Thursday, March 18, 2021

Religion in the public square - GOP works to restrict voting



In statehouses across the country, hundreds of bills have been introduced to change how elections are run, who can vote and how they vote. Many of the bills sponsored by Republicans aim to undo changes election officials made in 2020 to make voting easier during the pandemic.


Those changes led to a record number of people voting last year. Yet the GOP bills would make voting harder. Their sponsors say it’s worth it because the proposed legislation would make elections more secure against fraud, writes political scientist Douglas Hess. Only one problem: There’s no evidence that making it easier to vote leads to more fraud.

For more click here.

To attempt to restrict voting is in direct violation of the fifth principle of Unitarian Universalism which is covenant together to affirm and promote the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #197, It can be but my gratitude I earn.




 Lesson #197
It can be but my gratitude I earn.

We give thanks to God so God won’t punish us for we feel guilty. We don’t realize that God never punishes us to begin with. It is we who, from our guilt, project our expectation of punishment onto God and it is something God knows nothing of.

And so because we are not genuinely grateful but only act so to manipulate we can’t express genuine gratitude to others either. The “gratitude” we pretend to give is counterfeit. It is only when we realize that God unconditionally loves us and hopes that we will extend this unconditional love to others that guilt evaporates and we realize that God has endowed us with the function of gratitude and in this realization and exercise of gratitude we have earned it for ourselves as we share it with others. If the recipient of our gratitude, rebuffs it, criticizes it, scoffs at it, it is still ours and we have earned it no matter the response.

In Alcoholics Anonymous, it is suggested in step twelve, that we carry our gratitude for our recovery to others. It is in this sharing that our own recovery is amplified and our gratitude affirmed.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual  growth which is experienced as tremendous gratitude for the sharing and validation of the Oneness of humanity.

Today, it is suggested that throughout the day we remind ourselves that when we are thankful it is in this gratitude that I am encompassed and empowered. True gratitude recognizes and acknowledges the radical dependence we have on other people, and all things of creation whether it is recognized and acknowledged or not.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #196, It can be but myself I crucify.


 Lesson #196
It can be but myself I crucify.

What we crucify ourselves with is our negative thoughts. In Alcoholics Anonymous it is called “Stinkin thinkin.” We think the worst of others and then expect that they think the worst of us. It’s the old “tit for tat” or the “blame game.” In today’s lesson it is suggested that we knock this shit off.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth. One for all and all for one. Isn’t that nice?

Today, when I am irritated, annoyed, resentful, paranoid, I will remind myself that I have a choice between engaging in stinkin thinkin or finding the divine spark in every person and focus on that. Just as we realize that we learn what we teach, we come to realize that others, being a part of who I am. when I attack them it can be but myself that I crucify.

Monday, March 15, 2021

A Course In Miracles Lesson #195, Love is the way I walk in gratitude.


 Lesson #195
Love is the way I walk in gratitude.

It’s the small things like the oxygen we breathe, the sunshine that warms us and makes plants grow, the water we drink and bathe in. We all are rich in the gifts of creation.

In Alcoholics Anonymous, it is suggested in step twelve that we share our recovery with others as a manifestation of our gratitude for the improved conscious contact with God which we sought in step eleven.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent  worth and dignity of every person for which we are forever grateful as we grow in respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Today, it is suggested that we continually experience the Love of God as we walk the path of gratitude throughout our day.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #194, I place the future in the Hands of God.


 Lesson #194
I place the future in the Hands of God.

In Alcoholic Anonymous the slogan is, “Let go and let God.” The idea is surrender. You finally have come to see that your life in the world of the ego is unmanageable. So give it up already. Letting go of the ego, having been so socialized and conditioned, takes patience and persistence. Spot the bullshit of the ego and let it go and settle into the present.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth. This acceptance requires forgiveness of past tresspasses and anticipated future ones. As Ram Dass suggested, “Be here now.” A Course In Miracles calls this place in our mind, “The Holy Instant.” The past is gone. The future hasn’t arrived yet. All we have is right now. That’s why it’s called “the present.”

Today, whenever we are angry, fearful, guilty we should step away from the past and the future and just bask in the present leaving the future up to God. In this practice of being present we find peace and joy.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #193, All things are lessons God would have me learn.


 Lesson #193
All things are lessons God would have me learn.

A Course In Miracles teaches that life is a classroom and we don’t get to choose the curriculum only the time we take it and learn from it. It is suggested today that all things are lessons which God would have us learn. Are you getting it?

In Alcoholic Anonymous, it is suggested in step four, that make a searching  and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Tough stuff. Socrates said that an unexamined life is not worth living. How many people do you know who live examined lives? You might find some in the rooms.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We look high and low, hither and yon, and finally realize that what we have been looking for is within not without. The question always is, “What did you learn from your experience? What were the lessons? What are the takeaways?”

Today, it is suggested that we take time at the beginning of every hour to examine the last hour to see if there is anything we have to forgive, to let go of? Is there any anger, fear, guilt, resentment, grievance? We can say to ourselves, hopefully with a smile, “All these things are lessons God would have me learn.”

Friday, March 12, 2021

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #192, I have a function God would have me fill.


 Lesson #192
I have a function God would have me fill.

What function would God have me fill? Forgiveness.

Forgiveness is being willing to give up making other people and circumstances responsible for our unhappiness. We are not  victims, we are the holy children of God, the Creator.

In Alcoholic Anonymous, it is suggested, in step six, that we be entirely ready to have God remove all our defects of character and all our sins. Rather than get angry, God knows nothing, according to A Course In Miracles, of the nonsense we perpetrate in the world of the ego. God is simply waiting for us to return home after our separation. Giving up the insanity of the world of the ego is what ACIM means by forgiveness.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person but we forget this as we go about our daily lives getting angry at this one or that one, and fearful of what we might lose, and resentful of the things done or not done that we think have made us unhappy. It can be said, “Get over it already.” That’s forgiveness.

Today, it is suggested that whenever we find ourselves annoyed, angry, anxious, guilty that we would exercise our power of forgiveness and return to the peace and joy of God. This is what Love would have us do. This is our function on earth so it can become heaven.

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