Listen and Follow

Over the course of the past few weeks, as I have been making preparations for our move from Arlington to Denver, I have been sorting through closets, store rooms, boxes and files in an attempt to clear out things that I am now willing to release.  In the process, I have come across many things that have caused me to question, “Why? Why did I ever hold on to this in the first place?”  Those items are easily tossed in the trash, recycled or donated to charity.  However, I have also discovered several belongings that are not so easily discarded.  Some discoveries have stimulated fond memories.  A few precious items have served to remind me of life choices I made years ago, decisions that while not always a part of my conscious awareness, have been guiding my life since.

In 1999, I received an ordination from The Alliance of Divine Love.  At the time, I was attending Cathedral of Light, a Religious Science church.  Reverend Kay Hunter was, and still is, the Senior Minister there.  During a Sunday service in 2000, much to the chagrin of the leadership of what was then the United Church of Religious Science, she honored several of us in her congregation who had been “called” to ministry.  I will forever be grateful to Rev. Kay for her decision to honor the inner call of Spirit even though by doing so she was criticized and censured by the Religious Science hierarchy for recognizing ordination outside of the organization.  She was, and my guess is that she still is, a rebel. 

In sorting through a box of papers this week, I discovered an envelope with “Rev. David” printed on it.  Inside I found three half sheets of colored paper imprinted with excerpts from various texts.  I immediately recognized them as quotes Rev. Kay shared during the service that Sunday in 2000. As I read them, I was especially touched by the quote from A Course in Miracles, which says,

“I am here only to be truly helpful.  I am here to represent God who sent me.  I do not have to worry about what to say or do, because God who sent me will direct me.  I am content to be where God wishes, knowing that God goes there with me.”

Reading this passage again reminded me of the commitment I made years ago, to do my utmost best to listen for the still, small voice, the impulse of Creative Life Force moving in me, as me, and to follow the urging of the God of my being to do what I am “called” to do.   And, while I may not and often do not understand the reason, I strive to move forward with faith knowing that all I need is provided in every moment as I am open to allow and receive it. 

Since 2000, I have followed my calling to the best of my ability, at times more willingly than at others.   I followed the call to Unity Church of Arlington in 2008, even though at the time I did not see how it was possible for someone with no Unity “credentials” to become the Spiritual Leader of a church.  However, through the persistence of the “search and found committee” and the congregation, the way unfolded, and I have enjoyed six years as Spiritual Leader.   At the time, I didn’t even know what it meant to be a Spiritual Leader of a Unity church.  Looking back now, I realize that I knew even less than I thought I knew.

Now, I am following the call to Unity Church of Denver to become the Spiritual Leader there.  I do not claim to know the reason or for what purpose I am being called from Arlington to Denver, but I feel the “call,” and I am content to be where God wishes.  I am doing my best moment by moment to keep my mind stayed on God, knowing that I do not need to worry about the “how.”  I simply must be open to the voice of God within, trusting that, as the ACIM quote above says, it will direct me in what to do and say.  I take comfort in believing that my experience has taught me a little more about what it means to be a Spiritual Leader.  And, although experience can be an important teacher, I remain committed to not allowing the past to determine the present or to adversely influence the future.  I am open to guidance of the Holy Spirit within.  With great anticipation, I stand with Unity co-founder, Charles Fillmore, and affirm, “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and spring forth with a mighty faith to do the things that ought to be done by me.”

I am grateful to everyone who has supported me along this journey, especially those at Unity of Arlington.  Your love, appreciation and acceptance has encouraged me to follow my “call” and bolstered my commitment to “represent God who sent me.”  

As you move forward together, I encourage you to pause frequently to listen for the still, small voice for God that is constantly and consistently guiding you toward the fulfillment of the divine idea that is Unity of Arlington.  Do not be restricted by the dictates of “conventional wisdom” or limited by any past experience.  Trust the God within to direct you even in what may seem to be the most mundane decision.  As you do, I know that you will be serving the highest and best for all.  I will be watching with amazed delight at the ways you are showing up.  You will always be in my heart, and in my prayers.

From Love,

David

Who Am I?

Ramana Marshi, a great teacher in the yoga tradition, said that to attain inner freedom one must continually ask the question, “Who am I?”

