February, the shortest month of the year, is packed with much to celebrate. The power of the month is LOVE. Charles Fillmore, Unity co-founder, determined that we are all endowed with twelve faculties or powers, each correlated to a certain month, a particular disciple, a specific location in the body, and a color vibration. John was known as “the beloved disciple.” The power is located in the heart and the color vibration is pink. Love of country, love of family, and love of self can rally people to powerful action. As Truth students, we study the image of God as love and see ourselves as God’s love in expression. The word love appears hundreds of times in the Bible. It is one of the central themes and driving forces of principle.
February is Black History Month—a time to show love for ourselves and the historical contributions of African Americans past and present. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February to celebrate the achievements and recognize the roles of African Americans in history. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the UK also devote a month to celebrating Black History.
One of the most important ways we celebrate culture and history is through storytelling. Stories function as a tool to pass on knowledge, promote feelings of well-being, and create a sense of connection and belonging. This issue includes stories from several alumni, a blog by a current student, a Soul Food section with recipes and a short list of Black movies.
We join in celebrating the Season for Nonviolence, January 30 – April 4, a global grassroots campaign to raise awareness about the transformative power of nonviolence. It was established by Arun Gandhi and the Alliance for Global New Thought (AGNT) as a yearly event celebrating the philosophies and lives of Mahatma Gandhi who was assassinated on January 30, 1948, and Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
February 2 is Ground Hogs Day. As Bill Vaughn said, “The groundhog is like most other prophets; it delivers its prediction and then disappears.” Whether or not the fictitious varmint sees his shadow, we can still give him some love. If you haven’t seen it already, I encourage you to watch the movie, “Groundhog Day” to tickle your funny bone.
February 14 is Valentine’s Day. According to history.com, the day is celebrated in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, and Australia. Exchanging Valentine’s cards is one of my most memorable childhood experiences. According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year. Candy, flowers, and gifts are a few other ways that we show our love on Valentine’s Day.
I hope you enjoy this issue and look forward to any feedback you would like to share. You can submit your comments on the website at https://www.uums.org.\
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Thank you for reading!