By Rev. Ric Beattie
December is a paradox. On the surface, it is often the busiest time of the year—a flurry of holidays, family obligations, and the rush to wrap up the calendar. Yet, in the natural world, December is the time of the Winter Solstice, a season of deep stillness where the earth sleeps, and the sap moves down into the roots. In Unity and New Thought, we designate December as the month to focus on the Power of Life.
It might seem strange to focus on “Life” when nature appears dormant, but this is actually the perfect time. We are not merely talking about biological existence or the beating of a heart. We are speaking of the Life Force—the divine energy that flows through all things, the animating spirit of the Creator that sustains us.
Navigating the World with Vitality
We live in complex times. The world can feel heavy, and the news cycle often drains our emotional batteries. It is easy to feel depleted. However, the Power of Life is not a finite resource that runs out; it is a divine flow that we can tap into at any moment.
Charles Fillmore, the co-founder of Unity, taught that we can consciously direct this Life Force. We don’t just survive the world; we are meant to navigate it with vitality. When we affirm, “I am alive with the Life of God,” we are doing more than reciting a mantra. We are opening a channel. We are inviting that high-frequency energy to flush out fatigue, worry, and limitation. This vitality becomes the compass we use to navigate the “world we live in,” allowing us to move through challenges not with grit, but with grace.
Peace That Passes Understanding
There is a profound connection between the Power of Life and the Power of Peace. Often, we mistake “life” for “activity”—thinking that to be alive means to be constantly moving. But the truest expression of the Life Force is often found in stillness.
Scripture promises us a “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). This is not a peace that depends on everything going right. It is not a peace that waits for the world to quiet down. It is a peace that comes from recognizing the indestructible, eternal Life within you.
When you ground yourself in the Power of Life, you realize that your circumstances—your bank account, your health, the political climate—are temporary conditions. But the Life within you? That is eternal. Anchoring yourself in that truth provides a security that no external storm can shake. You can stand in the middle of December’s chaos and feel a calm, rhythmic pulse of peace.
Charting a Course for the New Year
As we stand on the threshold of a New Year, we have a unique opportunity. We are not just turning a page on a calendar; we are preparing for a rebirth.
I invite you to use this month to “regenerate” your vision. Do not just make resolutions based on what you think you should do. Instead, ask yourself: Where does the Life Force want to flow in the coming year?
Use this divine energy to chart your course. Visualize your coming year not as a series of tasks to be completed, but as a garden to be watered. What seeds do you want to nurture? What dead wood needs to be pruned away to make room for new growth?
A December Practice
This month, I invite you to take five minutes each morning to sit in silence. Place your hand over your heart. Feel the rhythm of the Life Force beating there. Remind yourself that this beat is the rhythm of the Universe, supporting you, sustaining you, and loving you.
Breathe in and say: “I am one with the One Life.”
Breathe out and say: “I am at peace.”
Let this vitality carry you through the holidays, anchor you in peace, and launch you into a magnificent New Year.
Sundays 10 am In Person/YouTube/Facebook Christmas Eve 6 pm/New Year’s Eve 7 pm
Happy Holy Days!
Rev. Ric Beattie, Unity of Royal Oak
