A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #191, I am the holy son of God Himself.

 Lesson #191

I am the holy son of God Himself.

Authority figures, sometimes in a scolding and shaming way, say to a subordinate, “Who do you think you are?” Are you a body with a soul or a soul with a body?

Today’s lesson is very blunt and to the point, You are the holy child of God.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested in step three that we make a decision to turn our will and lives over to God. This is really no big deal, because we have been a child of God all along, we have just forgotten. As a result of our socialization and conditioning we mistook our ego for our real self. We come to realize how wrong we were. We are not our ego but our soul and our soul is of God.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. UUs say sincerely, we are the holy children of God.

Today, it is suggested that we remind ourselves throughout the day who we really are. We are the holy child of God, that’s who.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #190, I choose the joy of God instead of pain.

 Lesson #190

I choose the joy of God instead of pain.

Do we choose the world of Spirit (Love) or the world of the ego? The world of the ego which A Course In Miracles teaches is an illusion made up of projections of our own minds based on our conditioning is full of pain, fear, guilt, and sorrow. The world of the Spirit is full of peace and joy. It is our choice.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested in the first three steps that we give up our willfulness and try willingness instead. Willingness to go along with God’s will for us. The stogan used in AA is very straight forward, “Let go and let God.” 

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning which takes us eventually to the world of Spirit. It’s only a matter of time. Some of us are slow learners.

Today, it is suggested that we remind ourselves several times during the day especially when we are stressed, in pain, angry, anxious that I choose the joy of God instead of pain.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #189, I feel the Love Of God within me now.

 Lesson #189

I feel the Love of God within me now.

Supposing we could set all our cares and worries and resentments and fears aside and just relax into the Loving Presence of our Transcendent Source? Wouldn’t that be great?

In Alcoholic Anonymous, it is suggested in step eleven, that through prayer and meditation we enhance our conscious contact with the benevolent presence of God which is our natural inheritance.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the love of the interdependent web of which we are a part. As the Buddhist monk said to the hog dog vendor, “Make me one with Everything.”

Today, it is suggested that we periodically take a couple of deep breaths, relax, go within, and let all our worries in the world of the ego go so we can enjoy the peace of God. Then we say, “I feel the Love of God within me now.”

The pen pal program of UU A Way Of Life

The pen pal program of UU A Way Of Life is intended to facilitate the connection between people who are interested in a snail mail correspondence relationship. This program is an application of UUs third principle which is to affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth.

If you are interested in joining the pen pal program please send an email to me, David G. Markham, at davidgmarkham@gmail.com stating your age, name, address, and a sentence or two about your reasons for wanting to correspond with others by snail mail. If there are other biographical details such as hobbies, interests, career interest, etc. you would like to publicly share in a short profile along with your address please include this information as well.

An applicant need not be a Unitarian Universalist.

If you receive correspondence from someon reaching out, please send a response to the sender that the communication was received even if you decide you want no further correspondence.

For more information click on the Pen Pal Program page link above or click here.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #188, The peace of God is shining in me now.

 Lesson #188

The peace of God is shining in me now.

The peace of God is not only shining in me now, it has always been shining in me. I have just failed to be aware of it. The idea in today’s lesson is to recognize the peace of God within me, acknowledge it, and enjoy it.

In Alcoholics Anonymous, it is suggested in the second step, that we come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. How about that idea?

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and encouragement to each other's spiritual growth. This encouragement can take the form of sharing the peace of God which we have become aware of shining within us.

Today, it is suggested that we take three deep breaths, relax, turn within and become aware of God’s peace shining deep down within us. Then smile and open our hearts to the goodness around us. We can bask in the peace of God which is shining within each of us if we become aware of it.

Stoic ideas - Impermanence

Today, a new feature is being introduced on UU A Way Of Life, called "Stoic ideas." There will be articles periodically describing ideas from stoic philosophy as they pertain to the spiritual life. Today's idea is impermanence.

From the Daily Stoic

 "We should realize that we are all just placeholders, like Marcus. Sure, we might have the fancy office now, but eventually someone else will occupy it. Eventually the business will close up shop too, and they will tear down the building and turn it into a parking lot. Sure, you’re the hot new artist or the trendiest influencer of the moment, but someone younger, someone hungrier is coming right behind you. Fortunes tend to last no more than a couple generations, so yeah, you’re rich now but in a couple years it will all be gone.

That’s just life. We are all ephemeral in the big picture. It’s not that knowing this makes everything worthless, it just means nothing is worth inflating your ego about at the expense of the things that truly matter. Nothing justifies thinking you are better or more important than other people.

We are all just passing through… but what we do, who we strive to be, can echo in eternity.

—from "Are You Really That Special?"

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Be careful what you invest truth nd meaning in.

Purpose and meaning - Volunteer service - Bon Secours

 

Purpose and meaning

 

After basic needs are met for physical health and social well being, the need for purpose and meaning becomes paramount at all stages in the human life cycle. This realization leads one to consider volunteer service. A new feature is being added to this blog today intending to highlight opportunities for volunteer service.

 

The first opportunity is the Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry in Baltimore, Maryland and Richmond VA. 

Here is the mission statement of Bon Secours from their website:

 

Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry, sponsored by the Sisters of Bon Secours, provides the opportunity for women and men to participate in the Sisters’ commitment to justice in radical solidarity with the poor, the suffering, and those most in need. By sharing the Bon Secours charism of compassion, healing, and liberation, the ministry nurtures and sustains individuals in their personal and communal journeys towards transformation through service with others.

To nurture this transformative journey, Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry supports individuals through a year of spiritual formation. The ministry is structured with five pillars that support this growth. Volunteers commit to: grow spiritually, develop an intentional community, live simply, practice God’s justice, and learn through service with others. Throughout this year, volunteers discover that by sharing the charism of compassion, healing, and liberation with others they, in turn, receive the charism from those they serve.

You can learn more by clicking here.