Questions on the Quest

With love...

2010-11-09T13:03:00.002-06:00

Sandra R. Hymel, 74, Kansas City, MO passed away October 19, 2010 at home. She was born March 21, 1936 in New Orleans, LA to Earl and Lucille Hymel. Sandra will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her. Cremation will take place. Services have not been planned at this time.

Here is what her facebook friends have had to say:

Lori Pas:
Blessed Revvvvvvvvvviiieeeeeeee, Reverenda, The Rev.,
We bid our farewell with GREAT LOVE and GRATITUDE for all of the love and spiritual direction you offered to us! The Pas Family, Gerry, Lolli, Olivia xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Jean Trawatha:
as Rev. Sandra said... it's all part of the plan... you remain in my heart forever.

Nancy Putinski:
Oh my dear friend, I will miss your laughter, our long talks, our day trips, your glass of scotch, N"orleans stories, but mostly YOU. I love you my friend -- til we meet again.

Lori Pas: ‎
"Our separation from each other is an illusion of consciousness."
~Albert Einstein

Lori Pas:
‎"See, I do not die, I enter Life."
~Saint Therese of Lisieux

Ted Schneider:
I heard the news at conference. I missed the opportunity to connect with you these past few months. You were on my mind. You are on my mind.

David Cohen:
Thanks for that reminder Lori,with the quote from Saint Therese of Lisieux.Rev Sandra is remembered.

Claudell Hefner County:
I remember your ankh necklace and affirm life eternal.

WHERE IS THE POWER?

2010-07-15T10:18:00.017-05:00

When I was ordained a Unity minister, the question came to me: If I could give only ONE message, what would it be? My answer was clear and simple: It would be about the POWER IN THE SILENCE.

On recognizing this, I suddenly became aware of messages affirming this:

I read these words of Jesus when he was asked to teach his apostle to pray: "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you, ... for your Father knows what you need before you ask." [MATTHEW 6:6-8]

I saw these words by the writer of 2nd CORINTHIANS 4:18: "So let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

I then discovered the writing of "Laotse TAO-TEH-CHING" by K.O.Schmidt:

USEFULNESS OF THE NON-EXISTENT

Thirty spokes meet in the hub/ But it is upon the empty space/the non-existent/ in the hub that the wheel's usefulness depends.

Kneading clay/one molds vessels of it/ But only their hollowness/the non-existent/ makes their filling possible. With walls/from which doors and windows are cut out/ a house is built./But only its empty space/the non-existent/ gives it its value.

The visible/the existent/ gives form to the work. The invisible/the non-existent/ gives it essence and meaning.

I soon discovered the writings of Unity's Founder, Charles Fillmore, in Talks on Truth, p 8, and I said "yes" to the following: "All power has its birth in the silence. There is no exception to this rule in all the evidence of life. Noise is the dying vibration of a spent force. All the clatter of visibility, from the harangue of the ward politician to the thunder's roar, is but evidence of exhausted power."

And, finally, the discoveries of contemporary physicists, such as David Bohm, protege of Einsten: "When physicists calculate the minimum amount of energy a wave can possess, they find that every cubic centemeter of empty space3 contains more energy than the total energy of all the matter in the known universe." from THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE by Michael Talbot.

All confirmed what I had come to believe that ALL TRUE POWER lies in THE SILENCE. I invite you to reflect on these ideas and let's share our thoughts as they come to us!?

In Love,

Rev. Sandra

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!

2010-02-09T11:27:00.002-06:00

Yes the Saints came MARCHING IN! ... On 2/8/10, the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl 31-17 over the Indianapolis Colts. This is more than a football win. This is a reality check on tenacity of a a people, who were written off after they were downed by Hurricane Katrina. The people spoke up when there was talk of moving the Saints out of state. Then the coach stepped forward and hired Drew Brees, a one time promising quarterback, who due to a damaged shoulder, lost his contract. Drew and his wife chose to go with the Saints, for two reasons, yes, to be the winning team, however, even more so, to become part of a winning community who would NOT GIVE UP! This was a WINNER for ALL THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS!

Perhaps each one of us can take time to reflect on times in our own lives when we ALMOST gave up ... yet SOMETHING moved us forward and we knew there was a Power in us that could DO it for us. I am reminded of one of my favorite scriptures: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do NOT become discouraged and we do NOT give up!" [GALATIANS 6:9]

May each one of us "LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!

In Love,

Rev. Sandra

Divine Discontent IS Divine Direction

2009-08-19T09:30:00.009-05:00

In my text: "God is NOT in the Bible! A Practical Guide for God's 'Choosing' People," on page 14 I pose the question " What is so DIVINE about DISCONTENT?"

"First of all, when I speak of Divine, I am referring to all that is of God/Spirit. That which is the All-knowing, All-loving, Mind of God, the Holy Spirit, that is, the Whole Spirit of God through which we live and move and have our being.
When I speak of “Discontent,” I think of it manifesting as discomfort in many varied ways: you may be experiencing dissatisfaction, restlessness, unhappiness, displeasure or be plain old disgruntled. Or, you may be bored, fed up, uninterested, apathetic or complacent. Usually when ordinary Discontent manifests briefly, it has just come to pass. I believe Discontent is Divine, or of God, when you experience a CONSTANCY of any of the above.
What I have discovered is that should I ignore the CONSTANCY of Discontent and fail to take action, this soon results in a dramatic event moving me forward, that which I call a "Cosmic 2 by 4," a dramatic evidence of "Divine" Discontent.
I have discovered in my own life that If I fail to pay attention to the negative pattern, or, becoming aware of the 'grit,' ignore it, instead of reflectively taking new action toward change, this is when I get hit upside the head with a 'Cosmic 2 by 4' that results in a dramatic and instant unplanned, life shattering, change. This definitely demands my attention!"

