A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #274 - Today belongs to love. Let me not fear.

 Lesson 274

Today belongs to love. Let me not fear.

A Course in Miracles teaches “The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.” In our contemporary society people rarely use the word “fear” any more. They use the word “anxiety” instead. “Anxiety” disorders are the most frequently diagnosed in psychiatry. Why do you suppose that is?

In Alcoholic Anonymous, it is suggested in step eleven that we improve our conscious contact with God, our Higher Power. Were we to do this would it reduce our fear?

In Unitarian Universalism we join together to affirm and promote a love for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Understanding this big picture, what is there to fear?

Today, we remind ourselves when we are feeling anxious the antidote is Love.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #273 - The stillness of the peace of God is mine.

 Lesson #273

The stillness of the peace of God is mine.

Another word for “stillness” might be contentment. “Contentment” is another word for “happiness.” We could say, “The happiness of God is mine.”

In Alcoholic Anonymous, in step twelve, it is suggested that having had a spiritual awakening as a result of working the steps of the program, that we share it with others. Contentment is infectious. Being a non anxious presence gives people hope that there is a better way to live one’s life here on earth as it is in heaven.

In Unitarian Universalism we promise to each other to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This requires forgiveness and gratitude; the alchemy of combining both brings great peace, contentment, and joy.

Today, we claim our inheritance from our Creator which is love which dissolves any fear. The experience of this love brings unsurpassable peace in our hearts.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #272 - How can illusions satisfy God's Son?

 Lesson #272

How can illusions satisfy God’s Son?

The old World War I song contained the lyric “How are ya gonna keep them down on the farm after they’ve seen gay Pari?” Today’s lesson has a similar idea, how is the ego gonna keep them down in hell after they’ve tasted the Divine?

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with God. People who work the program know that the only thing which deeply satisfies is enhancing awareness with the Divine.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and in this search we learn that the illusions of the world of the ego never satisfy but only the experience of the Divine for which we deeply yearn. It is Love we crave not fear. It is peace and joy we want not anger, resentment, and grievance.

Today, when tempted to seek satisfaction in the things of the ego, it is suggested that we turn away and seek what Love would have us do.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #271 - Christ's is the vision I will use today.

 Lesson #271

Christ’s is the vision I will use today.

Christ’s vision is one of Oneness, of non duality, the absence of separation and division. When the monk asked the hot dog vendor, “Make me one with everything” he was asking not just for a hot dog with the works but Christ’s vision.

The idea of non duality is hard for the Western mind, educated in cause and effect and deconstruction, to grasp, but we know that the whole is bigger than the sum of the parts and today will use the systemic vision of wholeness = holiness.

In Alcoholic Anonymous we are encouraged in step eleven to improve our conscious contact with God which involves using Christ’s vision.

In Unitarian Universalism we affirm and promote the love for the interdependent web of all existence which is Christ’s vision of the wholeness of existence.

Today, it is suggested that we look at the Big Picture and not the separate parts. We are encouraged to heal the divisions, to rise above our separateness. As John Lennon sings in his song Imagine -”Imagine there’s no heaven. It’s easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us, only sky. Imagine all the people, livin’ for today. Imagine there’s no countries. It isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for. And no religion, too. Imagine all the people, livin’ life in peace.” It is this vision of Christ that I will use today.

Rule #1 for life for Unitarian Universalists - Avoid conflict

 Rule #1

 Don’t argue about religion because it’s fine: we’re fine; everything is fine.

Conflict in UU congregations is to be avoided at all costs. Backstabbing and politicking behind the scenes is to be preferred. Avoiding conflict gives the impression that everything’s fine. The UU rule is to pray well with others and any way of praying is A okay. UUs teeter on the brink of narcissistic nihilism. The problem is that if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.

UUs affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The problem is that nobody wants to discuss what "responsible" is.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #270 - I will not use the body's eyes today.

 Lesson #270

I will not use the body’s eyes today.

Johnny Nash sings “I can see clearly now the rain has gone” and today we are encouraged to use our x-ray vision and see with our heart not our physical eyes. And what does the heart see? It sees with God’s vision of love for the world.

In Alcoholics Anonymous, it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation. In other words, we are encouraged to not see with our body’s eyes but with a spiritual vision which is quite different because it is joined with God not with our ego.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and this search involves seeing with other than the body;s eyes. We are encouraged to become aware of our soul which encompasses our body and our mind. The awareness of the soul takes us far beyond the eyes of the body which are nothing compared to the soul’s intuitive wisdom.

Today, we are encouraged to take several moments to “smell the roses” to apprehend far beyond what  images the physical eyes provide. It might be good to close our eyes, or pretend we are blind, and then see what we see.

Rules for life for Unitarian Universalists

                                               Rules of life for Unitarian Universalists

Introduction

Jordan Peterson made a fortune with his book, 12 Rules For Life. The following is an attempt to capitalize on this psychobabble trend. People love rules. It helps them feel secure thinking they know how to act in socially acceptable ways.

Gone are the days of “Miss Manners,” Ann Landers, and Dear Abby and other manuals and advice columns describing proper etiquette. Maybe this is a reason people nowadays seem to sometimes be so darn rude and socially inept. A person can’t follow the rules if they don’t know what they are. So we offer this advice column to help people navigate the increasingly confusing and often disconcerting situations in life.

These rules and manners where possible will be tied to UU principles so that UUs will be able to practice their faith.

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and the encouragement to spiritual growth which is manifested in one’s behavior. Observing and following these rules will make UUs and the world a better place. This effort at self improvement and social improvement does not require special diets or exercise or the practice of any particular religious ritual or ceremony. All it requires is a friendly reminder to others what the rules are when they stray or seem ignorant. Some people nowadays call this “life coaching.” We are all called to be coaches for the betterment of the church and world.

We need to be light hearted and come from a place of humor and curiosity rather from the place of accusation, blame, and judgment. The intent is to include and not exclude by establishing some common understanding about how we should behave in each other’s presence. 

“Hi there. I see from your name tag your name is Bob. Listen Bob you’re new here, right? Just visiting? Well, I thought I’d let you know the suit, especially with the white shirt and tie, isn't necessary. People come here in football jerseys, wife beaters, halter tops, whatever. Rule is you can wear anything you want as long as you’re not bringing in lice or bed bugs.”