My Pathway Within

Last time I wrote about all the beauty where I live.

Then I read the Daily Word for Monday, August 21, which was Inner Peace. Part of the meditation reads:

There are sounds and images that instill a sense of harmony in my heart. A babbling stream, a breeze rustling the leaves of trees, the crackling of a fire, or the soft shimmering light of a candle bring comfort.

I would add to that list looking at my flower gardens and walking my dogs. The meditation continues:

These outer phenomena calm my mind and spirit and help me get in touch with internal peace. Whenever I need serenity and quietude, I call upon one of these sensory experiences to move me into the realization of who I am. I spend quiet time in the secret place of the Most High, reflecting and listening.

No wonder I love where I live so much. Not only is it physically beautiful. It also provides a pathway for me to go within - to listen to my inner guide and know that, no matter what, all is well.

~ JEAN

Handling Summer

Readers may know that I struggle with the summer heat every year and, unfortunately, too often not successfully. Some days when it's very hot and I've been active - walking the dogs, pulling weeds, etc. I sometimes feel that no matter what I do - stand in front of the air conditioner and drink an ice cold drink, my body will never cool off again. That is a very unpleasant feeling.

Cosmos

Blue Morning Glory

This summer I've been happy to experience cooler (mostly) summer temperatures. That has allowed me to notice and appreciate the beauty around me at home without mixing in grousing about the heat. Here are some of the dahlias, morning glories, cosmos, sunflowers, and animals in my life at home.

Sunflowers and Dahlias and Bumblebees

Callie and Big G (gray) our female and male feral cats who come every morning for breakfast.

I hope you have some similar sweetness and beauty to appreciate where you live.

~ JEAN

Blessings

Last week I wrote about Day 29 in A Forty-Day Guide to Prosperous Living in Even Mystics Have Bills to Pay by Unity Minister Jim Rosemergy. Today I'm writing about Day 30. It is titled:

Today I am aware of my blessings.

Here is part of Rosemergy's meditation:

"Thanksgiving is one of the doorways to a consciousness of God. Today I give thanks for my blessings, but the day will come when thankfulness will rise up within me whether or not there is something to be thankful for in my outer world. Eventually I will always walk a path of thankfulness with God 

This evening before you go to sleep, write what has blessed you most today."

I've heard in the past of people keeping Gratitude Journals and this lesson reminded me of that. I found a small notebook in my office and decided to use it to begin keeping a daily record of my blessings at the end of each day. So far I have recorded three days but only every other day - and I know I need to get into the swing of writing down my blessings - remembering each evening to pay attention to my day.

Where will I keep my little notebook so I always remember? When will I make the time - right after brushing my teeth every night? If I do that, I can keep my notebook on my bathroom counter.

As you can tell I've set my intention to do this - now I'm working on how to make sure I do it. One step at a time...

Blessings to all my Unity family.

~ JEAN

Loving and Lovable

I’m sure it’s no coincidence that this is coming to the surface while I am in the process of facilitating a book discussion course on Myrtle Fillmore’s Healing Letters.  This morning I woke up feeling anxious, as I sometimes do.  In searching my mind for the source of my discomfort, I determined that I was anxious because I hadn’t completed an assignment on time for a class I am taking through Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute.  In searching further, I concluded that it wasn’t as much the fact that the assignment was late that was causing me anxiety as it was that this particular instructor might be upset with me for not handing it in on time.  Every once in a while I become aware of the inordinate amount of time and energy I expend on a daily basis worrying that somebody might be upset with me.

I’m past the point of delving deep into my childhood memory banks to figure out what might have happened to me to make me behave this way.  I have done that work, and my conclusion is that it’s just as much my own nature as it is anything that my parents might have said or done to make me believe that I am only worthy of love if I do things perfectly.  I have three children, and only one of them shares this need-to-please character trait of mine.  Maybe I passed it on to him energetically, as perhaps my father passed it on to me.  Or maybe we all just came into the world with that inclination.  I think I have decided that ceaselessly analyzing this kind of thing gets me nowhere.

What I do know is that my worrying that people will be upset with me stems from a deep feeling of unworthiness, a feeling that I am somehow inherently unlovable.  The affirmation “I am a loving and lovable Child of God” seems to neutralize this error thinking.  So I use that affirmation to remind me of what’s true.  My feeling of unworthiness seems to be seated in my solar plexus.   I feel nauseous when I become aware of it.  So I breathe into that part of my body to help get the “stuck” energy moving again.

