You can have anything you desire

I just finished reading Edwene Gaines book Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity for the third time and each time I read it, I get a better understanding of what true prosperity is and how to express more of it in my life. It is such an easy read for such a profound message. One thing that she says early on that continues to give me trouble is the idea that we can have anything we want. I feel selfish when I think about getting anything I want. I get worried that I am draining the world of its resources or that I am getting something at the expense of someone else. I can accept things that I feel have a higher purpose but to get something just because I want it sounds so excessive. It is a concept that I teach from the pulpit and have yet to master.

She says that all desires come from God. They are God's way of bringing more good into our lives. I read that same idea in H. Emilie Cady's Lessons in Truth and have taught it to others. Now, it is time for me to claim it as my own. I plan to teach prosperity over the next several months. I want all of us to get how cherished we are by God and to accept the abundance that God wants us to have. They say that we teach what we need to learn. Our theme for this year is "Prosperity is mine in 2009." I will be growing in this area right along with everyone else learning to allow more good and more abundance into my life. I hope others will join me. I promise to write about my experience as I go in this blog.

What are we so afraid ?

I heard yesterday on the news that handgun sales have increased by 10% because people are afraid that once President-elect Obama comes into office, there will be more restrictions. I wonder what we are so afraid of? I wonder if the fear of losing something robs us of the very thing we are trying to protect far more than the actual threat. I look around my own life to see where have I locked myself in to protect what is dear to me, so much so that I have locked out the happiness and peace that I believe the very thing I am protecting will bring me. Course of Miracles has a line that says, "In my defenselessness my safety lies." Or as Janice Joplin puts it, "Freedom is when there's nothing else to lose." Its a revolutionary paradigm shift to let go of the notion that life is something to protect and instead realize that we can't lose anything. When we remember what's eternal and center in God we lose nothing but gain everything.

Standing in Truth

My heart aches right now. Last night I read a column published in the Murfreesboro Post about President-elect Barack Obama where the writer wrote a song to the tune of the Jefferson's theme song using terms like "pimp pad" and "living off of government fat." Our country has just accomplished one of the greatest feats in its history. An African American has conquered centuries of racism and bigotry and has achieved the ultimate affirmation. I saw a political cartoon recently where an African-American mother was talking with her daughter telling her that she really could be anything she wanted to be. I watched the election returns come in with renewed hope and deep humility at the power of something much bigger than our fear. I wept along with millions of others as I listened to our new president-elect accept the post with poise and grace. I held his family in prayer as they too are dedicating a great portion of their lives and their husband and father to this huge undertaking.

Then, I read this and I was crushed that this kind of racism is still so prevalent. This was printed in what is attempting to be a legitimate paper in my town. It is so layered in its offensiveness that I don't even know where to start. And that's when I realize that maybe the response is no response at all. What I mean by that is not to ignore it, obviously I am not because I am writing this. But to first of all take time out to search my own heart for the ways that I continue to stereotype different groups of people. Where do I send those kinds of signals out? Then to ask what this column is calling from me. Rather than meet it with contempt and fear which is my knee jerk response, to meet it with love.

President-elect Obama gave us example after example of rising above the political fray while maintaining dignity and truth. He had plenty of opportunity to fight back dirty but he refrained and kept to his message of hope and change. Maybe he is setting a new standard for us. Rather than meet this with anger and retaliation, we stand firm in the truth that this election stood for. We stand firm in the equality of all men and women. We stand firm in the truth that all humanity is created in the image and likeness of God and we treat one another accordingly. We stand firm in the vision of a world where we all know our oneness with God, a world of peace, unity and abundance for everyone.

The Post printed it because it suspected that there would be readers for it. What if we envisioned a world where this sort of thing would be unheard of because there is no longer any sort of toleration for it. We made a huge evolutionary step by electing President-elect Barack Obama. But, now let's each pause to see where we each continue to perpetuate the myths, the stereotypes that rob us all of dignity. Let's start with a thorough search within ourselves. As we root out those shadow parts of us and choose to treat each other with the love and dignity we all deserve, we will create a world where this sort of thing will be recognized as the abomination that it is because it will have no where to land.

