Roman Clarkson

Some of you may know, I am on the CORE Council for the Center for Spiritual Living here in Saint Louis.  Just so I can put this post in context, I just happen to be the current president of the Council.  Let me say this, it is an exciting and busy time of year.  Why?  Well, every January the CORE has a retreat.  It picks a location and spends a Friday evening and entire Saturday day reviewing, planning and getting motivated for the current year. 

What I have noticed over the past few years is that I am usually wondering, “what is it that we are going to experience this next year?”  Right up to the night the retreat begins, we as a council really get ramped up for a lot of leadership training and exercises mixed with spiritual meditations.  At the end of the 24 hours, you are in a state of reflection.  You know that place where you just have to sit and say, “Did that really happen?”

This is my second year as president and I have to say I find planning and executing the retreat is the most challenging task that I am given.  I can deal with people/congregants who are happy and giving compliments to the exact opposite, where people are giving me a tongue lashing for something that was decided and acted upon without knowledge of it.  The lesson learned: When you are involved with peoples spiritual home they get very passionate and animated about it. 

So, the question is “What are we going to do?”  The answer is “great things”.  We are going to hone our goals for the Center’s internal operations and expand our community involvement.  I have termed this year’s theme as a bridge year.  Lot’s of God stuff going.

So, when I recover from the retreat I will let you know how I fared.  I am know I will be the better for it.

Namaste

Check out the Center for Spiritual Living for more information about the organization.

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The first thing that comes to mind is Creation. All three words are embodied in it. Without them there would be no Creation. Now that I am asked to write about these words I wonder what I thought about them in the past. With many of the thought papers I have found that what was has been wholly transformed, through the creation process, into something new. Many times I didn’t even consciously think about the subject before I read the assignment.

First, the word “create” means to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes. But in reality it is only being transformed from one or more things into something uniquely new and individualistic.

Second, “creative” is an adjective that describes the power to create. But it really is the innate ability of the cosmos to express itself through some object whether it is reproduction, galaxies forming or just me writing a paper. In Science of Mind terminology that would me that a person has the realization that they can use the power of Creation at anytime in any manner.

Third, “creativity” is the state or quality of being creative. This is where someone is actively transforming something in their life. It could be a job, an idea, a relationship, anything. I think of this as the real destination/realization that many of us want to maintain. That special place where things are and become what you think at every turn.

Now that I looked into the words’ definitions and impact on my thinking I have come to the conclusion that my idea of Creation is far beyond the simple definitions given to us. I think the main difference is that I know that there is a Creation Process that exists and that we are participant in it, either actively or passively. I know my path is to be an active co-creator.

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Things I thought before

When I started Year II I never really thought about my role as a Professional Practitioner. I really was focused more on myself as practitioner learning his spiritual practice. I never really gave much thought about how I was going to impact other people’s lives and the responsibilities required of a Practitioner after licensed. As the Term progressed I began to understand the role of a Practitioner in two lights. The first is the responsibility to oneself and the second is to others. In Term I, I was happy that more class time was focused on the Practitioner/Client role and that the personal development was more in my own personal time. That classroom focus really helped me focus on listening and conversing with people. In my daily life listening and conversing with people is not a main focus. Fortunately, I have the resources available to me to continue to hone those skills.

Things I think about now.

During the term my view of Professional Practitioners did begin to change. The change was less about how I view myself as a Professional Practitioner but more about my role as a private practitioner. Really, while I was learning more and more about how to treat for others and the roles of practitioner and client, I was really learning about how to keep my consciousness clear and focused for people and myself. I began to see people saying things that I just simply refuse to believe. Not only that, I intentionally tell myself that that it is not true for me and it is not true for them. It keeps me focused on the cause and not the effect. I spent a lot of time looking at healing as a process in Spirit. I have spent more time treating for Nancy than any other person, perhaps even myself. I think that kind of focus on other people has been the biggest change.

Thinks I need to think about.

