A Portion of God—Part Two

I am a gay man, a Unity minister, and a portion of God made manifest…

Most Read Blog

In looking over the 2011 stats for my blog… I wasn’t really surprised to see that this blog from last February was the most read, shared, and commented on. Everywhere I have traveled over the last year (and that is a lot of places) people have shared how they were touched by what I wrote. “You have helped me to be more open and honest about who I am,” “Thanks for being real,” “I sent it to a friend/family member who is struggling… going through a difficult time and needed to hear this message.”

God is Good. Your essence is of God, therefore you are inherently Good. Not fallen, sinful, broken, but spiraling upward… an expression of God made manifest.

In writing about my own journey, my journey of becoming real… I was able once again to see clearly just how important that affirmation was in my life. ‘You are good, you are God in expression.” Admittedly, it is an affirmation I still work to embody. It is a healing message and one that my LGBT community needs to hear loudly and often. Speaking from experience, I can say it takes time and effort to hear it, begin to believe it, and then to embody it… put it in practice. It is a process of becoming real.

Believing We Are Worthy

It is also easy to get stuck in the strokes. Looking outside ourselves for constant approval and affirmation of our self worth. Becoming Real means you come to believe that you are worthy of all that the Universe has to offer. It takes a lot of loving, a lot of living, a lot of learning for most of us to reach this place. That is my wish for each of you this year… A lot of loving, living, and learning on the way to becoming Real.

Said the Skin Horse to the Velveteen Rabbit

“By the time you are Real most of your fur has been rubbed off, your eyes drop out, you get loose in the joints and a little shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people that don’t understand… and once you are Real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.”

If you know someone who needs to hear this more deeply… or if you would welcome time with like-minded people willing to love you til your fur is rubbed off… consider joining us at Unity Village Sept. 27-30, 2012 for Out In The Open: An LGBT Spiritual Experience. For more information visit www.unityvillage.org/lgbt

Here’s to a year of loving and becoming Real.

Lyceum 2012: The Church In The Future

Lyceum 2012: The Church In The Future

Special Announcement! We are excited to announce we have added a Cosmic Mass on Saturday night following this years Lyceum. Resurrecting The Cosmic Christ with Matthew Fox and Friends, Sat. April 14th, 7-9pm at Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center. Stay tuned for more info soon!

Out In The Open: An LGBT Spiritual Experience Sept 27-30, 2012 Unity Village, MO

“Come on out, come on out into the light. There is no jury. There is no judge. Ready and waiting are the steady arms of love. … So I’m standing here spinning around in the fields of freedom, and I’m still alive and reaching out. And I can feel the healing.”
—“Out in the Open” by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant

Join us for a weekend of joyful community and inspired learning at beautiful Unity Village. Together we will create an experience that feeds us and lifts us up to a more authentic way of living … Out in the Open.

Hosts Rev. Mark Fuss, Jenny Hahn and Skip Sams invite you to attend this weekend retreat filled with fun, healing and heart-expanding community. There will be time for nature walks, walking the labyrinth, meditations, drumming and more.

Retreat presenters include Salvatore Sapienza, author of Gay Is a Gift, Rev. Robin Reiter, founder of Sacred Abundance Ministries, and Ken Daigle, creator of Coming Out Spiritually. Music will be provided by Jack Fowler.

For more info visit  http://www.reseze.net/cassets/mkt/1322/retreats_calendar.htm

We All Want Answers…

It is so tempting to want the answers before we begin the journey. We like to know our way. We like to have maps. We like to have guides. But we are more like a breathing puzzle, a living bag of pieces, and each day shows us what a piece or two is for, where it might go, how it might fit. Over time, a picture starts to emerge by which we begin to understand our place in the world. –Mark Nepo, The Book of Awakening

We all want answers… don’t we? We want to plan things, make lists, think of every detail that might come up. We want to know how things will unfold, how we will pay for it, how long it will take. It sounds almost trite to say it, but we are too often focused on the destination at the expense of the journey. The best advice I ever got when stepping out on my journey to ministry was, “Take the next step, do the next thing.”

I spend a good bit of my time talking with people who are feeling called to a life of service. This past week in Virginia Beach for Unity’s Eastern Region conference, I had multiple conversations with people studying the “how” of things. Don’t get me wrong, we all do it. My friends will smile (or laugh out loud) and tell you I do it. What Mark’s quote has stirred for me though is relevant to us all… not just to those called to a life of ministry.

How often do we miss what might be by clutching at what we can see? How often do we settle for a lesser experience because we can see how it might happen? The question that has stayed with me this week is–How can I live in the realm of the possible? What can I let go of, what gets in my way? Plans, lists, need to know… how? Can I step out in faith to do the next thing? And like Mark says, live as a breathing puzzle-open to the piece each new day brings.

A Constant State of Becoming!

