Play Ball!

Summer's now opening up fully in all its promised warmth and fervor. It's the season of hikes, picnics, gardens and... baseball!  If you look at your spiritual life as a ball game: Are you winning?  Losing?  Playing fair?  Bending the rules?  Are you having fun?  Are you playing with passion?  Are you a good sport?  How do you play the game?  A turn 'round the bases with songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke and his musical teammate Sallie Spirit.  Batter up!

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

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Peace Is Here, Right Now

Whatever we face each day, we can embrace it in a peaceful way. We know this to be true, though we may fall short of this ideal over and over. This week at Unity, pathways into that peaceful response with inspiration from Thich Nhat Hanh and others.  Reflections on the peaceful way the heart desires by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with musical love notes by Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

This Beautiful Truth 

We may think of truth, if it can be known at all, as something to face up to --- a set of facts about each of us that could be irksome, irritating, or disturbing.  What if, instead, the truths we find on our soul’s journey are deeply helpful to us, are revelatory, are beautiful?

For Father’s Day at Unity, engaging with truth on the spiritual path, thoughts by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with truly beautiful music by Sallie Spirit and Doug.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Simply Being"

A guided meditation with music and readings.

Composer and pianist Kate Moody has produced eight CDs ranging from solo piano to symphonic works. Her music is inspired by nature, her studies of spiritual philosophy, and "Being attentive to the field of awareness..."  ~Amit Goswani. Kate studied music at Sonoma State University and the New England Conservatory and holds a Master of Spiritual Studies degree from Emerson Theological Institute.
    

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"See Change"

There are many who think of life as a game --- with winners and losers.  But, spiritually, are we here to win... or to transform?  To conquer... or to surrender?  It may be that the real lessons offered to us are about learning acceptance.  Thoughts on welcoming change this week at Unity offered by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with the lovely Sallie Spirit in musical harmony.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Labor Pains"

Once again the Earth, in her majestic orbit, takes us toward summer and further into God’s re-creation of the blossoming year. Yet, if we undergo a kind of rebirth, it is not without its labor pains. This week at Unity, we'll discuss experiencing that resurrection of Spirit while, yet, grappling with the difficulties of our human dramas and sorrows --- whether in world events or in our own hearts.  Reflections by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with uplifting music by Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Watch Out!"

"Can you not watch with me a single hour?" Jesus asked of the disciples in the garden.  As they slept, he had prayed.  As we pass the precious moments of this life, which are we doing?  Are we awake, are we awakening?  If we do awaken, do we show up with gratitude, with grace?  Or do we pull the covers up over our heads?  Thoughts on being present in wisdom by showing up, being in the eternal present, witnessing the life we are leading.  A talk by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with Sallie Spirit bearing musical witness.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Avoid Static Cling"

At times, we wish an instant could last forever; we want to hold on to it and have its joy continue.  Some moments we wish we could skip over entirely, never feeling the discomfort they offer.  Though we may cling to pleasure and retreat from pain, we mostly can choose only our own attitudes.  This week at Unity, embracing life and learning from what it sends, thoughts by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with musical grace notes from Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Like A Child"

In more than one Gospel, Jesus is recorded as saying that someone who doesn’t approach the transcendent reality of God as a little child will not enter into a sustaining connection with the Sacred and essentially just does not get it.  At the advent of a new year, how much are we willing to become beginners and approach our lives - and spiritual practices - in a trustful and unguarded fashion?  New Year’s thoughts from speaker and songwriter Doug Benecke with musical contributions from Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Awakening

December brings an anticipation of all the gifts - spiritual and otherwise - of the Christmas season.  But what if all we are waiting for is, in fact, not the presents but the Divine Presence?  What if, somehow, what happens Christmas morning is simply that we notice what we have had all along?  This week at Unity, "Awakening," from songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke, musically joined by the ever-giving Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.