I have been experiencing this "Divine Discontent" for several months. This does NOT mean my work is uninteresting, or that I think the work is less than meaningful to many, only that I know I have other gifts to be utilized elsewhere.

It's a "spooky" business, this letting go of the familiar and risking into the unknown. There are feelings that surface much like the trapeze artist when they have to "let go" the bar that is security in order to grab hold of the new one, yet it MUST be done or the spirit is stifled in one's soul. Butterflies in the belly abound!

Of one thing I AM CERTAIN: ... "NEW DOORS OF GOOD ARE OPENING TO ME!" and I am excited and enthusiastic about the new possibilities coming my way.

Have YOU experienced "DIVINE DISCONTENT?" How about sharing your experience with us?

In Love,

Rev. Sandra

(Rev. Sandra Rae Hymel)

AN "AHA" EXPERIENCE ... What IS it???

2009-05-11T10:04:00.005-05:00

In spiritual study circles, we have often referred to "becoming aware of the Presence of God." The eminent psychologist, Carl Jung, has carved over the front door of his house in Zurich, and these words are also found on his tombstone:

"VOCATUS atque non VOCATUS Deus aderit"

"Bidden or not bidden, God is present"

Believer, or non believer, God is still Present, is closer than the very breath we breathe, and, in fact, actually breathes us. I personally believe every longing we have is a longing for our Oneness with God. We are constantly "Looking for God in all the wrong places." I believe that true joy comes to us when we discover that it is our task to become aware of this Presence and what It is for each of us.

I have often asked myself what does it mean to be aware of the "Presence of God?" One morning I went into meditation asking for clarity of what exactly IS this "Presence of God." I came out of meditation and suddenly had an AHA experience, that is, A Holy Awareness! Of course, the "Presence of God" was EVERYWHERE! EVERYTHING I saw was created by the mind, heart, and hands of God expressing through SOMEONE. The carpet, the very threads, the colors, the delivery, sales, purchase, ... ALL was the PRESENCE OF GOD expressing through one of God’s “choosing” people.

Have YOU had "AHA" experiences??? ... How about sharing them with us?

In Love, Rev. Sandra

Sandra Rae Hymel

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL!

2009-04-15T08:46:00.007-05:00

"Hope springs eternal to the human breast. Man seldom feels, but always WILL BE, BLEST." [Alexander Pope] In these days of our being badgered with news of seeming chaos everywhere, it behooves us to remember there is always HOPE. There are many in our New Thought movement who fail to acknowledge HOPE as a gift, they fail to acknowledge HOPE as a choice for an affirmative attitude amidst seeming disaster. They instead leap to FAITH, without acknowledging the necessary beginning of HOPE as that which must lead into faith.

Webster tells us that HOPE is=to cherish a desire with expectation of fulfillment = to long for with expectation of attainment and is=also, trust or reliance. I say HOPE is our final opportunity for the last flicker of the Christ Light to push through our consciousness before we slam the door of hope and instead choose to allow toxic thought to bring us to a final point of despair. All it takes is one instant of HOPE-less-ness to push someone over into the edge of darkness.

"Christ in you, your HOPE of glory!" is forever true, no matter how dark life may seem to be. This is well expressed in the words of a song entitled THE FUTURE by Leonard Cohen: "Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, ... there is a crack in everything, ... that's how the Light gets in."

Dr. C. Rick Snyder, a psychology professor at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas did a study of HOPE in relation to life and he has this to say about HOPE: "HOPE has proved to be a powerful predictor of outcome in every area of life we've looked at. HIGH HOPE people are much more likely to reach their goals. Abilities are important, but oftentimes HOPE is the factor that energized you so that, in fact, you do get where you want to go." [KIWANIS article p 40, February, 1994]

In extend an open invitation to you to join the HIGH HOPE CLUB: a club that is composed of folks filled with OPTOMISM in the face of any challenge; folks who remember to give themselves an "ESTEEM" bath daily; and folks who look for the opportunity for new beginnings in seeming chaos.

Indeed, "HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL" as we move forward into each new day expressing the attributes of the CHRIST. That in you that is "YOUR HOPE OF GLORY!"

What saith YOU???

In Love,

Sandra Rae Hymel

DARK STUFF IN SPACE ... from Hubble 3/12/09

2009-03-16T11:11:00.006-05:00

REPORT FROM HUBBLE 3/12/09

"When it comes to finding dark matter in space, astronomers need to go on sort of a ghost hunt. Dark matter can't be directly seen or isolated in a laboratory. Yet it makes up the bulk of the matter in the universe. It (DARK MATTER) is the invisible scaffolding for the formation of stars and galaxies. Dark matter is not made of the same stuff that stars, planets, and people are made of. That stuff is normal 'baryonic' matter, consisting of electrons, protons, and neutrons. For 80 years astronomers have known about dark matter's 'ghostly' pull on normal matter. They've known that without the gravitational 'glue' of dark matter galaxy clusters would fly apart, and even galaxies would have a hard time holding together."

"Let us fix our eyes NOT on what is SEEN, but on what is UNSEEN. For what is seen is temporary, but what is UNSEEN is ETERNAL." [2 Cornthians 4:18]

WOW! ... In Truth it is that which appears empty that holds together all that is. This is the "stuff" of Spirit. Even contemorary physicists, such as David Bohm, protege of Einstein, tells us: "When physicists calculate the minimum amount of energy a wave can possess, they find that every cubic centimeter of empty space contains more energy than the total energy of all the matter in the known universe!" In fact, Bohm tells us that "space is NOT empty, it is FULL, a plenum as opposed to a vacuum, and is the ground for the existence of everything, including ourselves."