Count Basie once said, “I don’t like to write endings for my music… because music is in a constant state of becoming.”

I believe we too are in a constant state of becoming. And yet, have you ever noticed how often in our lives we write endings? Without really noticing? We seem to just accept the messages bubbling up from our subconscious mind.

We gather evidence—We notice limitations.

We begin to list lots of buts…

But I’m too old—we think.

But I can’t afford it—we think.

But I don’t have the experience—we think.

But I just don’t have the energy—we think.

But they might not approve.

But I don’t have enough time.

But, But, But, But—

Whenever you use the word but… ask yourself this. Does this But make my Thought look big?

Does this But get in the way of possibility—of becoming? If we could only see how often we give our attention to the Buts in life. How much time, energy and intention we spend gathering evidence of limitation! When we focus on the buts we hit the pause button on that “Constant State of Becoming.” Pause because—“Where we focus our thoughts—Our energy and attention flow.”

Ernest Holmes once said, “If we wish to enter into a less limited experience—We must first sacrifice our limitations!” I say lose the But and play joyfully in the constant state of becoming.

What if Now?

A Greater Vision

What if each one of us began to live our lives as if everything was possible? What if we began to live our highest potential? What would that look like for you? What would change or fall away? What would spring up from the fertile ground of your imagination?

What Would That Look Like?

Notice, I didn’t ask how things would happen, how they would unfold. The question I want you to answer is “what would that look like?” What is my highest potential, my Greater Vision?

How Would It Feel?

Once you have created that picture in your heart and mind—Then imagine what that would feel like. Allow yourself to feel the love, the celebration, the joy, the quiet satisfaction, whatever it feels like for you, go with the vibration of that feeling.

What Would You Say?

What would you say? What would it sound like? How would you share what you are feeling and experiencing with those around you? Would you do a happy dance, hug someone and excitedly share with them what was blossoming in your life? Would you laugh out loud or shout yes, yes, yes!

What Would You Do?

How would you act? Might you be more confident, smile a lot? Would you walk with a spring in your step? Do it now! Think it, feel it, say it, and do it now! That is how we live our highest potential. What if now—every one of us began to live our highest potential?

What if now—I start to be the one I’m meant to be?

What if now—I begin to shine my light?

What if today is the day I celebrate the beauty of my song?

What if now—I finally let my spirit see?

Everything would find it’s perfect place somehow

What if now?

 

By Michael Gott and Carole Maloney

 

What if now—You began to live your highest potential? What would that look like, feel like, sound like—how would you act? The time is here—do it now!

You are loved and lifted up!

Rev. Mark Fuss

PS—The lyrics above are from a wonderful new song by Rev. Michael Gott. His new album is called Amazing Things and is available on iTunes or by visiting his website www.michaelgott.com

This music changes lives—check it out!

Life is a University of Uniqueness!

Unique U.

I believe that life is a University of Uniqueness. From birth to death you are enrolled in Unique U. From the day that you arrive on campus earth you walk a self-created pathway of expanding awareness.

You get to make the choices and you get to discover your gifts and your talents. As you grow and mature, you get to choose a degree that interests you and you get to decide your purpose and direction in life.

You will choose for yourself the courses and the lab experiences that you wish to have. Just be aware that the University will add a few classes and experiences of its own choosing as well. And just in case you were wondering, most often many courses and lab experiences will precede your choice of a degree, purpose and direction for your life. Do yourself a favor and learn to live in the question.

You will choose for yourself all sorts of extra-curricular activities, things that feed your soul and put your gifts and talents to good use. Truth be told, these extra-curricular activities will help you discover, hone and develop your gifts and talents.

You will choose to do the homework or not. It is your responsibility and your choice. Just be aware, the homework will remain present in your life until you do it. Lest this sound too harsh, just know that you will always have people in your life to support and to guide you. They will show up as friends, partners, teachers, adversaries, cheerleaders, co-workers, ministers and family. They will guide you even when you would rather they didn’t.

You will graduate with honor. You will always graduate with honor from Unique University because you are uniquely you. It is in your expression, your uniqueness, that God lives. God is found in your expression, as you.

God is also the University, the beautiful campus on which you live, the buildings, the art, the classes, the learning, the knowledge, the people, the food, the love, the anger, the fear, the doubt, the pain, the worry, the family, the friends, the awakening, the light of consciousness, the smile, the laughter, the love—in everything, as everything—you’ll find God the Good. You can choose to live in that consciousness of God—of evolving, dynamic, creative Good!

Welcome to Unique U.

Who Do You See?

The Edge of the Forest

I sat on my porch this morning and watched the sun come up. As it rose higher, pools of sparkling sunlight broke through the tree line and danced on the wet grass, the flowers and tree limbs swaying in the breeze. I am surrounded, circled by the woods this Memorial Day morning.

