Union Sanctuary
Inside this
Issue:
• Loving Patience
The Union Bell
V o l u m e 1 , I s s u e
• Spiritual Truths
• Charms—a poem
• Healing Wisdom
• Daily Affirmations
Unconditional love and accep-
tance is patient. How do you
react when you are inconven-
ienced? How do you handle
annoyances? Every day we are
faced with new challenges that
test our endurance and pa-
tience. Through patience we
have the opportunity to ex-
press unconditional love and
acceptance for imperfect peo-
ple and for all circumstances
despite the challenges and
difficulties.
Patience is a passive demon-
stration of unconditional love
The soul grasps for Truth
while using love as it's
guide. Many times the
mind gets lost from the
souls path only to find con-
fusion, anger, and sadness.
If you remember these
spiritual truths you may
2 D e c e m b e r
Loving Patience
and acceptance. It is not what
you do as much as how you
respond to people or situa-
tions.
Patience is calmly enduring an
inconvenience; not reacting
impulsively when a decision
needs to be made; hoping in
the midst of opposition; stay-
ing faithful and believing de-
spite delays; submitting with-
out resistance when it is the
Spiritual Truths
2 9 , 2 0 0 8
best option; and gracefully
accepting hardships that can-
not be changed.
There is a calm quality to pa-
tience. When you are patient,
you are in no hurry. You are
able to wait for as long as is
necessary. You persist in be-
lieving in you and others with-
out giving up. Your temper is
under control. And you are
not disturbed by inconven-
iences and annoyances.
Story continued on page 2
find yourself a bit more at
ease with the paths you
have experienced.
Story continued on page 3
 P a g e 2
Continued from page 1—Loving Patience
Patience communicates
unconditional love and
acceptance by saying:
• I unconditionally love
and accept myself and
you despite our imperfec-
tions.
• I am willing to wait be-
cause all people are
worth waiting for.
Patience is the
companion of • I will go out of my way
wisdom. if it will help you.
—Saint Augustine
• I will allow you to do
things at your own pace,
not mine.
• I will try to think things
through before making a
decision.
• I will not give up on
you; I believe in you.
• I will accept you the
way you are and not try
to change you.
• I will respect your be-
liefs and opinions al-
though they differ from
mine.
T h e U n i o n B e l l
Patience clearly commu-
nicates unconditional
love and acceptance in a
very special way. Pa-
tience is commonly said
to be a virtue. It is a qual-
ity that can be developed
and practiced by every
one of us.
If you struggle with pa-
tience I suggest the fol-
lowing reflection:
• How understanding and
tolerant am I with people
in my life?
• Do I persist in the face
of difficulties or set-
backs? Explain.
• How do I manage times
of delay and waiting?
• What tries my patience
more than anything else?
How do I respond?
• What do I expect from
others that keeps me
from being patient with
them?
• On a scale of 0 to 10,
with 10 being
"completely" and 0 being
"not at all" how would I
rate my overall level of
patience?
• Is there someone in my
life that I need to be more
patient with? What can I
do differently?
If you struggle with pa-
tience I suggest the fol-
lowing mantra for you:
Life is filled with obsta-
cles and imperfect people
and situations that can
hinder my plans, slow me
down, and annoy me. I
can accept life as being
imperfect. I can allow
myself and others to have
flaws. I am patient!
~ Br. Jason Wilkins
V o l u m e 1 , I s s u e
Continued from page 1—Spiritual Truths
1. Mistakes are not possible!
Remember that your
"mistakes" are not mistakes
at all; mistakes do not exist.
What you call a mistake your
soul calls experience. Use
that experience to change
yourself, to re-create your-
self, to never return to that
same path in which does not
keep guiding you by love.
2. Fear is the DIS-EASE.
Love is the cure! From day
one as fleshy inhabitants we
are taught to fear. We are
taught that we are a "survival
of the fittest" society. We fear
failure. We fear each other.
We even fear love (or loss
thereof). Why do we fear
these things? Because we
were programmed to by our
parents, teachers, leaders,
and that "survival of the fit-
test" society. We must al-
ways, always remember that
the path to unconditional
love IS unconditional love
itself. We must re-create our-
selves into knowing (not
thinking but knowing) that
truth is love and the purest
form of love is unconditional.
Follow the path that eases
rather than the path that DIS
-eases.
2 P a g e
3. Enemies do NOT exist!
Those that you consider ene-
mies are simply learning
tools or lessons for a way to
re-create yourself. Enemies
are lessons in life to be
learned and are to be treated
as tools in the re-creation
process of one's self. Once
the lesson has been learned
and you have re-created
yourself anew in that area
then it is time to move on to
the next guiding point. If the
lesson has not been learned
then the more "enemies" or
lessons you draw in until
those important lessons are
finalized.
4. As your TRUTH ascends
so too does your ability to
take personal responsibility
for your own actions. As you
become more aware of your
self and of your truth you
find yourself more open to
accepting personal responsi-
bility for your own actions
rather than crying out to be a
victim of circumstance. You'll
find that finding your next
path is bit easier. You'll be
more self aware and trust
yourself more in the decision
making process. You'll know
the feelings to accept and to
3
deny when it comes down to
that final choice.
5. You are never alone! At the
core of your spiritual being
composed of light, love, and
energy you are one with the
universe; one with God. Be-
ing one with the infinite
NOW means you can NEVER
be alone (nor have you EVER
been alone).
Fear is the
6. Spiritual growth requires
DIS-EASE.
work! You must study, prac-
tice, and experience in order Love is the
to accept that divine truth of cure.
self realization.
7. The ability to create like a
GOD (or as a God)! The most
important ability in life is
that of creation. We are con-
stantly re-creating ourselves
anew based on the experi-
ences that we encounter
every single second of every
single day. We ALL create in
order to experience and our
experience helps us create. It
also happens that we ALL
experience what others cre-
ate and with that experience
we create. Life certainly is
our canvas.
~ Br. Johnnie Arnold
 P a g e 4