Let us sit with these thoughts and recognize that there IS a Divine Creator that holds ALL that is in PERFECT ORDER! ... the UNSEEN ENERGY that IN LOVE glues us all together as ONE. ALL is of God ... the LIGHT would not be seen if it were not for the DARKNESS. (Go to "Penned Poetry" here on my site and read about the dark room.)

How about YOU? How do YOU respond to such a report from Hubble? How do you FEEL about knowing these ideas? Does it make a difference in your quality of life?

I feel awe struck ... I think it is an AWESOME thought! How about YOU???

In Love,

Sandra Rae Hymel

BE YOU TRANSFORMED!

2009-03-03T09:18:00.005-06:00

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be you transformed ... by the renewing of your mind." Most often the quote stops here, however, I believe it important to ponder the entire quote, which goes on to say: "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- God's good, pleasing, and perfect will." [ROMANS 12:2]

To "conform" is to "agree with" ... and "the pattern of this world" is largely cut from the cloth of greed and narcissism. To "transform" the mind is to mold our thought to that of the Divine, that of gratitude, generosity, and love for self, one another, and ultimately God.

As I sit at my computer on a wintry day, I glance out at a forest of trees that are barren in appearance. I say barren "in appearance" as we know the sap of life is stored in every cell of every branch, waiting to burst forth at the first sign of Spring, waiting to TRANSFORM this appearance of bleakness and reveal the true beauty hidden within.

It occurs to me that more often than not we too appear as bleak and barren unless we activate our own transformative energy and become the transformer we are created to be. TRANSFORMER = that which changes form, nature, character, or disposition of; an electrical device for changing voltage up or down.

I look to Jesus the Christ, our Way-Shower, who left us with several of his own transformatory experiences, the TRANSFIGURATION, RESURRECTION, and ASCENSION, and in doing so, has given us insight as to our own inner power to transform our world. "The works I do shall you do also; and GREATER than these shall you do." [JOHN 14:12]

As in the TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus, we enter this process of transformation by turning within for a "mountain top" experience of communing with our Creator; thereafter we experience a RESURRECTION in consciousness, removing the stones of fear, of lack, of disharmony, releasing these "dead" thoughts and replacing them with the Living expression of the Christ Light - thus we RESURRECT the "imprisoned splendor" from within; we then lift up our consciousness and ASCEND to oneness with our Creator.

It is also my belief that we are independent electrical fields of spiritual love energy and are therefore responsible for the transformation of our OWN energyfield. I believe Jesus, the Christ, set into motion an electrical emission, an energy force, that shall NOT be stopped! I believe that each of our electrical fields interconnects with the other and that as we lift up our own consciousness, ALL are transfomed, as Jesus said: "If I be lifted up, all will be drawn to me." [JOHN 12:32]

Does all this sound "FAR OUT?" You betcha! It IS "far out" of the norm of today's thought, "far out" of the realm most experience as the human condition, and "far out" of THIS world. Yet WE have been called to transform and WE have said "YES" and we DO believe that YOU (I AM) are the Resurrection, the Christ of YOU IS the Resurrection ... and let us rejoice together in this knowing!

CHRIST IN YOU IS RISEN THIS DAY ... ALLELUIA!

In Love, Sandra Rae Hymel

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK - 2/9/09

2009-02-08T10:49:00.005-06:00

Ideally one will do "random acts of kindness" in any given moment on any given day. I have been purvue to such in my own experience recently. When living in New Orleans, I always purchased "Trappey's" products for black eyed peas each New Year. Why should I change produce since I'm now living in Kansas City, Missouri? I found good ole Trappey's and proceeded to open three cans to serve along with cabbage, to be sure I had LOTS of wealth, health, and good fortune in my New Year. Well ... the three cans contained few peas and LOTS of water. I took the numbers off the top of the lids, got onto the WEB (Wonderfully Enlightened Being, that it is) and found Allens, who also produce the Trappey brand. NOW ... listen to this ... I immediately received an e-mail thanking me PROFUSLY for letting them know and apologizing for the lack of usual quality, AND, ... they were sending me some sample products to help make amends. Less than a week later I received a large box containing 2 each of 6 products of varied kinds. WOW! ... wait, keep reading! ... THEN, I received an envelope with a "family recipe" book AND a $5 bill with a quality, glossy, card that reads: ALLENS Quality Vegetables "Serving up memories since 1926" "Thank you for taking the time to contact us concerning one of our products. As a valued customer, we sincerely appreciate your comments and concerns. Please use our enclosure as a goodwill gesture toward your next purchase of Allen products."

http://www.allens.com/ phone: (800)234-2553. LOOK FOR ALLENS PRODUCTS in your canned veggie department!

Another "random act of kindness" was shared by my dear friend, Helen Marie Grimes. It isn't enough that Helen Marie has been by her husband, Bob's, bedside DAILY for the past four years, from 9am - 4:30 pm, but she goes the "extra mile" caring for other patients needs in the nursing home. THEN this occurred: She walks in her neighborhood in the quiet hours of early morning and began putting neghbor's newspapers, found near the curb, at their front door. Recently, as she placed a newspaper inside the screen door, she found an envelope addressed to her with a $20 bill and thank you note in it. Another neighbor waited at his door one morning to "catch her" and insisted she take $5 as he told her how thoughtful she was.

Let us ALL get into living our lives focused on how we can sprinkle "random acts of kindness" wherever we go! Do YOU have stories to share??? Let's hear them.

Sandra Rae Hymel

GOD... IS ... BLESSING AMERICA!

