GREAT MORNING!  

Welcome back to Unity Spiritual Center!

Well, we’ve come to the end of our trip down Motown Lane. I hope you have enjoyed the journey and maybe looked at your music, whatever it is, in a different way. Music, like most things, can have many meanings, just as books, even the Bible.

When we look at how something resonates with us, we get a different message, and that can be different from one day to the next. I recall when listening to Gary Zukav’s book, “The Seat of the Soul.” Every time I listened, I got something more, different from it. I had that tape (yes, back in those days!) in my car and often popped it in to see what I’d get next.

I had challenged you to suggest a song for today’s Message, but only received an idea from Greg…these weeks “The Way You Do the Things You Do.” The Temptations had a hit with this list of pick-up lines that Smokey Robinson & Bobby Rogers joked with each other while pass time on the long bus ride, and then turned it into a song.

Now you may ask, how can a list of pick-up lines be spiritual? Listen to them…

You’ve got a smile so bright
You know you could have been a candle
I’m holding you so tight
You know you could have been a handle
The way you swept me off my feet
You know you could have been a broom
The way you smell so sweet
You know you could have been some perfume

And the kicker is the chorus….

Well, you could have been anything that you wanted to
And I can tell, the way you do the things you do
The way you do the things you do, the way you do the things you do

We have been told that we are All One, of God, our Creator. And we can be and do anything.

In John 14, Jesus tells us, “These things and more shall you do…”

So, again, if we truly believe; if we have faith, if we connect with our authentic self and get aligned with the Divine, we can do these things.

But let’s look at the words again. I am not sure that the important thing here is being a candle, a broom, or perfume. I think that it is significant that what makes them say that the girl can be those things.

I think the important thing is the smile that make him compare her to a candle.

Smelling sweet is the reminder of perfume.

Pretty as a flower. Smart as a schoolbook.

These are qualities that we might be looking for in someone.

They MIGHT be qualities we strive for in ourselves.

Unfortunately, most of these qualities are outside, superficial. And that is often what attracts us to someone initially.

But if we truly wish a connection, then we go deeper. We look for the qualities that our Way-Shower had…compassion, kindness, love for others, faith.

Our Unity Principles remind us that we are of God, the Creator. And that because of that, we are born as a blessing, not as a sinner. We are made it the image and likeness of our Creator, therefor we are all GOOD.

We believe that we make our days by our thoughts. If we don’t care for the way our days are presenting, we can change them by changing our thoughts.

The song is using positive thoughts to encourage the girl of their pursuit to turn her affections their way. They are attempting to influence her thoughts.

We let people do that. Sometimes it’s a good thing and other times not so much. We ARE to have dominion over our thoughts. All of us have probably let others influence us, for better or not.

The good thing is our thoughts can and will change our world if we wish it so.

Unity helped me do that.  The only sad part was that it took so long to be presented to me. But they say, the teacher comes when you are ready. I had to be ready for that huge change in my life.

If you walked into Unity, no matter when it was for the first time, you were looking for something different. You probably were searching for a different way of looking at life. Or maybe you knew the religion of your youth was not what resonated in your heart.

And finally, you found Unity. And maybe your heart sang. Maybe you felt at home, finally. Or maybe you were afraid because this would mean a change…were you ready for that?

Some people thought they were and stayed for a while, but then it was too much personal responsibility, they actually had to work on themselves and so they left.

Some people never came back…nowhere near ready.

But others stayed. You stayed. I stayed. We all grew stronger in our faith; our spiritual journey was soaring. We were so happy to have found our home.

This is how it is. We do the things we do to further our soul’s journey, experiencing events and happenings in this physical plane, each with a lesson, large or small, to move us forward.

This is what I ask of you. If Unity has been for you anywhere near what is has been and is for me, don’t stop. I will not stop seeking, learning, listening, growing in my spirit.

I ask you all to do the same. Do the things that you do to keep your soul’s journey going.

GREAT MORNING!  

Welcome back to Unity Spiritual Center!

We are coming to the end of our Summer Series on Motown Music. Unfortunately, that means summer is closing in too. We still have lots of time for fun in the sun, so let’s get started.

This week we listen to the words of Marvin Gaye & Tammie Terrell and another hit for him, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

Song co-author Nickolas Ashford strolling down the streets of New York, he observed the tall skyscrapers around him; they seemed almost mountainous. He thought about how nothing, not even these great and marvelous structures, could stop his dreams. When he sat down with his wife, Valerie Simpson, to write what would become a Motown hit, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” he thought about how love can be mountainous too. While Ashford and Simpson felt they could not do the song justice vocally, several people have endeavored to perform the song. The most notable versions are the ones by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (1967), and Diana Ross (1970).  

We are focusing on the first version, Gaye & Terrell.

In their duet “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” love is clearly the main focus as they profess their devotion and commitment to one another in alternating statements. The song is deliberately slow in order to make the lyrics and message–nothing can stop love– more impactful. The slow rhythm of the song contributes to the heartfelt attitude of the singers. Terrell tells Gaye “If you need me, call me, no matter where you are, no matter how far” and Gaye croons “I told you, you could always count on me, darling.” Gaye and Terrell alternate lyrics throughout the song instead of alternating verses. This alternating structure makes the song seem almost like a conversation.

