Thomas E. Witherspoon, Editor Stahr A. Pope, Art Director Janna Russell, Associate Editor Pamela Yearsley, Editorial Assistant Roy J. Howard, Circulation Manager Claborn Brants, Production Manager
NOVEMBER 1977 VOL. 157 No. 11
CONTENTS View from Unity Village Thomas E. Witherspoon The Cat That Cried for the Sun R. H. Grenville . . . Shall Find It Edith E. Cutting The Lowell Fillmore Garden Dedication The Dynamics of Faith Eric Butterworth 1 Windows to Heaven Gertrude Naugler 1 Divine Appointment Peter Bradley 2 God First Charles Roth 2 Good Is There Foster McClellan 2 The Woman Who Made a Molehill Out of a Mountain (1) Stella Terrill Mann 2 Prayer Power 3 A Message from Silent Unity James Dillet Freeman 3 Eternal Life Debra Woo/ard Bender 3 Questions on the Quest Marcus Bach 3 Ideal Security Mark S. Werne 4 The Bridge of Yesterday Ora Capetii 4 Steps in Self-knowledge Leddy and Randolph S ch m elig 4 To Have or to Have Not? Mary Anzaletta Long 5 Effective Thanksgiving Charles Fillmore 5 Unlimited Abundance on a Limited Income Mildred M. Fredricks 6 Letters to the Editor 6 Book Mark Janna Russell 6( Leaf Language Joh n D. Engle, Jr. Back Cove
CREDITS: Cover, Josef Muench (autumn in Owens Valley, California); Ann Bregach, staff artist, (5, 7); T om R osb orou gh (20); T he C ostas (43).
UNITY SCHOOL OF CHRISTIANITY, Charles R. Fillmore, President; James Dillet Freeman, First Vice-President; Otto Arni, Secretary. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Charles R. Fillmore, Chairman; Otto Arni Louis Ven£ Bass, Claborn Brants, Zelma Cook, William B. Dale, Robert L. Drescher, James Dillet Freeman, Roy Howard, Foster C. McClellan, Charles McGill, Keith McKay, J. Sig Paulson, Peter L. Rhea, Ralph Rhea, Rosemary Rhea, Martha Smock, Harold Whaley, Philip White, T h om as E. W itherspoon. Published monthly by UNITY SCHOOL OF CHRISTIANITY, Unity Village, Mo. 64065. Subscription price (United States and possessions, and Canada), 1 year, $3; 2 years, $5; 3 years, $7; additional subscriptions on same order, $2 each. (Foreign add $1 extra per year or subscrip tion.) Single copy, 35 cents. Second-class postage paid at L e e ’s Sum m it, Mo. © 1977 by Unity School of Christianity. (Unity School also publishes the following periodicals: Daily Word, $2 a year; La Palabra Diaria, $2 a year; Wee Wisdom, $4 a year [10 issues]. Foreign add SI extra per year or subscriDtion.) -IEW FROM UNITY VILLAGE .. .with the editor
November is a special month for praise and we at UNITY Magazine are particularly thankful for the many wonderful contributors to our publi cation and the hundreds of thousands of receptive readers. This m on th ’s magazine gets off to a delightful start with a human interest story that will have you sm iling—“The Cat That Cried for the Sun.” R. H. G renville’s name appears frequently in our magazine with her poetry, but this is the first article that she has done for us for some time. D on ’t miss it! Peter Bradley shares a beautifully-told true story entitled, “Divine Appointment.” It begins on page 21 and it is sure to hold your attention and give you insights into intuitive spiritual guidance. Eric Butterworth makes a fine contribution on a vital subject—“The Dynamics of Faith”—which can be found on page 12. The minister of the Unity Center of Practical Christianity in New York City shares new and valuable information on how to put faith to work for your highest good and for those you hold dear. We honor in this issue, in a four-page layout beginning on page 8, one of U n ity’s great leaders—Lowell Page Fillmore. He served the Unity move ment for more than seventy-five years and was president of Unity School from 1948 until 1972. He made his transition in 1975. A wonderful life-filled memorial garden has been dedicated in his name at Unity Village. We invite you to read the article about the dedication— and especially a letter written to him by his niece, Frances Fillmore Lakin. We are sure it will touch your heart, as it did the hundreds who gathered for the dedication. The magazine includes many other top-notch articles, poetry, and beautiful illustrations this month, and we are delighted that we can present such material to our ever-increasing audience of readers. God bless you all! The Cat That Cried for the Sun
BY R. H. GRENVILLE
LIKE MOST CATS, Miss Penny Into the density of the human has been a sun-worshiper through thought process flashed a ray of out her twenty-year lifetime, and light: the realization that Penny like most cats she has her favorite never behaved this way when the spots for basking and dozing sun was shining—only on days of around the house. cloudy indecision. Then aware One of these, in an upstairs ness dawned. She wanted us to room facing south, is the top of an turn on the sun! And why, from a old-fashioned sewing machine ca t’s point of view, did this not ideally situated for feline medita seem reasonable? tion. If the door to this room Did we, or did we not, with the happens to be closed, her “please flick of a switch, illumine various help me” voice will be heard in rooms, the sun deck, the front continuous replay until someone porch, the driveway, and the goes to her assistance. This is garage? So what about that big understandable but what puzzled outdoor lantern so essential to a us was why she would sometimes windowsill or tabletop siesta? cry at the threshold when the How could we explain to Miss door already was open. Penny that the sun was not a light “Will someone please open the fixture on the household circuit door for Penny? S h e’s crying up but a star of awesome dimensions stairs.” some 93 million miles out in “The door is open.” space? “Then why is she crying?” We found that it is true that Why, indeed? Even when Miss instruction reaches the heart Penny came downstairs to deliver through varied channels—through her reproach in person, we failed stones and brooks and cats that to understand. From a c a t’s point cry for the sun. On pondering the of view humans must be, on occa matter we saw a humbling parallel sion, most exasperating. to our own behavior. How often, Finally, someone did catch on. as a metaphysical concept, have we affirmed God, the limitless, from expectation per se—rather divine, creative Principle, as the from misplaced expectation. Source of all good, then pinned A person we rely on proves un our expectation to some lesser, trustworthy; a career hope fails to totally inadequate supply and materialize; a desired objective support? slips from our grasp; a financial or None of us gets through life health problem evades solution. without some disappointment. Each case is a wrenching dis And what disappoints us? People. appointment to the faith pinned Things. Situations. Our own exclusively to such things. shortcomings and inadequacies. If, on the other hand, we hold The times. The place in which we calmly and sincerely to God as the live. “Blessed are they that expect supreme Source of all good, we nothing, for they shall not be dis find ample proof that lif e ’s self- appointed,” quipped one wit. But renewing vitality has inexhaust disappointment does not result ible avenues and channels of ex- pression and that the failure of organic substances. Electricity, one, or a few, or thousands cannot natural gas, and oil, so crucial to cancel or diminish the power of our current life-style and methods the Source or prevent its light of production, were unknown in from reaching us. some o f the most vital and cre As I write this, a worldwide ative periods of human history, “energy crisis” is making head but the materials and principles lines. The President has revealed on which their present use is his energy policy to the nation founded existed in potential from and has urged conservation and the time of Adam. restraint. No doubt many persons It is true that some things, in a are worried, especially by the oft- specific material form, may be repeated media use of the phrase non-renewable. Some animals “non-renewable resource” with have been hunted to extinction, respect to certain materials we some materials exploited to the have taken for granted and upon point o f scarcity, but the divine which our civilization seems to creative Source, God, is infinite in rely. power and diversity. In God there Those of us who grew up in the is always another—and better- electronic age, and those growing idea. up in the space age, seem to forget In his book Prosperity, Charles that oil, natural gas, and elec Fillmore gives a message strikingly tricity are comparatively new applicable to our time: forms of energy. Before their use “The world goes through people relied, and in some areas to periods of seeming lack because this day rely, upon wood, tallow, the people have refused to build whale oil, coal, peat, and other their prosperity on the inner, omnipresent, enduring substance, and on the contrary have tried to base it on the substance that they Unity Churches, Centers, see in the outer. This outer sub and Teachers stance, formed by the imaging power of men in past ages, seems If you would like to know the location to be limited, and men struggle for o f you r nearest Unity church or center, and cannot find it listed in it, forgetting their own divine your telephone directory, please write power to form their own sub to The Association o f Unity Churches, stance from the limitless supply Unity Village, Mo. 64065. They will within. . . . Let go of negative be glad to give you any desired infor thoughts of financial loss or any mation about Unity churches or other kind of loss and realize that classes in your vicinity. nothing is ever lost in all the uni verse. There are opportunities everywhere, just as there have always been, to produce all that you need, financially, or other seems to glow and her eyes are wise.” closed in utter contentment. She The cofounder of Unity goes does not know that her source of on to say: “There have been more pleasurable warmth is millions of inventions since the beginning of miles away in space, much less the so-called depression [1920-30 that there is a Source behind the era] than in any previous similar source, to which her own being, period in American history. This like all created things, is linked. shows that new ideas are there We, her human family, know, within man, just waiting to be but we tend to forget. Headlines, called out and put into expres broadcasts, and the challenges of sion. We can find new ways of human experience, make us wish living and new methods of work; that someone, somehow would we are not confined to the ways “turn on the sun.” But henceforth and methods of the past.” we intend to remember: “The Today is a day of blue sky and Lord is my shepherd, I shall not sunshine. Miss Penny is basking in want” . . . and the all-providing one of her favorite places. Her fur Mind is my resource. ©
.. .cJhall C^JtndC^Jt
By Edith E. Cutting
“He who loses his life ...” Each brilliant leaf in fall Affirms the promise. When sturdy green Of living August leaves is lost, The gold, vermillion, Scarlet, purple, rust, Shine out in vibrant life We could not see When daily green was all. i► The Lowell Fillmore
About 650 persons gathered recently at Unity Village to par ticipate in the dedication of the Lowell Fillmore Memorial Garden. Lowell Fillmore, eldest son of the Unity cofounders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, was U n ity ’s president from 1948 until 1972 and served the movement for more than seventy-five years. He made his transition in 1975 at Lowell Fillmore the age of ninety-three. Speakers at the ceremony were Charles R. Fillmore, president of Unity School of Christianity; James Dillet Freeman, director of Silent Unity; Rosemary Fillmore Rhea and Ralph R. Rhea, co directors of the Radio and Tele vision Department; Mrs. Frances Fillmore Lakin; J. Sig Paulson, minister of Unity Chapel; and Rev. Joyce Kramer, president of Alice Fillmore th e Association of Unity Churches. Charles Fillmore is a nephew and Mrs. Rhea and Mrs. unveiled a plaque inscribed with Lakin are nieces of Lowell Fill her h u sb a n d ’s best known poem, more. The Answer. Music was provided Mrs. Lowell (Alice) Fillmore by Rev. Harold Whaley on the Charles Fillmore, president of Unity School 3f Christianity, and Alice Fillmore stand aeside the bronze plaque.
Carillon and Lou Bass on the organ. Lowell Fillmore was a man who loved life in all its forms—and was particularly fond of plants and nnft /-7qpd flowers. The garden is a living "Until my words- seemed, worn and bare monument to his work with Unity and mankind. Thousands of persons have had knocJ<£dandasl
Joyce Kramer, president of the Association of Unity Churches at the tim e of the dedication, represented that organization.
Ralph Rhea gave the closing prayer at the ceremonies held near the Memorial G arden.
(Editor’s note: The following letter was read back o f your house here at the to the audience at the dedication of the village. The times when you and I Lowell Fillmore garden. The writer, Frances would explore your garden were Fillmore Lakin, was brought up in the home of Lowell and Alice Fillmore. Her words especially precious times to me. perhaps best sum up the love that is felt by so The way that you would point out many persons for the man who was honored each smiling flower face or robust on the occasion of the dedication.) vegetable or budding bush with the affection of a caring father for Dear Uncle Lowell, his child, would make me feel happy and good all over. You would be so happy and pleased with this beautiful garden Usually you would be out in that has been provided and loving the garden at the crack of dawn ly nurtured at Unity Village in before starting a full and busy day your honor. It seems that G o d ’s at Unity School. In the early, heart is truly here in our midst and dewy morning hours you would we are all so very blessed by Him. I seed and plant and pick . . . and, yes, pray. I always felt that you I always felt that G o d ’s heart felt closest to God in your garden was in your garden too—the one and that He spoke to you in a special way in the newness and me, your life was your testimony freshness of those morning hours. of faith.
