I Vote for Truth

I cannot believe the negativity and animosity surrounding this year’s elections in the United States. It seems like most people are voting against someone or something, instead of voting for positive advancement of the human race as a whole. There is so much blaming, shaming and distraction from the real issues facing humanity. There has been so much lying, deceit and attack. If we cannot agree on the fundamental needs and equal rights of every individual in our nation and in our world, we have very little chance of evolving in a positive direction.

However, there is a way to escape the sea of despair and anger once and for all; and that solution is found in changing the focus of your mind from the temporal to the eternal. I am not talking about using spiritual concepts to bypass your apparent conflicts. I am suggesting we adopt the radical spiritual solutions of our way shower, Yeshua, who told us to love our enemies. Well, how about we start with loving our neighbors? How about starting with acceptance and tolerance, then we can find our way to inclusion and embracing one another as sisters and brothers. Sometimes, just a little common curtesy and respect would do the trick.

Whatever the problem, I feel Love is always the solution. Whatever the outward man projects into the world, the Christ within has a better way. So, the goal remains to awaken the Christ within me and within others as well. In reality, this is our only truth, all else will be forgotten in the end. I am making the suggestion that we forget it now. Let us cast our vote for truth, the truth which sets us free.

The first step we must take is to turn our attention inward, to that which unites us and defines us as whole, perfect and complete children of God, every one of us. Second, I would suggest we acknowledge those who are genuinely concerned with the well-being of others, those who have put their own self-interests aside in an effort to bring out the good in others, rather than stir up their primitive instincts of attack and defense. I would suggest joining with kind and giving people and identify with the awesome power of charity. Corinthians (13:4-7) reminds us, “Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity does not envy; charity does not raise itself, is not puffed up, does not behave unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;  rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, remains hopeful in all things, endures all things.”

The other word for charity is love; but charity is a specific type of love, the love that giving, the love that caring, the love that is selfless and moral, the love which seeks to rise exclusively in the act of lifting up others. These are the qualities I vote for, in myself and others. These are the qualities we must also search out when considering who to place in our governments, giving them charge to serve the people of our nation.

Finally, our vote comes from how we live our lives, how we treat one another and how we respect the planet on which we live. Today I cast my vote for the awakening of humankind. I am voting for the Christ, the Christ in you and the Christ in me. I am voting for compassion and unconditional love. I am voting for inclusion and diversity. Yes, I am voting in the country’s election; but more importantly, I am casting my vote in Heaven, where only my highest good can be the result. I cast my vote in peace and certainty, that the universe is actually governed by divine laws which always proceed from the pure substance of love. I cast my vote for healing and help for those who tragically don’t know who they really are. I cast my vote to see the divinity in every one of God’s creations and to treat each one as the magnificent spiritual being that they are. In the deepest place of my heart and the furthest reach of my mind, I claim a blessing for our sisters and brothers across this nation and all those around the world as well. I vote for their healing and health, their comfort and security, their joy and their happiness; and most of all I vote that each and every person discover the brilliant light and love they possess within. The one thing I passionately desire for every individual soul is they discover the truth about themselves. Yes, this is what I am voting for. I vote for Truth!

Let This Mind Be in You

The single most important aspect of our awakening experience is the ability to train our minds. Lesson 45 in the workbook of A Course in Miracles says, “God is the mind with which I think.” This is an affirmation of our higher mind, and a statement of truth. However, when we attempt to understand the universe through limited perspective, our thinking suffers. We become convinced the world we see through the darkened lens of human perception is the truth.

The Bible tells us, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)  We cannot possibly experience our own Christ mind if we don’t practice the same kind of thinking demonstrated by Jesus and other awakened masters. Spiritual thinking requires a constant and persistent affirmation of the truth, an energetic expression of positive energy from your mind into your world. Much like Unity’s definition of prayer as creative thinking, we are, as Charles Fillmore would say, stepping up our mental activity until it becomes synchronized with the Christ mind.” It is what I like to call our higher mind.

