by Rev. Crystal Muldrow
“Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens
As I write this on a cold rainy Sunday, I hunger for spring. We are in that ‘in between time’. As April starts, we find in New York that the weather can trick us. We will have beautiful spring-like days; then in a blink of an eye—it’s cold and the ground is covered with a dust of snow. Like the weather in this region, we humans ebb in and out of the smooth flow of our spiritual evolution.
“I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter’s tough, but spring’s coming. I believe that there’s a growing season. And I think that you realize that in life, you grow. You get better.”
-Steve Southerland
It is human nature to have the need for completion so newness can emerge. As we begin this dance of new beginnings, we feel an urgency to release the heaviness and grey of the winter months of our souls. With a new zeal, we pull the drapes back, and open the windows to delight in the exuberant warmth of spring and to release the heavy energies of our past seasons. We spring clean.
The structure you call your home is not the only structure that requires a thorough cleaning from all that is offensive; your temple requires it as well. The temple I refer to is your consciousness—the knowledge or realization of any idea, object or condition—which then creates your body temple. What needs to be released? What is not bearing edible fruit in your life? How are you misusing the temple?
In Unity Fillmorian terms, the Lenten season is the spring cleaning of our souls. It is the opportunity to release the cold, grey, lackluster, foment time of the winter of our beings. It is the time to release all of the stagnant fear-based feelings and thinking. Using the symbolism of the cross, we literally cross out the erroneous thing from our body temple.
We have to do our spiritual spring-cleaning by allowing the nature of God to come through us instead of fear, lack and limitation. We will wither away if we don’t. If you are in a place where you have withered, turn to God. You will experience the resurrection again. There are many areas of our lives that can be dead in the moment. They can come back to life again because God is a God of new life.
The practices we use for spring cleaning our soul denials and affirmative prayer. In unity, denial means that a perceived negative situation has no power over you. You are stronger and well equipped, through God, to overcome all challenges. When you pray, believe. Have your willingness allow God’s willingness to come through.
Jesus on prayer: “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:24, 25
The spring-like joys of life come by being willing to allow God to work in your life. Rely completely upon God’s guidance. Concentrate on God and God’s power. Free yourself of the lack thoughts that bind you by letting go and allowing God to show you the way.
Lent is here to release the stagnation of winter. This prepares you for the resurrection of spring in you. This new life beckons you to realize the Truth of who you are. You are the child of God.
I invite you to use this song by Frank B. Whitney as your affirmative prayer.
I Behold The Christ In You.
I behold the Christ in you,
Here the life of God I see;
I can see a great peace, too,
I can see you whole and free.
I behold the Christ in you,
I can see this as you walk;
I see this in all you do,
I can see this as you talk.
I behold God’s love expressed,
I can see you filled with power;
I can see you ever blessed,
See Christ in you hour by hour.
I behold the Christ in you,
I can see that perfect One;
Led by God in all you do,
I can see God’s work is done.