“More precious than jewels,” is the noble woman according to the Book of Proverbs.  But, in a previous chapter, the same writer tells us that “Wisdom” is more precious than jewels.  Wisdom, also named Sophia in ancient texts, is the feminine aspect of the Divine, so desiring to know God that she gave birth to humankind.  She is the Divine Mother, whispering pearls of wisdom and often personified by the mother figures and nurturers in our lives.

Mothers, indeed are often the voice of Pearls of Wisdom.  I know my mother had her favorites. “”When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Mom’s teaching of resilience and persistence.  “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Mom’s teaching of looking past appearances for a deeper meaning.  And, “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Mom’s way of calling me to a higher action.

The mother figures in our lives as well as the mother essence in us, calls us to a higher action. Jesus’ mother was known to call him to action too.  You may recall the Wedding Feast at Cana when Mary informs Jesus that the couple has run out of wine.  Jesus replies, “What is that to me?”  sounding a bit like a rebellious teenager wondering why this should be his problem.  But there is another way to hear these words, “What is that to ME?  What is a little thing like running out of wine to me? What is that to the Christ, the anointed one?”

When something appears to be lacking, or slips in the back door of our consciousness, disturbing our peace what could we learn by responding with those words?  What is that to me?  What is that to the highest and best in me.  What is that to what is most precious in me? What is that to the Christ in me?  

Something came up for me recently, something slid in the back door of my consciousness. It was one of those comments that causes you to feel judged, tempts you to become defensive, to attack, to blame, to shame.  And so I asked “What is that to me?” What is that bringing up for me?  Is it bringing up that I’m somehow less than perfect?  Is it bringing up a need to change another’s perception of me?  And, what is that to the Christ in me? What is that to what Truly is perfect in me? And how can responding to this differently, from the place in me more precious than jewels make a difference? How can I be transformed by this and what would that look like? What would Love do here? What would Light do? What would a new thought, a new response and a new action do? Well that would change everything because it would change me and my own perception and I would see something much greater at work.

Would this change another person’s perception. Maybe. Maybe not. But when we let Light shine through us, and stand fully in our Christ self, we are so changed that the world around us begins to shift.  This is what is called to action by what is more precious than jewels in you.  The apostle Paul summed it up best with these words “Christ in you, your hope of Glory.”   

© 2017. Rev. Eileen DeRosia Patra

Rev. Eileen is an ordained Unity minister currently serving as the senior minister at Unity of Livonia, in Livonia, Michigan.