The desks of the Unity folks I will always be deeply grateful were more often than not laden for the love that was so freely with fresh flowers or crispy vege given to me by all of the Fillmore tables that you would bring to the family and for the home that was office. How you loved to share the provided for me by you and Aunt beauty, the bounty, and the Alice. richness of the garden treasures. And so today we would ask And that w asn’t all you loved G o d ’s blessings on the thousands to share. You shared your life, of people from all over the world your faith in God, and the joy and who will come to this garden. May the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. they find here His strength, His Yes, it was the quality of your life guidance, and His peace. that spoke most clearly and truly to me. And it has made a deep and You will always be here, too, lasting impression on my life and Uncle Lowell—in the hearts of my faith. The love of God for each one of us. every living thing surrounded and shone forth from you to enrich Your loving niece, and bless the lives of so many. To Fran
is how the Lowell Fillmore Memorial Garden looks from an elevated place at Unity Village, BY ERIC BUTTERWORTH
The Dynamics Eric Butterworth of Faith
FAITH IS ONE of many words course is to reinterpret it in a more that seems to have lost its meaning meaningful way. but not its use in our language. It It would seem in order to begin is used as if it conveys its own with a working definition for meaning, which it rarely does. faith, but that is precisely what And to make it more complicated, should not be done, for to define a it is normally considered the sole thing is to effectively limit it. If property of religion where it has we would say, “Faith is da da da deteriorated into a bland cliche. da,” it would be convenient. All Because we have thought of you would need to do would be to religious things as dealing pri memorize the “da da da da.” I marily with Sunday worship could test you, “And what is services, faith is often put on like a faith?” And with enthusiasm and Sunday suit to be sung about, pride of accomplishment you preached on, and prayed over, but could reply, “Faith is da da da then with the final “Amen,” it is da.” But instead of revealing the normally put back into a six-day dynamics of faith, we would closet of unconcern. simply have given the word a It would be good if we could static frame. find another word for faith, since You might say, “But how can I in this study we are less concerned use something I do not under with religion than with life and stand?” Actually, you use many living. However, there is no other things you do not understand. Do word that expresses the attitude you insist on defining electricity we have in mind, so the only re when you walk into a dark room “ Faith does not change the nature of reality. It simply tunes in to reality.” and search for a light switch? No, very real substance that annihi when you find the switch, you lates obstacles, removes moun simply turn it on, and that is the tains of difficulty, and doubles end of it. o n e ’s power and multiplies o n e ’s To start with, let us think of ability. faith as a factor of consciousness, For most persons “having as natural as seeing, hearing, or faith” is a vague intangible. In reli tasting. It is always active and gious fervor one may say, “I have never absent. One may say that he faith in God.” What does he mean has no faith. That is not true; it by that? He may mean that he cannot be true. Man is a believing wants to have faith, to believe in creature. He always believes in the Supreme Being. For his reli something. He may believe in God gion consists essentially in saying, or a “devil,” in divine order or “I believe in the Father, the Son, caprice, in the positive or the and the Holy Spirit.” He may not negative. But he is always be bother, however, to ask what he lieving in something. He cannot means by all this. help himself, for he is a believing How does one have faith in creature. God? Is it accepting as real some One may say that he is trying to thing that the intellect cannot get more faith, as if it is something identify with? A little boy in Sun that can be procured at the gro day school said, “Faith is be cery store, or at the bank, or in lieving what a in ’t so!” It may be some course of study. The need is that faith is not believing in some not to find it, but to develop the thing, but it is more a believing perception to creatively use it. We attitude based on something. It is seem to want to think of faith as a state of consciousness. the “free gift of God,” which all God is centered in you. There is persons have but only a few use nothing you can do to add to that rightly. or to take away from it. Your As the five senses are the means faith, no matter how fervently of perception of the world around affirmed, in no way adds to or us, so faith is the mystical means takes away from that. Actually, of perception of the world within. God was no more centered in In its most dynamic use it is the Jesus than He is in you. There is a bridge between man and God, difference, of course, a tremen between a human need and the dous difference: Jesus was center spiritual resource, between our ed in God, while we are centered, physical form and the infinite for the most part, in things and energies that animate it with life. persons at the circumference of In its most dynamic use faith living. draws on the Infinite, releasing a Faith then, is centering your “ God is centered in you. There is nothing you can do to add to that or to take away from it. Your faith, no matter how fervently affirmed, in no way adds to or takes away from that.”
consciousness in God, in the Infi reality. When people believed the nite resource which is forever world was flat, it was still round. within you. The power to do all Their belief in the flat world did things, the eternal flow of life and n ot change the round world. guidance, are always within you. Later, to have faith in the new There is never an absence, for God world discovered to be round did is a presence. The need is the will not require changing the world to believe, to center your con that had been considered flat. sciousness in the transcendence of When you pray for health, your life. This is the dynamic process of faith will not make an incurable faith. condition well. It will not even You may have thought that heal the simple cut of the finger. faith is a miracle catalyst that Faith merely relates to reality, makes God work for you. Nothing which is not revealed by the you do or say can make God work appearance. You are more than for you, or even in you. For God is you appear to be. Your faith re an omniactive presence and power lates to that more. Your physical within you. In the simplistic an problem is the flat world. Actu thropomorphism with which our ally it is your belief, your expe minds have been conditioned, we rience. But there is a wholeness in may think of God as the supreme you even as there is a round world person of the skies who sits on His within the world once believed to throne waiting for us to prove our be flat. One simply transcends the worthiness for the answers we other. Thus the healing is not the seek by the quality of our faith. result of some miracle of faith, Even as the electricity in the lines but is the release of the impris must flow forth to light the room oned splendor of health across the when we turn the switch, so God, bridge of faith. Faith did not as the ever-present force of life create it or even influence God to and intelligence, must act when create it. Faith simply turned it we create the conditions that on. make the results inevitable. We weaken the process of You may say, “But do you “dynamic faith” when we talk of really feel that faith can change “miracles of faith” or the “magic things?” There is a changing pro of believing.” We are dealing with cess, like light streaming in when divine law, not the caprice of God you open the window. However, or the luck of life. A helpful illus faith does not change the nature tration is the rheostat that you of reality. It simply tunes in to may have on your dining room “ We can demonstrate what we want, but we do not know what we really want unless we turn away from the lure of things, and listen to the rhythm of our being.”
chandelier. You can turn it up to great enough to do the things I have more illumination or down would like to do.” If you have the to have a more romantic setting of desire, you are already experienc dim light. But this is no miracle. ing the flow. Faith is little more The full power is present all the than the will to say, “let it be.” while, flowing obediently forth Few of us use more than a small according to your desire. Faith part of the God-power that is always tunes in to and turns up within us. In most cases it is be the power that is ever-present. cause of a faulty self-evaluation. We have thought of degrees of We have tended to accept stan faith: “great faith” and “little dards based on past history and faith.” Jesus suggested that we experience. Such and such cannot might reflect on the phenomenon be done simply because it has of the lilies of the field. They are a never been done. We may say, “I demonstration of the miracle of know that I ca n ’t sell, for I once life naturally flowing forth in tried it and failed.” That is all the beauty and design and aliveness. proof that we may need. The lily is in tune with n a tu re’s From this kind of “logic” it has flow. But the important thing is been natural to classify past there is no halfway attunement. accomplishments and limitations Either it is in tune or it is not. of mankind, and to come up a glit When you turn on the light, either tering array of statistics, “tables the contact in the electric circuit of ultimates” and “laws of aver is made or it is not. There is no ages.” Example: The average room for an almost contact. Faith achievement of a college graduate is the contact, and there is no is thus and so, and the average question of great or small. achievement of one with no col It is true that Jesus said, “O lege at all is thus and so. This may men of little faith,” but the “little lead to such “valuable” informa faith” refers to part-time faith. In tion as: For a person of your back other words it was not a matter of ground and intelligence, the intensity, but of constancy. Faith chances of success in your busi is not just a way of affirming or ness are about one out of seven. treating, but a way of living. The Computed irrefutably by the law “practice of the Presence” is not of averages! simply a technique in meditation, But why be an average person? but a perspective for dealing with Why not be that one in seven. all things at all times. Do not limit Someone must be! All the great yourself by saying, “My faith isn ’t achievements of civilization have “ Let us think of faith as a factor of consciousness, as natural as seeing, hearing, or tasting. It is always active and never absent.” been made by individuals who Son of God potential within you. refused to consult such statistics Jesus said, “You, therefore, must and refused to listen to those who be perfect, as your heavenly could actually prove that what Father is perfect.” In other words they wanted to do, and in fact did you are not only human. You are do, was completely impossible. human, but the human of you en The bumblebee is a classic illus closes the divine of you, the tran tration. According to any aerody scendent reality of you. Creative namics engineer the bumblebee faith can enable you to relate to cannot possibly fly. He can prove and release the imprisoned splen it to the satisfaction of everyone dor of your transcendent self. except the bumblebee, who goes Do not emphasize your prob right on flying with ease. You, lems, the facts of past perfor too, have the power within you to mance, the evidence of impossi lift you out of impossibilities and bility, etc. Certainly you may to enable you to accomplish what have a need, and it is not practical ever you have the vision to con to refuse to face the fact. But a ceive and the will to believe. need has no built-in limitations. Jesus said, “According to your There are only limiting attitudes faith be it done to you.” He is re about it. See the need as a vessel to ferring to the focus of attention. be filled. Paul injected one of the Health and success are according most helpful and hopeful notes to your faith. But sickness is also when he said, “And my God will according to your faith. And de supply every need of yours ac feat and failure are according to cording to his riches in glory in your faith. It is not for want of Christ Jesus.” In other words do faith, but for want of its disci not center your thought on the plined, creative use that we expe problem. Re-center your atten rience less than good. tion on God, the Infinite resource The reason that so many per within. And that re-centering is sons continue in physical limita what dynamic faith is all about. tion or plod along in mediocrity is Right where you are there is a that they see so many obstacles resource of wisdom and guidance, and difficulties looming up, and of substance and supply, of ability they become discouraged. You and creativity through which you may say, “But I am only human, can do what needs to be done. Put what can you expect?” You can your faith to work in creative expect, yes, should expect, the ways. Start believing in yourself progressive unfoldment of the and in the all-accomplishing “ Put your faith to work in creative ways. Start believing in yourself and in the all-accomplishing power of God in you.” power of God in you. You will be faith is the key to the kingdom of amazed at the answers that will your own potentiality. The need unfold. is to listen to your own transcen Now, it is important to realize dence, to know yourself. This will that when Jesus says, “All things lead you to desire to unfold that are possible to him who believes,” which you innately are, thus to He was not saying that the ugly fulfill your own uniqueness. duckling (who was really a swan) The problem with much prayer could become a duck. Nor was He in Truth is that, based on the “all saying that a nonmusical person things are possible” ideal, the stu may become a concert pianist. dent begins affirming or treating Jesus did not mean that you can for the good with little or no do something that is not a part of preparation. How important, your innate potentiality. You can first, to “Be still and know . . . ,” only be you, though through the to get centered within ourself in dynamics of faith you can release oneness with the divine flow. The more of your true Self than you need is to listen first and then say normally do. what we are listening to, rather You can do anything your than to launch out spouting state mind can conceive. But you really ments of truth, and then to listen cannot conceive of that which is to what we are saying. We can not within the flow of your own demonstrate what we want, but unfolding God-self. Many stu we do not know what we really dents of this new insight in Truth want unless we turn away from become influenced by covetous the lure of things, and listen to the ness to seek to achieve or demon rhythm of our being. Jesus put it strate all manner of things. Even if succinctly, “But seek first his they make the demonstration, at kingdom and his righteousness, times there are only problems. and all these things shall be yours For, as in transplant surgery as well.” where sometimes a “rejection When we say, “All things are syndrome” prevents the tissue possible,” we certainly do not from taking hold, they may not be mean that carbon can become a able to hold onto, or fully expe good conductor of electricity. rience that which has not come And yet, a carbon filament can be from their own pattern. used by electricity to fulfill its Faith is not a magic means of uniqueness as the heart of a light working miracles. You are the bulb. Can you imagine a carbon great miracle, and the dynamics of filament saying, “I ca n ’t conduct “ Faith is not just a way of affirming or treating, but a way of living. The ‘practice of the Presence’ is not simply a technique in meditation, but a perspective for dealing with all things at all times.”
