries is comprised of Unity churches from thirteen Northeastern states spanning from Maine to Virginia.  Each year, representatives from these churches – ministers, licensed teachers, board members, staff, and lay leaders – converge on one central location for four days of inspiration, education, and rejuvenation.  As usual, this year’s conference was chock-full of opportunities for personal and professional growth, as well as connection with other like-minded individuals from the larger Unity movement.

Unity of Richmond

One of the highlights of my conference experience this year was our visit to two nearby Unity centers – Unity of Richmond and Unity Christ Church of Bon Air.  Traditionally, the host center offers a special evening meal and celebration service during the four-day conference.  This year, we were blessed to have two host centers.  On Tuesday evening we attended a German Oktoberfest dinner and worship service at Unity of Richmond.  On Wednesday evening, we attended a Mexican fiesta dinner and concert at Unity of Bon Air.  Members of both churches greeted us with open arms, full of enthusiasm for their special guests from the Eastern Region.  Both churches recently completed capital campaigns, so their buildings are newly renovated and gorgeous.  They also put together incredibly uplifting, inspirational, and music-filled services for both their members and their guests on these special evenings.  The energy in the room at each service was so high that the people in attendance spent most of the time on their feet, dancing and clapping.  

Meditation Gardens - Unity of Bon Air

In contrast to the experience of being able to relax and enjoy the celebration services at Unity of Richmond and Unity of Bon Air, my other favorite part of this (and every) conference was the time devoted to teaching and learning best practices in ministry.  This year, there were two sessions on this topic.  One centered around the idea of small group ministry and how to effectively organize and conduct small groups.  The other was a breakfast meeting at which people in similar roles in their spiritual communities sat together and discussed the strategies they have developed for “doing” ministry effectively.  I learned many helpful tips, both this year and last year, from other Unity office administrators from around the Eastern Region.

On the long ride home from conference on Thursday afternoon, Jean and I made a list of all of the great ideas we gathered from our various experiences in Richmond.   We are coming back to New Jersey energized by our time spent connecting to the Eastern Region and “Big Unity.”  We look forward to sharing some of these ideas with you and, as always, we continue to look for both innovative and tried-and-true ways to help our spiritual center to grow and thrive.

With gratitude, 

~REBECCA

Those Words

“I hate you!” – I said this to a friend after losing a card game recently – in jest but said out loud nevertheless.

“I hate him!” – I've said this about an athlete playing against “my” team. I've also said this about a politician with whom I disagree.

What I know about this is:

1. I don’t like hearing myself thinking this phrase – much less saying it out loud.
2. I don’t want a friend or acquaintance to have those words in my voice in their memory.
3. What I think and say matters (The Law of Mind Action).
4. I don’t want to hear someone say something hurtful to me that I will remember either.

I woke up the morning after the card game asking myself incredulously: Did I actually say those words to her? I was sad to say that I had. I apologized to my card-playing friend later that day. She said, “Hey, that was in the “heat” of the card game. There’s no need for forgiveness. I love you.” I love her for that … and … I will be paying closer attention to the words coming out of my mouth.

~ JEAN

Fairytale Ending

I’m just thinking out loud here.   I’m not sure I can adequately put this into words.  Today is Day 209, and my year-long experiment is taking an unexpected turn.  As you may or may not know, on March 1^st of this year I began a year-long experiment in working with the Law of Mind Action.  During the past six months, I have read books, listened to CD’s, developed and practiced affirmations, written lists of goals and desires, and just generally worked on learning and practicing the principles associated with the Law of Mind Action, which says that thoughts held in mind reproduce after their kind.

My main motivation for beginning this experiment was to take a closer look at my own thoughts and behaviors in an attempt to uncover and remove any blocks or barriers that might be getting in the way of my experiencing life as fully and abundantly as possible.  Certainly I’ve uncovered my fair share of limiting thoughts and beliefs over the past several months, but I never expected to come to the point where I currently find myself.   

  

At the beginning of this experiment, I was expecting to discover the key to unlock the magic and effortless flow of God’s abundance into my life.  I believed that if I just brought my thoughts and feelings into alignment, the rest would take care of itself.  My bills would be paid.  My life would be easy.  My dreams would come true.  You get the gist.  

But what I’m finding is that just thinking and feeling right seems to be only half the battle.  Thinking and feeling right doesn’t have a huge impact if I’m sitting around and waiting for things to happen.  As much as I’d like to believe it can, thinking and feeling right doesn’t pay the bills, and it doesn’t bring me any closer to realizing my dreams.  God doesn’t seem to be waiting for me to get my thoughts and feelings into alignment so he can finally leave a new car/vacation/wardrobe (insert dream here) on my doorstep.

The biggest, most helpful thing I’ve learned about myself so far during this experiment is that I spend an inordinate amount of time sitting around waiting for things to happen in my life.  I spend countless hours/days/weeks/months hoping that God will step in and things will finally work out.  I believe the reason I worry so much is that I’m always waiting and wondering how God will show up and take charge of making things better or, if I’m really lucky, making my dreams come true.  What I’m realizing is that God isn’t ever going to show up and take charge of my life.  God isn’t ever going to step in and make things okay or make my dreams come true.  God’s only job is to BE – to be love, wisdom, creativity, kindness, light, beauty, expansiveness.  My job is to know these qualities in myself and to take DECISIVE ACTION.  It’s MY job to stay connected to the truth of who I am while taking concrete, positive steps in the direction of my dreams.  

As much as this realization feels like a sort of disappointing end to the magical era of rainbows and unicorns and wishful thinking, it also feels amazingly liberating.  It feels like taking off a pair of cement shoes that I’ve been wearing for as long as I can remember.  Thank you to the many teachers who take a more practical approach to prosperity consciousness.  Thank you to those who emphasize the development of good, solid skills and success strategies, in addition to cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.

If I learn nothing else during the remainder of this year-long experiment, it will have been worth it just to have had this realization.  I’m going to keep doing my affirmations, and making my lists, and working on aligning my thoughts and feelings, and practicing all of the principles I know to be true.  But now, I’m also going to add DECISIVE ACTION to the mix.  Thank you, God, for not stepping in and taking charge of making things better in my life.  This has been my biggest lesson in empowerment so far in all my years on the planet.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to take this amazing journey. 

~REBECCA

A Great Way to Spend a Thursday

It is pouring rain as I drive to Unity this morning. It's recycling day. Thank goodness I took the four recycling tubs out yesterday when it was beautiful weather.

In the office, I check my calendar for this week to see my "to-do" list.Regular items on Thursday are preparing the mid-week deposit and post my blog entry for the week (if I haven't already).

Thursday is a special day at Unity. Every Thursday morning (except the first week of the month) Connie Wilson facilitates the Joel Goldsmith/Infinite Way Study Group. Today there are 9 attendees. The discussion runs from 10 until 11:45 AM. Today as they emerge from the bookstore where they meet, they are celebrating finishing their current book The Art of Spiritual Healing and ready in two weeks to start the next book: Living Now.

Someone asks how they can listen to the Ministerial Candidate events of last Sunday. Chris Polacco (thanks so much, Chris) video-recorded the message which is uploaded to YouTube.

Ann Anderson stops in to collect the supplies for Milford Live, an outreach opportunity for Unity, with nearly 10,000 people likely to visit Milford, NJ, on Saturday from Noon to 5 PM. Supplies include two eight-foot folding tables that Dan Cavanaugh and I lift into her car - a Honda Fit - and somehow they do fit with room for Ann - but absolutely no room for a passenger!

Polly Fox stops by to help Ann and we update the information on Unity's 2014 Holiday Shoppe (our third year) which will be the four Sundays in November. See your bulletin and the kitchen bulletin board for the flyer next week.

Every Thursday (every Thursday of the year except Thanksgiving) from Noon to 1 PM is Unity's Meditation hour in our bookstore. Some "Joel" class members leave and others go into meditation.

Jean McBride joins me in the office to fold and stuff our weekly bulletin each Thursday.

All and all it's a great way to spend a Thursday - rain or no rain.

~ JEAN

Don't Feel Like It

I think I’ve alluded in previous posts to the fact that my favorite form of exercise is running.  There is no other fitness practice that gives me the same sense of accomplishment and feeling of vitality and strength.  Now I’m not a marathon runner by any means.  My typical routine involves running about two miles on four or five mornings a week.  Some days I walk instead.  On off-days I might do yoga to get in a good stretch for my muscles.  But those four or five days of running are the core of my fitness practice. They help me stay energetic and strong, they boost my cardiovascular health and help to detoxify my body.  Plus, they give me twenty minutes of fresh air and blissful solitude – precious food for the introvert getting ready to face her day.  

Don't Feel Like It . . .

Now judging by what I’ve just said, you might think that I leap out of bed at 6 a.m. each day, awake and refreshed, with a burning desire to throw on my running shoes and hit the pavement.  Not true.  Even though I’m clear that health and fitness are part of my personal vision and mission, there are some days (many days) when I just don’t feel like it.  These are the days when my alarm goes off and I’m not quite ready to wake up yet.  Or the days when my mind is so full of “to do’s” for the day ahead that I’m tempted to skip exercise and plow full-steam into my day.  So what do I do on the days when I’m having trouble being enthusiastic?  What do I do on the days when I just don’t feel like it – even though I know it’s mine to do?

Well, first I get out of bed.  Then I put my contacts in.  Then I put my running clothes on.  Then I tie my shoes.  Then I step outside.  Then I start running. 

Any time we’re faced with a task that seems daunting or that has us wanting to make excuses as to why we can’t (or shouldn’t have to) do it, we can choose to override our internal dialogue and just take the first step.  And then the next step.  And the next.  

Now don’t get me wrong, there are days when I give into inertia and choose to stay in bed.  But those days are few and far between because I’m clear about my purpose, and I’ve learned over the years that the if I can get past "don't feel like it" and just take the first step, I can accomplish my goal.  

This morning was one of those tough mornings.  After my alarm went off, I spent ten minutes lying in bed, just not feeling like running.   But I rolled out of bed, got dressed while sitting groggily on my bedroom floor, and stumbled to the bathroom to brush my teeth and put in my contacts.   I played games in my mind – telling myself I could run slowly (or walk) today if I needed to.  I made my way to the door and stepped out into the fresh air.  I started my watch and took the first step.  And then the next, and the next.  And it turned out to be a great run.  In fact, often my best running happens on the days when I don't feel like it.  You never know what you can accomplish unless you’re willing to take the first step. 

~REBECCA

The Sunflower Experiment

Here's another nature story with a modern technology twist. I've asked myself why it's okay to write about nature stories in this blog - I answer myself that for me nature reminds me to be present, to know that "we," the whole of God's world, are one. The beauty and perfection of nature reminds me that there is only one presence in my life and in the universe, God the good, omnipotent.

My story begins with buying a couple packets of seeds for sunflowers. One of the packets said the flowers would grow to 4-6 feet tall, another said 2-3 feet. I planted the seeds (trying to remember to put the smaller plants in front of the taller ones) in the best place near our house - the area that receives full sun in the morning. We would see if they grew.

I had a setback moment  several weeks later when I realized I wouldn't be able to keep up watering these plants - they were too far for the hose to reach and the watering can just didn't work well. I kind of gave up. But ... my husband didn't. We have been running two dehumidifiers in our basement all summer because it gets so damp. Unbeknownst to me, every time he emptied one of the dehumidifier "tubs," he would take it outside and water our sunflowers.

One day he suggested I take a look at our sunflowers. Really? We had shoots all over.

And so the flowers grew and grew and grew. They fed bees, hornets and butterflies.

 We had huge flowers and smaller flowers - tall stalks and shorter stalks. I could see the sunflowers from across our yard as I drove up to our house. I smiled every time I saw them.

Then one day, the tallest stalk with the biggest flower cracked. The plants were mature or spent now. About 10 days ago, my husband again called me over to the sunflowers. They were all leaning over and there were sunflower seed shells scattered underneath them. Our sunflowers now were feeding squirrels and birds and probably deer too.

The sunflower seeds were an experiment. I call the experiment a HUGE success. Yea, God!

~ JEAN

BACK ON TRACK

It’s Day 192 of my year-long experiment with practicing the Law of Mind Action, and I’ve been feeling discouraged.  The summer is FINALLY over, and my kids are back to school, but instead of feeling renewed and re-energized, I’m feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.  This morning I woke up after a great night’s sleep and immediately began to feel anxious for no particular reason.  I realized in that moment that I have gotten away from my daily practice over the last few weeks.  In the chaos that surrounds the start of a new school year, I’ve gotten off-track.

I don’t know about you, but for me getting off-track now and then seems to be a part of my journey.  Whether I am attempting to establish an exercise routine or a meditation practice or a new family tradition, I find that after a while I start to veer off-course and lose sight of my goal.  Thankfully, I’ve learned through years of experience that I don’t need to stay stuck in being stuck!  I just need to guide myself gently back to the path. 

So here I am – on Day 192 – going into “review mode.”  I have these blog posts to remind me of all the things I’ve learned over the past six months.  I’ve also gotten into the habit of taking notes on various spiritual books and programs using one of my favorite apps – Evernote.  So I have plenty of avenues for going back and refreshing my memory about the different ways I’ve learned to practice the Law of Mind Action.

First and foremost, I am making a commitment to get back to my daily meditation practice.  My goal is to be in the silence for thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening each day.  I will also need to get back to taking some time each day to practice my affirmations, read over my goal list, and review my notes.  These are the concepts I am practicing:

• Be a person of increase – leave each interaction having made it better than when I entered.

• Focus all action in the present moment.

• Commit to creating the life I want, not the life I think I can have.

• Use my power of will to stay focused on the truth despite outer appearances

• Cultivate an attitude of gratitude

• Regarding my dreams, ask, “If I believed this was going to happen, what would I do today?”

• Practice non-judgment.

• Practice holding onto my desires lightly – not being attached to outcomes.

• Make a commitment to feel good.

• Behave as if I’m coming from my vision, not going to it.

• When I notice I’m feeling uneasy, shift into the role of my observer self.

Getting off track isn’t the end of the world.  Staying off track is the problem.  Thanks to Unity and a myriad of other wise teachers, I have enough tools in my spiritual toolbox to navigate this little bump in the road and get back to my job of becoming fully who I came here to be.

~REBECCA