October 26, 2014 – Transitions

10/26/14 Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
Transitions

Look at what’s going on—ebola and terrorism in our own country, even changes in our own congregation. The best book I’ve read on change is Robert Brumet’s Finding Yourself in Transition. He says that change is similar to rights of passage. It is inevitable and extremely painful. But the suffering is optional. When we have a drastic, unexpected change in our lives it is a kind of death. Something we had depended on, loved, and felt we needed is ripped away. Our impulse is to grieve it. But we can embrace it.

Like the Israelite’s journey out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the Promised Land, there are stages to our transitions as identified by Brumet. First is Endings. You’ve lost your feeling of safety, or your health. You retire or become an “empty nester”. There is disengagement, followed by disidentification—you are no longer a husband or wife, or part of a unit, or one of the healthy. You move into disenchantment, where you have lost your faith in love, or in your employability, and so on, even your faith in God. You feel lost, hopeless, discouraged. You don’t know who you are anymore. You are disoriented. But when you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hold on!

The second stage of transition is the Void. As the Israelites did, you are wondering in the wilderness. It doesn’t feel very good. Your only connection is to the God of your understanding. But know you are being guided. It is painful but it also has purpose. It is said that this is the point at which suicides occur. Don’t give up. The light is just around the corner. You are like a seed in the soil that has lost it’s covering, but now you can send down roots and grow into a strong new plant ready to bloom and bear fruit. You are being reborn into a more perfect self. You can appreciate the beautiful transition moving through you. You have the tools and ability to move forward into the unknown without giving up. In my Void, I was literally on the carpet with the pain, but then I saw clearly what it was for. I saw a new vision, a new way of being, the third stage of transition. It brought me to Unity.

Each time we set out on a journey that is pulling us away from what we feel we can’t live without, there is this divine spark within that will lead us through. It empowers us. Understand the power of transition. This is an inside job. You will know yourself more deeply than before. Keep making the effort to let go, to open to what Spirit has for you. Trust. Each transition lifts you to a higher level.

There is so much change in our lives right now. Expect the good, the Promised Land. What shows up isn’t what you prayed for, but what you expect. Trust. Expect. “…and goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.”

Play

October 26, 2014 – Transitions


10/26/14 Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
Transitions

Look at what’s going on—ebola and terrorism in our own country, even changes in our own congregation. The best book I’ve read on change is Robert Brumet’s Finding Yourself in Transition. He says that change is similar to rights of passage. It is inevitable and extremely painful. But the suffering is optional. When we have a drastic, unexpected change in our lives it is a kind of death. Something we had depended on, loved, and felt we needed is ripped away. Our impulse is to grieve it. But we can embrace it.

Like the Israelite’s journey out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the Promised Land, there are stages to our transitions as identified by Brumet. First is Endings. You’ve lost your feeling of safety, or your health. You retire or become an “empty nester”. There is disengagement, followed by disidentification—you are no longer a husband or wife, or part of a unit, or one of the healthy. You move into disenchantment, where you have lost your faith in love, or in your employability, and so on, even your faith in God. You feel lost, hopeless, discouraged. You don’t know who you are anymore. You are disoriented. But when you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hold on!

The second stage of transition is the Void. As the Israelites did, you are wondering in the wilderness. It doesn’t feel very good. Your only connection is to the God of your understanding. But know you are being guided. It is painful but it also has purpose. It is said that this is the point at which suicides occur. Don’t give up. The light is just around the corner. You are like a seed in the soil that has lost it’s covering, but now you can send down roots and grow into a strong new plant ready to bloom and bear fruit. You are being reborn into a more perfect self. You can appreciate the beautiful transition moving through you. You have the tools and ability to move forward into the unknown without giving up. In my Void, I was literally on the carpet with the pain, but then I saw clearly what it was for. I saw a new vision, a new way of being, the third stage of transition. It brought me to Unity.

Each time we set out on a journey that is pulling us away from what we feel we can’t live without, there is this divine spark within that will lead us through. It empowers us. Understand the power of transition. This is an inside job. You will know yourself more deeply than before. Keep making the effort to let go, to open to what Spirit has for you. Trust. Each transition lifts you to a higher level.

