Each day through Lent, we have been encouraged to recognise and let go of various ideas, feelings or beliefs that have been holding us back and dimming our light, to reconnect with our beautiful, radiant Christ Self within.
 
Sometimes we can do this easily – we recognise the thought or idea and can let it go. I often experience this as a visceral feeling of relief – I have been set free, which is powerful indeed.
 
In my experience however, when it is a long-held belief or deep-seated feeling, that is not so easy to release. It takes repeated practice as we learn new ways of responding and being, alongside patience and compassion with ourselves.
 
Sometimes, feelings can arise and take us over, so that we find ourselves stuck, perhaps even in a downward spiral. It is important, at times like this, not to make the experience wrong or push it away. Instead, we can use this as an opportunity to ask for help and support, by connecting with others in prayer and call the Silent Unity prayer line.
 
Connecting with one of our prayer volunteers, who responds with compassion, understanding and faith in God’s presence in the midst, helps us know we are not alone. Instead, praying together, we can know God as love and healing is with us and working through us, enabling us to experience our way through to freedom.
 
If ever you find yourself in a challenging or difficult situation/experience, Silent Unity is always here for you. To help you through the hard times and celebrate the good times. Our prayers are always confidential and faithfully continue for thirty days.
 
You are also welcome to join us on Zoom and share our prayer meetings each day. This experience of united prayer builds a sense of family, love and support. We are strengthened and empowered to live happy, healthy lives.
 
Prayer changes us. Let our united prayers support you and return you back to your beautiful, radiant Christ Self.
 
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit."
John 15:7-8

Rev Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK

Have you ever found yourself praying for an easy life? Rather like Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane – take this cup from me. Yet Jesus almost immediately repudiated this by adding, not my will but thy will be done.
 
It can feel like the hardest thing, surrendering into God’s will, as so often we think that God’s will for us will be different from our own. Yet the divine in us, our Tue Self, is already in alignment with Divine will – that inner desire, nudge, or knowing, is Spirit seeking to express through us. Thus, when we pray for an easy life, we are getting in the way of Spirit flowing through us. We are potentially blocking our good.
 
Of course, our egocentric minds believe they know best. They definitely shout the loudest! Further, no one wants to experience a hard life full of struggle and pain. Yet that is not God’s will, or desire for us. Instead, it is that we fulfil our potential, to live creative and loving lives, just as you, I am sure, also want for you. And truthfully, we do that by facing the hard times with God at our core, becoming stronger, clearer, confident and alive with Spirit.
 
So how about, instead of praying for an easy life, we pray to stay open to God’s will; affirm strength and guidance; that we listen for and be receptive to Spirit-nudges, that may take us out of our comfort zone, but are only here for our good.
 
My prayer for all of us is that we know God more fully, let God be the light within which guides and strengthens us, the love that connects us and the life that energises us, so we can be the blessing in the world we came here to be.
 
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." Mt. 26:39
 
Rev Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK

​​“Turn to the other side of your nature. You are both human and divine. There is that in you that can never be hurt, that is always poised and peaceful, that knows your spiritual unity with God and knows no-one can take your good from you” – ERIC BUTTERWORTH, from Discover the power within you.
 
Some days when I am anxious, I can’t face making dinner or cleaning the bathroom. So I go to the kitchen, and I lay out the chopping board and the onion and then I just walk away. I take a cloth to the bathroom, and I just polish one tap. Because I know I need to keep moving. Even when it’s hard. Doing that one tiny thing is me rising up and reclaiming my power. Yes, I have anxiety, but I also have other parts of me too. Those who deserve time and nourishment. It is for those parts of me that I write this.
 
Plurality of causes. Anxiety is both response and symptom but not cause. The development of an anxiety disorder can be caused by multiple factors. Personality type, behavioural conditioning, biology, life experiences, lifestyle, diet and overall mental health. For a “sensitive” person, who feels empathy and emotions deeply it is easy to be influenced negatively by outside energy, but, it is also true that this sensitive person will also experience joy and beauty in the world more easily and deeply too.
 
What first appears to be a weakness can be looked at as a superpower.
 
Worrying in its evolutionary and biological capacity has arguably been advantageous for humans. Awareness for survival in a wild world was necessary. A fantastic application to outsmart a mountain lion but with new threats like nuclear wars, mortgage rises and global warming, anxiety can become a burden. So, with the awareness of what can happen if anxiety becomes the only running programme within the body. How do we awaken the other parts of ourselves?
 
Where attention goes, Energy flows.
 
I purposely plan into my days and weeks, healing activities which nourish the parts of myself that I want to see more of. The artist, the chef, the lover, the wild fierce woman who would fight a bear for her children. She’s in there. I just need to shift my focus and call her forward.
 
