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Myrtle Fillmore's Healing Letters
Myrtle Fillmore
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[Myrtle Fillmore's Healing Letters]
[Charles Fillmore's Works] [Unity on the Web Home Page]
THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS FROM HER LETTERS INTRODUCE MYRTLE
PAGE FILLMORE TO YOU AS SHE KNEW HERSELF AND AS NO ONE ELSE
COULD.
You see, dear, we just feel rather modest--really we
haven't much to say, as to when the work was started, and
how it was done! We just received from the Father some
ideas that proved wonderfully helpful in our own family;
then we shared them with others, and they too were helped.
Since those of like faith are drawn together, we soon found
ourselves in a little society, which was formed for the
study of Truth and the practice of its ideas. We grew.
After a time it seemed that the other folks went their
various ways, and only we were left to continue what we
felt to be important enough to develop and to devote
ourselves to. Unity School unfolded and continued to grow.
We have never cared to interest folks in our own lives. It
makes no difference to others what we have done, who we
are. What is important is that we are doing what the Father
has given us to do, according to our best light. And if we
have something that others want or that will help
them--spiritual ideas and their radiance--we are glad to
share it. If others wish to receive, all right; if not,
because of what they may
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term our personal limitations, that is all right too. We
are not trying to interest folks in the School, but in the
ideas of the Christ Mind, which we feel to be the
foundation of the work, and our standard of life.
But, dear, I feel you are crowning me with an honor that
belongs to the Holy Spirit--which is omnipresent, and which
expresses in the loving desires of the hearts of all those
who are endeavoring to manifest the Mother side of God! You
call me the mother of Unity! Well, now, I know of nothing
that would give me greater joy than to feel that God could
work so perfectly through me as to bring forth a great
ministry and a place of peace and goodwill and health such
as this [Unity School] is. But in reality, I feel that I am
only the soul who caught the first vision of this ministry,
and who nurtured that vision until others came along to
help in the establishment of it in the minds and hearts of
our dear ones, and to help in the molding in substance the
outer forms of this school and its work.
It is my great joy to perceive somewhat of the mother side
of God--the divine love that never fails and that is equal
to the drawing of souls to itself. It is my prayer to be
able to radiate the qualities of this divine love to all.
You too are the mother of Unity, because in your heart you
have the same ideals, and the same great generous spirit,
and the endless and tireless service, and the love that
never fails! The mother
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of Unity is the universal mother. How happy we are, to
represent this mother!
You may never have suspected it, but the Unity work is a
dream that has been nurtured and built from the invisible
to the concrete through love, devotion, and good, hard
work. It may never have occurred to you that my husband and
I have put ourselves into this thing which God has given us
to do without personal returns beyond our "daily bread" and
clothing. I work here every day, and receive a salary, just
as several hundred other workers do. I think a very capable
businessman or woman would not consider working for this
salary. But it meets my personal needs; and usually I have
a little each week with which to do what my heart prompts.
We are helping all who come our way to unite with us in the
study of the Truth that enables each one to bring forth
sufficient supply for daily needs, and to make good use of
all the riches of God here in the earth as well as in the
heavens of mind.
I am glad to offer you the testimony that we have proved
that God can and will prosper the work that the Holy Spirit
prompts. As the needs of other branches of our work have
arisen, we have let them be known, and the supply and the
necessary help have come forth. But we have always had to
launch out on faith without
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visible evidence of the ultimate success. We know that God
is in His work, and that it is the Spirit of God operative
in a given service that provides whatever is required in
doing that work.
I was once an emaciated little woman, upon whom relatives
and doctors had placed the stamp "T.B." [tuberculosis]. And
this was only one of the ailments--there were others
considered beyond help, except possibly the changing of
structures through an operation. There were family problems
too. We were a sickly lot, and came to the place where we
were unable to provide for our children. In the midst of
all this gloom, we kept looking for the way out, which we
felt sure would be revealed. It was! The light of God
revealed to us--the thought came to me first--that life was
of God, that we were inseparably one with the Source, and
that we inherited from the divine and perfect Father. What
that revelation did to me at first was not apparent to the
senses. But it held my mind above negation, and I began to
claim my birthright and to act as though I believed myself
the child of God, filled with His life. I gained. Others
saw that there was something new in me. They asked me to
share it. I did. Others were healed, and began to study. My
husband continued his business, and at first took little
interest in what I was doing. But after a time he became
absorbed in the study of Truth too. We consecrated
ourselves to the Lord, and kept doing daily that which we
felt led to
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do. We began to prosper, a little at a time, and our health
continued to improve. Life became sweeter and more
interesting, and we began to see a new world. In all these
years, our interest has not lagged, and we have continued
to enjoy the unfoldment of God's plan in our lives.
