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

​When we turn to the spiritual path, it may be driven by a desire to be perfect and have a perfect life, without problems or challenges. However, so often, we do this by making ourselves, or another, wrong.
 
For myself, I also recognise that my underlying, unconscious bias, is to be a people-pleaser. In wanting people to like me I need to be perfect and not make mistakes. Phew what a burden that is!
 
Do you recognise this desire to be perfect as something you have had, or have now? And if so, how is this working for you? Perhaps you know someone who puts this pressure on themselves by making seemingly imperfections wrong.
 
For me, this is not what life is about. My idea of perfect is going to be different to yours anyway. The statement, “Kimerie is perfectly imperfect” is a gentle reminder that the human part of me is not perfect – perhaps it was not even designed to be! For I learn through my challenges and so-called imperfections. (For that matter, who decided something was an imperfection?)
 
When we can accept our ‘imperfect humanity’ without making it wrong, we are more able to connect with the beautiful, radiant potential that is our True Self, our Christ nature. This is already whole and perfect, unaffected by our human experiences. When we gently, and without criticism of our humanity, focus into our divinity, we find ourselves guided through the imperfections to a deeper experience of love and peace, life and healing. We make wise choices for ourselves and each other.
 
I believe this acceptance will bring about greater harmony on the planet. For it creates a healing space for us to behold the divinity within. We are human and divine. Let us not make one aspect of ourselves wrong, for it stops us connecting with the aspect that is holy and pure.
 
Can we let life be AND show up in the best way we can, without pressure or judgement, with our inner light and potential encouraging others to know the same for themselves?
 
How do you want to show up this year? Perhaps laughing at our imperfections and delighting in our inner radiant self, present at the same time!
 
Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Daily Word and Silent Unity UK