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