|
Brought up in traditional Christianity, I was taught that as human beings, we are sinners who must keep apologising for our mistakes, with Jesus as the only son of God. Is this a message you heard, or continue to relate to? Those of you who have been reading these weekly thoughts, know that I rejected church as a child, as I rejected this ethos. Even as a teenager, I believed we are all beloved of God, all children of God and here to somehow find God in our personal experience. I moved into the practice of meditation, although struggled to keep my mind silent and still, let alone sitting cross-legged on the floor for longer than five minutes! When I came into Unity, messages like the one today were not just mind and heart-opening, they shifted me entirely. Here at last was an organisation that was expanding my thinking and experience - opening me into a way of life and living that would 'set me free'. Set me free from what? From my little self. I invite you this week, to use this affirmation as an 'I am' statement: I am the vehicle through which God-awareness flows. Write it down in your journal and spend a few minutes each day writing your thoughts that flow from this one. They could be anything from, 'no way is this true' to the deep realisation that Jesus taught us all: 'The father and I are one'. Just sit, keep writing and see what comes forth from within you. Make this personal and real for you. Jesus came to show us the way for us to have our own personal experience of God - and to know, as author and Unity minister Eric Butterworth wrote: Within every person is the unborn possibility of limitless growth, and ours is the privilege of giving birth to it. (Celebrate Yourself) In his letter to the Colossians Paul wrote it this way: ... the mystery hidden for ages and generations... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (1:26,27) Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft, Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK Are you new to Unity and would like to know more? We have a wealth of booklets and books on the subject! 
0 Comments
As we say so often in Unity, prayer is the cornerstone of our teachings and practices, because prayer changes us.
Why? Perhaps because, as Unity minister and author Eric Butterworth wrote, “Prayer in Unity is designed to help us discover God’s presence. …. As we get a greater perception of our relation to the universe, there is no one to pray to … only a universal flow to get into; a spiritual energy to pray from ... The science of prayer is not a technique for getting into God, or for getting God into us. It is the awareness of our true self in its largest possible context and the key to changing things by altering our self-limiting attitudes.” (The Universe is Calling Ch. 1) Take a moment to reflect on this quote, for there is a lot here. Was this something that was taught to you as a child? Certainly, I did not experience prayer this way, which was probably why prayer did not work for me, until I re-discovered Unity. Like me, I think many people were taught to pray to a God-presence outside themselves, begging for things to be different and to get God’s attention; praying from a sense of unworthiness and lack. This is perhaps why so many in the world today do not pray until they are desperate and feel they have nowhere else to turn. Not as powerful, loving or connecting an experience as prayer can be. Of course, as children, we take onboard the self-limiting beliefs of our parents, guardians and teachers, and they the same before them. As children we are like sponges, for without even realising it we soak up and take on the beliefs and demands of our community and culture, to fit in and stay safe. How understandable this is. Yet as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13: 11-12, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” We are called to know ourselves as God knows us – not as someone unworthy, but as made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). Prayer in Unity, along with meditation, is the way we can deeply access God-within and our True Self. Does this speak to you personally? If this sounds interesting and you would like to know more, join us on Zoom to share:
Prayer changes us – let yourself be changed to release the divine flow, the Christ energy within you.
Do you relate to this message in any way? I know that at times I have felt overwhelmed, when it seemed everything was changing. Yet I have also recognised the call to come higher; to open into and connect with the God-energy, which is greater than me, yet is always here. This focusing on God as my life, love, wisdom and peace, has been my comfort, joy and peace. How do we make the connection that Myrtle writes? We stop, turn our attention away from the distractions or problems of the world, to pray words of love and support and then listen to the still, small voice within, before taking new action and thinking new thoughts. Emmett Fox called this The Golden Key. Prayer is the heart of Unity. This month, you can join us in Unity and be part of our annual World Day of Prayer, Thursday 8th September, when tens of thousands of people around the world will be joining in conscious, connected prayer. Why pray? Again, we turn to Myrtle Fillmore who wrote (Healing Letters P35), “Prayer, as Jesus Christ understood and used it, is communion with God; the communion of the child with his Father; the splendid confidential talks of the son with the Father. This communion is an attitude of heart and mind that lifts the individual into a wonderful sense of oneness with God, who is Spirit, the source of every good and perfect thing, and the substance that supplies all the child’s needs, social needs, mental needs, physical needs, or needs of a financial nature. Positive declaration of the truth of one’s unity with God sets up a new current of thought power, which delivers one from the old beliefs and their depression. And when the soul is lifted up and becomes positive, the body and the affairs are readily healed.” Prayer, through the letting go of old thoughts, doubts or fears, followed by claiming and knowing our good, are the tools we use to support us in our life as we move from the old to the new – a larger, brighter, more joyful life-experience, for ourselves and everyone around us. Prayer changes us As we say in Unity, prayer changes us. Further, by consciously choosing to connect with others at the same time and in the same way, through Unity’s World Day of Prayer, we are open to experience the deeper changes and good we seek in our world. At this time on our planet, there is a profound call for us to awaken into our true Christ identity. To live more deeply, the light and truth we are, and hereby helping others do the same. It is together that we awaken; together that we experience love and joy; together we experience peace. So join us for our annual World Day of Prayer and share in the experience of moving from one room, into a lighter, larger place of being.
