The Unity Center

Today, Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell's lesson "Listening for the Whisper: Return to the World" invites us to reconnect with nature as the ultimate teacher, healer, and source of spiritual grounding. Drawing from Christina Baldwin's The Seven Whispers, it emphasizes how industrialization and modern conveniences have distanced us from the natural world and its cyclical rhythms. Through stories, quotes, and reflections, the lesson explores nature’s wisdom, efficiency, and capacity for healing, urging us to realign with its pace and patterns. Practical exercises encourage mindful reconnection, such as spending time outdoors, planting something, and observing the natural world. Affirmations remind us of our intimate connection to the earth, inspiring mindful and respectful living as partners with nature.

Today, Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell’s lesson is on the sixth whisper, "Love the Folks in Front of You," from Christina Baldwin's The Seven Whispers. We are called to see and honor the humanity in those around us, particularly the people we interact with daily yet often overlook. Inspired by teachings from Leo Tolstoy and various cultural reflections, this lesson challenges us to drop judgments, open our hearts, and foster genuine connections, even with those we might find difficult to love. Through small acts of attention and compassion, we are encouraged to reclaim the ancient practice of neighborliness, recognizing our shared humanity and interdependence. By listening to each other's stories and practicing empathy, we deepen our sense of belonging and create a compassionate community.

Today, Rev. Wendy Craig Purcell's lesson is on "Listening for the Whisper: Ask for What You Need" encourages participants to engage in a spiritual dance of reciprocity by openly asking for what they truly need and offering what they can. Drawing from Christina Baldwin’s book The Seven Whispers, it highlights the importance of balancing giving and receiving to sustain healthy, interconnected relationships. This practice challenges Western notions of consumption, inviting a shift from competition to community-oriented “spiritual trading.” Through stories, reflections, and exercises, the lesson explores the difference between needs and wants, the impact of overconsumption, and the potential for deeper, mutual support. Participants are prompted to examine their role in global inequities and consider adopting voluntary simplicity to foster a more balanced, inclusive world.

Yesterday, Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell's lesson, “Surrender to Surprise,” explores how embracing life’s unexpected moments—both joyful and challenging—can become a profound spiritual practice. Drawing from Christina Baldwin’s The Seven Whispers, it encourages us to “surrender to surprise” by loosening our grip on rigid plans and allowing room for spontaneity and resilience. Through personal stories and reflections, the lesson highlights that surprise often disrupts our expectations, yet offers growth, perspective, and the chance to deepen our faith. Emphasizing a balanced approach to structure and openness, it invites participants to practice observing, working with, and accepting whatever life brings, turning life’s “straw” into “gold” through spiritual surrender.

Yesterday, Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell's lesson titled "Listening for the Whisper: Practice Certainty of Purpose" is based on Christina Baldwin's book The Seven Whispers and explores the theme of discovering and committing to one's life purpose. Using quotes from various sources, including a Hasidic legend and the works of authors like William Wordsworth and Meg Wheatley, the lesson emphasizes that each of us is born with a purpose, even if we forget it along the way. It encourages reflection on personal purpose, discussing how small, local actions can create profound global impacts. Through personal stories, affirmations, and reflection exercises, the lesson invites participants to explore their deeper calling, move from uncertainty to clarity, and live with intention, contributing to the larger fabric of the world.

Today, Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell's lesson "Listening for the Whisper: Move at the Pace of Guidance" explores the importance of slowing down and tuning into spiritual guidance amidst the fast-paced demands of modern life. Drawing from Christina Baldwin’s book The Seven Whispers, it emphasizes the contrast between living at high speed, driven by distractions and ego, and moving at the gentle pace of divine guidance, which invites stillness and presence. Through practices of quiet reflection and active listening, the lesson encourages participants to rehumanize their lives, minimize distractions, and seek spiritual wisdom. Key questions like "What do You want me to do?" and "How do I need to change?" guide the practice of aligning with divine timing.

Today, Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell’s lesson is based on "Listening for the Whisper: Whisper One - Maintain Peace of Mind," Christina Baldwin's The Seven Whispers, focuses on the importance of peace of mind as the foundation for receiving spiritual guidance. The teaching emphasizes that inner peace allows us to remain open to the Divine and maintain a personal connection with Spirit. Drawing from wisdom traditions, meditation practices, and personal reflection, the lesson encourages conscious breathing, releasing expectations, and stilling the mind to access deeper awareness and clarity. Peace of mind is portrayed as a spiritual state essential for hearing the whispers of divine guidance.

Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell's "From Turmoil to Tranquility: Embracing Inner Peace," inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh's Living Buddha, Living Christ, explores the universal quest for inner peace and spiritual transformation. It highlights that true peace is not the absence of challenges but the ability to remain centered and resilient through life’s ups and downs. Both Buddha and Jesus taught that inner peace comes from within through mindfulness, ethical living, and spiritual rebirth. Their teachings, though from different traditions, converge on the importance of letting go of attachments, cultivating compassion, and embracing life’s transformations as opportunities for growth and awakening. The lesson concludes with stories and reflections on the beauty found in brokenness and the journey toward wholeness.

Today, Rev. Wendy Craig Purcell's lessons is on "Living Lightly: Exploring the Path of Detachment," inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh's Living Buddha, Living Christ, will explore the spiritual practice of detachment and renunciation as taught by both Buddha and Jesus. Detachment, often misunderstood, is not about indifference but loosening our grip on desires, possessions, and outcomes, recognizing impermanence. Renunciation is seen not as deprivation but as simplifying life to prioritize spiritual growth. Both spiritual figures emphasized that letting go of attachments leads to inner peace, liberation from suffering, and deeper connection with divine purpose. The Sufi story of the Precious Stone will illustrate the value of generosity and detachment from material wealth.

Today's lesson is titled "Living Buddha, Living Christ: The Way of Love – Compassion in Action" explores the interconnected but distinct qualities of compassion and loving-kindness. Inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s book, it highlights how both Jesus and the Buddha embodied and taught these principles, though in different contexts. Compassion, rooted in the desire to alleviate suffering, motivates action, while loving-kindness generates unconditional goodwill toward all beings. The lesson draws comparisons between the teachings of Jesus on love and forgiveness and the Buddha’s emphasis on compassion and inner peace, encouraging the practice of these virtues in daily life.