Releasing the Old and Making Welcome the New

Last week, I just signed a counter offer for our Center's building.

When we first decided to sell our building we imagined that the buyer would be very similar to us, in that they had a need for a large open space and also would continue to run the executive suites. An owner-user would have been a wonderful deal. We had established that kind of organization would pay top dollar for the building. After months of marketing by our realtor, including sending a  hard-copy brochure to  almost a thousand potential buyers, and holding open houses, we received an offer. We were partially right: the buyer does want a building with Executive Suites but they want to convert the whole building to offices. We have countered the original offer with terms that we can live with including a lease-back option for almost nine months.

 I could be elated, or I could be a little numb.  One of the things that grew clear to us as we determined to sell the building is that this building was NEVER our vision. So we are just like many families who buy their first home because it is what they can afford, and move to a larger space when they can, They considered their first homes as starters.  We have come to realize that huge space was likely a starter for us so we are the opposite of a growing family. We want less space.

I feel waves of joy  and thanksgiving for the right action of being able to buy a much more manageable-sized building and devote our time and attention to our members and friends.

We are asking for your help. If you see a smaller commercial building for sale, please let us know. Our real estate committee is composed of Aidan Greaney, Grant McPhail, Fred Mercado, Pam Rocke, Greg Young , Wayne Davis, Lee Van Slyke, Dena Hart Van Slyke, and me. If you see something that might be of interest please let one of us know. We have already been looking for a new building but without knowing our price range we were not able to move forward very easily. We are looking for a building that is approximately seven thousand square feet. We will net approximately two million dollars.  We are looking forward to being free of a mortgage. (And also being free of the repairs and maintenance of a building that is almost 20,000 square feet.)

We need to work together as a community to find the right place that will serve our needs and allow us to grow.

Although none of us have a crystal ball, and are not skilled in predicting the future, we do see that likely with interest rates going up, investing in commercial real estate becomes less inviting.We feel that the time is right.

The offer we got allows us to lease back from the buyers for up to nine months. (We thought this gestation period would give us enough time to find the right and perfect place for our new home Center.)

How can you help?

Working Together
Photo by Juli Isola

Let's work together. The kids in the photo above have the right idea. Facing the unknown in the ocean of life, it is easy and fun if we do it together. Stay positive. Remember that all demonstration starts with a clear idea. Our idea is to own a building that is self-contained, no further than 10 miles from our present location,, that would hold our fellowship, our social time, our children and our classes. We want a beautiful, safe outside space that reflects a respect for and love of nature. We would like  a sanctuary in which every seat feels like it is a special seat, all people can see the speakers and singers with ease. The acoustics are great. It will would easily seat 150 people. The whole building will  be imbued by a feeling of reverence, it can easily hold the weight of the divine. We need room for our piano, our band, and our choir in addition to needing a room in which it is easy for the speaker to connect with all people in the audience.

If you haven't started yet, please add the Center to your prayer list. See us completing this sale with grace, finding the right building for our new spiritual home, in the right location, and purchasing a new building with the proceeds from the sale. And most importantly see us thriving in our new home, connected with each other and growing spiritually.

Consciously Planting Your Spiritual Seeds

Many New Thought teachers have used the metaphor of a garden for the creative process. Sometimes, the preparation for the planting is omitted in the process.  When we omit preparing the soil, we will end up with a garden that is sparse and looks neglected. For we find that we rarely stumble across soil that is tilled, fertilized and weed-free. We often find in our garden plot: stones, clumps of dirt, and unlimited weeds.

The same is true for metaphysical planting. We are always experiencing the sum total of our consciousness, known and unknown. This is one of the reasons for being in the habit of keeping a personal journal. It will help you discover what are your deep thoughts, known and unknown, and beliefs. It will show you where you are repeating the same experiences for years despite the conscious, stated intention to have a new experience.

Socrates lived by the words: "An unexamined life is not worth living."

Someone quipped: "An unlived life is not worth examining!" 

The second statement brings some humor but it is equally false. An unlived life is the result of thinking the same monotonous, false beliefs as ever.  

Thee beliefs include: "There is never enough to go around." or "There is never enough for me." Or the terrible too's can set in, "I am too old...too fat...too short...too tall...too uneducated...too over-educated." or "Why did I lose that position? or husband? or friend?"

When we discover that we have been abusing ourselves with these false beliefs, we must begin at once to reverse our thinking. (This is akin to pulling up weeds.) It helps me to remind myself that I am made in the image of Divine Mind, Infinite Presence. Then I simply ask myself if what I have been declaring could be the case for God. Could it be true that God is too old? Could Divine Mind be too poorly educated? Could First Cause be limited by any negativity?

Clearly the answer is, " No, It could not."

Then what? Get some vital seeds and plant them. You will know the seed's vitality by your confidence that what you are planting you shall surely harvest.  Having a vision of your manifest good, is helpful.

Years ago I saw my eventual ministry in a visioning. I saw myself in a place with palm trees by the ocean. At the time I lived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. There is not a single palm tree and the ocean with palm trees is 1450 miles distant.  Now I live by the ocean and there are palm trees everywhere.

I offer the following Affirmative prayer for each one to expand his or her consciousness:

Divine Mind is all-knowing, everywhere present, Infinite Peace and Infinite Love. Its Nature is Love and It operates through Its own impeccable Law. Knowing that this One is everywhere present, i know It is right where I am. it is in me, for me and as me now.  I know that Divine Love opens my heart to all people. I see Grace, Beauty, Joy and Light in all others. I see myself as a peace-maker and peace keeper. I let go of my ego and undefended go about the business of seeing Good everywhere. I joyously accept this as the Truth. With gratitude, aware that my word has already been acted upon, I place this word in God's perfect law. It is complete. And so it is.

Palm Trees Everywhere

Practically Perfect in Every Way

The most famous pronouncement of "Practically Perfect in every Way," come from the classic musical Mary Poppins. 

As you might remember, Mary poppins, a Nanny of extraordinary abilities applies for and receives the job of Nanny for the Banls' children.

This is the advertisement to which she responded:

Mary Poppins meets the children and below you will see what she said about measuring up.

It is a charming movie.  And spiritually we can learn a great deal from Mary Poppins.

She had a positive attitude! She was cheerful, confident, pretty and had a great knack of entertaining children. No matter what was going on, she knew there was a positive solution.

What would happen if we thought of ourselves as practically perfect in every way? Not our future selves, but rather the ones we are right now! We could think of ourselves as having some practical magic! When we understand that our deeply held beliefs become our experience, we are realize that we are practically magicians, consciously creating the lives that we do want.

Of course, the Creative Spirit left us alone to discover for ourselves our innate perfection. Having discovered it, we are also free to use it intelligently or to use that mighty moving Power in unintelligent ways. Today choose good thoughts to be passionate about. Start proving that you know the secret and practice the magic.