"As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world......that is the myth of the atomic age.......as in being able to remake ourselves."

Mahatma Gandhi

I had a startling realization recently about how perfect I've tried to be all my life. Underlying all that was of course a false belief that I was not good enough. I always compared myself to the very best, and of course, was always lacking.....no winning there. I thought if I could just be good enough, I would be loved. Working that hard was my way of coping with my feelings of unworthiness.

But all my protective devices and defense mechanisms are shattering now in the face of the love I'm becoming. Can I love myself completely, knowing all my imperfections? I think back now at how hard I've been on myself and of course on those around me.

Here's the truth. You....me.....all of us are perfect at core. We've always been perfect. We were born as perfection itself. In the beginning and when all is said and done, we are lovable and worthy of love just because we exist. We don't have to prove that to anyone. Most of our faulty thinking came from the wounds delivered in our innocent childhood by our wounded elders. As a result, many of us have spent a lifetime living in opposition to our true nature. Most people say, when asked their deepest truth, that they don't feel good enough, that they are not worthy.

As God's Beloved, you are no less brilliant than the stars in the sky, no less deserving. When we really begin to remember who we are as love itself....mistakes, imperfections and all.......we will understand how to love another. I'm holding nothing back in my own becoming. I embrace myself as the Beloved of God, perfect in my imperfection, and now I'm free to see the perfection in you!

In gratitude,    

Rev. Karen Wylie

Sacred Service Saturday 

Wearin' o' the Green Tree Planting Event

Join the Symphony of Life tomorrow as it gathers to serve from 8:00 - 12 noon (rain or shine) with Ojai Trees. Since it also happens to be St. Patrick's Day, we've been invited to wear something green as we increase the green in our community forest!

We meet at lower Libbey Park in Ojai, which is at 405 South Montgomery Street where the lower tennis courts are located. Please wear appropriate work gear, boots, gloves, hat, etc. Bring water to drink. You will be assigned to a team of volunteers. Tree planting is completed by noon and we finish up with a free yummy snack lunch party. You will be trained and supervised by a trained planting supervisor. Tools and materials are provided by Ojai Trees.

The work is easy and fun because "many hands make the work light." There will be strong people on each team to do lifting and tough digging. This is a great opportunity to take some positive action toward healing the environment right near where you live. To participate with us tomorrow, send an e-mail to Ojai Trees,  ojaitrees@sbcglobal.net and call Tom Bostrom at (805) 798-5648.

A Lula Extravaganza on March 18! 

This Sunday is the day. You don't want to miss Jami and Suzi Lula at the Symphony of Life together!  Please join us for our Lula Family Extravaganza. Suzi Kesler Lula (yes, she is the wife of Jami Lula who was here recently in concert) will be the speaker. Her topic is "Innergy: Cultivating a Consciousness of Love." Suzi is a much sought after Spiritual Counselor and also an award winning pianist.  She is a teacher of teachers.  She works with clients around the world empowering them to live the life of their dreams and evolve through love.  She serves on the faculty at the Agape International Spiritual Center, teaching in both the practitioner and ministerial programs.

In addition, this Sunday Jami will be singing for us again.  We all know and love Jami and are blessed to once again hear his amazing voice in song.  He recently performed at our very successful Jami Lula concert at The Ojai Retreat.

After service, both Suzi and Jami will continue their gift to us by conducting a workshop in the sanctuary (for a love offering).  We all seek a life of love, but often place ourselves last on our own list.  Please join Jami and Suzi in this part workshop/part concert as they guide you on your own inner journey from your head to your heart.  We are in for a powerful, spirit-filled day! 

Visioning Next Sunday 

We will have our monthly visioning meeting next Sunday, March 25, right after service at 12:15 in the children's area. We vision to capture the Divine idea for our individual lives and also for the growth and expansion of the Symphony of Life Spiritual Center.

On Board with the Board 

Our featured Board member this week is our Board Vice President Bonnie Landau. Bonnie is truly a "Jill of all trades." Her mind is a treasure chest of creative expression and fabulous ideas which she generously shares with not only her spiritual community but with the whole community of Ojai as well. Her life is one of service, and we are very blessed to have Bonnie as Vice President of our Board.

Bonnie and her family moved to Ojai in summer of 2010. She joined the Symphony of Life after attending her first service because she immediately felt like it was "home." Sacred service has always been an integral part of her life. As creative director at Landau Design, web design and print design are joyful ways to give back since they are services that are usually very much needed.

For nearly 15 years she has provided design and fundraising help to Save-a-Life No-Kill animal shelter ( www.save-a-life.org). Since moving to Ojai she has built several pro-bono websites for local non-profits, and she has contributed print design to Topa Topa PTA, Ojai Day and Nordhoff Dance Group. For over 5 years she has been a volunteer art docent in her children's schools which she absolutely adores because art is one of her passions. Last year a project she did with children at Topa Topa Elementary was chosen for the Ojai Day 2011 poster.

Bonnie is also actively involved in raising awareness among parents of special needs children about alternative therapies and assessment resources. She is currently helping to create an organization to raise awareness of auditory processing disorder (www.apdus.org) and she has built a website that allows parents to give and receive feedback on special education services at school districts across the country ( www.specialedratings.com).

Bonnie has a bachelors of architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a masters in spiritual psychology from University of Santa Monica. She lives with her husband Steve and their two boys here in Ojai. We are grateful for Bonnie's presence in our lives!

Volunteer of the Month

Brad Brown is our Volunteer of the Month for the month of March. Brad is a guy of many talents who is also very generous with those talents. He played a key part in the success of our recent event with the Hendricks. He helped with setting up, taking down, audio, and support of all kinds during that event just as he has helped with all our past events. He recently agreed to be our new church photographer along with Rick Ricksen who has been providing that service for the past couple of years. We are so grateful to have a man like Brad as part of our spiritual community. He truly is a gift that keeps on giving!

Creative Adventures Winter Program

Our thanks to Robert Gluckson and Rev. Marilyn Miller who facilitated our youth program this past Sunday. We welcome children 3-11 years of age to enjoy prayer, story telling, visual arts projects and/or music and movement. Our program is enriching and appropriate for young people regardless of their religious backgrounds.

Tithe Recipient for January 

We are pleased to present our tithe recipients for January. They are Roger Ford and Kim Vincent from the organization Healing in America, located right here at 107 W. Aliso Street in Ojai.  

The purpose of Healing in America is to train, educate, and empower everyone in the use of their own inherent ability to heal themselves and others; to make such healing easily accessible to all those in need; and to encourage greater understanding of its effectiveness through workshops, public talks and demonstrations.  Their vision is to "bridge the gap" between allopathic and complementary therapies, bringing the U.S. health service in line with that of Europe, www.healinginamerica.com.  

Roger Ford, Rev. Karen, and Kim Vincent  

Open Invitation  

This is an invitation to singers and musicians out there who would like to perform at the Symphony of Life.  Contact Rev. Karen, (805) 640-3743, or Patricia Cardinali, (805) 646-2098, if you are interested.

New YouTube Video 

Check out the home page of our website to see our YouTube Video!  

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