electricity like a copper wire. I am and intelligence. no good. You ca n ’t expect me to Determine that you will no make a light.” But Jesus did not longer accept yourself as an say, “Make your light shine!” He average person. For as average, said “let.” So, to the carbon fila you are a part-time child of God- ment we might say, “Are you will sick part of the time and well part ing to be used as an instrument?” of the time, happy part of the Then we need only to press the time and unhappy part of the button and there would be light. time, experiencing guidance and This is a vital insight in under success part of the time and con standing the dynamics of faith. It fusion and frustration part of the does not make the light. It does time. And for all this, you might not even make the filament a good even ask, “I’m only human, so conductor of electricity. It simply what can you expect?” turns on the switch. The Kingdom You should expect much more, of all-potentiality is already with for there is a great potential with in you, and faith is the key. You in you—the Kingdom of God is do not need to become something within you. Through the creative different in order to release it. It use of your faith, you will find it calls simply for knowing that you easy and normal to get and keep in are (not may be or “dear God the flow of your own greater self. make me b e ”) a spiritual being. And you will go forward to expe Then, armed with that believing rience the progressive unfoldment attitude, simply proceed to do of your own glorious uniqueness. what needs to be done. It will be You will become a full-time child done with effectiveness and sim of God. As Thoreau puts it, you plicity, for it will be done out of will live with the “license of a the flow of transcendent power higher order of beings.” ©
------TAKE YOUR Tl If you fail to get results from divinely spiritual, but do you speaking the Word, it means that always demonstrate it? We d o n ’t either the knowledge or the feel demonstrate ten percent of what ing is missing. Every thought we could. We know we are Spirit, means something if it is a sane we know we are one with God; thought, but it must also carry a but do we feel it? feeling. You know that you are —Emmet Fox. When I was twelve years old my father told my mother that he was afraid if they sent me to a certain school I might lose my faith. I was indignant. In my opinion I knew all about the Christian faith, and I could recite the seventh chapter of Matthew, the fourteenth of John, and several of the Psalms without missing a word. “I know exactly what I believe,” I stuffily said, “and nothing will ever change me.” My beautiful dark-eyed mother looked grave. “Do n ’t be so sure,” she said. “I hope you will always keep the windows to heaven open.” Young as I was, I understood. The years went by, and I learned more and more about the ways of God, becoming less and less sure that I could thoroughly comprehend even one of His laws. Is not each Truth a ray of light that goes on and on into infinity? The things we know at one level be come more complex, more beautiful, and look different to us as our spiritual wisdom grows to the next level. I am a good deal older now than my mother was when she told me to keep the windows to heaven open, and there is only one dogma of which I feel absolutely sure. It is not dry and unpleasant. It is not hard and limiting. It fills the believer with joy and makes him want to grow forever. It is simply: God is love. BY PETER BRADLEY D ivine A ppointm ent IT WAS A Sunday afternoon in answered, “As a matter of fact, summer. The San Francisco there is. I d o n ’t understand why, Giants were in Los Angeles and but I have a tremendous urge to their baseball game against the forget about the game and drive Dodgers was to be televised in the out to the ocean to watch the Bay area. I had been to church sunset.” She replied, “Well, le t ’s that morning and was looking for do it then, and we can listen to the ward to seeing the game on tele rest of the game on the car radio.” vision. I am an ardent Giant fan That was all I needed! In less than and enjoy watching their games. five minutes we were on the way. However, as I started to watch We drove up the Junipero Serra the game I began to have a restless freeway. This freeway is said to be feeling. It persisted, and I found “the w o r ld ’s most scenic” and it my mind wandering from baseball truly is a beautiful drive. We were to sunsets, even though the Giants enjoying the scenery so much that were ahead by only one run. Sun we decided to drive to Half Moon sets have always given me an espe Bay. From there we would drive cially close feeling to God and down U.S. Highway No. 1 along sunsets off the California coast are the ocean to Santa Cruz and back magnificent. On the one hand, it through the mountains to San seemed foolish for me to stop Jose. When we had finally decided watching a good game, but the the route we would take, my feeling persisted. I became un anxious feelings vanished and I easy, almost anxious. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the ride. sensed my uneasiness and asked if A few miles out of Half Moon something were bothering me. I Bay we stopped at a vantage point coast. We returned to the car and resumed our drive toward Santa Cruz where we had decided to stop for dinner. From there it would still be an h o u r’s drive home. Approximately twenty miles north of Santa Cruz we rounded a curve, and in the beam from the headlights we saw the figure of a small girl frantically waving her arms. I stopped the car; my wife jumped out and the girl ran into her arms. She clung to my wife and sobbed hysterically, Peter Bradley “Thank God, thank God! I was so afraid, I was so afraid! I thought I high on a rugged cliff where we heard a rattlesnake, I thought I could look out over the Pacific. heard a rattlesnake!” My wife We could hear the rhythmical calmed the girl, and soon she was pounding of the surf and an occa in the warm car with us. She was sional squawk from gulls as we clad only in a swimsuit and light watched a glorious sunset. The cloak. We learned that she was fiery disc slipped gently into the from San Jose, that she was seven sea, setting the sky ablaze with years old and in the third grade. varying shades of orange, pink, She repeated over and over: “Oh, scarlet, magenta, and purple, I was praying so hard that some against which the clouds gently one nice would stop and pick me floated in ever-changing forma up.” tions. Never before had we expe She told us her family had been rienced such a sunset! As it went on a d a y ’s outing to the beach. down into the western ocean the Her father had gone surf fishing sun seemed to change shape. At and she had spent the day running first it was a round sphere, then it and playing along the surf with was transformed into a huge her older sister and her mother, oriental lantern, and finally, an who had returned to the car while arch as it slid silently into the sea. she set out to find her father. She It always fascinates me to think eventually had become dis that as I watch a sunset, someone oriented in the fast-falling dark somewhere else in the world is ness. As she unfolded her story I watching a sunrise. was affirming silently that there Once the sun is beyond the would soon be a happy reunion. It ea rth ’s curvature, darkness was all too easy to imagine the descends like a falling curtain over state of mind that her family must that part o f rugged California be in at this point, so I kept pour- LNTOd ig out silent prayers of comfort tenaciously hugging a joyously nd assurance to them. tearful little girl. What could be As we drove toward Santa Cruz more beautiful? I ran back and kept hoping to see a highway told the officer, “Yo u ’ll probably iatrolman or a park ranger so that call this a coincidence, but as I was ve might expedite the reunion, calling you from inside the office, lut on this particular evening we the little g ir l’s mother was calling aw very little traffic. We stopped from the outside telephone t a service station on the out- booth. I ’ll just call it the answer to kirts of Santa Cruz and I asked a prayer. They are reunited and he attendant if he could direct us it ’s a beautiful, beautiful world o a police station. He suggested I today. Thank you. Good-bye.” ome into the office and tele- As we drove home I asked my >hone the police. A minute later I wife, “Do you think it was a coin vas talking by telephone to a cidence?” “I d o n ’t see how it >olice officer. As I was explaining could be,” she answered. “I’ve o him how we had found the roung girl, he interrupted me and aid, “Would you mind holding he line for a moment?” When he :ame back he said, “I believe I lave the little g ir l’s mother on mother line. What did you say her lame is and where are you calling Tom?” I answered both questions md he asked me to hold on again. Shortly, he came back on the line md in a very gruff, almost rude manner, said, “What’s going on lere? Is this some kind of a prac tical joke? You say you are at the VIission—station?” I answered, ‘Yes.” The gruff voice said, never seen you as anxious to go ‘Well, th a t’s where the g ir l’s anywhere as you were this after mother says sh e ’s calling from! noon. Besides, when you would How can that be?” leave a Giant-Dodger game to go Just then my wife came run for a drive, it co u ld n ’t be a coin ning into the office shouting, cidence! It was a divine appoint “Come quickly, the little g irl’s ment!” mother is here!” I ran to the door It was a triple-header after and saw a beautiful sight. At the noon. The Giants won the game; outside telephone booth the we saw a magnificent sunset; and mother stood with tears running we were selected to keep a divine down her cheeks and her arms appointment. Thank You, Father. Praise God, my mind is quickened, means that you look to the light of under standing within for guid ance. BY CHARLES ROTH Praise God, my body is As you voice the words, “Praise healed, means that G o d ’s God!” during this Thanksgiving healing life is the vitalizing month, you are admitting and power in your body. acknowledging that God is the Source of your good and that you are totally and completely depen Praise God, my affairs are dent on G o d ’s presence and power prospered, means that you to incline you to right action in look to spiritual substance as every circumstance. the source o f your constant supply. The words, praise God have a way of influencing in a positive way whatever follows. For instance, it is almost impossible to say, “Praise God. I am confused and d o n ’t know what to do ! ” Use the spiritual words be low to precede your inward thoughts about challenging conditions that confront you—large or small. Charles Roth M in is te r Praise God. It will be a successful Unity Truth Center day, Indianapolis, Ind. or Praise God, this apparently bad situation will work out for good. “CRISIS” OR “OPPORTUNITY?” BY FOSTER McCLELLAN IN CLASSES CON Divorce is one of the DUCTED at the Unity great challenges of our Institute for Continu time and is a subject ing Education, students that concerns people were asked to describe everywhere. Here is his an experience in their story, told in his own life when an apparent words: crisis became an oppor tunity or a turning “Recently I expe point for good. They rienced a crisis in the were told that some of breakup of my family. their reports might be After eight years of used in magazine arti marriage, my wife and I cles so that others decided to separate and could profit from their d iv orce; my eleven- experiences. They were month-old daughter assured that their went with her. identity would be pro “To me, divorce was tected, and they were one of those things that instructed that if they happened to other did not want to see people, a kind of fail their story published, ure. We loved each they should so indicate. other, yet when I began Only a small percentage studying Truth several of the students chose years ago the structure not to see their of our marriage began accounts in print. to change. My wife be This article was writ came uncomfortable in ten by a man who dis my presence because I covered his marriage was a changed man. was about to end. Finally, she concluded marriage in the first place. I be lieve this is a good thought to keep in mind, and in many ways it is true, for most marriages grow in strength when a man and a woman face crisis experiences together. Foster McClellan Such experiences often act as catalysts to make stronger rela that I was a religious fanatic. tionships. But people do change, “If it had not been for my and mistakes are made in mar knowledge of Truth I would have riages as well as in other situa succumbed to the soul-shattering tions, and for some people the loss of seeing my infant daughter only apparent solution is divorce. taken from my life. I was made A broken marriage often brings aware of the feeling of thousands hardships upon children, but on of persons who lose their children the other hand, children should in divorce. Yet I came to see that not be raised in a home where divorce does not necessarily mean there is inharmony and lack of failure. However, it can turn into a love. failure if we do not understand Our friend states in his paper, the reasons for the disintegration, “Whenever my heart starts to sink and come to know more about at the thought of this great life ourself. change, I hold fast to my knowl “I accept this turning point in edge of absolute good. If I do not my life because with Truth I am have the good of it in the palm of able to bless both mother and my hand, I have the faith of it in child and affirm that everything is my heart.” Here is the answer. in divine order. Whenever my The divorce is final—it is over. It is heart starts to sink at the thought now in the past. The only way to of this great life change I hold fast deal with this situation, as in all to my knowledge of absolute situations in life, is to stand fast to good. If I do not have the good of the Truth that God is present and it in the palm of my hand, I have know that somehow good will be the faith of it in my heart.” revealed if we hold firm to Truth. No one knows much about the It seems to me that divorce is a beginning or ending of things. No “kind of failure,” as this man put one knows what the future holds. it. I think everyone who goes But if we can get a firm grasp of a through a divorce probably feels a fundamental Truth, such as, God sense of failure. However, some is good and God is omnipresent; one once said, “No true marriage therefore, only good can be in can ever end in divorce.” The rea every situation, then live this soning is that if a marriage does Truth, good will always be re end in this way, it was not a true vealed to us. 0 Stories from The ^ ife BY Woman STELLA TERRILL MANN ’W ho Made a Molehill Out of a Mountain “. . . whoever says to this name and address and a new mountain, lBe taken up and address typed under it. The writer cast into the sea,' and does explained: not doubt in his heart, but “I found your book, ‘How to believes that what he says A nalyze and Overcome Your will come to pass, it will be Fears’ in the local Methodist done for him"—Jesus (Mark church library. I read it carefully 1 1 :2 3 ) . and found that I have many of the hidden fears you mentioned. But I also have an open fear you did not WE ALL KNOW people who mention. There is a mountain on make a mountain out of a mole my path! I cannot go around it, hill. But I want to tell you about through it, or over it! ” the woman who made a molehill The woman wanted to come out of a mountain. and talk with me about her prob The story began in 1967 when I lems. She had enclosed a stamped, received a letter, neatly typed on self-addressed envelope and her business stationery, with a line telephone number. Her last com drawn through the imprinted ment was: “I expect to pay. © 1 977 by Stella Terrill Mann hearted person, but extremely lonely and spiritually disturbed. As she told me her story, she cried occasionally. » Mrs. Conway, the only child of an invalid, widowed mother, had worked her way through school and business college. She and her husband had owned their own' successful business. They never had children. They had many friends; they were involved in church and other volunteer work, and had looked forward to early retirement when they could travelr and do all the things they never had time for before. Mrs. Conway showed me the card her husband Having been in business for myself had always kept on his desk; it I do not expect free services. In read: The end o f labor is to gain business we say, ‘There is no such leisure—Aristotle. " thing as a free lunch.’ ” But it was Then, after a brief illness, Mr. her postscript that revealed the Conway died and Mrs. Conway depth of her fears. I answered that was alone, her mother having I would see her, and I told her passed some years before. The Conways had a nebulous relation ship with Mr. Conway’s brother (whom we will call Bill) and his “ There is a mountain on my path! two sisters, all of whom lived in I cannot go around it, through it, the California city from which or over it.” Mrs. Conway had written me. None of these relatives had shown any interest during Mr. Conway’s what to expect in an interview. illness, nor did they attend his So Mrs. Carl Conway came on a funeral. But, “They all began to beautiful, late summer morning. write and beg me to come out and Everything about her—her honey- live near them,” Mrs. Conway ex colored hair, practical and be plained. So after selling her busi coming clothes, her manners, and ness, she closed her home and the look in her grey-green eyes— went out West to make a new indicated that she had spent years home with them. in public life. She was in her early Initially, everyone “made a sixties. She seemed to be an great fuss over Aunt Caroline,” honest, moral, and very warm and it warmed her heart. She rented a small, furnished apart ness project that he wanted her to ment and decided she would settle finance for him. She had already her other affairs back home. told him she thought his project Later, perhaps, she would con was unsound and that she would sider buying a small house, and not help him financially. A family then she would be safe for the rest disagreement ensued. Mrs. Con of her life near her relatives. She way announced that she was going would never be alone again. Her to close her apartment and go .rosy hopes were not uncommon home, but Bill claimed she was for someone recently widowed. legally bound—she would either Sadly, things did not work out go through with the deal or pay; it that way. had cost him time and money, he Soon after she moved in, pleas said. He threatened to sue her. He fo r m oney began. First, she demanded, “Settle here and now, bought an automobile for a or I will go back to your state and nephew who was going to take her pursue the issue!” The greatest shock for Mrs. Conway was that the rest of the family joined in with Bill. “It was “ I sat silently with my hand on like a pack of wolves moving in for i her shoulder and waited. The the kill,” Mrs. Conway said. pent-up loneliness, fear of the Though she was uncertain future, shame of making mis whether or not she was legally takes, realization that her bound, she did not want to con beloved husband had gone from tact her attorney at home. She did this world and that she was alone not want anyone to know how and had been hurt and imposed foolish she had been. upon by the people whom she “At first, it all seemed reason • had wanted to love and help, had able,” Mrs. Conway reported. to be watered down in tears." Between tears, flashes of anger, and determination to be fair and factual, Mrs. Conway got to the root of her feelings. It was not just driving, show her the country, and the expenditure of money, which take her shopping. But within a included everything from ballet month, he began avoiding her. His lessons for one niece, a summer cousins were envious; they said vacation for another, clothes, tele Mrs. Conway was unfair, and each visions, radios, and cash; it was began to beg for what he or she “the awful quarreling among wanted. them” that hurt her. Finally, Mrs. Conway came to I advised her to take a factual the reason for the postscript of look at those relatives. “They are her letter to me. It was about her in the school of cause and effect. husband’s brother. Bill had a busi What hurts teaches, and what pleases teaches. Do not add to done. You can get back lost their delinquency. Life on earth is money with love. a school where we are to learn 4. You are also angry with how to use our free will in such a yourself because you fear you way that we harm neither ourself have lost your sense of good judg nor anyone else. If you remain ment. But, I feel that you have with them you will be breaking a found it on a new, higher level. It spiritual law. There is a better would be wrong for you to stay way. Pray and stay away.” and let them bleed you to depen-, We took a break with sand dent poverty. Dipping into your wiches and lemonade to refresh capital to try to satisfy their needs our physical selves before we went has frightened you about your into the spiritual problems of the own stability. 5. Your mountain is made up of emotions. These are all negative, emotions. You can melt that “ You should think and say mountain down with the oppo silently to yourself, ‘Only good site-positive emotions, thoughts, is taking place.' Start to see that words, and deeds. You can make a God has used you for a purpose mere molehill out o f that moun because you are a loving person tain. f, and willing to work.” *1 6. You need to set a goal for yourself, for your own life and happiness from here on, and you need a method of handling the case and how to handle them. Mrs. troublesome people on your path. Conway took time out to examine Money can buy bread and patch a the lemon and other citrus trees in hole in the roof, but it cannot buy my yard, and to say, “Oh, I wish character or create a desire for ’ Carl could have been here.” After spiritual learning. To continue to we held hands and prayed for give to them would be adding to guidance, we went back into my their spiritual delinquency. You office. I typed out some points of would not teach a child to steal, thought for her. nor excuse him if he did so. Chil dren of God are here to learn. 1. You are angry because you Evolved souls do not impose on are fearful. Anger and hate are others. You should adopt a plan defenses against fear. to pray, and stay away from them 2. You are afraid you have and work for your own soul done no good and much harm by growth and happiness. giving in to their begging. 7. You now have to face the 3. You broke the spiritual law fact that you are a widow, alone. of love by unconsciously trying to You have to decide what is the buy love with money; it cannot be highest, best thing you can do with your life from here on and had not seen me before. Then she how to go about it. sat down and put her head on the 8. Your greatest need is to desk and began to weep. I sat learn about the Power that awaits silently with my hand on her your recognition. I believe you shoulder and waited. The pent-up need to learn a great deal about loneliness, fear of the future, the Truth and to teach your own shame of making mistakes, real soul to fly. ization that her beloved husband 9. D o n ’t feel guilty. Jesus said had gone from this world and that for us to walk the second mile. He she was alone and had been hurt said to also give your cloak if and imposed upon by the people asked for your coat; and He told whom she had wanted to love and the rich young ruler to sell all he help, had to be watered down in had, give it to the poor, and then tears. They were tears of strength, to follow Him. But Jesus also en not of weakness. And that is what trusted us not to cast our pearls I told her when she was ready to before swine, lest they trample talk and listen. them underfoot and turn again “In your book on fear, you and rend us. Jesus tells us how to mentioned the fact that your hus get rid of an unwanted mountain. band had died,” Mrs. Conway ^That is what you can learn to do. said. “But I c o u ld n ’t then real ize .. . now, I know that you I also typed a suggested list of know.” books for her to read. She had I told her why I had put that found many books that interested book on my suggested reading list her on my shelves and had made for her, and asked her to be sure to her own list too. This was most study the last chapter relating to encouraging. She was uncon- why I believe we live after death. Then we talked about what she could do with her time until she was ready to go back to her home. “ Between tears, flashes of anger, First, not knowing anything and determination to be fair and about the laws o f the land, but factual, Mrs. Conway got to the knowing that Mrs. Conway root of her feelings.” needed peace of mind, I suggested that she consult a lawyer about Bill and his threats. She agreed sciously determined to “grow and went to see an attorney the ahead,” as I say. She had in her next morning. Later she told me hand a copy of my book, “Be the lawyer had suggested that she yond the Darkness,” about the stay calm until Bill answered his death of my husband in 1961. She letter. The lawyer said he felt that had been reading it. She stood Bill had no case. silently and looked at me as if she I suggested that she take some sight-seeing trips around beautiful future. Make notes, and we will southern California, not just for talk about your thoughts and im the joy of it, but to learn more pressions between trips. abou t h erself and what she “In the meantime,” I told her, wanted to do with life from here “you should think and say silently on. She could take a bus at the to yourself, ‘Only good is taking hotel and go to almost any place place. ’ Start to see that God has she desired. I suggested that she used you for a purpose because see the museums and art galleries, you are a loving person and willing, some of the fine homes, the to work. schools, churches, and old “Think about it,” I said. Spanish missions. I showed her “Thank God for this space of time color maps and folders I had on and the opportunity for you to hand, and I told her something learn what you want to do with the rest of your life. If a hurt feel-. ing or a fear arises, say, ‘God is in “ Mrs. Conway went back to her charge. Everything is in divine hotel ready to start a new kind of order in my life. ’ ” life. She decided to go to Disney “But how am I to keep Bill out land for the first trip, and she of my mind?” Mrs. Conway planned many other exciting wanted to know. , adventures.” “Do n ’t try to keep him out of your mind. Every time he enters your mind, say to yourself, lGod loves you, and I am trying to! Go about life in California, as it was in peace. ’ Bill will get your silent when I arrived in late 1923. message.” When she took these trips she Mrs. Conway went back to her was to study the people, make hotel ready to start a new kind of acquaintances, and ask herself life. She decided to go to Disney questions about what pleased her land for the first trip, and she and what did not. In short, I planned many other exciting ad wanted her to get better ac ventures. quainted with herself and her In this chapter we have gone ideas for the future. She would through the points of creative take trips one day and rest the prayer that start with desire. Each next. There was so much to be one of this series of case histories seen right in Pasadena that a week was selected from my files to would not be enough to cover it stress one of the eighteen points I fully. I invited her to telephone use with students. The stories are me as often as she felt the need to quite different, but all relate to do so. “You are not alone,” I re the fact that Truth leads to free minded her. “You are now work dom. Truly, Truth is the liberator! ing toward a good and happy (Series to be continued) room, and there was the young man PRAYER strapped down with leather restraints. His muscles were flexed and there was anger written all over his face. His eyes POWER showed hate like I had never seen before. Excerpts from letters to Silent We noticed someone had left a roll- Unity, quoted with permission of around table beside his bed. We went to ‘-the writers. take it out and I saw a Unity booklet on top o f it. I leaned on the railing of the bed and started reading out loud to him. Fantastic Surgery Then I told him what a lovely place Dear Silent Unity: Thank you very Unity Village is and how people there much for your prayers for my mother. are so sincere in their prayers, and help She came through her knee surgery all who need prayer, day or night. I with flying colors; however, the situa described how the light glowed out of tion was very bad that first night, and I the prayer window at night as my chil am sure all our prayers were heard, and dren and I stood down on the walk she is now mending very well. looking up late one evening. Mother is past eighty-seven years o f At first the young man looked up at w age. She had arthritis very badly for a me with distrust, then slowly he started number of years. It is fantastic what the relaxing. When I continued to tell him doctors can do these days. how much Unity had enriched the lives I am sure God has great plans for her. o f my family and friends, he completely She can be such an inspiration to relaxed and listened. The other nurse younger people. was on the other side o f the bed listen Again, I thank you. I hope the en ing too. He watched the young man closed check will help with your won derful work.—K.M., Ohio. A Child of God Dear Unity: I am a registered nurse working in a large psychiatric hospital. One evening when I started work on the night shift it was reported to me that a young man had been brought in earlier and it had taken six or more people to restrain him. He had broken out win THE LlGHTEO WINDOW AT SILENT UNITY dows, and he wanted to take his own To call for prayer help, phone life. (816) 524-5104. (If you have an When another nurse and I were urgent need and have no means of making rounds checking all the paying for a call, dial our toll-free patients, we came to the seclusion number: 800-821-2935.) Recently, Tom Witherspoon, UNITY Magazine, which brings the new editor of UNITY Maga ideas and inspiration to hundreds zine, asked me, “What are you of thousands of persons. going to write your November I praise and give thanks for all ' message about?” When I said I y o u beloved readers, without h adn ’t decided, he said, “How whom there would be no reason about being seasonal? Praise and for writing messages or magazines. thanksgiving and November go I praise and give thanks for well together.” U nity School o f Christianity, I thought to myself: I have which publishes this magazine, already written several November and for Silent Unity, where I can messages about praise and giving take part in a prayer work that thanks, as well as many poems, helps people to live. and I have chapters about praise in I praise and give thanks for two of my books. What more can I Unity Village. How fortunate I am say about praise that I have not to work in such a beautiful, peace previously said? How should I ful, spiritually-oriented atmo begin? sphere. Then I thought: How better I praise and give thanks for my can I begin than by praising and fellow workers. I do not believe giving thanks for this new editor? there is anywhere a more beauti I believe he will make a top-flight ful company of energetic, dedi editor for UNITY Magazine. cated, happy people. And I praise and give thanks for And I praise and give thanks for relax and noticed a big change come person that cared enough to share the over his whole body. I looked over at Spirit of God with others. I never found the nurse and said, “Unlock the re out who it was that left the Unity straints.” He first looked at me and said, booklet there, but my sincere thanks to “Are you sure?” “Yes,” 1 said, “he is a the unknown person that cared enough child of Godlike you and me.” to share.