Gangaji, in her book, The Diamond in Your Pocket – Discovering Your True Radiance, says, “The most important question you will ever ask yourself is, “Who am I?”  You may listen to an excerpt from the book by clicking the following link: Gangaji

Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now and A New Earth shares his story of awakening when one day he heard himself say, “I can no longer live with myself.”  As he heard himself speak those words, he wondered, “Who is the ‘I’ and who is the ‘self’ that ‘I’ can no longer live with?”  Thus began his journey to discovering his truth and claiming his freedom.

Who are you, really?  We often define ourselves by our bodies, whether we are male or female; tall or short; young or old.  We also describe ourselves according to our emotional state at any given moment; i.e., “I am angry.”   Perhaps most commonly we label ourselves according to the roles we play in life, as in, “I am a mother,” or “I am an accountant.”  In keeping with our social norms, when asked, “Who are you?” we most often respond by giving our name, occupation, or by sharing some aspect of our life experience to which the questioner can readily relate.   

The ‘self’ to which Tolle referred is comprised of all of those labels; however, none of them can define who we truly are.  Our true Self is changeless and eternal.  It can best be understood as ‘awareness,’ that which is aware of the body, emotional state, and the roles we play at any point in time.  Gangaji says, “You are awareness and awareness is consciousness.” The consciousness that was aware of the body, the mind and the emotions at age ten is the same consciousness that is aware of the body, the mind, and the emotions today.  While all of those external conditions change, consciousness remains constant. 

Tolle expounds on this truth in the forward to Gangaji’s book. He says, 

“Know the truth and the truth shall set you free.’ These words spoken by Jesus refer not to some conceptual truth, but to the truth of who you are beyond name and form. They refer not to something that you need to know about yourself, but a deeper, yet extraordinarily simple knowing, in which the knower and the known merge into one.I am not what happens, but the space in which it happens.  This knowing, this living truth, frees you from identification with form, from time, as well as from a false, mind-made sense of self.  What is that space in which everything happens? Consciousness prior to form.”

There is a common teaching in New Thought that warns against using the words, “I am” to proclaim anything that one does not desire, and encourages the use of “I am” solely to begin an affirmative statement in order to align with what is desired.   For example, the instruction is to not say “I am sick” for fear of claiming sickness and manifesting it, but instead to say, “I am healthy” in order to claim the truth and manifest it accordingly.  In truth, both sickness and health are conditions and are therefore subject to change.  Because all conditions are varying, none can define the true Self, not even those we consider favorable.  It matters not how one uses the words “I am” because it is simply a statement of a temporary state of mind.  Awareness cannot be identified with any thought, emotion, bodily experience, or concept, whether desired or not. 

As an experiment to experience the freedom inherent in this knowing, rather than using “I am” to define a present reality, thereby identifying with it, instead try using “I am aware…”  For example, “I am aware of a physical discomfort,” or “I am aware that the body is experiencing a fever,” or “I am aware that my body feels energized and clear.”  When we affirm “I am aware…” rather than “I am…” we remove the attention from the condition and focus on awareness itself, the only reality of being; that which is immutable and eternal. 

Perhaps in addition to contemplating the question “Who am I?” we might also benefit from contemplating the question, “What is my awareness in the moment?”  True freedom lies in discovering and living the answers.

Follow Your Bliss

In his 2005 commencement address to Stanford University, Apple founder, Steve Jobs, told the audience, “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And, whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.  He went on to encourage the graduates to follow their dreams, and to not waste their lives “living someone else’s life.”

Taken literally the thought that one could live someone else’s life is preposterous.  How can a person live a life that is not his own?  Of course, it is not possible; however, it is possible and even common for one to live a life that someone else has prescribed for her, perhaps her parents, culture, or even her religion.  All too often, we succumb to the pressures of others and do what is “expected” or what we believe will bring us success in the eyes of others.  We may not live the life of another, but we often live our lives for another.  Often we, as Thoreau said, live “lives of quiet desperation” in an attempt to make a living, be “respectable,” or feel safe and secure.  In doing so, we may meet some needs, but we may sacrifice our deepest need, which is to know ourselves as a magnificent expression of the One Life, to connect with the Essence of who we are and who we have come here to be, and to manifest that in the world.  In other words, our deepest need is to, as American mythologist, writer and lecturer, Joseph Campbell, said, follow our bliss.

Most of us are most likely familiar with that quote, “Follow your bliss,” but like me, some may have a misconception of what it means to follow our bliss.  Until recently, I thought it meant to discover what brings joy and only do what is fun; ‘bliss’ meant ‘pleasure,’ ‘elation’ and ‘ebullience.’  After further exploration of Campbell’s lectures and writing, I found a greater depth of understanding.  The following quotes are taken from The Hero’s Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work.

“I think the best thing I can say is to follow your bliss. If your bliss is just your fun and your excitement, you’re on the wrong track. Know where your bliss is. And that involves coming down to a deep place in yourself.”“Your bliss can guide you to that transcendent mystery, because your bliss is the welling up of the energy of the transcendent wisdom within you.”

When we consider that Campbell defines ‘bliss’ as the energy of transcendent wisdom within us, we can clearly see that he was encouraging us to follow what could also be called the “Divine Urge” within us.  It is not about feeling blissful 24/7, but about being true to who we are.

Also, following our bliss does not mean that life will always be easy, that we will not face pain and struggle or that we can just sit back and let it happen.  On the contrary, following our bliss is, as Campbell says, the hero’s journey.  It is a journey that each one must undertake in order to be true to himself.

Campbell also says, “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”  Some well-known hero journeys from literature include Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker from Star Wars, Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.  It is an age-old theme. Perhaps the best known hero’s journey for those from the Christian tradition is the life of Jesus Christ.

Each of these were called to embark upon the hero’s journey, and even though fear may have arisen, something within them urged them onward as they came face to face with dark and mysterious forces that attempted to dissuade them from their missions.  When we choose to follow our bliss we will probably be called upon to come face-to-face with our fears, and in doing so, we are given the opportunity to embrace our own strength and power at a deeper level.

Campbell encourages, “You follow [your bliss] and doors will open where there were no doors before, where you would not have thought there’d be doors, and where there wouldn’t be a door for anybody else. There’s something about the integrity of a life.  And the world moves in and helps.  It really does.” 

When we say “Yes” to the Divine Urge within, we can rest assured that all the power of the Universe rushes in to help.  Again, it will not always be easy, but with faith we know that all is provided in the moment it is needed. 

“And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.  Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs

The Divine Urge is the movement of that “transcendent wisdom” in the heart.  Intuition is the awareness of our innate wisdom.  As Charles Fillmore, the co-founder of Unity said, “All wisdom is implanted in us by divine intelligence.”  He further said, “Wisdom can only be found in its purity at the heart center.”   We access wisdom when we consciously center our awareness in the heart, experience serenity, and listen for the still small voice.  From this centered consciousness, we receive guidance, and can then take the steps to follow our bliss with courage.  ‘Courage’ is derived from the French ‘coeur,’ which translates into English as ‘heart.’  Courage is the willingness to follow where the heart leads, trusting that the heart, the Divine Urge, our bliss, always guides us to the highest and best good for all.

As Steve Jobs said, “Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.  As with all matters of the heart, you will know it when you hear it.” 

There are over seven billion people on Earth, and each and every one is a unique expression of the creative energy of the Universe.  I have often wondered why there are so many people on the planet.  That it takes each one expressing his or her magnificence in order to bring forth the kingdom of heaven is the only plausible reason I can think of.  Further, until every last one recognizes the Divine Urge and follows his or her ‘bliss’ we will not fully realize the kingdom.  That is how vital it is for us to follow our bliss.  Listen!  Follow your bliss.

Living The Kingdom of God

One of my favorite quotes is from Marianne Williamson, speaker, teacher, and author of numerous books, including A Return to Love, which includes the statement, "We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone." Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to realize this truth and live from this truth, and in doing so, bring forth the kingdom of God into manifestation. In a nutshell, this is the essence of living a prosperous life, a life in which we express our innate glory in our work, relationships, physical well being, and our finances. If we are not currently living that experience, it is not that we do not possess the capacity; it is just that we are continuing to project a false image of ourselves which is not in alignment with our Truth, the Glory of God; thereby we are drawing to us demonstrations of our unbelief.  So, what do we do; how do we move from where we currently find ourselves to where we desire to be?