Where's our treasure?

This week, congress passed a bill that buys $700 billion dollars worth of bad debt. Where have we lost our way? When did we get so out of touch with what's important that we have found ourselves here? Jesus told us that when we put our treasure anywhere but heaven, rust and moths and bad debt (he would have said this if he were with us in the flesh today) will consume it. But, when we put our treasure in heaven, it is eternal. When we put it in heaven, we put it in the hands of God. We discover what we truly treasure. That means we are to look beyond the superficial desires to what's really important. What do we really treasure? When we are willing to let go of the surface desires and put our trust in what's really important, our world will become a kinder, more secure, sustainable place. Let's take time to evaluate what's really important. What do we really treasure? Then, let's put that in God's hands.

Thank God For Evolution

Michael Dowd author of Thank God for Evolution presented at our church last night. He does a remarkable job of bringing science and the traditional teachings of Christianity together. Since the dawn of time, humankind has tried to explain why we are the way we are. Why do we seem to have these instincts than run counter to who we want to be? Michael explains that we carry with us our evolutionary roots. Different parts of our brain function as though we were still crawling out of the primordial gook thinking only of safety, reproducing and food. We may be aware and conscious now, but that has not always been the case. He provides tons of science to show where we came from and how we still carry these same instincts with us today. So, original sin then becomes original survival. Jesus' message becomes one of spiritual evolution and transformation. And we find that we can now choose to intentionally evolve by choosing a life of integrity.

We also now see how all of our decisions do affect the whole. Science has shown that we emerged from the Universe as opposed to being set down on the earth. As a result, we are the Universe observing itself. And, that means as we act on a smaller scale, we impact the whole. We can no longer see ourselves as isolated and simply affecting our tiny corner of the world. The evolution of technology and mass communication has shown us how compact our world has become. It forces us to consider how our daily actions will affect the remotest part of the world because that part is us.

It is a powerful and timely message and if you were not able to be with us last night, I highly recommend his book to everyone.

Historical Election

As I listened to Sarah Palin last night it struck me that this is going to be an historical election regardless of who ends up in the White House. We will either have an African American president or a woman vice president. Either way, a huge shift in consciousness has occurred for this to even be possible. I have my preference of course, as we all do. And at the same time, I applaud each one for their willingness to serve in such a huge capacity. I cannot imagine having the kind of power they each have right now in shaping the direction of our country. My prayer for each one is that they be guided by the Spirit of compassion and inclusivity. I pray that they will remember that they represent all of us and that they will listen deeply to our needs and longings as individuals and collectively. I pray that each will be motivated by a clear vision and purpose and will surrender fear. I also pray that they will act in integrity and listen to guidance from whatever they call God. If each one does this, regardless of their position on issues, God will have room to move in remarkable ways.

I also encourage each person who reads this to get involved and at the very least, to vote. As the last elections have shown, our voice does count and we can have a say about where our country is going. Look into your heart and clearly define who and what you stand for and vote accordingly. I encourage each one of us to be guided by the Spirit of compassion, generosity and to remember that what we do does affect every being in our country and in our world.

Sabbath

Sunday I talked about the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy. Sunday evening after giving that talk, I decided to follow my own advice. I sat out on my porch and watched the sun go down. I simply sat and listened to the summer night noises. I felt as though the darkness was folding me in a soft blanket of grace. It has been a difficult past several months for a number of different reasons and for that moment I felt as though the planet was breathing for me. It felt good to just rest in God.

God in the Darkness

My mind is reeling from the news about the Knoxville shooting. Yesterday, I experienced a great deal of sadness and frustration as I read more about the details of that tragic event. It can be so easy to give up what we stand for and simply resign ourselves thinking that this is the way the world is and what are we going to do. For me, it generates a deeper commitment to our work as a ministry and myself as a minister and writer. I just keep wondering how that whole event would have been different if the shooter knew that he was not alone and that he mattered. I know we can't change everyone, that despite our greatest efforts there will always be people who believe only in the darkness and act accordingly. But, I see how the message of love and our spiritual community offers hope and support for people to discover the presence of God in the deepest times of darkness. We all know that human beings are capable of indescribable acts of terror and darkness. At the same time, let us remember that we are equally capable of unprecedented acts of compassion, strength and wisdom. Today, I grieve for everyone involved. I also hold the flame of hope and faith in our inherent goodness and our capacity to create a peaceful, just world for everyone. Know that with me this week as we continue to hold the entire Knoxville community in our hearts.

