Issue # 51

UPWARD BOUND J * O * U * R * N * A * L
SPIRITUAL LESSONS FOR YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH
How significant is your life? With over seven billion people on this
planet, what difference does it make if there is one more or one less person
in the big picture? The answer is that it matters far more than you can
even imagine.
The Daily Word for today, this day that I am writing this lesson for
Upward Bound Journal, shows us that each one of us matters a lot
The world awakens to peace--one person at a time.
World peace begins with me. My peaceful presence affects the
peace in my family. The peace in my family affects the peace in my
neighborhood. The peace in my neighborhood affects the peace of my
community. And on it goes--until peace unites our world.
A few weeks ago one young man selling fruit from a cart on a street
in a small town in Egypt had his weighing scales confiscated by a tax
collector, for not having a license. This young man became a street vendor
because he was among the vast percentage of young Egyptians with
college degrees who were totally unable to find employment of any kind.
The tax collector refused to give the scales back, making the sale of his
fruit and vegetables nearly impossible, and the young man in utter
frustration and in the ultimate demonstration, stood in the middle of the
street, dowsed himself with gasoline and struck a match. It took several
agonizing days for him to die, but he did not die in vain. While he lay in
the hospital thousands of Egyptians took up his cause, seeking freedom
from tyranny and the opportunity to prosper. As the demonstrations grew
and as the world became informed, the Mubarak regime weakened and
finally gave way. Were still waiting to see what level of freedom the
Egyptian people will actually achieve, but because of one individual a
Oneness for All and Oneness for All and Oneness for All and Oneness for All and
All for Oneness All for Oneness All for Oneness All for Oneness
nation is now in the process of transformation.
His story certainly does not demonstrate that a person has to sacrifice
his or her life in order to have a positive impact on ones country, but in
this case at least, a positive step towards freedom is coming out of the
tragic end of just one person. His action became a unifying symbol for a
nation, uniting his countrymen and women in a peaceful demonstration for
a just cause.
It also demonstrates that we have a long way to go to achieve peace
and freedom for all people everywhere. If we change the word Peace to
Freedom in that opening statement from Daily Word, this is what it would
say: Freedom begins with me. My freedom affects the freedom for my
family. The freedom in my family affects the freedom in my
neighborhood. The freedom in my neighborhood affects the freedom of
my community. And on it goes--until freedom unites our world. The
ripple effect of good for everyone comes from the positive action of just
Buchart Gardens - by Doug Holt
one person.

This morning on Good Morning America, ten year old Maria Aragon
sang Born This Way, a song that got her several million hits on You
Tube and a spot in a Lady Gaga concert in Toronto next week. She did
not have to sacrifice herself to transform a nation the way the street
vendor did, but her song has inspired just as many people. The basic
message of the song is that God made each one of us the way we are, so
lets accept each other. In the words of Paul, Do you not know that you
are Gods temple and that Gods Spirit dwells in you? For Gods
temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16)
You are that temple! Isnt it amazing that a ten year old gets it and
so much of the rest of the world does not?
It is a powerful idea to contemplate a world where we simply accept
each other as who and what we are, without asking anyone to change in
order to meet our opinion of whatever is acceptable. I have been trying
to think of an ideal community that I have visited, that is diversified and
yet existing in peaceful harmony. But there are flaws in every community
that comes to mind.
So I reduced my example from a town to a group and one thought
came to mind. The high school I attended in Seattle, oh so many years
ago, was very cosmopolitan in its makeup. Multi-racial, multi-ethnic,
multi-cultural and multi-layered economically. We had Europeans and
Scandinavians and African Americans and Chinese and Japanese and Jews
and Catholics and Presbyterians and agnostics and wealthy and blue collar
and even some on welfare. Our school sat in the middle of many
neighborhoods, from lake front homes on private drives to housing
projects left over from World War Two. And all the kids who lived
within the perimeters came together in that one school with less regard for
their differences than for their unity.
I may have been blind, but I dont recall groups divided by race or
income. For the most part we simply participated in school activities and
social groups that appealed to our individual interests, from sports to band
to clubs. A high percentage of our graduating class went on to college at
the University of Washington. In the last twenty years a very active high
school alumnae association has grown, developing scholarships and
supporting programs for the current students in an even more diversified
student body than the one I experienced.
My recall may well be biased, but the picture I remember is one of
harmony, personal fulfillment, mutual support, personal growth and
respect, with little or no judgment. If my memory is anywhere near being
accurate, it was a pretty good model of inclusiveness.
Thinking about the Egyptian street vendor, the ten year old songster
and my old high school student body, the word that comes to mind
describing the big picture is Oneness. If we could achieve oneness on
a global scale, the world would be not just a little bit better, it would be
the fulfillment of our purpose as Gods beloved children.
This past weekend we had the privilege of spending two days with
Bishop John Shelby Spong in lectures and personal conversation. Bishop
Spong is an individual
who has and is making an
impact within the
Christian world. He
brings historic truth to the
open minded and
scholarly research to help
open the minds of others.
It was an especially
impactful weekend.
Despite the auditorium
setting, the event was
personal and intimate, and
gathered together we
shared a singularity of
mind and purpose. If we
werent feeling a sense of
oneness before we started,
we certainly were by
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Sunday afternoon when we departed to return to our individual path ways.
Bishop Spong wrote about a oneness lesson he learned while
attending a Philharmonic concert on Valentines Day in New York City
the week before he and his wife Christine came to Ocala. Perhaps we were
learning a similar lesson as we attended his theological concert but it also
reminded me of another special event that occurred when Dottie and I
were still living in Naples. With references to Bishop Spong, Id like to
share the lesson I learned that has helped me keep both my eyes and my
mind open.
Naples has an excellent Philharmonic orchestra and we had the
pleasure of attending one evening as guests. We had seats very near the
stage which gave us access to witness in detail everything that was going
on with the musicians, the conductor and the soloists. The music was rich,
dramatic and passionate. The musicians were skilled, precise and
completely immersed in not only their own performance but in blending
harmoniously every aspect of the concert.
The conductor literally played the orchestra members as a great
pianist plays the keyboard. There was oneness of purpose, pleasure and
fulfillment not only between the musicians and the conductor, but in
interpreting the intention of the original composers as well. We had a
thrilling evening and came away richly endowed through the gift of their
music.
That same week we had a jazz concert in our own sanctuary at Unity
of Naples Church. Six free wielding musicians, each with an instrument
unique to that person, performed without a conductor; their music
organized in brief musical scores that provided for impromptu solos,
seemingly taken at random. Once again we were privileged to be seated
very near the front and to witness these jazz musicians in detail.
The music was so different, the performers so much more
individualistic, and yet the result was almost the same. The sounds were
beautiful, harmonious and passionately presented. We were as wowed as
we had been at the philharmonic, perhaps in some ways even more so. So
different, and yet so much the same.
As I pondered what could make both concerts feel so similar, it finally
occurred to me that it was the oneness within both groups of musicians.
A oneness that was created by their desire to blend their skills for the sake
of the whole sound they presented to the audience as their gift, rather than
individual, selfish or ego driven desires to call attention to themselves.
Each one gave their best in order that the group would approach
perfection, and in doing so Oneness was created.
I like the way Bishop Spong described the concert he attended: The
talents and abilities of these individuals were not lost in the whole of the
orchestra so much as they were transformed by having the limits of
individualism transcended in order to make the orchestral performance we
heard possible. As I watched (I saw a) miracle of gifted individuals
creating something that none of them could have achieved alone.
I recalled St. Pauls words as he talked about the church as a sign of
a new humanity under the symbol of the body of Christ. The foot cannot
say to the arm, Paul wrote, I have no need of you. Neither can the eye
say to the ear, nor can the presentable parts of our bodies say to the less
presentable parts, I have no need of you. Oneness is born in our
integration into the whole of life, which requires that all of our constituent
parts work together in harmony, for only thus can any of us become all
that we are meant to be. No matter how gifted or talented a single
individual might be, no individual can fully be human alone. No single
violin can make an orchestra. (Bishop John Shelby Spong)

While it is obvious that no single instrument can match the sound or
have the impact of the entire orchestra, what is less obvious is that the
orchestral performance would not be as full if that one instrument were
absent. It takes everyone to make it One.

