Prayer

Transcending Perceived Limitations

Transcending Perceived Limitations
A metaphysical (or affirmative) prayer with another person shifts the focus
from begging a distant or conscious deity that “hears” our prayers and acts
upon them to actively realizing and affirming together the innate wholeness,
peace, and divine perfection already present within us and those we pray
with, our prayer partner. 
 
We know in Unity we focus on twelve powers as Charles Fillmore deemed
most powerful, with love being one of the strongest. Love is an impression,
a thought, and certainly a vital emotion. If we had a scale to measure love,
it would go from the frivolous, such as “I love ice cream,” I love a certain
book or movie,” to feelings that can bring people to their knees, a loss or a
joy that causes even a non-emotional, non-expressive person to reach out
to another. 
We know from research, from the Bible, world religions, and from our own
human experiences that to care and reach out to another is what this
ultimate force wants us to know. God, Divine energy, Source, Infinite Mind,
Universe and many names to describe it as the ultimate, ever-present
everywhere energy of love and all things positive. Our human bodies were
created to know this, to receive this energy and express it. 
If you are familiar with Gregg Braden, five-times New York Times best-
selling author, scientist, and educator, widely recognized for bridging the
gap between science and spirituality, you know there is much current
research in discovering the heart/brain connection.  Research means have
measured that the heart actually sends more neural signals up to the brain
than the brain sends down to the heart. Rhythms generated by the heart
influence brain areas.
In defining divinity, Braden shifts from the typical religious meaning as an
external force or power to one that embraces our human capacity to
“transcend perceived limitations.” We do not pray to some external power
or being over us, but rather we embrace the same energy of goodness,
love, and light that is everywhere present and a force for our fulfillment. In
this way, we are so powerful in finding the “answers” to our own prayers.
As chaplains in prayer with you, we help you know and embrace the
feelings of love and empowerment that strengthen you.

- Submitted by Prayer Chaplain Joyce Schones