Celebrating Humanity, Practicing Divinity
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Rev. Diana Johnson, with Sherri Dotter, RScP, & Chris Johnson, RScP.
Video Chapter Index
| 0:00 | Taizé | Clicking on a chapter link will play the segment in a new YouTube tab. Your link to this page will remain open in this tab, but the video will play in the new window. Clicking on the Play arrow in the video screen above will play both Taizé and the Conscious Conversation on this page. To make the picture bigger, you may click the full screen icon in the lower right corner:  To cast the video to your Smart TV, click the Play on TV button:  . Also, we now have Closed Captioning available! To access Closed Captions, start the video and click on the CC icon next to the gear in the lower right of the video screen:  |
| 19:42 | Guided Meditation | |
| 47:40 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Rev. Diana – We follow the sound of the bell inward … 3 Bells
Sherri – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning. If you’re new with us here this morning, my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director of Mystic Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. We open our doors in welcome, trusting that you will be led to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart. We begin our Taizé with Musical Prayer.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- Shivaya, written by Karl Anthony
Rev. Diana – I move into the stillness (Pause) …allowing the breath to rise and fall…allowing it to slow and become silent…feeling the Presence of the One…and using the Power of Inner Vision to connect with our Global Community.
Together, we sense and tune into the web of consciousness that surrounds and infuses the planet…each of us a radiant point of Light in that web…trusting that all beings carry and express the Divine Spark…every human being, without exception…every animal, plant, and microbe…every rock and grain of sand, every drop of water, radiating the One Perfect Light…each and every part of Creation, a thread in the tapestry that is Creation…all necessary, all Divine, all a part of the one Light, the one Life.
As we acknowledge our connection with all of life, we are empowered…our Work on behalf of the Whole is empowered.
Our collective prayer and meditation leave an imprint of Peace, Compassion, and Grace, on the world…we are contributing to a Great Transformation.
This month, we are considering what it means to Celebrate Divinity, while Practicing Humanity. And this morning, we’re turning it upside down as we center our contemplation on Celebrating Humanity, Practicing Divinity.
What does it mean to celebrate being human? Maybe it involves a willingness to experience all of what Life has to offer, fully and completely…to be present to whatever is in front of us so that we are truly awake and aware as we move through our days.
Maybe it means being present with what we are feeling, as we are feeling it… allowing it to move through us without resistance or self-criticism…welcoming the messages they bring…following their Guidance…the full range of emotions…from joy to sorrow…from relief to distress…from confidence to fear…from deep satisfaction to extreme disappointment.
Could it be that Celebrating Humanity includes being in Service to Life, fully and completely?…recognizing that we are here to support and take care of one another…being good stewards of our planet and her beings…living life as a beneficial presence…leaving the world a more beautiful place than we found it, in whatever ways speak to our hearts.
What if Celebrating Humanity means providing the Infinite One with the most authentic and complete experience possible of what it’s like to be human…in all of our uniqueness and diversity…and in all of our messiness…and through it all, being grateful for every breath, for the gift of this life and the privilege of being a human expression of Divinity. Maybe Celebrating Humanity requires us to Practice our Divinity.
One of the most beautiful pieces of writing about Celebrating Humanity comes to us from Henry David Thoreau.
I went to the woods, because I wished to live deliberately, to face only the essential facts of life and to see if I could not learn what it had to teach. I did not want, when I came to die, to discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life. To cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner and reduce it to its lowest terms. If life proved to be mean – why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it and publish its meanness to the world. Or if it were sublime, to know it by experience and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.[1]
We need not go to the woods to live life fully…deliberately. We need only be present…experience fully whatever is before us…feel deeply…serve whole-heartedly…appreciate the gift of this precious life…stay awake to who we are here to be and be that.
