Easter

March 27, 2016 – The Astonishing Light Of Our Being

Rev. David McArthur
The Astonishing Light of Our Being

I love Easter when I get to go back and learn it all again. In the 1950’s in war-embroiled Viet Nam, there was a 14 year old girl feeling powerless and in pain. She had lost family and others in the poor farming community. She longed for peace and wanted it for everyone she knew. She soon noticed those people who had so little themselves leaving handfuls of their staple food, rice, out for the birds. She wondered if she could be one of their birds. Would these remarkably generous people spare a handful of rice once a week that she could take to the orphans at the temple? Her friends saw what she was doing and they joined her in collecting rice for the children. Throughout those years in that place of war and suffering there was always, in that poor community, a place of peace and generosity. There was always food for the children because a 14 year old girl listened to her heart and stepped out of her powerlessness and pain to that which was in her heart, and created a world that was greater.

That is what Easter is about—that astonishing light within, which flashes and is ours. And we create something greater. Why did Jesus do it? Why did he feed thousands from a single basket, change water to wine, heal the sick, cure the deaf and blind? In the forgiveness on the cross he showed us the transforming power of love. And he knew rising from the dead—he had raised 3 already. All this to show us the power we have within. But we fall into not remembering that we are spiritual beings living in a spiritual world governed by spiritual laws. We look outside ourselves for healing and for our abundance. But it is from within, not without, that the power flows. There is no one else.

Compassion is the powerful expression of this law. In the 50’s there was a famine in China and some compassionate people wanted to ask our government to help. They sent little bags of rice to the White House with tags saying “Feed our enemies.” I have no idea if the government sent any rice, but it was a powerful act of compassion. At the same time there was a dispute with China over some islands, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff were urging president Eisenhower to use atomic weapons. Ike turned to his advisor and asked how many of those bags of rice they had gotten and was told, “Tens of thousands.” Ike then told the Joint Chiefs, “When so many Americans want to feed the people of China, I can’t put nuclear weapons on the table.” We didn’t feed them, but the compassion expressed changed the world.

It was the same compassion expressed when, outside the tomb that Easter morning, Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, “Mary, do you not know me?” and she gasped, “Rabboni (teacher)!” That astonishing light within awakened Mary.

I love the way the 14th century poet Hafez put it: “One day the sun admitted, ‘I’m just a shadow, I wish I could show you The Infinite Incandescence that has cast my brilliant image. I wish I could show you, When you are lonely or in darkness The Astonishing Light Of your own Being.” That’s what this love and compassion is—the astonishing light of your own being. Are you open to that? I am open to the astonishing light of my own being. When you feel powerless, I am open to the astonishing light of my own being. When the world seems insane, I am open to the astonishing light of my own being. When something tries to convince you there is not enough, I am open to the astonishing light of my own being. I thank you for your astonishing light which blesses us all!

Happy Easter!

March 27, 2016 – The Astonishing Light Of Our Being

Rev. David McArthur
The Astonishing Light of Our Being

I love Easter when I get to go back and learn it all again. In the 1950’s in war-embroiled Viet Nam, there was a 14 year old girl feeling powerless and in pain. She had lost family and others in the poor farming community. She longed for peace and wanted it for everyone she knew. She soon noticed those people who had so little themselves leaving handfuls of their staple food, rice, out for the birds. She wondered if she could be one of their birds. Would these remarkably generous people spare a handful of rice once a week that she could take to the orphans at the temple? Her friends saw what she was doing and they joined her in collecting rice for the children. Throughout those years in that place of war and suffering there was always, in that poor community, a place of peace and generosity. There was always food for the children because a 14 year old girl listened to her heart and stepped out of her powerlessness and pain to that which was in her heart, and created a world that was greater.

That is what Easter is about—that astonishing light within, which flashes and is ours. And we create something greater. Why did Jesus do it? Why did he feed thousands from a single basket, change water to wine, heal the sick, cure the deaf and blind? In the forgiveness on the cross he showed us the transforming power of love. And he knew rising from the dead—he had raised 3 already. All this to show us the power we have within. But we fall into not remembering that we are spiritual beings living in a spiritual world governed by spiritual laws. We look outside ourselves for healing and for our abundance. But it is from within, not without, that the power flows. There is no one else.

Compassion is the powerful expression of this law. In the 50’s there was a famine in China and some compassionate people wanted to ask our government to help. They sent little bags of rice to the White House with tags saying “Feed our enemies.” I have no idea if the government sent any rice, but it was a powerful act of compassion. At the same time there was a dispute with China over some islands, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff were urging president Eisenhower to use atomic weapons. Ike turned to his advisor and asked how many of those bags of rice they had gotten and was told, “Tens of thousands.” Ike then told the Joint Chiefs, “When so many Americans want to feed the people of China, I can’t put nuclear weapons on the table.” We didn’t feed them, but the compassion expressed changed the world.

It was the same compassion expressed when, outside the tomb that Easter morning, Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, “Mary, do you not know me?” and she gasped, “Rabboni (teacher)!” That astonishing light within awakened Mary.

I love the way the 14th century poet Hafez put it: “One day the sun admitted, ‘I’m just a shadow, I wish I could show you The Infinite Incandescence that has cast my brilliant image. I wish I could show you, When you are lonely or in darkness The Astonishing Light Of your own Being.” That’s what this love and compassion is—the astonishing light of your own being. Are you open to that? I am open to the astonishing light of my own being. When you feel powerless, I am open to the astonishing light of my own being. When the world seems insane, I am open to the astonishing light of my own being. When something tries to convince you there is not enough, I am open to the astonishing light of my own being. I thank you for your astonishing light which blesses us all!

Happy Easter!

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April 5, 2015 – Resurrection: The Vision Keeper & Forgiveness

04/05/15 Rev. David McArthur
Easter Sunday Message
Resurrection: The Vision Keeper & Forgiveness

Every Easter story begins with the experience of dawn, the coming of light where there was darkness. Mary, Jesus’ mother, had been the one person at the cross who was different from everyone else. For her son, she was a vision-keeper, someone who holds for others the awareness of their potential within as powerful spiritual beings for complete healing.

I remember the experience of another mother who was a spiritual seeker, too. How she got a call that her daughter had been in an accident and was in a coma, and that if her daughter ever woke up, she’d not be able to speak or take care of herself, that she would never walk again. This mother responded with, “I don’t believe that. The God I know is greater than the limitation that you tell me.” This vision-keeper reached out to over 3000 people to be in attunement with her daughter, and when she got to speak to her, her daughter awakened. The young woman began to recover. She learned to focus the brain that had been so damaged. Today she is an active, vibrant member of our community. She took a hold of that power and presence within her and used it to build a life of wholeness. Her vision-keeper, her mother, wrote a poem of what Mary must have felt.

I must let Him go. My arms would hold him close, though; my heart would hold Him dear, as that place in the stable long ago, for He is not mine to keep. He belongs to the One that gave Him to me. So I must let Him go, though my heart cries as He suffers so, and I want to keep Him for me. His path has been laid since before the world was to show us the kingdom within. So I know that I must let Him go.

How many people do we have in our lives that are in pain, in struggle, addiction, loss, lack. We are their vision-keepers. And we have the incredible spiritual honor of knowing with them who they are, no matter what. The potential of resurrection in their lives is always there. Hold that for family and friends, and (the hardest one of all) for yourself. It is the only reason we are on that journey. Step into that dawn, that consciousness. Break apart that which is less; bring forth what is more. Say “Yes!” to this consciousness of wholeness.

There’s one more piece that brings about this demonstration of resurrection, this new awareness, something we accomplish with the spiritual power within us. Jesus had to do that. For Jesus at the cross there is one moment that makes the entire difference. Had this moment not happened I do not believe we’d be celebrating this event today. It’s the moment of forgiveness. This wonderful intelligence and power that flows within us gets blocked by our resentments, by our judgments. His response was, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” One of the greatest moments in the change of consciousness in the history of humankind.

That prayer to “Father”, the presence and power within, for forgiveness released that block within Himself so there was no resentment, no judgment. The way I usually get to forgiveness is called “desperate” prayer, at the point nothing else is working. At the most painful spot in my life that’s what I did, and it released me from the resentment and pain. Not the physical pain—the other pain: we are separate, right and wrong, who does what. In that beautiful experience of forgiveness we take the “wrong”, the lesser, and we turn our vision to this all-loving goodness of God. That is freeing; that is wholeness. It is always there. So what ever is going on, here is the truth: “There is only one presence, one power in your life—the all-loving goodness of God.” Step into that new day, that beautiful wholeness and fullness. As spiritual beings it is the desire of that presence to bring it forth in our lives. What a joy it is to step into that love without any limitations! There is absolutely nothing whatsoever that anyone of us can do to lessen that love. It’s just not possible. From His experience on that first Easter, Jesus has become the symbol of the all-loving. And because you are, I am grateful!

