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Greetings!
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"The word grace means favor. Why are you favored...? Simply because you are the activity of God expressing as you. " lThe Universe is Calling, by Eric Butterworth If we're willing to look, we sometimes find that we've spent a lot of time and effort building and defending brick walls that not only serve no useful purpose, but actually serve to block our Good. It is helpful to examine your beliefs regularly. When it comes to matters of Spirit, we tend to live our lives under certain assumptions, and unless we become willing to take those assumptions out and look at them on occasion, we may miss some of the most wonderful blessings available to us. A few months ago it was suggested to me that it could be helpful to take an open, willing, and receptive look at the concept of grace in my life, and that I allow "it" to work in me. The very first thing I realized was that I have heard this before; this was not the first time that someone I respect has suggested I revisit my beliefs around grace. So the suggestion wasn't new. What was new was that this time, I was willing to hear and to act. The first thing I did was what I always do: I went to my books. Again quoting Eric Butterworth, "Grace, as the divine favor, the activity of God's love, is working for you constantly. It is not dependent upon any special faith or prayer on your part... You don't have to earn grace. It is not something that comes only to the good. It comes to all alike, because we are expressions of God... it is why we never receive the full harvest of the error we sow, and why we always receive a little more good than we earn." Taking all of this into prayer and contemplation, I claimed willingness to see and hear that which would be helpful. I also claimed the willingness to let go of the need to know and hold on to whatever was not helpful. It didn't take very long for me to realize that I was living with a belief about grace that was completely inconsistant with what I knew was True. As a teenager, I was told by well-meaning adults that it was "through God's grace" that my mother died rather than live with a lingering illness. The illness itself had already been credited to some unknown and unknowable "divine plan". Somewhere within me there still lived a teenaged girl stomping her feet and raging against the injustice of the anthropomorphic "god" that would inflict illness and death and label it "grace" or in any way "divine". That anger and hurt had been sitting behind a very large brick wall for a whole lot of years. And that brick wall was was keeping me from welcoming grace into my life. |
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Examining our beliefs can be a scary process. We may uncover old hurts and find ourselves being pulled back into victim-consciousness around things we thought we'd left behind long ago. We may discover that no matter how much we claim to "believe" certain things, we are still holding areas of resistance in consciousness that are asking to be released. This is not necessarily fun work, and we may find ourselves very tempted to simply stop doing the inner work of transformation. Admitting that we've been living our lives under false assumptions is not fun! It is in our willingness to do the work of release and transformation that we allow Grace to do Its work.
As we are willing to stay present to Truth, to look, to see, to listen, to hear, to claim Light and to sincerely seek first the kingdom of Oneness, we find that what we feared is not so horrible as we had imagined. We find that taking those steps forward, as uncomfortable as they may feel, are really not unbearable. We find that, as Eric Butterworth promised, we never receive the full harvest of the error we have sown, and we always receive a little more good than we have earned.
As we allow grace into our lives, we are guided to the Light of understanding. Grace helps us to break down the brick walls that have been built up in our hearts. Grace helps us to let go of that which no longer serves us. Grace helps us to forgive. Through forgiveness, we find peace. In peace, we know Wholeness.
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SEE CLASS: Myrtle and Charles Fillmore's Teachings on Healing and Wholeness
Wednesdays 08/3 - 08/31, 10:30am -12:30pm or 6:30-8:30pm
The course is based on the spiritual laws and universal principles that support the expression of health and wholeness in our minds, bodies and affairs. We will be working with Myrtle and Charles Fillmore's interpretation of how Jesus used and demonstrated those spiritual laws and principles in his own life. The three major topics we will discuss during this course are: The Source of Healing, The Consciousness of Healing and The Practice of Healing.
This is a required class for Unity leadership credentialing. If taken for SEE credit, 100% on-time attendance is required. Otherwise, you are welcome to attend as you can. Textbooks are available electronically at no charge - email to nitastrauss@mac.com or request CD prior to class. Some library copies available as well.
SEE classes at Unity Church of Peace are offered on a love offering basis. If taken for credit, there is a $36.00 registration fee. Please see Cindy Cawthorne, LUT, for further information.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
A Sacred Saturday Retreat
"Color, Shape, Imagery and Silence as Meditative Tools"
August 20, 9:30am - 2:30pm
You are invited to join Nita for an experience and exploration of meditation through the practice of "mark-making", which is simply applying some type of visible marks to a surface with some type of marking utensil. This has nothing to do with whether or not you define yourself as an artist or as a creative person. There are absolutely no drawing skills necessary for this practice. If you do self-identify as an artist, you will be invited to lay that label aside for this day. This will be a private exploration: we will not be sharing any opinions about each others' work, and you will not be asked to show your work to anyone. Near the end of the day, we will enjoy sacred space in which those who wish to share their thoughts or insights may do so.
This day of retreat and renewal will be an opportunity to practice using the tools of color and shape, along with the physical act of mark-making to create a space in which you are able to know the guidance of Spirit within you. There are many ways to hear that "still small voice", and for some of us, that language is more visual than verbal. For some of us, color, shape, and silence can serve to facilitate Knowing. There are many types of meditation practices, and you may find this to be a helpful addition to your spiritual practice. A love offering will be blessed. For more information, please reply to this email.
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Women's Retreat: "Letting Go Into the New Year"
1:30pm Sept. 16 - 3:30pm Sept. 17
Holy Trinity Monastery, St. David
$74.00 (includes room and 3 meals)
Step away from the busy-ness of your life and join other inspired women to explore, expand and rest in our Oneness. Music, movement, art, and meditation . Group activities as well as time alone will be offered. Space is limited, please contact Marcia Breitenbach, 975-5376. ($25.00 deposit required, 8 spaces left).
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 Have you looked at your assumptions lately? If you notice any patterns repeating in your life, it might be useful to take a closer look. We tend to repeat certain behaviors in our lives - if they're healthy behaviors, that tendency is a good thing. If you have noticed a tendency to repeat behaviors that don't seem to helpful, it can be very instructive to look at what assumptions might be lying underneath those behaviors. Thank you for allowing me to share these steps along my journey. One of the blessings of spiritual community is having the support of friends as we walk this path to ever-increasing awareness. Please know that I appreciate each and every one of you. This coming Sunday (7/28) is our monthly potluck. I look forward to seeing you there! Blessings...Nita top |
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