‘…for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline’ – 2 Timothy Ch 1 vs 7
 
Stefanie Bridges
Unity finance officer

It is glorious, as I walk around our neighbourhood, to see the trees blossoming and hear the birds singing, calling to attract their mate – especially when the sun is shining as it is today.
 
The combination really lifts the heart – we are so connected to nature. Indeed, we are part of nature – it is not separate from us, as the same life force that flows through us, flows through all of life. Yet we can get so busy or distracted, we seem to lose touch with this. I see people walk around looking at their phones, oblivious to life around them; or with ear buds in, listening to something or someone that is elsewhere.
 
However, Spring demands our attention. There is a newness of life and energy. If we stop and be still, that energy fills us and lifts us. We really do feel part of something greater than ourselves – for we are part of something that is greater than ourselves.
 
I encourage all of us to go out into nature, or even into a local street, and appreciate the trees coming into bud or blossom. Listen for the birds. As you connect with life and nature, what is happening inside you? Do you get a sense of newness filling you? Perhaps you feel a nudge to start something new; get outside more; feel a pull in a new direction. Newness takes many forms – and they are good for us. We have taken time to rest in the darker months of winter – now we can spring forth, paraphrasing our co-founder Charles Fillmore, to do with enthusiasm and zeal, whatever is ours to do.
 
And if you think – I am too old for that – he was in his 90’s when he spoke it.
 
You may even feel inspired (I do hope so) to come and visit us when we bring Unity to you. We really want to meet as many people as we can in person and share the joy of affirmative prayer and Daily Word. These tools really can, and do, change lives.
 
So, this Spring, allow a sense of newness to fill you. Reconnect with life and see where it takes you. It could be wonderful and good. Then, please share with us how Spring is uplifting you.
 

​Today’s Daily Word reminds us about the power of letting go. Today also happens to be the date of the memorial service being held for Dorothy Kirkman, who was our musical director extraordinaire, at Unity Maidenhead.
 
Most of you will not know Dorothy, but everyone, I am sure, has experienced someone dear to them leaving this human experience and moving on to ‘the next room of life’ as described by Unity co-founder, Myrtle Fillmore.
 
To me, this is a beautiful way of describing the soul journey. At some point, we all leave our human bodies behind, which sets our soul free to continue its exploration and discovery of what it is true for them.
 
Yet letting someone go, who is ready to move on, can be so hard to do. We want them to remain with us – to regain their health and life, even if they do not want to. My dear Unity friend, Isabel Compton was one such example. She was ready to move on, before I was ready to let her go. But as soon as I did, with only love in my heart, she went. The same happened with my dad. The same night I said to mum, he wants to move on, we must let him go, he left us. It was still a huge shock. And grieving followed of course. But love will always encourage us to let people go.
 
It is not our right to hold on to someone. There is a saying I often recommend to others: I love you, I bless you and I let you go to your good. They either stay, or they go – but they chose.
 
Today, if you have let someone go, and you miss them, grieving is natural response – of course we miss them. But also know, you have given and received the greatest gift – love. Nothing can remove this – it is a constant that goes with us, beyond this life to the next experience. And if, like Isabel, my dad and me, you believe in the soul going on, then it makes the grieving easier. We miss them, but love is eternal. 
 
John 16:28 "I came from the father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the father."
 
Rev Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK

The conditioned mind.
 
As children we are like sponges, absorbing the words and feelings that we hear and receive from our families, teachers, and people we know are important in our lives – so that we can make them our own.
 
Many of these are, hopefully, beliefs and ideas that serve us and support us in living happy, fulfilling lives. Yet many times we take onboard ideas that limit and restrict us. So much so, that we do not even realise we have done this. Our minds are programmed, our responses fine-tuned, and our lives set.
 
Well, this is not for me! For some time now, I have known I do not want to be limited by old ideas that no longer serve me. Our Lenten booklet is taking us through such examples right now.
 
Yet, I also know, how hard it is to even recognise we have limiting beliefs and ideas, let alone change them! Our egoic mind - that in us that is formed to keep us safe in an unsafe world (it believes) - will do all it can to stop us from changing our minds! It makes us right and everyone else wrong.
 
Whenever I experience an inner painful kick-back response, triggered by something someone has said or done in this present time, I recognise this is in response to old conditioning and beliefs I still hold onto, for example, there is not enough time/money/support etc. And I am being called out of my conditioning to respond in a new way. I am being invited to grow, in other words.
 
One example for me is the thought – I can never do enough and whatever I do is not good enough. I recognise this comes from old school reports. Even though there were often positive statements, all I remember is – she could do better! Literally.
 