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April 5, 2015 – Resurrection: The Vision Keeper & Forgiveness


04/05/15 Rev. David McArthur
Resurrection: The Vision Keeper & Forgiveness

Every Easter story begins with the experience of dawn, the coming of light where there was darkness. Mary, Jesus’ mother, had been the one person at the cross who was different from everyone else. For her son, she was a vision-keeper, someone who holds for others the awareness of their potential within as powerful spiritual beings for complete healing.

I remember the experience of another mother who was a spiritual seeker, too. How she got a call that her daughter had been in an accident and was in a coma, and that if her daughter ever woke up, she’d not be able to speak or take care of herself, that she would never walk again. This mother responded with, “I don’t believe that. The God I know is greater than the limitation that you tell me.” This vision-keeper reached out to over 3000 people to be in attunement with her daughter, and when she got to speak to her, her daughter awakened. The young woman began to recover. She learned to focus the brain that had been so damaged. Today she is an active, vibrant member of our community. She took a hold of that power and presence within her and used it to build a life of wholeness. Her vision-keeper, her mother, wrote a poem of what Mary must have felt.

I must let Him go. My arms would hold him close, though; my heart would hold Him dear, as that place in the stable long ago, for He is not mine to keep. He belongs to the One that gave Him to me. So I must let Him go, though my heart cries as He suffers so, and I want to keep Him for me. His path has been laid since before the world was to show us the kingdom within. So I know that I must let Him go.

How many people do we have in our lives that are in pain, in struggle, addiction, loss, lack. We are their vision-keepers. And we have the incredible spiritual honor of knowing with them who they are, no matter what. The potential of resurrection in their lives is always there. Hold that for family and friends, and (the hardest one of all) for yourself. It is the only reason we are on that journey. Step into that dawn, that consciousness. Break apart that which is less; bring forth what is more. Say “Yes!” to this consciousness of wholeness.

There’s one more piece that brings about this demonstration of resurrection, this new awareness, something we accomplish with the spiritual power within us. Jesus had to do that. For Jesus at the cross there is one moment that makes the entire difference. Had this moment not happened I do not believe we’d be celebrating this event today. It’s the moment of forgiveness. This wonderful intelligence and power that flows within us gets blocked by our resentments, by our judgments. His response was, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” One of the greatest moments in the change of consciousness in the history of humankind.

That prayer to “Father”, the presence and power within, for forgiveness released that block within Himself so there was no resentment, no judgment. The way I usually get to forgiveness is called “desperate” prayer, at the point nothing else is working. At the most painful spot in my life that’s what I did, and it released me from the resentment and pain. Not the physical pain—the other pain: we are separate, right and wrong, who does what. In that beautiful experience of forgiveness we take the “wrong”, the lesser, and we turn our vision to this all-loving goodness of God. That is freeing; that is wholeness. It is always there. So what ever is going on, here is the truth: “There is only one presence, one power in your life—the all-loving goodness of God.” Step into that new day, that beautiful wholeness and fullness. As spiritual beings it is the desire of that presence to bring it forth in our lives. What a joy it is to step into that love without any limitations! There is absolutely nothing whatsoever that anyone of us can do to lessen that love. It’s just not possible. From His experience on that first Easter, Jesus has become the symbol of the all-loving. And because you are, I am grateful!
 

April 20, 2014 – Becoming The Butterfly

4/20/14 Rev. David McArthur
Becoming The Butterfly

“I was a pathetic wreck at every level.” Mike’s once successful career was in shambles, so too his relationships. He was despondent. He asked what many of us have asked, “Why me?” But he went further and also asked, “Who is this person I am meant to be?” He was aware he didn’t look anything like what he began to see. So he asked, “How can I be of service to You?” And he was grateful for the qualities that he now desired in his heart. Since, as minister to a large Unity church in Sacramento, he has become an inspiration for thousands. The shift to live according to what he asked for in his heart is what Easter is all about.