Chris – Guided Meditation
Celebrating our humanity may imply gratitude that we were born human… that our soul took form as a self-aware, feeling, thinking being… Thankful that we have some self-determination… that we do not have to live by our instincts alone… we can make plans, set goals, and work toward a better future for ourselves…
When used in the plural, humanities refer to areas of study that relate to human life… art… music… history… literature… theater… philosophy… We celebrate humanities every time we go to a play… a museum… a concert… or read a book… Humanities themselves are a celebration of the vast range of human experience…
Humanity also may refer to the quality of being kind, compassionate, and understanding… helping someone in need… In this sense, our humanity may arise from a deeply felt sense of oneness… an inner knowing that the other being is just like us… perhaps even another part of our very Self…
All of these aspects of humanity are worthy of celebration… to be born human… to share in the rich experiences of human beings throughout the ages… and to reach out to other people… to acknowledge our interdependence… to feel connected to others… and to know that connection arises from our shared Divinity…
When we practice our divinity… through meditation… prayer… study… self-reflection… Sacred Service… we feel that connection more deeply… the Unity of all Life becomes palpable… we know that the Spirit within us is the same Spirit that dwells in everyone… As we share our three minutes of Sacred Silence today, I invite you to embrace the Divine Spark within you… and to reach out in consciousness to others… feel your connection with others… and expand it to include more and more… celebrating our shared humanity…
Silence – 3:00
O, Holy… guide me… Let me always hear your voice inside me… and see your face in others… Thank you for this experience of Unity… for the marvelous diversity of expression of this Sacred Life… Thank you for blessing this Beloved Community… may we never forget who and whose we are…
Practice leads directly to celebration… Practicing humanity makes us better humans… Practicing Divinity brings greater connection with Life… and this greater fulfillment is worth celebrating indeed!…
As Rev. Diana offers her prayer, we receive it in new ways… sensing its origin in our Oneness, we allow it to change us… to grow us… to evolve all aspects of our being… as we continue Celebrating Humanity, Practicing Divinity…
Rev. Diana – Closing Prayer
There is One Life, One Source of all that is. Called by many names, It is beyond labels…It simply Is.
I Am, each one of us, is here by Divine Appointment…for a purpose. I need not know how or why Spirit chose to experience Itself…Themselves…as me. I need only be about my Father’s Business, which is to Celebrate my Humanity as I Practice my Divinity.
I Am here to experience all of life, whole-heartedly. (Pause) I Am here to feel the full range of human emotions…to welcome them as my teachers…to learn from them and allow them to Guide me. (Pause) I Am here to Serve all of Life, fully and completely, in whatever ways I Am Called, to the greatest of my abilities and capacities…to be so fully used up at the end of this Journey that I can lie down peacefully, knowing I gave Spirit the ride of Its Life. (Pause) I Am here to feel and know what it is to be grateful for this magnificent gift of Life, and to express my thanks in countless ways. (Pause) And in all of it, I Am here to be the most authentic me I can, so that Spirit might know fulfillment by means of my life. Through my experiencing and Serving, I Am co-creating Life, becoming part of Its unfolding and evolving.
Thank you, Spirit, for the dawning of an ever-greater Awareness, in myself and in the world…for a deeper connection with my Divine Nature and for seeing the Sacred in everything and everyone. Thank you for this beautiful day and these amazing people…my chosen family. And thank you for the many, many gifts that shower down upon me and through my life every day.
I allow the Powerful Presence of God to work through me…I invite Its Guidance and Wisdom to lead me, and Its Radiance to light my way.
And I allow the music to move me.
- Musical Meditation – In My Awakening, by Karl Anthony
In my Awakening, I Am grateful for every little thing…for those circumstances that look like the good stuff of life, and those that challenge me to grow in strength, compassion, resilience, integrity, and love.
Together, we release this prayer, trusting that it has already done its work. A prayer spoken, with feeling and a deep sense of faith, is a prayer answered. And so, I let it be…and so it is. Amen.
We gently return our awareness to our bodies, connecting once again with our senses…noticing the sounds in the room…allowing the eyes to gently open and taking in whatever is before you.
Feel free to look around and say good morning to everyone who is here celebrating with you this morning. This is your Spiritual Family…one of your support systems. These are some of the people who care about you and are there for.
Rev. Diana – Love Offering
As we close our Taizé Meditation, we offer the opportunity for you to share your financial good in support of the work we do in the world.
If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button and our mailing address at mysticheart.org. We thank you in advance for your gifts. We acknowledge and give thanks for the infinite abundance of Spirit.