So what now?  I’m not sure there’s anything earth-shattering for me to do.  I’m just grateful for the awareness that this script is still playing in my background.  Every once in a while it comes to the surface for me to look at.  And when it does, I get an opportunity to adjust course a little.  Each time it rises into the light of day and is bathed in my awareness and attention, it loses a little of its power before it dives back down into my subconscious.  Maybe I’ll always have this script playing subtly in my background.  Who knows? But it doesn’t have to keep me from doing what’s mine to do.  Awareness is everything.  Spiritual principle is empowering.  I am a loving and lovable Child of God. 

And so are you.

~REBECCA  

Blessing My Bills? Yep!

When Rebecca decided to facilitate a book discussion on "Even Mystics Have Bills to Pay" in March and April earlier this year, I decided to participate. There was a group of us who showed up on six consecutive Monday nights.

"Even Mystics" is subtitled "Balancing a Spiritual Life and Earthly Living." The gist of the book for me is when I know that God is my Source and a consciousness (or awareness) of God is my supply I am taken care of. The book was written by Rev. Jim Rosemergy and consists of twelve chapters in three Sections plus Section Four is A Forty-Day Guide to Prosperous Living. I first finished the book and then on June 1st I began making my way through the Forty-Day Guide, not getting hung-up on proceeding literally over 40 days.

Today I'm writing about Day 29 in the Forty-Day Guide. It is titled:  Today I bless my bills and their payment. Rosemergy writes:

"When we are rich in Spirit, we pay our bills with joy. When we are poor, if we pay our bills, we often do so begrudgingly. The power company has supplied us with electricity for a month, allowing us to live in relative comfort and to do things associated with modern living, but we resent having to pay the bill. We have so many current needs, and what about tomorrow? We reluctantly mail the payment but wish we can use the money for another purpose. This attitude and behavior are signs of a consciousness of lack, a belief in a limited supply and fear of tomorrow. 

Many people have begun to pay their bills in a different way. In the lower left-hand corner of their checks where "For" is imprinted or on the bills they return with payment, they write, "Blessings" or "Thank you, God." They have received a service, so they give thanks. This does three things. It acknowledges God as the Source, expresses joy rather than resentment when paying bills, and establishes a giving state of mind. These are chief ingredients in the heart of a prosperous person."

Yesterday was bill paying day for me. Actually I had two bills and one membership to pay. The instructions in the lesson were for me to "write a simple blessing that expresses an attitude of thankfulness. Hold each bill or invoice or payment between your hands. Hold your hands prayerfully and speak aloud the blessing you have written. Do this whenever you pay a bill until thankfulness is a natural part of your way of being."

I wrote: Thank you, God within, for this organization and for the ability to easily and comfortably pay this bill or membership or gift. I am so blessed and I am so grateful.

I had never looked at my credit card bill or any of my bills in quite this way. I realized I am very grateful for the vet who takes care of my doggies, for the grocery stores where I buy the food and other supplies for my home, and for the service station that supplies the gasoline for my car so I can drive to my appointments, to visit friends, to attend meetings and many other things. These are just a few of the companies I appreciate that show up on my credit card bill.

I choose to be rich in Spirit and I pay my bills with joy. Thank you, God within.

~ JEAN

SILENT UNITY AND UNITY'S FIVE-STEP PRAYER PROCESS

SILENT UNITY

Do you know about Silent Unity?

Silent Unity, the worldwide prayer ministry of the Unity movement, has been praying with people seeking spiritual support for 125 years. It is a 24/7 prayer ministry—which responds to prayer requests via telephone, postal mail, online, or via the UPray mobile app—and it serves people of all faiths from all parts of the world. 

Silent Unity prays affirmatively, believing that God is everywhere present and active in and through all lives, and serves with sensitivity, compassion, and confidentiality. From the moment a prayer request is received, the sender is lovingly enfolded in prayer. After a response has been provided, the prayer request is placed in the Silent Unity Prayer Vigil Chapel (at Unity Village in Missouri), where prayer is continuous, for 30 days. 

