The Grace in Belonging
Sunday, November 2, 2025
Rev. Diana Johnson, IM, RScM, with Sherri Doter, RScP, and 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:  |
| 18:03 | Guided Meditation | |
| 48:48 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Call to Awareness – 3 Bells
Sherri – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Welcome…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 Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality, tracing the common threads of Truth that run through the world’s spiritual traditions. I trust that this morning will lead you to the Guidance and Wisdom that lie within your own Mystic Heart.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- I Just Want to Thank You, written by Narayan and Janet Baltzo
Rev. Diana – We come together this morning as a Community, in deep gratitude for the Power of collective prayer and meditation, and what it brings to bear on the world. Settling into the stillness, I breathe…bringing awareness to the breath…allowing it to ground me…fully present in the here and now…feeling the Presence of the One Life, moving through and all around me…sensing and knowing that I Am an expression of that Life…intentionally made, and here by design…part of an Infinite Field of Awareness, a vast web of Consciousness that surrounds and infuses the planet. It is alive…and within Its Life, and by Its Power, I live.
I Am an expression of Spirit…connected to everything and everyone else. Every human and other-than-human creature, every plant and microbe, every rock and grain of sand, every drop of water…part of one Sacred Whole…a thread in the tapestry that is Creation…all necessary, all Holy, all a part of the one Light, the one Life, the one Source. As I sense my connection with all of life, I Am empowered…as we gather together, that Power increases…
We offer our time together for the Good of All. Peace, Harmony, and Grace are rippling out into the world. By our every thought, word, and action, we are contributing to the conscious evolution of humanity…to the transformation of the planet.
This month, we are contemplating the Spirit of Life, Forever Graceful. And this morning, we spend our time reflecting on The Grace in Belonging.
What do we mean by Grace? Grace is the Goodness that is always available…the very Nature of Spirit or God Itself. (Pause) We experience Grace to the degree that we place our faith in…truly believe and live as if Goodness is the Guiding Principle of our lives. Grace is not a gift bestowed upon a few by a capricious God. It is freely given to anyone willing to practice Radical Faith in Goodness, no matter the appearances in the world. (Pause) That is the real reason that Grace seems to appear for some and not others. I say seems because Grace does not always show up as ease and comfort. When we’re feeling a bit too comfortable, it may appear as a challenge, a difficult person or situation. It is said that Grace comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. (Pause)
Something to consider…do I think of the uncomfortable conditions in my life as Grace in disguise? (Pause) Do I look for the ways that discomfort is stretching and growing me into a better version of myself? (Pause) Each of us has the inherent capacity to look for the Grace in our lives. The Master Jesus was trying to direct us towards this Truth…that the Kingdom of Heaven, or Grace, is both within and all around us if only we have eyes to see and the Faith to believe in the Goodness.
So, what is The Grace in Belonging? (Pause) As human beings, no matter our background or current beliefs, traditions, or roles in the world, we are all basically seeking the same things…food, clean water, and shelter…
somewhere safe and comfortable to lay our heads at night…peace and harmony in our lives, our homes, and our communities…We each want to love and to be loved…to have meaning, purpose, and a way to make a contribution…and to find a sense of belonging. We are social creatures, born into families for a reason. We all need to belong.
The Perennial Wisdom…the thread of Truth that runs through all religious and spiritual traditions…holds to four basic principles, and tells us that All diversity is part of a greater unity…that my sense of being separate is a functional necessity, not an absolute reality. In other words, I live in a material realm, so I need to have a physical sense of self in order to interact with my world. But on the spiritual level, I am part of the Whole, I already belong as part of the Unity.
(Pause)
It also tells us that all of my suffering is the result of my thinking I am separate from my Source. I have somehow forgotten that I belong. (Pause)
And my sole purpose on this planet, in this lifetime, is to shift my awareness, so that I can come to accept and know myself as a unique expression of God…inseparable from my Source, and one with all that is.
(Pause)
The Wisdom of the ages points towards this understanding, this awareness– that there is a special Grace in Belonging and my entire life’s purpose is to find it.
