Issue # 47

U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * L SPIRITUAL LESSONS FOR YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH

remember to close after the horse is stolen. As Rev. Howard Hanger, the Jubilee minister of Asheville, NC, put it recently, “When you walk through one door, things change. They are passages from one world to another; one situation to another; one way of being to another.” Doors are metaphors for both transitions - a change of mind or perhaps a wake-up call, and for surprise - entering into the realm of the unknown and perhaps the unexpected.

One of the more obvious biblical door references is Matthew 6:6 – “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Did Jesus mean literally that we should go into a room and shut the door in order to pray? I doubt it; his words, like most of his lessons, were meant to be taken symbolically. He used the closed door as a metaphor for

Here in Florida it’s not

unusual to wake up each morning to see sunshine streaming in. So our routine is to open the blinds the very first thing and look out into our back yard to admire whatever is blooming. That peak-out gives us a pretty good idea of what the day is going to be like. It sets the mood, which we enhance by offering words of praise and thanks for the blessings we see around us and for the new day that lies ahead.

A few minutes later we open the back door to listen for the bird songs and meet the reality of the day; quite often that reality is a wall of heat and humidity. Our door is actually a metaphor as much as it is a practical element of our home. That’s because doors are transition points from one reality to another. What’s on one side is very often different on the other. Doors allow us to enter not just a new space, but a new experience.

We have so many kinds of doors it’s hard to name them all; front door, back door, screen door, car door, garage door, dog door, office door, swinging door, revolving door and the barn door… that’s the one we

God’s Door is Always Open

Photo by Art Holt Morikami Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach, FL

shutting out our distractions and for getting out of our ego need to be praised for appearing to do something good. He regarded public display of prayer, common in His day, as little more than putting on a show.

Praying in solitude is the only way we can truly enter into the mystical experience of God’s presence in our lives, and having the actual experience of The Divine is the greatest experience of all. When we say ‘the Father and I are one,’ it is that mystical experience of oneness that we seek. Perhaps the next time we come upon a beautifully hand carved door we will see it as the metaphor it represents; this is the door to God’s Presence. No wonder we feel an eagerness to open it and enter its portal.

Do you have any idea how many doors we open, close and pass through in a day’s time? It’s a challenge to calculate, probably more than we can count. Room to room, in and out of the car, stores, office, restaurant, rest-room, and eventually back home again; an endless parade of doors. Each one a change of venue, a shift in consciousness, the possibility of a new experience. This lesson is like going through a door, not knowing what’s inside, but anticipating something worthwhile.

Being introduced to a universal healing prayer practice called Ho’oponopono was like opening an awesome door, first for Dottie and more recently for me. It’s a door that is changing our lives in a wonderful and positive way. We present it here in response to the disastrous mess that affects every single one of us.

We all have messes that face us and when one occurs we really have no choice but to stop and clean it up, that is if we want to move on with our lives. No greater mess has ever been heaped upon more people unexpectedly and uninvited than the BP oil leak gushing continuously into the beautiful warm waters of our Gulf. It is going to take millions of people to help clean it up and all the habitats that are threatened by it.

The physical work and technical complications involved are obvious and must be provided and supported 24-seven, for as long as it takes. And along with the physical we also need to put our prayers to work as well. Here is where shutting the door to distractions and entering a place and a space of mystical oneness may be the most powerful thing many of us are

able to do. A prayer of universal healing is being prayed by an ever growing

number of people who have come to realize its power and effectiveness. It is a simple but sincere prayer that must come from the depths of our hearts; a state of prayer consciousness that is best accomplished in the quiet and calm of un-distraction, in other words by closing the door to the outer world and entering into our inner chamber of peace and quiet, our heart and our feelings.

The prayer is called “Ho’oponopono,” an ancient Hawaiian understanding and practice. For those who are not yet familiar with Ho’oponopono, we need to share the amazing story of Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, who cured a group of criminally insane prisoners at Hawaii State Hospital without ever seeing them personally or counseling them. He did it by working on himself, simply cleaning up that part of himself that he ‘shared’ with them.

