Live while you’re alive
As we journey into 2026, many of us find ourselves quietly wondering, among the loud newscasts, “What is it that my heart truly desires for my life?” If we’re honest, perhaps we recognize a gentle uncertainty; we’ve wished for things, but have we really tuned in to authentic desire? It’s easy for our thoughts to be scattered — daily life fills our minds with clutter, obscuring the clear sense of purpose we carried into this world. Unity’s third principle gently reminds us: “Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind.” Jesus, our way shower in Unity, revealed a path for us to invite the desires of our hearts into our everyday living. Scripture tells us He said, “Whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” He wasn’t promising that every whim is granted; rather, He points us toward the deeper work of believing.
Unity’s teachings invite us to focus on this process. When we nurture faith—when we steady our minds in trust—we begin to notice the quiet power that resides within each of us. Then comes the asking. We are called to discern our true desires, to approach our prayers with intention and clarity. His wisdom is gentle but firm: it is from the convictions that ring true in our hearts, not the fleeting wishes, that our lives will be shaped. Remember, He said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” The calling is that sacred longing—the inner nudge to expand, to become more, to contribute.
I recall this yearning stirring within me at 16, quietly asking for my attention. I tried to ignore it, pursuing and achieving worldly success, all while weaving Unity’s spiritual teachings into my everyday choices and interactions. But by 39, I could no longer ignore the call. I gave back my golden handcuffs, released the comforts of corporate life, and followed the call to seminary, ultimately being ordained at 47.
Each of us, when we pause to listen for the still, small voice and gather our energies toward what matters, will sense where we are being guided. Our work is to keep our minds open—to trust that the Divine will carry forth the details when we answer the call with faith. In time, I have come to know that true happiness awakens in those who discover and embrace how to contribute by being of service. In offering ourselves, love and joy are awakened within, and creativity begins to flow. New possibilities and ideas swirl around us.
We affirm we are possibilitarians. We become clear: wishes transform, some fading away, others blossoming into purpose. Let your deepest desires find their voice. Allow yourself to be a living part of the divine creative process—let your wishes ripen into heart-centered beliefs. Live—fully, intentionally, beautifully—while you are alive.
Rev. Therese Donlan Lee is the senior minister of Unity Spiritual Center on Hilton Head Island. revthereseunityhiltonhead@gmail.com