—AM. W., Ohio. After the restraints were o ff we took him to the shower, and as we passed the Baby’s Recovery broken windows he bowed his head in Dear Friends: With a loving and grate shame, and the rest o f the night he was ful heart, I thank each o f you for your as gentle as a lamb. We left the door prayers for my three-month-old grand open to show him we trusted him. child. All hospital tests showed spinal We owe this miracle to the kind meningitis was positive. I called Silent n Silent Unity my wife and family, and how good it is to love and be loved. And I praise and give thanks for my country—and I pray that who ever reads this may be equally thankful for his country, what ever country that may be. And oh, I praise and give thanks for the earth, for spring and summer and fall and winter, for winds and rain and snow and sun light, for fields and hills and rivers and streams, for trees and grass and flowers, for beasts and fish and birds, for this blue-green planet, watery and airy, beautiful and varied and changing, in which I make my habitation. JAMES DILLET FREEMAN And above all, I praise and give thanks to God, Creator of all that give thanks, and I find so much to is and creative Principle within praise and give thanks for that I me. have not room nor time to write it I praise and give thanks that I all down. have only to begin to praise and Unity and asked for prayers. your hearts and minds forever.—M.F., By the next day the baby started to New York. make a marvelous recovery. From that day on all the many tests the doctors In G o d ’s Care made proved negative. They were so Dear Friends: When I called for amazed at her quick recovery and heal prayers, I was recovering from flu and it ing that they dismissed her from the seemed to be taking so long. My back hospital a week early. She is now home and head just wouldn’t stop aching. with her family and doing well. After telephoning you, 1 slept all night For all this 1 truly thank God and for the first time in a week and awoke silent Unity. I shall continue to pray the next morning with a new grip on /ith Silent Unity for the needs of life. I am eighty-nine years old and find tople everywhere. May love abide in it hard to shake something like flu. Today I feel good, thanks to God and miraculously been made whole again. your loving prayers. Thank you for your prayers.—J. W., During the past years in sickness and Montana. loss of loved ones, I have depended on the prayers o f Unity, the lessons in Brain Tumor Operation Daily Word, and the wonderful articles Dear Friends o f Unity: I had a seizure, in UNITY Magazine. People just c a n ’t resulting in a serious operation to re believe I am eighty-nine. move a tumor on my brain. I was hospi My income is small but I have never talized for three months. wanted for anything. God is surely I had been in perfect health all of my taking care o f me and has always been sixty-eight years, so I did quite a lot of with me. God bless you all in Unity. wondering “why?” since I had re -L.S.B., Minnesota. peatedly thanked God for my perfect Cancer Healing health. My left side was completely Dear Silent Unity: I want to thank you paralyzed for two months, then sud for your prayers for my father who was denly my left foot began to “come stricken with cancer. At the time I alive” and soon I was walking without wrote I was heartsick, almost despair the aid o f a cane or a crutch. The ing. But the letter you sent in reply doctors were amazed. helped me achieve a more positive view However, I still did not have the use o f the situation. In my heart I knew o f my left arm and hand. I was given God would answer our prayers. physical and occupational therapy and D a d ’s cancer had spread from his hip now, three months later, I am typing through his rib cage and all through his this letter, playing golf, keeping house, bones. His hip had deteriorated to the and driving my car. I still have a way to point where the doctor expressed go for perfection, but I am so grateful to amazement that he could walk at all. God for giving me back the use of my His pain was nearly unbearable and he body. The doctors have told me that got very little sleep. they never expected me to have the use Radiation treatments were begun o f my left side, especially not that of within a week o f diagnosis, and prayers my arm and hand. were constant from the time we found There were times in the hospital out. when the pain and my morale drove me Although the radiation may have to wish my life over with, and I am sorry helped, I feel we were blessed with that I ever submitted to that attitude, G o d ’s personal intervention. D a d ’s pain but I guess my past thankfulness to God began to ebb almost as soon as our for my good health carried me through prayers began. (Pain had been almost this harrowing experience. Now I have constant for two years previously.) almost forgotten it all and I am looking Within a month the pain was gone. forward to many more years of health When X rays were taken at his six- and happiness. month checkup, no trace o f cancer Thank you for prayers.—L.S.G.,< could be found and the hip joint had California. & e rn a I c J ^ if e By Debra Woolard Bender Motionless, never at rest, Silent and singing, Changeless, yet ever new, One in numberless variety, Always beginning, yet without end, Perfect, always renewing in perfection, Now, yet to be, Substance of eternal me. THE IDEA To answer readers’ questions about anything related to increased spiritual understanding and deeper integrative growth. To discover not only what people are asking but what people are thinking about in the area of beliefs and practices in the world within Question# and without. To help o if/lfe others—and us—in the spiritual search. To stimulate the search Quest J itself. . . with answers by MARCUS BACH The Marriage Within have learned of what science says about the positive/negative Question: I am female. On a universe, out in space as well as in personal level I have never paid the human body. I had no much attention to a “feminist” scientific education, but through movement. Nor have I paid inspiration I learned. We are particular attention to members man/woman in our earth and o f my own sex. I am in my late daily expression. If a man would forties. I have always had a truly know himself, he would normal desire to marry but know his own female inner seemingly this desire was nature. If woman would frustrated, and my friendships understand, she would see the with men were never very man in her own nature. successful. My main concern It is my personal thought that since 1968 has been my personal many signs are evident search for God and unity and today—which our world needs to marriage within. see more clearly—of the need for When I went to a Unity balance. Homosexuality seems to church in Houston in 19681 me to be a tendency toward came into a special study. Then I greater imbalance. left for New York. I continued Is the desire for women to studying and returned to become priests in the church a Houston in 1975. tendency and a need to effect In my study I have come to balance ? Doesn't the whole learn about the marriage within. I nuclear picture tell us about the laws of balance and that He said, “Say this to the people of imbalance may lead to Israel: ‘I AM hath sent me to catastrophe, death, and you.’ ” destruction ? Will humankind Go from here to the metaphysi come to see its true nature in this cal explanation of I AM which age? Charles Fillmore gives by saying, C.H.B. “I AM is G o d ’s name in man; It is Answer: For those with inner Jehovah, the indwelling Christ, eyes to see, the earth is filled with the true spiritual man whom God happy, healthy, healing signs of a made in His image and likeness.” new unfolding day: beyond the Consider that the I AM WHO I battle of the sexes, a new under AM [ or I AM THAT I AM 1 of God standing; beyond the conflict of implies the I AM Presence in each races, a mutual respect; beyond living individual. the threats of war, an appreciation Recognize the fact that in of peace; beyond social injustices, Unity teaching, I AM is both a an awareness of our common noun and an adjective. When good; beyond pollution, an in Unity affirms I AM, it is saying, sight into nature; beyond politics “The I in this case is the God-self and business as usual, a new ethic; manifesting in me. It is the Word beyond conventional religions, of God incarnated.” new spiritual understanding; In my personal interpretation, beyond fragmentation, the inte a distinction is made between grated self; beyond a fading faith, “self” spelled with a small “s” and an unfolding dream; beyond good “Self” capitalized. The latter sig and evil, right and wrong, light nifies to me o n e ’s recognition and and dark, yin and yang, this and awareness of the I AM Presence. that, now and then, and here and The change from “self” to there, a balanced world! “Self” takes place when one real MB *I izes, knows, and demonstrates that he or she has become con sciously empowered by the in dwelling Christ and begins to What is I AM? manifest Christ principles, the Christ Way, and the Christ Spirit Question: Can you help me ou t of Truth. in my question about the phrase MB I AM ? What does it mean and what good does it do ? L.O.R. Imposed Celibacy Answer: Begin by reading Exo dus 3:14 in context. God said to Question: Is immorality Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And self-destructive?It is not. Rather it is doing unto others those celibacy upon its students or staff things others do not want done against their will is ridiculous and unto them. You accused a quite unworkable. Christian group at a large However, if one accepts the university with malice basic premise and takes the vow, a aforethough t for saying that a moral responsibility is imposed person who suppresses his or her upon the initiate. sexual needs is inhuman and If the vow is taken and is not immoral. This group seems to lived up to, we can assume that a have been attacking enforced point of immorality is involved. In celibacy which it not only had a the light of current arguments right but a duty to attack. Every about differences between that man if normally constituted, which is immoral and that which including Jesus when on earth, is illegal, we could, of course, has had and is having engage in a long dialectic. My relationships with women, with assumption is that if a person lives other men, or practices a lie, the practice involves im unisexuality. Therefore enforced morality because the word implies celibacy is causing heterosexual a conflict between conduct and men to have relations with other conscience. In the light of our men ’s wives or to engage in times this may all sound horribly masturbation. In some reference old-fashioned and as “annoying” to this group you said that as the Ten Commandments or the immorality is self-destructive. Golden Rule. R.E. My statement about immoral ity being self-destructive is based Answer: Putting the situation on the notion that the molecular and the word immorality into structure of the body is related to perspective, let me explain and our state of consciousness, in defend my position in the light of which conscience plays its part. your letter. Since celibacy simply The cells of the body are affected means to be bound by vows not to by our thoughts. Body and soul marry and since it was and still is are indivisibly related in the commonly assumed for religious process of growth and equally in or spiritual purposes, a person volved in the functions of deterio should respect it as one would a ration. vow o f fidelity, chastity, or This makes me wonder about loyalty, or a vow to tell the truth, your suggestion that Jesus was the whole truth and nothing but like “every normal man.” The the truth. A vow is a solemn question might be asked, “How promise made to God or some high is our current norm?” The form or concept of deity. For any vibratory condition, enlighten university or group to try to “en ment, and cosmic consciousness force celibacy” or to impose of a man like Jesus was suffi- ciently high to have made Him sponded with much love and recognizable as the Christ. Each of an affirmation. She is today us must search and discover in our a beautiful, active cat, pur own life who and what this divine ring up a storm of gratitude manifestation of God actually for complete feline happi was—and is. ness.” MB A note from Constance S. M. reminded me that I had stated in “Questions on the Quest” that Jesus had very little to say about Prayers for Pets admonishing us to be kind to animals. Then she called attention Question: Would Silent Unity to the “Aquarian Gospel of Jesus respond to requests for prayers the C h rist”, Chapter 74:19, 20: for pets'? “And Jesus saw a wounded Eloise dog; it could not move; it lay beside the way and groaned Answer: Yes. It responds with with pain: He took it in His prayers and affirmations. Your arms and bore it to the home question sent me to my file on where He abode. He poured animals. I discovered that many the healing oil into the more letters have been received on wounds; He cared for it as the subject than can possibly be though it were a child till it answered in these columns. was strong and well.” Among them was a touching testi There was also a poem in the mony from L. B. of an injured dog file, a number of poems, in fact, “miraculously” restored to one especially written by a Jenifer health. Also a letter from B. M. in G. after reading of a reference to which she reported: animals in our column. Let me “More than a year ago I re share the opening stanza: quested prayers of Unity for “God bless every creature on my Siamese cat, Samantha. earth, She had become very ill and And watch over every new after the v e t’s examinations birth; he phoned and said that I Bless those who often live in should bring her home and fear, let her die in my arms. She The beaver, the birds, the had been a beloved compan deer, ion for eight years and I was And bless the pets we have at heartbroken. We brought her home home. I did not feel she Until they come to your could possibly live. I called Golden Throne.” Unity and asked for prayers It is a long, sincere bit of versifi for her healing. They re cation, too lengthy for our space. So, reluctantly I close the file on know that ye are in the pets and animals for a while! City o f God, and that ye MB are the City. " I read this with great feeling. On the reverse side of the card is Ancient Manuscript printed: Question: I have a card given to “Translated from Cidada Calen- me by a patient who traveled lixness in the British Museum. extensively. The last time she came in for a check-up and a rest “This manuscript, which was after one of her long trips, she found in Cryrinchus in Egypt on gave me a card which says: the backside o f a land surveyor's list of measurements, is very old.' Jesus to John John said: “Master, is there It is in a case which is chained to a any material universe?" table in the British Museum, and a Jesus answered: “No." British officer stands by it all the John asked: “Is there mat time. He allows anyone to copy it, ter?" but not to touch it. Jesus answered: “No." John asked: “Is there a mate What do you think of all this? rial body?" Elizabeth Jesus hesitated a long time and finally said: “Saints Answer: Very interesting. For believed that their bodies whatever it is worth, it should be were fashioned o f clay reported for the sake of research and this believing brought (!) that the whole thing may be a them unto death. Let not hoax. Whether your much-trav him who seeketh cease eled patient should be told about from seeking until he hath it is neither here nor there. Some found . . . and when he times even hoaxes are serendipi hath found he shall be tous. Nonetheless, the “Encyclo amazed . . . and when he pedia Britannica” suggests that hath been amazed, he the “Cidada Calenlixness” is an shall reign . . . and when out-and-out forgery. To be on the he shall reign, he shall safe side, let me give you the exact have rest. The kingdom of “Britannica” quote. heaven is within you and The Dialogue of Jesus and w h osoever shall know John (called Cidada Calen himself, shall find it. lixness) is “ ... a text alleg Strive therefore to know edly in a papyrus in the yourselves and ye shall British Museum which pur- ports to be a discussion particularly in the United between Jesus and John, States.” strikingly confirming the If you have time and an incli Christian Scientist