John Pavlovitz: Building Spiritual Community

By Julie Mierau

For those who prefer spiritual leaders stay out of the fray, shy away from political matters and not stray from the church's lane, John Pavlovitz may seem an unlikely spiritual leader. His messages of inclusivity, of acceptance, of the purest form of love create a kind of tension between his “Church of Not Being Horrible” and mainstream religious and political coalitions.

Upon closer examination, Pavlovitz's message centers on the precise message encapsulated in the Centers for Spiritual Living vision “to create a world that works for all.”

The mission of his church is simply, “Don't be horrible to people,” and his doctrine is to treat each person as worthy of love, respect, dignity and joy. A central tenet assures followers that each of us is worthy of opportunities for acceptance and embrace by the whole, simply by being human.

Pavlovitz writes, “The truth is, dear friend, there are far more people in this place working for equality, diversity, love and justice than opposing them — and it isn't even close. There are hundreds of millions of people in this world who, just like you, wake up every day trying to be the kind of person the world needs: lavish with compassion, overflowing with generosity, relentless with love.

“You are, even when you're not aware of it, surrounded on all sides by like-hearted people who are not OK with the suffering and ugliness around them either.”

A pastor, speaker and author, Pavlovitz stands resolute in his message of love, offering no quarter to those who would create separation rather than inclusion, distance rather than closeness, judgment rather than compassion.

“At the end of my time,” he says, “I want to know that while I was here I spent every bit of the unearned currency of my privilege to make room at the table for the excluded and uninvited and unloved; to create spaces of refuge where people experience true belonging, in my presence even if few places else.”

If we can aspire to perpetuate the greatest goodness in the world, as we pursue the elusive, difficult work of building the longer table, “if we accomplish only one thing with our remaining days,” he writes, “let's love one another.”

— Excerpted from the December 2022 Science of Mind magazine, honoring our 2022 Spiritual Hero

A Prayer: Everything Is Holy Now

By Rev. Dr. Guy Williams

I open myself to this time and place made holy by my contemplation. I open my heart, my mind and my very being to be present to that vast and amazing cosmic story which is still being told — a conclusion that is not yet known but continues to reveal itself in all of its creation.

I contemplate this Living Presence, and I view this vast arc of goodness, truth and beauty that my eyes behold. My very being is filled with the wonder and awe of Its glory.

I am aware of that life — of that mind which was in the mind of Jesus the Christ — I am aware that that life is my life and my mind now, and from this place, I speak my word. The word that I speak is peace. The peace that heals, restores and reconciles my life to all life. The peace that diffuses any perception of illusion of separation from myself or anyone or anything. I allow myself to be grounded in the experience of this peace, this beauty, this goodness that avails itself to each of us now.

I am aware that we are all a center of divine consciousness in this vast whole. I know that each of us is family to our home — our mother, the Earth. I know this Presence was there at the beginning of all things. It is the Presence that sustains all things. It is the Presence that makes all things new. It is the Christ consciousness that incarnates in all creation.

This Presence — the Christ consciousness — calls forth in each of us that which is good and noble. It is this Presence that invites each of us to co-create a world that is just, equitable and sustainable of all life — a world that works for all creation.

And so even now, as light gives way to darkness, I know that once again light is born from darkness. And so I am filled with gratefulness for the light that gives us warmth, that guides us and renews us. Naming it good, I call it forth by saying may it be so. And so it is.

—Reprinted from the December 2022 Science of Mind magazine

How to Celebrate Christmas

By Ernest Holmes

I am a great believer that we can teach people science and psychology, we can even teach how the laws of the mind work, we can teach a technique for prayer, but when it comes to that personal thing, that thing that makes real everything in life, it is an inner process. It is an inner realization, and if it were not this way, we would be incomplete.

We must become filled with a realization of the Presence of God in everything and everywhere. Then shall the pure in heart see God, then shall all nature speak to us, then shall people be close and dear to us, and we shall know no stranger and we shall not be lonely.

When faith multiplies our expectancy with hope and conviction, we shall have no fear, and we shall know that even now, today, we really are immortal beings on the pathway of eternal destiny, forevermore to expand.

May all the Power there is be with you, and may the glory of the meaning of Christmas flood your consciousness with a light that is perfect and eternal, now and forevermore.

—Excerpted from the December 2022 Science of Mind magazine

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