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Wednesday Meditation: 7:00 PM Table Talk Thursday: 12:00 PM Sunday Service: 10:45 AM Sunday Social: 12:00 PM
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| | | | Our
WINGS group met in the UCC Cafe on Tuesdays for many years. Now that
we're sheltering in place, the group really misses sharing their
inspiring weekly studies.
Since our WINGS group leader, UCC Certified
Truth Teacher, Cynthia Mackey, began to send out weekly emails to the
group, we asked if we might share her messages with our entire email list so that more people could enjoy
them.
You're very welcome to send questions or positive comments to
Cynthia at: info@unityofclearwater.org. |
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Hi, Everyone,
I hope this day finds all of you safe and well.
I recently took an online survey that was sent to me about my mental and emotional health during this pandemic period. One of the questions was asking if I had experienced any bad dreams during this time of isolation. I answered, “No,” but then I began to reflect that I had experienced some unusual dreams – several of which were about funerals and funeral homes. I was a little disturbed, but then I realized the news has been filled with more stories about people dying from Covid-19 as well as the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and so many more. There have been many grieving folks on the TV screen which may have been weighing on my thoughts. So, this morning I was comforted by the reading in the Daily Word.
This morning’s reading was titled “Comfort” and the affirmation is, “I am forever one with those I love, I am comforted.” The text goes on to say that, “even during times when I feel at my lowest, I am never, truly alone. The infinite, unconditional love of God lives in my heart and is always as close as my next breath…..I am one with God, one with Divine Love.” These are comforting words when many of us feel isolated.
The idea of comfort also made me think of the Sermon on the Mount – when Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” At the present moment, some of us may feel a sense of mourning or sorrow for what we feel we have lost. We may feel we have lost our old life – our ability to go about our day talking with and hugging and being around our friends, family, co-workers, students, teachers, fellow church members and much more. We may miss our ability to travel and meet new people……to eat in restaurants and yes, to listen to our beloved live music in local and even distant venues. Some of us are among those who are grieving the loss of someone close to us. However, suffering and sorrow are not of God. Emmet Fox reminds us of that in his book, The Sermon on the Mount. The whole first part of the book discusses the Beatitudes found in the Gospel of Matthew. On page 23 of his book, Fox discusses the Beatitude mentioned above. He goes on to say that sometimes we, as human beings, must go through times of pain and sorrow in order to be driven to seek God. It is not God who requires this, but our own attitudes. Fox says, “Most people will not undertake the search for God wholeheartedly unless driven thereto by trouble of some kind.” However, trouble is not a requirement – we can always seek God first, then the trouble does not have to come.
It appears that presently, humanity, in general, has chosen the path through the trouble rather than to seek God first. So, there are many lessons out there to be “learned through.” The good news always is that God is right here right now ready to comfort us as we learn our way through our personal struggles as well as contribute to the understanding of the society as a whole. By “comfort,” Emmet Fox says the Bible means the Presence of God, the end of all mourning and sorrow.
Many religions and churches seem to have focused on a crucified Christ on the cross. But, the Bible gives us, and Unity teaches us, a Risen Christ, triumphant over all obstacles – a Father’s House of many mansions, meaning many opportunities for us to raise our consciousness.
So, for this week, my hope for all of us is that we can learn our way through this experience; because the key to higher “mansions” or levels of consciousness is dominion over this present one. Let’s listen to the medical experts, take personal responsibility and love one another! I believe we are well on our way through this pandemic, one day at a time. One lesson at a time!
Love and Peace,
Cynthia |
| | | Your Weekly Affirmation:
TRUSTING AND RESTING IN THE AWARENESS OF GOD’S PEACE, I AM STILLED AND I AM HEALED.
THANK YOU, GOD! |
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