teachings nation to follow this lead, go to of Mary Baker Eddy, but your public library and consult which is actually a confla books on literary forgeries. You tion o f genuine ancient might uncover some interesting materials and modern fabri secrets about other notable quota cations. It has been printed tions. in popular magazines and MB enjoys a wide circulation, I am a link, the mind and the heart Of a golden chain bound to G o d ’s living totality. Ideal security He unfolds to me, Never far from His everlasting embrace. As gentle as spring, yet rooted in me, Rooted in ashes or earth, He lives in me now And beyond the illusion of the tomb. My prayer is an expectant listening To His singing voice within inner visions. C^ecurtii; Surging in my heart, flowing in my blood, God exists vitally. By Mark S. Werne A holy bloom of thoughts Growing, expanding, being, Become entwined with others Seeking One to rest within, Divine, ideal security. BY ORA CAPELLI This month in the United States we observe Thanksgiving YESTERDAY SEEMED so beau Day. I am learning that being tiful that I did not want it to end. thankful for even the smallest But it did. A new day dawned and things is good for me. It has been it was like many other routine said that interpretation gives life days. I felt disappointed and blue. its color, and we can make our life I asked myself, “Why ca n ’ta ll my both colorful and attractive. I todays be like that wonderful now expect and welcome all the yesterday?” marvels that life unfolds; I bless We are often told to forget our every situation. I am establishing a yesterdays and live only for to pattern for each day by trying to day, but should we forget yester control my thoughts along con days that were so pleasant? Can structive and positive lines. With one live life to the fullest without practice, we can easily glide past savoring the good days? the days when we tend to let frus- trations get the upper hand. consciously send my thoughts Last Thanksgiving Day I took back over the bridge of yesterday stock of myself and found that to the time when I felt so happy, completely closing the door of my and it is becoming easier for me to past was not conducive to a satis dwell there for a time in that fying existence. It occurred to me thankful, glowing light. that I can build a bridge from yes Many happy moments are terday to today by keeping the stored in my book of memories, good memories and eliminating and all I need to do is cross the the unhappy ones. When I have a bridge which spans today and yes wonderful, stimulating, happy terday, and out of the far distant day, I have learned to be thankful past I can relive a tender memory. that I can savor every moment of Yes, I have found that the it, impressing my memory with all bridge of yesterday can brighten the details that make it memo my today. That is my thanks rable. So when a dull day arrives, I giving! © BY LEDDY AND RANDOLPH SCHMELIG A Ninth Step significant responses on your part Learning Right Judgment that make this study alive, beauti ful, and real. The ability to stand As you take up this ninth step, back from life and say, “Yes! I am give thanks for your growing making progress. I am becoming ability to see the Truth and to wiser, freer, happier ... I am get make it your own in conscious ting somewhere!” . . . To perceive ness. As you think of the past these patterns of growth in your lessons in this series, perhaps you own life expression, is certainly a can recognize that the material great gift of Spirit. This ability is does indeed arrange itself in your the evidence of the blossoming of experience not just as patterns of spiritual discrimination, that words and paragraphs on pages, inner power of right discernment but as patterns of insights and through which the mind divides the real from the unreal, the Truth A certain sense of relief seems from the illusion. Through this to come in e v e ry o n e ’s experience divine gift of clear vision you gain after such a “point” has been eternal freedom and peace. reached, acknowledged, and passed successfully. There is a Lesson 1: The Point sense of growth, of emergence, of new beginning; there is a feeling A person who has had to make that the activity of reaching some some important decision in life “point” and then making a posi may explain by saying, “I simply tive choice of some kind is a neces came to the point where some sary part of all human develop thing had to change, where I ment. Life is coming to these c o u ld n ’t take it any longer, and points. They are like mountain where I finally saw the light.” For peaks in each o n e ’s personal on whatever reason, because of what going. Greet the decisions and the ever outer events, because of overcomings in life with joy and whatever the elements or persons assurance, for they mark the path involved in the situation, the way to self-realization. individual who made the decision When individuals say, “I came came to some conclusion, ven to the point . . . ” they often tured on a choice. It may seem mean that they came to a stop and that outer things and other people then initiated some kind of were the reason that the indi change. It can mean more than vidual had to make such a choice, just outer change; it can mean an but it must always be remembered inner realization of the true that for each and every one, this is nature of things. When the choices a world of mind. All is expe that emerge from such a “point” rienced, all is known, and all in experience are based on Truth, judgments and realizations come then the changes that come about through the mind. are positive and freeing. Other Events and circumstances and wise, the individuals involved will people may seem to have been become more and more entangled responsible for that mind in the kind of mistaken identity “coming to a point,” but really it that alw ays brings suffering. was something in the mind itself: Sooner or later, so long as a person a certain outlook or perspective, a refuses to come to such a stopping judgment of the elements in place, a reevaluation point, he volved, a feeling or attitude that must travel around on the merry- could not wait any longer to come go-round of self-determined cause forth, a kind of birth experience. and effect until he comes “to the (Who can tell how long the seed of point.” a certain decision or judgment has There is no doubt that human been waiting in the fertile soil of a life necessarily means continual human mind?) decision-making: from which toy having listened to the inner urging to come up higher for a better look at things. The mind that is consciously unfolding, however, is n ot dulled, and perceives choices and alternatives where others may not; still more and more it rests in an inner knowing that the right way is being re vealed. The mind that is con scio u sly u n folding feels the urgency o f spiritual progress where others may not yet feel this to play with, to which companion urgency, but it also begins to feel a to choose, to which possession to peace about things. Regardless of buy, to what path to take to real a n y o n e ’s behavior, though, the ize the spiritual potential. The ability to judge rightly is slowly most fundamental beginnings of and surely opening within each education start with activities being like a hidden, perfect rose. designed to develop the ability to In the realm of effects, it would discriminate accurately, to dis seem that there are more choices cern the differences among things. to be made by human beings in Society acknowledges that this is this modem world of advertising the beginning of learning; what it than they have ever had to face may not always recognize is the before. But the countless subtle continual, evermore challenging choices of life have been present and inspiring aspect of this quality always. The increase in material of right discernment. It is a spiri objects for sale, or the great tual faculty with which all are en variety of other choices in the dowed. It is the door-opening, commercial world, only empha cloud-chasing, dawn-hastening size the need for the development activity of mind whereby Reality of the faculty of judgment in is known and enjoyed. people. More or fewer choices That longing for wisdom and made available at the marketplace right understanding is present in have nothing whatever to do with each and all, waiting to be dis whether or not there is peace or covered and given room. Yet the stress in life. unawakened mind is so pre S u fferin g comes when the occupied with sensual and mate faculty of right judgment is not rial existence that it is dazzled, well developed. Eliminating most confused by the myriad choices of the choices of modern life that appearances present. It is would not really eliminate mental often dulled or absorbed by the anguish. This suffering does not outer show of the world, not yet result from outer things, but from the natural inner demand for a Realize the Source of all finite higher criterion of choice than the m ind—that changeless, radiant senses or reasoning can provide. Beingness. Once that realization is Many have been disappointed to attained, this outer world drops find that simplifying outer exis its veil for you. In every kind of tence-even down to the bare choice, the self-realized soul be essentials—has not guaranteed holds the loving Teacher of all. inner tranquillity. (Robinson Only that eternal Essence stands Crusoe faced all kinds of great behind the world of appearances, decisions!) In a way, people have waiting to be fully known. What fabricated this great display of ever else you may do in life, above choice—demanding standards in everything, choose the path of order to exercise the ability that God-realization; as the heart they inwardly sense is so vital to opens to Him, the mind clears. their growth. And each one must Through the suffering and frus come to the awareness that so tration that result when indi long as there is confusion about viduals cannot seem to arrive at a o n e ’s real identity, there may be positive decision about their life confusion in making any kind of and affairs, that inner self of each choice—whether the choices in one is silently and subtly pleading, volve great corporations, invest “Please, come to the point!” This ments, marriages, or career mat is surely what you would think if ters, or whether the choice be to someone were trying to tell you eat a carrot or a potato for lunch. something or perform some task, The subtle unrest will be there so and he continually digressed from long as the mind does not know the subject or seemed to forget the real Source of all its power or the purpose. You would even the real meaning of life. tually want to shout, “Get to the That real meaning is the Life of point!” And what is the point of it life, the reason and the Truth be all? It is the idea of the thing—the hind it all. Some beginners mis goal. What is the idea behind or take the first part of metaphysics the goal of all creation? It is con to be the whole: that the mind scious unity with God. What is the (thinking) results in all outer idea behind or the true goal of manifestations in the world, creat your life? It is conscious unity ing and changing effects according with God. When the urgency of to consciousness. That is only the som e decision seems to press start of metaphysics. Seek deeper heavily upon you, give even a few with all your mind and heart to seconds to the thought of that the inner Light that lights it all. inner God-with-you urging you, Reaching one stopping point, be “Get to the point of all life, be restless to go on from there to the loved,” and the decision will work foundation of all worldly knowl out in a right and beautiful way. edge and all metaphysics as well. That divine self of you will never leave you. In deep sleep, the Resolve to live that better life ego and its limited sense of iden for which you were born. Make up tity is absent. The sleeper does not your mind and heart now, come know if he is man or woman, to that point of your being that is married or unmarried, young or all Light, all wisdom. In approach old, rich or poor, educated or un ing the very idea of attaining the educated. All sense of experience, full power of right judgment, it is past or present, has vanished. Still good to assume and seek to main that Light of consciousness tain the attitude of a witness- shines. seeing things as they are and The alarm clock signals the taking from each experience the awakening of the ego-sense, and at best that is there. That which once the individual feels: “I am shines within you as all-wise, all- so-and-so, I live in this place, I loving Being is the witness of all have such-and-such a position and things. Draw the mind back into duties in life, friends, likes and dis the witness seat and let that Light likes,” and so forth. Countless fill your awareness. judgments about o n e ’s self and o n e ’s life spring to the surface of Practice Exercise the active mind. Yet that Light of consciousness shines beneath and As you attempt to relax and beyond all this as the absolute prepare physically and mentally Truth, the standard for all right for this practice exercise, do not judgment. The outer things all be concerned if you feel a little change, by and by. The body restless. Speak to your senses and changes, the mind changes, too, as your thinking and feeling nature the passage of events goes on. And in a soothing way, saying inward all this time in timelessness the ly, “It is all right, do not struggle. Light of consciousness shines. The The new strength and realizations finite mind is dependent on expe you seek will come about now in rience, on the influences of the an easy, pleasant way.” It is not world; the infinite Mind expressed necessary to force the mind; let it through man is direct knowing, go and it will come full circle back changeless and perfect, lighting all to the point again. Do not work humanity. hard to concentrate, just think for What a prize is human life! a moment of that spiritual Light Even with all its decisions and shining within you now and challenges, how wonderful it is! always without work or struggle, War and conflict, hunger and and as you begin to think of that, oppression, poverty and igno understanding about everything rance still occur in this world, but will come to you naturally. always, even in the darkest comer It is often difficult to willfully of human existence, there is the fix the mind on one point only. eternal possibility for a better life. Even though you may be deter- mined to experience that point of Light within your being, d o n ’t fight any resistance you feel; just let the mind play like a child, but keep watchful of your thoughts. Become like an arch itect’s com pass in the sense that no matter where the pencil point travels, the point of the compass remains fixed. Think of this illustration. Feel inwardly fixed and centered, yet free. Follow the wanderings of lifting, and miracle-manifesting the mind for a few moments, but power of God is mighty with you at the same time maintain the and through you. awareness of that inner point of If certain decisions should trou Light. ble you, remember that Light Soon it becomes easier to keep within. (No matter if you think the sense of being gently but others might think some of these firmly anchored in a timeless all- things are trivial—this is just for knowingness. Let the mind be free you.) Be sure to write these deci to form endless circle after circle sions or questions down in your of thought. But remember that at Spiritual Diary, addressing every the very center of your conscious thing to the all-knowing self of ness shines that point of eternal you. Pause to look at the words Light. Know with peace and assur you have written. Then close your ance: eyes and begin to draw the “pencil The Christ Light o f wis point” of your thinking and feel dom and right judgment ing back to that center, that inner concerning all things shines compass point that has never forever within me, guiding moved. After a moment, write my way. this after the question or problem and trustingly affirm it: The Christ Light in me reveals all things in right relationship. The Give thanks that whatever deci