Here on the farm, the lilac tree is one of the first to awaken after a dormant winter. The tree is budding out, and the buds are forming green leaves.  In a few months, beautiful purple lilacs will cover the tree. It will take longer for the wine grape vines and the walnut trees to start leafing out.

Just as trees and vines awaken after a winter of many 27 degree nights, humankind is undergoing an awakening. Just as the trees are opening to the sunlight of the longer days, we are opening to the light of a new dawn. The light is shining on possibility—the possibility and potential of a new way of doing things and a better world. A world where people are free to be their own best selves.

At Unity, we learn that the spark of light from Creator God is in all of us. We can get rid of and lose all the old thinking that no longer serves our highest good. When we realize this truth, we experience an awakening. We discard the old, and attain a new awareness.

I find that Unity embraces all paths of wisdom that lead to the same outcome: Love. In this spirit, I would like to share a text from the Buddhist Monk, Shantideva, who lived around 700 A.D.  I found this in an email from Nick Polizzi, who writes for The Sacred Science Team. 

“The Dalai Lama considers this text to be THE source for developing altruism in your character and the “Spirit of Awakening.”

Unity Daily Post: Thursday, March 15, 2018

I don't know about you, but it's been a whirl wind of a first quarter in 2018 for me. I prayed for connection with others at the beginning of the year. WOW, did I get an "E" Ticket Ride (for those of you of an age to remember what that meant @ Disneyland). 

No sooner did I begin tax season with AARP Foundation, the certification to teach the "Connection Practice" was going to be condensed into a one week training course. Here was a chance to take advantage of a 'heady' goal in the middle of tax season. This would be risky in many ways. How would I juggle something I could not afford; arrange for others to cover in my absence; and find a way to pay for a week-long training along with a place where I could afford to stay?

The first challenge was delay by what turned out to be one of many compounded by my own lack of preparation for the challenge ahead of me. I prayed for support. If this challenge was one that was meant to be, it would be, was the response I received. It was then that I discovered my traveling and camping membership has a campground located 15 minutes from the Connection Practice training center. Full hook-up, hot showers and all. O.K.... Maybe this can happen, afterall!

​Ideal ~ so I thought. Missed opportunities to prepare for the event popped up at every turn to the point I was ready to back out at the last minute. Whatever it was that drove me to trust an inner voice compelled me to believe this was a 'required course'. I began to practice "connection" with others after connecting within myself. It takes a "Pause" (I call it the pause that refreshes! "Empathy + Insight = Connection) is possible once you pause long enough to connect within yourself before you connect with others. What am I feeling? What do I need?  What more do I need to know about this?

No sooner had I prayed for connection with others, my higher consciousness brought every possible opportunity for me to learn the way to do it. Relationships can be problematic if consciousness and dialogue is without empathy to truly listen. Insight comes from a higher realm of comprehension and understanding. I know that when I am connected coherently within my being, I am able to use the power that is my natural inheritance. Whatever I call that higher consciousness doesn't matter. Prayers were answered. 

Nevertheless, like Tevye in 'Fiddler on the Roof' ~ "Lord, why must you bless me this much?"

The connection practice of the "Connection Practice" was worth every reason to learn it, apply it and experience a flow of life that brings purpose, reason, creativity, and action together to manifest what you want rather than what you don't want. It's like anything else, you get better at it when you practice it. (Pun Intended)

Unity of Stockton is planning a workshop introducing the "Connection Practice" Part 1 in May. (tentavily on May 19th & 20th) Respond to office@unityofstockton.com for information about the workshop.