Though most of the song consists of them singing to each other, both Gaye and Terrell sing the chorus, harmonizing with each other to create a sense of intensity when delivering the most memorable lyrics of the song. This intensity helps develop the loving and passionate tone they intend to express. In the chorus, they make use of hyperbole by claiming “ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you.” These lines convey the main point of the song: their love for each other is so strong, nothing can keep them apart. During the last verse, Terrell says, “no wind, no rain, no winters cold can stop me baby” and Gaye sings “If you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be there on the double just send for me.” Their belief in the strength of their love creates a sense of optimism and hope for the longevity of their relationship.

How can this love song be spiritual? What do you think?

I think it’s simple. It is about God’s love for us and our love for God. Much like the Song of Solomon, which Biblical scholars have interpreted various ways. Among Jews, the allegorical interpretation regards the book as an allegory of God’s love for the Israelites, with whom he has made a sacred covenant. Among Christians, the book is interpreted as describing the covenantal love of Christ for his church. In medieval mysticism, the Song of Solomon was construed to apply to the love between Christ and the human soul.

If we look at a few of the important words metaphysically, we can get another idea.

Metaphysical meaning of mountain from the Revealing Word tells us – A mountain represents an exalted state of mind where the divine plan may be perceived and unfolded; a state of spiritual realization.

The “high mountain” to which personality carries us in our spiritual uplift is the consciousness of power over mortal thought in all its earthly avenues of expression. Going up into the mountain to pray means elevating our thoughts and our aspirations to the spiritual viewpoint.

I believe going up into the mountain and coming down from the mountain are mentioned 15 times in the New Testament. Jesus goes up to pray, bringing his consciousness higher. He comes down to heal and spread the good news.

So, when we take ourselves into our higher consciousness, we are connecting to our Higher Self, our authentic self.

How often do we read or see Jesus and other spiritual people lifting their eyes…it has nothing to do with our childhood belief in heaven being in the sky?  It’s about lifting our consciousness to be aware of our closeness to God and Divine Spirit’s closeness to us.

So, this song can be seen spiritually as all qualities of God. Nothing can keep us from them, because they are within us. Nothing can keep us from God, Divine Spirit, but our own thoughts…. the mountains of our own making.

We form whatever we will according to our faith & understanding. If we are weak, maybe struggling, and we all experience struggle, the walls, mountains, even hills we build are of our own making. We can shatter them with faith, prayer, & meditation.

Chopra – “we change the world most effectively through who we are, recognizing ourselves as one with Spirit. And being that open channel, good will flow through us.”

Another important point the song makes is

If you need me, call me
No matter where you are
No matter how far (Don’t worry baby)
Just call my name
I’ll be there in a hurry
You don’t have to worry

We all too often fail to reach out when we are tired, sick, maybe out of sorts. I used to call it the ‘ho-hums’ when talking with my Mother.

I am at fault too. Oh, I did ask for help each time I was laid up from the accident and the surgeries. But I’m much slower when it comes to my emotional/spiritual needs. I’m an introvert and tend to stay inside myself. Something I am working on.

How about you? Do you reach out when you need a listening heart? A helping hand?

Call. Write. Visit. Be a friend.

You know that saying, “if you want a friend, you have to be a friend”….

GREAT MORNING!  

Welcome back to Unity Spiritual Center!

Happy Anniversary to you all. And thank you for supporting Unity Spiritual Center
of Coastal Delaware.

You helped to make a dream of mine come true. I pray you will continue your support in all ways.

This week we are swerving away a bit from Motown because I love the song I choose and because it fits our celebration. And it is a reminder, that we are always standing on Holy Ground

Those words could be what we all thought in our hearts as we entered a Unity Center or Church for the first time. That is what I often think about…standing in a Holy Presence. That overwhelming swell of love and acceptance as one walks into the positive energy on Unity.

When I walked Through the doors
I sensed his presence
And I knew This was a place
Where love abounds

The first time a I walked into Unity, I was overwhelmed. It was a small space but filled with folks. The minister actually was leaving to work at Unity Village, so I barely got to know her, but the new minister was a mentor and guide for me as I pursued becoming a Licensed Unity Teacher.

But more important, it was a step into a spiritual journey of self-discovery and an opening to my Higher Self. Finding Unity was and is probably the most important event in my life. I thank Darla and O’Neal for that

What was it like, the first time you walked into Unity? (SHARE)  pic

The words to this song can be so profound.

Here we can find Sweet peace of mind, Can still be found

If we are following the guidance of our Way-shower, we do and will find peace of mind when we give our hearts over to that still small voice that will guide us as we travel through each day.

And yes, there is joy beyond all measure…

We must do our part if we wish to live a life filled with joy. Oh yes, there will be opportunities for our growth, but our mis-step is dwelling in what seems hours and hours of turmoil when in the reality of our life, it is only a moment.

We too often dwell in the Valley of the Shadow, when in reality, if we pick up the tent instead of setting it up and continue through to the other side, we find friends and family there to help us. We sense the support that comes from the prayers from our Prayer tram and Silent Unity. And we feel the arms as they circle us in the warmth of a hug.

We need to do our part when it comes to our spiritual growth. As the message from our first songs in this Motown Series reminded us, we must Reach Out. And as today’s song is telling us we must reach out and claim it.

It is our responsibility to claim what we have a desire for. And we must do all the work to prepare for that gift from the Divine.  Remember, the Universe is always for you. Nothing and no one is against you.

It is us who place the barriers in front of us. And it is US who must push them away.

No, we don’t have to do it alone. That is one of the reasons we have Unity Spiritual Center. And the Men’s Group. And the Women’s Circle. And classes. And Meditations.

And leaders within this community.

But we must all do our part.

I ask you to ask yourself time and again…”What is mine to do?”

How do you answer that now? (SHARE)