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Individual expressions of the
physical or material universe are
individual in one sense and part
of the whole in another
sense.
This is true of human
individuals, but at such a
profound level, that part of the
"human predicament" is that we
don't realize and honor it
We see so many spectacular
examples of the complementary
relationship of indivdual species
in nature that we are beginning
to comprehend it is just as true
for us as human beings.
Last month I wrote of God as
"the totality of life." What I
have in mind in using this
phraseology is this very
complementary "nature."
I noted in one of my website
pieces that a Unity writer,
Gardner Hunting, wrote onetime
that eight out of ten of our
blessings come through other
people. He was talking about how
God brings about our life
blessings, and that is what I am
talking about! I am becoming more
and more aware that Hunting is
right on - not necessarily in
numbers, but in the process.
What I like about thinking
this way is that it helps us to
feel God as REALLY involved in
our lives rather than being
nebulous and up in the
"heavens."
During my years as a prayer
worker in Silent Unity at Unity
School, I learned a Unity
prayer:
"All the forces of
heaven and earth now unite to
bring about my (our) highest
good, and I am working with
them in the wisdom and power
of Spirit."
I have since added love to
wisdom and power, and it has
developed in my consciousness to
change "now" to "are working
together." :
"All the forces of
heaven and earth are working
together to bring about my
(our) highest good, and I am
working with them in the love,
wisdom and power of Spirit."
Saying it this way
acknowledges that God is always
working for our highest good
instead of responding NOW to our
command!
This prayer says exactly what
I have in mind! God, the totality
of life, can well be expressed as
"all the forces of heaven and
earth," that is, everything both
invisible and visible, spiritual
and material, the cause of
creativity and the process of
creativity through people and
every aspect of life.
In talking about this to one
person recently, I started out by
saying, "It's obvious that
Something created us; we didn't
create ourselves," and he agreed.
Then I said, "think about God as
that which is beyond us and
everything that expresses in and
through us." "Yes" again.
This whole business really
becomes thrilling as we get the
idea and really practice it
because it helps us to become
open to all life, really to all
the forces of heaven and earth.
This openness becomes the major
part each of us has to play
instead of each of us having to
do the whole thing. This way I
have a part to play in your life
(or in someone's life), and you
have a part to play in my life
(or in someone's life). Actually
we all play a part in every life,
but you know what I mean:
sometimes I know the very person
whose life, intersecting with
mine at a specific time, led to a
blessing I was aware of coming
through him.
So what does all of this mean?
It answers the question so often
plaintively asked, where is God;
how can I come to grips with
Him?
The answer: God works through
(and is!) the totality of life.
God is the universal love and
goodwill working to bring each
and all of us into total
fulfillment in every conceivable
area and aspect of life.
We practice our faith in God
by staying open as a giving and
receiving channel, receiving
blessings into our lives from
others and giving blessings into
the lives of others. I hear this
in the Apostle Paul's words:
"And we know that all
things work together for good
to them that love God; to them
who are the called according
to his purpose./For whom he
did foreknow, he also
predestinated to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn
among many
brethren."--Rom.8:28,29.
Today we realize that God
leaves no one out, but works
through each and all of us to
bring mutual blessings of highest
good to each and all!
When do the blessings
manifest? When we love (trust)
God! The blessings are always
waiting to come through:
"Behold, I stand at
the door, and knock: if any
man hear my voice, and open
the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him;
and he with me. "--From the
ascended Jesus Christ to John,
Revelation 3:20.
Don
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