“The Sun Is Always Shining” August 2, 2009
The sun is always shining. Regardless of how overcast the day or dark the night, the sun is always shining. It is only our perspective that sees it as gone. The same is true with the presence of God. There are times in our life where it seems that God is not there, but, once again, it is only our perspective. There is nowhere that God is not. How could there be when God is all that is? During the darkest nights of the soul the light of God still shines brightly. It is only our openness to that light that has dimmed. It is then when we feel most alone, those times when we feel most helpless and hopeless that it is so important to be faithful to our times in prayer and meditation. As we become more and more receptive to the action of Spirit in our lives, it is as if the sun comes out from behind the clouds to shine forth in all of its glory. The sun is always shining, and the Presence of God is always there—in, through, and as each one of us. Let the Light of God shine brightly every day of your life and discover how good life really is!
By Catherine Carriere RScP Emeritus
“Contemplating the Infinite Spirit of God” July 26, 2009
As we contemplate the Infinite Spirit we call God, we find ourselves unable to define this awesome presence. It is beyond our limited ability to fully comprehend the Infinite. It is the Creator and the Creation, the Source and the Substance of everything that is. We try to understand what kind of a Mind could create such a beautiful and complicated Universe. We gaze upon the night sky with its myriad of stars and realize that this is just one of many universes….all of them the creation of God. As we look around us we know that all that God has made is good….and very good.
It is only the mind of man that has created anything that appears to be not good. As we are unique, individualized expressions of the one Mind, we have the power to change that which is unlike God, restoring the Universe to the original plan in the Mind of God. What an awesome responsibility…..and what a glorious opportunity!
By Catherine Carriere RScP Emeritus
“Choosing the Road Less Traveled to Spiritual Freedom” July 19, 2009
The theme for this month is “Activating Spiritual Freedom”. We have been divinely endowed with free will, or freedom of choice. Ernest Holmes wrote, “To suppose that the Creative Intelligence of the Universe would create man in bondage and leave him bound, would be to dishonor the Creative Power which we call God. To suppose that God could make man as an individual, without leaving him to discover himself, would be to suppose an impossibility….The seed of freedom must be planted in the innermost being of man, but, like the Prodigal Son, man must make the great discovery for himself.” End quote.
We discover at a very young age that almost every action involves choice and every choice involves a consequence–some good and others not so good. Some of the most difficult choices we must make mean that either we go along with the majority in a situation, even when we question that choice, or we choose to follow the small still voice within that tells us to take “the road less traveled.” As we learn to trust that voice, we gain the courage to follow it even though it may mean being ostracized from within the group. This is the ultimate freedom…..to choose to trust the inner promptings of Spirit in complete confidence that they always will guide us to the path of the highest and greatest good of all. The course of history would have been changed many times if more had had the courage to stand against tyranny. Never has there been a greater opportunity than we have today to create a world that works for everyone.
By Catherine Carriere RScP Emeritus
“Our Four Essential Freedoms” July 12, 2009
Listed among the greatest speeches in history is Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s address to the 77th Congress on the 6th of January 1941, in which he enumerated the Four Freedoms. The first two are guaranteed by the Constitution, the last two were added by FDR from his observation of the human condition.
In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential freedoms.
[ The first is freedom of speech and expression–everywhere in the world.
[ The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way–everywhere in the world.
[ The third is freedom from want, which, translated into world terms, means economic understanding, which will secure to every nation, a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants–everywhere in the world.
[ The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of aggression against any neighbor–anywhere in the world. End quote.
We have condensed these words into our intention as a spiritual movement: “Creating a world that works for everyone”. We have a way to go to achieve this goal, but every time we pray and meditate upon these ideals we bring them closer to fruition. We hold firm to our intention and pledge ourselves to being the change we desire to see in the world. As we enter now into the silence, lets us each hold the vision of our individual and collective role in this change.
By Catherine Carriere RScP
“Let Freedom Ring” July 5, 2009
“Let freedom ring!” Words that send a thrill through the heart. We all yearn for freedom…freedom to be, do, and have all the good things in life. But freedom is not license! With freedom comes responsibility, the responsibility to be all that we can be— living up to our highest potential—, do all that we can for the good of all, and to have compassion for all who are suffering in any way. The freedom we so fervently desire cannot come at the expense of anyone but must contribute to the welfare of all. We already have that freedom. It is our God-given right and no one can take it away from us. As we now enter into the silence on this 4th of July Independence Day weekend, celebrating the fact that we live in a country that is based on the concept of that freedom under God, let us declare our intention to make full use of our freedom for the highest and greatest good of all.
