Love’s Call, and Love’s Calling
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Rev. Diana Johnson, IM, RScM, with 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:  |
| 19:33 | Guided Meditation | |
| 45:09 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Rev. Diana Invites the Bell – 3 Bells
Chris – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning, and welcome…if you’re new with us here this morning… my name is Rev. Diana Johnson. We begin our Taizé Journey in musical prayer.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- Let Love Be the Guide, written by Dennis Bryan, Kalyani, and Diana & Chris Johnson
Rev. Diana – The Power of Love is within me, and within each one of us now…forever working for the Good of all beings…bringing rebirth, renewal. We settle into the stillness of this moment…acknowledging the Love within us…bringing our awareness to the heart center…feeling it expand…feeling the Light of Spirit fill the heart to overflowing and making its way out into the rest of the body…making its way into the room…into the world.
We are surrounded by and held in an atmosphere of Divine Love…Love is our inherent nature…the Truth of who we are…the Truth of all creation…no matter the appearances in the world. Love unites us…is an invisible force for Good…a force of connection…all of Life, created in Love. Every human being, every other-than-human animal…everything we see in any direction we look… plants, rocks, soil, and water, expressions of Spirit’s inexhaustible Love…extending our Vision out into the cosmic Mystery…all is God’s Love taken form. Take a moment to breathe in that deep sense of connection…
As a human expression, I Am that Love. Love’s Creative Potential is forever alive in me. What an amazing gift. In humility and gratitude, I acknowledge and give thanks for this amazing experience…living a human life on this beautiful planet, at this time in our history. I give thanks for my connection with All That Is, and for my awareness that this is so.
My consciously chosen response in this lifetime is to give Love in kind…to offer the Love that I Am in every possible direction. I think, speak and act from Love, knowing that by every thought, intention, word, and deed, I am aiding in the rebirth that is happening in our world. My artistic expression of Love leaves the world a more beautiful place…it honors the Creator, as it does the Creation.
This month, our contemplations are centered in The Way of Love, and this morning, we’ll be reflecting on Love’s Call, and Love’s Calling.
I believe each of us to be a perfect and intentional expression of the Divine, created on purpose. Not one of us is an accident of Nature. Nature doesn’t have accidents…God does not make mistakes. As Sacred Beings, each of us has buried within us, as part of our Nature, a Divine Urge…something that Calls us to know the Truth of who and Whose we are…Calls us to become a better version of ourselves today than we were yesterday…Calls us to recognize and accept ourselves as Peace, Power, Joy, and Beauty taken form. This is Love’s Call…we are led by the Great Mystery to know that we are created in God’s image and likeness.
I believe each one of us is not only here on purpose, but here with a Purpose. There is some gift, or set of gifts, that we are meant to share with the world…some part that only we can play. This is Love’s Calling. Again, made in God’s image and likeness, each of us is given choice…free to look for what is ours to do, or not…free to say yes to Love’s Calling, or to say no. And each response will lead us down a different path of experience.
The call of God, the Love that bids us welcome, is always a call to become the true you. Not an imitation of someone else. There is a Jewish proverb, “Before every person there marches an angel proclaiming, ‘Behold, the image of God.’”
Love’s Call nudges us consistently toward knowing ourselves for who we are. And Love’s Calling moves toward the awareness that we are not here for ourselves alone…we are here to Serve. The Christian Scriptures challenge us to “Love your neighbors as you Love yourself.” Love your neighbor as someone made in the image and likeness of the Creator. And relate to yourself as one made in the image and likeness of the Creator. Loving the self is a required balance. If we fail in that, we fail our neighbor, too.
This in no way implies that we always put others first. Neither does it imply that we always put ourselves first. Rather, Love calls us to see self and other as One, and in every circumstance, to ask, “What is mine to do? What would love do now?” Bishop Michael Curry reminds us that “Unselfish, sacrificial living isn’t about ignoring or denying or destroying yourself. It’s about discovering your true self – the self that looks like God – and living life from that grounding.”