The key to letting this mind be in you is realizing that it is already in you. In A Course in Miracles this is referred to as our “real” thoughts. It says, “My real thoughts are in my mind. I would like to find them.” It asks us to go past all the unreal thoughts that cover the truth in our mind and reach to the eternal.

Wow, I can use my mind to reach to the eternal! This is one of the most powerful messages I can learn. This teaching points to the unlimited power and scope of my own mind when it is synchronized with the Christ mind. Of course, this is a totally different kind of thinking and a different kind of thought. To think with the mind of God has been a fundamental quest of mystics and masters throughout time, yet this quest can be undertaken by anyone at any time. We all carry this mind with us within our own consciousness. We are all infinite spiritual beings, unlimited in every way, with all power given each of us in heaven and earth.

There can be no doubt or confusion that this is exactly what the man from Nazareth was teaching; that we all can access and demonstrate the same power he discovered for himself, that the same divine nature lives in everyone in equal amount. The only difference perhaps, between the master and the student is one of focus of the mind upon the unlimited consciousness of God within.

If you are in Unity or following any path to spiritual awakening, you have made a decision to discover your true identity and true power, you have perhaps determined to follow the guidance of a higher power or the divine intuition of your higher mind. You have opened yourself up to the ways of Spirit and now release all that no longer serves you. You are beginning to see and experience the light and extend that light to others. You are praying in an affirmative manner and claim the unlimited blessings which are already being poured out upon you.

If you are happy, joyous and free, more abundant and prosperous, healed, whole and full of hope then I am sure you are practicing the principle of The Christ Mind. I am confident that you will find your way to greater truth, and I celebrate with you as well that you are indeed letting the higher mind be the mind with which you think.

Be Blessed my friends and remember to be a blessing!

Rev. Tony

Trusting the Spirit of Eternal Love

What seems to be one of the darkest times in modern history has given me no other place to turn except to Spirit. I call God “Spirit” because the word God has been misunderstood and misrepresented for so long. The scripture from (1 John chapter 4) in the New Testament reminds  me, “God is Love.” End of story! Anything that is not of love is not of God! That’s what I trust, the expression of love and the demonstration of compassion. You can throw out all the complicated theology which can be misused as a tool for separation. As for me, I choose to stick with love.

The bible also tells me “God is Spirit, and must be worshipped in spirit and in Truth,” (John 4:24) I like that, because it relinquishes the idea of an anthropomorphic god and expands our experience of what this Spirit might be. If it is anything, it must first be love, and then it must also be eternal. If I can start with these two fundamental principles, I will have a better chance of having a true spiritual experience.

Religion itself, any religion, is the attempt of human beings to have an experience of a spiritual nature, and to make that experience the cornerstone of life, to find and follow the guidance of the Spirit. When that guidance is subverted by Man’s limited thinking, we end up with all manner of evil being carried out in the name of God. How pathetic is the attempt to cover up our judgments and attacks with our religion, and how tragic it is for those who, by doing so will fail to experience God as unconditional and eternal love.

Right now, I need that experience. I need to feel the presence of the living God within me and all around me. I find it a necessity to turn to that Spirit of love and drink from the fountain of Truth on a daily basis. The darkness and oppression, racism and violence has raised its ugly head once again; and once again I am challenged to love my enemies and pray for those who blatantly advocate for violence and destruction. I am reminded by my way shower, Yeshua, to forgive, for they truly don’t know what they are doing… because they don’t know who and what they are.

However, if I am a spiritual being, unlimited in potential and power, so is everyone else. My purpose remains to stay awake and aware of my own spiritual nature and invite all others to discover this great miracle for themselves. It doesn’t matter how deep the darkness, or how unconscious the mind may be. My job is to be the light of the world. Do I know how to do that? Of course, I do. Not from my limited perspective of myself and the world, but from the Christ within. It is there for me to discover, if only I turn to that Spirit and trust it completely, with all my heart. Then I will be guided to accomplish all that is mine to do, with grace and ease, in divine timing and perfect order.