Chris – Guided Meditation
The Sh’ma is the fundamental affirmative prayer of the Jewish faith… It says, “Listen carefully, people… the God that we worship is All that Is…”[1] Spirit is infinite… expressing as all of manifest creation… it takes infinite diversity to reveal the unbounded glory of God… We all take part in the Divine Unity of Being…
Our sense of being a separate self is a functional necessity… it helps us navigate through our daily lives… to interact with one another… but it is not the Ultimate Truth of our being… Our personal self is the way that the Infinite Divine Self experiences Life as us… but we are still interconnected parts of One Unified Spirit…
Living from our functional self often leads to feeling alienated… from one another… from Nature… and from our Creator… The second creation myth in the Hebrew scriptures describes this experience… we forget we are one with God… focused on our perceived separateness, the Garden disappears… Paradise is lost…
The rest of the Bible describes our attempts to reconnect with Spirit… and with one another… to get ourselves back to the garden…[2] Our perceived separateness is an illusion… it is the maya that veils the greater Truth… We dispel the illusion by learning to embrace our functional self and our Unity simultaneously…
In our three minutes of shared, silent contemplation this morning, I invite you to practice holding both identities in your heart/mind… both your human self and your Divine Self… the idea of a distinct, individual you… and the You that participates fully in the Great Divine Mystery… your finite mind and body… and your Infinite Spirit and Soul… May God’s Infinite Wisdom dissolve the illusion of separation… remove the veil of duality… and reveal our essential Unity to us now…
Silence – 3:00
Great Spirit, thank you for this time of deep reflection… of profound communion with you… and with Spiritual Family… May we always remember that we are inseparably connected with you… and may we never forget that we are interconnected with one another in Divine Unity…
We belong together because we are all indispensable participants in the process of eternal Creation… when any one of us feels separate… isolated from God… or from one another… less Love, Joy, and Life are available to Spirit… You and I are essential to the ongoing revelation of Beauty, Truth, and Peace…
As Taizé continues, we receive Rev. Diana’s inspiration and wisdom with open hearts and minds… remembering that we are here today because we are One… with the Divine… and with each other… and to bask in The Grace of Belonging…
Rev. Diana – My sole purpose in this lifetime is to remember Who and Whose I am…to come to know a sense of belonging to and with my Source…and to duplicate that sense of belonging in this physical realm.
And that’s where we get into trouble. We have come into this existence in a culture that rewards us for our independence. Even here, in our community, we like to think of ourselves as Spiritually Independent. In our culture of rugged individualism, deep in the race mind, lives an idea that we need to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.
As human beings, we grow up with this expectation of being independent and taking care of ourselves. Of course this is a useful skill. But what happens when we fall? What happens when we can’t do it alone? We feel isolated…sometimes ashamed of not living up to the expectation, and we tend to withdraw.
The human ego, or belief in itself as separate, has a purpose…to protect and sustain the body and mental capacities so that this physical body can exist. It is protective by nature. But in its desire to protect, it can have mistaken assumptions. It can see independence as the opposite of belonging. It can think that independence is real, rather than a fallacy. We are not built to be independent. We are social animals, born into family units. And as humans, we are inter- dependent with all of creation. We belong as part of the whole.
Here is the Truth…we already belong. There is nothing we can do about that. So why waste the effort trying to be independent and separate? Isn’t it a more positive and productive use of energy to accept and live into our Unity? There is Grace in Belonging, in knowing and accepting our Inter-connectedness, and in living as though this is True. Because like it or not, it is.
Let’s close in prayer. I have chosen the words of John O’Donohue as my prayer this morning…
The hunger to belong is at the heart of our nature. Cut off from others, we atrophy and turn in on ourselves. The sense of belonging is the natural balance of our lives. There is a child-like side to the human heart that is always deeply hurt when we are excluded…when we become isolated, we are prone to being damaged; our minds lose their flexibility and natural kindness; we become vulnerable to fear and negativity. The deepest nature of the soul is relationship. Consequently, it is your soul that longs to belong; it is also your soul that makes all belonging possible. No soul is private or merely mortal. As well as being the vital principle of your individual life, your soul is also ancient and eternal and weaves you into the great tapestry of spirit that connects everything everywhere. There is a lovely balance at the heart of our nature: each of us is utterly unique and yet we live in the most intimate kinship with everyone and everything else. Belonging is not merely shelter from being separate and different. Its more profound intention is the awakening of the Great Belonging which embraces everything. Our hunger to belong is the desire to awaken this hidden affinity.