Zhuang Zhou, Taoist philosopher, 4th century B. C., in a dream, flew freely about as a beautiful butterfly. The dream was as real as his life as Zhuang Zhou, and he didn’t know if he was Zhuang Zhou dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuang Zhou. Both states are our reality. The butterfly is a symbol of the spiritual self. The freedom of flight, the joy, the magnificence is our reality if we so choose. Mike had made the shift to choose the reality of a spiritual being. “I am a magnificent spiritual being!”

I was in Costa Rica sitting on a river bank captivated by the dense rainforest on the other side of the river, when flashes of a beautiful blue caught my eye. It was a blue morpho butterfly, a wonderful symbol of the free spiritual being we each truly are. In Canada, six year old David was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, and given only one or two more years. The Make a Wish Foundation granted his wish to go to Mexico to see a blue morpho butterfly. After returning home, he went into remission. At the age of 30, he watched on the set as his story was filmed.

Making that healing connection to that in us which is whole is the meaning in Easter, to see the Christ Self within. We have the capacity to see that within ourselves. We each have made that connection one time or another. To go there is a simple thing; it is to experience love.

By fifteen, with 15 arrests, a boy landed in solitary for two weeks. In that “tomb” he discovered his love for his mother. He mentally wrote her many letters, and from there he vowed he would never again do anything to hurt her. And in keeping that promise, he knew he could do anything. Now 33 and a pro in the NBA, Caron Butler made that choice. He made that shift to the highest within him.

Are you open to experience the highest within you? “I am open to the highest within me.” Make that connection within your heart to the love within. Mike made that connection with his spiritual self. Zhuang Zhou did too with the butterfly in his dream. Butler made it to the love in his heart for his mother. And little David made that connection to the blue morpho, the symbol of his spiritual self. You can make that connection in your heart! Bless you!

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April 20, 2014 – Becoming The Butterfly


4/20/14 Rev. David McArthur
Becoming The Butterfly

“I was a pathetic wreck at every level.” Mike’s once successful career was in shambles, so too his relationships. He was despondent. He asked what many of us have asked, “Why me?” But he went further and also asked, “Who is this person I am meant to be?” He was aware he didn’t look anything like what he began to see. So he asked, “How can I be of service to You?” And he was grateful for the qualities that he now desired in his heart. Since, as minister to a large Unity church in Sacramento, he has become an inspiration for thousands. The shift to live according to what he asked for in his heart is what Easter is all about.

Zhuang Zhou, Taoist philosopher, 4th century B. C., in a dream, flew freely about as a beautiful butterfly. The dream was as real as his life as Zhuang Zhou, and he didn’t know if he was Zhuang Zhou dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuang Zhou. Both states are our reality. The butterfly is a symbol of the spiritual self. The freedom of flight, the joy, the magnificence is our reality if we so choose. Mike had made the shift to choose the reality of a spiritual being. “I am a magnificent spiritual being!”

I was in Costa Rica sitting on a river bank captivated by the dense rainforest on the other side of the river, when flashes of a beautiful blue caught my eye. It was a blue morpho butterfly, a wonderful symbol of the free spiritual being we each truly are. In Canada, six year old David was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, and given only one or two more years. The Make a Wish Foundation granted his wish to go to Mexico to see a blue morpho butterfly. After returning home, he went into remission. At the age of 30, he watched on the set as his story was filmed.

Making that healing connection to that in us which is whole is the meaning in Easter, to see the Christ Self within. We have the capacity to see that within ourselves. We each have made that connection one time or another. To go there is a simple thing; it is to experience love.

By fifteen, with 15 arrests, a boy landed in solitary for two weeks. In that “tomb” he discovered his love for his mother. He mentally wrote her many letters, and from there he vowed he would never again do anything to hurt her. And in keeping that promise, he knew he could do anything. Now 33 and a pro in the NBA, Caron Butler made that choice. He made that shift to the highest within him.

Are you open to experience the highest within you? “I am open to the highest within me.” Make that connection within your heart to the love within. Mike made that connection with his spiritual self. Zhuang Zhou did too with the butterfly in his dream. Butler made it to the love in his heart for his mother. And little David made that connection to the blue morpho, the symbol of his spiritual self. You can make that connection in your heart! Bless you!