There is a greater mind within each one which may be called upon. There is nothing too small or too great for this Mind. Listen! Be receptive! Believe absolutely! Be convinced!

~ Ernest Holmes, Can We Talk to God? p. 66

“Conversations with God” always begin with real listening, for the Great Spirit within wisely lays a strong foundation of Truth, as we approach It with an open heart and mind. Rather than insisting on listening to ourselves jabber on about our perceived troubles, we do well to align ourselves with the Presence of Love and Wisdom, seeing a higher reality than that of the temporary appearance.

It is too easy to become distracted by individual and global problems, overly interested in “what they say” and entering into agreement with some nonsense about the human condition; still, that Center of Serenity and Sanity is always available. Let’s make better choices, as we direct our attention to that which is true, dependable, eternal, and changeless. It takes no more energy to focus on Truth than it does to immerse ourselves in “facts,” so let’s set our intention to listen attentively to the Divine and divest ourselves of any attraction to outward distraction. This Sunday’s topic will be, “Deep Listening.”

Join our Practitioners Sunday from 10:00 to 10:20 A.M. in the Prayer and Meditation Room for a serene beginning before our 10:30 Morning Celebration, and feel free to enjoy additional contemplative time as early as 9:45 A.M. if you wish quiet, personal contemplation.
With great love and appreciation,

– Dr. Maxine

Note: The “Treat Yourself to Life” class will be postponed for several weeks, due to insufficient sign-ups. Stay tuned for the beginning of this life-changing course!

If only you could love enough, you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world.

~ Emmet Fox on “Love”

We conclude our focus on the many aspects of Love this month with, “For the Love of God and Family.” Of course, we know that the name of our own city of Philadelphia means, “brotherly love,” and we often add, “sisterly soul!” The Greek, phileos, refers to this sense of friendship, while storge connotes familial love, and agape is unconditional or divine love. Last week, we focused on eros, or romantic love, we shared sweet valentines with loved ones and each other.

In truth, there is One Presence of Love, and it finds Its way into multiple manifestations in and through all humanity. We have the opportunity to partake of It in every possible way, truly bringing heaven to earth by living from the Self-Givingness of Spirit which is the essence of Divine Love. Each relationship we experience provides a wonderful opportunity to open more completely to Its flow in us and as us.

Rev. Mike and Elyse Riggs and I are bathed in Love here at the CSL Convention in Denver, experiencing our deep bond with the larger, international community of Centers for Spiritual Living. We are all a part of this conscious, caring, intentional organization and expect to bring back to you much inspiration from our week’s immersion in our extended spiritual “tribe.”

As we realize that we are all connected as one family of humanity, loved, inspired, and led by the universal presence of Divine Love, our sense kinship expands exponentially until there is no “other,” only the many facets of the prism of humanity through which the Love-Light reflects beautifully. If we could trace each family tree back to its real roots, we would find we are all branches of the One, interconnected and deeply united with Source and one another.

Each Sunday from 10:00 to 10:20 A.M., our Practitioners host Meditation in the Prayer and Meditation Room, and those who wish quiet, contemplative time prior to our 10:30 Celebration may gain access to the room upstairs as early as 9:45 A.M. Give yourself the gift of this sweet time of quiet contemplation.

With great love and appreciation,

– Dr. Maxine

Love is the self-givingness of Spirit through the desire of Life to express Itself in terms of creation.

~ Ernest Holmes, Science of Mind, p. 608

When we look at the multiple human aspects of love and remember they are all generated by God’s Love, we can relax into deep enjoyment, rather than nervous expectation. Understanding that old ideas about relationships may limit our greater appreciation for truer love to flow, we can begin to release thoughts of even exchange, obligation, or possession. It is when we choose, rather, to give unconditionally of our love and care, not looking to the other for filling our personal needs, that we enter more deeply into the Divine Love that gives of Itself to all humankind.

There exists a deep wellspring of Love within us all, and, once we have ceased seeking it outside of ourselves, It seems magically to fill and fulfill every human relationship and experience. As we mature spiritually . . . and we are all on this evolutionary path . . . we eventually become sweet and powerful conduits, generating loving connections wherever we may be. Let’s be and become this clear, radiant instrument of Life’s longing to express Itself fully and completely.

While Rev. Mike, Elyse, and I attend the Annual Centers for Spiritual Living Convention in Denver next week, our Practitioners will offer Sunday’s Celebration, with Sara Funk offering thoughts on, “Love Is” and the others participating in the many important roles of the morning.

Each Sunday at 9:45 A.M., the Prayer and Meditation Room upstairs opens for those who wish quiet, contemplative time prior to our 10:30 Celebration, and one of our Practitioners leads meditation from 10:00 to 10:20 A.M. Join them to begin your morning in a sweet, sacred way.

With great love and appreciation,

– Dr. Maxine