2009-01-16T11:29:00.004-06:00

"America is many things but it is not a nation with a wisdom tradition - but it needs to become one and soon. It needs to become a wiser nation that is capable of introspective politics with a deep regard for its philosophical and spiritual roots. It needs to return to a respect for high principles and considerations of the generations to follow and not just on behalf of who is going to shoulder the enormous debt created by the carelessness of the Congress and Senate under the Bush administration." (from Caroline Myss)

(BOLD is my own commentary)

TO READ HER ENTIRE MESSAGE

SEE LINK ON THE "NEW FOR YOU" PAGE.

Caroline goes on to scan our history with a critical eye and suggests that many will think her message a "negative" one. She believes it to be a "positive" one, in that on looking at the past honestly, we can then take positive steps toward change.

I agree with her, what do YOU think???

Sandra Rae Hymel

BREAKTHROUGHS IN 2008

2009-01-02T10:39:00.010-06:00

New Year's Eve night, on my return from work at about 11:45 pm Central Time, as I scurried through TV looking for the best spot for welcoming in 2009, each show host asked the question: "What do you think of 2008?" I suddenly became aware that, for me, 2008 has given evidence of a real awakening of our planet in many ways. Jesus has said: "There will be wars and rumours of wars, and earthquakes, ... but do not be afraid, ... for these are but BIRTH PAINS!"

Ever since 9-1-1, yes, 9/11, that which I refer to as our "emergency wake up call", our world has drawn closer and we are all more aware of our dependency on one another and our oneness in our joys and in our struggles.

There has been greater evidence of our world awakening to a NEW BIRTHING in this consciousness of oneness in 2008 as we watched a woman and a black American, both highly qualified, run for President of our country. This was followed by an overwhelming vote for NEW IDEAS and POSITIVE CHANGE. Our country spoke out, choosing to vote for "a persons character, rather than the color of his skin." (to paraphrase the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Then the tower of the greedy came tumbling down as we experienced, and still do experience, an economic breakdown. Again, evidence to our oneness, for this not only affects those with a lot of money, but also trickles down, rather tumbles down, to those in great need of financial support as it shakes up businesses, goods provided, and employment.

I have observed through these years, since 2001, our experiencing BIRTH PAINS

on every level, we are ALMOST there, as we reflect on what we TRULY VALUE and come to appreciate, people, jobs and every day services that we had previously taken for granted.

Jesus also said: "The Truth will be shouted from the rooftops." And so, through our electronic media, NOTHING can be hidden in the darkness anymore. The Light shines into every nook and cranny, resulting in an internal cleansing of human consciousness.

As we welcome a New Year, let each of us take a moment to point to the tip of our own nose, and remember THIS is who I am responsible for, and step forward, heart in hand, and do what is set before us THIS day, with love, and, in doing so, advance the welcoming of the dawning of a NEW DAY!

"WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, FORTUNATE YOU!

THIS IS THE YEAR YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!"

in Love, Sandra Rae Hymel

THOUGHTS ON MONEY

2008-12-15T15:56:00.002-06:00

Co-Founders of Unity: Myrtle and Charles Fillmore shared
these thoughts in response to the Great Depression-October, 1929

"The conditions in our world today, " asserted Myrtle Fillmore, "are what
man in his greed, selfishness, ignorance, has made. ... The thing to do in times like
we have been having, is to remain positive, and not let any negative, outer thought
sink in, but let it slide off like water on a duck's back. It is not time to fall into the current
of race thought, but to hold fast to the principles of Truth that are bound to demonstrate abundance of good. ...
The question is, what are your true values? ... Begin to consider what you can do
to inspire and help others, rather than on money-making."
[Torch Bearer To Light The Way by Neal Vahle p77-78]

"Money is to be used, not abused." said Charles Fillmore, ... Money accumulated
for a definitely constructive purpose is quite different thing from money hoarded
with the fearful thought of a 'rainy day' or a prolonged season of lack and suffering,
Money saved for a 'rainy day' is always used for just that, for fear attracts that
which is feared unfailingly. "The thing which I feared comes upon me." [JOB 3:25]
[PROSPERITY by Charles Fillmore P 165]

"We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." [Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S.A. President]

And, finally, from the great Swami Beyondananda, (Steve Bhaerman):
Fortunately, money isn't wealth. In and of itself, it is worthless. If you doubt that, try this simple experiment. Eat your money. While high in fiber, paper money has little nutritional value. And here is something even more amazing. A hundred dollar bill has no more nutritional content than a dollar bill.
So here's the real good news. As surely as the sun comes up every morning, we have more abundant wealth than we know what to do with. Wealth is energy, and how that energy is used. Not only have we been given solar energy to grow our food and power our lives, we've been given soul energy as well - to use and magnify our resources wisely. With the collapse of the house of credit cards economy, we can finally get real. We can use the two most underdeveloped resources on the planet, love and imagination, to re-grow our Garden and have a heaven of a time doing it.

Rx for Wellness

2008-11-19T10:06:00.008-06:00

TWO CD SET ready for purchase by December 1, 2008

Rx FOR WELLNESS prescribed for YOU by
Reverend Sandra Rae Hymel – Metaphysician

RECOMMENDING A DAILY DOSE OF:

SILENCE / PRAYER / MEDITATION / LAUGHTER/
UPLIFTING THOUGHT/GIVING SPIRIT/SAVORING LIFE/

LOVING RELATIONSHIPS/SERVICE TO OTHERS/

LETTING YOUR OWN LIGHT SHINE BRIGHTLY

MAINTAINING WELLNESS INSIGHTS: from Myrtle & Charles Fillmore, Co-Founders of Unity, Jesus Christ, Noetic Sciences, Carolyn Myss, and other contemporary writers, are shared for your consideration by Reverend Hymel. These teachings are made real through her own personal experiences and observations.
“Holy Hilarity Sunday … or S/He Who Laughs, … Lasts!” (There IS JOY after Taxes) was held annually on the Sunday following Tax Day.