Free cash for a lifetime

I heard a commercial on the radio for Publisher's Clearing House where they explained that the winner would receive $5,000 every week for the rest of their lives. I thought about that. What would I do with that kind of money? More importantly, how would a steady stream of money change the way I live? Would I quit working as a minister? Could I do things simply for the sake of doing them with no need for financial compensation? I would like to say yes, but I am honestly not sure. Maybe in the beginning, I would spend some time doing nothing, but I would need to have something to do to feel purposeful. I also love what I do. Would I do it simply for the sake of doing it? It really has caused me to look at the meaning of abundance and to look at our reasons for doing things. How much are we motivated by money? I also couldn't think of a single thing that I would want to go get or add to my life right now. I would probably give a good part of away to things I believe it which would bring me great joy.

Peace in our household

Last night we had both dogs and our kitten in bed with us. All three were lying face to face quiet and at peace. It was a far cry from when we first brought Louie home and my boxer thought he was a doggie snack for her. They are forced to live in the same house with each other and somehow they have come to terms with one another. Now I often see them playing together and just hanging with each other. As our world gets smaller and we are all forced to live in this same house of planet Earth, I hope we can come to terms with each other and find peace. That is certainly my dream and belief.

Family

I just returned from spending a week in Wisconsin with my mother. My younger brother and his two little girls were able to come as well. Peter was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer 2 years this September. When he was diagnosed, they had him buried in 6 months and here he is 2 years later busting all statistics. The healing power of the body and the presence of life constantly humbles me. I watch as my brother makes nothing less than life an option. He has every intention of being with his girls when they graduate, when they are married and when they his grandchildren. He is committed to life and it shows. I am continually inspired by his courage and his dedication to life and his family. I am grateful to be able to be his sister this go around. In the meantime, every time I am with him and his family is all the more sweeter with cancer sitting at the table with us uninvited. I don't know what will happen in the future and today I don't need to know, but it has caused me to relish and give thanks for each moment even more.

Sabbath

It is summertime and things are slowing way down. It is so difficult for me to be still right yet the Universe has arranged it so I have time just for that over the next month or so. There is the inner critic telling me that I am lazy if I spend longer periods in meditation or time in my garden or even concentrated time reading and writing. It is amazing how task oriented we all seem to be because I have a hunch I am not alone in this. I remember as a kid having long lazy summer days just hanging out, riding my bike or curled up with a good book. Life had a simple sweetness to it. So, I make a commitment here not to fill my time up with busy work simply for works sake, rather to take advantage of this time to reconnect with my Spirit, feel the earth under my feet and to do what brings me joy. I will let you know how it is going.

Reflecting God's light

Last night other people reflected God's light for me when it felt very dark. My Golden Retriever developed bloat. It is a condition where their stomach fills with air and it twists. Unless it is treated quickly, it leads to death. I called our local animal hospital but they were not able to take me for another hour or so. So, I headed to Nashville, crying, alone and helpless. I called people along the way. One jumped in her car and met me and my dog in Nashville so I would not have to face it alone. Another stayed on the phone with me calming me when I thought I lost him for sure, helping me navigate directions and giving me faith when I could not find it on my own. Friends were there at 1 AM when he had to go in for surgery, at 3:30 when they called to tell me that his heart stopped and again at 3:45 when they told me he pulled through. They were the light on the other end of the phone when the world went dark. I teach that God light is there all of the time. But, sometimes when life gets really dark, God's light is hard to see. I am grateful to be part of a loving community that helps me remember when I can't to remember it on my own.