“Then we know that we are not outsiders cut off from everything, but participants at the heart of creation. Each of us brings something alive in the world that no one else can.”
This is the Grace in Belonging – we are participants at the heart of creation, breathing life into something that no one else can. Knowing this as Absolute Truth…that there is One Life, forever expressing as all of Creation, I accept and honor myself as Spirit taken form. I Am Sacred…Holy…as is every other life form. I treat each one with Love, Respect, Caring, and Compassion, and am met with the same in kind.
I give thanks for the gift of this beautiful day, and for the countless blessings that pour through my life. I give thanks for this amazing Community of beings; all committed to becoming the best versions of themselves. I give thanks for Life Itself, and for the opportunity to be here now, at this time in our history. I trust and know that my Life serves the Whole in meaningful ways.
Knowing the Power of my Word, and trusting Spirit to bring it into form and experience, I release this prayer now…deeply felt and powerfully spoken. All that follows is part of my answered prayer. And so I simply let it be…and so it is! Amen!
Musical Meditation – Thank You, God, by Eddie Watkins, Jr.
Rev. Diana – I invite you to bring your awareness back to your body…notice the atmosphere in the room, and when you feel ready, gently open your eyes and allow your gaze to take 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.
Love Offering
As we close our Taizé Meditation, we offer the opportunity for you to share of your financial good in support of the work we do should you choose to do so.
If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button and our mailing address at mysticheart.org.
We are an independent, self-sustaining organization, so we depend on your generous gifts of support. If you have found value in our time together this morning, share the Love.
As we support our Mystic Heart Gathering Place with our gifts, I’d like to share a moving story about gratitude.
Offertory Video – A Moving Story About Gratitude https://youtu.be/tznztJVsW9E
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering-
State of the Heart Gathering Invitation
Rev. Diana & Chris – Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Conscious Conversation
Sherri – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning and welcome, or welcome back…if you’re new with us here this morning… my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director for Mystic Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality, following the Common Threads of Truth that run through the world’s traditions. I pray that this morning you are discovering 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
- Thank You for this Day, from the Native American Church
Rev. Diana – One way we can serve in a Wholly Holy Way is to join in the Sacred Practice of envisioning a Love-Soaked World.
And so we enter the imaginal realm together…that space of Infinite Potential, where Spirit and matter are working together, turning all things to Good. Go with me now to find yourself in a world where all humans are living from their deepest Wisdom and Generosity…their most Loving nature…thoughtful of the impact their thoughts, words, and actions have on one another, on the community, and on the planet…
This is a world without greed…where there is abundance in having enough…where all needs are met gracefully and easily…where nutritious food, clean water and air are readily available to all, no matter where you live, the color of your skin, or which family you’re born into…where warm, comfortable, and affordable housing is a given…where all beings feel a sense of safety, belonging, and contribution…
Ours is a world where mental/physical health, education, and healthy relationships are ensured by social systems grounded in Integrity, honesty, and Wholeness…where all beings work and play at whatever feeds their soul and are well compensated for their Service…are valued and respected for their inherent Goodness.
Authenticity and vulnerability are not only welcomed, but celebrated. The Peace we cultivate within ourselves shows up as a world free of violence, hatred, or indifference. The Love that we are here to share is given freely to whomever our hearts are called to love. We have moved beyond all lines of separation, and live as one human family, caring for one beautiful planet with the reverence she deserves.
By the Power of our collective intention, imagining, and inspired action, we have undergone an amazing transformation…we are living in a world that works for all beings. Giving no power to appearances, we live according to our highest aspirations…we do not lower our Vision no matter what the world may say. We are at Peace with our families, friends, neighbors, and other nations.
As we Gracefully step into a new story for humanity and the planet, this Community stands as an open and welcoming space for all who seek support, belonging, and a sense of Family…it redefines Church as a place of Self-Discovery, Authenticity, Kindness, Radical Inclusion, and Love.
Giving thanks for the Beauty of our world, and trusting that a prayer powerfully spoken and deeply felt is a prayer answered, my Word is acted upon here and now. In full Acceptance and great Joy, and with the deepest humility, I release this Prayer to the One Who Gets It Done…And so it is!…Amen!
Bringing awareness back to the body, to the room, to this beautiful life, and to the amazing beings who share this space with us this morning…
Welcome back. Doesn’t that feel good? We just shifted the energy for the entire planet. Our prayer is rippling out into the race consciousness, doing its Good Work. And there’s nothing that anyone can do about it…our loving act of defiance for this week.