In the sacred space of the Prayer Vigil Chapel, all prayer requests are enfolded in prayer. Here someone is praying 24 hours a day—praying as a kindred spirit, in a consciousness of oneness with God.

The ever-shining light at the top of the Chapel is a reminder that you are never alone—not even in your darkest hour. Silent Unity is as close to you as a prayer. It is the light that shines for you!

The Silent Unity prayer ministry is supported primarily by freewill offerings.  Every prayer request is held sacred and confidential and receives the same loving attention, regardless of donation or ability to donate. No matter how you contact Silent Unity, you will first receive personalized prayer and then a letter of support.

To contact Silent Unity, click here for contact information.

UNITY'S FIVE-STEP PRAYER PROCESS

Are you familiar with Unity's five-step prayer process?  Prayer is a means by which to commune with God.  This Five-Step Prayer Process is designed to help enrich your experience and your awareness of the Divine Presence.

1.     RELAXATION – Take a moment to relax your body.  Get comfortable in your chair.  Rest your hands gently in your lap.  Bring your attention to your breath.  As you breathe in and breathe out, imagine a warm, white light streaming in through the top of your head and gradually filling your being down to the tips of your toes, as all tension and stress leave your body.   Breathe in light, breathe out tension.  Breathe in peace, breathe out stress. 

2.     CONCENTRATION– As you continue to breathe slowly and deeply, let all thoughts melt away and turn your attention to God.  You might like to use a mantra to help you stay focused.  For example: “Breathing in, GOD IS.  Breathing out, I AM. “   In Unity, we use prayer as a way of becoming more aware of God’s presence in our lives.  In prayer, we let go of our wants and needs and seek only to expand our consciousness of God.

3.     MEDITATION – In the silence, become aware of the feeling of God’s presence.  Let that Holy presence envelop you and support you.  Imagine that you are breathing in and breathing out in synchronicity with the breath of God.   Attune yourself to that Divine energy.  Rest in this sacred space for a while.

4.     REALIZATION – In the stillness of your soul, know with certainty that you are One with God.  Allow this realization to permeate your being.

5.    THANKSGIVING – Give thanks for the awareness that you are One with God, that God is all-knowing, all-loving, ever-present and fully active both in you and as you.  With gratitude, affirm "Amen."

~REBECCA

Not Letting Doubt Stop Me

The most profound experience for me during Lent this year was the slip of paper I drew from Rev. Carmela's basket in mid-February. My slip of paper said:

"Doubt: Believe God has a plan for you that is beyond anything you could imagine. The future is brighter than you could ever realize."

I've been studying about Fear and this reminder about Doubt was perfect both in content and in timing for me. I keep a copy by my desk at work and in front of my keyboard in my office at home. Every time I read it, I say to myself; "Oh yea! Don't let doubt get in the way of you doing this or that!"

Here's one example: I had an opportunity to go visit my sister who was babysitting her grandson who had a liver transplant at age 6 months. Now he's a year and 4 months old, in the 30th percentile of weight and he has about 10 teeth. The only time I had seen him in person he was in a hospital bed and couldn't be picked up. The one "hurdle" for me was to figure out how to take public transportation "all the way" to Brooklyn and back home.

I said to myself (after looking at my reminder on Doubt): "I can do this." I had handwritten directions with the right subways to take. On Wednesday,  April 19, my husband took me to the bus in Clinton. An hour and a half later I was walking up the steps to Stanley's apartment. My sister Nancy and I had about three hours together with Stanley before I retraced my steps and another hour and a half my husband was picking me up at the bus stop. Everything went smoothly and even faster than I expected.

I think about doubt stopping me from having that day and I am so grateful I didn't let it.

At the end of Lent, on Easter Sunday, I chose this affirmation:

"My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2

As I studied with Rebecca's class on "Even Mystics Have Bills to Pay" by Jim Rosemergy, I resolved and am willing to know in my highest soul-self that God is my Source and Consciousness of God is my Supply. So my affirmation is just a reminder of that resolve.

I began working the Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up hints again this week. My office continues to need my attention. At the same time, I am dealing with a couple minor health issues with as much calmness as I can muster. I just continue to not let doubt stop me and to know that God is my Source and my consciousness of God is my supply.

I'm so grateful ...

~ JEAN