Learning As We Go - Growing in Unity Group

In preparation for this upcoming Sunday's talk, I have been reading Unity teachings, A Course in Miracles, the Bible, and a Testament of Hope, which is the collective works of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And I'm taking all of this in while looking at our news and seeing things that are so contrary to what I experience as the spiritual reality that is our inheritance. And of course, I am actively grieving my brother's death, which has me looking at the world in a way that I am not yet used to.

The MLK Holiday happens to be the only holiday that I actually look forward to because historically, it is a day that calls us to really look beyond ourselves and to reflect on the world that we are all co-creating. So, I actually take it pretty seriously in the sense that it is a season where I examine my own heart and see how the way I am living my life lines up with the ideals that I profess.

I have looked up to Dr. King my whole life and always wondered what made him stand up for the world that he knew was possible. But, not only that, he did so in a way that tried to include the very people and systems that kept his people in physical, social, mental, and psychological bondage. I would call that operating from Christ Consciousness. But, regardless of what it is called, whatever he was in contact with had to be a spiritual power. And growing up in the context that I did, that is what I wanted to comprehend.

As far as he told it, his conviction came from his commitment to Jesus. But, the interesting thing is that the people who resisted him on every turn also claimed to be following Jesus. As a child that didn't make sense to me. And as an adult, it makes even less sense. But, what does make sense is the teaching that says, "You will know a tree by its fruit."

When I think about the life that I am co-creating moment by moment, I can only hope that it bears some good fruit. I'll be direct and say that when I first became a minister 15 years ago, I thought that I had finally found the thing that matched me. Even though I resisted it for years because I struggled with the theology I was exposed to, I knew that encouraging people to be their best selves inwardly and outwardly was at the core of who I am. I love to see people shine.

But, over time, I started doubting if this work was meaningful. Just look at the world the MLK lived in and the world today. People seem less interested in doing soul work and so many of us are struggling on a variety of levels. It can be easy to forget that the Good is always active even when we can't see it. However, I know that that same consciousness that MLK had access to is eternally active and eternally liberating. So, regardless of what appears to be happening or not happening, we can each decide to bear good fruit whenever we choose to.

With this being my first MLK Sunday at CSC, it is my hope that the time we spend together reflecting on his legacy will be one of encouragement and a greater reminder that just as Christ is so are we in the world.