The unchanging, eternal Spirit of the living God is the one thing I can truly place my trust in, because comes from love and only love!

Be blessed and be the Love you seek my friends.

Rev. Tony

Necessary Trouble

Photo: Michael Avedon

This past week marked the passing of civil rights icon, John Lewis, who spent his life getting into what he called, “necessary trouble.” Representative Lewis left us with some powerful words to live by. He said, “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

During my time of study and training and to be a minister with Unity Worldwide Ministries, I was told something which attached itself to the core of my being. One of my instructors told me, “Authenticity and vulnerability are two of your superpowers. These two traits, above any others, will help you become an effective, compassionate and successful minister.” I am giving myself permission to call upon those powers in order to express myself today. Otherwise, I may have absolutely nothing to say.

Since I was hired as the spiritual leader here at Unity on Cape Cod on November 1, 2016, I have written a monthly blog. This is it, what you are reading now, the message from the minister. Every single month of my ministry here I have shared my thoughts and feelings on a number of subjects, including the spiritual perspectives we can employ in order to see it all as part of our spiritual awakening and growth as a community. My hope is that you will read my words and take them to heart, and perhaps something I express will also attach itself to the core of your being in such a way that awakens the Christ in you, igniting the inner light which transforms and heals this world, for our need for healing has never been so great.

These are times that can shake the foundation of one’s faith and bring doubt of humankind ever recovering from such unconscious behavior. This is one of those times for me as a minister and spiritual leader that has me asking the question, “What is mine to do? What is my good and necessary trouble?” If I follow the man from Nazareth, who turned over the tables in the temple and who rebuked the pharisees as well as the wind in the storm; or if I speak of men like Gandhi and Martin Luther King as some of my heroes, then isn’t it up to me to find my place of impact upon the consciousness of this world?

I believe I have found that place; but I also find myself on occasion slipping off that place of peace and purpose, and I begin to feel that sea of despair lurking, waiting to swallow up a good portion of the human race. I see a battle between ego’s rage on, while we arrogantly cling to our separate perspectives and continue to harm one another, physically, emotionally and dare I say, spiritually as well. The most vulnerable and innocent and authentic seem to be bearing the brunt of our anger and violent reactions. We continue to pour our resources into war and weaponry instead of investing in the generations to come. Racist, elitist and homophobic ideologies are allowed to masquerade as religion and politics. A global pandemic rages on. Hundreds of thousands of people struggle and suffer deeply and die while the so-called leaders play childish games with our lives.

What do I do? I meditate, find my inner peace, say my prayers, do my lessons in A Course in Miracles, the Daily word, write the Sunday message, another monthly message in the blog, sing another song, quote another philosopher, read Charles and Myrtle Fillmore… I suit up, I show up, and I hold back my tears and swallow my pain, and I stand and sing, “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” It isn’t enough for me. I signed on to a vision of a world powerfully transformed by the growing movement of our shared spiritual awakening.

I have this idea, If you are not awakening from this dream of separation, I am not doing my job. If you still see people “out there” as the problem in your world, I am not doing my job. If you still cannot tap into the spirit of the living God within you and heal yourself and others, I am not really doing my job. If I lose my faith in the human spirit to overcome these challenges, I am not doing my job. If fear and frustration begin to alter my direction, I am not doing my job. If you are not strengthened by my words and inspired to greater compassion, I am not doing my job. Yes, I am human, I will feel at times this crisis of faith; but I also was also once told by a Unity minister, “if you ever experience a deep crisis of faith, that is because you are doing your job.”