There are two particular things I need to focus on in Term II; 1) my word and 2) my works. I think that I need to start focusing more on how I speak around other people. Now that I have begun to realize the impact of people’s words on me, I know how much of an impact my words have on other people, especially, when those words are coming from a soon to be Professional Practitioner. Another thing I need to start focusing on is my works around other people. My main call to practice is to do. Demonstrate all I can and not waiver in my knowing. I think that if I stay focused on my sacred service to others and me it will be my biggest demonstration of all.

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A Practitioner is one who consciously knows the truth for themselves through treatments, meditation, and a spiritual routine. A Practitioner has also committed themselves to the expression of God in all their actions.

A Practitioner’s work is to know the divine truth of all things as a perfect expression of God. They do their work through treatment, meditation, and spiritual routines.

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I know that there is only one power this is everything right now. I know that power as God. God is that perfect expression of life unfolding and peace.

I am of that one power, that perfect expression of peace and life. I know this Truth is for my prayer partner equally. We are both the Truth of God expressed.

In this moment our lives are unfolding perfectly. We experience perfect balance, health, abundance, and peace in our lives. We are expressing all the qualities of God perfectly in every moment.

I am grateful that I know this as my Truth. I give all my thanks to God knowing it comes back to me as give.

I release my word into the Law knowing it is so, Amen.

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I know that the divine power, that is god, is ever present in the moment. I know that that power is in all things at all times.

I am of that power, greatness, and wholeness of Spirit that flows through all things, all people. The One Spirit is me as me, for me and is my client for my client.

Knowing this I know that my client has no condition, mentally or emotionally rooted in cause, but only in effect. I know that my client is a reflection of me, and we are complete.

I am grateful to have the knowledge of the One Spirit moving through me to provide the perfect rapport that exists between my client and myself.

I release my word in to the Law knowing it is complete, perfect, already present and manifested. Amen.

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I interpret Ernest’s statement about wholeness as the fundamental paradigm of Science of Mind (SOM). In the first clause in the statement, Ernest states quite simplify and completely the basic rule of SOM for all practitioners. All practitioners must know that wholeness is all there is. In the second clause, he presents the conundrum of healing. He is telling us that healing is based on perception. So, the statement is actually a falsehood that looks like a truth but the falsehood is only revealed to those who understand his teaching of the SOM.

In his teachings, he is consistently telling students that there is nothing that needs to be healed. He says that we only need to know the wholeness of all things and in all things their truth is revealed. The question I ask myself from this teaching is how I would apply this in a practical application? If I was asked to do a treatment for someone to be healed I would treat that their truth is already revealed and that there is no illness and only my perception must be treated.

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I am not really sure how the prodigal son story relates to me directly. I guess in some manner I am more similar to the brother in the story rather than the prodigal son himself. I have often found myself reflecting more on the fortunes of others when I found them undeserving and wondering why I did not receive the fortunes.

In this respect, I have learned that I should cherish other peoples’ successes as much as I would cherish my own. I find that when I am in gratitude that things flow to me effortlessly and with positive abundance. This occurs even when I practice that gratitude on another’s behalf knowingly or unknowingly to them. To this extent, the story is my own.

I know that the Spirit is boundless and limitless in what it is and what it can provide. There is no amount to be divided, no amount that needs to be shared and there is end to the supply of goodness that is Spirit. I know that that Spirit is everything and manifests equally for me and everyone else. There is no division necessary between others and me. Therefore, I know that all that I am and all that I have are available to me as well as everyone else. I share in the gratitude, abundance, love and peace that is all people. We are all one and need not want. We have all we need. I am thankful to know that I and all people are one in the same. I happily share all that I am and have with anyone who needs it. I release my word into Law knowing that it has already overflowed all of our chalices many times without limit, and so it is.