Sometimes I can hear myself repeating my mother’s thoughts and words. So, I have learned to say back (to me) that is not me it is my mother speaking. And this can now change.
 
Whenever I feel hurt by something someone says or does, I can now ask: do I want to respond through my pain and stay stuck, or do I want to experience this differently? Choosing to respond differently invites us to go beyond our conditioned mind. To experience ourselves more beautifully and fully; unlimited and open to new possibilities and adventures.
 
Next time you experience a hurtful feeling or idea, take a moment to get re-centred in God-awareness (The father and I are one). Breathe into and through whatever is happening and say to yourself: I choose to experience this differently. Be willing to let go of the conditioned mind and know, limitless possibilities await you. Then step back, and watch the changes unfold through you. A miracle awaits us today.
 
Rev Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK

Paul and I have just returned from a wonderful 3 weeks in beautiful Sedona, Arizona. It is a sacred place, valued by the Native Indians in America for hundreds of years before ‘the white man’ came. And it remains a place of beauty, upliftment and wonder to this day.
 
As I walked around, enjoying the energy of Sedona, I realised I wanted to share some of it with you on my return, along with the idea that this earth is sacred: how important it is to value, experience and give back to it.
 
There are very few places of sacred awe and wonder left which fill, uplift, inspire and reconnect us to the experience of being One with Life. Yet it is perhaps the easiest way to experience Oneness and feel part of something greater than us – something we speak about a lot in Unity.
 
Awe and wonder open our hearts and minds, so that we feel part of All That Is, experienced through our sacred earth and in ancient places of prayer.
 
I encourage all of us to take time to physically go and connect with places of beauty on this planet – places which inspire and uplift. With so much going on around us, it can be easy to slip into doubt and even despair. But connecting with our sacred earth and places of ancient prayer can reconnect us to the eternal life force that flows in and through all life.
 
Then we can share our energy in return and support these places – help keep them alive and accessible. The more that we all feel part of something greater than ourselves, which is good and true, the more we will come together and enable harmony and peace in the world.
 
What can you do to support and connect with, our sacred earth?
 
Rev Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK

Part of a big breakthrough for me recently was realising that I am not just healing to “remove” my pain or to cope better. I am healing to accept joy more freely, to re-open my doors and wounds to the clean fresh air. To welcome love, deeper into me with an unguarded heart.

Yes, healing is messy. Being human is messy.

My path through life will wind and weave, I will find fallen branches blocking my way and my feet will probably get sore some days, but would I prefer it to feel no pain? What if I did not miss those I care for? What if I could not hear my body when it tells me I need to rest? What if I felt nothing for those who need help? Would I have empathy? Perhaps I do need this experience of pain – perhaps it is necessary for processing information. For being human.
Instead of the enemy, I have tried recently to see my pain as more of skill to be nurtured, a tool of discernment, helping me work out which bit of my garden I need tend to next. Perhaps I will visit the fear of abandonment summer house or the pond of not being good enough. I am unsure.

​I hope though, as I navigate my path, I can accept that what hurts can also live alongside what feels amazing. That love and pure joy can wrap an arm around my wounded parts as they all live together in harmony. In peace. As we all walk along the path together, deciding where to go next.
Where do you want to go next?
 
Stefanie Bridges
Unity staff

​….or, at least, I have the opportunity to be! In Unity, we talk about the power of Order (one of the 12 powers). In Divine Audacity, Linda Martella-Whitsett defines Order as the power of organisation, adjustment and evolution. Charles Fillmore asserted that ‘Order is the first Law of the universe. Indeed there could be no universe unless its parts were kept in perfect order’. Genesis tells us that God brought order from the ‘formless void’ and from that all that exists came into being. Within all of this there is the implication of guidance, a divine path forward that we may take if only we would stop and listen.
 
In a recent conversation, a friend told of how she felt she had made poor decisions in the past but that by following divine guidance through prayer and allowing her future to unfold she has now found a place of deep knowing within herself. If you’re like me, it’s too often a case of ‘it’s OK you can stand aside God, I’ll deal with this!’.


​Of course, this fails to realise that I AM ONE in consciousness and that every time I turn to the ego for a path forward I am denying the One true power that is always there to assist me.
 
In John 16:13, Jesus promised that ‘the Spirit of Truth…will guide you into all Truth’. This is a promise made by our way-shower that divine guidance will always be with us, available to us whenever we choose to draw upon it. But, we each need to make the choice to do so. It is so easy for me to think that I know what’s best and to fail to turn within. But, when I do turn within, pray, listen and act accordingly, it always turns out better than I would have thought.
 
So, I encourage you (and me!!) to do as my friend did and allow divine guidance to light your path and have faith that it will be the best way forward.
 
Rev. Paul Mapletoft
Unity minister