What are we to do when we look at our bank balances and see that there is not enough money to pay all the bills? What are we supposed to do when a relationship that we have committed to for life changes and the person we thought we were going to grow old with decides that is no longer the plan? What about when we go to the doctor and she tells us that we have a serious illness? What do we do when we find ourselves in a dead-end, mind-numbing job? How are we supposed to pull ourselves out of these conditions, transform our experiences, and live prosperous lives?

The master teacher and way-shower, Jesus, gives several good suggestions, not the least of which is found in Matthew 6:31 & 33 in which he says "Do not worry...but seek first the kingdom of God...and all these things shall be added to you."

First, do not worry. Worry keeps us in the cycle of manifesting what we do not want. Worry is the mental activity of resisting the condition which we want to change. Most have heard the adage, "what you resist persists." This is true because of the law of attraction which states that like attracts like. The law of attraction works by drawing us to people, places and circumstances that reflect the energy of our thoughts and feelings. It is important to remember that the law of attraction works on thoughts as well; one thought of lack attracts another similar thought and so on. When we worry, we are thinking thoughts of lack. When Jesus says, "do not worry," he is encouraging us to stop focusing on the condition, and instead focus on the Truth which is the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God, to which Jesus refers, is as Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore says "not a place in the skies but an ideal state in creative mind, ready to be ushered into the minds of [humanity]." Jesus says, "The kingdom of God is at hand," and "the kingdom of God is within you." As Unity minister and author, Eric Butterworth, says "it is not somewhere to go, but something to be." The kingdom of God is represented by the Garden of Eden in the allegorical creation story found in the book of Genesis, a state of consciousness in which we know that we are created as the image and likeness of the One, and in which we know that all is provided in every moment.

Jesus provides further instruction as he continues to teach as stated in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you."

 

The word 'seek' can mean "to search for" or "to go in quest of" something, but Jesus could not possibly have meant that we have to search for the kingdom of God. If it is something we need to go in search of, he would not have told us that it is "within us" or that it is "at hand." In other teachings, Jesus told his disciples that the kingdom is all around, yet men do not see it. For us to ask, "Where is the kingdom of God?" is like a fish asking, "Where is water?" It is the Substance and Supply in which we live and move and have being. "Seek" in this context of Jesus' teaching means to 'look' or to 'see.' When we close our physical eyes and cease to look at the apparent condition, we can focus our awareness on the eternal Truth of our being, that which is "within" us, as us. When we remove our awareness from the five senses, and stop looking with the physical eyes, we are able to more readily see with the eyes of Spirit. This is one reason we commonly close our eyes during prayer and meditation; it helps us to change the focus of our attention. When we choose to see with spirit eyes, we can only see what is true. The eyes of Spirit only see the kingdom of God. In order for us to live a prosperous life in all aspects of our experience, we can begin today to practice seeing the kingdom of God within, and then choose to see the kingdom of God without. Practice seeing only the kingdom of God everywhere, for in Truth, it is all that is real.

I have often wondered what Jesus meant when he said what has be interpreted as "knock and the door will be opened." What follows is what came to me as I meditated on that statement. The "door" is symbolic of any thought of lack or limitation which we may be holding in our minds, a thought that we believe and which may be the basis for the demonstration of the current condition. However, this thought which seems to be separating us from our Good, once acknowledged, may actually be a passageway between where we find ourselves now and the life that we desire to live. Once we become aware of the "door," we can "knock" on the door and it will be "opened." We knock on the door of our false belief through the practice of denials and affirmations. It is important to deny the power of any thought which seems to be separating us from the manifestation of a prosperous life. We deny the reality of any thought which does not have its foundation in the Truth which is any thought that tells us that we are anything less than the expression of the kingdom of God consciousness. Once we deny the thought, we then knock on the door, not with our hands, but through the power of our affirmative thought. An affirmative thought is one that is based on the Truth, the kingdom of God within. When we deny that the "door" is real and knock through the power of affirmative thought, the door not only opens; it dissipates and a new consciousness is revealed. We are then able to walk through the doorway into a whole new way of thinking and being, thus a whole new consciousness from which to demonstration a prosperous life.