Soul of Money

I start a new class next Wednesday evening based on Lynne Twist's book, "The Soul of Money." I started reading it again for the second time to prepare and was once again reduced to tears as I read about her experiences in India. Lynne talks about how she believes that hunger can be eradicated. Then she went to India where she saw chronic hunger and poverty at a level she could never envision. She then talks about how instead of backing off of her vision, the experience propelled her even more. She tells us that when we align our money with our "deepest, most soulful interest and commitments, their (our) relationship with money became a place where profound and lasting transformation could occur." That is my hope with this class, that we discover our deepest soul commitments and see how to match our money to these. This is when true change will happen on our planet. We have the power and the resources to end world hunger, and bring peace to our world. Is it unreasonable? Someone has to believe it. Our vision is a world of peace, unity and abundance for all. As a community committed to spiritual leadership, it is up to us to help blaze the way. So, together we will examine our relationship with money and to paraphrase Lynne Twist, begin to see our money as a way to express our deepest most soulful commitments. Join me.

I recently heard on NPR a report about ethanol and the use of grains for fuel. They reported that many third world countries were having difficulty feeding their citizens because of the rising cost of food. This is due to an increase need for grain based fuels and feed for animals along with rising fuel costs. The reporter said that the amount of ethanol fuel it took to fill up an SUV could feed one person in a third world country for a year. That is a staggering statistic and shows me that our choices really do make a difference. It causes me to pause and hopefully live life less casually and unconsciously. I can't fix it, but maybe the simple acts I take each day to cultivate a more sustainable world will make a difference.

Manage less, Play more

I have a new motto for life. I want to manage less and play more.

The need to win

I recently heard a statement from Eckhart Tolle during one of the podcasts that had a profound effect on me. He was talking about how a Zen master was watching a contest between 2 opponents. He knew one of the contestants had more ability than he was showing. The master then said that his need to win was robbing him of his energy. That statement went right into my heart. I saw how so much of my attention was focused on a particular outcome or definition of success. It is the need to win. Yet to take my focus off of the particular result, I have to let go of control. I have to trust that there is a force much bigger than me which desires my success. This might sound kind of funny coming from a minister but I realize how difficult it is for me at times to trust in something bigger than me enough to return my attention to the present moment. The dichotomy in all of this is that I can only know the power and presence of Presence in the present moment. Eckhart talks about how awareness is the first step. As I am aware, I can bring my attention back to this moment and cultivate trust that this is where life, security and all that I desire resides. I will keep you posted.

A Vision From the Center of The Universe

Last week I heard the 2 cosmologists who spoke at MTSU. They spoke about the nature of the universe and stated that we could only see less than 1% of the entire universe. It is not because it is out of view, but because it is made of a matter that we are not familiar with. There is so much we can't see, yet we base our assumptions and decisions on what is visible. Maybe this is God's way of teaching us about trusting the invisible power of Spirit even when we can't see it.

Annual Meeting

We had our annual meeting on Sunday and it is an incredible experience to watch a group of people come together to create something much bigger than each one of us individually. We have much more direction and clarity since developing our new vision and mission. We spent time examining the progress we made toward our goals and we can see how we are moving forward. Our goals are structured very differently which allowed for a real sense of success. They are no longer about things over which we have no control like attendance markers, rather they define specific actions we as a group want to take in order to be in integrity with our vision and purpose. We approved our values and will spend time learning what it means to live them. Our core values are: love, inclusive community, Spirit-led, stewardship and service. We will go through a whole process to own them and to live them in the daily life of our church community and our personal lives.

We had a conversation around being an inclusive community. I have reported on this blog my journey into veganism. Several others within the congregation have made that lifestyle choice as well. We discussed how to have different choices like this without sending a message that all had to choose in this way in order to be accepted in the group. It is funny how unwritten rules can developed if we are not conscious of that process. All and all it was a time of reflection, celebration and looking toward our future.

