Years ago, before SOM, I worked in a newspaper office. There was one person with whom I didn't see eye-to-eye. Thinking that I was doing the right thing, I kept my thoughts to myself and kept mulling them over in my mind until they grew to gigantic proportions. One day things came to a head and I exploded, shocking her... and myself! It taught me a lesson, because we know there is one in every situation. That lesson was to keep current with my feelings. So this is what I am currently feeling.

I've been thinking about our church financial situation. It seems that we got by barely by the skin of our teeth. We have been paying our bills and keeping up, but just. It is not a comfortable situation and it is not comfortable having a few people basically be our total source of income. People and life situations come and go. It is hard not to focus on worldly, earthly things when we live here on planet earth and daily deal with earthly challenges. Our church is not only our spiritual home and source of spiritual growth and support and solace, it is also a business. Businesses have bills to pay and obligations to keep just as everyone else has. I know God is our source. I know that we are always provided for. I know that what we give comes back to us multiplied, pressed down and running over. I'm not sure how many other people know or believe this. I see this in my personal life but I do not see it here our church. It's easy to think "Well, the church would be here even if I weren't and even if I only give a dollar a week... Other people give." That is not true. It takes everyone together to grow a church and to keep it viable, vital, alive and expanding. Look around at our congregation on Sunday and see how much we could take in if everyone felt like this. It is said that 20 per cent of the congregation gives 80 percent of the money. We are fortunate to have that 20 per cent who tithe regularly, no matter what. They bless our lives and our church center and their lives well. It needs to be 80 or 100 per cent. If that is overwhelming for you, start where you are comfortable and work up to it. I promise you, your life will be transformed.

There has been a shift n consciousness here in our Center. There's a new enthusiasm you can feel. Instead of doing church on Sunday and then forgetting about it until the next Sunday or the next, perhaps taking it for granted because it is always here, there's an eager, motivated, growing group, who are giving their time, talent, energy and love to beautify, enhance and support our spiritual home making it a place we're all proud of and that they feel part of (i.e. the plantings out in front and all the work it took to prepare for them.). They "own-it" because they're committed to being a part of something bigger. In so doing their lives and ours are enhanced immeasurably. This is the way it works. If you don't already know this, sign up for class this fall and find out what you are missing.

Science of Mind teaches that there is no time in the mind of God. That's true, however... there is time here on earth. So, "no time in the mind of God" doesn't mean it's okay not to keep commitments or promises because you are always in your right place. You are, however your right place is where you said you would be and that you may have to move your "bod" to get there... on time, in time, all the time! Responsibility means the ability to respond. It's our responsibility to get ourselves to where we said we would be, and do what we said we would do, according to our "word". You are your word.

When I lived in California we had three liquidambar trees planted in our yard. When my husband put them in he measured so they would be exactly the same distance from each other, so they would look perfect. What happened when they grew is that each one was different and unique. There was a biggest, a medium, and a "runt of the litter". They each leafed out at a different time, dropped their leaves at different times and each one was colored differently, in spite of my husband's intention to have them be exactly alike.

Like the liquidambars, each one of us has an original seed idea implanted within us. You could call it God's idea of who we are or perhaps it's an original imprint on our heart of who and how we will be. It's the God within us. If we listen and pay attention, it will guide us and direct us along a path that only grows bigger and brighter, and more beautiful and awe-inspiring the further we go. It will give us confidence, clarity, vision, earthly and spiritual wisdom. It will show us that God does provide for us, that we don't have to be afraid to share generously because God really is our source. We can choose act from fear of form faith. We can choose to stand still or grow. Life is always about choice.

Introspectively;
Rev. Doris