Center for Spiritual Living Midtown

Lessons From St. Francis - Rev. Paul Gonyea

The socially acceptable response to those things in this world that some people call “evil” has always been to fight it and to conquer it. When the average non-spiritually-aware person is confronted with hatred, or injury, or doubt or despair or darkness or sadness, they want to do something about it. If someone hates us, we hate them back. If someone injures us, we try and injure them more so they’ll stop. That’s the way humanity has dealt with issues like these for thousands of years. People even justify it “in the name of religion,” or “in the name of God.” Of course, we don’t have to look any further than the Middle East to see how well that approach works. 

Happiness in Tehran - Rev. David Barrett

It’s interesting to see how the Iranian government arrested the group of singers that were singing the song” Happy”. The Truth of the matter is, there is a happiness at the center of our being that cannot be taken away by any religion nor government. At the center of our Being there will always be Joy, Love, Happiness, Abundance, Creativity, and Vitality. Knowing this as our threshold, we shall always strive to know it is there.

Memory Is Looking Backwards - Rev. David Barrett

In honor of Memorial Day, we will reflect on what the holiday means for each of us as American’s, as a community, and individually. More importantly, we will look back at what memorializing in all aspects of our lives both good and bad.

Growing Pains - Rev Paul Gonyea

"Growth can be painful, and frequently is, because it forces us out of our comfort zone. It forces us out of our safe and secure shell. It requires us to give up some really familiar parts of our old identity, and to take on some new and unfamiliar characteristics that we’re not used to. Growth challenges us to recognize that most, if not all, of our so-called limitations are really self-imposed and artificial. All these things can be a pretty big blow to the ego, which also doesn’t feel very good. But when the growing pain ends --- which it will --- the results are almost always worth it."

Something Mother Taught Us - Rev. Angela Harmon

Mother's Day is upon us! 

Mother's day is one of the most active days of the year to phone Mom! 

Mother's day is one of the most popular days of the year to send flowers, running a close second to Valentine's Day  I realize relationships with our Mom's vary. 

From communicating daily to communicating never! 
Regardless to the type of relationship, consider something Mom taught! Some individuals may have a laundry list of lessons! 

Others may not be able to recall. For those, I ask that you search deep within! Find one life lesson! Are you better for having it? 

What We Believe - Rev. Paul Gonyea

Rev. Paul Gonyea speaking on what we believe at the Center for Spiritual Living Midtown! It totally rocks!

Let's Be Honest - Rev. Paul Gonyea

"We have available to us the intelligence and the passion and the power to make anything happen in our life and (if we do it together) in the world. But we have to stop wasting so much time and energy lying to ourselves and to each other about what we want and what we are willing to do to make those things happen. And we need to stop being afraid of what other people will think of us if we tell them the truth. If we start to practice being honest on the little things, maybe we’ll see how quickly our power translates to the bigger, more important things."

Doubting Thomas, Doubting Me - David Barrett

It took a lot for Thomas to understand what the visions actually were.....Not visions, but the aspect within each one of us that doubts, the one that questions, the one that feels alone....only to realize that the doubt is truly evidence of Faith, a faith hard to describe, but within each one of us.

There's More to Easter Than A Rabbit and A Tomb! - Rev. David Barrett

While race consciousness tells the story of Easter once again through the eyes of the Easter Rabbit, or rolling away the stone, we will recognize the TRUE meaning of this annual event. It is not about something that happened thousands of years ago, nor is it a fairy tale..... It is about the newness of Life forever pushing itself through each one of us this very minute.

Coming Down Into the City - Rev. Paul Gonyea

We have to get away from the idea that living a successful and fulfilling life is all about avoiding pain and disapproval, because our ability to live successfully has nothing to do with outside opinions. It’s all about doing what we have to do, in our heart, in order to be the person we know ourselves to be, no matter what. No matter what anyone else says. No matter where we are or what challenges we’re facing. No matter what the risk or the danger might be. And we need to use all the wisdom and all the intelligence we have at the moment, combined with all the love we can possibly express. If we do this, no matter what happens, we will not regret what we have done with our life, because it will reflect perfectly who we believe we are