by Rev. Crystal Muldrow
Welcome to the new year. You’ve participated in the burning bowl ceremony and placed last year’s negativity in the fire. You’ve attended the White Stone ceremony and have your new name that you’re meditating about every day. What now? How do you proceed?
Keep going! Keep moving! Don’t stop what you have started.
Adjust what needs to be adjusted. Evolve your practice. Think of this as a Journey of Spiritual Discovery. Actually, your life has been and will continue to be an ever-evolving journey of spiritual discovery. Each life endeavor is a stepping stone for you to create a life with greater meaning; a life that you are passionate about living. Howard Truman states, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Isn’t this why we attend church? We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Many people affiliated with Unity love to quote Charles Fillmore’s affirmation, “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and spring forth with a mighty faith to do the things that ought to be done by me” It’s time that we stop just affirming this. We must, as the fifth principle of the five principles states, “live it.” Allow yourself purge, purify, and go deeper in this year’s journey so that you can find your passion and live it!
Don Miguel Ruiz’s book “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom,” gives you wonderful tools to keep moving. These four agreements are simple, yet may not be easy to integrate into your life initially. Delving into the Four Agreements: Be impeccable with your word, Don’t take anything personally, Don’t make assumptions and Always do your best is a great tool for your spiritual journey. The simple concepts of the 4 agreements provide an inspirational code for life; that aides you to live a more authentic, free and joy- filled life.
Just as you are being invited to go on a spiritual journey, the ministry itself will be going on its own journey of discovery. Now that I’ve been here a full year, and have a good feel for how this ministry operates. I’ve been asked, “What is next for Unity Church in Albany? How are we going to expand? Do we want to do things differently? How do we want to show up and be seen in the Capital region?” The answers to these questions are not for me, Rev. Crystal, to answer. They are for this community to answer and create. Before I was hired as your minister, Unity Church in Albany started a process stated what you wanted this community to be. We will look at that information and see what still rings true for us, what needs to be adjusted and what needs to be added.
How we will proceed is evolving now. It will take more than a year. Just like our personal journeys, the ministry is ever evolving. This is a great time to consciously co-create how this ministry will grow. I will leave you with these words from Don Miguel Ruiz, “God is life. God is life in action. The best way to say, “I love you, God,” is to live your life doing your best. The best way to say, “Thank you, God,” is by letting go of the past and living in the present moment, right here and now. Whatever life takes away from you, let it go. When you surrender and let go of the past, you allow yourself to be fully alive in the moment. Letting go of the past means you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now.”