This path I have chosen is the one that gets you in the most trouble, because it requires a constant trust in a power greater than yourself, yet within yourself as well. I really have nothing to rely on but my faith. So, when that faith is tested, I am in the most trouble there is, letting go of everything I know, think, feel and believe, and stepping out into the great realm of uncertainty. I not only do this for myself, but as a spiritual leader I also ask you to come with me, to take that leap of faith, trust in the eternal love of God to guide us as we discover a reality previously unknown to us, that which only comes to those willing to relinquish their personal mortal self in favor of the Christ within, the identity of light.

John Lewis also said…

”You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone—any person or any force—dampen, dim or diminish your light. Study the path of others to make your way easier and more abundant. Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates… Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don’t be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice. And if you follow your truth down the road to peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see, then the poetry of all the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is finally at peace with itself.”

I know there are those in the world that will mock and beat and deny and crucify the one who accepts this kind of trouble; but as Jesus (Yeshua) would say, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither be afraid for I have overcome the world.” And, I can say from experience, there are also those who will celebrate you, they have been waiting for you and will welcome and cherish your light. Remember my friends, you are the light of the world. Hide not your light. Shine that that light into the world, make that light known, lift it up so all may behold your brilliance and experience your love. This is what powerfully transforms the world.

Rev. Tony Cryer

Unique Expressions of God

This fourth of July was unlike any I have experienced in my lifetime. A global pandemic has brought about the unavoidable fact that we are all connected and affected by the actions, words, thoughts, beliefs and attitudes by every other individual on the planet. In the midst of this awakening to our innate oneness, we are now faced with looking at the ugly darkness of separation and those things we must eliminate from our consciousness and our society. All these things have come up for healing and we are called to be the healers.

Of course, the first and most glaring example of separation in our world today is the ugliness of racism, which may seem like a daunting task to eliminate from society; but we can take the steps to banish it from our individual consciousness, and thereby ensure we do not enable the darkness of hatred to perpetuate in our communities. This is how we can be both independent and recognize our interdependence simultaneously. By our individual commitment to being an example of inclusion, we promote and further inclusion in our communities.

What could be simpler than to love your neighbor as yourself. If God is love, then we too are born from that love, and our nature is to love one another. We are called to be unique expressions of that love. Anything else we layer onto this equation is an attempt to veil our hatred and hold onto our embedded racism. Loving our neighbor is the first step in undoing the centuries of hatred born of separation and attack. Loving our neighbor is not only a prerequisite to calling yourself a Christian, it makes good sense, both spiritually and socio-economically.

The one thing which drew me to the teachings of Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth is the idea we are all equal in the eyes of God. He maintained a constant focus on love and inclusion, an insistence that the kingdom of Heaven was the inheritance of all humankind, that we are all children of the Most High. If one of the sheep wanders off, we leave the others to find that one. If someone asks you to go a mile with him, walk with him two, and if someone takes away your coat, give him your cloak also. He went so far as to tell us to love our enemies and pray for them that curse us and abuse us. These are some of the reasons I follow the teachings of Yeshua the Christ.

The important thing to remember in this day and age is that these teachings are not passive suggestions, but active directions on how we must conduct ourselves as unique, individual expressions of the divine on Earth. It makes perfect sense that our spiritual nature must be expressed through our human nature if we are ever to discover and experience the truth of our being and that of our creator. This is why I love Unity so much.

Unity has a firm foundation of inclusion, One in which God is love and only love. (1 John 4) Unity does not believe in god which can be angered or condemn, a god which capriciously judges who is worthy of freedom, dignity and equality. Unity states in its second principle that every human being has the spark of divinity, the Christ light within them. It is not, therefore, in our best interest to judge others if they are hiding their light under a bushel of false and negative beliefs. It is ours, however, to seek for that light, and allow that light to shine away the darkness as the Christ in our brothers and sisters emerges to take the place of the darkness and turmoil the ugliness our belief in separation has wrought upon our world.

These teachings are not exclusive to Christianity, but sound, simple directions for each and every one of us to help heal our human family and bring us into a peaceful, prosperous and compassionate future for all. The only thing we need to bring about this collective shift in consciousness is your unique expression of God active in the world.