Sunday Messages given by Reverend Sandra Rae Hymel, recorded live from Unity Church of Christianity, Chesterland, Ohio:

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-19T01:23:00.000-06:00

I love flowers!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-12T01:17:00.000-06:00

Bird Babies

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-05T01:13:00.000-06:00

Volcano!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-29T11:51:00.000-05:00

The Milky Way
by Bob at Blackholes and Astrostuff

GIVE YOURSELF AWAY!

2008-10-28T20:01:00.016-05:00

The Reverend Phillip Pierson, Unity Minister, offers this suggestion: "Financial security is obtained by one easy decision of mind and heart -- it is simply to give ourselves away! ... Perhaps there is no better example of this amongst people we know of than that of Buckminster Fuller. ... Bucky, as he liked to be called, was one of the most influential people of the last century. He was referred to often as the Leonardo Da Vinci of the 20th Century. His climb to international fame began with the simple, but totally sincere act of giving himself away.

"In his thirties he considered himself a failure as a business man, a husband and father. He felt all concerned would be better off without him. On a cold winter night he went to Lake Michigan to commit suicide by throwing himself into the icy waters of the Lake. But, at the last moment he found himself possessed with the thought of giving himself away to God and to the service of humankind, as an equivalent to suicide. He would no longer live to get, but only to give of whatever talents he had with no thought of reward. He affirmed that if his action was valid he would never have to seek compensation, as the Universe he served would prosper him without any thought on his part. He would become a partner with the Universe.

"He was a man of incredible will and clarilty and he lived that commitment. He offered his inventive genius to seeking ways to better our world, and he was immensely prospered without ever seeking it. He proved that while it is great to give of our possessions, the greatest gift of all is to give ourselves to the betterment of others.

"As we move through this present time of (international suggests Rev. Sandra) national recession, let us know that the Universe is eager to prosper us as we consciously seek to give ourselves to It's service."

To give of one's self with NO STRINGS ATTACHED is the greatest gift of all ... to the GIVER as well as the RECEIVER! What do YOU think???

Sandra Rae Hymel

The "I"s Have It - CLOSING REMARKS

2008-10-22T11:17:00.005-05:00

What I have observed is that when I find myself caught up in the “drama” of life it is the result of my looking to the outer for the answers. I have forgotten to “keep the eye/I single,” forgotten to turn within introspectively and therefore miss out on the inspiration, and instead jump to conclusions based only on the goal I want to attain and so I end up doing what the world tells me to do, I “rational-ize,” which only results in my receiving "rational-lies" that result in temporary blindness to wise choices.
It is through your practice of choosing reflectively, choosing with integrity, that you participate in Cosmic thinking and are awakened then to what Rudolf Steiner calls seeing with Spiritual Vision: “which grasps the nature of the world and the spirit of the whole beyond the forms of appearance. Through Spiritual vision, through inspiration, we become aware that the heart of the Universe is throbbing within each of us.” [The Cosmic Way of Mankind p 81 by K.O. Schmidt]
My Friend, YOU are a Child of the Universe, made of Star Stuff! Every single choice you make opens you to releasing the “Imprisoned Splendour,” the essence of who you are, or results in a stifling of this Christ Light.

Let us both affirm with Carol Lynn Pearson:
I will continue
To create the universe today
Right where God left off.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-22T01:22:00.000-05:00

solar halos

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-15T01:20:00.000-05:00

Spiral Staircases

THE "I"S HAVE IT! #3+#4+#5

2008-10-14T08:33:00.006-05:00

I have found that it is during the time of INTROSPECTION that I receive INSPIRATION as I am INSPIRED with Spirit and motivated by God to listen with my Third Ear as I become aware of the whisperings of God.

As I become INSPIRED I am then ILLUMINATED within to receive direct Divine Guidance as to how to follow through with the setting of goals and developing a plan of action. This is a time for gathering knowledge already available and knowing how to put it to use. You will even find the right and perfect people to come to assist you, and the right and perfect circumstances begin to unfold.
Then enters in the Power of Imagination, the practice of Creative Visualization, as I use the creative power of mind to vision the outcome. Yet ALWAYS remembering to “Let go and Let God” have the final say of the outcome. After doing everything I can do, I then let go the outcome and let God have way, and then I am sure there is even greater good waiting for me than I could ever begin to imagine.
How do I know this is a Creative Process? How do I know it DOES work? I know in retrospect that this HAS worked in my own life, even before I found Unity and it’s spiritual principles. There are also countless examples from the lives of others I have read about and I will bet YOU can reflect on some of your own.
The difference for me now is that I have, through practice, seen to it that my INNER NET remains PRAYER CONDITIONED. And as I continue putting God first through daily practice of entering The Silence, I have also developed a sense of practicing Sacred Sagacity that then enables me to stay in alignment with the vibrations of Spirit. As a result I have become more sensitive to Sacred Serendipities/Synchronicities and God Nudges.
I would sincerely prefer to avoid experiences of being hit upside the head with a "Cosmic 2 by 4" and so focus on practicing INTROSPECTION more readily, which then results more instantaneously in my making REFLECTIVE, rather than REACTIVE choices.
Dear Friend, do you realize that from the moment you open your eyes in the morning, and throughout your day, you are choosing and manifesting, choosing and manifesting, moment by moment and choice by choice. Yes, Indeed, you ARE one of God’s “choosing” people!

Maybe you "CHOOSE" to share your thoughts???

Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-08T01:19:00.000-05:00

Milk Drops Into Coffee

THE "I"S HAVE IT! #2

2008-10-06T11:26:00.003-05:00

Having paid attention to the FIRST "I," that of INTUITION, I then become INTROSPECTIVE, that is "keeping the EYE/I" singly focused on God first, I enter into the Silence, and try my best to let go of any preconceived ideas, or plans and just be there, following the directive to: "Be still and know ...". Before my learning the importance of "keeping the eye/I single," turning to God first, I used to quickly jump into the midst of the idea and gather outer information. This usually resulted in my wasting time in gathering facts I did not need, or facts that could have been found elsewhere so that I had to re-do the messes I created unnecessarily.

