Crossing the threshold to peace

"Happiness doesn't lie in conspicuous consumption and the relentless amassing of useless crap. Happiness lies in the person sitting beside you and your ability to talk to them. Happiness is clear-headed human interaction and empathy. Happiness is home. And home is not a house--home is a mythological conceit. It is a state of mind. It's a place of communion and unconditional love. It is where, when you cross its threshold, you finally feel at peace."

--Dennis Lehane

At Unity of Charlotte, we end our mission statement each time we read it with a hearty “Welcome Home.” Contemporary writer Dennis Lehane easily could have been talking about the feeling many people have when they first experience the welcoming love at Unity.

“Where have you been all of my life?” is also a common reaction.  Unity was founded as a means of teaching Practical Christianity.  The question is sometimes asked, “Is Unity a Christian movement?” 

Short answer: Yes.

The classes and lessons experienced at Unity of Charlotte will allow someone to put into use the concepts taught by Jesus over 2,000 years ago. 

 The teachings are brought into the context of modern life and applied to every-day situations.

The Unity movement was founded more than a century ago to facilitate learning and healing at the spiritual level.

At Unity of Charlotte, we have no use for guilt. 

We welcome all just as they are.

Drop by 401 East Arrowood Rd. Charlotte, NC any Sunday at 10:30 and check it out.  You’ll be welcomed home.

-Alan Batten for Unity of Charlotte

The sweet taste of abundance

Prosperity . . . something most of us want in abundance in our lives, but sometimes do not recognize.  Yet, it's always there ready to land in our laps, if only we remain open to it.
 Lately, I've been focusing on developing a higher prosperity consciousness.  As is usually the case, the Universe does provide.  Read on and I will tell you about it.

One morning last week, I walked to my car to find the right front tire flatter than a pancake! Naturally, I was on my way somewhere that required a timely arrival, but I stayed cool. I made a call to my son.

 My son came right over and drove me to where I needed to go.  At the end of the day, he brought me back home-- after treating me to dinner--and then changed the tire. He recommended a possible course of action for getting the tire fixed.

Not wanting to waste time, I immediately called one of the repair spots recommended. I was given the price for the repair, and told that while it was too late that day to fix it, if I brought it in before they closed it would be ready for me the next morning.   It seemed the best course of action was to take it in immediately.  So I did.
  When I arrived at the repair shop, I was asked to wait while they checked to see if the tire was, indeed, "fixable."  After only a minute or two, I was informed they would fix it right away. Having been originally told I would have to wait 'till the next day, I was delighted.  So I waited. 

 As I waited, I stood in the very large garage with 5 auto bays, all of which had enormous doors. All of which were wide open.  The day had been warm, but as I stood there a steady, fresh, cool breeze embraced my body.  It is summer in Charlotte. As we all know, this type of weather isn't the norm.  I am from Wisconsin where it is, and cool, fresh air is one of the very things I miss most in this climate.  I was in heaven.
  
Given the circumstances, I waited patiently, enjoying every minute of the soft, cool air and giving thanks for it the whole time.

When the young man repairing my tire was finished, he collected my car keys, replaced the newly repaired tire, put the spare away, and returned my keys with a smile and the words, "OK, you're good to go."  "But I haven't paid yet," I replied.  "Oh, that's OK" he said with a smile, "you're good."

The first thought that went through my mind was, "Thank you, God!" several times over.  After confirming with the young man that he did indeed mean for me to simply leave without money changing hands, I presented him with a HUGE HUG and kind words of great thanks.  I'm guessing he was about the age of my grandson.  His response to my hug was to flash me a brilliant smile, turn beet-red and say, "No problem."  He looked like I was making his day, when in my mind, he had just made mine!

If this isn't prosperity in action I don't know what is.  In a situation that some might have found worrying and upsetting, I was gifted with a positive attitude about the situation from the very first moment I saw the flat. I received generosity of assistance in the form of rides, having dinner out with my son and his family, having my car made drivable to repair, blessedly cool weather, a free tire repair and the truly sincere appreciation for my gratitude from a young man I'd never seen before.  WOW.

It's not like I really need proof, but for those who do, if this isn't proof that prosperity comes in many forms and when we least expect it, I don't know what is.

And I repeat, "Thank you God, thank you God, thank you God!"  . . . and so it is.

--Kate Morgan for Unity of Charlotte

Gratitude has the power to change

We all have so much to be grateful for and yet we focus on what we don’t have, what isn’t working, and take what we do have for granted. 

 The Spiritual Principle and Practice of gratitude can change us and our life in a very short time.

 Research and experience has shown us that grateful people are happy, content and fulfilled.

 Are you ready to try it?

 A Gratitude list is a good way to start.  Write down all the things in your life you are grateful for and while you are writing, feel the gratitude in your heart.  Let the feeling of Gratitude come alive in you.

 Then try a gratitude day.

 When you wake up tomorrow, before you even get out of bed, begin to think and feel gratitude for the new day.  Continue to be grateful for everything all day long until you go to sleep at night.

Do these practices consistently for a week or so and you will find the way you look at life changes.

 Continue this practice every day. Soon gratitude will become who you are:  a grateful person that takes nothing for granted, and everything with gratitude.

 Watch your life change in wondrous ways.

--Rev. Nancy Ennis for Unity of Charlotte

 

How do I relate to others?

A grass roots Spirituality is sweeping across our land.

It is called by many names: Engaged Spirituality, Second Wave Spirituality, and Evolutionary Spirituality to name a few.

Whatever name we might choose,

this grass roots movement is calling us to redefine ourselves and the way we relate to each other  and the world.

   We are waking up to the fire of our love for God and the fire of our  passion for justice.  The 2 fires are coming  together as Love in action.  

Hearts are opening and people are coming  together and working  together as the power of Love on earth. 

We talk about oneness and at some level we know we are one.

  Now is the time to live in that awareness and work together to take care of planet earth and  all its inhabitants.

  

It is time to become the most loving person we can be and make love our life work.

---Rev. Nancy Ennis for Unity of Charlotte