Reverend David Old, MDiv.
Senior Minister
Minister's Letter June 23rd, 2021
Early Monday morning, I settled into the small hazelnut brown leather recliner that sits in the corner of my office. It is the same chair I took with me to seminary as I worked toward becoming an ordained Unity minister. Then, as now, it is the place I do my daily meditations and open myself to inspiration. I wonder how many hours I’ve actually sat in that chair.
As I took several deep breaths preparing to meditate, my eyes were drawn to a book on the top shelf of the bookshelves covering the wall across from me. As my eyes focused on the book, I recognized it was Ernest Holmes’ book, The Science of Mind. It was a book I had not visited in a long time and I was compelled to get up and take it from the shelf.
As I opened the book, a half sheet of paper fell out onto the floor. When I picked it up and looked at it, I found that it was typed excerpts from Thomas Merton’s book, New Seeds of Contemplation. It began with this quote, “Our vocation is not simply to be, but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destiny.” I read it again, and then read the rest of the quotes, but none spoke to me like that first sentence.
“Our vocation is not simply to be, but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destiny.”
From the beginning we have been told that we are created in the image and likeness of God. In Unity we believe we are spiritual beings having a human experience. There is a "knowing" within us. In the stillness, that “knowing” is tapped into. We come into this world to create our own life, our own identity, our own destiny, but we must never forget that each of our lives are connected and shared with all of life. There is only one life, one presence and one power. A life we all share. The life we experience here on earth is “our” creation, “our” identity, “our” destiny being shaped and brought into manifestation one thought, one choice, and one act at a time.
Since the beginning of the human race we have been co-creators with Spirit creating families, tribes, villages, states, countries, kingdoms, empires and civilizations out of the nothingness of pure unmanifest potential, bringing it into manifestation with our risks, efforts and struggles only to have it all sink back into the nothingness from which it came, only to spring forth once again into something entirely new.
As we align ourselves with Spirit, the truth of who we are, we hear the voice of Spirit within as clearly as the prophet Isaiah did, as recorded over 2700 years ago in Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Spirit is always making something new, and to make room for the new we must let go of the old. As we align with our Christ consciousness, that part of us that knows the truth of our oneness with all creation, we come to know, as did the Apostle Paul, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) The new is here, right now, in each and every moment, coming into being.
Our vocation is not simply to be, but to work together…” awakening to our oneness with Spirit and each other in creating a world that works for all. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines vocation as “a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action; especially: a divine call to the religious life.”
Roger Ebertz (Department Chair and Professor of Philosophy & Religion at the University of Dubuque) wrote a reflection entitled, What is Vocation? In it he wrote, “Vocation is one’s response to a call from beyond oneself to use one’s strengths and gifts to make the world a better place through service, creativity, and leadership. The concept of vocation rests on the belief that life is about more than me. To speak of “vocation” or “calling” is to suggest that my life is a response to something beyond myself. Christians believe this “something beyond myself” is God. But even people outside of this tradition often sense a call to serve others, to create beauty, and to do good in the world.”
To recognize the truth of who we are, and surrender to that truth, and live from that truth demands close attention to reality at every moment, and great fidelity to the Spirit of Truth within us, as it reveals itself, obscurely in the mystery of each new situation. Every moment brings a fresh start. Every moment invites us to use our imaginations and see “a new heaven and a new earth,” letting go of the old and working diligently with others in Spirit, to envision and bring into manifestation the world we have all dreamed of for so long…..a world that works for all, a world of generosity, peace, love, justice, kindness, laughter, joy, compassion, happiness, wonder and delight. It is our purpose to bring it forth in all its glory…..one thought, one choice, and one action at a time.
Have a wonderful week!
Rich blessings and much love,
David