Offertory Music – I Believe, Soja – featuring Michael Franti & Nahko
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering
Rev, Diana & Chris – Taizé Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Conscious Conversation
(Upbeat) Opening Prayer – Sherri
Rev. Diana – Good morning… and welcome, or welcome back…and welcome to those joining online. If you’re new with us here this morning… my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor here at Mystic Heart. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. We open our doors in welcome, trusting that you will be led to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Opening Music
- Welcome to the Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- One Big Family, written by Robin Hackett & Gary Lynn Floyd
- I’m a Believer, written by Neil Diamond
Rev. Diana – So let’s take a creative journey…calling upon the full power of both mind and heart…engaging the body…and joining with one another in the imaginal realm, in service to the creation of a Love-Soaked World.
See and feel with me now, a world in which all beings live from their Highest Potential…from Kindness, Generosity, Peace, Compassion, Joy, and Beauty.
In this world of our creation, all people honor, respect, and care for one another, for all of the life forms that share this beautiful planet with us, and for Mother Earth Herself.
We remember that we are connected to all of Life… that we are dependent on the planet to sustain us, and on one another.
By aligning every thought, word, and action with our Vision, we are creating a world in which all people are well-fed… have the safety and comfort of home and a deep sense of purpose and belonging…a world in which health, education, and healthy relationships are supported by social systems grounded in Integrity, Compassion and Wholeness.
Valuing every being for its uniqueness… we practice living truly Authentic lives where vulnerability is celebrated… there is no need to defend or protect. The work we are doing within ourselves shows up as a world free of hatred and violence.
We recognize and appreciate the abundance that surrounds us… greed is a thing of the past, generosity is the norm, and all beings gratefully receive all that is needed to live physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fulfilling lives.
The planet and its beings thrive like never before as we recognize the sacred in everyone and everything…we walk in reverence, humility, and gratitude for all that we have been given.
We are creating a new world moment by moment, aligning our actions with our Vision, living these changes first in our own lives, with our families, friends, and neighbors. One neighborhood, one community at a time, a new world is being born. In this process of profound change, this Beloved Community stands as an open and welcoming place for all who seek support, belonging, Family.
By the power of our deep faith and inspired action, this prayer is acted upon, answered even as it is spoken, for Spirit knows our heart’s desire and intent. In full expectation of its Graceful unfolding, and with the deepest humility and gratitude, we release our Word to the Creative Power and Intelligence that I call God… to the One that gets it done… And so it is!… Amen!
Our theme this month is Celebrating Divinity, Practicing Humanity and the topic of Conversation today is going to flip that upside down… Celebrating Humanity, Practicing Divinity.
This morning during Taizé, I shared some reflections about what it could mean to Celebrate Humanity. I gave a lot of focus to Celebrating our individual humanity, our personal expression of Divinity. We sat with the idea that maybe Celebrating our humanness has something to do with experiencing all of what Life has to offer, fully and completely…with being present with what we are feeling, as we are feeling it… allowing it to move through us without resistance or self-criticism…welcoming their messages and following their Guidance.
Maybe it means being in Service to Life, recognizing that we are here to support and take care of one another…being good stewards of our planet and her beings…living life as a beneficial presence…leaving the world a more beautiful place than we found it, in whatever ways speak to our hearts.
We considered that it might involve providing Spirit with the most authentic and complete experience possible of what it’s like to be human…in all of our uniqueness, diversity, and messiness…and through it all, being grateful for every breath, for the gift of this life and the privilege of being a human expression of Divinity.
All of that said, I’d like to turn attention to a different lens for Celebrating Humanity. I’d like to have a Conversation about Humanity as a collective.
Seen through that lens, what might Celebrating Humanity look like?
(being kind; smiling and looking other people in the eyes; serving a humanitarian cause; anything done consciously and intentionally to support the health, welfare, and happiness of other people); learning about other cultures with the intention of building understanding; putting yourself in another’s shoes – What’s it like to be you?; treating others with respect, etc.)
With that as our definition, how much conscious attention and time do you give to Celebrating Humanity?
