Hello Fellow Truth Students,

“Our Purpose”

In the interest of offering greater understanding of Unity and what Unity’s founders were thinking in the beginning I looked for ways that Unity’s purpose is stated. I found a couple of statements that put it rather well. I have concluded this article with Unity’s statement for peace.
This is the purpose of Unity:
Founded in 1889, Unity is a Christian organization whose primary mission is the practical application of spiritual principles. Unity believes that it is the divine birthright of each individual to experience health, prosperity, and harmony in all aspects of life; and that God’s will for each of us is absolute good. It is from this point of view that Unity carries out its educational purpose. Unity is not an offshoot of any other Christian denomination and is therefore under no obligation to perpetuate the rituals and dogmas common in traditional Christianity. Unity presents the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Bible, and works of other inspired thinkers in a simple, practical, and contemporary way. Unity’s sole purpose is to teach people how to experience greater freedom, health, happiness, and success through a practical understanding of spiritual principles taught and demonstrated by Jesus Christ. About a thousand churches and study groups have been established throughout the world to serve an ever-growing community of Unity adherents. They are designed to teach spiritual principles and to assist those who attend them in applying these transformative principles in their daily lives.

Another way of putting it:
Unity’s purpose according to its founders

Prior to the Fillmores’ starting the Unity movement, Charles Fillmore began to study, without prejudice, the available literature on metaphysical movements and the world’s religions. He found many differences and conflicting teachings. However, he was convinced there was a great power behind all of them.

Finally, he made a decision. He said, “In this babble I will go to headquarters. If I am Spirit and this God they talk about so much is Spirit, we can somehow communicate, or the whole thing is a fraud.” He sat aside an hour each evening to be still and commune with God. After several months he felt that he still had not contacted God but he felt so much better that he continued.

Eventually, he did experience communication with the Holy Spirit. He continued communicating with the Holy Spirit until his death. He died at 94 years of age. It was not unusual for him to be in prayer and meditation for several hours each day. In his later years during his daily activities, even while in conversation with another person, the Holy Spirit would call him into communication. He would stop the conversation with the person for the few minutes of communing with the Holy Spirit.

Charles became a sincere, devout student of the Bible. He became such a student and follower of Jesus and Jesus’ teachings that one could say that Mr. Fillmore was a current day disciple of Jesus.

Charles Fillmore went to headquarters (the Holy Spirit) in his mind. He did not stop there. He taught his students to go to headquarters. Teachers and books can take us only part way on our overcoming journey. The Holy Spirit must take us the remainder of the journey.

From the Fillmorian view, Unity’s primary purpose is for us to help ourselves and to help others to go to headquarters. This is seeking the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness. Then God supplies us with abundance as a by-product of our seeking.

Specifically, Unity’s purpose is to help us to contact the Holy Spirit within our minds. We surrender our personalities to the Holy Spirit. In turn, the Holy Spirit instructs and guides us moment by moment. The Holy Spirit also begins to transform our false sense beliefs to spiritual knowing. Eventually, our sense consciousness is completely transformed to spiritual consciousness. Then we will have returned to the kingdom of God (the Garden of Eden). This is salvation.

Here is Unity’s joint statement for peace:
The Association of Unity Churches International and Unity®
Unity stands for peace in the presence of conflict; for love in the presence of hatred; for forgiveness in the presence of injury. Unity honors the many names for God, the many paths to God, the many ways to worship God; for there is only one power and presence of God and that God loves each one of us equally. It is therefore the position of the Association of Unity Churches International and Unity to urge all nations, their leaders and their people to turn to God by whatever the name for guidance during these challenging times and pursue peace, not war, for this is what honors the God of all our faith traditions. Unity stands for peace in our lifetime.

Blessings,
Shawn

Hello Fellow Truth Students,

That is a long title.  God certainly does love me, but that is not meant to imply that perhaps God could not love me…or not love anyone else for that matter.  God is love itself; therefore, it is not possible for God to not love.  It isn’t even possible for you or me to not love (no matter how much or how many we dislike).  Just because we don’t really know what love is doesn’t mean we aren’t already doing it.  The point of our studying is to bring it into our conscious minds so that we may react from a place of love rather than confusion.

