From the e-desk of:
Rev. Patricia T. Bass

Called to Be...

A friend of mine, who is going through a major life transition, said, “I have come to the place in my life where I am no longer willing to engage in anything that is not congruent with who I am.”

Powerful words. Wouldn’t we all like to say that about our lives? Of course, to manifest such words, you must first know who you are. What is your mission? Who are you called to be? What are your values?

Values provide the foundation for all that you are and all that you do. They are the essential code by which you live and make decisions. They are more than just words -- they are the principles for which you stand and for which you will walk through fire.

The values which are most precious to you are called “core” values because they are central to who you are and they give you strength, much as your physical core gives strength and stamina to your body. In your body, your core is your trunk, your internal muscles and your spine – it is the center of you which must be strong so that the rest of your body can function with vitality, grace and ease.

When you are clear about your core values and when you live from them day to day, you live the coherent life. You are congruent and your actions and words are consistent with your true essence. You “walk your talk.”

Within a ministry, the core values provide a conscious way for us to be together in community and walk our talk. Vibrant and vital organizations operate with clear core values and are driven by their mission. Two and a half years ago, our ministry went on a Vision Quest where we discerned our core values, as well as our mission and a set of pillars that described what we wanted Unity Church of Overland Park to look like.

Recently, an inspired group of board, staff and Vision Quest Design Team members gathered to review our work, celebrating our progress so far and refining it further to move us along. As a result, we drafted a Vision statement for our world, and we honed our mission statement and core values. We also created a clear strategic plan with intentions, objectives and goals that will move us forward in a coherent manner. Having this coherence makes it possible for us to translate our values into action.

For a moment, imagine a community that lives from the values of Love, Inclusiveness, Spirit-Led, Joy and Abundance. Imagine a community whose mission is to awaken and express the Christ Nature. And imagine a world of peace, harmony and abundance for all.

This is who we are called to be. Together we can manifest this powerful potential. Come be a part of a transformational experience as we explore together what it means to live a coherent, congruent life. The Sunday series is entitled “Called to Be” and it starts July 27.

Peace and Blessings,


Patricia