Jesus also instructs us to "ask," but Jesus does not teach that we are to "ask" as in, "please give me," but instead to "call forth" or to "claim." Jesus did not ask God to heal the sick, or raise the dead. No, Jesus gave thanks for what he knew was already the Truth and then called forth the demonstration of it. As Jesus said, "ask believing that you have already received, and it will be given." (Mark 11:24) We are to call forth through the power of our thoughts, feelings and words whatever we desire in order that we may demonstration a prosperous life.

We manifest the kingdom of God, the glory of God within each of us, thus, we live prosperous lives when we stop worrying about what we do not want, and instead focus on what we do want; choose to see the kingdom of God everywhere present, within and all around us; deny the power of limiting thoughts and affirm the Truth; and call forth what we desire through the power of our thoughts, feelings, words and gratitude.

Thank You!

For the first time in recent memory, I completely understand the meaning of the word ‘surreal’.  Have you ever had the feeling that you must be living inside someone else’s body; that what you are living just cannot be your experience?  Have you ever found yourself saying something and while you are saying it, you hear words coming out of your mouth, yet what you are saying just does not make sense?  It’s like living a waking dream.

I experienced something like that this past weekend as I met with the Board of Trustees to tell them I am leaving Unity of Arlington at the end of May and moving to Denver, Colorado to become the new Spiritual Leader at Unity Church of Denver.  As I sat there in the room sharing the news with them, it seemed as though I was having an “out of body experience.”  After I left the meeting with the Board, I called and personally visited with other leaders in the church, as well as friends, in order to share the same information with them.  I know I was there, and I know I was talking, but what I was saying seemed too outlandish to be true.  If that wasn’t enough, I shared the news out loud from the platform at both services on Sunday morning. 

I heard myself saying the words, yet there was something in my mind that said, “What?! How can you be saying that you are leaving Unity of Arlington?  This must be a dream.”  Yes, I came to understand the full meaning of surreal.  I was living it.

I also sent a letter by email on Sunday afternoon announcing my decision.  If you did not receive it, you can read it by clicking here.  Yes, I am leaving Unity of Arlington to become the Spiritual Leader at Unity Church of Denver.  Even now, typing those words, it still seems strange, but it is real, not a dream. 

I cannot begin to express my gratitude for all that I have learned and the many ways I have grown in the past six years.  This community has encouraged me in many ways, not the least of which is the support I received on my path to becoming a Licensed Unity Teacher, which by the way is now official.  I received the email on Monday. 

I am also touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement I received on Sunday and have continued to enjoy through emails and phone calls during the past few days.  This is an amazing community of caring, loving people.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have been and all you continue to be in my life.

I know, too, that my announcement stimulated some pain, anger and other emotions for some.  I completely understand that, and it is important to me that you know I am available to hear from you as well.  I know you love me and support me.  I also know that change can be difficult and sometimes painful.  I want you to know that I love you, and I am here to support you.  Please call me if you would like to talk or just need to vent. 

I truly believe that Unity of Arlington is in a strong and secure place from which to continue growth and expansion.  The Board of Trustees is committed to doing whatever it takes to help ensure continued vitality and cohesive operations of the ministry.  They are currently formulating plans to bring in guest speakers and engage the fine arts department to participate more often in the Sunday morning services.  The Board members will also be more active in the business aspects of the ministry with the capable assistance of Sarah Byrd in the office.  I am sure they will be calling upon the community as needs arise.  I am certain that everyone is willing to do their part for the well-being of Unity of Arlington.  You are in good hands.

I will mourn leaving you beautiful expressions of God who are Unity of Arlington.  And, I will celebrate with you as you continue to evolve and brightly shine your light.

While I mourn leaving, I also celebrate the opportunity to connect with Unity Church of Denver.  We are all serving the divine vision and legacy of our founders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, and together we are Unity.  We are, and shall always be, One.

I am awake.  This is not a dream.  This is my life.  It’s our life.  Let’s own it together.  I love it.  I love you.  It is all Good!  Thank you.

The Divine is like the Wind

“The Divine is like the wind: It enters through whatever window we open for it and sometimes through cracks we didn’t know existed.”  Philip Goldberg

I live in a house built in 1954 which still has most of the original windows and doors that allow for a great deal of draftiness.  If you are familiar with casement, single-pane windows and louvered glass doors you know what I am talking about.  When sitting inside on a windy day one can definitely feel the breeze.  So, when Goldberg uses the analogy of the Divine as wind entering through any opening available I get the sense of what he is talking about.  However, it is important to point out that the Divine, as we know it, is never absent, so It does not need to enter.  Rather it is the awareness of the Divine that is like the wind and will enter through the slightest crack.