Because we don’t yet understand the love that God is, many of us confuse the love of God with being nice.  I think many of us wish God were nicer.  If God were nicer I wouldn’t have to worry about anything.  I wouldn’t have to be afraid of anything.  But then again, what do I have to worry about?  What do I have to fear?  Only what I think I have to worry about.  There are no rules in regards to what I should or should not worry about.  If there were any kind of rule at all it would be to not worry about anything, or to see peace within everything.  Within the Love there is certainly no-thing to worry about.  Worry is based on a thought that the love of God is somehow missing.  That’s not possible and that is why there is nothing (in reality) to worry about.

God loves me just because God is Love itself.  God doesn’t see the stuff I am afraid of or am ashamed of the way I see it.  In my smallness I look at that stuff as something real.  God doesn’t.  In my smallness I look at the experiences of my life as something real.  God doesn’t.  In my bigness, however, I look at God.  Not only that, I see as God sees.  God sees Truth and in Truth there is no story about what I am seeing.  There is only love.

That is why my advice is always to declare the Presence of Love anywhere and everywhere.  Declare the Presence of Love in your thoughts.  “Only Love lives here!”  Declare the Presence of Love in your home.  “Only Love lives here.” (Declare it in every room of your home.)  Declare the Presence of Love in your body.  “Only Love lives here.”  Declare the Presence of Love in your car.  “Only Love lives here.”  Declare the Presence of Love in your workplaces and your play places.  “Only Love lives here.”  Declare the Presence of Love in your relationships.  “Only Love lives here.”   Declare the Presence of Love in your finances (wallet, bank books, pants pockets, piggy banks, etc.)  “Only Love lives here!”

God loves us in a way that is even better than we may have thought before today.  How lovely!

Love,
Shawn

Hello Fellow Truth Students, 
“Community Spirit”
    Did you know that you are missed when you aren’t here?  I don’t say this to “guilt” you into coming to church.  This is not a message of lack but of abundance.  Too often we think that no one will miss us if we don’t show up.  We take on the thought that it doesn’t matter if we don’t show up at church or at a party.  It doesn’t matter if we are late.  If you are one of those people, you are mistaken.
 
    It does matter.  If you are a part of a gathering you are missed when you are not present.    If you were throwing a party you would certainly attend it yourself.  You would also hope that everyone you invited also attended and came on time.  That applies to all of our events and it is a form of prosperity.   You are throwing the party.  (And it is just weird when the host doesn’t show up.)
 
    It is a great feeling to know that I am wanted in the places I go.  Not only am I wanted but people are hoping I will be there.  Why?  Because my being there makes a difference.  When I show up at church or a party (Is there a difference?) my very presence makes a difference.  When I show up in my spiritual communities my light begins to show in ways that I may not even be aware of. 
 
     In my spiritual life I was taught that I was to live a life of service to the community.   Next I was taught that just showing up is service.  It is service to both the community and to myself.  Next I learned to say “Hello” and to shake the hand of the person sitting next to me.  The result was that I wasn’t alone.  I had made contact with at least one person.  There is nothing like saying “Hello” to someone to end my isolation.  Even if the person doesn’t “seem” to respond to my greeting I have broken the barrier between my thoughts and the reality of oneness.  I have some good friends today because of those “Hellos” to strangers.  What’s more I did them a service by offering them an opportunity to know me.  Just as everyone who greets me offers me an opportunity to know them.
 
    Community Spirit is about allowing the Spirit of God to flow through me and allowing the Spirit of God to be revealed to me through fellowship with like-minded individuals and groups.  I invite you to consider that the next time you think you would rather sleep than come to church.  “Church” is the people.  Without the people this is just a space above a car dealership.  Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is all about the people and the diverse paths that have brought them here.   Be the host of revealing your divine path.  We don’t want to miss you ever again.  It is our pleasure to celebrate you with you.
 