Often, in times like these I like to recall the words from the Jewish Talmud…

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do Justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

Keep the Faith my friends…

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Rev. Tony

Let There Be Peace on Earth

In the New Living Translation of John 14:27 Jesus states, “I am leaving you with a gift… the gift of peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, do not be troubled or afraid.”

When I think about the upheaval in our world today, I could easily allow my heart to be troubled and myself to become afraid. In fact, if I want to experience peace in my mind and heart, it is necessary I turn my attention toward the gift that has been offered me through the awakened master from Nazareth. He reminds me to turn away from the conflict and focus on the solution that is, ‘not of this world.’

The solution is letting there be peace, not forcing or fighting, but letting there be peace on earth, and letting it begin within me. I am allowing a greater change to take place in me and in the world. I know there are those who resist change and deny the miracle before us; but the inevitability of human evolution, both spiritual and social, gives me cause to rejoice, and ability to accept that peace now.

No matter what is going on, our purpose remains the same, to be the light of the world and a powerful healing presence in every situation. As spiritually-minded people, we have faith in divine law and follow spiritual principles as we let there be peace on earth. I remember that gift of peace that was given me and seek to offer that gift to all those who need peace. To the ones who are oppressed as well as the oppressors I offer peace, to those in pain or suffering of any kind, I offer peace, to the conscious or unconscious beings on this planet, I offer peace, to all people I think of or who think of me, I offer peace. I offer you the peace of God, without reservation or qualification.

As Thomas Merton famously said, “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.” This is my reminder to you my friends. You are worthy. You are enough. You are magnificent, and you are a light in my life. Please remember this and know that peace is not something I am hoping to achieve in the future, it is something I am allowing to fill my consciousness and envelop my being right now. In the acceptance of the deeper, all-encompassing presence of peace, I offer it to you as well.

The Bible speaks of that peace which passes all understanding. The good news is  human understanding is not required in order to experience this peace. The only thing that is required is my acceptance; my desire for peace, my letting go of all that blocks my path, and a deep, authentic appreciation for the gift that has been bestowed on me, and now is mine to offer to the world.

Be blessed my friends, be a blessing and be in peace!

Rev. Tony Cryer

Global Pandemic or Global Awakening?

When I look at the world around me, I am tempted to see the chaos, the pain, the frustration, and the fear of the future that the pandemic has triggered in our global society. However, if I look a little closer and allow my awareness to focus on the natural positive response of human beings, I am filled with hope and even excitement for a future completely different from the past.
There is an immensely helpful spiritual perspective I take whenever a painful or disturbing situation arises. I always say, “this must be coming up for healing, this situation is showing me what needs to change, what needs to be healed.”

If I look at global events as a macrocosm of what needs to be healed in me, then I can begin to focus my energy on the solution and not the problem. This current situation is also showing us the depth of our compassion, our willingness to cooperate and care for one another. It is showing us our great strength and inner resolve to overcome any and all obstacles to the awareness of Love’s presence. It is showing me the ultimate need for spiritual awakening on a global scale, and perhaps even more importantly, connecting me with thousands of others who perceive the same need and are dedicated to awakening the Christ spirit within themselves as well.

The fear, the greed, the blame, anger, and the unimaginable indifference to the suffering of others is our real problem, not the virus. The coronavirus has been showing us all the places where we still harbor those negative attitudes and energies. It is showing me what I need to eliminate within myself. Let us remember the words of Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher, who said, “If you want to awaken the entire world you must awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the pain and suffering of the world, you must eliminate all that is dark and negative within yourself. The greatest gift you can offer the world is that of your own self-transformation.”

Perhaps, for the first time in human history, we are being given an opportunity to go within, collectively, on a mass scale and envision something together, something that has yet to be realized by our species, a world that works for everyone. We are being called to awaken from the dream of separation and demonstrate to others the joy of awakening. I am convinced that from that joy will come the experience of Global transformation and awakening that we long for in our hearts.

