Amazing Myrtle!

The assignment for our final blog is to do a comparative analogy of our first week verses our last week of discovering Myrtle.  We are to divulge the epiphanies and theological interpretations we have discovered on this journey.

When I look back at my initial theological snapshot, I realize I was just reciting facts, my basic understanding of Myrtle. I had barely skimmed the surface of the deep waters I was about to dive into.  In my initial assessment, I said Myrtle was one of the co founders of the Unity Movement.  After reading more about Myrtle’s methodology and theology, I may venture onto a limb here to say that my understanding has changed.  I believe Myrtle was the head and heart of this organization. If I had not taken this course I don’t know if I would have known just how much so.  I enjoyed discovering more on Myrtle’s background, her worldviews and her rational and logical reasoning, which eventually led to the unfoldment of the Unity Movement.

How was Myrtle so impactful?  Myrtle is the one who decided to apply all the theories she had on healing cells in her body.  Myrtle is the one who discovered prayer worked for her and others came to Myrtle because they recognized the healing work she was doing and it worked. It was not until Myrtle began to substantiate her healing abilities that Charles began to pay attention. It was Myrtle who stepped out in Faith and ventured into the unknown. It was truly Myrtle who began to understand the way Christ Nature moved in and through us.  Myrtle began to shift her thoughts. She was able to claim knowledge through her Christ Consciousness when she affirmed Truth first for herself and then for others.

Given the time frame in which Unity began, women were not as respected as the male gender, therefore I believe that the Unity Movement gained momentum once Charles jumped on board with Myrtle’s teachings. I believe that the only way Myrtle’s ideologies/theology would have been heard would have been for her to prove to others that her beliefs on healing, affirmations, denials, salvation, regeneration and connecting to source were true.  Once Myrtle had her husband’s blessing I believe others began to listen. I could be making this all up but this seems to be rational from my point of view.

Myrtle was passionate about prayer, which I acknowledged in week one. What I didn’t acknowledge in week one was that Myrtle lovingly encouraged others to pray not only to God but also as if they were God.  Remember our varying thoughts on this in week two?   Well, my thoughts on this have changed. Once I began reading more about Myrtle. I believe Myrtle saw God as both. A God within and a God outside herself.  It would seem pretty apparent that at times we might need to recognize a God outside ourselves because we can do all things through him who strengthens us. 

I believe that Myrtle recognized her God given faculties in the silence when she would convene with God and become one in complete recognition and harmony with the source of all that is. I said the following in week one and I believe this is pretty significant and my views have not changed on this. “Myrtle described how God’s love continued to bless her and she was certain that God would bestow that blessing on them as well if they took the time to enter into the silence, then they would know how great God’s love for them was.”