Day 41: March 11
The thought for today is OPENNESS.
I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. – Gerry Spence
In the early 1900’s Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore outlined some of his beliefs in a book he wrote. His students came to him and asked him to write out a statement of faith – a creed – that they could use. He resisted for awhile, finally relenting and giving them one line: there is only One Presence and One Power active in the universe and in my life – God, the Good, Omnipotent. When he gave it to them, he made them understand that it was subject to change at any time.
The openness to growth and change displayed by Fillmore is characteristic of the New Thought movement. In fact, it’s one of the things I love most about New Thought. We in the movement are not and I pray will never be bound by rigid dogma. By maintaining a sense of openness, we allow our intuitive sense to guide us and the flow of Divine Wisdom to come through us. We allow ourselves to expand as our knowledge and experience of the Divine expands.
We are at times too ready to believe that the present is the only possible state of things. – Terry Pratchett
I wonder about people who close themselves off to new ideas and new perspectives. What holds them back? Maybe the status quo works for them and they don’t want to give it up. That’s great if it works for them, but it doesn’t work for everyone and if it doesn’t work for everyone, then it doesn’t work at all. We cannot live our lives at the expense of others. That is not Love.
Perhaps they are afraid of change. God knows, and I’m sure God does know, that fear is the single biggest reason we are not further along in our spiritual development than we are right now. If we are caught up in fear, we are not in tune with Spirit. Perfect Love casts out fear. Understand that concept – fear cannot exist in the Presence of Love. That’s powerful.
The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend. – Henri Bergson
The only other reason I can see that may keep people closed off is that they simply don’t yet have the consciousness to envision anything other than what has been. They can only see in the material world what their mind tells them is true. If their understanding of the world is that it’s a scary place and they have to protect themselves against it, then talking to them of Oneness is for naught. It’s not a concept they can comprehend at the moment. In this case, we can only be patient and continue modeling in our behavior what we know to be Truth – that Love conquers all and Peace is our reality.
I open heart and mind and soul to the movement of Spirit, allowing myself to be led down roads I have not yet traveled. I am open to new ideas, new perspectives, and new ways of doing so that we find solutions that work for all. And as for those who are not yet ready to walk the path of change with me, I let Love prevail over all.
breathe Peace ~
Rev. Rebecca
