Who's Your Authority?

Recently I re-watched Mary Morrissey's Prosperity Plus II  class two in which Mary tells her introduction to Metaphysical Principles. As a new mother, just out of high school, Mary was diagnosed with critical nephritis in both kidneys. Her prognosis was that they would remove the kidney that was totally diseased, then and because the other kidney was also badly diseased she might have two months to live. She had been given a death sentence. Mary's story is heart-wrenching because she had been shamed by her family, her school and abandoned by her friends because she was pregnant in a day when "good girls" didn't get pregnant.

The beautiful thing about Mary's story is that the night before her surgery, a chaplain came in to her room and asked her if she would like prayer. She then says that what happened next was unlike any version of prayer she had ever seen. The chaplain drew up a chair and talked with her about her life. She explained to Mary that everything is created twice. Before anything takes a tangible form it was first an idea. She went on to explain that our bodies are always showing us what our thinking has been; if you think an embarrassing thought, you will blush; if you think a scary thought, your heart will beat rapidly. the chaplain asked Mary to consider that if one thought toxic thoughts, your body would be toxic. Mary had never considered such an idea. She didn't really buy it. She wasn't certain that prayer could actually detoxify her body. But she knew that the chaplain believed it.

The next morning she had surgery, practiced the ideas that the chaplain had suggested  and gradually she got better. From two months to live to a lifetime of health, is a great journey.

Mary also said that the initials M.D. often represent for patients, Minor Deities.

Have you given your power away to a diagnosis or prognosis?

It is never too late to change your mind. It is never too late to be kind, caring and loving to yourself. It is never too late to be your own authority.

What is it going to be for you.

Today has been a day wherein I have had a lot of calls of diagnoses and prognoses that the people didn't like.

If that is you. Take back your power. The only healing power there is, lies within you. The only healing power there is responds to your intentions and beliefs.

Choose wisely. Live long and prosper!

Gracism: Embracing Freedom of Choice

Freedom of choice is July's value and with it comes opportunity to examine the choices we are making in thought and action. One of Ernest Holmes' most famous quotes is "Change your thinking change your life." He encouraged us all to look at the unexamined and unconscious beliefs running our lives and challenge them, asking "is that True?"; true with a capital T.

My daughter as we explored the Museum of Man exhibits in San Diego.

Recently, I visited the Museum of Man in San Diego. I spent most of my time in an exhibit called Race: Are We So Different? It was fascinating and obliterated many of my learned beliefs about race.

The exhibit used science, like biology and archaeology, to prove false many of society's long held assumptions about race. One of the most interesting things I learned was about classification. Before the British started to travel and conquer the world, there was no such thing as race. People were people regardless of skin color or cultural differences. It wasn’t until the British applied their classification system to the people they encounter that race and racism was born. No other culture, up until that point, thought to put people in boxes based on traits and assumptions. That was such an “AHA” moment for me, and right there I made a conscious choice to release people from classification.

One of the books this month’s value is drawing inspiration from is Gracism by Rev. Dr. David Anderson. He is the senior minister at a multicultural church in Maryland. Here’s what Dr. Anderson has to say about Gracism…

Join us this month to explore the value: Freedom of Choice. Release yourself from hidden unconscious beliefs and race thinking. And, if you are traveling to San Diego this month, I highly recommend visiting the Museum of Man and the Race exhibit.

Callings, Sunday Service with Guest Speaker Greg Lavoy

One Spirit, One Love, One Life. It is father and mother to us all. I live in that Spirit, I am thay Love. I am that Life. I listen to guidance from the inner perfection that dwells within. And So It Is!

Prosperity Plus for You and Me

I love great prosperity classes. Whether I am the facilitator, teacher or student these classes inspire me. My life changes and improves. I am more aware of what I am grateful for. I am more aware of the current abundance in my life.

One of the best prosperity teachers I know is Mary Manin Morrissey. She is clear, compelling and authentic. She has proven these principles in her life and shares her experiences and struggles. Mary is  a gifted story-teller. Within her stories are gems of transformation.

I will be facilitating Mary's course, Prosperity Plus II: Harnessing Your Invisible Power beginning June 20 for 10 weeks. There is still room in this class and I highly recommend it.

Mary uses Chinese bamboo for the symbol of this course. Chinese bamboo is an interesting plant. After planting the bamboo seed, if you take really good care of it the first year, carefully watering and fertilizing it, it grows one inch. It continues to grow one inch per year for four years. Then in the fifth year, if you take good care of it, it grows an amazing eighty feet in just six weeks. What exactly has it been doing for the first four years? It has been developing a strong and powerful root system, ready to support its massive growth.

In the student guidebook, Mary writes, "Our dreams are sometimes like Chinese bamboo. We may nurture them for what feels like a long time with very little signs on the outside that anything is happening. And then,continue to nurture our dream with patience and persistence,  declining to be discouraged, it is as if overnight, everything comes together and we find ourselves living the very life of which we dreamed."

The course is an experiment in more expansive living, giving each student the opportunity to experience new levels of abundance in every area of your life.

The first thing we get clear about is what would we really love. You will be invited to think about what would you love in terms of your health, your relationships, your vocation and your time and money freedom.

There is room in the class and materials available. Call the Center today to reserve your spot. Our number is 949-240-6463.