Alone in his office Dr. Hew Len poured over the files of each patient using the healing practice of Ho’oponopono. The hospital wing was a wretched place with patients in shackles, staff members afraid for their lives. Absenteeism among the staff was rampant and patients rarely were released or showed healing progress. As he sat quietly in his office with the patient files, things slowly began to change, patients began to show real progress, the staff became content and even expectant about their work. In a matter of time the patients were released and the wing was eventually closed for lack of need.

On the surface this may sound bizarre; having never even met any of them before, what possible connection could Dr. Hew Len have with any one of the patients, much less all of them, that would have such incredible consequences?

Dr. Hew Len explained that we have total responsibility for our lives and that means everything in our lives – simply because it is in our life…the entire world is our personal creation. Everything that exists, does so because we have had a role in its creation. Our consciousness has made it so. If it is negative it is up to us individually to heal it, by healing

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ourselves. The problem isn’t ‘out there’ its right here, within. Change the world? Change yourself! “If you want to improve your life, you have to heal your life. If you want to cure anyone – even a mentally ill criminal – you do it by healing yourself, because you are part of the cause.” A

With regard to the mental patients, Dr. Hew Len prayerfully addressed the Divine Presence as he looked through their files; “What is going on in me that I have caused this problem, and how can I rectify this problem in me?” That was the question he asked, as he opened himself to accept responsibility for each and every patient. He knew that in order to heal others he had to heal that part of himself that was at fault. His process of self healing and therefore the healing of his patients is a simple expression of apology, repentance, love and gratitude.

Apology, repentance, love and gratitude can be applied to any and every situation with great effectiveness…as long as they are felt and expressed from the heart. (For deeper understanding you will want to read Zero Limits, the Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace and More, by Joe Vitale and Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. It can and will change your life.) For our purposes here we will just accept that Ho’oponopono is a Divine gift that works, whatever the situation.

Apology, repentance, love, and gratitude are expressed as follows: 1. Apology: “I’m Sorry.” Recognize that there is a part of me that has

played a role in creating this condition or situation (negative thinking, anger), whether I have any awareness of it or not, and therefore I accept my responsibility and offer my sincere apology. I must accept personal responsibility before any effective work can take place.

2. Repentance: “Please forgive me.” Not only do I offer my apology, I ask forgiveness at the highest level, from the Divine.

3. Love: “I Love You.” Love connects me with everything that is good; love is the Presence of God in a form I can understand and feel. Love is the attracting force of the universe; there is simply nothing greater than love, but it must be expressed with utmost sincerity. But I can’t express a genuine feeling of love until I have cleared the path by

accepting my responsibility and asking for forgiveness.

4. Gratitude: “Thank You.” With genuine love flowing out I reach a state of gratitude. Remember how relieved you have felt when someone meaningful has hugged you and said ‘that’s okay’ when you asked them for their forgiveness? I revive that feeling by expressing my heartfelt thanks.

Put all these together and you have the power of Ho’oponopono, the power to heal the world by healing whatever there is in yourself that has manifested as the need to be healed. Ho’oponopono is the assured faith that God will turn every circumstance and situation to good when you begin to understand and accept that there is a part of you that created it in the first place.

As you read the stories throughout the Bible it becomes clear; when people (individuals to groups) put God first in their lives, life is rewarding; life is good. But when they begin to follow their ego’s lust and leave their relationship and their love for God behind, life gives them tragedy. They are left to cross the burning desert alone. Yet as soon as they realize their mistake and turn their attention back to their Creator, they open the door for God to guide them back to good once again.

The Gulf oil spill is actually a good example of how we all share in the overall responsibility even though it may be hard to grasp at first. Can you admit that you created the oil spill? Not at first. Neither could I. But the more I have thought about it the easier it is to see that I have played a role and you have too.

