Dear Church Family,
One morning last week I woke up at 2 AM. Initially I blamed the dog for changing positions, but once awake my mind panicked. I thought of a congregant who hadn't been to church for a few months and when I reached out to them, I was informed they had a personal need to spend more time with their family. While their reason appeared valid, I sensed their was a deeper issue at hand and they were being polite. My panicked reaction was one I have had in the past, as I thought, "What was my role in their decision not to attend church?" I have spent my life asking the question, "What is my role in...?" I tend to feel "responsible" for the groups or activities that I am associated with. That morning I grieved over the appearance that we lost that person to our church family.
Church communities are families, whether the congregant is a member or not, attends regularly or not, volunteers or not, gives or not...you are considered family. Your well being, spiritual growth, and life's turning points are important to us. And when one of us leaves for any reason; physically moves away, or decide to move their journey onward in a different direction - we continue to love you and care your well being, spiritual growth, and life's turning points.
The Unity movement attracts spiritual seekers; some of the seekers land in Unity, make it their home by committing and staying for life. Others find that Unity fills a need and once the need is completed, they move on. Sometimes the seeker outgrows the church or visa versa. Frankly there are many avenues a spiritual seeker can choose from to find rich nurturance and sustanous. I am grateful for the plentitude of options that spiritual feed me. But I still desire to be a part of a spiritual community, that's why I am here.
Our church family may not be as honest as our blood families. At church we hold our criticism at bay. One reason may be is Unity's Third Principle which basically states that the thoughts and feelings we hold in mind and heart become manifest. Essentially we teach that we create our reality, our world, our heaven and our challenges. Yet, our humanness wants to blame others for the changes and separation we experience, doesn't it?
I have let go of the grief and sense of responsibility in that congregant's decision not to attend. I still miss seeing them and being a part of their life. I know that he or she is surrounded by loving people and hold their life and spirit as precious and dear to me. I hold, too, that Divine Order is unfolding in each of our lives and wherever that takes us I can continue to love you near or far, here and there, and I can be grateful for this one moment in time we traveled this journey together.
Many blessings,
Pastor Robert