Seeing each other as holy

I had the opportunity to talk about Unity to a university class this past week. I explained how the seemingly evil acts of humanity are a result of our sense of separation from God and one another. I shared how Unity teaches that we are created from the substance of God and as a result are inherently good. There were several students who struggled with the concept of our original goodness. One young woman stated emphatically that she was evil and sinful and needed a saviour to make her OK in the eyes of God. My heart ached when I heard those words come out of her mouth. I wanted her to see her as God see her, cherished, perfect and valued beyond description. I am not sure why we insist on holding on to an image of God that would see us as evil and would need a sacrifice in order to be redeemed. I wonder what kind of world it would be if we were all able to see who we really are as divine beings of Spirit. How would we be different if we really understood that we are inherently good? If we knew this about ourselves, we would see the same in each other. . We would treat each other with dignity and goodness. I believe that we would be incapable of inflicting any harm on another. Let's try it just for a day. Imagine that everyone you meet is the goodness of God walking around in human form. Include yourself in this image. See this even if you and others act in ways that would suggest otherwise. With laser beam vision, see one another as good and holy. See if this change in perception changes the way we treat each other. Then let's report back what we observe.

Department of Peace

There is a group of people meeting at the church this evening with a vision for a Department of Peace. When you think about it, that's a pretty incredible concept and it seems like it is a no-brainer. We have a Department of Defense and a Department of Homeland Security. Why not a Department of Peace. Just saying the words of our current paradigm creates an energy of fear and guardedness. When you simply say the words, "Department of Peace" there is an energy of possibility and of, well-peace. It says that as a nation, we are committed to the process of peace. This does not have to mean that we are weak. It means that we come from a place of strength, of a belief in a higher ideal, and a faith in a Presence that is available for everyone. We commit ourselves to stay present for the difficult process that peace often demands. In our personal lives and as a nation, we become accountable for our part in a conflict and we listen to others with ears of understanding and compassion. We fearlessly seek out the condition that will meet the needs of all parties involved. If we beleive that God is all good and everywhere present then we must believe that this possibility exists. It is simply waiting for us to set aside our fears, our judgments and paradigms long enough to give Presence enough space to make a higher alternative known. It reminds me of a bumper sticker on the car of a very dear friend of mine that says "God bless everyone-No Exceptions." Is all of this a bit Polly Anna, a bit unrealistic? Maybe-but if some of us are not willing to entertain the seemingly impossible then our other alternative is to resign ourselves to the current situation, and live in fear of our future. I for one, am ready for a very different experience.

claiming our talents

Yesterday at church, I had a book signing form "Sacred Secrets." It is a collection of essays in response to the "Secret" published by Unity and I have an essay in it.  I found myself wanting to discount the importance and impact of it. Thankfully, there was someone who spoke up and called me on it. She asked that I claim my gift and the impact my writing has on people as an example for all of us.  I am not sure why it is so difficult for us to claim our gifts and our successes but I heard her when she said that I was modeling that. I get it that we are all modeling things. So, here and now I commit to claiming my gifts and my successes and to acknowledge that what I do, particularly my writing, impacts others.

God and the recession

It has been difficult to watch the news recently and not want to stock pile food in the pantry for when it gets really bad. The news casters have been talking about how dismal our ecomony is and they are predicting that it is going to get much worse before it will get better. They are broadcasting a message of fear and doom.

So, how do we react to what is happening to our country economically? We certaintly don't hide our heads in the sand and pretend that nothing is happening. I have heard several economist make good sound suggestions about what we can wisely do with our money. They are the kinds of suggestions that would be good regardless of whether or not we have a recession. But, this is the time when we walk our talk. This is the time when we take our eyes off of the outer appearances of lack and focus on the reality of God active in the middle of it all. We listen for what we are to learn in all of this, we make good wise choices with our money and we live as if we believe that God is our Source and that Source is unlimited. Money may not show up at our doorstep, but we will hear divine guidance about our best course of action. We continue to open our hearts to one another. Fear is corroding and debilating. Faith and love keep us open to each other. They keep the channels for God fluid and give God room to move. So, the next time we hear how lousy everything is financially, let's breath and bring ourselves back to center, back to the awareness of God as our source. Then I am going to encourage each one of us to give that same hope and affirmation to someone else who may be feeling anxiety. I bet if enough of us choose not to get caught up in the hysteria and choose instead to stay focused on Spirit, we have enough power to turn this thing around.