Our theme this month is Spirit of Life, Forever Graceful and the topic of Conversation today is The Grace in Belonging.
This morning during Taizé, I led us through some contemplations…that Grace is the Goodness that is always available…the very Nature of Spirit or God Itself. That we experience Grace to the degree that we place our faith in…truly believe and live as if that Goodness is the Guiding Principle of our lives…that Grace is not a gift bestowed upon a few by a capricious God, but a gift, freely given to anyone willing to practice a Radical Faith in Goodness, no matter the appearances in the world…that is the real reason that Grace seems to appear for some and not others…that Grace does not always show up as ease and comfort, but sometimes when we’re feeling a bit too comfortable, it may appear as a challenge, a difficult person or situation…that Grace comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.
Then we reflected on The Grace in Belonging…that as human beings, no matter our background or current beliefs, traditions, or roles in the world, we are all basically seeking the same things…peace and harmony in our lives and homes…to love and to be loved…to find meaning and purpose in our lives…and to find a sense of belonging. We are social creatures, born into families for a reason. We all need to belong.
And finally, we sat in contemplation of the four principles offered by The Perennial Wisdom…First, that all diversity is part of a greater unity…that my sense of being separate is a functional necessity, not an absolute reality…
…that all of my suffering is the result of my thinking I am separate from my Source…and that my sole purpose on this planet in this lifetime is to shift my awareness, so that I can come to accept and know myself as a unique expression of God.
The Wisdom of the ages points towards this understanding, this awareness– that there is a special Grace in Belonging and my entire life’s purpose is to find it.
Let’s use that as our jumping off point for our Conversation today.
Anybody in this room own a pair of boots? Do they have straps?
We live in a culture of rugged individualism. We are taught to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Try to picture doing that…does that ever work?
Isn’t that the silliest metaphor?
But it’s prevalent in our western culture. We grow up with this expectation of being independent and taking care of ourselves. And it is ultimately our responsibility to get our needs met.
But what happens when we fall? What happens when we can’t do it alone? (We feel isolated…sometimes ashamed; we withdraw; we make assumptions; the ego becomes protective; It can see independence as the opposite of belonging)
Is that true? Is being independent the opposite of belonging?
The ego can think that independence is a real thing.
Is that true? How does it feel to think of complete independence as a fallacy, as something we’ve made up, and tried to live by?
We are not built to be independent. We are social animals, born into family units. And as humans, we are inter- dependent with all of creation. We already belong as part of the whole. There is nothing we can do about that. So why waste the effort trying to be independent and separate?
So let’s wrap up our Conversation by bringing the two together…
What is the Grace in Belonging and in knowing that you belong?
American Mystic Ernest Holmes defines Grace this way: “Grace is the givingness of Spirit to Its Creation and is not a special law, but a specialized one. In other words, Grace is, but we need to recognize it. It is not something God imposed upon us, but is the logical result of the correct acceptance of life, of a correct relationship to the Spirit. We are saved by Grace to the extent that we believe in, accept, and seek to embody the Law of Good…” (Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind Textbook)
Does correct as it’s used here mean that there’s a right and wrong way to do this? This sounds a little like dogma…I thought we didn’t do dogma.
So what does correct mean here?
(That which is life-affirming, that which supports us. So it is saying that when we listen to our Highest Wisdom and act according to it…when we are in the Divine Flow, we experience Grace.)
So, we are seeking to embody The Law of Good…that sounds pretty serious. We’re talking about embodiment.
What does embodiment mean?
(to bring it into your body…to live as though Goodness is the Truth, is always unfolding…it means walking our talk)
So as we learn to embody the Law of Good, to live in expectation of Good, to respond to Life from that expectation, we experience Grace…the Kingdom of Heaven, here on earth. As we accept our place in the Tapestry of Life as an interdependent being, we experience Grace…Peace within and without.
Is there anything else that wants to be spoken right now?
One of the very deepest of human longings is the desire for Peace…Peace of mind…Peace in our relationships…Peace in our homes and our neighborhoods…Peace among nations…World Peace can only come when we all cease from inner conflict…Inner peace and harmonious relations need to be cultivated…
I’d like to close a little differently today by sharing the words of His Holiness Pope Leo the XIV. Speaking at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, he called for interreligious collaboration rooted in truth, compassion, and respect to restore hope and safeguard humanity.
Here are some of his comments: “We have prayed for peace according to our diverse religious traditions, and we are now gathered together to proclaim a message of reconciliation. Conflicts are present in all parts of life, but war is no help in dealing with them or finding solutions. Peace is a constant journey of reconciliation… The human heart must be open to peace. It is through meditation that we open our hearts, and in prayer that we go beyond ourselves.”
“The world is thirsting for peace. We need a true and sound era of reconciliation that puts an end to the abuse of power, displays of force and indifference to the rule of law. Enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction, and exile…”
“Together we reaffirm our commitment to dialogue and to fraternity…religions, as “mothers,” must encourage peoples to treat each other as family, not as enemies…for humanity forms but one community.”
“Peace is the priority of all politics…as religious leaders, this is the heartfelt appeal that we make to those in positions of government. We share the desire for peace for all peoples. We are the voice of those who are not heard and the voiceless. We must “dare peace”!
And from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama of Tibet:
“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves…Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace… (Pause)
World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion… (Pause)
Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.”
They seem to be in agreement, that World Peace will come as one by one, each of us heals the conflicts that live within us…heals the wounds that get in the way of our inner peace. Each of us is held in the Hands of Grace, and if we let it, that Grace will point us in the direction of Healing, of Wholeness, of Peace within and Peace in our World.
Let’s use Musical Meditation as our closing prayer today.
Musical Meditation – The Hands of Grace by Jack Fowler
Rev. Diana – Love Offering
As we close our time in Conversation, we offer the opportunity for you to share of your financial good in support of the work we do. 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-sustaining organization, so we depend on your generous gifts of support. If you have found value in our time together this morning, share the Love.
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 plan for our growth.
Offertory – Grateful, by Nimo Patel (live at Mile Hi Church, Lakewood, Colorado)
https://youtu.be/63KaMDzvp6A?list=RD63KaMDzvp6A
Sherri – Blessing for the Offering
Sherri – Invitations
- 12 Days of Kindness – Call April up to talk about it.
- The Mystic Heart Book Club meets every Tuesday from 3-5 We are currently reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
- This Wednesday, from 11am – 1pm, we’re continuing the study of the Bhagavad Gita; Call Chris up to talk about it.
- Fast Track to Wellness meets every Thursday from 11:30 to 1:30 pm. This week is our Community Cooking day. We’ll be making Sauerkraut and Cream of Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Please let Rev. Diana know if you do not usually attend and will be attending this week.
Looking Ahead…
- There will be a Gratitude Dinner and State of the Heart Gathering on Friday, November 14th from 6-8 pm. This is a time for Rev. Diana and Chris to serve the community dinner as a Thank You for all the ways we contribute to the growth and success of Mystic Heart. It is a time to share where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. It is also a time for us to share our feedback. Dalton will be sharing some uplifting music, as well. There is more information in the November Bulletin. Please RSVP to Rev. Diana if you plan to attend.
- The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting Please join Rev. Diana Johnson, for a five-week deep dive into the meaning of Advent…the season of awaiting the birth of the Christ Consciousness within each of us. The group will be reading and discussing Seven Gifts of Waiting by Holly W. Whitcomb (book club style) and sharing in meditation to anchor this important teaching in our hearts and minds. When: Thursdays, November 20th – December 18th , 2:00 – 4:30 pm
Looking Way Ahead…If Rev. Cat is here, invite her to announce this one.
- Cat Cox will be presenting a Dream Workshop on Saturday, December 6th from 10am – 12:30 pm. Again, there are more details in the Bulletin, and online.
- Celebrating the Light – Our Holiday Candle Lighting Service will be held on Wednesday, December 17th from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. It will be a beautiful blending of music and Interfaith Message. Please RSVP Rev. Diana if you plan to attend. Seats will be reserved. Heidi will have a children’s program planned for the evening, as well. More information to come.
There is more information available in the new November Bulletin. Remember to take one home with you. Or check online at MysticHeart.org.
Information Cards ONLY if new people
Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, in the Practitioner Prayer room or if you like, 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
Notes:
[1] Deuteronomy 6:4
[2] Joni Mitchell, Woodstock
©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.