mystic threads

One of the reasons that the Boston Unitarians became my teachers on the Way is their blending of the practical, moral and mystical 'threads" of living a religious life. This is much on display in this morning's Leaflet for Lent from Rev. Tilden:

Light (Scripture Reading)

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
The seed is the word of God.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
He that doeth truth cometh to the light.
Matt. v. vii. Mark ix. Luke vi. vlil. John ill.

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LIGHT (Tilden's Meditation)

"GOD help us to let shine the light that His own hand, hath kindled ; to take away the bushel of our own placing and to put our light on the candlestick God made for it, that it may give light to all that are in the house. The virtue of the light depends upon its power of illumination. Good works are themselves light. Doing comes closer than having. What one has he may lose; but what one does is never lost. No star-lighted heaven speaks to the heart like a heaven-lighted soul, — a soul filled with the echoes of the spirit's voice; a human star, touched with intelligence, warmed with love, knowing the light and love that kindled both. Each soul seems to have a sphere like the atmosphere around the earth, through which there is an outgoing on mystic threads of communication whereby its own light is imparted. There is something in this world to live for that is not riches; something that no flood-tide of prosperity can ever bring, or ebb-tide of adversity take away; something we carry with us wherever we go. It is what we are, our Best. God make that a light to some life!"

May we all see glimpses of our best selves during this season of lent and may that "make a light" for someone else. Blessings