A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #350 - Miracles mirror God's eternal Love. To offer them is to remember Him, and through His memory to save the world.

 Lesson #350

Miracles mirror God’s eternal Love. To offer them is to remember Him, and through His memory to save the world.

It’s hard for us as mortals to realize that we were born to save the world. And yet when we forgive, we join with others in Love. Salvation is when everybody loves everybody all the time. We’re on our way. Keep the faith as we move forward.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested in step eleven that we improve our conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation, what today we call “mindfulness.”

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote a respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Today, it is suggested that we offer miracles, that is Love, to everyone and thereby save the world.

Dear Dave: How do you make decisions?

Dear Dave:

What was a decision you’ve had to make which was one-of-a-kind?  Marriage, job, relocation, retirement, divorce, major vacation - etc.   Did you actually think it through, weighing the pros and cons of all sorts ?  Did you ask the advice/opinion of friends and family? Did you just go with the flow and take the first job, proposal, house, or whatever? 

Becky

Dear Becky:

Most of the important decisions I have made in my life I made alone. I asked for advice, opinions, thoughts, feedback and most of it was wrong. Several of the more authoritative people giving me advice not only were wrong, but dead wrong in retrospect which goes to show me that decisions made by groups often are wrong.

In his book Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche wrote, “Insanity in individuals is something rare – but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it’s the rule.” In other words, wisdom can go out the window when individuals form groups.  When we’re solo, we’re usually rational: en masse, not so much.

Reading the current news should give one pause. Was it a good idea to go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq? Were there weapons of mass destruction? Was Covid-19 over in the Spring of 2020 when the weather warmed up. Is it lifesaving to get the Covid-19 vaccine? And I'm sure you can come up with examples of your own when you and your family, community, state were led astray by the group.

I agree with Nietzsche that alone people make better decisions than when they are in groups. Have I ever been wrong when I made a lone decision? Yes, many times, and I always learned from it and made better decisions the next time I was in similar situations.

The Solomon Asch experiments and the Stanley Milgram experiments, two classics in Social Psychology, are very instructive.

Once again I was wrong to say that I usually make important decisions alone. 

I pray about them. 

I attempt to discern God's will for me and for the world.  I ask myself, if I do this or that, is it more likely or less likely that I will become the person that deep down in my heart I believe God has created me to become. Further, if I do this or that is it more likely or less likely that I will do with my life what God is calling me to do?

Lastly, to keep it simple, I ask the question "What would Love have me do and then go from there."

Sincerely,

David Markham

UU and Covid 19 - Has Unitarian Universalism missed the boat in affirming and promoting the truth about public health?

Affirming and promoting truth about public health

The mission of Unitarian Universalism is to nurture the true, the good, and the beautiful in the lives of its adherents and its collaborative partners around the planet. How has UU encouraged the seeking of truth in the time of Covid-19? To what extent have congregations been a source of information and the implementation of practices to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus?

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Has the implementation of this fourth principle had a beneficial influence on the decision making of its members and the communities within which the congregation resides? There seems to be little evidence of the impact of truth especially in red states where governmental policies and the media is filled with misinformation leading people astray. It seems strange that UU leaders have not spoken out more visibly about ways of discerning the truth in the midst of increased community polarization.

Reasonable voices are needed to lead communities to beneficial public health practices based on the scientific knowledge that is available. Could the church be a community leader who informs people and helps them develop the skills to interact with their neighbors and community institutions so that practices based on truth and reason be implemented?

Unfortunately, too many UU churches and the Association have been preoccupied with social justice issues rather than more immediate health challenges affecting the bodies of their members and the people with whom their members interact.

The opportunity to highlight the search for truth in the public health sector has by and large been missed and it is time, with the third wave of Covid infections by the Delta and Lambda variants, for UU congregations to assess, plan, and implement public health activities which impact the physical health of their members and the communities they serve.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #349 - Today I let Christ's vision look upon all things for me and judge them not, but give each one a miracle of love instead.

 Lesson #349

Today I let Christ’s vision look upon all things for me and judge them not, but give each one a miracle of love instead.

There is a recurring theme in these daily lessons. The point is being driven home as we come upon the last two weeks of the year of lessons. The point is that God is love and if we see anything else we could choose a better way of seeing which would be the miracle of love.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we share what we have learned from working the ten previous steps and that is that our ego is not in charge, and turning our willfulness over to our Higher Power is the path to serenity.

In Unitarian Universalism it has been taught for a couple of centuries that God loves us unconditionally and would not condemn any of God’s creations to hell.

Today, it is suggested that we look upon the world with Christ’s vision of love instead of the ego and this form of vision is miraculous.

Dear Dave: What is the role of the wise elder in our contemporary, digital age?

 Dear Dave:

What is the role for the wise elder in our contemporary, digital age?

Thanks for your consideration and attention,

Jerimiah

Dear Jerimiah

 

The question you ask has always been important for societies, but it is especially important in our contemporary age when the world faces such challenging circumstances.

 

There is a model of epistemology that teaches there are three kinds of knowledge: knowing what, knowing how to, and knowing what is wanted for people. Knowing what is ontology. Knowing how to is technology or some call it pragmatics,  and knowing what is wanted for people is values. It is this third area where the role for the wise elder is the most beneficial. It is the wisdom accumulated over the years of experience in being able to discern bullshit from what really matters. 

 

As Osho taught, there is a difference between growing old and growing up. Ken Wilber teaches the same idea. Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Where is this search to take place, and when, and how? It is the role of the wise elder to inform, guide, mentor, encourage, and point to resources.

 

Does Unitarian Universalism have anything unique to offer? 

 

It does. What UU offers is its encouragement to turn to the six sources for perennial wisdom. Unitarian Universalism is unique in its worldcentric view which is moving currently to integral. 

 

However, only a very small percentage of UUs and the earth’s population have yet to develop  an integral view. But there are a few. Look for them. They are around. A good place to start is right here on UU A Way Of Life. Other sources are the work of Ken Wilber, Steve McIntosh, Charles M. Johnston, and a few others. Currently, there are a few wise elders in UU, but they are few and far between and don’t seem to be playing significant roles in the UUA.

 

Are there wise elders that you look to for education, inspiration, encouragement, and guidance?

 

Keep the faith moving forward.

 

Sincerely,

 

David Markham

How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted your spiritual life?

 UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray made a speech on 09/02/21 about something she calls "Ingathering". She reviews the obvious impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on congregations. There is no question that the experience of "church" has changed for most people from all religions and denominations around the world.

And where does this experience of the social disruption leave us UUs as a matter of faith? There was not much described. The statement seems to be more about cheerleading and maintaining organizational morale than about carrying out the mission of nurturing spiritual development in individuals, groups, communities and the world.

Unitarian Universalism is more than membership in a social club. It can be a lived faith which is actualized in our daily lives. How has our UU faith helped people manage themselves given the various stressors that the pandemic has contributed to the lives of individuals and communities?

Let me count the ways.

To be continued

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #348 - I have no cause of fear, for You surround me. And in every need that I perceive, Your grace suffices me.

 Lesson #348

I have no cause for anger of fear, for You surround me. And in every need that I perceive, Your grace suffices me.

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Whose will is to be done: mine or my Transcendent Source? That is the question. Today’s lesson is that the question has been answered as I decide that “Your grace suffices me.”

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step three, that we decide to turn our willfulness over to the care of God as we understand God.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the search for truth and meaning that will finally take us to understanding and choosing God’s will for us.

Today we remind ourselves that we have no cause for anger and fear because we are in God’s hands and God’s grace suffices us.