What kinds of things do you do?
What is one new thing you could do that would stretch you?
It’s easy to become jaded when I look at the world and its endless challenges. Do you ever find yourself asking, “What’s wrong with those people?”
There’s nothing wrong with them…they’re human, that’s all. Just like you and me. We are perfectly imperfect…we make mistakes…we suffer pain and trauma, and then inflict it on others in varying degrees.
Is this where our focus best serves us…giving attention to the apparent flaws in other people, or groups of people?
Why not?
As part of a Jewish Wedding Ceremony, the couple completes the ritual by breaking their wine glasses and shouting mazel tov.
Do you know what that ritual is about?
By breaking the glass, the newlyweds are celebrating each other’s imperfections. They’re saying, “I’m so happy I’m marrying a human being. I love you, flaws and all.”
What makes relationships with others exciting and meaningful is that each of us has unique strengths and gifts, as well as unique flaws and imperfections. But what a joy to grow older with someone who is still forming, changing, learning, and evolving — sometimes in surprising ways.
What makes humanity so exciting and meaningful is our differences.
Wouldn’t it be boring if we were all the same?
What is one quality that we could grow to promote the Celebrating of Humanity? (Openness, acceptance, welcome, respect, honoring, curiosity, exploration, compassion, caring, service, etc.)
And aren’t those Spiritual Qualities? Aren’t we automatically Practicing Divinity when we’re Celebrating Humanity?
Have there been any insights this morning…any a-ha’s that want to be shared?
Is there anything else that needs to be spoken into the room?
I spoke these words last week, and I’d like to repeat them today for anyone who missed last week’s Gathering. Besides, a little repetition never hurt anyone, right? Let’s allow the eyes to gently close as we listen.
It is ours to make the Journey of coming to know the world as a Spiritual one, to know ourselves as individual extensions of the Divine, and to practice living as though this were True…to treat others with Love and Compassion; to put our faith in Wholeness; to become Peaceful within ourselves so that we might bring a greater Peace to the world; to know our own Power and use it with care and humility; to see the Beauty in ourselves, in others, and in the world; to do the things that make us Joyful, and to seek to bring Joy to others; to trust in our inherent Freedom; and to take time to feel and know the Grace that is forever moving through our lives. This is our Work. Did you write it down? You don’t need to write it down. It is already written on your hearts…you and I both know deep down what is ours to do. And being here this morning is taking a huge step in that direction. Let’s close in prayer. I re-state the Affirmative Prayer that I shared in Taizé, allowing it to move more deeply into my being.
Closing Prayer…
There is One Life, One Source of all that is. Called by many names, It is beyond labels…It simply Is.
I Am, each one of us, is here by Divine Appointment…for a purpose. I need not know how or why Spirit chose to experience Itself…Themselves…as me. I need only be about my Father’s Business, which is to Celebrate my Humanity as I Practice my Divinity.
I Am here to experience all of life, whole-heartedly. (Pause) I Am here to feel the full range of human emotions…to welcome them as my teachers…to learn from them and allow them to Guide me. (Pause) I Am here to Serve all of Life, fully and completely, in whatever ways I Am Called, to the greatest of my abilities and capacities…to be so fully used up at the end of this Journey that I can lie down peacefully, knowing I gave Spirit the ride of Its Life. (Pause) I Am here to feel and know what it is to be grateful for this magnificent gift of Life, and to express my thanks in countless ways. (Pause)
And in all of it, I Am here to be the most authentic me I can, so that Spirit might know fulfillment by means of my life. Through my experiencing and Serving, I Am co-creating Life, becoming part of its unfolding and evolving.
Thank you, Spirit, for the dawning of an ever-greater Awareness, in myself and in the world…for a deeper connection with my Divine Nature and for seeing the Sacred in everything and everyone. Thank you for this beautiful day and these amazing people…my chosen family. And thank you for the many, many gifts that shower down upon me and through my life every day.
I allow the Powerful Presence of God to work through me…I invite Its Guidance and Wisdom to lead me, and Its Radiance to light my way.
In my Awakening, I Am grateful for every little thing…for those circumstances that look like the good stuff of life, and those that challenge me to grow in strength, compassion, resilience, integrity, and love.
