Earlier in the day I participated in a gratitude circle where I shared some of what I am grateful for. Now, as the day comes to a close, I am grateful that I gave myself the day off (mostly), and I ‘allowed’ myself the luxury of a three hour nap. I am grateful that I honored myself with this gesture; it was a loving thing to do. Spirit is most pleased.
I am grateful for this rich life I have created and continue to create here in the small community of Sedona. I am grateful for the emerging awakening of myself and others.
I love hearing others share about what they are grateful for. And, anytime is a great time to acknowledge Source and all the blessings I am graced with. Morning… evening… any time at all.
Recently a fellow Mystic Choir member asked me why I was becoming a member of Unity of Sedona. You see, she’d contemplated becoming one but was a bit skittish. As was I.
I’d been a devout atheist for many years, and even after 20 years on a conscious spiritual path, I still had my issues around the word church. I associate church with organized religion, which at least these days I can kindly say that I am able to see how it is helpful for some folks. If I could get over being an atheist, surely I could get over my conception of church. I could no longer allow my mindset to keep me from my greater good.
Unity.org states: “The five basic ideas that make up the Unity belief system are: 1) God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere. 2) We are spiritual beings, created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all people are inherently good. 3) We create our life experiences through our way of thinking. 4) There is power in affirmative prayer, which we believe increases our connection to God. 5) Knowledge of these spiritual principles is not enough. We must live them.” Sounds pretty painless! Well, actually these are ideas that I very much resonate with and believe in.
Unity is a vehicle for instruction, inspiration, and prayer support for spiritual seekers. It is a place of education. Unity of Sedona specifically is where my spirit gets nourished and soars, whether singing with the choir or opening my heart at a gratitude meeting. It’s a place where I can be of service in a myriad of ways. It’s a place where I feel comfortable spreading my wings trying out new things. It is a place of learning and love where awakening happens.
Why become a member when I already can participate in everything, except having a say with a vote on organizational decisions? Becoming a member, I feel ‘more a part of’, which is important to the little girl inside who always felt different, starting first with her family of origin. Outside of my 12 Step family (which is huge), I have never so felt a part of a group of people (it has not been for lack of searching). Becoming a member means I’m making a commitment to something I believe in and am willing to stand up for it. This is “my place” and I want to care for it; I want to support it. This community is my family and I want to protect it, strengthen it, nurture it. I feel as a member I can give with more of a whole heart.
As my family at Unity of Sedona helps me flourish and wake up, together we all awaken to a world of peace, love, and joy.
Sitting in the bathroom, I started praying for God to remove all the toxins from my body. Then I realized, what about the other toxins that reside in me, not just of the physical nature?…
Dear Spirit-
Please remove all toxins from my physical body. Please remove all toxic thoughts and emotions. Cleanse and purify all within me that is harmful and poisonous to my Self and others. Refresh and renew me so that I can be of optimal service to You. Thank You, thank You, thank You. And, so it is.
I realized during my “Spiritual Evolution in Consciousness” class last night that my morning quiet time is really the only time where I can be alone and in the silence with Spirit. And, what I yearn for in that time and space, and to carry with me throughout the day refers to a painting I see several times a week at Unity of Sedona, a replica of one at Unity Village:
As I move from eating lunch and washing dishes to working on e-newsletters, I pause to take a God break.
Now, “break” is not the exact word I’d like to use as it implies a split, and I don’t ever want to feel separate from Spirit. But the truth of the matter is my mind is not always staid on Thee. So when I wake up and remember God consciously, I am grateful.
I take this time to breathe deeply, for it is God who breathes me, a wonderful remembrance. And, I thank God for the many blessings in my life. Finally, (it’s never ‘final’) I ask Spirit in prayer that I be energized, creative, and full of joy and peace as I go about the rest of my afternoon and evening. May Its Light shine through me and my work.
“I am at peace when my heart and mind are on God.” – Today’s Daily Word, March 22, 2010
Yes, indeed. Ya know the only place I want to be is with God. Of course, I am always with God, and God with me – it cannot be any other way. But I’m not always focused on God. And when my heart and mind are not on God, life is often tough and I do not feel at peace.
It’s like there is this veil, sometimes thick, sometimes thin. I’m on one side, sometimes fairly awake, many times asleep, and God is always on the other side, fully present. I endeavor to get that veil as thin as possible through prayer, affirmation, meditation, sitting in the silence, etc.
I endeavor to keep my heart and mind staid on Thee. There I am in bliss, joy, and peace.
Today my attention was brought to the metaphysical meaning of the word adulteress: looking for love in all the wrong places. Boy, does that resonant with me! And, I’d say that everyone I know at some time in their life has looked for love in the wrong places. Many, many people continue to do so.
It can take the form of alcoholism, co-dependency, obsession with money, expecting relationships to complete oneself… the list goes on and on and on.
Not knowing I was seeking God, where I looked for love included: food, work, reading, and romance.
I’d say we’ve all been adulterers or adulteresses more than once in this lifetime. But with great mercy and compassion we are urged to move forward and err no more. For after all, if I’m seeking Truth, what other guidance is there?
Today I am so much more conscious of my thoughts and behaviors – and my heart center. I endeavor to follow the words of Emmet Fox and many others: “We must not allow any consideration whatever, any institution, or organization, or any book, or any man or woman, to come between us and our direct seeking for God.” – The Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox, Page 136.
So in my ever expanding awakening, I find myself no longer looking for love in all the wrong places. I just look at me inside and there I find God.
Yes, it’s Spring! You can see trees blossoming here in Sedona, and the daffodils are still standing strong after snow and wind last week. Red Rock Country is beautiful in all seasons and all kinds of weather – really – but spring just makes everything more beautiful wherever nature surrounds us. Living in concrete cities makes it more difficult to ascertain spring’s arrival, but even there one can experience its budding.
Spring, of course, is about rebirth, and on a personal, spiritual level, spring has sprung in Sedona several times already this year for me. My awakening ‘ah-ha’s’ have been numerous and continue to come forth.
“My personal springtime occurs as I open my heart and mind to the Divine.” – Today’s Daily Word, March 20, 2010
One of this morning’s readings was about laughter and it got me thinking…
Last night was weekly rehearsal time for the Mystic Choir. I experience such joy there. I feel joy not only in singing, but in our opening and closing prayer time, chatting with others before and after the rehearsal, the ‘hello’ hugs and the ‘good night’ ones, and in connecting to Spirit throughout this special time in a special sanctuary.
Laughter is another time of joy for me. I don’t get it on a prescribed, regular interval of the week, but when it comes my way, I grasp it. For laughter, like singing for me, is also a time to connect with others and God. It is a time of being so in the Now that I forget myself and just let me be.
There are times when laughter brings me to tears, tears of joy. And too, when the lyrics and/or the music of a song bring me to tears, my heart has been touched; I feel closer to God and joy.
Dear Spirit – Thank You for the myriad of ways You open my heart to connect with myself, with others, and with You. Thank You for the joy You grace me with. Help me to be awake to the moments that lighten and open my heart and may the radiance and joy of Your love shine in me.