I'm going to tell you a secret: I don't get to keep house
as much as I should like. I'm not supposed to have time for
it--folks demand so much of my time. So I have a woman to
keep house for us. But do you know, I like to carry the
dishes away from the table at the close of the meal; and
make a nice hot suds and wash the dishes, wipe them, and
put them away in nice rows in the china closet! So if
sometimes you find yourself doing work that isn't supposed
to be desirable, remember that there are other good folks
doing the same sort of work, and that still others would
like to be doing it, even though circumstances have placed
them at something else. Whatever you undertake, do it the
very best you can. Folks will note your good work, and soon
you will be given more important positions. Show the Father
that you are ready to do your best, and He will keep
increasing your ability and will place you where you will
be blessed and where your work will bless others.
I often think that we are all in too much of a rush,
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trying to do too much, and failing to discern and do the
things that would mean most. So much that we think and do,
surely, would not be done by one in the Jesus Christ
consciousness. So much that we think we need would not be
desired by one conscious of the spiritual resources.
Indeed, I have felt in a strange land and longing for
familiar landmarks! When I feel such a hungering, I try to
draw very close to God and rest in the assurance that all
is well. I know that God would not have me struggle with
unknown things, or talk of that which I have not proved. I
realize that that which God would have me do God inspires
in me, that it is very easy to do God's will, and that when
I thus conduct myself, a great peace and friendliness comes
and abides.
We must have quiet and opportunity for inward searching,
for we must go beyond what we have heretofore attained.
There is nothing in hearsay or in observation or in the
evidence of the senses, apart from spiritual discernment,
that can take us beyond our present footing.
Know this, dear, that I know I must be beautiful within,
and in my fellowship with others, and in my sharing with
them the good things of life if I am to become beautiful
without. Anything that makes me have the feeling of
selfishness cannot result in more beauty to me. Anything
that awakens in me the loving desire to have others happy
and adorned with beautiful
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things, and anything that helps me to express this loving
desire in my living is sure to bring forth its fruit in my
life. Now, I am sure that you understand, and approve my
passing on to another the use of the beautiful gift that
you with so much love sent to me. You did mean for me to
use it in the way it would give me most joy, didn't you?
I was very religiously trained and suffered a lot from the
theology taught of a God who in truth is loving. But I am
rejoicing in the doctrine of our wise and loving heavenly
Father who chooses that none shall perish but that all
shall have eternal life.
One more word: I think you are trying to give me too much
credit for your poise, happiness, and success! Of course I
am happy to have been privileged to write to you and pray
with you and rejoice with you over demonstrations. But I
know that it is God in the midst of you doing His perfect
work who is responsible for the good.
You ask what restored me to vigorous health. It was a
change of mind from the old, carnal mind that believes in
sickness to the Christ Mind of life and permanent health.
"Be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Rom. 12:2).
"As he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7 A.V.).
I applied spiritual laws effectively, blessing my body
temple until it manifested
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the innate health of Spirit. These wonderful laws will work
for you too when you apply them diligently and in faith.
I smiled as I read about the state of your finances. I'll
tell you a little about mine! I am on salary, just as other
Unity folks are. Sometimes I have a very definite place for
all my allowance, before I even begin on my individual
needs. Sometimes I am obliged to draw upon the Fillmore
account in order to do something I feel to be important.
Usually when I find myself "strapped," someone who doesn't
know the facts will send me a love gift. Last week I handed
out about all I could get my hands on and was looking for
more, because I had places for it. This morning a letter
came from a woman to whom I have written a few times, but
whom I haven't seen, in which there was a check for me for
two hundred dollars. There was no apparent reason for her
sending it; evidently she and the Lord were aware of my use
of money and replenished my purse in that happy way. The
money I had sent forth came back multiplied; I can replace
the amount I drew out and still have plenty of "pin money."