Chris – Guided Meditation
At the human level, Love’s Call is a beckoning… an alluring invitation to open our heart… to share ourselves intimately with another… It sparks a flood of feelings within us… affection… joy… desire… and perhaps fear… This rush of emotion may seem overwhelming… we may feel we are being swept away… and in a way, we are…
Human Love is but a faint echo of Call of Divine Love… a limited expression of Spiritual Love… God calls us to open our heart… not just to one… but to all… to share our Authentic Self… with everyone… at all times… to be vulnerable… humble… and to surrender our preferences in service to the Greater Good…
Kahlil Gibran’s Prophet said, “For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth…
“Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast…”
Divine Love’s Calling demands more from us… it requires us to stretch… to grow… to evolve… It transforms us into our Authentic Self… who we are created to be… In our three minutes of shared, Sacred Silence this morning, I invite us to begin by centering ourself in humble self-love… then let us contemplate any barriers to Love we may still have within us… any fears… resistance… worthiness issues… resentments… and place them all on God’s Altar… to be consumed in the Sacred Flame…
Silence – 3:00
Loving Spirit… thank you for giving us the ability to give and receive your Love… Thank you for the Love that fills this place… and that fills the hearts of each blessed soul in our Beloved Community… May we always remember that we are created from Love… May we never forget that Love is what we came here to be…
It has been said that God… Love… doesn’t call the qualified… but rather, when we answer Divine Love’s Calling, Spirit brings forth from within us all the qualities we need… we are transformed from the inside out… As we share that Love with others, they too are changed… and more Love finds its way into the world…
With wide open, loving hearts, we return our attention to Rev. Diana’s Taizé message of Love and Inspiration… knowing that it empowers us to hear Love’s Call, and then to respond by fulfilling Love’s Calling…
Rev. Diana
The ability to love yourself is intimately related to your capacity to love others. Why is this so? Maybe loving others saves us from the confusion, frustration, and ultimately the neurosis that comes when we try to center the world around ourselves. Or perhaps it allows us to step outside the self so that we might see ourselves with some distance, for a better perspective on what’s missing. Or maybe when loving ourselves is hard, practicing loving others strengthens the muscle enough to turn the force inward.
What I know is that the two are related. The challenge is creating a life that allows you to fulfill both needs…to serve self and serve other in balanced measure. And in both, you are serving Life…you are serving God. Sharing pure, unconditional, Godly Love liberates the true self, so that we can more fully live and discover the place where “your deep gladness and the world’s hunger meet.” (Wishful Thinking, Frederick Buechner) A beautiful affirmation to move us into prayer…I live from pure, unconditional, Godly Love, liberating myself to discover where my deep gladness and the world’s hunger meet.
Let’s close in prayer…
Closing Prayer
I settle myself once again in the Loving Presence of Spirit…
I sense and know my Oneness with that Presence…I Am Love embodied…
Love is my inherent Nature…it is who and what I Am…it is why I’m here… My thoughts, words, and actions reflect and express only Love.
In every moment, I Am Called to Love’s gentle prompting…
Running in the background of my awareness is the question, “What would love do now?”
Musical Meditation – What Would Love Do Now by E. Watkins, Jr.
End of prayer…
Everything is either an act of Love, or a call for Love…in the end we know that Love is all that’s Real. And so we move into the week with hearts and minds grounded in the Love of Spirit…allowing ourselves to be refreshed and renewed on this first Sunday of the Lenten Season…and releasing all that does not Serve Love in the world.
I celebrate and rejoice in the Love that fills me to overflowing, always available and freely given. I release it into the world, serving as a willing conduit for Divine Love. And I Am grateful that as I release this prayer, it is fulfilled. Wholeness is restored. I Am at Peace. And So It Is! Amen!
We bring our awareness back to our bodies…to this space…and to our Community. As you feel ready, gently open your eyes and look around… really see the Love that surrounds you here this morning.
