The Changing Leaves are always a miraculous sight for those of us in climates that provide this annual display of colorful foliage. The predictable transformation has become synonymous with change and a reminder that there is always new life, new growth just beyond what appears to be death. What is truly remarkable about the process is what causes the change in colors. As the hours of daylight become less, the tree responds to an inner signal. The signal is not to drop its leaves although that is what occurs. The signal is to begin new growth. The tree begins to direct its resources to new growth, to the buds that will occur in the spring. This focus on the new growth in turn diminishes the flow of nutrients to the current leaves and they respond by fading, falling and preparing the space for the new buds. As always, when I look at the falling leaves I know that new life will occur in the spring but today I recognize that the forming of new buds has already begun. In life, as I see something fading away, I know on an inner level that something new is forming within me. What falls away prepares the space for what is being called forth in me. This is the miracle of transformation that occurs in the trees, in my life and in the world.
© 2016. Reverend Eileen DeRosia Patra
Rev. Eileen is an ordained Unity minister currently serving at Unity of Livonia in Livonia, Michigan.
REGENERATION, the process of making new, is evidence of the eternal and miraculous nature of Life. Life is continually renewing itself. Trees and plants continually grow, flower, bloom, become dormant and are then renewed. The cells of the human body are continually replaced by new ones. Charles Fillmore, co-founder of Unity taught that we are fully capable of REGENERATING and healing every cell, muscle and organ of the human body through our thoughts, words and actions. This is not a far-fetched idea. Rather, it is the outworking of what is our natural state of being; whole and complete. As I align my heart and mind with God, with the All-ness of Life, my thoughts, words and actions support the continuous REGENERATION of all aspects of my being. I AM whole, complete, in perfect health and aligned with the flow of Divine Life.
ZEST, an energetic quality that increases excitement or flavor is a powerful aspect of being. A tiny amount of ZEST from the outer skin of a lemon adds an incredible amount of flavor to a dessert. Add too much and the dessert may become bitter, overcome by the astringent flavor. ZEST, like the spiritual faculty of ZEAL must be used with discretion. When our excitement for an activity is balanced with Love, Understanding and Wisdom, we are propelled with ease and grace toward our goals. Today, I tune in to this natural ZEST for life. I allow the powers of Love, Wisdom and Understanding to balance the flavor of my being and I step forward with a mighty and Zest for the Life and all that is mine to do.
MOTIVATION is the inner impulse that moves us forward toward an intended goal or desire. In its most spiritual expression it is the awakened power of Zeal or Enthusiasm directed from a Higher consciousness or awareness. When I am aware of a higher activity at work in my life and in the world I can direct this inner impulse toward a greater good. Many are stirred or “called” to manifest peace and harmony in the world. Few remember that to manifest peace, one must BE peace. MOTIVATION is a miraculous aspect of the human consciousness. It moves us from a state of inertia to a state of activity. Directed by the Christ Mind or Higher Consciousness, filtered through the Powers of Love and Understanding, SPIRITUAL MOTIVATION moves us from a state of desire to a state of Being that which we desire.
A TELESCOPE houses a set of lenses that allow us to see over a great distance. As I look through my telescope I can see the eagles nesting in the cellular tower ½ mile away. They are just tiny specs, almost imperceptible to my physical eyes, but focusing this set of lenses I can see them as they build their nest, raise their young and then fly off to distant places. Through these lenses I can see the stars, satellites passing by, and the craters of the moon. I can see things that are always there but too far away to see. Did you know that we each have a telescope within us? There are lenses we see through that can be focused to see more clearly. We call this perspective and we can choose a new perspective any time. We can also widen the lens to include other perspectives, gaining a greater view. We also have within us the ability to see the invisible. Some call this faculty the third eye. Some call it clairvoyance. The Hebrew Scriptures called those who could see the invisible prophets. This inner telescope does not need to stretch out to see more clearly. Rather, we simply need to allow the physical eyes to grow dim, to see through them less and behold instead the vision within us. Seeing through spiritual eyes is like viewing a holograph that takes shape in our very midst. The holograph is malleable, formable and greatly responsive to Light. As I view the holographic image of myself and the world around me I see more clearly. Judgment transforms to discernment. Heaviness transforms to movement. Shadows become illuminated. Telescopes are miraculous devices and the telescope in me is miraculously and wondrously made.
BRIDGES are a miracle of human ingenuity. A bridge allows passage across great expanses of water or great chasms in the earth. BRIDGES are wonderful feats of engineering, and they are replicas of BRIDGES within us. Our brains create BRIDGES, or neural pathways, connecting various neurons, and increasing our capacity to acquire, store and take new action on new information. There is a mighty but invisible BRIDGE from head to heart that connects the Power of Divine Love with the thinking and feeling natures, creating greater balance and healthier, more compassionate choices in our lives. And then, there is an innate BRIDGE, seldom fully traversed, that provides a pathway from the personal consciousness to the higher or Christ consciousness. Stepping across this BRIDGE, we bring the personal consciousness under the direction of the Christ Mind and we are transformed. 
MIRRORS provide us with the opportunity to see ourselves as others see us. That first moment when humankind caught a glimpse of self in a still pond must have been an amazing experience. There would have been an instant of recognition of the self being much like the others in the clan, yet somehow different and distinct. MIRRORS that reflect our physical appearance give us that opportunity today; a glimpse of the self as a similar, yet unique member of the human experience. Metaphorical MIRRORS provided by other people in our lives reflect characteristics we may not have noticed or owned about ourselves. These are MIRRORS that help us grow and evolve in self-awareness. But there is yet another type of MIRROR that reflects much more than our physical being. There is an inner MIRROR that gives us a view of who we are beyond our physical appearance. Because it is within however, does not make it small. Instead, this is a MIRROR without limit. It might be called a “cosmic” MIRROR, one which reflects the image and likeness of God in us. This MIRROR sees through the physical being and beyond the perceived limitations and cultural baggage we might carry. This MIRROR allows us to see ourselves as a member of an infinite, ever-expanding clan of consciousness, yet a unique and individualized expression in it. This is a reflection that lifts us into seeing and being all that we are meant to be. MIRRORS are miraculous and they are all around us and deep within us. 
WORDS, our ability to form them and use them are a miracle. The human mind is capable of forming and using an infinite number of words, each presenting us with a vast variety of interpretations. Yet each word begins with an original intention or idea. Each word created and formed then spoken is meant to connect, to find a common understanding of something. Each spoken word creates a vibration in the universe and attracts to it like vibrations. Words of love and kindness attract love and kindness. Words of anger and judgment create a stream of dense vibrations that block the higher vibrations of love and kindness. According to the Gospel of John, all the manifest world is the result of the “Word” that was with God in the beginning. God is Love. The Word is Love. This is a vibration that expands and multiplies and presents us with an infinite variety of experiences and interpretations. Yet behind this one Word lies one original intention; the expansion and expression of Love. The Word is the miracle that manifests as you and I. The WORDS we use and form are indeed miracles when we align the thoughts and ideas behind them with this original WORD.
NOW. In The NOW moment, I take a breath and recognize the miracle of “NOW.” Free of what has been, assured of what can be, I rest in the NOW. It is the only, true moment. Everything else is an illusion created by the movement of objects; matter, in a constant state of flux and contrast with the space between which is still and whole, complete and full. In the miracle of NOW, I breathe the breath of Spirit and see with eyes that see. I see that all things emanate from this wholeness; expanding, stretching, manifesting, soaring, and then are gently pulled back again to NOW; where 
Eileen Patra 