Do you drive a car? Your demand for gasoline contributes to this situation. Are you an investor in any of the oil companies? Your desire for dividends contributes to the demand for drilling as much as the thousands of people around Louisiana who rely on employment in the oil industry for their livelihood. We all buy products, from computers and televisions to Tupperware containers and plastic tooth brushes that are made from petroleum products, placing more demand on oil. Oil is such an important part of every one of our lives that perhaps we can all say to

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ourselves, “In my own little way I created this mess. I’m sorry, Please forgive me. I love you, Thank you.

What we ‘believe’ creates our reality. How? By virtue of having our beliefs subconsciously direct our actions, responses and thoughts about the world around us. As a result our very world is nothing more or less than a projection of our beliefs. When our thoughts are filled with fear, anger, blame, and/or self pity, then everything in the world we experience will be a reflection of those negative thoughts. The people we interact with – good friends to chance acquaintances – will be reflections as well.

When many people hold similar negative thoughts and beliefs, they create a collective consciousness, attracting more of the same, to the extent that the whole world seems to conspire to fulfill the collective mind set. It is not surprising that we hear many people saying that it “seems” as though the whole world has gone mad. And from that same negative consciousness in some religious quarters we hear that “God” is making us pay for our sins. The Gulf oil spill is not the result of God punishing us for our sins. We create our own ‘punishment’ through our collective consciousness of fear, anger and/or greed.

So how is it that there are individuals, groups and communities and even a few countries that live in a state of peaceful, harmonious, loving, supportive and genuinely happy circumstances at the same time as the rest of the world is ‘going to hell in a hand-basket?’ For the very same reasons! Their beliefs and their collective consciousness have made it so. Their world is simply a mirror image, a projection, of the positive mind-set that they share with one another. They have created a loving reality at the same time the others have created a fearful one…and in the very same way – with their beliefs. When you think about it, the more we let love flow through us, the more we create a world in which we have more to love.

We have seen both sides recently; the positive and loving side and the fearful angry side. A recent conversation with one person dissolved into a monolog of complaining, blame and complete pessimism and there was no way out as far as the speaker was concerned. When we said that we could

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change the picture if we would just come from love, that was dismissed as a totally useless idea. Negative people are not open to positive thoughts, simply because that would mean they might have to change their whole perspective. What they don’t realize is that changing their perspective is the only way to change their reality and the reality of the world around them.

They say that defining a problem is half the solution; but you can’t define it if you won’t admit the problem exists in the first place. People with a dominant negative attitude, rarely are able to admit it. They think their attitude is very normal; it’s the world ‘out there’ that has the problem and is to blame. And so their Merry-Go-Round just keeps turning, going nowhere all the while.

Through the last

twenty-five years I have learned that in every situation one thing is true above all else, God will turn it all to good if we have the faith to believe it, by guiding us to right thinking and right action. God will turn fear to faith. God will turn anger to love. God will turn it all to good. God’s door is always open...and that’s one door I’m more than ready to enter - with enthusiasm. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you. Amen. photo by Art Holt

you may have felt the first time you entered a spiritual

sanctuary.

And you are home. You are safe and secure in the home of

Spirit, surrounded by the beautiful walls of God’s loving

Presence. The most beautiful home you can possibly imagine.

And you can come here in the simple blink of an eye and a

relaxing deep breath, any time at all. God waits for you here, to

give you the blessing of His unconditional love and

acceptance…to heal any pain you might have suffered…to lift

your spirits and to guide you on your way. For God loves you

with an everlasting love and is ready to hold you in the palm of

His hand. This home is your very own “green pastures” and

“still waters.” Rest in this place for as long as you like.

And then, feeling totally at peace, prepare to bring your

conscious back to the awareness to this moment in time, by

shifting your attention back to your breathing, and to your

feelings of gratitude for your time apart in the silence.