I confess that I haven't always looked at people and their
work, and their abilities as I now do. There was a time
when I felt I must go back to old ways to earn money to
meet pressing needs. But my faith and the
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faith of those who could see a little further than I helped
to hold me steadfast. I reasoned that my past experiences
had not been satisfying, that I could at least turn my mind
to new ideas and give them a thorough trial. I determined
to use my ability in the manner that seemed to meet the
needs of persons who came my way. I had little proofs that
I was using a law and that there was substance and life
backing me and coming forth at my command.
While it may be that this work in which we are engaged is
something that we began in another life--and it doubtless
is a science that the universal Christ Mind is pouring
forth through us--we do know that the same mind and the
same law is in all and operative for all. We know that
faith and understanding and the determination to live
according to the Creator's plan will bring forth whatever
is needed, and will do this for everyone who puts his or
her trust fully in the Father.
From our experience we find it wise not to talk too much
about what we are discovering and using--except to those
who come to us for it. We know that it is not wise or
profitable to call attention to differences, not even in an
effort to explain our point. If we were to go into other
churches or classes, we should endeavor to avoid points of
difference or apparent contradictions. We should look for
all points on which to agree, and praise the other's faith
and good works. We
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should talk on subjects that intuition made us to know
others were interested in. We should not stamp our faith
"Unity" or stress points of doctrine. We should keep to
Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, as the source of our light
and the application of His teaching as the way of life. We
should give God the glory for any and all good in our
lives, and emphasize the Truth that it is God's working in
and through us that does the transforming. We should not,
however, be disturbed about the prejudice of those who feel
that they must shut out the undesirable. When we began our
study and work, we might have had only a handful of
friends--if we had thought to look about us and count them.
We no doubt would have met with objections from churches if
we had given them opportunity to object. But now--well, we
just haven't the time to meet and enjoy all the thousands
of good friends, hundreds of whom are ministers, who find
our work safe and our literature food for thought. You will
find that if you love folks and live happily among them,
they will love you. If you do not try to change them or
give them what they have no knowledge of wanting, they will
not show resistance or resentment. If you do not in your
attitude or inference show disapproval of their beliefs or
ways, they will tear down their walls of opposition and
indifference and after a while show interest in what you
have.
No one wants to feel that what he has and has been
depending on is false and unreliable; but all want to add
to the treasures they now have, and all will in time
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drop the worthless pebbles for the precious gems, when they
have awakened to the difference. Rather than feel that you
must "stand up for Truth if it is ridiculed," let the Truth
in you stand for itself. How can a thing be ridiculed,
really? If one who knows the Truth and takes no account of
evil keeps poised and loving, that is proof enough. One who
speaks an untruth or is mistaken in his judgments has the
Christ Mind within him to correct him. You do not need to
do this. Leave it with Him. And why compare Unity with
other teachings? This is not the Unity way. Unless some
earnest soul comes to you for an explanation or light on
some point, it is better to let others form their own
conclusions. Adverse states of mind are built through some
sort of contradiction or lack of understanding--and of
course they can but contradict that which would set them at
naught. Those who don't know Jesus, the Son of God manifest
in the individual, will perhaps contradict the principles
embodied. But what of this? The day will come when all
adverse states of mind will give way to the light of Truth.
If you have the poise to keep still when unbelief is
talking, the day will come when you will be intrusted by
the Father with speaking or doing that which will reveal
Jesus Christ indwelling. Pray for understanding for
yourself. Get all your faculties and powers awake and
working in perfect harmony with the Christ pattern. You
will be busy enough without bothering about what others are
doing.
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I smile as I think of your wanting to sit at my feet, when
you are in touch with the fount of all wisdom and
understanding power and life and love and substance! Your
indwelling Christ is beginning to find you receptive, and
you will grow by leaps and bounds. Never again be sad or
give way to thoughts of what might have been! God is
eternal, unchanging good, and you have access to all that
God is and has. There's a Bible promise that will help you
to know that what may seem lost is not so in reality, and
that the opportunities and blessings that seem gone will
return just as fast as you are ready for them. "I will
restore to you the years which the swarming locust has
eaten," saith Jehovah (Job 2:25). All that has been
destroyed, neglected, or lost through lack of understanding
or foolishness or false pride or ambition can and will be
brought forth as present good just as rapidly as you grow
in consciousness; for God is ever giving just what we
expect!
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[Myrtle Fillmore's Healing Letters]
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