Source: Sherman Publications

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Spiritual matters
Turn inwards to God in times of disaster

April 20, 2011

Airports in Tampa and West Palm Beach have had to change their designations because of the fact that the North Pole is moving East at a rate of 40 miles per year.

At this rate, in 50 years it will have left Northern Canada, passed through Alaska and reside in Siberia. Scientists predict significant shifts in weather and seismic activity as the Earth's Magnetic Field adjusts to the movement.

Two of the largest earthquakes in history have occurred in the last seven years with resulting Tsunami's that have killed hundreds of thousands of people. The latest in Japan has created a nuclear catastrophe second only to Chernobyl and it is still raging.

The struggle for democracy, civil war and terrorism in Africa and the Middle East have led the United States into a third war. And, the National Debt as a result of fighting these wars threatens to bankrupt our children.

A slow recovery, producing few jobs, continues to erode the housing market eliminating equity on Main Street while the Wall Street Bankers are again receiving million dollar bonuses.

Doomsayers on both ends of the political and religious spectrums are having a field day. They are capitalizing on the fear and anger to win their elections, sell their books and convert the disenfranchised.

Be wary of easy answers that lay blame on specific groups of people or end time predictions. We've been doing this for a long time and it has never proven correct.

What is easy is finding and living in Heaven.

Jesus located it plainly as being "at hand" (Mt. 4:17). It is within our reach, here and now. Heaven is an activity we can participate in today, such as sowing good seed (Mt 13:24), or using yeast to leaven bread (Mt 13:33), or a treasure hidden in a field (Mt 13:44) and it belongs to the poor in spirit: the humble (Mt 5:3).

What is necessary is a shift in consciousness, a shift from looking outside ourselves for evidence of Heaven and to look within for a realization of Heaven on Earth (Mt 6:10).

We will never truly know peace in the outer until we realize peace within. We will never truly know health in the outer until we have an inner realization of Divine Life.

We will never know true prosperity until we have an inner realization of our Divine Source and Supply. "Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well." (Mt 6:33).

Holy week: Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter and beyond to Pentecost and the Ascension are symbolic of this necessary shift. The Triumphal Entry, declaring the coming of Christ as King; turning the tables on the money changers, cleansing God's Temple; The Last Supper and foot washing, the arrest, the trial, the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension demonstrate the process.

Simply stated: Let go and let God's good come forth.

Jesus showed us the way, it's up to us to follow his guidance and "The works that I do ye shall do and greater works shall ye do." (John 14:12).

Hoppy Easter!

The Rev. Matthew E. Long is senior minister at Peace Unity Church & Holistic Center