Unity and the Lenten Season
Answering the question: Does Unity celebrate the Lenten season?
Unity acknowledges its origins from Christian traditions, which have since evolved into a broader recognition that the path to the Divine and one's connection to Spirit is both personal and experiential. As a result, Unity does not conform to traditional dogma. The traditional Christian calendar has been adapted to encourage reflection, ritual, and contemplation. Consequently, Lent is regarded as a period for personal transformation and spiritual renewal.
Unity also has its roots in the New Thought Movement that sprang into awareness in the 19th century through co-founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. Myrtle thought of lent as a time for compassion and healing of self. Kind of a reset button, or a personal re-commitment to self-care, introspection and a march toward wholeness and well-being.
Eric Butterworth, a prominent Unity minister and author, viewed Lent not merely as a time for physical abstinence but as a period for spiritual renewal. For Butterworth, Lent was an opportunity to let go of limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns that hinder one's spiritual growth. In his teachings, he emphasized the idea of turning within and seeking a deeper understanding of one's inner divinity.
In short, you will not find anywhere in Unity where it says that you MUST do a thing to create a connection to your divinity. Perhaps that is a good place to start: YOUR DIVINITY.
In the traditional sense, Christians used Lent as a time to deny oneself pleasures, to remind themselves that they were not worthy of a God that sacrificed a beloved offspring so that humans may live an eternal life. It was and is the 40-day march to the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus.
Unity recognizes that we are already worthy, and we are designed by, flow with and express divinity. We do not need to be saved or rescued. The yearly 40-day Lenten season then becomes a reminder that we are divine, and a reminder to take time for ourselves to feel and know that divinity and what it is expressing through us. Metaphysically the Easter story then becomes a transformation story. We become the hero we have been waiting for. We do the hard work of going through our pain, our trauma, our perceptions, our awakening and healing and shine our divinity.
With the onset of the Lenten season, I am keenly aware of composing these thoughts in the middle of my home resembling a scene from a disaster movie. At the end of January, ice and snow compromised my roof, resulting in water infiltrating my house and even my electrical box. The water saturated the walls and floors in two rooms, necessitating the relocation of their contents to the living room in our 900 square foot home. We have managed to keep a chair free of the clutter so that I have a space to sleep while the rooms are being looked after by various inspectors, adjusters and contractors.
During this drama, we discovered that the windows and roof require replacement to ensure our safety and well-being for us and the home. As we negotiate with insurance to determine coverage and strategize how to finance the remainder, we are also sorting through items stored in closets and crates. This process involves rehoming belongings, disposing of waste, and rekindling memories that evoke both smiles and tears.
It will likely take us through the Lenten season to restore our home to a state of cleanliness and functionality. The ongoing construction has left a layer of drywall dust throughout the house. Once we complete the item sorting and repairs continue, we will need to thoroughly clean everything. This water damage has served as a metaphorical internal wake-up call, akin to realizations about our health or personal relationships. Addressing such issues requires patience, often the assistance of a friend or professional, and a willingness to undertake challenging tasks. Although the process may be unpleasant and appear daunting, the ultimate outcome—ensuring external safety and peace of mind for a secure home and experiencing internal healing through cleaning and organizing home and memories—is invaluable.
Much love and healing as you journey through this season of reset and renewal.
Jenn Shepherd 3.5.25
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