Happy Sunday

It's a glorious day sweetened by a service at Unity and  thoughts of the sun. I'll be "unplugged" for awhile, no emails, no blogging and no Bejewelled Blitz. It isn't easy to unplug. Bob was saying I could check emails for an hour each morning and that's it. But why?

I was in a group the other night and the discussion turned to our young children who are being raised in a time of high tech. They are so connected to their Ipads, I phones, I whatever s that they don't know how to connect one on one. They isolate themselves and some are suffering because of it.


So take the challenge.. unplug for an hour, a day, a week.. and see the difference in your life!

Pic.. Should you choose to unplug....you'll have more time for dancing or some other fun activity.

Garage Saling...

It's early and I am up and ready to head over to Unity's garage/trunk sale. What is one person's old treasure becomes someone's new treasure. It's a great time of socializing with my congregation and the public.

Like anything we go into, we don't know whether it will be successful. We do the preparation work and go forth as if all will be well. And the Truth is.. all is well.. whatever happens, however a situation turns out, we find the good in it right here and now.

What I do know is that we are ahead of last Saturday because it isn't raining. Yeah! So what in your life are you planning for? Can you now let the outcome go and trust in its unfoldment?

Pic.. Beneath this chaos of leaves and plants and frog.. there is a divine order happening. Just because we can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there.

We Hugged!

Yesterday four of us from Unity set up in a prominent spot with our prayer flag display in honor of Unity's World Day of Prayer. A number of people stopped and made a prayer flag. We also offered FREE HUGS and our t shirts told everyone that.

I found though that standing and waiting for hugs wasn't as successful as standing with my arms open when people were approaching. It was interesting to see how some passed by with a smile on their face; others tried not to notice me; but many ran into the hug and others relented happily to both receive and give a hug.

Hugging a stranger is heart opening. For that instant in time I get to connect with a person I might never have connected with in this lifetime. For that moment we share love and joy. Many people said they needed a hug and others commented they felt better after the hug.

We wanted to bless people and thought hugs would do it. Of course we ended up being blessed as well. That's the way it works. You cannot share love without receiving it in return.

Just for today.... hug someone you don't know.

Pic.. My friend Linda and I a few years ago.. a hug is a blessing.

Free Hugs

Today for World Day of Prayer our Prayer Chaplains and myself will be at the market downtown from 11am until 1:30pm. We are offering free hugs and giving the public the opportunity to create prayer flags. Prayer flags are from the Buddhist tradition and the thought is that the prayers are blown in the wind to the world.

Prayers for peace raise our awareness that peace begins with me and with you. Prayers are not about changing God but about changing us. God cannot be changed as God is Principle.

If you are in London we would love to see you at the Market in the outdoor picnic table area. Take a moment today wherever you are to stop and hold a vision of peace for your world, your community and our world.

Pic.. Peace between all living beings.

Emotions Running High

Yesterday was an emotional day. I was sad about Sept. 11th events of eleven years ago. The night before I'd watched a number of programs and the saddest were the phone calls made by people caught in the towers.

As I backed out of my garage I caught the passenger side mirror and cracked it! Toyotown said I was lucky it wasn't the casing that needed replacement only the glass (cheaper). I was at Tim Hortons for lunch and spilled my drink all over the table. I dropped something at home and basically I was off balance. I went bowling with friends last night and after four frames my score was 2! (Well it's my prerogative to blame that on my emotional state as well!)

Emily Cady in Lessons in Truth writes, "All joy and strength and good spring up from a fountain within one's own being; and if we only knew this truth we should know that, because God in us is the fountain out of which springs all of our good, nothing that anyone does or says, or fails to do or say, can take away our joy and good. "

I know these words to be truth. I am the one who controls my thoughts and therefore my emotions. I can choose the next best thought. I don't have to stay in my funk. I have the power to lift myself out. And I am human and even though I know there is Divine Order unfolding around me, I can get upset about the chaos that makes it so. We spiritual beings aren't here to hide our humanity but to live it and use our spirituality to get through it.

Pic.. Turn to others to hold your hand through the challenges.

Be Grateful for Life

Eleven years ago today.... September 11th... we all know what happened right? Will we ever be able to hear that date without thinking of New York's World Trade Centre? Of course life was also lost at the Pentagon and on the fourth plane that was destined for the White House.

Last night I watched a TV show that played phone messages left by those caught in the towers. There wasn't one call about hatred, they were all about love. People telling people how loved they are. People asking people to take care of wives, husbands and children that will survive them.

I remember where I was that morning. While in a meeting at city hall someone came in and told our group a plane had crashed into one tower and then shortly afterwards they told us about the second tower. I was stunned and not sure what was going on. My car radio filled me in as I drove to a lunch date with a friend. We fell into each others arms, crying. What was happening to our world?

Today I suggest that a way to honour those who have gone on is to celebrate those who are here. Tell your loved ones that you love them. Spend time with them if you can and say a prayer blessing those who lives were lost Sept. 11th but whose spirits live on in all of us.

Pic..I love my daughter Jenn.. and so many more people.

Crash!!

Some would say I am vertically challenged... and maybe I am. This morning while reaching for a tall glass on the top shelf of our cupboards, I moved it but didn't get a grasp of it. It came smashing down!
Bob yelled, the cats ran and I moaned.

