Unity or Conflict

Jeffon Seely poses a question: With all that connects us to one another, why do we have such a difficult time navigating the differences between us?

In the February 2020 issue of Guide for Spiritual Living: Science of Mind magazine, Seely notes that Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti believes that “the moment we separate ourselves from the essence of life that connects us to all things is the moment that conflict enters in.” In other words, where unity is, conflict cannot exist.

We all know intuitively that building bridges must begin within. “Perhaps the greatest way to be a bridge builder across dimensions of diversity is to embrace the power of authentic interaction,” Seely writes. “By authentically interacting with people who are completely different from you, you can begin the process of invalidating unconscious perceptions that have basis in experiential reality.”

At this particularly divided time in American history, Dan Rather offers this: “I look out on this great nation and see much that is broken. But I know that every day, millions upon millions of my fellow citizens set out to lead purposeful lives, to help others, to be empathetic members of their communities. … Step out of the bubble, turn off the TV, put your phone in the drawer and take a deep breath. Focus on what is around you. And focus on what needs to be done for the future.”

Unity or conflict: The choice is ours.

When It’s Hard to Love

—by Rev. Dr. Michael Gott

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but our public conversations have gotten heated. Bitter, angry, hateful speech seems to have become acceptable in some quarters….

We can disagree. We will disagree. But we must be respectful. I think this is one of the hardest things we face here in human life on Earth. We come from the absolute spiritual truth that there is only one Life, that every individual is an expression of God. We are one. And when someone attacks us personally, what we want to do is reciprocate. We cannot.

We must remain in love. Jesus taught this thousands of years ago. He understood that when we return attack for attack, we have taken ourselves out of oneness and planted our consciousness in duality. “Turning the other cheek” doesn’t mean we remain open to attack, however.

Sometimes the most loving things we can do is to turn and walk away, to remove ourselves from the conversation for now. I know that love will lead us if we are willing.

--Excerpted from the entry for February 9, 2020, Daily Guides

Move Your Feet

Writer Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., offers research showing that moving our feet – and our bodies – boosts us to lead healthier, more connected lives. As she explains, we are wired to move, and we are rewarded for doing so.

“At the most fundamental level,” she writes, “rewarding movement is how your brain and body encourage you to participate in life. If you are willing to move, your muscles will give you hope. Your brain will orchestrate pleasure. And your entire physiology will adjust to help you find the energy, purpose and courage you need to keep going.”

And if you choose to move as part of a group activity, through dance or yoga or tai chi, you benefit from what’s called “collective effervescence.” Any kind of synchronized movement creates powerful feelings of connection – feelings we all crave.

If the winter blues have you feeling down, if external forces have you feeling frustrated, if you have a general sense of unease, try moving your feet. Focus on physical activity as a way to address your own emotional well-being.

Surrender to Love

—by Ernest Holmes

Now this is the surrender we have to make: We must love everybody, we must not be afraid of anything. Then we will know that Life as Love is an all-conquering Power, carrying healing for all things. …

We can be both scientific and religious, for we cannot go any deeper in thought than to know that God is the Reality of our life.

So without fear, we must be willing to surrender our entire self to a greater influx of Life. It does not matter how much we surrender the self to the expression of Life, the self will ever be enhanced. Flowing through it and around it are the vast eternal resources of the living God.

God is Life. Why don’t we try to experience more of Its action as love? This is the most practical thing in the world.

--Excerpted from “The Spiritual Universe and You”