Thank You, God. Thank You for being here with me, for

being a part of my life, for knowing I can reach you whenever I

seek Your presence. Thank You, God, for the growing

awareness of the abundance of blessings that You have

provided, in and through my life. Thank You for the loving

friendships that make my life so worthwhile. And Thank You,

especially Lord, for the sanctuary of Your Spiritual Home

where I can enter and be with You, whenever I open the door

and enter within, here in the silence.

And so it is…

Amen.

As you turn within and relax with a slow deep breath, know

that God’s Presence is not just in one place, but in this very

room where you are right now. God’s Presence is with you

everywhere, from behind the closed doors in a tiny shelter, to

the wide open spaces of some grand scenic vista, where you

may feel like soaring on invisible wings. No matter where you

are, merely turn your attention to your quiet thoughts of God

and you will never be alone.

Take a deep breath and go there now. From deep within

begin to feel a personal sense of well being. Let the Peace

that passes all understanding fill you, like a room is filled with

the soft light of just a single candle.

Breathe in that simple awareness of God’s loving Presence.

Feel the peaceful sense of well being. Feel the comfort of a

loving embrace, holding you and giving you the strength to be

everything you were created to be. Let the light grow, from the

flame of that single candle, to the warmth of the morning

sunshine filling your room with a golden splendor.

This is a sacred and very special place just for you. It is the

safe haven you have always wanted to find, a place where you

can curl up with a good book or just sit quietly beside the

warmth of a winter fire. It is a place where you can set your

worries or concerns aside, a place where you can just be…just

be who you are. This is the room that feels like you have come

home again, a place where you are always welcome.

It may be a room you are very familiar with, a room from

your family home or your childhood, or the home you live in

now. But it might be the home you have always dreamed

about, or the feeling of home you have searched your whole

life to find. It might be the feeling of coming home at last that

M E D I T A T I O N

Upward Bound of Unity, Inc. 10870 SW 71st Circle

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Upward Bound Journal is a Unity publishing ministry based on Biblical teachings and dedicated to writing and presenting spiritual, inspirational, and metaphysical principles which empower people to enrich and transform their lives.

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www.upwardboundjournal.com. Issue # 47 Upward Bound Journal is © of Upward Bound of Unity, Inc. 2010

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WORDS WE LIVE BY Our thoughts and words create our reality. Let us acknowledge another word that will impact our lives in wonderful ways. This time the word is…

A Prayer of Ho’oponopono.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you.”

The Ho’oponopono prayer described in this issue of Upward Bound Journal is being expressed daily by a growing number of people with regard to the broken oil well gushing into the Gulf.

If you would like to become an active participant in this healing

process we invite you to use the Ho’oponopono prayer and give it

your deepest heartfelt attention. Repeating words alone just so you

can say you participated in the process, will do little or anything to

alleviate the problem, for words by themselves are nothing more than

a mental exercise. Your feelings of the deep seated Truth of the words

you are speaking, coming from a heart-felt emotional connection, is

the place you’ll want to be. When you have Faith that you are

actually participating in a transformative process, one that will heal

your inner self as a vital part of the larger global healing, your words

will have power you may never have felt before.

Therefore, let your heart speak these words in prayer: “To the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and all the life forms

contained therein, including all the crude oil that is gushing out of the crust of Mother Earth at the bottom of the sea, I am sorry, I am sorry.

For that which is within me that has manifested as a broken pipe line, Please forgive me. Please forgive me.

To the sea, the shore, the plants and animals of every kind, from the bottom of my heart I love you. I love you. I love you.

Thank you! Thank you Gulf. Thank you Mother Earth. Thank You God. Thank you.”

And so it is… Amen

Rev. Arthur Holt Unity Minister

Dottie Holt Licensed Unity Teacher

(Art Holt photo, - Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC )

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Dottie HoltDottie HoltDottie HoltDottie Holt Art Holt photo, Mt. Dora, FL