As I sat in silence, observing the wildlife… the big owl, the deer, the fox that thinks I can’t see him, the groundhog that ambles from under the front steps… a story comes to my mind. It is a piece of guided imagery I used during a recent workshop based on the story of the boy King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone by T. H. White.

The wizard Merlin, tutoring Arthur, schooled the boy in understanding and wisdom by turning him into various creatures… a badger, a goose, an ant, a falcon. When the time came for the assembled knights to try and pull the sword from the stone there was great noise and hoopla… and they all failed. When the circle cleared and Arthur wrapped his hands around the hilt of the sword, his experience was the same. Alone on the rock he grunted, sweat dripping from his brow. And then he paused, breathing slowly, his eyes sweeping the now empty clearing. What was that? Movement at the edge of the forest… and as his eyes adjusted to the shadows among the trees he saw them. They were there… the badger, the falcon, all those from whom he had learned. All those who had nurtured him, taught him. “As he greeted them with his eyes, he opened again to the powers he perceived in each of them – the industry, the cunning, the quick boldness, the perseverance… and knowing they were with him he turned back to the stone and, breathing easy, drew out the sword, as smooth as the knife from butter.”

Remembering

This Memorial Day I am remembering those who have taught me, given me love and seen things in me that I couldn’t see in myself. From my grandfather who served his country and never spoke of it… his gentle strength encouraged me… to the uncles who served with integrity and honor. The strong women in my family, my Mother raising four kids after my Father died from cancer… working two jobs to keep things going. The teachers, Mrs. Holbert, Mrs. Houseal, who saw something in that skinny, shy kid all those years ago… encouraging me to find my voice. The ministers, mentors and colleagues who challenged me to become. And the friends… who shared the laughter, the support, the tears, and the triumphs. I see them all in the edge of my forest and today I honor them with my love and a heartfelt thank you. I know they are with me still.

Who do you see?

A Portion of God Made Manifest…

I am a gay man, a Unity minister, “and a portion of God made manifest.”

This snippet of a quote by H. Emilie Cady has given me joy and strength for many years now. The idea that I was any part of anything divine was foreign to me for much of my life. Growing up gay in the deep South… coming of age in the 70′s… I was immersed in the theology of sin-fall-redemption… of traditional Christianity.

My first time in seminary was a gut wrenching exercise in self-loathing, shame, and guilt. My inevitable crisis of faith was like a tsunami of anger, darkness, and shame. If God could not love me as I was created… then for me there was no God. Closeted until my 20′s, I came out with abandon, dismissing religion from my life and rarely looking back. My career and clubs (dancing, drinking, and drugs) took center stage in my life. I found all of my self-worth in a job well done and quickly self-medicated anything approaching a painful feeling. This roller-coaster seemed to work well for two decades… only occasionally jumping the tracks.

The bottom of the barrel found me homeless in NYC, strung out and lost, at the end of my long ride. Early one morning sitting on a park bench, the thought, “There must be more than this…” entered my mind. I knew I had to get a grip, make some changes, if I wanted to live. I moved to Florida, Mom providing a bus ticket. The next two years were a struggle. Getting work after years of being unemployable… drying myself out, beginning to put myself back together.

It was 2001 when I first visited a Unity Church… Unity of Panama City, FL. I was stunned and overwhelmed by the love, acceptance, and joy that I found there. It was palpable… in the energy, in the people, and as the minister’s message. God is Good. Your essence is of God, therefore you are inherently Good. Not fallen, sinful, broken, but spiraling upward… an expression of God made manifest. I began to read and study Unity and New Thought teachings and theology. I joyfully joined the choir, became a chaplain, and soon was on the board of this spiritual community.

Now a decade later, I am an ordained Unity minister and serve as Admissions Representative for Unity Institute and Seminary. I share as widely as possible, much the same message that I heard my first Sunday in Unity. One Presence, One Power, God the Good… and you are a portion of God made manifest. It is a message that many of my brothers and sisters in the LGBT community desperately long (and need) to hear. And it is a message that I continue to study and try to embody… I am a portion of God made manifest.

I know first hand just how shame and guilt can burrow deep in our consciousness and require regular excavations. Just when I think I am done and can move on… oops there it is. But it does get better, you get better at noticing and exorcising it. This is why I am so happy to be a part of an upcoming retreat at Unity Village!

Save the date for Out In The Open: An LGBT Spiritual Experience at Unity Village Sept 27-30, 2012!

This retreat is blossoming and bubbling with creativity. It will feature our friends Sal Sapienza, Robin Reiter, Skip Sams, Ken Daigle and yours truly! Musical guest TBA! Put us on your calendar and make plans to visit Unity Village next Fall…

Hope to see you there… Rev. Mark

Next Generation of SEE!

Next Generation of SEE!

If you are 18-35 and want to spend an amazing week at Unity Village this summer… pool parties, community and inspired learning… check this out!