Heard on Sunday…

This past Sunday, guest speaker rev rachel hollander brought us a profound and compassionate message about navigating life’s wilderness. Blending her personal journey with Unity's 12 Powers, rev rachel reminded us that even in our darkest moments, we carry the spiritual faculties needed to find our way back to the light.

Using the powerful symbol of the semicolon tattoo—a sign that a story isn't over—she explored how we can meet severe struggles like depression and emotional pain with grace. Through the four powers of Understanding, Imagination, Strength, and Release, we are invited to meet ourselves and others exactly as we are.

The Takeaway:

Trust the transformation in the "goo." Just as a caterpillar dissolves into a "goo" inside its cocoon before emerging as a moth or butterfly, we too experience liminal, messy spaces in life. rev. rachel reminded us that the dark periods and daily struggles are not punishments; they are spaces where transformation takes place.

The struggle itself is nature's way of giving us the strength to fly. We don't need to rush through the dark or judge our process. Everything we need to become our fullest Christ-self is already programmed within us. By honoring our darkness rather than bypassing it, we allow space for genuine spiritual rebirth.

Practical Unity Tools:

1. Practice understanding over judgment: You cannot judge someone and understand them at the exact same time. When facing a challenging relationship or dynamic, stop judging their motives and ask instead, "How can I open my heart?"
2. Give compassionate permission: Meet yourself and others in the present reality, rather than who you wish they were. Offering gentle, non-judgmental acceptance to someone in pain creates a safe space for healing and release.
3. Be okay in the "Goo Time": When you feel stuck, lost, or in-between, allow yourself to just be without rushing or self-criticism. Trust that this quiet space is holding everything you need for your next stage of growth.
4. Thank the struggle: Offer gratitude for the dark places and difficult chapters in your life. Thanking the wilderness acknowledges the lessons learned, releases its hold on you, and allows you to move forward.

Missed the Sunday Service? Watch the service on the Inspiration Page.