The time is now my friends! The Global Awakening is in its beginning stages. Stay together in prayer and meditation and mindful living. Love one another in the deepest possible way, watch the Spirit take hold of each living heart and show us all the reality of God-within, and watch as the human race learns the inevitable lesson of living in love rather than fear.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing

Rev. Tony

The Power of Prayer

So often, I hear people say they believe in the power of prayer; but they don’t think it can change the outward conditions we are experiencing now. I have to remind those people; the power of prayer unleashes forces that we cannot begin to comprehend from our limited perception. Prayer, according to Charles Fillmore is, “The most highly accelerated mind action known.” Prayer is the one thing which can instantly join our minds in Truth and allow the miracle to replace any appearance of lack, limitation, illness or suffering with the healing light and love of God.

Turning to The Spirit of the living God within us, we connect to that same Spirit in our brothers and sisters. This is how we truly see the Christ in others, by joining in the light through prayer. Rather than begging or pleading for favors from an external source, we extend the spiritual energy of our mutual surrender to the Truth. We acknowledge the perfection and grace available in the field of all-possibility, and we ignite the creative energy of our higher mind to bring about a world manifest from the substance of pure love and shaped by the intelligence of divine law.

There is nothing we cannot do, nothing we cannot heal, nothing we cannot use for the holy purpose of awakening humankind. Even the present condition of a global pandemic can and will be used for a higher purpose if we let it. Our task is to train our minds to see the greater good possible in every situation and extend that vision to each and every person on the planet. This is my idea of prayer my friends, holding a vision of a world that is being manifest by divine love and governed by divine law, holding a vision of a world powerfully transformed by the growing movement of our shared spiritual awakening.

Let us not be content to view this idea as mere sentiment, or simply words written on a page, rarely read and even more rarely understood; but let us strive to make of them a reality for us individually and for all the world.

“Be you transformed by the renewing of your mind,” was the directive from Paul in the New Testament, and my suggestion is no different today. The mind of Christ can only emerge in you through a genuine experience of transformation and a renewing of your higher mind. What I call prayer can be defined as the creative expression of Christ in you. You are the light of the world in a very literal sense, and if the world is to be powerfully transformed, it will need your light!
Shine my friends… forever and always… shine!

Rev. Tony

Reconnecting to the Truth

In Unity we like to call ourselves, “Truth students.” I particularly like to look at the study of Truth as process of adventure and discovery, rather than a destination of knowledge. When I think I have arrived at the true ways of the Spirit, there suddenly opens a wider range of understanding yet to be explored, an experience of spiritual awakening and illumination beyond my wildest dreams.

Illumination, enlightenment, awakening, transformation; these are all terms we as Truth students have found difficult to define by use of our past learning and limited understanding. That is why I prefer to be a constant, continuous student of the Truth, an open mind for God to pour into it a new dimension of understanding and the grace with which to receive it.

Perhaps the winter months become fertile ground for this type contemplation; but whatever the reason, I feel compelled these days to reconnect to the Truth in the deepest way possible. I have been extremely occupied with worldly matters these last few months and my soul longs for those extended moments of uninterrupted silence and experience of light I have come to depend on.

Nurturing the soul must become a priority in life if we are to truly live and not just exist. The quality of our thoughts determines the quality of our experience. I have found that the quality of my thoughts increases exponentially when I dwell in the silence and live in the Truth.

Charles Fillmore said, “The road of Truth is the straight and narrow path along which Spirit directs, and which proves so smooth and safe that one refuses to allow oneself to be misled by habit into trusting sense perception.” (pg.200, The Revealing Word)

Considering how rough the road of sense perception can become, I have chosen to stick with the road of Truth, the road of peace and the road that always leads me home to God. To me this is the first and most important step of living a spiritual life, to reconnect with Truth and allow the flow of infinite blessings fertile soil in my heart and mind, to bring forth a new season of spiritual growth and wonder.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing
Rev. Tony