Now I also know the importance of letting go all expectation and yet expecting clear direction to show up in unexpected places as I observe sagasciously, resulting in "TADAH!," the entering in of Sacred Serendipities/Synchronicities.

[excerpted from "God is NOT in the Bible! A Practical Guide for God's 'Choosing' People" by Sandra Rae Hymel]

Come on now ... What do YOU think???

Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-01T01:18:00.000-05:00

Best of WikiMedia

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-24T01:48:00.000-05:00

Aurora From A Dark Site
by Bob at Blackholes and Astrostuff

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-17T01:16:00.001-05:00

Awesome Nature Photos!

LIFE - WELCOME IT ALL!

2008-09-16T18:27:00.003-05:00

Scientists today tell us that we are now in the "time cycle of 5,125 years," at which time there has been major changes on this planet. They also point to the "fact" that we are experiencing multiple challenges in all areas of life, at an accelerated rate, which many find overwhelming. They also say that we are now in the "bottleneck" of that time period, which will terminate in the year 2012.

In reflection on these "facts," I turn to the message given us by Jesus, our Way-Shower, who is quoted as having said: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."

My personal commentary on the above is the following: First of all, we all know that "time" as we now know it was not recorded in the same way in years past, ... so ... when IS the 5,125th year??? ... WHO truly knows the answer???

Secondly, the question I raise is are we really having more challenges than ever found in recorded history? Or, could it feel this way due to the result of our connection with other parts of our world through what has been called our "Planetary nervous system," that is our connection through the electronic mediae, radio, TV, internet,etc? And let us remember the focus on the news we get is NEGATIVITY ... if there is not local newsworthy tragedy to be found in our towns, states, country, the media finds it out there, somewhere in the world to call to our attention. There is a FEAR BASED CONSCIOUSNESS that we can either buy into or not. The choice is ours, moment by moment, FEAR or FAITH!

There is certainly comfort is recognizing that we are definitely in what we might call an experience of "second force," or a birthing process. Somehow a "birth canal" offers a more gentle process than a "bottle neck." It also is a more hopeful process as we are ready to welcome in the NEW ERA of Truth. We know that now NOTHING can be hidden in darkness as the LIGHT OF TRUTH shines into all corners of life. In point of fact, the Truth IS being, literally, SHOUTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS!!!

What think YOU???

Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-10T01:15:00.000-05:00

White Sands

FACING YOUR GHOSTS ...

2008-09-07T11:37:00.005-05:00

The following thoughts are those of Reverend Jim Rosemergy: "Sidney Greenberg wrote in Treasury of Comfort, 'Where sorrow is concerned, not repression, but expression is the wholesome discipline.' This is a powerful idea, for as Longfellow said we all have our secret sorrows. The secret sorrows are not the difficulty, for they are common to us all. The difficulty is that we repress our sorrows and the repression robs us of life. You see, when we hold back a portion of our feeling nature that we find troublesome, we unknowingly hold back a portion of our true selves. Expression is a better way. The sorrow may hurt when it is expressed but shortly after its expression will come the emergence of our true selves, and this is joy."

This repression of sorrow or pain or anger is sometimes the result of what I call "New Age Sin."

When our Unity Founder, Myrtle Fillmore, went into deep meditation asking Spirit the question of why she had not yet healed her body of an intestinal disorder, Spirit answered: "You have looked among your faults, now look among your virtues." It was then she realized that she was so busy using positive affirmations that she failed to explore the truth of the repressed pains. She then committed herself to examining daily what may have upset her and going to the person, when possible, and releasing it before it became part of her cellular system.

Jesus, the Christ, said: "Do not let the sun go down on your anger." ... "Make friends with your enemies quickly." and ... there is an old Irish saying: "When you see a ghost and face it, it will disappear before your very eyes. If you run from it, it will chase you the rest of your life."

I have found it best to take a close look at "what is." ... and ... I discovered that's it ... "What IS just IS!" ... and that's ALL it is. ... then ... I am able to LET GO and LET GOD! take care of it.

What do YOU think???

Sandra Rae Hymel

HOW MANY APPLES IN A SEED???

2008-09-06T11:27:00.008-05:00

I realize the request to use paper sparingly in order to “Save our Forests” is well intentioned, yet it seems to me to speak to a consciousness of lack. It is my observation that our world has “gazillion” trees, with “a million gazillion” seeds that continue to produce no matter what we try to do them. As the saying goes: “You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the apples in a seed!”

There is the true story of a western part of Texas known for the beauty of fields of blue bonnets. They had a prolonged drought and everyone was mourning the loss of the blue bonnets. Then suddenly there came a season of heavy rain, and … yep, guess what, … there returned the blue bonnets, the potential beauty was still there hidden under the dry dirt, and would not be suppressed! So is God’s continued blessing of abundant good for all of us!!! There is NO LACK in the Universe, only "thinking make it so."

That having been said, I also believe in practicing “good stewardship” by using our paper products responsibly. What do YOU think ... ???

Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-03T01:14:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Mountain Vistas

WHEN YOU PRAY ...

2008-08-31T11:20:00.005-05:00

go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you. ... Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." said Jesus, the Christ.[MATTHEW 6:6-8]

Prayer is the heartbeat of the Unity movement. Prayer is also a core practice of most "religious" institutions as well the central focus of all spiritual seekers. Yet, ask anyone "What IS Prayer?" and I'll bet you'll get as many answers as there are people willing to share their insights.