Luckily Bob helped... well he did most of the clean up and I continued on with my day. I find when things like that happen it not only shatters glass but my equilibrium.

Being short isn't something I notice a lot until I see myself in pictures with others or I can't quite reach the height I want to. Nonetheless I need to accept what is and know that there's usually help around when I need it. 

That's the thing about help. When it's available and offered we need to be able to accept it. Others appreciate the opportunity to be of service to us. It blesses them and us as well. So next time someone offers to help you, say yes. It will make both of your days.

Pic.. Bobby, my Knight in shining armour!

Celebrate!

Today at Unity we are celebrating Unity of London's 20th anniversary or birthday. We are also celebrating my 12th year as Spiritual Leader.

I ran into a congregant on Saturday and she said she was so excited about Sunday. I asked her what in particular is she excited about? She responded... celebrating!

I think we don't celebrate enough perhaps. We have many accomplishments and special moments and often they go without our stopping and patting ourselves on the back. So I want to share with you what I'd like to celebrate:

*a spiritual community that has worked with a minister for 12 years, that is something to celebrate because a number of churches or Unity centres can go through a fair number of ministers in a short period of time

*the love and dedication of the board, our members and all who come to Unity

*all the people whose lives Unity has helped transform with empowering teachings

*people that came for a moment, a season or a lifetime..... celebrate it all

*Jake, my music director who gives so much to Unity

*Larry who has spearheaded this celebration

I am grateful for the confidence people have in me and for being supported so wholly. Thank you!

Rain...

The comment was made this morning, something like, "God must have wanted us to do something else." Our Unity garage/trunk sale was rained out. I think it's important to realize that the rain is neither for us or against us, it is just rain. There is no master manipulator. How we are with what has shown up is what is important.

That the farmers may be praying for rain, and we are praying for sunshine, doesn't make one of us favoured over the other. It's just rain. There's always next Saturday.

When your plans don't turn out the way you wish, how are you with that? Can you see the good in what is happening and in this case with the extra time now to do something else? We all have plans and there would be chaos if all of our plans worked out exactly because so often people's plans conflict with the plans of others.

Just for today be with what shows up and see the blessing, rain or shine!

Pic.. from beautiful Buschart Gardens in Victoria BC

Back on the Grid... so to speak

I've gone apart for awhile and now am home. Bob and I ventured to Canada's southern most tip, Pelee Island. It was a grand time. The island is quite large and very beautiful. We stayed in the oldest stone cottage on the island built by Mr. McCormick, a large mover and shaker who had the general store. It was built in the mid 1800's and I was in awe thinking of all the people and activities that had taken place in the cottage over the years.

This morning I learned of the passing of a man in his early or mid fifties. I'm feeling sad about that and the loss his family are feeling consumed by. It is reminding me of the preciousness of life if we could only see it right here and now.

We can actually find happiness right now, this moment. Our thoughts are in our head and if they are unhappy thoughts, we can change them! We can think of a good memory. We can bring to mind what is working in our life and what and whom we can be grateful for. The pioneers who came before us had so much less stuff and conveniences. No washing machines or dryers; no televisions or internet; no cars or winter boots. But even then, it was about happiness being found within.

Just for today don't look for your happiness... be it.

Unplugged

If Eric Clapton can do it, so can I! I remember him playing his acoustic guitar alone on stage. The quiet  music he was sharing was sweet and simple in some ways.

So I am unplugging until Wednesday night or Thursday morning. We are off to Pelee Island for a few days. No phone, computer, TV, just good friends, a good book and maybe some bike riding. Jesus went apart many times in his ministry. He taught us the value of taking a Sabbath, a time to refresh ourselves spiritually and physically.

And you don't even have to go away to have a Sabbath. Just create space in your own home where distractions are lessoned and you get to go part and contemplate your life and enjoy just being.

You are a magnificent being, worthy of all the Universe has to offer. In this busy life we can forget that and who we are. Give yourself the gift of time apart for awhile. I remember friends who told me that every once in awhile they have a "jammy day" where they stay in their jammies, read, talk and enjoy each other. Sounds like a good idea. We have 365 days in a year, surely we can find time to go apart once in awhile.

Pic.. One of my favorite places.. Unity Village, Missouri.

Spritual Progression

There is a spiritual progression we all go through and as we understand it and move through it we can often identify the stages others around us are at. That was the case last night as I spoke to a bride and groom, I'll be officiating for at their wedding tonight.

Frustrations are at full peek as parents work to bring the wedding details together for their grown son. The wedding is at their home and that creates a lot of work. Demands are being made and the bride and groom are seeing it all as against them, blaming others for what is or isn't happening and feeling the full stress of the situation. The main theme of their conversation as I listened to each of them is blaming. It is difficult for people to see their part in an interaction when they are at the life happens TO ME phase.

The four phases of spiritual progression are:

Life happens
TO ME - I am a victim

BY ME - I awaken to a realization I have something to do with what occurs in my life.

THROUGH ME - I realize there is a power at work in my life and I am co-creating with it.

AS ME - I realize I am One with this power and my personality needs to get out of the way and let this power flow. It always move to unfold my greatest and highest good.   

Which phase are you at? Where would you like to be?