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There have been a great many things that have happened to me this past year, especially since I have been a Practitioner in Training. I think the events of the past year are a direct result of a relationship between my demonstrations and my consciousness. The most impactful are those are when I have:

· Been involved in travel around the United States,

· Been in constant awareness that I am in the flow of prosperity and abundance,

· Meditated and immersed myself in gratitude,

· Experienced the smallest day to day demonstrations, and

· Just realize that I am a co-creator in my life.

All of these are demonstrating because I am incorporating the ideals and practice of Religious Science into my daily life.

As I reflect on the impact of these events and activities I discovered that there is less and less I know about myself. At the same time, there is less of myself to know. I guess another way to phrase it is, “the more I try to find my real self the further away from it I become.” I relate it to trying to stand on the horizon of the Earth. No matter how far I walk in any direction I am always standing on the horizon. If I believe it is in a cardinal direction I can never reach it. However, if I stand still I am sure to become all four.

This for me is the most important life lesson and reflection that I am expanding my awareness. I expect it to continue to be my focus of writings and meditations between the Practitioner classes and this summer.

My Life Purpose Statement is: Be prepared every day when I awake to know the truth for every person and everything. Then experience every moment knowing I am a perfect manifestation of Spirit.

Treatment: I know that there is one perfect Spirit that is all things and I claim that perfection to be mine. I claim that perfection is the expression of me and all things known and unknown to me. I am that perfection and in that perfection all things are whole. Furthermore, there is no lack only abundance and perfection. Therefore, I express myself as a perfect expression of Spirit in all aspects of my life and I know that perfection is all things and all persons. So I rejoice in with gratitude, love and peace now in this moment for always. I am thankful that I can know the truth about my “self”, “Self”, and all things in this body and mind. I release my word into the Law knowing it is perfect, fully realized in this moment, and so it is.

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Body Presentation: Cremated and divided into an equal number of urns for wife and children.

Memorial Service: Preferably during a late afternoon at a beach, Nature is the important location.

Rituals: Release some of my ashes into the ocean or ground before the final prayer.

Service Participants: SOM Minister, Family and/or Friends

Order of Service

Invocation: Opening Prayer done by family member.

The opening prayer would be a reminder that the reason for gathering together is to celebrate the next step in my Spiritual journey.

Service: Performed by Minister. Theme is “Gratitude”

I would want the minister to speak about the necessity of gratitude in one’s life. I would like the Minister to illicit inspiration for the talk from their meditation and prayer work as they reflect on my transition.

Eulogy:

We all knew this day would come. Every person in history has made this physical journey and Roman was no different. While he lived in this physical realm he experienced life as a spiritual being, full of love, hope and gratitude. He spent a great deal of his early life striving to be more than he could imagine and be someplace other than where he was. It wasn’t until he finally realized that by forsaking the present for the past and the future he was forsaking himself, his family, and his friends. It was then that he began to realize that there was only one moment that really counted, the present. It was then that he began to shape his life into the one he desired. It was then that he decided to experience life as love, life as fun, and life as peace. This would be his motto for the remainder of his long life.

I am tempted to say the many things that he accomplished in his life. I am tempted to remind you of all the loved ones near and far who share our memories of Roman. In the end, he wanted to be remembered as someone who tried. He was someone who tried to make a difference in the world when doubt and fear were near his heart. He tried to do the right thing even when he knew he would fail. He tried to be more than himself for those near and far. He tried to apologize when words were not enough. One of his messages would be to forget failure and try, just try every moment. Try until your heart finally surrenders to love.

Lastly, his lifelong message, the one that rang truest for him was one of gratitude. Despite all his youthful discontent and depression, he discovered that he expressed love best as gratitude. He expressed and felt most loved when he was helping someone other than himself. This service to others was his way of saying “I love you because we are one and the same”. I am sure that even as we leave here today, his gratitude will long be felt and shared amongst each one of us, spread to our friends and family as we continue expressing our lives.

So we go on our paths from here in peace, in love and fun. And so it is.

Ritual: Releasing of my ashes.

Benediction: Closing Prayer done by family member.

The closing prayer I hope would be an inspiriting message of joy, love and the promotion of peace.

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