12/28/08 Say What You Mean

December 28, 2008

I saw a an interview on television with a lady from Tennessee
who was in the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India. She was asked
if she considered herself a victim. She said, “Oh no, by seeing
the good in a situation, we can choose to be a victor, rather than
a victim; and it’s the words we use that make a difference.”

Does it make any difference what words we use?

The short answer is “yes”. Let’s think about
the words we use. We’ll look at some examples, including songs
and readings we use in church. I’ll explain why we’ve
changed the words in the Prayer of Protection. And I’ll even
give you a chance to try your hand at recognizing some changes that
might need to be considered.

We have to begin with the recognition that our language is inadequate
to describe God. That in itself makes it necessary to be tolerant,
but also to question, clarify, and constantly update.

“Words themselves are not the power but carry the power
of the thoughts they represent. Words express a thought already
held in mind. Therefore, in addition to changing our words to effect
transformation in our lives, we must also change the thoughts which
have inspired the words. The most powerful of all spoken words are
affirmations of Truth.” Metaphysics I

Notice that while the words are not the power themselves, transformation
includes changing both our thoughts and our words. Charles Fillmore
speaks of the power of negative words in Talks On Truth.
“To hold negation in the mind is to stamp negation on the
body.”

And in The Revealing Word, he defines “words”
as “the vehicles through which ideas make themselves manifest.
Words that have in them the realization of perfect, everywhere-present,
always-present divine life, and our oneness with this life, are
dominant in the restoration of life and health.”

Words are a form of communication like pictures or symbols. And
we all visualize and understand pictures and symbols differently.
What I draw as a tree, may remind you of an ice cream cone. When
I say the word “son”, you may be thinking of the “sun”.

The language of circumpolar peoples is rich in words for snow,
most of which are not translatable. We may see a white mass, while
a Native Alaskan sees many types, textures and weather indications.

Tom Shepherd, Unity Institute faculty member says in his book,
Glimpses of Truth that everything we say about God, all religious
writings are symbolic. “Unfortunately,” he writes, “no
religious idea works forever. Even long lasting ones need continual
tune-ups lest they slip into pious superstitions that no longer
speak to real human needs in the language of today.”

Even Charles Fillmore once said, “I reserve the right to
change my mind”

Here are some songs we just sang during Christmas for you to consider
the words in light of our Unity teachings:

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;

Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

“citizens of heaven above”? We don’t think of
heaven as above the earth.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters
in.

“world of sin” – at least needs interpretation,
before I’d be comfortable

“Christ enters in” – no the Christ is you, not
something or someone that comes in

from outside you.

Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight,

Glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing alleluia

Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born!

“heaven afar” – there it is again

“Christ the Savior is born” – well, perhaps born
in you in the sense of recognizing

and realizing who you really are, but not born in a stable in
Bethlehem;

that was Jesus, the man, who grew to recognize and realize who
he

was and showed us how to do the same

Prayer of Protection

The light of God, the love of God, the power of God, the presence
of God

That little word “of” is big. Light, love, power and
presence aren’t qualities of

God that can are bestowed upon us. God is light, love, power and
omnipresence suggests that it is everywhere. We may experience God
in our consciousness as surrounding or enfolding us, but we must
be careful not to express separateness or duality. “There
is one presence and one power, God, the Good, omnipotent.”

Words express our thoughts. It is important to listen to our words
and consider what is behind them. Words also perpetuate and affirm
(make firm) our thoughts. Part of my role as spiritual leader is
to nudge, urge, pull, challenge us to examine our thinking and be
clear in our speech.

Does it make any difference what words we use? We are co-creators
with God. Creation occurs through Divine Order – mind, idea,
manifestation (expression)

In the first chapter of John we read, “The Word became flesh
and dwelt among us.” Metaphysics I reminds us, “The
Word, or Logos, is a mystical concept, a metaphor, which refers
to God as creative principle. Each of us has the ability to express
this creative principle through our spoken word. The more aware
we are of its source and nature, the more powerful our word will
be.”

“All ideas have their origin in Divine Mind, but their character
as unfolded by each person depends entirely upon his or her acquaintance
with God.” Charles Fillmore, Atom-Smashing Power of Mind

We need not get so focused on using the right words that, we hesitate
to speak. But, it is important what words we use. We are expressing
God. We are creating the world. We want to be sure we are saying
what is true, not expressing error.