Yes, God Yes! When Spirit speaks to me, my answer will be…yes, God yes. As I am listening to Deana sing this song from her Friday Music Night, it is perfect for what I want to share. A few weeks ago, I shared that Dee Capoldo was ordained. He is not letting any dust settle under his feet. He contacted Volunteers of America (VOA) and has been accepted as one of their volunteer chaplains. As a disabled vet, his heart is with other veterans and he wanted to join in solidarity with them. He is an alumnus of their transitional apartments for homeless vets and submitted a proposal to VOA. He requested that he be able to prepare a meal once a month at each of the two transitional veteran homes in Biddeford. These homes are for homeless vets who have been sober at least 30 days, or homeless and diagnosed with PTSD.
His request was granted. Dee needed to make it safe during COVID 19 and that meant it needed to be outside. He saw the need for a grill and lawn chairs for each house and went right into action. He went to Home Depot and asked for their help. They provided the two grills for free, but the 20 outside chairs and grillware (covers for winter, cleaning tools and grill utensils) were not covered financially. He contacted me and asked if the Unity community could help.
I immediately said yes, so he purchased what was needed and it came to $400. This is such a worthy endeavor and I know you will be willing to generously donate to cover the $400 expense. You can either donate online and let us know it is for VETS or mail in a check with VETS in the memo line. Any additional funds we raise will go to making these monthly meals special. We already have 6 Unity members who will take turns accompanying Dee! You can reach out to Dee if you care to get in the rotation of serving those who served our country and us.
I thank you in advance for your support. These vets rarely get a hot, home-cooked meal…Dee knows this from experience. He had two meals cooked by others during his time in transitional housing. Now, because of our Unity members and Home Depot, the veterans will get at least one a month. I am quite sure that all the vets that will be served will greatly appreciate your donations.
What’s in the Way is the Way is the title of the book I have been using and enjoying! This week was “Life Is for You.” Mary O’Malley, the author, calls this book a practical guide for waking up to life. There are just two more chapters and I am so glad that I have chosen to do this series.
When you watch the service you might think it is December 24th because I am talking about the young girl Mary who is told she will be with child and her reaction to it as well as Joseph’s reaction when he hears the woman he is betrothed to is with child and he is not the father. This story is so poignant to the lesson this week.
Mary O’Malley reminds us, “Life is not a random series of events that happen because you did your life right or wrong. It is an intelligent unfolding that is always speaking to you, always waking you up.”
As we grow spiritually, we often move through a series of shifts in consciousness.
1. Life happens to you!
2. Life happens by you!
However, in both of these we are fighting with LIFE itself. We are trying to change, fix, resist, and control Life, which puts a veil between us and Life.
3. Life happens in you!
4. Life happens for you!
We see that suffering comes from resisting or attaching and trying to control Life. We begin to respond rather than to react to life more and more.
As we grow in using our curiosity to explore life, we see that LIFE is putting us in situations we need in order to see our SPELLS.
5. Life happens through you!
6. Life is you!
These final two phases of consciousness are all about coming home to the meadow.
The more you relax into the flow of Life, the more you experience the joy of “Life happens through you.” As you reconnect with the meadow again, you recognize that “Life is you.”
Your homework this week:
Meet the places within you that you are most afraid of… become curious about them rather than afraid…
As you listen to them they lose their power of you… the bound up energy is released and you find yourself in the meadow.
You have never really left the meadow… all the joy, clarity, and aliveness that you have longed for has been with you all along.
You have been giving your attention to the storyteller however you are now able to give yourself the gift of living from the meadow of your being.
So, next week we end with “The Song of the Heart.”
Have a blessed week and hope to see you at the Friday night dinner from 5 – 6 p.m. in the parking lot at Unity Center for Spiritual Growth.
You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey
