Act Enthusiastic and You’ll Be Enthusiastic!
In my neck of the woods, change is evident this time of the year. Nature displays its enthusiasm with the changing scenery from leaves of green to vivid hues of orange, yellow, red, and brown. The warmth of Summer slowly morphs into the coolness of Fall. We quickly adapt from light clothing to jackets and sweaters. Some years ago, Bambi Shen, a longtime member of Unity Temple in Kansas City, Missouri, had to make a difficult, life-changing decision. After more than 40 years of making America home–and particularly Kansas City, Bambi was summoned back to her native Taiwan to care for her aging mother, leaving everything behind including her husband, Eugene. In preparation for this huge change, Bambi took to the platform one Sunday to announce that she was leaving and unsure as to when she would return. Although her message was tearful, as saying goodbye usually is, the lesson was one of the most impactful that I’ve ever experienced. With great enthusiasm, she encouraged us to accept, adapt, and appreciate whatever changes we face. She provided Chinese takeout boxes to the entire congregation, each with a brightly-colored sticker on top that read, “I ACCEPT CHANGE! I Accept – I Adapt – I Appreciate Change.” Below it was written, “Please return to Unity Temple when daylight savings time ends on Sunday, October 31, 1999.” After her mother’s death several years later, Bambi returned to Kansas City and the Temple with the same enthusiasm she demonstrated all the time. Bambi has since left this life expression, but the lesson she taught us that day is still working. As she instructed us, we fill our boxes throughout the year with change and when we set our clocks forward or backward, we bring our change to the church. The change that is collected is used to maintain the beautiful gardens around Unity Temple, which was one of Bambi’s greatest joys. I still have my box and I keep it in plain sight as a constant reminder that change is inevitable and, no matter what is going on, I have the power to accept, adapt, and appreciate it with joy and enthusiasm. For October, we focus our attention on the Power of Enthusiasm, the disciple is Simon, the energy vibration is orange, and the physical location is the back of the brain. Sometimes change can be challenging, but the best way to adjust to it is to greet each change with enthusiasm. And, as Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore demonstrated in his early nineties, “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and spring forth with a mighty faithface to do that which ought to be done by me.” It has been said that if you act enthusiastic, you will be enthusiastic!