Charms
A poem by J.B. Talbot

There's a charm in the soft and gentle wind, Though darkness and gloom may the prospect
mar,
As it carols its onward way;
And joys be but scanty and few.
'Tis like the first call of the infant mind,
There's a charm in the bright sun's golden ray,
As it seeks the sunniest spot to find,
As it shines o'er the field and flood;
Or the child at its guileless play.
'Tis like the heart's hope as it soars away,
There's a charm in the sweet expanding flower
Above the range of life's transient day,
As it sheds its fragrance round;
To the home of the just and good.
'Tis like young thought in its loveliest hour,
There's a charm in the vivid lightning's flash,
Or a maiden pure in her woodbine bower,
And the thunder's pealing roar;
Her heart not fettered nor bound.
'Tis like the soul's moving, resistless crash,
There's a charm in the sea's wild rolling wave,
Or the foaming tide with its heaving dash,
As it heaves its white crested foam;
Patience is the
As it laves the "iron bound" shore.
'Tis like the generous career of the brave,
companion of There's a charm in the step of a rosy boy
As he toils the weak and helpless to save,
wisdom. As he gambols with freedom gay;
Or leads the poor wanderer home.
—Saint Augustine 'Tis like the splendor of a gilded toy,
There's a charm in the mountain's frosted brow,
Which gives the promise of a lengthened joy
As it lifts its broad forehead on high;
Through many a looked-for day.
'Tis like the grasp of the mind's o'erflow,
There's a charm in the thought of a happy home,
As it beams with a rich and radiant glow,
Where the loved ones cluster in glee;
And bounds to its source in the sky.
'Tis like peaceful sleep after rage and foam,
There's a charm in the penciled evening sky,
Or the calm that succeeds the wild wind's moan.
As all nature sinks to rest;
As it spreads on the bounding sea.
'Tis like the full heart, with its breathing sigh,
There's a charm in the mother's sparkling eye.
As it wings its flight to the throne on high,
As she looks on her sleeping child;
In prayer for the loved and the bless’d.
'Tis like the soft scene in the summer sky
There's a charm in the rainbow's blended hue,
Or the soothing sounds of a lullaby,
As it circles the lofty sky;
Attuned by the meek and mild.
'Tis like the soul that is noble and true,
There's a charm in the City's crowded street,
O'erflowing with love and sympathy too,
With its noise, its pleasure, its strife;
While it lists to the mourner's cry.
'Tis like young friendship's generous greet.
There's a charm in the lively twinkling star,
Or the bustling sound of a thousand feet,
As it sparkles in azure blue;
As they tread the pathway of life.
'Tis like the bright spot when seen from afar,
There's a charm in my own, my native land,

T h e U n i o n B e l l
V o l u m e 1 , I s s u e 2 P a g e 5

Continued from page 4

With its loves and its friendships true; My days will be marked by no wearisome strife,

'Tis like the soft chain with its silken band, And nature's passions will never be rife,

That binds each heart, and secures each hand, While my heart will be filled with love.

And opens glad scenes to the view. Come truth, then, and shed thy peace-giving beam

There's a charm in the sacred place of prayer. Enlighten my heart and my soul;

Whether palace or cottage or plain;
'Tis like the breath of the ambient air,
Or the Christian's prospect bright and fair
Where the ransomed forever reign.
But a brighter charm in the Truth is found,
As it gilds the pain of the just;
'Tis like liberty's voice to the heart that's bound,
Or the smiling flower as it springs from the ground.
Inspiring a heavenly trust.
Now give me to drink from thine own blessed
stream.
Then the troubles of time will only seem
Like moments, as swiftly they roll.
The scenes of this world will soon pass away. Fear is the
And hasten my spirit to rest;
DIS-EASE.
With Truth by my side I'll welcome each day.
Love is the
Regardless of time, whether gloomy or gay,
cure.
‘Till I enter the realms of the bless’d.

If truth charm my soul in this mortal life,

And guide me as onward I rove;

Healing Wisdom
"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of si-
lence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the
sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls."
~ Mother Teresa

"Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

take a moment to listen inward and find your own Wisdom.

Together we hear

Union Sanctuary
430 Azalea Drive
Stockbridge, GA 30281
Phone: 678-689-5362
www.unionsanctuary.com
We are One.
Daily Affirmations for the Week
Monday, December 29
Today, as I move into the si-
lence, I listen to the voice
within and know that it is guid-
ing me down my unfolding
sacred path.
Tuesday, December 30
Today, I see God in everything
and everyone as love, har-
mony, peace and abundance
and my life is enriched.
Wednesday, December 31
I embrace my unique character
and together with that, my
common bond with everyone
else. My past is not my poten-
tial, and any adjustments I
choose to make to how I ex-
press are easily and perfectly
accomplished.
The Union Sanctuary (US) is a non-profit organization
composed of men and women who have come from
many different walks of life, religious institutions, and
cultural backgrounds that believe in the transcendence
of dogmatic loyalty to scripture to achieve levels of
spiritual understanding that go beyond all boundaries
to the doorstep of Supreme Identity. The Union phi-
losophy is centered in the common truth of many eso-
teric faiths. The US embraces the ULC philosophy of
“do that which is right” and welcomes anyone, no mat-
ter their spiritual background, who is willing to enter
into congregation with others of diverse faith and find
Union together as one voice.
We believe in the unity of mankind. We believe that all
religions that are built upon positive foundations offer
some common truth when separated from the dogma
and rhetoric of socio-cultural prejudice. We believe that
we are all equal in the eyes of God no matter whom that
God may be in the eyes of others. We believe in the
positive and negative forces with which we all struggle
in the daily unfolding of our lives. As smaller parts of
the greater whole, we believe in the miraculous happen-
ings of the Supreme Identity of God.
www.unionsanctuary.com
Thursday, January 1, 2009 me, and I step forward into my
I use painful experiences as day, the day God has given me.
chariots to enlightenment and
birth my consciousness of di- Sunday, January 4
vine love. Today I engage in meditation,
prayer, yoga or whatever I
Friday, January 2 choose as my spiritual practice.
Today, I unconditionally love I appreciate how my spiritual
myself and accept all aspects of practice leads me to experience
who I am and how I feel. I al- my oneness with God.
low all my emotions to lead me
to a greater expression of self-
nurturing and freedom.
Saturday, January 3
God and I are one; in every-
thing I do, my divine atmos-
phere goes before me, making
straight and perfect my way. I
let nothing get in the way of
my healing, and I allow my
past to be fully put to rest. I
value what my past has taught