I say the only TRUE prayer is the acknowledgement of a Higher Power, that which most of us call "God." It is my personal belief that the Divine Energy we refer to as "God" is fully aware of every desire of our heart and our own use of words to detail our needs is totally superfluous. Studies now show that even words are meaningless unless accompanied by "feeling" what it is like to have the desire truly expressed.

You will find several definitions of prayer on this website. Enter the "QUIET ROOM" then click on "What is Prayer?" What is prayer to YOU???

Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-27T11:44:00.000-05:00

Wow, cool waterfall!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-20T01:27:00.000-05:00

Arial Earth

"RECESSION OR REFORMATION???"

2008-08-19T09:36:00.007-05:00

My good friend, colleague, mentor, and Unity minister, Phillip Pierson, says: "It is quite clear to all of us that we are involved in a major world economic crisis. It is to all appearances a recession from the remarkable prosperity that most western nations have enjoyed for many years. I suggest that the Truth of our situation is that we are not in a recession but rather in a process of reformation. A reformation according to the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is 'a change for the better!' One says we are going backward and the other says we are going forward to something better."

It is my personal observation that we have been in process of a continually accelerated "reformation" ever since the electronic mediae took off with, first radio, then TV, movies, and finally the WEB ( that which I call that W-onderfully E-nlightened B-eing." This is what Barbara Marx Hubbard referred to as "the Planetary Nervous System." And, indeed, now we TRULY know we are all One!

Jesus, the Christ, told us: "The Truth will be shouted from the rooftops!" Now that which had been hidden in the darkness WILL be brought into the Light! JC also said: "There will be wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. .. Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." [MATTHEW 24:6-8]

Perhaps we are now in the "birth canal," in process of "birthing" or "re-forming" the Cosmic Consciousness to that of the Compassionate Christ. Perhaps this is why we are feeling like the trapeze artist who has just let go the old bar and are reaching for the new one??? What thinkest YOU???

Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-13T01:26:00.000-05:00

Cool Carved Book Art

STAR LIGHT ... STAR BRIGHT!

2008-08-10T10:27:00.002-05:00

Astronomers have told us that stars have been sending light to us for hundreds of thousands of years. Yet when we are looking at them, they may not be where we are seeing them at all, they may be somewhere else, as light takes eight and a half minutes to get to us.

Astronomers and other scientists have also told us that our human physical composite is the same composite as that of the stars. That is, we are physically made of "STAR STUFF."

This set me to wondering: If we are made of "star stuff" are there "beings" where we see stars looking out into the night sky and watching us "twinkle" like they do for us??? And ... does our brightness depend on how much we intentionally LET OUR LIGHT SHINE??? TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR!

What do YOU think, O STAR OF WONDER???

Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-06T01:25:00.000-05:00

Cute Bugs!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-30T01:23:00.001-05:00

Hot Air Balloons!

I AM OPEN TO QUEST-IONS ON THE QUEST!

2008-07-29T20:31:00.003-05:00

Sometimes we think that enlightenment means arriving at total certainty about all there is to know. I believe true enlightenment is our willingness to be forever with mystery, and, infact know that I DON'T know!
How can we possibly be so sure about anything that is truly meaningful in life? We know that love is our deepest connection to all there is, yet in the loving lies potential pain as we open ourselves to eventual loss of the beloved. Yet would you NOT love? Not me! So I feel comfortable in my lack of full understanding and declare: “I AM OPEN TO QUEST-IONS ON THE QUEST!”

What do YOU think? .. What are YOUR "Quest-ions on the Quest?"
Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-23T01:22:00.000-05:00

Peace Buddha Girls

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-16T01:20:00.001-05:00

Adorable Cuteness

Journey to EnLIGHTenment ...

2008-07-13T11:38:00.005-05:00

In keeping with my commitment to "give life the LIGHT touch, both inside and out," I treasure the combination of insight with a touch of humor, such as this:

Roshi Philip Kapleau has said, “Reading about enlightenment is like scratching an itch through (the sole of) your shoe.”

However, the GOOD NEWS is that at least you are AWARE of the itch and can now set out a plan for GETTING TO IT!: I begin by asking such questions as:

Do I take off my shoe??? Wait, ... maybe my sock has a hole in it ... OR ... maybe my feet smell, ... OR ... what will others think if I proceed right where I am??? ... in church?/in a restaurant?/at the dining room table?/ ... Do I go to the "safety" of the bathroom where I can hide from everyone? ... after all, WHAT WILL OTHERS SAY??? ...

Question: Now you are AWARE ... WHAT NEXT? ... Oh, ... you are ALREADY "ENLIGHTENED?" ... I suggest if you THINK you are ... then maybe you'd better THINK AGAIN! ... What THINKETH ... YOU??? Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-09T01:17:00.001-05:00

Lightning and Thunder

"EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED TO MY OPINION ..."

2008-07-08T19:12:00.002-05:00

This thought is one of the BRILLIANT humorist, Ashleigh Brilliant ... I certainly hope you can agree and give YOUR opionion on any of the info on this blog, or on this web site. Is there an "answer" you want to "question?" Let me know ... Let's stir up our minds a bit ... or is yours like "concrete?' ... that is "all mixed up and firmly set!" Go for it! Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-02T01:42:00.001-05:00

Beautiful Waterfalls

After Prayer, ... What???

2008-06-30T10:51:00.004-05:00

Unity minister, the Reverend Eric Butterworth poses this question in his book entitled: "The Universe is Calling: Opening to the Divine Through Prayer." "Let's suppose you have prayed about some need using the science of prayer. You have let go the problem in a time of relaxation of mind and body. You have turned within in an experience of wordless silence, feeling your oneness at the center. And then you have spoken the word of truth, affirming the reality in back of the negative appearance and you have ended with a consciousness of 'Amen! -- So be it!'

