Turning Point

Daily Word from Unity for Sunday, September 19, 2010

Turning Point

I recognize and accept the good that awaits me.

In anticipation of an upcoming change, I may wonder what my life will look like. Will it ever be the same? The truth is that every day is filled with change. Some changes are major turning points and others are small adjustments.

Instead of worrying about what may happen in the moments, days or weeks ahead, I choose to remain calm and confident. I know that good is always present, because God is always present. Attuned to God, I am aware of everlasting good.

I welcome the turning points in my life that bring new opportunities to recognize, accept and experience the good that awaits me.

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.--James 1:17

Autumn Is Coming

It's one of the best times of the year. Next to Christmas, this is it. Autumn.

The trees are already starting to change colours.

It's sweater weather.

The coffee shops are starting to advertise such beverages as Ginger Snap Latte's and Caramel Apple Cider.

It will only be a month or so before stores start displaying their Christmas merchandise. This used to annoy me to no end (the commercializatin of Christmas blah blah blah) but now I enjoy it. I will have my tree up the first of November.

It is the perfect time of year for a walk in the park to see the ducks, geese, and herons.

You say farewell to the fullness of summer, only to soon say hello to Father Christmas, with Bing and Frank and Jimmy Stewart.

And this vanilla coffee tastes all the better. For fall is upon us.

Gratitude

The sound of birds tweeting and of ocean waves lapping up onto the shoreline.

The laughter and inquisitive look of wonder in a child’s eyes as she discovers something for the very first time.

A majestic blue heron coming in for a landing while a gaggle of Canada geese tiptoes on a nearby hillside.

The friendly greeting of a bus driver as you plunk your change into the slot and head downtown.

The wavy, long-flowing hair of the stranger in the soft white buttoned-up sweater sitting across from you in the library.

Knowing that even though we are strangers, we aren’t that different after all; that there is a common bond between us.

The sound of an oboe and piano intermingling with each other in a simple song.

Every heartbeat, pumping both blood and a life-force as ancient as the stars.

Each inhalation breathing in peace and comfort. Each exhalation breathing out calm and tranquility.

Knowing that my desires and needs will not go unmet, that in this moment Divine Spirit is working on my behalf.

Gratitude.

Gratitude.

The Rising Of The Fall

It could hardly be a more wonderful day. Autumn is almost upon us, summer is saying “uncle” as the leaves start to change colour and the fall coolness settles in. A gentle rain falls down from a cloudy sky. And it all looks so lovely from the vantage point of a big picture window here at the downtown coffee shop with the pretty waitress with the even prettier smile. It occurs to me that God is both imminent, right here, and transcendant, more than we can fully fathom. God lives within me and I am in fact an expression of the divine, but He is also more. Having a relationship with this God means that I have access to levels of power that sometimes we only dream of. God is all good, and every positive attribute that we see in existence comes from Him (or Her if you prefer.) Beauty, energy, life, healing, music, love. As we are in relationship with God, we need only to ask for these things to show up in our lives. Too often, I think, we settle for less than that. We settle for sickness, depression, fear, brokenness, worry. As people in relationship with God we can ask for and expect more. There are scores of verses in the Christian Scriptures where Jesus points to this great truth. He says that God is like a parent who desires to give good gifts to his children, and that whatever we ask for in prayer, believe that we have received it and it will be done. This is not magic, some sideshow busker act. This is connecting with the Power that brought the universe into existence and who knows our needs even more than we do, for He made us. It is when we are in harmonious relationship with God and are experiencing these gifts - peace, joy, love, health, that we can also become conduits of God’s power. We can be love and peace to those people in our immediate circles and beyond. God’s energy can flow through us to other people in need. As we talk with others we impart power to them. As we hug them we are God touching them in a soothing way.

As Autumn approaches and we shuffle through our closets to find our sweaters and scarves, let’s learn to ask for and expect more. More love, more energy, more peace, and more healing.

Thank You For Life

Thank you for each new day, for the opportunities they hold for new understandings, growing faith, and connection to You. Thank you for the friends and family whom I love and who love me no matter what. Thank you for my cup of vanilla-flavoured coffee and for dark chocolate. Thank you for butterflies, twittering moths and bunnies. Thank you that You are right here in my heart and all around me, if only I take the time to stop and be aware of it. Thank you for the smiles in the faces of children and for their laughter. Thank you for my niece Rachael who is 5 and my nephew Josh who just turned 3. Thank you for the look of pride on Rachael's face as she showed us how she can now ride a bike with no training wheels. Thank you for the sunshine, and for the coolness in the air on a late summers day. Thank you for faith communities who embrace diversity, places where I can gain new or forgotten insights, with people who uphold me in prayer. Thank you for good books and soothing music. Thank you that I have never seen war or famine. Thank you for new friends and old friends.

For all these things and more, Thank you Life.