Although, we often do not recognize it, each moment is fraught with opportunity to open to the conscious awareness of the Divine, and every aspect of our humanity is a portal to it.  Every thought is a window; every sensory perception a gate; and every emotion a door.  However, we often have the house of our consciousness so tightly closed off that we are unable to perceive the movement of the Divine in our daily lives.

Thoughts are not personal: they arise in the field of Infinite Mind and we have access to them all.  Not one of us has ever had an original thought.  All thoughts are recycled communal property.  They are not ours unless we attach ourselves to them and begin to believe them.  When we avail ourselves of the opportunity to observe a thought, rather than claim it as our own, we open the window through which the Divine enters.  Allowing ourselves to become the “silent watcher” creates the opening.  And, the great thing about thoughts is that they happen continuously giving us multitudes of openings each day.

Brain research has shown that our memory of past experiences greatly impacts how the brain interprets stimuli from the physical senses.  When we see, taste, touch, hear or smell anything our memory of it has a profound impact on what we perceive.  For example, if one smells a rose, expecting to encounter a sweet bouquet of fragrance, the mind will conjure the memory of the scent even if there is none present.  The same is true of the ways in which we perceive the phenomenal world that we encounter every moment.  Allowing ourselves to truly “stop and smell the roses” opens the gate through which the awareness of the Divine may enter.  Rather than casually encountering the world around us and assuming that we know what we are seeing, touching, tasting, smelling and hearing, we can slow down enough to be present with whatever is before us in the moment and fully experience it, giving ourselves permission to touch, taste, smell, hear and see the Divine in all things, fully present, fully aware.

Just as thoughts and senses are openings, emotions also offer us doorways to the awareness of the Divine.  Many of us in Unity have become accustomed to using denials to assist us in releasing the power of negative thoughts, thus affecting our emotional state in positive ways.  For some, denial has taken on a psychological context not in keeping with the original intent, meaning that rather than using denials to deny the reality of negative thoughts or the permanence of so-called “negative” feelings, we use denial to deny our experience of feelings that we consider to be “negative.”  For example, we may think that feeling angry is not “spiritual” so we deny that we feel angry.  This is not the intent of the spiritual practice of denial.  Attempting a “spiritual bypass” which is our effort to move quickly to peace, thereby avoiding any “negative” emotional state, only serves to keep us stuck.  When we are truly willing to feel our emotions, whatever they may be, and go deeply into the experience of whatever we are feeling in the moment, we open the doorway to the experience of the Divine present in the moment.  Being willing to delve into all emotions, including a “negative” emotion, is an act of Self-Love that opens the doorway to transcendence and realization.

Some philosophies teach that our humanity is just an illusion.  Even if we believe that, each us of is living the experience of it for now.  So, at least until we transcend our humanity, we might as well make the best use of it as possible.  Let us choose to allow our humanity to be the opening through which the wind of the Divine, and our awareness of it flows freely.

The Seven Last Words

This is Holy Week and in the Christian tradition it is observed as the final week in the physical life of Jesus. It began with Palm Sunday, and includes what is commonly known as the Passion of Christ, as well as the crucifixion. As we observe Holy Week and make our final preparations to celebrate new life on Easter Sunday, we honor Jesus, our brother, and view his journey to the cross analogous with our journey toward realization of our Truth.

  

In Unity, we honor Jesus as the way shower. We teach that he was here to show humanity the way to freedom from the bondage and suffering caused by our belief in separation; he did so through teaching and by modeling the Truth. We view the Passion of Christ as symbolic of the suffering we endure as a result of our belief in separation, and the crucifixion as a representation of the process through which we release from our consciousness the ideas that separate us from Truth.

  

Unity co-founder, Charles Fillmore, said "The word crucifixion means the crossing out in consciousness of certain errors that have become fixed states of mind." Jesus' physical crucifixion symbolizes the "crossing out" of worldly consciousness. The resurrection symbolizes a new awakening to Truth, the Truth that each of us is an expression of the One Power and One Presence that Jesus called "the Father" when he said, "The Father and I are one." Charles Fillmore said, "True resurrection within us lifts up all the faculties of mind until they conform to the absolute ideas of Divine Mind. This mental renewal makes a complete transformation of the body, so that every function works in divine order and every cell becomes incorruptible and immortal."

The "Sayings of Jesus on the Cross," also known as "The Seven Last Words of Christ" are seven expressions that Jesus is reported to have uttered during his crucifixion. The sayings are gathered from the four Canonical Gospels in the Bible. When we view them as a continuation of his teaching, they offer us some insight into understanding the crucifixion as a process of "letting go and letting God"; a process that we can embrace and consciously experience for ourselves, in consciousness. I offer the following as a suggested spiritual practice using the "The Seven Last Words" to help facilitate our own surrender from the bondage and suffering of our belief in separation.

(1) Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."

Forgiveness in Aramaic, unlike in Greek, is not something that one does for another, but it is an internal process of allowing the acceptance of the Truth (the Father) to free us from our attachments to thoughts, to form, and to the past.

Ask yourself: Where am I bound by attachments to my thoughts, beliefs, perceived mistakes, and judgments?

Affirm: I am free from all limiting thoughts and judgments. I untie the knots that bind me.

(2) Luke 23:43 "Today you will be with me in Paradise."

In the story of Jesus’ crucifixion there were two others on crosses as well, one on either side. One of them said to Jesus, "If you are really the son of God save yourself and save us, too." The other said, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

The first was aware only of his current experience. He was focused on his physical condition. The other was aware of something more, something beyond.  His focus was “the kingdom." He recognized that Jesus was not giving a dispensation in his reference to paradise.  In that moment, in this conscious recognition, he was in the consciousness of heaven, and he was reflecting his own awareness and confirming that his recognition of the Truth in that moment had set him free.  He was already with Jesus in" Paradise."

Ask yourself: In what ways am I focusing solely on my physical experience and not serving my Eternal Truth?"

Affirm: In this moment, I commit myself to serving my Truth. The Truth of my being sets me free.

(3) John 19:26 "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple whom he loved, "Behold your mother."

Not only was Jesus honoring his biological mother, he was also recognizing the spiritual brotherhood of the disciples. It is statement of Oneness. We are all each other's mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Blood does not determine our kinship. We are One in the family of God.  Separation is not a Truth.

Ask yourself: Where do I separate myself from others with labels of gender, nationality, race, religion, or age? What other labels of separation do I assign?

Affirm: I am One with all life.

(4) Matthew 27:46 "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"

The Lamsa Bible translates this phrase as, "My God, my god, for this I was spared." In other words, "It is for this purpose that I am here." Jesus had stated his purpose earlier when being interrogated by Pilate, as quoted in John 18:37, "For this I was born, and for this very thing I came into the world, that I may bear witness concerning the Truth. Whoever is of the Truth will hear my voice."

Ask yourself: Where in my life am I not bearing witness to the Truth; the Truth of Oneness with God and with all creation?

Affirm: For this I came into the world, to bear witness to the Truth of Oneness.

(5) John 19:28 "I thirst."

Our greatest desire is to know ourselves as God expressing. It is for that and for that only that we truly "thirst." Often we search for the experience of God in people, places and things. There is nothing in the external that can satisfy our thirst for God. Recall the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. He said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water which I give him shall never thirst; but the same water which I give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to life everlasting." (John 4:13-14)

Ask yourself: Where do I attempt to satisfy my "thirst" for God by attempting to "drink" from the well of the world of form, whether that is money, another person, status, or any other form of attachment?

Affirm: All that I desire is here and now present as the Life of God within me.

(6) John 19:30 "It is finished."

The physical work is done. The surrender is complete. I let go and I let God.

Ask yourself: Where am I still holding on? What am I not willing to release?

Affirm: I let go and I let God.

(7) Luke 23:46 "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

The transformation is done.

Ask yourself: Am I ready and willing to embrace myself as Christ?

Affirm: I embrace myself as Christ.

As we surrender the myths, messages and beliefs that limit our full acceptance and expression of the Truth, we allow the crucifixion to take place in our consciousness, and we are resurrected into new life as the conscious awareness of the Christ we are.  Now is a perfect time to begin our resurrection.