"Now what do you do? ... You may be thinking, 'Well, I have prayed, so now the rest is up to God.' But as they say in tennis, 'the ball is in your court.' Your prayer is not for God. He needs neither your prayers nor your praise. He doesn't need your supplication to understand your need. 'The Father knows what things you have need of, even before you ask Him.' And it is always 'the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.' In God there is an eternal yes, but your part is to get into a YES consciousness, and stay there. 'Change your mind and keep it changed.'" ...

"Jesus said, ' If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." [JOHN 13:17 KJV] Beyond the Amen of prayer, the next step is to act as if you believe that what you have affirmed is really true. ... "

YOU, dear reader, what do YOU think? What is prayer to YOU? Does it WORK for you? HOW has it worked? I personally believe that the only TRUE prayer there is is my awareness of the PRESENCE OF GOD in my life experience, because God already knows my DEEPEST DESIRE ... now it's time for me to become RECEPTIVE to OPEN-ENDED POSSIBILITIES as I get on with getting on and move toward the FULFILLMENT of that desire. As Reverend Eric has said: "God can only do for me, what God can do through me." What do YOU think??? Sandra Rae Hymel

Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-25T01:42:00.001-05:00

Celestial Exploring

Divine Discontent IS Divine Direction!

2008-06-23T10:40:00.003-05:00

Divine Discontent IS Divine Direction! Chapter 3, from "God is NOT in the Bible! A Practical Guide for God's 'Choosing' People" by Sandra Rae Hymel

"In reflection I have discovered that it is through our surmounting life's challenges that we are strengthened. I think of the baby chick growing inside the egg and how deformed it would be if 'saved' from the effort of breaking through the shell on its own. ... Somehow our human belief is that life is supposed to be easy, without challenge, pristine and clean. SORRY! ... not so. If Discontent is Divine, does this mean we must seek out painful experiences in order to grow spiritually? ... NOT! ... it does not. What it does mean is that as challenges come to us, instead of covering them over, making believe they do not exist, we embrace them as we grow through them.
"... The reward attained on the spiritual path is finding inner peace even within the chaos, even within the dis-ease, even within feelings of insufficiency. And yet, we are not to worship at the altar of painful memories of that outer event. We are not to worship the pain, or worship the sorrow, and sit at the altar of hate. Let us remember we are first and foremost beings of Light who are called to worship at the altar of love."
You might say in those moments of Divine Discontent ... "what I was experiencing was a 'True Grit' experience. Just like the grit in the oyster is essential to growing the pearl. Divine Discontent urges us to pay attention to the will of God for us. The grit of life is the voice of God trying to get your attention, urging you to get out of your rut, get out of complacency, get out of your comfort zone and get on with your Mother/Father/Creator God's business, because, you see my friend, YOU are God's pearl of great price!"

2008-05-20T10:59:00.003-05:00

"Man never dies. He is as continuous as eternity is continuous. Jesus rightly said that man shall not see death, for there is no death to see or to know.
"Likewise the body of man does not live, and having never lived it cannot die. The spirit alone lives. The body but manifests the spirit." ["The Secret of Light" by Walter Russell]

[ Dear Reader, if you have not yet met the genius of Walter Russell begin by reading: "The Man Who Tapped the Secrets of the Universe" by Glenn Clark. His story and messages can be an inspiration to everyone.]

First of all, I personally believe that there is NO DEATH! The essence of who/what we are, created in the image and likeness of God, is pure Spirit, the Spirit of Love and I had a true AHA = A Holy Awareness on reading the above quote. The aramaic word "meta" translated as "dead" actually means "not present here, but elsewhere."
The piece of Walter's quote that struck me most is "the body of man does not live, and having never lived it cannot die. The spirit alone lives. The body but manifests the spirit."
Our present existence began with the "breath of God/Spirit" and continues to "live" through us until our "last breath" returns to our original Source. What do YOU think?
(Rev.) Sandra

QUEST ... what IS it?

2008-01-22T15:22:00.001-06:00

QUEST ... what IS it? ... QUEST is both a noun ... and ... a verb. A search ... and ... a seeking; an asking ... and ... to pursue, says Webster. And I say to QUEST is to seek and pursue with passion that which we know is attainable, even though others may call us foolish.

Remember the words from Man of La Mancha? "This is my quest to follow that star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far." I believe that a true QUEST is to continue seeking with passionate FAITH, even though the world tells us that to believe in that which we cannot see is FOLLY.

FAITH is FOLLY, the world says, only FACTS are worth seeking. And I say: "Don't confuse me with FACTS ... my FAITH is made up!"

QUESTION ... what is IT? To QUESTION while on the QUEST is to be willing to explore along the way: "unanswered questions and unquestioned answers."

Perhaps a good place to begin is with the QUEST-ion:
1) Do you believe in the spiritual Power called FAITH? ... or do you believe FAITH is FOLLY? I invite you to sit with the question, take it with you during your day and OWN your own answer!

from INNER JOURNEY 1/22/08

Don Quixote, the Man of La Mancha, asked an important question. Who is crazy? Am I crazy because I see the world as it could be or is the world crazy because it sees itself as it appears? A mightygood question and one that is facing us today.

The underlying question is: what do we consider to be the truth? Is the current state of the world, the truth about the human family? Couldn’t any of us pause for a moment, close our eyes, and see another kind of world? Which one is more real, the one that has currently manifested itself or the one in our minds? How we answer the last question will determine the direction of our lives and the state of the world in the days, months, and years to come.

In Love We Journey With You.

Jim and Nancy Rosemergy.God bless you!!! Blessings from Nancy and Jim

Inner Journey http://www.innerjourney.org

HUBBLE REVIEW

2007-11-27T16:25:00.000-06:00