A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #64, Let me not forget my function.

 Lesson #64

Let me not forget my function.

This lesson, #64, is as straightforward a statement of the purpose of our lives as there can be. It is very simple: to forgive. Forgiveness is being willing to give up making other people and circumstances responsible for my unhappiness. When we think that things on the path of the ego are responsible for our unhappiness we are sorely mistaken. It is our decision to make it so that is the source of our unhappiness. We have chosen to play the victim. God’s sons and daughters cannot be victims. We are loved unconditionally. When we make this mistake of blaming others, we give our power away. The ego has tempted us to blame, to accuse, to try to make guilty, and it creates a hell. The saying is “You can either laugh or cry.” It is better to laugh, rise above, and forget the blaming and accusations, and take responsibility for our own peace of mind.

In Alcoholics Anonymous we are encouraged through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand God, praying for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out. In the words of A Course In Miracles that is our function and it is manifested in forgiveness of the opposite when we have succumbed to the temptations of the ego.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote seven principles and the application of these principles require us to perform our function which is forgiveness for the times we have pursued the idols of the ego rather than the things of the Spirit. It is this covenant and the practice of the principles which UUs believe is their function and if this function were boiled down to one word it would be forgiveness. Forgiveness for the mistakes we have made pursuing the things of the ego rather than the things of the soul which first and foremost is articulated in the first principle which is the affirmation and promotion of the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Today we are asked to start the day with a 10 - 15 minute review of our experience carrying out our function of forgiveness and then many times during the day to remind ourselves especially if we find ourselves experiencing anger, resentment, fear, and guilt that forgiveness is our function.

Thoughts about #Unfit: The Psychology Of Donald Trump and Unitarian Universalism

 Last night I watched #Unfit: The Psychology Of Donald Trump.

Will undecided voters watch it? Maybe.

Will Trump voters watch it? No.

Will anti Trumpers watch it? Yes.

The things highlighted in the documentary are already well known. There is nothing new here for people who follow politics and the news.

The interesting thing for Unitarian Universalists is how anti UU principles Trump and his administration are. If you were looking for the anti-Christ you have found him in Donald Trump and his minions.

Do the Trumpists bring an opposing world view to the Unitarian Universalist view? Yes, there could not be a starker contrast.

Perhaps we UUs would do well to highlight these contrasts. In order to do this, we have to name the sins of the Trumpers. Once we have named the sins, then we must warn others of the danger and articulate a better way. This better way isn't often coherently stated by UUs. However, all one need do is review our seven principles which is rarely done when sermons focus on social justice issues and psycho-babble. Until UUs dig deeper to excavate the spiritual gold of their tradition and share it, the Trumpers will dominate the national conversation.

Take a look at the documentary, and leave your thoughts in the comments.

Spiritual Book Discussion - Spirituality is a protective factor in adolescent development.

 Topic Twenty One

Spirituality as a protective factor in adolescent development.

In fact, my lab’s research and a growing body of scientific literature about adolescent development shows that spirituality is the most robust protective factor against the big three dangers of adolescence: depression, substance abuse, and risk taking. In short, adolescents who have a personal sense of spirituality are 80 percent less likely to suffer from ongoing and recurrent depressions and 60 percent less likely to become heavy substance users or abusers. Girls with a sense of personal spirituality are 70 percent less likely to have unprotected sex. In the entire realm of human experience, there is no single factor that will protect your adolescent like a personal sense of spirituality. The totality of recent, cutting-edge research paints a definitive and unambiguous picture: the adolescent brain is a spiritual brain, primed for development and responsive to the protective benefits of personal spirituality. 

Miller, Dr. Lisa. The Spiritual Child (pp. 208-209). St. Martin's Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

Spiritual health is just as important as physical health, social health, intellectual health for positive adolescent development. All people want to be happy especially teen agers, and if you ask them what will make them happy they often mention idols in the world of the ego such as money, friends, romance, academic and athletic achievement, or getting to the next level in the current video game enthrallment.

What do we do as parents and adults to foster spiritual development? Remember spiritual development is more important than training in a religious tradition. Spirituality has been defined as a relationship with the Transcendent Source of one’s existence.

Questions

1. What words and names do you use to talk about spiritual ideas with your child?
2. Are there spiritual practices which you engage in with your children on a regular basis?
3. To what extent do you think your children, grandchildren, students, turn inward to their Higher Power as a means of handling stress and turmoil in their life?

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #63, The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.

 Lesson #63

The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.

The three big existential questions are: Why was I born? What is the purpose of my life? What happens when I die? The lesson today answers the second question. The purpose of your life is to bring peace to every mind through forgiveness.

The ninth step of Alcoholics Anonymous suggests that where it would do no further harm we make amends to people we have harmed through our egotistical behavior.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. In these affirmations we release other people from any obligation or expectation that they should make us happy. We are here to give not to take.

Every time we are annoyed, angered, anxious, resentful, hurt, we are given a forgiveness opportunity. We can say like Jesus, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” They are acting out on the path of the ego and have not yet turned onto the path of Love.

If we are to practice today’s lesson we can ask ourselves, “What would love have me do?” And the answer would be along the lines of “The light of the world brings peace to every mind through your forgiveness.”

Think about this today - this idea that through your forgiveness you bring peace to minds of people around you in the world. When the opportunity arises, extend your forgiveness in your own mind and be blessed by the peace it brings.

Good News for 10/18/20 - Men in Brockport risk their lives to help others caught in apartment building fire.

UU Pop socket for smart phone and tablet. Buy one for yourself and they make great gifts.

 

A Course In Miracles Lesson #62, Forgiveness is my function in the light of the world.

 Lesson #62

Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.

“Forgiveness” is one of those vague words like “truth,” “beauty”, “honor” that sound good but when you try to unpack the meaning of the word we seem to be left with little that is satisfying and fulfilling.

Forgiveness as defined in A Course of Miracles as the willingness to give up making other people and circumstances responsible for our unhappiness. Forgiveness is to be willing to no longer play the victim and to rise above whatever is fearful, frustrating, annoying, hurtful. Jesus says, as the Romans are killing Him, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” That takes a big person. Talk about rising above attack. Wow! I wish I could be that big a person,

In Alcoholics Anonymous we are asked in step four to do a fearless moral inventory and admit to God, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. We are ready to give these wrongs up to the Transcendent Power of the Universe by making amends where it would do no further harm. This is self forgiveness which for some people can be the hardest kind of forgiveness of all. Once we forgive ourselves, we then find forgiveness a more readily available response to others.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. The path to the achievement of this goal is forgiveness. In forgiving ourselves and others, these acts of compassion restore the equity and sense of justice that we seek. The justice, of course, is not of this ego world, but in the world of the soul where the interdependent web of existence is experienced and loved.

Today, take five minutes at the beginning of the day and at the end, and as many times as the thought arises throughout the day and say to yourself with reverence and awe, “Forgiveness is my function in the light of the world.”

My kind of church music

Don't Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush