The other week I received a brochure for a weekend seminar at Texas Christian University entitled “Emerging Christianity – new ways of thinking, being, and following Christ.” This sounded inviting so I opened up the brochure to see more details.The outline invited attendees to “Explore with us“ and at the top of the list to explore was a line that both startled and excited me. It read, “What is non-dual thinking and being?”
I looked again to see if I had read it correctly. This was a seminar sponsored by mainstream churches and seminaries and yet it addressed a key concept of Unity and other mystical traditions, namely the oneness of God and God’s connection to creation. Wow!
I plan to attend this seminar and find out more. What strikes me immediately, though, is that there is a shift in awareness occurring i
n our world today.It is a shift away from the old dualisms, which lead to separation and division, toward a more unitive approach where we acknowledge that we are all in this together.
And at times like this when change is occurring we also find resistance and entrenchment. The old order digs in and contrast and polarity seem even more evident. ‘Be of good cheer,’ says Jesus, ‘don’t be afraid.’ At these times of shift and uncertainty God is especially available. Why? Because we can no longer go forward in complacency relying on ourselves alone. We need the presence of something larger than our humanness. Some may fall back on the old god of duality and judgement but God calls us to something new, a union of the human and the divine, a non-dualism that knows nothing of them against us.
Again we hear the encouraging words of Jesus to not be afraid. Do not be afraid because God is here and, “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
With that kind of generosity how can we fail. This month of Thanksgiving dare to claim that new way of thinking and being and following Christ: the way of non-dualism where God and I and all beings everywhere are one. So it is!