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 are an independent, self-supporting organization, and your financial gifts are what make it possible for us to do our work and provide this beautiful and safe space to gather.
As we engage in the Sacred Practice of Circulation, know with me that Love is Still…even in these challenging times…and always will be…the Answer.
Offertory Video – Love Is The Answer, by England Dan and John Ford Coley https://youtu.be/oWLNgO5tV7A
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering
A couple of quick notes…we have three tickets left for the St. Patty’s Day Dinner and Dance.
April will be starting another trip around the wheel on March 22nd. And remember that every trip around the wheel brings something new.
Our Spring Fling Luncheon and Easter Basket Raffle is happening on April 12th. There are more details in the March Bulletin.
Feel free to grab a cup of something hot and join us at 10:30 for a Conscious Conversation. Remember, when you hear Eddie Watkins singing, it’s time to Come Together.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Conscious Conversation
Chris – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Welcome or welcome back and thank you for being here. If you’re new with us here this morning…my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director of Mystical Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. It is my sincere hope that something you hear this morning will lead you back to the Wisdom and Guidance of your own Mystic Heart.
Let’s get our Conversation started by joining our voices in song and giving our bodies a chance to wake up!
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
- Let Your Love Flow, written by Lawrence Eugene Williams, recorded by the Bellamy Brothers
Rev. Diana – Let’s take a moment to consciously engage the body in the Sacred Practice of Visioning for a Love-Soaked World. Take a deep breath…feeling the Presence of Love moving through…and let it go. One more time…and release.
Feel and know with me a world in which all humans are living from their deepest Wisdom, their most generous and Loving nature…thoughtful of the impact their thoughts, words, and actions have on one another, on the community, and on the planet…remembering that every thought, word, and action does have an impact…does leave an imprint…
We are living in Peace, in our homes, our neighborhoods, and as a global community. We have outgrown war, violence, and all appearances of separation.
This is a world where all needs are met gracefully and easily because we have learned to live according to our generous nature…where all beings have plenty of nourishing food…warm, comfortable, and affordable housing…a sense of safety and belonging……where mental/physical health, education, and healthy relationships are ensured by social systems grounded in Integrity and Wholeness…where honesty and transparency rule the day…
We are creating a world where each person is valued as the unique individual that they are…where authenticity and vulnerability are welcomed, and celebrated…a world where loving relationships are the norm, and each person is free to love as they choose…a world where there are no walls or boundaries to divide us, where all are welcome…
Sense and know with me a world where the Peace we cultivate within ourselves shows up as a world free of hatred or violence…Feel the loving connection to each other and to Mother Earth. Our ways of living support her and she supports us. We are creating a world where you can step and smell pure fresh air – no matter where you are…where the water and food are safe and healthy, offering nourishment, no matter where you live.
Throughout this time of deep transformation, this Community stands as an open and welcoming place for all who seek support, belonging, and a sense of Family…it redefines Church as a place of Self-Discovery, Authenticity, Kindness, Friendship, and Love, as we are Guided to the Truth that lies within every heart.
Stand with me in this imaginal realm…the realm of Infinite Possibility, where our prayers and visions take form…and feel the Peace, Joy, and Love that surround us…that fill us to overflowing. We are bringing this world forth with our thoughts and intentions, our feelings, our words and actions right now.
I offer gratitude and thanksgiving to the Great Mystery of the Universe, trusting in Its Creative Power and Divine Process to bring our shared Vision to Life. In humility, I let it be…I release my Word to the one who gets it done. And so it is. Amen
Let’s take a moment to bask in that creative and powerful energy…look around to say good morning to your Spiritual Family.
If you were with us for Taizé this morning, you’ll know that our topic for reflection and conversation this month is The Way of Love, and this morning’s title is Love’s Call, and Love’s Calling.
We opened to these Truths…each of us is a perfect and intentional expression of the Divine, created on purpose. As Sacred Beings, have buried within us, a Divine Urge…something that Calls us to know the Truth of who and Whose we are…Calls us to become a better version of ourselves today than we were yesterday…Calls us to recognize and accept ourselves as Spirit in form. This is Love’s Call…we are led by the Great Mystery to know that we are created in God’s image and likeness.
And that we are not only here on purpose, but here with a Purpose. This is Love’s Calling. We are free to look for what is ours to do, or not…free to say yes to Love’s Calling, or to say no. And each response will lead us down a different path of experience.
So, Love’s Call nudges us consistently toward knowing ourselves for who we are. And Love’s Calling moves toward the awareness that we are not here for ourselves alone…we are here to Serve.
This in no way implies that we always put others first. Neither does it imply that we always put ourselves first. Rather, Love calls us to find a balance, and in every circumstance, to ask, “What is mine to do?
The world needs big changes right now, in every sector of life. And as self-reflective, choice-making beings, it is ours to lead the way in making those changes…whether we like it or not. We all know in our hearts that the way we are living, the way we in the Western world are using resources and treating our planet is not sustainable. And yet, we like things the way they are. Don’t we? Most of us here are pretty comfortable. Don’t upset my apple cart.
And that’s natural to want to be comfortable. That’s not the problem. The problem is our attachment to our level of comfort, to our preferences and how we let it affect us emotionally when we can’t have things the way we want them. If we’re not careful, we can take things for granted…get used to how things are, and even refuse to make simple changes that collectively, would make a difference. We know that it was Einstein who said you can do what you’ve always done and expect to get different results. That’s his definition of insanity.
So, here we are, each of us with our preferences and our reasons for not changing things that need adjustment. We have other reasons, beyond discomfort, or not wanting to. Sometimes we don’t know what to do…the problems seem so big. We feel like nothing we do can make any real difference. We may not feel like we have anything to offer, or we are afraid of how our lives may change…of how we may change…as a result. And uncertainty can be frightening.
But I want to let you in on a little secret…God doesn’t Call the qualifies. God qualifies the Called.
What does that mean?
What does it take to step out on that limb, although we might feel unsure of what to do, or unqualified to do it?
You know that Chris and I have been involved with bringing food to the mission for over three years. This spring will make our 4th Farmers’ Market Season, and our third year for saving bread from the dumpster and getting it to people. And more recently we have become involved in the Goodwater Crossing Micro shelter Project.
What do you think the benefits of this work have been? (deeper gratitude for what I have, and for the relative comfort in my life; the revealing of my personal prejudices and biases; the melting of assumptions that I had about the unhoused population; an expansion of unconditional Love and Acceptance of people wherever they are)
Who is getting more out of this Work…me or those who are being served?
I would say me…and I think they would say they are. It’s a win-win.
Do you think it was comfortable to step forward and ask the farmers at the market if they had anything they wanted to send to the mission, seeing a bit of suspicion or questioning in their eyes?
People did look at me funny at first, like “who are you?”
But I set the discomfort aside and just kept showing up.
I remember going out to the camps with our first round of Christmas Packages. Do you think I was completely comfortable? No, I was incredibly grateful that April was by my side 😊 But it didn’t take long before the discomfort melted away.
What is it that takes the fear away in new situations?
What is it that takes our biases and prejudices about people away?
I’d like to share a 4-minute video with you, and then we’ll continue our conversation. Okay?
Nick Vujicic “No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!”
Anyone care to share your thoughts?
That man’s life has purpose. Yours may not look like his…it’s not supposed to. But your purpose, your gifts and talents, and the inspiration you provide to others, is uniquely yours.
We are here to Love. We are here to Serve. Is there something holding you back from stepping out in a bigger way?
This year’s theme reminds us that our perceived limitations and reasons for not stepping out are all part of a story the mind has created…a story that we may have been handed and adopted as Truth. But our stories are not the Truth of who we are.
This is the first Sunday of the Lenten Season…a time for releasing what no longer serves us and embracing change…renewal…new life…and new stories.