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Creating A Culture Of Accountability, Sunday Service

I am in a committed relationship with Spirit, with myself and with my spiritual brothers and sisters. And So It Is!

What is Accountability for Us?

A Prayer Wall at our Center: We Go to God First

What is a culture of accountability? Do we have this culture at our Center?  My questions led to more questions.

Roger Connors in his book Fix It: Getting Accountability Right  writes: "Accountability is a personal choice to rise above one's circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving Key Results: See It, Own It, Solve It, and Do It."

So key results in our Center would always start with God-- seeking guidance from the highest power through prayer and visioning. It is also about taking action. If you take ownership of your organization, and you see something that needs to be done, you do it. Currently there are many examples of this accountability right in our Center. For instance, we have several people who have been researching buildings for us. Whenever we have meals together, we have people stay to help clean up.

This month we have scheduled a series of visioning sessions. Visioning is a process in which one listens for direction from God, Divine Mind, Mother/Father God. We are doing these sessions so that each member and friend of our Center can contribute to the overall vision of our future. Everyone's participation adds to the practice of cultural accountability by taking part in the fulfillment and flourishing of our Center.

I will not be leading the visioning this Sunday because I have another Center commitment, but I know that the right and perfect people will attend. Lee Van Slyke will be leading it. I will be leading it again the following week. Visioning is important work for us to do for our community.

I wasn't exactly certain what culture meant in this context either. The dictionary didn't help, but Centers for Spiritual Living, founding documents, our Organization Design Model did help. I love this document and am so proud that our Center not only embraced these ideas but many of us were part of the creation process of these documents.  In Section 4, under the heading Our Organizational Culture you will find these wonderful words:

"We are a healthy, effective organization honoring and respecting each other and all of creation.

We  are known for the love that we share throughout our community and the world. 

We stand together in a shared commitment and devotion to our spiritual principles, practices and values. 

We are all in this Life together and we include everyone in our vision of a peaceful, loving world. 

We embrace the evolution and revelation of higher consciousness. 

We are prayerful and principled in our decision-making and actions. 

We practice the spiritual tools put forward by our founder, Dr. Ernest Holmes, in The Science of Mind, and by other spiritual leaders and mystics who teach and apply truth principles  for our individual lives."

Today, out of the blue, we received a note from one our our members who was writing to thank us for being who we are. This person addressed the note to her Family of Love. She said that when she walked in she felt love, acceptance and home. She went on to say that when she started attending her thinking was self-destructive but she didn't know how to stop it. She went on to say that now she knows that she is Love, Light, and Life and she is perfect, whole and complete, priceless freedom. She signed the note with gratitude for all of us.

I believe we have a demonstration that we have a culture of accountability.

'The Courage to Do the Right Thing' Sunday Service

I am an Individualization of the One, wisely using the power of discernment and courage. And So It Is!

Celebrating My Brothers

On Sunday, June 4, my baby brothers will be 67 years old.

I remember when they were born. We were expecting ONE baby.  Evidently the doctor was not sure there were two babies. She could tell there were extra appendages, but because of their position in my mother's womb, the doctor couldn't hear two heartbeats.

Up-until-their birth, our family was perfect in my eyes. I was three years old. I had an eight-year-old sister, whom I adored, both parents, my maternal grandparents,lots of cousins and aunts and uncles. I really didn't want the change of adding more children to our family! I remember peering into the bassinet and hearing my grandma exclaim, "Two BOYS! We are so lucky!"

Now grandma and I were very close. I knew she loved and valued me, but what I heard in those words was "Girls are not as good nor as desirable as boys. So up to now, they had their girl, my older sister and now they had TWO boys. We don't need another girl. You are one child more than we need."

None of this was true.

Coincidentally, just after their births, I had to have my tonsils removed. It was my first trip to a hospital. I thought the nurses were mean and they treated me like a baby. Imagine! I had to sleep in a crib. I had been sleeping in a regular bed with my sister for several months. Likely to free up a crib for my brother(s.) The prevailing "wisdom" was that mothers couldn't have any contact with their children while they were in the hospital. So little did I know, my mommy had come to see me every day, for ten days, but had to peak in when I was asleep.

I was a child of great imagination. I knew that Mommy had gone to the hospital to get my brothers. I assumed my family didn't need me anymore and they were taking me back. I was terrified and I was heart-broken. I didn't even smile for the ice cream when my throat was recovering.

As children, my brothers were pests to me. I was trying to carve out a place of importance for myself and these two interlopers were budging in. We didn't seem to have much in common. They even spoke a strange twin language. They called each other Dodi and Nonny. To make matters worse they seemed to be good in sports in which I often played drawback. So my jealousy and insecurity got in the way of really getting to know them.

When our mother made her transition last year, they both spoke at her service. I saw that they were kind, sensitive and loving. They did her proud. She was proud of all her children. Both brothers have children of their own, interestingly they had boys. And they are lucky! And so am I to be their auntie.

Happy birthday to my brothers Gerald Roy Neil Clark and John Douglas Lorne Clark.

Adorable baby boys Johnny (Nonny) and Gerry (Dodi)

Lela Clark and her 5 children
Gerald, Heather, Kathryn, Cheryl, John