Blessings in Your Presence,
Shawn

Hello Fellow Truth Students,

This Coming Sunday,

This coming Sunday is the 4th of July. There is an old joke that asks the question, “Is there a 4th of July in England?” The answer is, “Yes, and a 5th, 6th, and 7th.”

That has nothing to do with this letter. This letter is about our 4th of July celebration. It falls on Sunday this year and I would like to share it with all who can make themselves available to be here that day. 4th of July has always been the day when summer really kicks in for me. It is a great day to rethink the intentions of our forefathers and foremothers. It is a great day to go beyond all personalities and examine our true intentions. The talk is called “Freedom”. That is what we will explore together. In freedom there is peace. In peace there is freedom. How can we as individuals and as a group allow peace on earth to begin now? We will do it together.

Put your shorts on (I might even wear shorts myself that day) and start summer on Sunday morning at Unity Center. Let’s kick off the summer season starting with God and fellowship. I’ll bring the cake.

Happy Holiday,
Shawn

Hello Fellow Truth Students

I See You As Well

The next time that you want to pray for someone to “get well”, instead pray to see them as well. That is the cause of our upset in the world. We don’t see it as well. We see problems and sickness. We see degradation and poverty as well as anything else that we deem an issue. We must begin to affirm True vision. In True vision we see wellness. We see light. We see abundance. We see God and we see Good. WE SEE WELL. But we only see well with correct perception.

Unity’s cofounder Myrtle Fillmore knew that if she were to experience herself or anyone else as healthy she had to first see herself as healthy. She had to see herself as well. Then she had to see everyone else as well.

Would you be willing to see yourself as well? Would you be willing to speak as well? Would you be willing to see with correct perception? Would you be willing to know that there is more to meet the eye than your limited perception?

Would you be willing to see with your God-eye? God sees well. God sees us as well. God sees us as we are, not as we are not. God is the vision with which we see correctly. Contemplate this in your meditations. Contemplate True vision as you breathe. Contemplate True vision when you think.
SEE WELL.

There You Go,
Shawn

Hello Fellow Truth Students,

Spiritual Life First-Spiritual Life Only

Recently I have begun to ask the question of more than a few Truth students I know, “Are you putting your spiritual life first?” This isn’t meant as an opportunity to inflict guilt. This is an opportunity to remember that whatever I put before my spiritual life I’m not going to remember how to appreciate it.

It seems that we want so many things. And it also seems that many of us want the “things” more that we want to understand the Source of the things. I am certain that if we understood the Source then the “things” wouldn’t matter nearly as much. Part of my craving things is bases on my fear of the absence of my good. When I am assured of my good I don’t worry.

Some of the people I know who have the hardest time coping with life on life’s terms are the ones who miss the most Sundays and don’t take our classes. Some of the people I know who seem to have the most coping tools are the ones who are placing their spiritual understanding as a top priority in their lives. Both groups see issues coming up in their lives. One of the groups knows what to do with the issues and remain at peace.

We’re not talking about religion. I teach relatively little religion here. As both a Truth student and teacher I seek practical ways of how to use God in your conscious mind and see it manifest in our daily lives. When I put my spiritual education and understanding on the side burner for even a little bit I begin to experience confusion and rely upon my past experience as the guide for how to think about life and all of its many conditions. My past experience is an unreliable pathway to peace. My past isn’t the Presence of God guiding me in new and correct ways of thinking and perceiving right now.

I need to be reminded over and over again of what is Real and True. I need fellow Truth students beside me. I need friends I can call and talk with about Truth. I need books that guide me prayerfully. I need classes that are fun and filled with laughter as well as information. I need quiet time. I need reminders to go within and listen and I need to go into a room where there is a joyful noise being made.