Christ o f my being protects and sions present themselves to you, directs me. The Christ reveals the however many choices you need right way. to make in your life and affairs, Give thanks instantly, for the you can make them all wisely and right answer clears in your aware peacefully because of your spiri ness and you are unfolding in wis tual stability. Trust in that center dom and power as you remain of all wisdom within you. When centered in that radiant point of you think, speak, and act from Christ Light. that center, the harmonizing, up (To be continued) To Have or to Have Not ? BY Why? I found the answer, to my MARY ANZALETTA LONG person al satisfaction, through experience. IT SEEMS TO ME there are basi Approximately fifteen years cally two kinds of people in the ago I might have been considered world: the “haves” and the “have a typical housewife and mother. I nots.” This has little to do with had a wonderful husband, three how rich, famous, beautiful, healthy children, and a perfectly healthy, intelligent, clever, or fine home. However, I was permit talented they are. Two people ting the par-for-the-course frustra with almost identical physical tions usually associated with the ch aracteristics, living under role of wife and mother to drive similar circumstances, having the me “stir-crazy.” In spite of good same job status, and possessing intentions and sporadic attempts nearly the same amount of world at positive thinking, I had become ly goods, may view their lot from a compulsive fault-finder. More to opposite points of view. One may the point, I was a nag. consider himself fortunate, while If my husband Jim came home the other is fairly certain his situa later than usual, I whined. If the tion is hopeless. children spilled milk on my fresh We read in the Bible, “For to ly waxed floor, I went into a near him who has, will more be given; rage. If the neighbors permitted and from him who has not, even their children to use our yard as a what he has will be taken away.” public playground, I fumed. If Has what? It d o e sn ’t say money, Jim failed to fix the leaky faucet beauty, health, power, or things. when I thought he should, I Obviously, the difference in these pouted. If the children neglected two types of men is attitude. to hang up their clothes, make their beds, or wash behind their tional books. With each book still ears, I boxed their ears and fresh in mind, I repeatedly re preached a sermon in unholy solved to be a more patient, cheer tones. When Jim accused me of ful, loving mother. How many letting wants rather than needs times I fell flat on my resolve! dictate my spending, I recoiled in During this time an author with smoldering self-pity. I felt trapped whom I corresponded and poured in an endless succession of dirty out my frustrations to provided dishes, baskets of unironed the key which has made all the dif clothes, unmade beds, cluttered ference, not in the world, but in rooms, bickering children, bark how I view the world. ing dogs, unpaid bills, long- “People either see their glass of winded telephone conversations, life as half-empty or half-full,” he and neighborhood children for wrote to me. “Like many others ever knocking on the door, want wrapped in self-gloom, your nega ing a drink of water or the use of tive reaction to everyday prob our bathroom. The fact that my lems has become habit. You say husband worked the night shift, you know you are lucky and have slept days, and was seldom able to many reasons for which to be give me a helping hand with the grateful, yet your actions tell children, only added to my grow another story. All the moralizing ing despair. in the world isn ’t going to help The weary, tense, reflection in you until you consciously, active the mirror glared back at me: ly redirect your attention. I t ’s a “You are developing a martyr- matter of self-preservation. Until mother complex; stop and con all of you says the same thing your sider the mothers who have real words do, y o u ’ll live in torment.” problems, such as serious illness, I sensed the wisdom of his u n faith ful husbands, children words, as well as his genuine desire with physical and mental handi to help. Following his prescrip caps, and those who d o n ’t even tion, I began writing and sending have enough money for necessi daily notes of appreciation to ties. Think how lucky you are!” people who had, in some small or Pangs of guilt only made my large way, brought joy to my day. dilemma less tolerable. There was Also, at the end of each day, I a wide gap between how I knew I listed at least a dozen blessings of should feel and how I actually that day. I made a sincere, con felt. sistent effort to look for and write Do other wives and mothers down the little daily experiences experience such torment? I won that I usually took for granted. In dered, but I was too proud to un stead of being critical, I made it a veil my feeling of inadequacy to kind of personal “cat and mouth” my peers. So I searched for game to see how many things I answers in “how-to” and inspira could find to honestly praise about others, particularly those I ings I had formerly overlooked generally disliked or avoided. when I sat down at bedtime to Over a period of several years I count them. Things such as: an sent literally hundreds of un enjoyable television show, a signed notes of praise and grati deliciously fragrant bubble bath, a tude—to authors of books and helping hand from a stranger, a magazine articles, entertainers, new dress, Jim ’s pay increase, his garbage collectors (what a mess sense of humor, a politician’s in w e ’d be in without them!), repair tegrity, a spring bouquet, hugs men, politicians, mailmen, helpful from my children, a telephone call store clerks, doctors, nurses, from Mother, a new washer, a dentists, manufacturers, friends, budding apple tree, an inspiring relatives ... all became recipients poem, a n e ig h b o r’s kindness, bills of heartfelt sparks of gratitude. I marked “paid,” money in savings. even wrote letters and poems to This d o e sn ’t mean I hid my my husband and our children ex head in the sands of never-never pressing love and appreciation. I land and refused to recognize will probably never know how problems. There were still times most of the recipients felt when when I whined, raged, and com they received these little messages plained, but such negative re of praise, but the glow such action actions no longer dominated my ignited in me made it well worth days. The poisonous venom of the time, effort, and postage. Had self-persecution was losing its I signed my name it might have sting. I began to see the humor in appeared that I wanted something many of the daily disturbances. I in return. However, my total ob could even view them as blessings jective was to change my feeling in disguise. Strange as it may of not having to one of having. I seem, I became thankful for them. could not depend on something or After all, there was no other role some one outside myself to make in life I would have chosen at that me feel better about myself. time. Envisioning life without my My feelings d id n ’t change over husband and our children was un night. In fact, it was a gradual thinkable. change with plenty of back “This is no Pollyanna prom sliding, or days when I made ex ise,” my friend had written. cuses for not sending a note of “Thanksgiving should become a gratitude, or for not listing my way of life ... of thanks- blessings. But I was in earnest. living ... a daily attitude of grati Sending one or two, sometimes tude.” I had always accepted that more notes a day eventually be idea in theory. How good to feel came as automatic as chronic the truth of these words. While fault-finding had been before. It nothing or no one outside me was a revelation to discover how changed dramatically, it was true many small, ordinary daily bless that the more I counted my bless- ings, the more blessings I could see Being able to see the glory o f a to count. The new dimensions of sunset, the morning dew sparkling peace, love, and joy in our home in the sun, the tenderness o f a were but reflections of what I had silent look, the stars of merriment first discovered within myself. in the eyes of a child. How many of us who have use Being able to buy, within rea of all our senses realize how fortu son, all kinds of wonderful things; nate we are for these blessings munching popcorn at a drive-in alone? I did not, until I looked, movie; laughing with my family really looked, around me. So around the dinner table or in front many “have not,” and undoubt o f the television. Going to sleep edly think how grateful they without fear. would be if they could be as fortu Being able to create a feeling of nate as those of us who “have.” home-sweet-home by doing things From such contemplation, came for love, instead of from a sense of the following, to be included in duty or obligation. my lists of appreciation: Two days before our 22d wed Being able to tell my family and ding anniversary, Jim suffered a friends I love them, or to say serious heart attack. Two more ‘1 thank you” for a kindness attacks followed within a month. shown. For the next four and one-half Being able to hold my children years our family lived in a state of close, to feel the warmth o f a emergency preparedness. Many handclasp, my husband's kiss on times during those years Jim was the back o f my neck, or the wet rushed to the hospital when sand and brown earth beneath my symptoms of another attack be feet. came evident. Because of his criti Being able to hear all the moods cal condition he was placed on o f music, the love and laughter in total disability and was unable to the tone o f another, the sweet return to work. He had always singing o f children, the gentle seemed so healthy, dynamic, and splash o f rain on a rose petal, the robust, and had boasted of never rumble of thunder. missing a d a y ’s work due to ill Being able to taste fresh apple ness. pie, hot buttered biscuits, straw Our eldest son had been rushed berry jam, a crisp salad, a sweet home from Vietnam. Our other juicy peach. son and daughter, still in high Being able to smell the sweet school, had a particularly difficult scent o f new-mown hay after a time adjusting to the demands summer shower, the fragrance of their fa th er’s condition forced lilacs, pines in the forest, the upon them. Just when they aroma of perking coffee, or needed calm direction and sup freshly baked bread. port from him, they were ex- pected to put his needs before trained to see the best instead of their own. It was a matter of life the worst in situations, I would and death; Jim was not to be upset surely have been consumed by under any circumstances. Argu dwelling on the negative aspects ments were to be avoided . . . of this one. (Now, I really knew tempers kept under control. The what my friend had meant when mind-altering chemotherapy used he said, “It ’s a matter of self- to keep J im ’s condition stable preservation.”) While I could not sometimes made this next to im ignore the sad and tragic implica possible; he was so unlike the tions, I was able to maintain a happy-go-lucky, confident, usu balanced perspective by recog ally controlled person he had been nizing our good fortune in this before his illness. seeming misfortune. My husband If my attention had not been passed on May 15, 1974. Perhaps 'Fioii) f%-Wntiwto of ('lfurle* 'IllhifOK’ EFFECTIVE THANKSGIVING WHY SHOULD WE give thanks great difference what character unto the Lord? We all know that this expression takes on. Some the law of our being is to express people express themselves ourself, and that to express our through the flesh, and they reap in self we must operate in accord the flesh. Others express them with the supreme law. The one selves through the emotions, the avenue of expression for man is affections, and they become of the mind, and all our acts have that nature. Others express them their origin in thought. As God selves through the Spirit, and they expressed Himself in His ideal become spiritual. Some people man, Jehovah, and as that ideal express themselves materially, expressed Himself in Adam, we and they become dollar wise. cannot escape the sequences of Others express themselves in the the law. attainment of phenomenal facts, The worship of God by man is and they become scientific. Thus part of the law of expression. Man men are expressing themselves on can express himself in any direc every side in ways that bring tion he desires, but it makes a meager results because they do one of the most beautiful bless It is true that there is much sad ings coming from this experience ness in the world, and misery. And were his words of peace, love, joy, I w o n ’t attempt to explain why. and gratitude for having lived such But when I contemplate the glad a wonderful life, which poured ness, the beauty and wonder in from his lips only moments before the world, in people, and in this his passing. vast universe, my heart whispers While an attitude of gratitude is these words of blessed assurance, no insurance against tragedy—a There is a perfectly divine reason twinge in the heart that cannot be for everything; and someday you assuaged, or tears of remembrance will see. As for now, clasp each and longing—it is a most soothing moment to your breast with infi antidote to these normal emo nite love and tenderness. Behold tions. the kingdom at hand! © not know the law. But express life in their many forms marshals ourself we must! And if we fall the lethargic ideas, and there is a short of the divine ideal in our stirring into action of the whole expression, the forces of our being man. In other words, the idea that are turned to things temporal, and the all-providing One is always instead of experiencing a natural expressing Himself and always development, the soul is stunted giving of His bounty multiplies and dwarfed until it falls asleep in and increases in mind and affairs the night of negation called death. the unseen yet natural resources When we give thanks unto God, of man. there is expression that takes the Are we giving thanks to this all- thoughts away from our self. bountiful Giver for all the good Thanksgiving is one of the avenues that has come to us? Are we, in through which the soul finds a other words, fulfilling this law? If larger field of expression. A man you go through life taking every may be filled with a certain spirit thing without gratitude, without of natural gratitude, but he does thanksgiving, you will not find not express it habitually; conse existence very rich, no matter quently the substance of his inner how great your material posses life becomes crystallized, and he is sions. It will be a very dry, chippy called calloused and indifferent sort of existence. But when you when he is merely affected by soul get warmed up with gratitude and lethargy. Giving thanks to God your heart begins to flow forth to and being thankful for the joys of the great Giver of all good for His many blessings, then you multiply stand and we are grateful. this good in your own conscious Then let us cultivate this habit ness and the good in you begins to of giving thanks, lifting up our express itself in many ways. thoughts and words to the Spirit Here is another manifestation of plenty, prosperity, joy, love, of the law: Whatever we send out power, strength—of everything com es back to us multiplied. that enters into life—and do it be “Give, and it will be given to you; cause we love to express the joy of g o o d measure, pressed down, living in a universe where the law shaken together, running over, of success is so easily utilized. will be put into your lap.” So it is The bliss of existence is to get absolutely necessary to our well into the spiritual consciousness being that we express gratitude, where everything is done through that we daily give thanks to God love! Working under compulsion for His bounty, if we would keep is drudgery. Oh, the burdens that the divine law. By giving thanks men put upon themselves through for the good, we pile it higher and thinking that they are doing their higher, and the more things we own work and that they are can think of to give thanks to God responsible for its success! Begin for the larger