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Heather's Views triangular trees in a row

Spirit Is Love

Dear Ones,

I just returned from my first-ever cruise; I was on a conference with the United Clergy of Religious Science. It was a fabulous experience! Of course, the food was exquisite and plentiful. Thankfully so were the stairs! Unlike many others, I returned from the trip with great memories but without extra pounds! One of the highlights for me was our seminar at sea presented by Michael Davis and Paulette Sun. Some of you may remember them. In the 80's they created On Course, a personal development course tailor-made for spiritual deepening. It was first presented at Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science and then was presented all over the United States and Canada. If you listen closely to my messages on Sunday, you will hear echoes of Paulette and Michael from my first experience in 1987. Today, I invite you to contemplate with me something we focused on in our seminar.

Michael presented what he called the "Four Immeasurables" which are Buddhist practices of deepening our spiritual connection. These practices include loving kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity. On their web site, www.one-now.com, Paulette wrote: "When you engage with loving kindness your intention is directed to bless yourself and others with happiness, health, safety, and living life with ease."

Perhaps you are thinking that right now you are happy, healthy, safe and living a life with ease. I know that is what I thought. Yet, when Michael led us in a meditation regarding the practice of loving kindness, I burst into tears. I discovered something within me that yearns for an expanded experience of loving kindness. I yearn for greater happiness, more vibrant health, unassailable safety and to live a life of ease even when I have deadlines, and other stressors.

Like me, I am certain that you do not intend to experience the opposite of this practice on yourself or anyone else. The opposite would be to wish someone ill-will. Nor would you wish ill-will upon yourself. Yet, in my past, when I was more often reactive than responsive, I could tell someone where to go and how to get there.

What I learned was that when we mask these practices we may practice being "nice" which is really a practice of inauthenticity. This month when I am looking for Divine Order in everything, and next month, when I am contemplating Spirit, I intend to practice loving kindness towards myself and others. I intend to be more fully aware when I substitute "niceness" for authenticity. After all, I am a living expression of Spirit, made in Its image and likeness. Spirit is Love. Join me in whispering to yourself, "May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I be safe. May I live a life of ease."

Love,
Heather

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