October 4, 2020 – Just Like Me = • Semana 1: Igual que yo

Centers for Spiritual Living provides content for our Centers and Study groups worldwide In the form of suggested monthly themes. This month’s content is brought to us by our Virtual Ministries and Focus Ministries and the topic is Cosmic Connections.

Rev Donna N. Smith, and Rev. Ann Thacker propose this idea:

“Knowing that we are each a reflection of the Infinite Self, we can move towards an understanding that everyone around us reflects ourselves. And just like me, everyone is doing the best they can, with what they have, in the time that they have. When we can find compassion for ourselves in doing the best that we can, we are able to transfer our compassion to those around us.”

What a beautiful and challenging idea for these times. Can I make more generous assumptions about other people. Can I make those generous assumptions based on the idea that we are connected on a cosmic level? Can I stay in true to that idea that we – spiritually speaking – share the same heritage?

To see the video in English or Spanish, click on the link below.

• October 4, 2020 – Just Like Me
• Semana 1: Igual que yo

Spiritual Guide to Voting from Centers for Spiritual Living

Centers for Spiritual Living Guide to Voting
Prepared by the Spiritually Motivated Social Engagement Committee 

The world is perhaps at the point of the greatest crisis in all human history, and there seem to be two attitudes we can assume. One is calmness, faith, and conviction; the other would be despair. And despair is unthinkable. Let each, in [their] own way, dedicate [their] time, service, hope, and spiritual conviction to the common cause of liberty and justice for all. And let's work without tiring and pray without ceasing.

Dr. Ernest Holmes The Essential Ernest Holmes, p. 179 

PREAMBLE 

The Spiritually Motivated Social Engagement Committee of Centers for Spiritual Living offers this voting guide for the first time as support for voters from our spiritual communities in applying our vision and values when making electoral choices. Centers for Spiritual Living, a nonprofit religious organization headquartered in the United States, does not endorse any candidates for public office. Instead, we encourage our spiritual community to apply Science of Mind teaching, vision, and values in making choices. 

We do encourage everyone eligible to vote to register and to vote prayerfully, considering each candidate, ballot initiative, and policy in the light of our vision and values when selecting those who will serve in public office. Although references throughout this guide are made to nonprofit regulations and voting resources in the United States, the spiritual guide to voting may be applied to voting worldwide by adjusting content and nonprofit regulations to local laws and resources.


Click the link below to download the Spiritual Guide to Voting from Centers for Spiritual Living

https://cslsr.org/csl-guide-to-voting/

For more information about Centers for Spiritual Living, click here: https://csl.org/en/

Just Do it

When faith inspires, we are called into action of some sort. It could be prayer, pastoral care, service to the community, or other creative action. The point is, when we block, hinder, and are outside of the flow of faith, we stagnate rather than flourish and thrive. Faith without works is dead. Faith with works of love, service, and Truth, therefore, is life!

And, we may not always know clearly what to do exactly…

And, what actions we commit to may not always work out perfectly

And, we may feel conflicted and self doubting when we do act

And, still, we must act.

Global Vision Videos - September week 4 from Centers for Spiritual Living on Vimeo.

Do You Have Faith?

 

It’s all about getting clear with yourself about what faith means.

Here are some ideas that might help.

First, faith is not the same as bargaining, begging, manipulating or pleading. It is a calm assurance that all is well, even when we are experiencing distressing events.

Faith is not the same as superstition – it doesn’t require ceremonies, or rituals. It’s deepened, rather, by confidence in the nature of the Divine. Trust, in what is.

Faith is not static, it takes practice having calm assurance, especially during times when things are going well, so that when they are not, we’ve built a faith fitness. Can I respond to the world with love and compassion in good times and in stressful times? Can I go with the flow trustingly when things are good and when things are not so good?

Global Vision Videos - September week 3 from Centers for Spiritual Living on Vimeo.

Faith: Skepticism, Doubt, and Fear

 

My grandmother had faith that all things work out in time. I realize now that it took great strength for her to proclaim that faith - when life disproved it frequently. She would, nevertheless, resolutely declare that she expected good to come about, and then she would wait for things to work out as expected. I doubted sincerely that she was right, and yet…..she was.

Global Vision Videos - September Week Two (1) from Centers for Spiritual Living on Vimeo.