Whats the big deal about this idea of oneness? When we stop to
think about it, whether illustrated by disciplined orchestral musicians or
the improvisational jazz musicians, or the ten year old on You Tube, the
rallying crowd behind the Egyptian fruit vendor or my old high school
student body, they all are metaphors that illustrate something big and
wonderful for us to think about. Oneness! Oneness is the key to a life
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well lived and a world at peace.
Perhaps we can get a better idea if we refer back to the orchestral
group. Think of each instrument group as representing a nation and each
player representing the mixture of ethnicities, cultures, races, religious
beliefs, moral standards, political ideology and economic strata within
those nations. Does it make any difference if there are members of the
orchestra who are white, black, oriental, Hispanic, red headed or blonde,
old and gray, young and innocent, gay or lesbian, physically fit or
borderline obese? Of course not. The orchestra is a microcosm of the
global human population; different as night and day from one end to the
other, and yet encompassing a potential for greatness beyond our
imagination, if and when we can recognize we all share in a oneness in
purpose.
On the global scale Oneness might also be illustrated by the idea of
Freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of expression,
freedom of opportunity and freedom to be who and what God created us to
be, without fear or judgment. In order to achieve Oneness through
Freedom, no one can be left out. It has to be all inclusive or it is neither
Free nor One. Man/woman, black/white/yellow/brown, gay/straight,
religious/atheist, Republican/Democrat, rich/poor, were all in this together
and so our motto must be Oneness for all and all for oneness. We are
so connected to every single person on this planet that we cant even begin
to separate who is important and who is not.
Many of us are familiar with the statement: God is love, and those
who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. (1 John 4:16) If
we continue on another line or two the idea grows deeper: There is no
fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with
punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We
love because he first loved us. Those who say, I love God, and hate
their brothers or sisters are liars; for those who do not love a brother or
sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.
The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must
love their brothers and sisters also. (1 John 4:19-21.
In order to achieve Oneness do we have to coalesce all religious faiths

U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * L
into one? Does everyone on the planet have to convert to Christianity, or
Judaism, or Islam, or Hinduism? Far from it. From a religious
perspective it only takes the simple understanding that God is beyond any
and all of the religious and even secular identities that mankind has created
in our feeble attempt to define It. All faiths are right to some degree and
irrelevant in others. We merely have to acknowledge there are many paths
to God and were free to follow which-ever one makes the most sense to
us as individuals.
What creates Oneness? Universal love, acceptance, compassion,
support, forgiveness without blame, encouragement, sense of purpose,
non-judgment and freedom from the restrictions of our beliefs. (Many of
our beliefs separate; our loving thoughts unite.)
Oneness is endless, in fact the best way to describe Oneness is that it
must be endless. Which is probably why it is so important that we not
only acknowledge the worth of all people everywhere, but that we begin to
recognize that our own lives are important and worthwhile. And, perhaps
most of all, we need to accept the idea that the most important thing we
can do with each of our lives is to live them to the best of our ability, in
any way we can that results in the world becoming just a tiny bit better
than it was when we got here; better just because we were here at all.
Oneness is what we are and a consciousness of Oneness is our only
road to peace. Jesus actually defined Oneness and showed us the way
when he said, Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all
your soul, and with all your mind. And (likewise)you shall love your
neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39)

The world awakens to peace--one person at a time.
World peace begins with me. My peaceful presence affects the peace
in my family. The peace in my family affects the peace in my
neighborhood. The peace in my neighborhood affects the peace of my
community. And on it goes--until peace unites our world. And so it is...
Amen
Richest blessings,
Art Holt, UBJ #51
There is a refreshing scent to the air bringing a healing
comfort with each breath you take. And a fallen log right on
the edge of the trail that invites you to sit for a moment to
rest and listen; to fill yourself with the beauty of this Holy
place; to restore the strength of your soul; and to await the
Still Small Voice that has been there all the while, just for
you, filling you now with a love that is more powerful than
anything you have ever felt before. You are home. You are
safe. You are restored, and you are refreshed.
You have found that place where you are One with the
Lord God of your being. And you know, deep in your heart,
that this place, even though you have found it in your
imagination, is real; it is special, and it is yours alone. You
have the power to return here any time you wish, in the blink
of an eye. Your desire to be part of God and to have God be
a part of you, each step of each day, throughout your life,
has guided you here and will guide you back.
So take another breath and
open your eyes. You have returned
to the same world you left just
moments ago, and yet everything is
different now; peaceful, calm, and
strengthened with Gods loving
presence with every breath and
every step you take.
And so it is
Amen
Does it seem that the time you want to turn within to
find God, is when you are the most busy, disturbed, or
stressed? And when you are the most relaxed and peaceful
you dont even think about trying to find God.
The reason is simple. When youre relaxed and at
peace, God is already with you and what you are feeling is
the presence of God with you and as you. When youre
stressed or disturbed, you think you are alone; but God is
still with you. Its at that moment that God is calling to you,
so that you can return to that peaceful state once again.
The first step in finding your way back is to stop and take
a deep, refreshing and relaxing breath; hold it momentarily,
and release it slowly. See, you feel better already.
Now, if you cant get into a physical space that is quiet
and serene, away from the noise and confusion and stress
of the physical world, close your eyes and let your
imagination take you to such a place. Imagine. In the deep
woods of the forest, there is a path covered with a mossy
blanket of pine needles and bark, cool and moist, and
comfortably soft under your feet. Imagine you are there
now.
Far above your head the branches of the evergreen
trees protect you from the heat of the sun and sprinkle tiny
shafts of light that bounce from dew drops and butterfly
wings. This is the safest and most naturally beautiful place
you have ever been. When you are still you can see a rabbit
hop and a small deer just ahead, as though they are guiding
your path. A song bird sings a song of peace.
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M E D I T A T I O N
photo by Art Holt