I invite you to place God and your spirituality first. Before your work. Before your play. Before your sleep. Before your money. Before your relationships. Even before your families. Please notice that I haven’t said “instead of” any of these things. I say we must do it “before” these things.. God is my strength and my wisdom, not people or conditions. God is my joy and my knowledge, not people or conditions. God IS the Source of my Good.

I look forward to studying with you. I am glad to share Truth and laughter with you. I am excited to make a joyful noise alongside you. You are my mighty companions and I am grateful.

In Gladness,
Shawn

Hello Fellow Truth Students,

Only Spirit Has the Final Say

“Who made you the boss?” Do you ever want to say that to anyone? “You’re not the boss of me!!!”

I have learned by way of a lot of resentments and inappropriate parental transference that Spirit has the final say over all things. Everyone else is just a guide to lead me inward. When I know that I don’t have to fear anyone else’s information. I don’t have to be mad at them for giving me information that I don’t want or don’t identify with. They are my guides, not the final authority.

As a child I heard ministers say certain things. I heard Sunday school teachers say other things. I heard my parents say even different things. Who do I believe? Unity’s cofounder Charles Fillmore believed that spirituality is an exact science, and yet there were so many different schools and opinions about it. He said, “The muddle was so deep, that for a time I was inclined to ridicule, yet I couldn’t get away from the evidence of a great power back of the flood of contradictory statements. I noticed however, that all the teachers and writers talked a great deal about the omnipresent, omniscient God, who is Spirit and accessible to everyone. I said to myself, ‘In this babel I will go to headquarters. If I am Spirit and this God they talk so much about is Spirit, we can somehow communicate, or the whole thing is a fraud.”

If we are to learn from Charles’ example we can see that it took all of that “babel” to lead him inward to commune directly with the Source. It wasn’t for the purpose of making all of those other voices wrong but to get clarity and to directly hear from Spirit as Spirit. Rarely can another human accurately communicate to another what has been said by Spirit directly to themselves. It is up to me to go within and commune directly with Source. In doing that I will never again have reason to be angry with another for misinformation. I will never again have reason to be angry with another for anything. Wow! Isn’t that just terrific? What a relief!!!

In Blessed Freedom,
Shawn

PS. We have decided to change the way we do hospitality. We felt it would be a great opportunity for the whole community to participate in hospitality. If you happen to be having a dinner party over the weekend and you have leftovers please bring them. If you’re at the store, pick up an extra bag of chips or cookies. If you’re making chicken, make extra. Bring what you would love to share with your friends here at church. This way everyone can participate. Let’s make it fun & share the goodies!
Unity Center will provide the coffee.
Thanks for participating!

Hello Fellow Truth Students,

Divine Stewardship-Part I “Thoughts”

What is stewardship? Stewardship means to properly develop, utilize and safeguard what is held in value. In a church or spiritual center the word “stewardship” typically applies to finances. In olden days it applied to house servants. What I’m talking about here is being a good steward of our most valuable assets.
• The first asset is out thoughts.
• Second is seeing and hearing.
• Third is speaking or our word.
• Fourth is our actions.

This first week we’re focusing on the stewardship of our thoughts. We must properly develop, utilize and safeguard our thoughts. Do not use your thinking time to think wasteful thoughts. (Irrelevant, vengeful, untrue, etc.) How much time do we invest each day in thinking thoughts that have no relevance to our divine purpose? How many thoughts of shame and guilt, contradiction and envy do you entertain when you could be thinking about God, peace, love, Truth, wisdom, etc.?

We must develop our thinking patterns. We must utilize our thoughts to serve our higher good rather than our lower or ego nature. We must utilize our thoughts to think on what is Real rather than what is an illusion.

Let us safeguard our thoughts from darkness by reminding ourselves that only God is real, so I’m going to think on God. In fact, I’m going to think on, with and as God right now. Now is the time to think that love is the only reality there is. I don’t have to feel it or believe it. I just have to think that love is the only reality there is.

Observe your thoughts this week. Seek to develop your thinking. Utilize every opportunity to think on what is right and what is true.