At my niece’s memorial gathering, so many of her friends stood up and said how caring and thoughtful she was to them, and how much fun it was to be with her. Yet I know my niece did not experience herself in this way. In fact, I suspect the opposite was true for her, which, along with the love, does sadden my heart. Most of us have no idea how much impact we have on each other in a good way. If anything, we tend to criticise and condemn ourselves for not being good enough: for failing in some way. When instead most people would tell us we bring much more good to their lives than we realise. Instead of closing down to love, even if it may feel painful as it can sometimes when we are grieving, may I suggest that each of us spend time each day opening, softening and allowing in Love, as a gift for us to receive and come to know as our truth. Then, to find some way of sharing love to our human, animal or plant kingdoms. There is no doubt that when we give, we receive. Indeed some studies have shown that we only deeply feel love when we share love with another. For, as the song 'There is only love' says, love heals us and sets us free. Let us all know together, there is only love – it is our True Self, our Christ Spirit. Find as many ways as you can, with humility and gentleness, to receive the love that is given and share the love you are. Know that you are part of an amazing experience that can only bring good into the world. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft, Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK PS Please share this post with anyone whom you think may receive it. "I relax, I relax, I relax" The very first step in our meditation process is relaxation, which fits in perfectly with todays ‘National Relaxation Day.’ In her book, ‘Effectual Prayer’ Frances Foulkes guides us through a simple and extremely effective way to relax our bodies, minds and hearts, before we move into prayer or meditation… To our head, facial muscles, cheeks, mouth, lips etc, we say, relax, relax, relax. Let the breathing deepen and slow as relaxation flows… To our neck and shoulders, arms, hands and fingers we say, relax, relax, relax… Slowly and consciously, we take our attention through the body, inviting every muscle, organ and fibre of our being into relaxation. It is a beautiful way to ease tension away, which then enables renewed energy to flow as healing, peace, life, love, etc. Today, you are invited to relax, relax, relax… This is also a fabulous technique to help relax and ease you into sleep, cosy and comfortable in bed. To experience this relaxation technique in person, join us for our Thursday evening meditation or our Sunday morning Daily Word prayer and meditation, as we are currently using this method to relax and lead us into our meditation together. Together we ease into relaxation and let the healing energy flow. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft, Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK PS Please share this post and video to anyone whom you think may receive it. 
‘And God said, “Let there be light and there was light. God said the light was good.”’
In Matthew 5:14 Jesus tells his disciples, ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.’ How many times are we actually encouraged to find the light of God already here within us? Moreover, not as a separate identity, not as a raisin is in a bun, as Unity minister and author, Eric Butterworth wrote, but as the wave is of the ocean – one with God as our Source and Being. This is where I simply love Unity. For we are encouraged to discover and reveal our divine light, power, love and life that is the activity of God, waiting to find perfect expression within and as us. It is the gift given unconditionally to us all. It is the divine flow, waiting to be engaged, so that our united good can emerge. Thus, our practice becomes looking for and seeing the light within ourselves and each other; no matter how someone is expressing themselves. The Gospel of Matthew reminds us that when we seek, we find – when done sincerely of course! The important message is that we find and reveal our light together. For no matter how much we try, we are not supposed do this alone. Jesus had 12 disciples for a reason. When life is difficult or challenging, we help, support and encourage each other. We pray with each other. When life goes well, we celebrate with each other. In my current role as Chair of the Association of Unity leaders and ministries UK, I witness the many ways that our Unity leaders, in the UK and overseas, encourage everyone to shine their light, as well as come together to support each other as members of our Unity UK association. In my role as Director of Daily Word and our prayer ministry, Silent Unity UK, I witness the good reports and feedback we get from our readers and callers, about how much these services support and enrich lives. Recently I facilitated a 10-hour course on metaphysics. We had 11 students from eight different countries. Anywhere else, I may have wondered how we might get on. Would we even understand each other? However, in Unity, there was no doubt. For we all wanted the same thing – a real and personal experience of God to help us live a transformed life. That united desire and intention brought us together to listen, learn and reveal the light that we are – the light within us all. Together, let us pray, celebrate and shine our light. For as we do, our light becomes brighter and clearer. Together, we experience our good. We recently successfully and I must say, joyfully completed a Unity study course on metaphysics, with eleven students joining from seven different countries and backgrounds, including Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. One might think that with all these different