Upward Bound of Unity, Inc.
10870 SW 71st Circle
Ocala, FL 34476
Phone (352) 861 - 5518
Email: UpwardBoundRev@aol.com

Upward Bound Journal
is a Unity publishing ministry based on Biblical teachings and dedicated to
writing and presenting spiritual, inspirational, and metaphysical principles
which empower people to enrich and transform their lives.

For more information about Upward Bound email us at:
UpwardBoundRev@aol.com or go to our website:
www.upwardboundjournal.com.
Issue # 51 Oneness for All and All for Oneness
Upward Bound Journal is of Upward Bound of Unity, Inc. 2011

Member: Association of Unity Churches International, SunCoast Unity Ministers Association, and
affiliated with: Unity Institute and Silent Unity, publishers of Daily Word. Upward Bound of Unity, Inc.
is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), charitable corporation sustained entirely by your tax deductible gifts.

(All photographs herein are by Art Holt unless otherwise credited.)
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U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * L
WORDS WE LIVE BY
Our words create our reality. Let us acknowledge another word that
will impact our lives in wonderful ways. Our word isAwareness
We all have the kind of awareness that lets us know when the
traffic is getting little too congested, and the environmental awareness
of new buds appearing on bare branches, showing us that spring is on
the way. That is the common level of awareness.
There is also a deeper awareness that is much more meaningful.
Its the kind of awareness that lets us know that we know. A
powerful inner awareness. For example, if you read the meditation in
this issue of Upward Bound Journal without thinking about it, lets
say while you are in a physicians waiting room, surrounded by
chatter, it is easy to let it all pass by as you subconsciously listen for
your name to be called. Your attention is superficial and your
experience is shallow.
Read it again in a quiet, undisturbed place and let yourself fully
embrace the guiding imagery, and let the meditation fully embrace
you. As you breathe and imagine and become lost in it, you may just
find something going on within yourself that is a powerful inner
experience; an awareness of a Presence. A presence of something that
loves you, deeply and sincerely. You have become aware of the part
of you that is Divine. There is no greater self awareness. You have
become aware that even with all your faults, you really are a beloved
child of God.
When you have the kind of experience of becoming aware that you
are Aware, you will have found something that will never leave you.
For once you have become Aware, you cannot revert to being un-
aware again. When you know that you know, no one can take that
away.
Before you can recognize the Divinity within anyone else, you
must become aware that it is part of your own self. Awareness of
your deeper inner self is the first step in understanding that what you
have found is also part of every other person on this planet. The
ultimate awareness is that something Divine is within everyone.
Richest blessings, Art Holt
Rev. Arthur Holt
Unity Minister
Dottie Holt
Licensed Unity
Teacher
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Upward Bound Upward Bound Upward Bound Upward Bound
Journal, Journal, Journal, Journal,

10870 SW 71st Circle,

Ocala, FL 34476


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Photo by Art Holt
An Easy Way to Support Upward Bound

The support you have given through the years has been a blessing to more people then you imagine.
Thank you, thank you, and thanks again.
Recently, in managing my banking and bill paying on line, I decided to perpetuate my own support
for Upward Bound with an automatic, monthly, on-line contribution. It was really quite simple to do
and completely within my control as to how much and how often I want to give. My contributions go
directly from my personal checking to the Upward Bound, 501-C-3, not-for-profit account.
If you want to set up a tax deductible electronic transfer I will provide the bank name, routing and
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economically painless and effortless. Just take a copy of Upward Bound into your bank and ask them to
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Upward Bound Journal is our publishing ministry, supported entirely by tax deductible donations
and grants. Your donations not only cover printing, publishing and mailing expenses, but provide for the
UBJ website and online distribution of electronic PDF file copies to people we could not reach any other
way.
What a wonderful blessing you are...
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Art & Dottie Holt
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Go to: www.upwardboundjournal.com to see it all.
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Art Art Art Art