VISION: A Center For Spiritual Living

Rev. Patti Paris - "A New Me"

The Divine feminine energy is creative, growing, patient, waiting. We are charged with learning, growing, becoming- we are the vessel through which the Universe experiences life. And it is always looking for the next thing.
In order to have something new, we must be willing to release what we have now. We can`t turn the page if we`re stuck on the last chapter. And the story is going to change. So we can embrace it, grow with it, and enjoy the journey- or, we can go kicking and screaming into it. Either way, it is going to change.

Rev. Patti Paris: "A New Thought"

Everything begins in Mind. It is the thought behind the thing that drives it. Realization of a thing proceeds the manifestation of that thing- we must embody a greater idea and make it welcome before it can appear.

The activity is Mind, the Law makes it so. We must be steadfast in our knowing. Absolutely grounded in the greater Truth of our lives, regardless of circumstances or criticism, either from the Voice of the World, or the voice in our head.

Rev Patti Paris- "To The Moments"

We must surrender completely to the moments as they pass, by releasing the judgement of good or bad events. Pain brings us into the present moment, but that`s no way to live. We can make the choice to have nowhere else to be, to be with what is before us, fully aware, always.
Time is a human construct. We know this because we can alter the flow of time in our experience. Being in love, we can miss hours of the clock as our hearts and minds are fully engaged with someone. We can do this anywhere.

Alan Olson, RScP - "Surrendering Stress As A Choice"

Stress can cause any number of physical ailments, it is a western plague. We must remember that stress comes from impatience, a sense of "doingness" where we feel out of control. In that mind set we often blow the moment, and our day passes us by unfulfilled.
We must be at choice in our decisions. We can choose to use traffic or waiting in line as a time for quality time: listen to a book on tape, engage in a conversation, contemplate our spiritual hero`s activities and how we would emulate them. We can choose fulfilling experiences, when we know we are at choice.

Rev. Patti Paris - "Surrender, Don't Give Up"

Surrender, is not quitting. Giving up means there is no hope for future growth. Surrender opens the door to unlimited possibilities.
We live as if we are in control, but we must remember, we are not in charge. We can select our clothes, and our plan for the day but the weather, and other people, this we cannot control. And when the outcome does not match the plan, we can get crazy trying to regain the illusion that we are in charge of the whole situation. Surrender is trusting the Universe has our backs.

Rev. Patti Paris - "To A Greater Good"

Surrender is not failure, it is allowing a greater idea the room it needs to come forth. We must let go of the smallness of who we thought we were, or who others told us we were, of what we think is possible. Give up those "lesser" thoughts, and be open to a greater expression of the Divine Life through us!
We can eliminate that which is no longer needed, which no longer serves, or was never true to begin with, and transform out lives into something better. We are called to know our Wholeness in the tension of dualism; where we know of ourselves as Spirit, and walk in this world.

Rev. Patti Paris - "Now Is The Time"

Mindfulness is not getting lost in the past or the future, but in knowing that right here and right now is the only place we can show love, express joy and feel the power which transforms our lives. We cannot change the world, we can only take responsibility for our corner of it, and do our work. Positive change will spread like ripples in a pond.
We must stand in our truth, regardless of conditions. We do not protest hate, we demonstrate love. We do not fear lack, we embody abundance. We never "fight" the the appearance of duality. We stand in our truth.

Peter Bolland - "Two Ways of Knowing"

Peter Bolland, guest speaker and friend of VISION CSL, gives an examination of Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna's distinction between ordinary knowledge and transcendent knowledge (prajna), and the unbreakable link between wisdom and compassion.

Rev. Patti Paris - "The Power of Present Tense"

There is only power in this moment. We cannot change the past, only change our minds about it. And the future is being directed only by our current choices. We collapse the infinite potential down when we decide it, by the power of choices.
Our word is the power of our lives. We should be conscious, and mindful of the "I AM" statements we are issuing: I AM broke, I AM sick, I AM lonely... NO!! We are ONE with the limitless Joy, Peace, Prosperity and Health of the Divine creative universe. What we think, what we say, reflects back as our lives. So we are tasked with being conscious and aware of our creation.

Rev. Patti Paris - "Be Here Now"

When we are aware and engaged in all aspects of life, we know that the present moment is all we have. The only place we can change our thinking is here and now. If we are dwelling in fear or doubt, we are preoccupied with the past or trying to figure out the future- and that`s not our job! Spirit is present independent of Time, Space or Form. So we align with that which KNOWS. We touch that place within, and then acting with power and authority in the Universal Here and the Ever Present Now, we speak our truth. And we know that all is well.