Together, we release this prayer, trusting that it has already done its work. A prayer spoken, with feeling and a deep sense of faith, is a prayer answered. And so, I let it be…and so it is. Amen.
We gently return our awareness to our bodies, connecting once again with our senses…noticing the sounds in the room…allowing the eyes to gently open and taking in whatever is before you.
Rev. Diana – Love Offering
I invite you to join in the celebration of the work we are doing in the world by sharing of your financial Good, should you choose to.
If you are at home, you can go to mysticheart.org to use our Donate Button or to find our mailing address.
We also have a Gracious Giving Program for those who would like to make a heartfelt monthly commitment of support so that we can more effectively budget and plan for our growth.
As we receive your gifts today, celebrate the many flavors of humanity as we reach for Higher Ground.
Offertory Music: Higher Ground, written by Stevie Wonder, performed by Playing for Change
https://youtu.be/3hGSqqhhokE?list=RDEMPu5npKYjBQbYJlm-cabI9g
Sherri – Blessing for the Offering
Sherri – Brief Invitations
- The Mystic Heart Book Club meets on Tuesdays from 3-5 pm. We are reading Conversations With God, Book 2 by Neale Donald Walsch.
- Fast Track to Wellness meets on Thursdays, from 12:00-2:00 pm. If you’d like support in your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body’s journey, you might want to check it out.
- Metaphysical Bible meets on Thursdays from 3:00 – 5:00 pm to continue our exploration of the Book of Revelation.
- Please join April Jimenez-WinterSky this Saturday, September 21st from 11am to 1:00 pm for part 3 of the Dancing the Wheel Workshop. Contact April at 562-440-3785 to register in advance. She will be putting together materials in the coming weeks. The suggested donation is $20.
Mark Your Calendars…
- The Mystic OAKS group invites you to join them for a return trip to Dakaro Vineyards, this time for wine tasting and Pizza! Saturday, October 12th, 12:00 – 4:30 pm. Wine tasting is free, purchase of a bottle of wine is appreciated. Cost of pizza will be shared among participants. Contact Chris Netto for more information.
- Inviting Cultures Beyond Borders, Saturday October 19th, 10 am – 2 pm: Join us for a real Celebration of Humanity at the Sikh Center in Anderson. Mystic Heart will have a booth and be in charge of recycling. This is always an enriching experience celebrating diversity and Unity. There is free food flowing all day long, speakers from a variety of traditions, and Sikh Martial Arts demonstrations, just to name a few. Please contact Rev. Diana to sign up to help out. You won’t be sorry you spent the day in Celebration of Humanity!
- Mystic Heart Fall Book & Bake Sale, October 25 – 26
- You are invited to bring your gently used books, as well as music CD’s record albums, and DVD’s to Mystic Heart during regular gathering times. Also, Calling All Bakers…we will be setting up a table filled with your individual cookies, cupcakes, muffins, rice-crispy treats…whatever strikes your fancy. Contact Rev. Diana if you can help.
- Namaste Café! Friday, December 6th, 6:30 – 9:00 pm at the Mystic Heart Gathering Place. Join Mystic Heart for its first Open-Mic Night. Anything (positive) goes at this evening of sharing our time, talent, creativity, and love. And it will be held in our new space! Appetizers, desserts, and beverages will be provided. Suggested donation: $10 – $20 per person. Mark your calendars…tell your friends. More info to come.
There is more information available in the September Bulletin and on our website.
Information Cards if new people
Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, or fill out a prayer card and I will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer – We invite everyone to help us make a private space for prayer here in the Sanctuary by joining us next door for lunch
Rev. Diana & Chris – Closing Song
- Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein & Gary Lynn Floyd
Notes:
[1] Henry David Thoreau: Walden; or Life in the Woods; 1854
©2024 Mystic Heart Spiritual Center, All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to duplicate for non-commercial educational use only.
All rights to music performed remain with the copyright owners.
Diana Johnson’s music is © by Barefoot Angel Publishing, ASCAP.
Chris Johnson’s music is © by SeaJay Music & Publishing, ASCAP.