will be the world we at once to give thanks that you are live in, and the richer we shall be working for God. Put all responsi in true wealth. bility where it belongs—on God— Some people make it a practice and you will be successful and free to give special thanks for financial without labor. Every businessman prosperity. But this is not the should dedicate his business to highest and best of your goods. God and so escape the failure that The promise is that you shall have overtakes many business enter everything if you follow Jesus prises. No man can fail who gives Christ. It is in the law that there thanks daily to the omnipotent shall be no lack o f any kind; but One for His presence and power in there are greater blessings than all His affairs. money and houses and lands. Now, if you knew that there There is the blessing o f the con was an ocean of life always all sciousness that life is eternal. about you, and that all you had to There is the blessing of love. There do was to open your lungs and is the blessing of knowing that all breathe it in, would you not be the inner principles of Being are happy and glad and grateful for ours in a larger measure than we this great ocean o f life? Certainly have even dared to hope. We have you would. Well, this great ocean not appreciated them, because we of life exists right in the closest have not understood the character proximity to your consciousness, of Being and our relation to it, and and you can take it into your life not understanding, we have not in unlimited quantities if you been grateful. But now we under recognize and give thanks for it. Instead of opening your lungs and that life is vitalizing, that life has breathing it in, you open your in it no cessation or lack o f any mind and “inspire” it. It is a kind. ” Take thoughts like these mental inspiration. Jesus likened and breathe them into every part Spirit to the wind; you can see the of your body; give thanks to God, effects but not the cause. But to the great Giver of life, and you Spirit is present in fuller degree will understand what it is to be a than the air. If it were in any new creature in Christ Jesus. degree absent, life would instantly Christ is the Spirit that was im cease. planted in us in the beginning, and We can be spiritualized by just Jesus was its divine expression. opening our mind and saying, Jesus’ life was a perpetual thanks “Spirit, I thank you for this life, giving, and He proved the law of for this wonderfully increasing increase in His so-called miracles life. I thank you for the under of the multiplication of sub standing that life is continuous, stance. This ability was an exten- QAiowcfe/ttiwe Unity’s 1977 Christmas Greeting Booklet This year the Christmas poetry and meditations of James Dillet Freeman have been compiled for the greet ing booklet, WONDERTIME OF LOVE. The writings o f this beloved author, poet, and Director o f Silent Unity, convey the warmth, love, and magic o f the holiday season. Glorious full-color photographs illustrate the twenty-four page booklet-photographs that capture and express the m ood o f the author’s ideas. A package o f 15 WONDERTIME OF LOVE greeting booklets with individual envelopes is priced at just $3; each additional package of 15, only $2.50. (An assortment of Christmas greeting booklets-consisting of 5 WONDERTIME OF LOVE, 5 Christmas Joy, and 5 Joy to the World-is also available at the same price.) Order your booklets today by writing L IllSTORY AND UNSPIRATION UNITY THOUGHT PRAYER: THE MASTER KEY THE STORY OF UNITY James Dillet Freeman $3.95 James Dillet Freeman $2.95 THOUGHTS FOR A FRIEND THE UNITY WAY OF LIFE Foster C. McClellan $3.95 Marcus Bach $3.95 GOD NEVER FAILS LESSONS IN TRUTH Mary L. Kupferle $2.95 H. Emilie Cady $2.95 THE PRAYER WAY TO HOW I USED TRUTH HEALTH, WEALTH, H. Emilie Cady $2.95 AND HAPPINESS Lowell Fillmore $2.95 H e a l in g JESUS CHRIST HEALS Charles Fillmore $2.95 CHRISTIAN HEALING Charles Fillmore $2.95 YOU CAN BE HEALED Clara Palmer $2.95 MYRTLE FILLMORE’S HEALING LETTERS Myrtle Fillmore $2.95 P r o s p e r it y PROSPERITY Charles Fillmore $2.95 MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE Stella Terrill Mann $3.95 To order your copies OPEN YOUR MIND TO for Christmas giving, PROSPERITY write today to Catherine Ponder $3.95 UNITY BOOKS BOTH RICHES AND HONOR Annie Rix Militz $3.00 UNITY VILLAGE, MISSOURI 64065 ITED ABUNDANCE LIMITED INCOME BY MILDRED M. FREDRICKS ARE YOU A Truth student who must, however reluc tantly, make one of these statements of fact: “I live on a fixed income.” “My only income is a small pension.” “I have only Social Security to live on.” Do you feel trapped in a world where living expenses are geared to earnings that are no longer available to you? Perhaps you would like to think positively as the many articles, speakers, and books inspire you to do; but on the other hand, you fail to see an avenue through which the law of abundance can apply. If affirmations and prayers seem no longer to work in this area of your life, let me tell you about my friend Grace Attridge. Grace lived on a fixed income, yet she found a unique way to set in motion a continuous supply for all her needs, and she happily increased her tithe. It began one Sunday morning in September. Grace was trying to listen to a Unity lecture, but a nagging question prevented her from having a rapport with the speaker. His subject was titled, “Limitless Supply Is Yours—Now!” “How can this apply to me?” thought Grace. “I’m re tired and on a fixed income. There it is, each month the same amount to cover all the regular expenses, as well as unexpected ones.” At one time it had been exciting to prove the law of abundance—an unexpected raise, a bonus were timely demonstrations of the law of in a need arose. I was grateful for this crease in action. Now all that was feeling of security. In order to changed into a dull routine. Grace control my spending I carried struggled against rebellious little cash in my purse. Almost thought, for she had been a Unity everything was paid for by check; student for many years and sin I handled very little money as cur- cerely accepted as Truth what the rency. Unanticipated expenses lecturer was saying: “Spiritual were forever creeping in, and I substance is all around us waiting constantly watched my bank to be formed according to our balance, counting the days until desires. We should take that which the next check would arrive. No is awaiting our demand. When wonder God c o u ld n ’t answer my man thinks affluently he begins to prayers, I left no space to be demonstrate prosperity. D on ’t filled! limit the Holy One of Israel! ” That last remark was like a direct blow and Grace almost d jumped. “Th a t’s it!” she felt like Q u t right after that memora shouting. “I have been limiting ble Sunday morning lecture, I the law by rigidly budgeting every went home and reviewed all the dollar, allowing no space for early teachings that had so con G o d ’s increase!” vinced me years ago that there was Electrified by this revelation a practical approach to prosperity she hurried from the lecture hall and that G o d ’s law was one of intent upon figuring out a way to constant giving and receiving. break the pattern, a pattern that Guiltily, I realized that my atti hours before had seemed one of tude about tithing had changed unquestionable necessity. with my retirement—my chief concern was that of how much I was receiving each month. And of course, there was less opportunity S o m e time later, reviewing her to give of myself, or so I thought. experience in a study group, “My first resolute step was to Grace Attridge explained: “With take two business-size letter enve the com in g of retirement, I lopes; on one I printed in large accepted the term fixed income letters, God's Account, and on the and carefully figured out what other, Abundance. Beneath the proportion of my monthly check word Abundance I wrote this re should be deposited in a checking minder: This money is blessed. It account to cover current ex is a symbol of divine substance penses. The balance went into and energy. I accept it joyously, savings to accumulate interest, appreciate it, and use it wisely. I which in turn would be trans spend it lovingly, knowing that it ferred to my checking account as blesses others and freely and naturally flows back to me to tions seemed to come her way, meet every need. along with gifts of fresh fruits and “Now, when my check comes vegetables. each month I put ten percent into “Actually,” laughed Grace, “to G od's Account, deposit just all appearances no remarkable, enough in my checking account to m iraculous change has taken cover routine expenses, and the place, yet in some mysterious way balance goes into the Abundance life has become exciting and much envelope, in small bills. From the more interesting. Now, with so Abundance envelope my wallet is much more to think about, new replenished, and I never count the people and plans, there just hasn’t balance to see how much is left.” been time for the old limiting way Grace then went on to tell how, of mulling over what I had con from the very first month, the sidered my limitations.” supply in both envelopes began to However, we who are her increase in an inexplicable way. It friends have noticed that there has started in a most casual, natural been a remarkable change. Grace manner. Attridge has gained a new spirit of youthfulness that always accom panies an optimistic attitude. Her H e r neighbors, noticing that confidence and cheerful attitude Grace was in the habit of taking a are attracting people who need daily morning walk, asked her if more of those qualities in their she would mind looking in on own lives. And, as always, those their Siamese cat each day, giving whom she needs are attracted to it food and water while they were her. away on vacation. The prospect of Many have profited by G ra ce’s boarding this sensitive pet in a willingness to share the simple kennel was out of the question. envelope plan. It seems to per The c a t’s happiness was so impor form like a master key, opening tant that they were about to aban different doors for individual per don their plans, until it occurred sons. to them that Grace might be will ing to help. Upon their return they grate G race confided to me that she fully insisted on paying Grace, in paraphrased a strong Old Testa spite of her protest and her secret ment verse to condition her mind, thankfulness to be of service. “Do not limit the Holy One of Other opportunities to be neigh Israel; He openest His hand and borly came her way, and many satisfiest the desire of every living persons who never before seemed thing.” Along with it, she used to notice her appeared to ask that wonderfully reassuring verse, favors or services which she could “The silver is mine, and the gold is render. Frequent dinner invita mine, says the Lord of hosts.” © ‘"Letteig to tlfe 'lulitoi My prayers were answered by the Being a college student, I find myself appearance of a few old UNITY Maga at times under a load of pressure, but by zines. As I read them, I discovered, writ reading something from UNITY Maga ten in beautiful, understandable lan zine, the load is always lifted\-K.P., guage, many of the beliefs that I had Texas. reached for through years of searching 0 and agonizing; and much more—the I have been reading and studying directive I had prayed for.—R.S., Iowa. UNITY Magazine for a few years now. I e consider it a vital part of my spiritual Every morning when I take my walk, life and every day in my prayers I thank UNITY Magazine goes along with me, the special person who gave me that and I meditate on the lovely poetry. first subscription.—J.D., Maine. Filled with these beautiful thoughts and surrounded by G o d ’s nature—His trees, 0 green grass, shrubs, and flowers—I am I have enjoyed UNITY Magazine for very inspired, and I start my day with many years, and have interested other peace, joy, and love.—E.B., Kentucky. persons in Unity. We all have our favor 0 ite writers, but some seem to “hit the spot” for me.—E.M., California. I am receiving UNITY Magazine as a gift subscription, and each issue is a 0 treasure. The dark picture on the March cover was frightening to me, but I have I have come to look forward to words found more light inside than I can of inspiration in UNITY Magazine. It is express. It seems the things I ’ve been the only magazine I read cover to cover reading and trying to understand for immediately upon receiving it. Thank more than thirty years are just glowing you.—J.S., California. with realization of the Truth. I praise and bless you all at Unity for the work 0 you are doing. Of course, I have been Reading some magazines is like look privileged to introduce others to Unity ing into a mirror; reading UNITY Maga too, as my mother did for me. It’s like a zine is like looking out of a window (if chain of love—each link adding another you know what I mean). I believe your and another—and the chain cannot be writers truly are i n spire d.-R .C ., broken.-B.S., California. Massachusetts. if these did not perfectly agree with her orthodox religious train ing, and even when she was ridi *Book culed by others for “having her head in the clouds.” These percep tual jewels of Truth regarding life ‘M a r k were, to her, the essence of exist ing in faith, which was itself her MYRTLE FILLMORE: reason for being. MOTHER OF UNITY by What has not been adequately Thomas E. Witherspoon; emphasized about Myrtle before— Unity Books, Unity her sensitivity toward and person Village, Mo. 64065; al acceptance of others; her gift of $5.95. teaching through the voice of inner wisdom; her tremendous love and concern for the welfare of all children; that she was vitally interested in a government on earth directed by the Spirit of Christ; and that she was an equal The history of the Unity move partner with her husband Charles ment has been recorded from in creating a dynamic work of several angles by various authors, worldwide import—is delicately but a new light is shed on its begin- told, often in her own words nings through the loving and through letters, poems, and com patien t research that became m ents, in Myrtle Fillmore: Thomas E. Witherspoon’s biogra Mother of Unity. phy, Myrtle Fillmore: Mother o f Informatively illustrated with Unity. Timely, in this age of inter pictures throughout, including a est in the strength of feminine color section of scenes from Unity perspective, this book accurately Village today, the book shows the depicts the personal and profes evolution of a woman, her family, sional life of a woman whose faith her teachers, and her ideal. Mr. and determination were powerful Witherspoon has penetrated to influences for good in the lives of the very soul of the Unity archives countless persons. and has written a sound book of M yrtle Fillmore was a rare facts that reflects the true spirit of woman with a divine objective, Myrtle Fillmore’s life—a life of which she reached: the integra nurturing, sustaining, and re tion of her spiritual perceptions storing spiritual vision. This book with her physical realities. She is definitely good news for all of was, even as a child, endowed with us about a grand woman, a liber a capacity to honor the integrity ated human being, a blessed and of her own spiritual insights, even free spirit.—Janna Russell. ew from Unity Books- in time for Christmas giving Use the convenient form on , the flap to order your personal and gift copies. c T V f y r t l e cH lhnoifr> cT V lother o f‘TJnitjC By Thomas E. Witherspoon (This book was a November/December Unity Book Club selection.) L N I T id ' November 1977 — Unity Village, Mo. 64065 cJ ^ e a J ^ cJ 2 (a n gu age By John D. Engle, Jr. Because I learned the language of the leaves Before I learned the complex words of men, My mind is a loom on which the forest weaves A tapestry of memories. And when Any tree is stirred by any breeze, My heart records each whisper, notes each mood. My spirit finds a fellowship in trees. With them, I know shall be understood. These things the trees have taught me since my birth: To keep my feet well-planted in the sod, To cling with love to the abundant earth. But to keep reaching toward the sun and God.