There is so much change in our lives right now. Expect the good, the Promised Land. What shows up isn’t what you prayed for, but what you expect. Trust. Expect. “…and goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.”

September 14, 2014 – Where Am I?


9/14/14 Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
Where Am I?

The universe conspires to lead us in the direction in which we will be fulfilled. It’s our curriculum as souls for evolving to our highest consciousness. It’s our spiritual journey. When you are on your journey of spiritual evolution, your old belief systems just don’t disappear. In the parable of the new wine in the old wine skins, wine means the essence of life; old wine means our old belief systems. Putting the new wine in the old skins bursts the old skins. So, like in the parable of the weeds sown with the wheat, let the new beliefs grow to maturity along side the weeds. Then the weeds, like the old wine skins can be discarded.

Emily Cady, in Lessons In Truth, asks if we are in liberty or bondage. Most of us were raised in a church other than Unity. Many of us needed to be free of those beliefs. Something happened to propel us to a new thought teaching. It was something which punctuated our equilibrium (an interruption in your balance). It interrupts the normal flow of our lives. It changes something in the brain, which is wired to then seek a new balance, some place within for dealing with the situation. This is in a natural order to allow us to get to the next level of consciousness. These things aren’t to hurt or harm us. As we evolve, the universe evolves. The greater our consciousness, the greater the consciousness of the universe. Then we find a new balance in our lives. But “punctuating equilibrium” won’t stop until we’re dead.

Our evolution is within. Be in the present moment. If you are in the past or in the future, you are nowhere. Your point of power is in the present. Each of these situations is a learning experience. If you are willing to see that, you are 90% toward resolution of a situation. Each offers another opportunity for healing. So ask, “What is this for?”

Then forgive; forgive the other person for bringing this, and forgive the person before who brought it. And forgive yourself. We judge our experience by the past and project it into the future, thus carrying it with us all the time. The key is to be in freedom, to be in the now. My point of power is in the present moment. My point of power is in the present moment. My point of power is in the present moment.

The power within me is greater than the situation before me. The power within me is greater than the situation before me. The power within me is greater than the situation before me.

That’s your freedom and evolution! Affirm Be still. Let it go. And let it be.

You can do it!

September 14, 2014 – Where Am I?

9/14/14 Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
Where Am I?

The universe conspires to lead us in the direction in which we will be fulfilled. It’s our curriculum as souls for evolving to our highest consciousness. It’s our spiritual journey. When you are on your journey of spiritual evolution, your old belief systems just don’t disappear. In the parable of the new wine in the old wine skins, wine means the essence of life; old wine means our old belief systems. Putting the new wine in the old skins bursts the old skins. So, like in the parable of the weeds sown with the wheat, let the new beliefs grow to maturity along side the weeds. Then the weeds, like the old wine skins can be discarded.

Emily Cady, in Lessons In Truth, asks if we are in liberty or bondage. Most of us were raised in a church other than Unity. Many of us needed to be free of those beliefs. Something happened to propel us to a new thought teaching. It was something which punctuated our equilibrium (an interruption in your balance). It interrupts the normal flow of our lives. It changes something in the brain, which is wired to then seek a new balance, some place within for dealing with the situation. This is in a natural order to allow us to get to the next level of consciousness. These things aren’t to hurt or harm us. As we evolve, the universe evolves. The greater our consciousness, the greater the consciousness of the universe. Then we find a new balance in our lives. But “punctuating equilibrium” won’t stop until we’re dead.

Our evolution is within. Be in the present moment. If you are in the past or in the future, you are nowhere. Your point of power is in the present. Each of these situations is a learning experience. If you are willing to see that, you are 90% toward resolution of a situation. Each offers another opportunity for healing. So ask, “What is this for?”

Then forgive; forgive the other person for bringing this, and forgive the person before who brought it. And forgive yourself. We judge our experience by the past and project it into the future, thus carrying it with us all the time. The key is to be in freedom, to be in the now. My point of power is in the present moment. My point of power is in the present moment. My point of power is in the present moment.

The power within me is greater than the situation before me. The power within me is greater than the situation before me. The power within me is greater than the situation before me.

That’s your freedom and evolution! Affirm Be still. Let it go. And let it be.

Play

March 9, 2014 – The Heart’s Path to Freedom: 2. Breathe Love


3/9/14 Rev. David McArthur
The Heart’s Path to Freedom: 2. Breathing Love

We are walking a journey to the true freedom found in the soul. We took our first step last week, 1. Embrace Our Feelings, to move into wholeness, healing. To step into who we are. And we know at any moment, Divine Presence is good, which let’s us touch that part of ourselves,the feelings, with tenderness and love. This week we 2. Turn on the Power! There is a simple way which is so powerful it will bring some of the greatest experiences in life. It is to Breathe Love. But the mind will try to take over, and say, “What is love?” It will try to put love in a box. Love can’t be put in a box, but you know what it is because you’ve been there again and again. From John, 4:16-18, “God is love.[not a being “out there” loving us, but what moves through us] Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. There is no fear in love… love drives out fear.”

We say we “breathe through our hearts” to bring our attention to the area around the heart. Then to activate the feeling of love, you can use the power of intention. Breathe in and out intending to feel love. Be aware of how you are feeling. In entering into a feeling it is often more helpful to focus on something specific, which is clearer, such as appreciation. You can think of someone you really appreciate. Now let it grow into love. Breathe love. Or you can remember one of those beautiful moments when your heart was full of love. The memory is “past”, the feeling is “right now”. Remember that feeling of love. Breathe love. What a marvelous way to spend some time!

Intention. Appreciation. Memory. Which way was strongest for you this time? At different times and in different situations you can use different ways. At any time, affirm, “I breathe love. Love is what I am.” “I breathe love. Love is what I am.” “I breathe love. Love is what I am.”

This week, in one of “those” business meetings, breathe love. Or in any situation that comes up this week, breathe love. What a magnificent way to be in the world! In the words of Mother Teresa, “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

“I breathe love. Love is what I am.” You are right; you are love!

March 9, 2014 – The Heart’s Path to Freedom: 2. Breathe Love

3/9/14 Rev. David McArthur
The Heart’s Path to Freedom: 2. Breathing Love

We are walking a journey to the true freedom found in the soul. We took our first step last week, 1. Embrace Our Feelings, to move into wholeness, healing. To step into who we are. And we know at any moment, Divine Presence is good, which let’s us touch that part of ourselves,the feelings, with tenderness and love. This week we 2. Turn on the Power! There is a simple way which is so powerful it will bring some of the greatest experiences in life. It is to Breathe Love. But the mind will try to take over, and say, “What is love?” It will try to put love in a box. Love can’t be put in a box, but you know what it is because you’ve been there again and again. From John, 4:16-18, “God is love.[not a being “out there” loving us, but what moves through us] Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. There is no fear in love… love drives out fear.”

We say we “breathe through our hearts” to bring our attention to the area around the heart. Then to activate the feeling of love, you can use the power of intention. Breathe in and out intending to feel love. Be aware of how you are feeling. In entering into a feeling it is often more helpful to focus on something specific, which is clearer, such as appreciation. You can think of someone you really appreciate. Now let it grow into love. Breathe love. Or you can remember one of those beautiful moments when your heart was full of love. The memory is “past”, the feeling is “right now”. Remember that feeling of love. Breathe love. What a marvelous way to spend some time!

Intention. Appreciation. Memory. Which way was strongest for you this time? At different times and in different situations you can use different ways. At any time, affirm, “I breathe love. Love is what I am.” “I breathe love. Love is what I am.” “I breathe love. Love is what I am.”

This week, in one of “those” business meetings, breathe love. Or in any situation that comes up this week, breathe love. What a magnificent way to be in the world! In the words of Mother Teresa, “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

“I breathe love. Love is what I am.” You are right; you are love!

Play