This quote from Pema Chodron caught my attention: “…in trying to help others, we might come to realize that compassionate action involves working with ourselves as much as working with others.”
I am doing my best to remember this and sometimes I am better at it than at other times. I am finding it difficult to step back and just be. However, that is not totally true. Rev. LeRoy and I are taking extended spiritual time in the morning, which is welcomed and needed.
I saw a New York City ER doctor being interviewed this week and she said this: “It used to be when my shift was over I couldn’t wait to go home; now when I am home I want to be at the hospital.” I can identify with what she is saying; we just want to help alleviate the pain and suffering. Even if we are not infected with the coronavirus, we all are, energetically. Collectively we are all feeling the loss and grief. Jack Seery sent me a great article that was written by a member of the Harvard Review Board on the grief we are all experiencing.
I look forward to Sunday morning when I get to go to the church and walk around and feel you there… where I have the privilege to use the amazing technology, we have to do a live service and be with Deana, Christine and Don. It brings to me a sense of normalcy.
This week was the second step of a six-step series called The Six Steps to Spiritual Maturity. The step is: I surrender my will to the power of the Christ within.
In the Unity book The Quest written by Richard and Mary Alice Jafolla, their definition of the Christ is: “Christ is God individualized in each of us. It is the name of the divinity within us. It is our pattern for perfections. ‘Christ’ is not the name of someone born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. The Christ is an aspect of God. It has existed since the beginning of time. It is the identification of our highest degree of spiritual potential. The ‘real’ you is your Christ self, your spirit.”
This step is aligned with Unity’s second principle that we each have the divine spark within us. We are individualized expressions of God. We have the same Christ Spirit within us that Jesus had and we are all inherently good.
So how do I apply this principle in my life? We apply this principle when we recognize the divine in each person we encounter. But even more important is the knowing that the divine is also in me. This brings me back to the quote I opened with… we might come to realize that compassionate action involves working with ourselves. Not only do I express love, kindness and goodness to you, but I do to myself as well.
KEEP GOING
Strong people can feel weak
And brave people can feel afraid
And light people can feel dark
Lost people can be found and
Hopeless people can be healed
Keep going
Keep going
Keep going
It is never too late
To turn things around…
Nakedwriting …Sunday Paper reflection
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday so join us as at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live…
Just a reminder we have several ways to connect during the week with Facebook Live or Zoom. To join the Zoom session, you will receive a link in email. If you are not a subscriber, use the sign-up form in the right-hand column.
You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey