Church Redefined

I was talking with my friend Rapture regaling him with my escapades here in the Chi. I mentioned that I went to church and he almost choked. Yes its been a loooooooong time since I went to church, and if you've been hanging out with me you know why. So why after almost 6 years have I not only been at church for the past three weeks, but actually looking forward to it?

Simple I found a place that makes sense to me. I heard about Unity a couple of years ago, but I wasn't quite ready to take on anything having to do with Christianity. I thought it was all corrupt and would take me back to that place of conflicted feelings, confusion, guilt, and dread. It took me a long time to get back on good terms with God and I didn't want to chance becoming separated again.

So when my Aunt gave me this book "A Return to Love" by Marianne Williamson, I had no idea it would lead to this. The book was great, very inspirational, but it didn't lead me to church. It did help me see that there could another way though.

So fast forward about 3 years. I was preparing for this move to Chicago, and full of fear and anxiety. I had negotiated the sale of my dance studio and was preparing to move out of my loft. The thing is ,I didn't have a job lined up in Chicago, or any guarantees that this whole thing would work out at all. I was in the middle of packing up my loft and this particular Sunday morning I woke up at 9am (early for me on a Sunday) with an overwhelming need to go to Renaissance Unity. I didn't know where it was, what time service started, but I was compelled.

I hopped online and found it. I really tried to resist, but I couldn't. I tried to go back to sleep, I couldn't. I finally gave in, got dressed and went on my way. I got there too late for the service, but the welcome I received was heart warming. I received a complimentary CD of the service as well as overview of what Unity is all about.

The core principles of Unity are as follows:

1. There is only one Presence and one Power active as the universe and as my life, God the Good.
2. Our essence is of God; therefore, we are inherently good. This God essence, called the Christ, was fully expressed in Jesus.
3. We are co-creators with God, creating reality through thoughts held in mind.
4. Through prayer and meditation, we align our heart-mind with God. Denials and affirmations are tools we use.
5. Through thoughts, words and actions, we live the Truth we know.

I am still in my evaluation phase, but I will say this. When I walked into the bookstore at Renaissance I was blown away. It looked just like my personal library of personal growth and spiritual enlightenment texts. There books on meditation, yoga, healthy eating, natural healing, and so much more. There was such diversity in the congregation I couldn't believe it. Then as I walked out of the sanctuary, I ran into my Aunt and cousins. To top it off, it was the day of the church picnic and I came in 3rd place in the Hula Hoop contest!

I had such a good feeling when I left there I couldn't believe. I just left a church and felt nothing but love, openness, and positivity. I did a little research into Unity and found it to be interesting and worth more investigation. I promised myself to look into it more when I got to Chicago.

So I did and I have been to Unity in Chicago each Sunday for the last 3-weeks. The people have been welcoming and I look forward to the next time I can go. There are workshops on prosperity, finding your life's purpose, achieving your heart's desire and more! If its been a while since you've been in a place of worship, or you have a desire to be part of a spiritual community that is not about judgment, I urge you to check out a Unity Church in your area. You don't have to leave your current belief system, b/c every path to God is embraced. If your soul is yearning to connect with other spiritual people, or you just want to hear a positive message that is empowering and uplifting I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity. I am happy that I followed the direction of the Spirit that Sunday and look forward to what is next on my journey to peach and enlightenment!

Single Saved & Having Sex

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Great Item for discussion, here are my thoughts

Hmm, I might get put on blast for this one, but I don't buy it. I spent most of my life "saved," and it just wasn't worth it. I was unsatisfied, miserable, and confused. Don't get me wrong, I see how someone who spent most of her life running the streets acting a fool can try and back it up, but there is no sense in going to the other extreme b/c you feel guilty about your past.

I was born and raised in a christian household and am one of the few people who really tried to follow all the church doctrines to the hilt. When most people were being "adolescents" and living crazy I was praying and being 'christ-like." While my college roommate had more than her share of gentlemen callers, I remained true to my convictions.

However as I matured in my walk with God I learned, that there is a happy medium and I have found it. I have moved past the evangelical, fanatical phase and found a peaceful place where I have a positive relationship with myself, god, and the rest of the world.

As a single woman who respects her temple, I know that God wants us to be sexual, but safe too. Who we chose to connect with should be done with great discernment and reflection. In the meantime, self-gratification is a safe way to release sexual tension without bonding with those not meant for us. In addition, we need to work on positive ways to get our intimate needs met, such as loving touch (non-sexual) and real frienships b/c you can't wait around for a "relationship." People "back-slide" b/c the outdated rituals and rule books of most churches and religions do not address the very human need to be loved, feel desired, and feel connected with other humans.

Sorry, eventhough Ty Adams is in my home town, I can't get with what I read here.