Thinking Abundant Thoughts of You,
Shawn

Hello Fellow Truth Students,

“Ouch!”

It seems that so many lessons that come along on our spiritual journey come packing a wallop. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Why does it seem that just when I learn how to pray for prosperity the bottom falls out financially? Why is it that just when I think I’ve met my romantic ideal he/she makes it so hard to love them? Ouch! Why is it that just when I find my spiritual home they start talking about tithing? Ouch! Our ouches are based on our perception of events. It comes down to the fact that we choose our feelings. We choose how we think about things. When we choose to not like something it becomes an “Ouch!”

Actually the “why’s” don’t matter. It doesn’t matter “why” any of these things happen. What does matter is what I do with all of the ouches. The only reason the “Truth” ever seems to hurt (and I say “seems” because Truth never, ever hurts) is because it seems to be unfamiliar to our current way of thinking. If we are accustomed to thinking with our ego mind rather than our spirit mind then Truth is going to appear dangerous and it is going to seem as if I have something to lose when in actuality I have everything to gain. I told a friend of mine that I would like to tell the truth even when I know that lying might feel better. I would rather risk others being disappointed in me than lie to them when I have been wrong. I would rather go without than steal. I would even rather feel the sensations of the perception of lack than steal.

But what do you do when you get slammed? First I say “Ouch!” when I get slammed. Sometimes I say some other things but they’re not necessary to repeat here. If I’m remembering God at the time I get slammed then I remember to say “Thank you.” How silly to say “Thank you” just after you get a wallop, but it is essential to fast and speedy healing. When you forget to be grateful for the stuff you don’t like you become a victim. It starts to feel as if everything and everyone is against you. It can’t be true that anything or anyone is against you. God is for us, so everything and everyone is for us. So the “Ouch” is important when these sensations happen, but so is the “Thank you.”

“Thank you”, puts you in charge of perception. “Thank you” is your ability and willingness to see clearly. Imagine saying, “Yahoo!” after you have been diagnosed with an illness. It seems to me that I would be more clearheaded to remember that God is at work all of the time with a good “Yahoo!” under my belt.
Yes, life is filled with many occasions to say, “Ouch!” Life is filled with just as many occasions to say, “Thank you.” “Thank you” removes the “ouch!” because “Thank you” mean’s I’m choosing a different perception. Tonight, when you go to bed, say, “Thank you, God for today.” Tomorrow, when you awaken, say, “Thank you, God for today.” Do this every day. You don’t have to know what you are offering your thanks for. You just have to do it and know that today has been or will be Good because it is today and you are in it.

Congratulations and Thank You,
Shawn

Hello Fellow Truth Students,

“Real / Not Real”

Last night I was talking with a friend of mine and we came to the conclusion that God is real and sickness isn’t. Why? Because sickness is temporary and God is forever. Sickness is the result of a thought or group of thoughts that have manifested into a physical and/or mental experience. (Please note: sickness is not a punishment and wellness is not a reward. They are results of thinking. Wellness is natural to our state of being and sickness is not. ) If you were to have a different thought or group of thoughts the physical and/or mental experience would shift. God Itself does not change or shift; only my conscious experience of God shifts and expands.

I believe it is a Course in Miracles teaching that states, “If you choose a thing that will not last forever, what you choose is valueless.” That tells me I must seek to consciously choose my real thoughts rather than my illusions. It will no longer serve me in the way I want to be served to choose illusion over reality. It’s one thing to see sickness as an experience; it is another thing altogether to see it as something real and permanent. If I choose to see what is impermanent as real I am choosing something that is valueless to me and to all mankind.

I want to be very clear here. I’m not saying that the events we see aren’t taking place, I’m simply saying that the meaning we are giving them is not permanent; therefore the meaning is unreal and valueless.

Today, ask Holy Spirit to give you your REAL THOUGHTS. Become informed of the Truth about yourself and everything within you. It’s safe to do so now.

Many Blessings Everybody,
Shawn