November, 2014

Peter Pan – Flying as Following Your Heart

Recently, NBC has been helping to promote musicals. Last year, they had a very successful TV event with a live performance of The Sound of Music, starring Carrie Underwood. The show was so successful that they decided to do another. On December 4, NBC will be showing Peter Pan live. We’re looking forward to it.

Peter Pan is something of a mixed bag. Its score is listed as being by Carolyn Leigh and Moose Charlap, but the producers brought in the well-established team of Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Jule Styne to replace a large part of the score.

I want to focus on two songs, one by Charlap and Leigh and one by Comden, Green, and Styne. The first song is Charlap and Leigh’s “I’m Flying”.

In the song, Peter teaches the Darling children to fly. First he sprinkles fairy dust, then he tells them that the key to flying is to “think lovely thoughts.”

“Think lovely thoughts” and you fly – isn’t that the Law in action? If you want your life to soar, think the loveliest thoughts you can and watch the results you produce.

But there is even more to be drawn from the song than that. There is a lesson in these lyrics:

I’m flying
(Flying, flying, flying)
I can soar
I can weave and what’s more
I’m not even trying.

For Peter, soaring is easy and effortless. He has mastered it. Reaching the heights in life is something Peter does without even trying.

In “Neverland” by Comden, Green, and Styne, Peter sings about his home, Never Never Land, Peter says:

I have a place where dreams are born,
And time is never planned.
It’s not on any chart,
You must find it with your heart.

And Peter goes on to say:

You’ll have a treasure if you stay there,
More precious far than gold.
For once you have found your way there,
You can never, never grow old.

Could fairy dust represent the substance of the Universe, abundantly sprinkled in our lives? Is it symbolic of the treasures that are “added unto you” when you seek to express the Kingdom in your own best way?

And never growing old is indeed a treasure. On his 90^th birthday earlier this year, former President George H.W. Bush jumped out of an airplane. Charles Fillmore, the co-founder of Unity, wrote in his 94^th year, “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm as I spring forth with mighty faith to do that which ought to be done by me.” Neither of these men seems to have grown old.

I have long said that I fully intend to die young — at a VERY advanced age! The way that you do that is to live passionately and fully, to find your very own Neverland and live out your purpose as fully as you can. As Rev. Dr. Kathy Hearn said, “Find out who you are and do it on purpose. Organize your life around it.”

Henry David Thoreau tells us to “do what you love. Gnaw your own bone. Gnaw it, bury it, dig it up, and gnaw it still.” This is as much a set of directions to Neverland as “second star to the right and straight on till morning.”

Where is your Neverland? What treasure would you find following your heart that so energizes you that you can never, never grow old?

When we let Divine Principle guide us, we open to the greatest there is to be. Living in the realm of the lovely, we soar to a treasure more precious than gold. Be the biggest, best opening for God that you can be, and let yourself fly.

The Season of Celebration

Treatment by Caron Ward, RScP

Autumn….November…a time of celebration and gratitude…today we are midway between Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving Day – both holidays of recognition. I am the daughter, sister, and sister-in-law of those who have served our country in time of war, and in time of peace. I recognize the sacrifice of our veterans and I am thankful that, because of their service, I wake up every morning in this country of free expression and opportunity.

I eagerly anticipate Thanksgiving – the one time of year that all my sisters and brother and their families come together; a time of love, comfort, food, and shopping together on Black Friday! I recognize the gift of family that I have been blessed with – my blood relatives, my friends who are my chosen family, and my spiritual family of the Center…and so I begin this day with a prayer of thanks – giving.

I celebrate the One Great Provider; the Giver of all gifts, the Power greater than all powers; I celebrate this Presence that I know as G-d.

I wake up to experience the magnificence of Creation in the clear blue sky, in the brilliant light of the sun, in the stunning golds, oranges, and crimson colors of the leaves that blanket the ground. In the moments of silence before the activity of Life begins around me, I am grateful for these gifts, and grateful for the light and love that surrounds me in each moment. I sit in awareness of the joy and wonder that fills my very being. I recognize the blessings that each day brings – the unconditional love of my dog that greets me each morning, the warmth and comfort of my home, the friendship and love in the voices, texts, laughter and hugs that continually remind me that I am One with all of Life.

I smile in this recognition of all that I am blessed with… and as One with G-d, I know that I am more than simply the receiver of gifts. I know that as a unique expression of this Divine Presence, I have my own special gifts to bring to Life. I open my heart and soul to giving more generously of my Self, using my own power in big ways, in small ways, in all ways that bring even more light and love to this world. I know that as each of us expresses our own unique gifts, the brilliance of that light and the power of Love is multiplied, bringing ever more magnificence to our experience as individuals and as One.

Gratitude fills me! I celebrate all that is! For I know that it is all G-d! I am thankful for this knowing, for this faith in the One, the Great Provider, that allows me to both give and receive.

And so I release these thoughts, these words, into the Law, knowing with absolute faith that they are true,

And so it is…

Blessings to all on this beautiful autumn day…in all ways, and always!

Treatment for November 15, 2014

Experiencing Change

Treatment by Tim Phares, RScP

Well, we just had an election and it provided a wave of change. Tomorrow is Veterans’ Day, honoring those of us who have served in the armed forces to ensure that our freedom and our way of life are protected and preserved. In the morning, we will have a small ceremony at work before the work activities of the day get started.

The philosopher Edmund Burke once wrote of combining “a disposition to preserve with an ability to reform.” Perhaps this is what this juxtaposition signifies. We work to preserve freedom and opportunity while we change the circumstances around us. We preserve the sacred as the facts around us change. We experience the changing nature of all things, while sitting quietly in the knowing of the changeless.

T.S. Eliot wrote of this in his poem Burnt Norton:

At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.

I think Eliot picked up on the changelessness of an ever-changing Universe.That which is at the still point, that quiet place within, provides the focus for the movement, the dance, that is the ever-evolving world in which we live.

The temporal is the eternal and the eternal is the temporal.

Ans so we simply sit in the stillness and contemplate the hustle and bustle, which will only increase as the Christmas season draws near. And we know that in that stillness, we are guided to the best way to preserve our opportunities and choices and the changes that will most help us thrive.

There is only One Life, the Life of God, in, as, through, throughout, and all around everyone and everything. That Perfect Life is expressing as me, as you, as everyone right now.

All that that Life is, is expressing as me right now. Its words are my words. It can be no other way.

I know that in the stillness, in that steady, secure, preserved space, that Life as each of us is fully expressing, showing the way, showing the next movement, showing where in the hustle and bustle the Truth is shining forth, what passionate, life-affirming changes we can make to express our purpose most fully, the best form that this can take, and the way to get there. It opens our hearts and lights our way.

I am grateful for guidance, for the ever-moving, ever- dancing activity of Life, for the stillness and the safety that It is and that It expresses.And so, I simply let it go, dancing into the ever-greater with the knowledge that whatever it is, it is done in the stillness and it is right now showing up in our lives.And SO it IS.

Treatment for November 10, 1014

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It’s That Time

Treatment by Ed Preston. RScP

Prelude

Wow! I just returned home from a weekend in Rehoboth Beach, DE, for their Independent Film Festival. My wife and I have been there for this event for about 13 of the last 14 years. We have a 3 hr drive there, and stay with a close friend, Dorothy, who lives there and leads a Study Group there. In two days, we saw 5 wonderful movies, and spent great times with our friend at movies, talking and sipping wine, and attending her Study Group meeting this morning. So, I returned blissed-out from this ritual (as it has become so over the years) and I have been amazed at how everything for the whole weekend fell synchronistically into place, including the drive home, westward, just after the sun set. So, now I also have a whole 2 1/2 hours to write my treatment for today.

Treatment

I now just pause and come into my place of peace. I accept the Mystery of Time. I find my infinite self and then laugh with Einstein who claimed that “time is just what keeps one d–m thing after another from becoming every d–m thing at once.” In this moment, I simply laugh inside as I remember that. And I, again, become quiet and pause in my peace. I accept that “pause” has no meaning without time. I accept that “infinite” has no meaning without time. I accept time into the Mystery that I call God. I recognize the divine presence of Time in my life. I celebrate Time in this moment.

I accept a theme of my life which has been “go with the flow”. The “flow” is what happens in my Divine Time. I become One with the Time of my Divine space. I become One with the Flow, with the Time of my life. As we unite and become One, I become Infinite as well as Momentary. I am a Divine paradox of momentary and infinite. I accept both, as I call Spirit to offer me another “both and” celebration, releasing “either or” again and again and again, in time.

In this moment, I simply realize that time is real. I accept and know that my Time is both finite and infinite. It is part of the Divine Paradox of Reality which I call both Mystery and God. I know that “synchronicity” is an aspect of the Divine that is available to all of those who read this and celebrate time with me Now in this moment of synchronicity. We are One, joined in this moment by these words that we share. “Time” is also a word, and we share this time Now, together in Time. We are One in Spirit, in Time, in the Mystery.

I am so grateful for Time and for all that I have experienced in the last two days of Time. I say “Thank you, God.” for the time I have had with friends and with life in film and in Rehoboth Beach. I share that gratitude with all who read this, where-ever, and when-ever they are, knowing we all come together in the Moment of Time, right NOW. We are One in our gratitude for the Time we have, both together and alone. “Together” and “Alone” is another paradox of Divine existence and Mystery that we celebrate both together and alone. We are One.

I now release all these strange words into the Law, knowing It will find and celebrate a new meaning for all my words. Some I will know and celebrate as my life, and some I will celebrate as my Mystery, my God. I release and accept the flow of time as another paradox of life – release and accept. We all do both-and. Now.

And so it is, Now and Then and Whenever. Amen.

Treatment for November 9, 2014

The Day After

Treatment by Carol Haave, RScP

The people have voted, and there is a new Congress in January. One of my favorite Ernest quotes is “Wouldn’t it be wonderful, indeed, if everyone were for something and against nothing.”

And so on this day after, I pray for our new Government. I pray that our elected officials have the wisdom to make the right decisions that are in the best interest of our nation and its citizens. I pray that they (we) come together in the spirit of collaboration, cooperation and civility. I pray for compassion, innovation, and a sense of duty and honor in our elected officials — not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of all their constituents. I pray that each citizen of the United States is encouraged and allowed the opportunity to be held personally responsible for finding their unique gifts and bringing them forward in a way that makes a positive difference to all and provides economic security. It is in each one of us to make this country great, but that can only happen if we bring the best of who we are to every situation. I pray that we make a way where there appears to be no way through the hostility, deceit and negative energy that we sometimes witness in favor of remembering who we truly are. Just as there are individuals of great character, and we know when we are in their presence, there should also be nations of great character. I pray that we live up to that high standard. I choose to focus on and send positive, loving energy to all those elected knowing that I can and do make a difference with my thoughts and prayers. For this, I am grateful. I am grateful for the power of my words to effect what I see as a clear vision of a nation with great character. Thank you God for this vision and these words. I release this now to the Law of Absolute Manifestation knowing completely that it is done as I believe. And so it is!

Treatment for November 5, 2014

Happy Birthday – Grateful for Another Year

Treatment by Tammi L. McKinley, RScP

Today is my birthday! It’s been full with so much love. I am so grateful for this day! And so I pray.

Gratitude

I know that there is only one God. I know this to be Spirit. Truth. Love. Universe.

I know that I am one with the Divine. I am that perfect being expressing as the Divine. As I know this of myself, I also know that each one everywhere is a perfect expression of the Divine. We are all of the One.

And I know that feeling of gratitude for being able to wake up this morning and know that I have made it through another year and that I get an entire other year to express even more fully. Each day that we are awake, we get to choose how we express. I choose gratitude. I choose expressing in all of the ways that God seeks to express. And I know this to be true of everyone, everywhere. It is our Divine Right.

And so I just bubble over in delight in being grateful. I give much thanks for this knowing. I give thanks for awakening to my Truth today.

And I release my word into the Law, where it is already known and is expressing as the One. I let go. I let it be.

And so it is.

Treatment for October 22, 2014

I Choose to Stay Awake

Treatment by Suzanne Delahaie, RScP

There is the saying attributed to the late great John Lennon “Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” It is a reminder to stay awake, and enjoy the moment.

It is in this moment that I offer this prayer.

There is only one life. One great life, existing through and as me and as all that are sharing this world with me. It is this knowing that I exist in and have my being in a infinite being that loves the creation that is. In this living being, I am awake and conscious of the love that flown through me. I choose to be awake as I feel the love of God. God flows through me as love. I choose to stay awake in these moments, so that I can feel the love. I do give thanks for the choice to be aware. I do give thanks for love. I am now releasing this prayer to the law and the love that empowers. And So it is.

Treatment for October 20, 2014