Would anyone like to share something that you are letting go of, or a new story you are writing?
Is there anything else that wants to be spoken right now?
Alright, let’s close in prayer, shall we?
I take a deep breath in, filling my lungs with life-giving oxygen…and holding it just a bit, as Presence makes Itself known…and breathing out, letting go of all that is not Peace, all that is not Presence…
Sensing and knowing the Powerful Love of the One…
Allowing It to fill body, mind, soul, and spirit with Its Presence…
Knowing that in Truth, I Am never separate from It…as It Lives Its Life as me, I live my Life in the One. There is no place where I end, and Spirit begins.
I move into this week grounded in the Divine Qualities that are my Nature… Wholeness, Radiance, Joy, Peace, and Beauty…
And let us not forget Love…pure, unconditional, Agape Love.
I begin each day remembering the two great Commandments…Love God above all else and Love your neighbor as yourself. And even more challenging than those, love your enemies…bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Everyone is my neighbor…in Truth, I have no enemies, only teachers.
I am grateful for my growing awareness, and for my willingness to continue to grow and change.
I welcome new opportunities and teachers for the gifts that they are.
And I set aside my discomfort and attachments…I allow Spirit to clean the lenses of my biases…as I seek to awaken to the Truth of our Oneness with each other…and our Oneness with God.
I am grateful for each person sharing this time with me, and for the gifts that each one brings into my life.
I Am grateful for the simple pleasures and comforts that Grace my life…I welcome and appreciate them as they appear, then release them into the flow of Life.
And I Am so grateful to share in authentic, Loving Community with these beautiful souls. I Am truly blessed.
Feeling complete in my Word, I release it, knowing that a prayer spoken in Faith and deeply felt is a prayer answered. So I rest now, allowing it to simply be.
And so it is! Amen!
Feel free to bring your awareness back to your body, to your senses, and then into our shared space…and as you feel ready, gently open your eyes and take in whatever is before you. Your partners on the Journey, your chosen Family.
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 are an independent, self-supporting organization, and your financial gifts are what make it possible for us to do our work and provide this beautiful and safe space to gather. We thank you in advance for your generous hearts. We acknowledge and give thanks for the Infinite Abundance of Spirit moving through you. And as you give, so is it done onto you.
Offertory Video – Love Will Find a Way, by Michael Franti
Chris – Blessing for the Offering
Chris –Invitations
- The Mystic Heart Book Club meets every Tuesday from 3-5 We are reading Conversations With God, Book 3.
- Fast Track to Wellness meets every Thursday from noon to 2 pm.
- Metaphysical Bible meets every Thursday from 3-5 pm. We are currently reading The Gospel of Thomas.
- Patty’s Day Dinner and Dance Party! Friday, March 14th , 6:00 – 9:00 pm at the Mystic Heart Gathering Place. There are only a couple of tickets left. Get them today if you want them. The cost for this fun-filled evening is $30/person.
Looking Ahead:
- A Spring Medicine Wheel Workshop with April Jiménez, Saturday, March 22nd, 11:00 am-1:00. Back by popular demand, this begins April’s second trip around the wheel with Mystic Heart. Suggested Donation: $20.
- Spring Fling Luncheon, Concert, and Easter Basket Raffle – Saturday, April 12 from 12:00-3:00 pm. Join Lucinda Alton, Chris Netto, and Rev. Diana for this Fantastical Fun-Raising Celebration of Spring. Home-made soup, salad, bread and dessert will be served. Dalton Fitzgerald will be offering a fun selection of musical entertainment. We will be raffling off Easter Baskets. And you are invited to dress up in whatever Springtime Attire you choose…even costumes based on the Fantasy Theme. The cost is $25. Tickets will be available on March 30th.
There is more information available in the March Bulletin and on our website.
Information Cards only if new people
Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, in our beautiful Prayer Room or fill out a prayer card and I will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Closing Song
Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein, RScP, & Gary Lynn Floyd
©2025 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.