cultures, upbringing and languages, there may have been a problem connecting and understanding each other. Let alone agreeing with each other! However, what became inherently clear was that we all wanted the same thing: we were seeking God as a real and personal experience to help us live a transformed life. Charles Fillmore, Unity co-founder, said that everyone is looking for God. If we take the word ‘God’ out of the sentence and insert goodness, love, wisdom, joy, fulfilment, peace, which are the ways in which we experience God in our midst, we would probably all agree. For inherently we are all the same – we all want to have loving relationships, fulfilling lives, live in freedom not fear, live with abundance instead of poverty, live in harmony with nature and life around us. When we can understand that God as Presence or Pure Awareness is constant, unchanging, available to everyone all the time to connect us with our true abiding selves and therefore our good, as we explained in our metaphysics class, we find we are united. We are all the same. We are all one within the One. Let us find our common ground. Let us seek to connect with each other and see the similarities not the perceived differences. Together, we experience our good. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft, Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK PS Please forward on this email to those you think may receive it. 
However, in life how often do you find yourself pushing for something that really does not want to happen? We may have ideas about what another person would do well to know or do. Or we may be so focused on a particular goal, that we miss what is actually right in front of us and potentially better for us. I have found that, instead of pushing for something to happen, or pushing someone to do something I want them to do, I allow God as light, wisdom and love, to work through me and those around me, so our good naturally unfolds. Yes, I plan and put things into action, but then I let go and let the God-energy move through the whole experience. This way, the right people show up, at the right time and in the right way. Recently we had to postpone our Summer Service get-together at Maidenhead, due to the weather. Several people have since told me that this is better for them anyway. For our forthcoming August retreat, I have requested more rooms. In both cases, I organise, let go and know that the flow of divine order, as highest good, is working through us all. It is so much easier! I invite you to allow the good to flow – let God be God through you – guiding you from within to the next step or decision. Less pulling or pushing and more allowing. You will find you have more energy to actually do what you want to do. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft, Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK PS Please share this post to those you think may receive it. Click on the facebook or twitter links media below. Thank you
The Silence is often thought to be the most important subject Unity teaches. The fundamental starting point in our journey of awakening.
It is a practice within meditation and an experience of No Mind. For it takes us beyond the monkey mind, (thoughts jumping, mind never still, distracted by the world) to the deep residing experience of Oneness - One Mind, One Heart, One Being, where there is only stillness and deep abiding Awareness. It is here, in the Silence, that we come to know our Oneness with All That Is; our True Self, our Christ Nature. And it is out of the Silence that all true inspiration, realisation and knowing comes forth. It is from this experience that Jesus was able to say,"The father and I are one." (John 10:30) along with all the other 'I am' statements that declared the Truth of his being - and ours! We don't search for this experience, but gently invite the mind to stillness, using the repeated use of one word or sound, like Love, Peace, Shalom. Abba, Om, to help the mind move naturally beyond the word and the monkey mind, to stillness and deep abiding Presence. This is the most important journey we can ever make - the journey within. Take time each day, to practice going into the Silence and experiencing the wisdom, love, joy and peace that is the result. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft, Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK PS Please share this post with those you think may receive it.
Our True self, our Christ nature is beautiful, still, whole and free, unencumbered by this world - yet all we seem to do as human beings is get caught up in the world, thinking we have to find solutions and fix everything.
This is especially so when we are struggling. Yet this is the time, perhaps more than any other, when it is important to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). When we can learn to be present to our human self (the suffering and the beauty that we experience) we can be present to our True self, for the One comes through our human experiences. Being present to our suffering does not sound logical. But as we give ourselves permission to simply be present to our self, whatever we are experiencing, we find we can be present to our Self - for this is our true nature, the ground of Being - the experience of God living in, through and as us. Give yourself permission to rest in Being (where 'The Father and I are one' John 10:30). Let prayer, meditation, mindfulness, nature, be the tools to help your mind be still. For here, all the good, all the love, all the wisdom, all the comfort and peace we need, is found. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft, Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK |
AuthorUnity in the UK Archives
September 2022
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed