Minister' Letter

Delve Deeper into May of O’Twelve

An Unexpected Blessing

Hello my friends,

In April Yvonne and I were invited to attend a Marianne Williamson Workshop in Tulsa by Debbie Mahoney who has been teaching a series of classes on the new book, A Course in Weight Loss.  To encourage teaching classes on her book, Marianne Williamson has been inviting groups that have been studying the book to attend a special session with her when she is speaking in the area.

When we arrived in Tulsa, we expected there to be lots of cars and people waiting to get into the Marianne Williamson Session, but it was business as usual and lots of open parking space. We walked into the hotel, expecting to find long lines of people waiting to get into the workshop, but there were none.  We looked up the workshop on the conference room schedule and found one listing that fit the workshop profile – Unity Church A Course in Weight Loss.  We walked up to the second floor and through the maze of large empty conference rooms and finally found our room, a suite that could hold at the most 20 people.  There stood Debbie Mahoney with a big anticipation-filled smile. I asked, “Is this where we are supposed to be? I expected a much bigger room and a lot more people.”  Debbie simply replied, “Yes, your in the right place.” Apparently Debbie’s group, who was meeting at our Unity Life Center was the only group in Oklahoma studying this insightful book, that is about much more than weight loss.  

When our group had assembled, we centered in prayer, and Debbie reveiwed the agenda for the morning.  At the appointed hour Marianne walked into the room with a big friendly smile and said, “Hi everyone, I am really glad to be here today!” Then Marianne began our hour and half conversation on A Course in Weight Loss by having everyone introduce themselves! This session with one of the most recognized authors of our time was what I would describe as up close and personal. Marianne made eye contact with each person in the room, spoke from her heart’s wisdom, and listened deeply to each person’s comments.  It appeared Marianne had come to listen and receive comments about how the individuals who were reading the book were experiencing it and relating to it.  Everyone in the room felt connected.

When conversation moved into areas about how individuals were applying the text, she gently yet firmly called them to take the concepts deeper, to look at the techniques they were using and make adjustments. She pointed out that the mask the ego has prompted us to wear creates many illusions and we have to look beyond appearance to see the truth, beyond whatever our addiction might be prompting us to do and connect with Spirit’s presence and guidance.  This morning we shared with Marianne Williamson and twenty others was an unexpected blessing; it was fun, engaging, thought-provoking and heart-felt.  Thank You Debbie for the invitation! And Thank You Marianne for the wonder that you are!

If you would like information about the next class, please ask me.   Namaste, Rev. Patrick