Rev. Carol Brown, NST, Memorial Spiritualist Church, Norfolk, VA
Thanksgiving – A time for giving thanks.
Christmas, Hanukkah and other religious and secular holidays – A time for sharing.
New Year’s Day – A time for new beginnings.
Thanksgiving. This holiday reminds us to be ever mindful of our blessings and to always give thanks for our lives, our friends, our blessings and our bounty. To give thanks for the choices we’ve made and the lessons learned that have made us who we are. To be thankful for the ability to give to others in so many ways: a kind word or a smile, giving a thanksgiving basket to a family in need, making a donation to the food bank or opening our home on Thanksgiving day to those without a family. To give thanks for our knowledge of continuous life and communication with spirit. And to give special thanks that Infinite Intelligence and spirit are so willing to bring truth, understanding and direction to each of us when we are willing to ask and then to listen for their guidance.
By giving thanks we are expressing our gratitude for what we have in our life.
By giving thanks we are expressing our belief that those things for which we are giving thanks will continue to manifest in our lives. Giving thanks is a knowing – an affirmation – a declaration. Giving thanks is a way of sending that thought, that desire, out to the universe where the Law of Attraction will continue to bring those wonderful things to us.
Religious and Secular Holidays. Peace on Earth. As we pray for and visualize peace-on-earth, we remember that “peace-on-earth begins with me” and this understanding helps us to bring peace and serenity into our lives.
Good will toward men. When we see people allowing others to merge into traffic, smiling and being courteous to others, expressing a kind word or giving a helping hand, we realize they are practicing the Golden Rule and treating others as true brothers and sisters.
A Celebration of Light. The Hanukkah lights and the lights we see on Christmas trees remind us to look for the light of Infinite Intelligence in others and to allow our own light to shine brightly.
By giving and sharing our time and energy for a good cause, such as giving canned goods to the food bank, money to various charities and holiday funds, toys to the Marine Corps toys-for-tots program, clothing and gifts to the child whose name is on the angel tree or by visiting someone in a nursing home or veteran’s hospital, the month of December gives us the opportunity to put into motion the Laws of Attraction, Compensation and Cause and Effect.
New Year’s Day. The opportunity to begin anew, to make choices that will benefit us and others. What better time than New Year’s Day to remember our seventh principle: “We affirm that the doorway to reformation is never closed against any soul, here or hereafter.”
Traditionally New Year’s Day is the day we begin trying to live in accordance with our New Year’s resolutions – to break old habits and replace them with something that will enhance and better our daily lives.
If we really want to enhance and better our daily lives, maybe this year our resolution should be that, to the best of our ability, we will live our lives in accordance with our NSAC Declaration of Principles and the Laws of Infinite Intelligence.
Tis The Season To Be Thankful, To Practice The Golden Rule and To Re-Form Our Thoughts, Words and Deeds.This is the time of year when we are most likely to share with others – not only our material possessions, but also ourselves.
We must remember that we can only share with others what we already have. If we want to share, to teach, to be an example, we must possess those things we are talking about. We must try our best to walk-the-walk and not just talk-the-talk.
We must remember we can only share with others what we already have. If we want to share material things we must have the ability to obtain those things before we can give to others. It is not the amount one gives, but the intent. The willingness to give with no thought of return.
We can be thankful that the science, philosophy and religion of Spiritualism can change one’s life if one so chooses.
We are thankful that Spiritualism teaches:
Personal Responsibility – we are responsible for every thought we think every word we speak, and every thing we do.
We Are Spiritual Beings Now – even while in the physical body. We are not a physical being that has a soul, but we are a soul that has a physical body.
We Need Not Fear Death – for so-called death is only a change of form. The soul continues to exist when the body is no longer useful. We are spirit now encased in a physical body and we will continue to exist as spirit throughout eternity.
Those Who Have Passed to the Spirit Side of Life Are Conscious – not asleep – and that Communication Between the Living and the “Dead” is a Fact, proven by the phenomena of Spiritualism. This, of course, brings comfort to the bereaved and alleviates sorrow.
As We Sow on Earth, We Will Reap in This Physical Life and in the Life to Come. Our life and circumstances in the spirit world will depend upon our progress and actions while in this physical world. We are responsible for our future whether in the physical or spiritual plane of existence.
Natural Law Instead of Miracles – Natural Law Instead of a Rewarding or Punishing God. God is not made in the image of man. God is not a human form sitting on a throne dispensing rewards or punishments. God is an Infinite Intelligence that has created Natural Laws that cannot be set aside by anyone (not even Infinite Intelligence). So-called miracles are Natural Law in action that humankind just does not understand at this point in time
The Spark of Divinity Dwells in All – as stated in the first two principals of the NSAC Declaration of Principles and the Interpretation of the first Principle:
Declaration of Principles 1 and 2:
- We believe in Infinite Intelligence.
- We believe that the phenomena of nature, both physical and spiritual are the expression of Infinite Intelligence.
We believe in a supreme Impersonal Power, everywhere present, manifesting as life, through all forms of organized matter, called by some, God, by others, Spirit, and by Spiritualists, Infinite Intelligence.
Tis the Season. The season of Holidays to be celebrated – and special times to be spent with family and friends.
At this time of year we are reminded that two of the most important things in our lives are people and choices.
Every moment, every hour, every day we choose how to interact with others. We decide how to react to others.
We can choose to make our own happiness or unhappiness by the choices we make.
As Spiritualists we can choose to learn and understand the science, philosophy and religion of Spiritualism, to manifest it in our lives and to share it with others.
And most importantly – we can choose to ask Infinite Intelligence and spirit to help us recognize in everyday events the spiritual truths we need in order to learn and progress.
Tis the Season To be Reminded. Thanksgiving reminds us to give thanks each day – knowing our needs will be met.
December’s religious and secular holidays remind us to share, to contribute to world peace by our own thoughts and actions, to recognize natural law in action when we hear of the so-called miracles celebrated during the holiday season and, most of all, to practice the Golden Rule.
New Year’s Day reminds us that each day, each hour, each moment, is an opportunity for new beginnings and that we have the gift of re-forming our thoughts, words and actions at any time, here or hereafter.
May this holiday season bring each of us the opportunity to recognize the spiritual truths surrounding us each and every day of our lives.