A Response to "Mrs. Kendrick's Letter"

(The following has been done as an assignment for Dr. Tom's online class on Myrtle Fillmore. In this assignment Dr. Tom wrote a fictional letter from a Mrs. Kendrick, and dated the letter July 1924. Our assignment is to pretend that we are back in1924 and working for Myrtle Fillmore. We are to draft a letter responding to Mrs. Kendrick's note. Mrs. Fillmore will read our draft. Thus, the following is a fictional draft letter for Mrs. Fillmore's eyes.)

                                                                                              August 28, 1924

Dear Mrs. Kendrick,

I was delighted to receive your letter. It brought back memories of my childhood spiritual roots in the Methodist church. Despite some of my differences with the church of my father, I do remember fondly that there was much good in this church which has blessed me over the years.

You know it was never the intention of my husband and me to start a new denomination. Our original hope, and it still abides with us, was to be fortunate enough to found a religious educational movement which would attract people from all denominations. We have never claimed new revelation or anything like that. What we feel we have been graced with are some key ways to make Christianity practical in this day and age. Our vision is that all may come and study these ways that were used by our Master Teacher, and then we hope that they will be able to go back and share with their communities what we "have been so freely given."

I guess you also know that temperance means a great deal to us. Health is our natural birthright, and as Peter tells us, "Be alert and of sober mind."

The issue that you raise concerning heaven and the exclusion of so-called 'non-believers' also was a source of real agony for me some time ago. I too heard people I love say such things. The conflict it created in me came down to this: How could there be an all-loving God who behaved in a less mature manner than the "butcher, the baker, and the candlestick-maker"? Jesus Christ urges us to expect far more from the one whom he called "Father."

It then dawned on me that perhaps it wasn't Scriptures that was presenting such a narrow picture of our Father. Maybe it was only the narrow interpretations that were being applied to Scripture. As Jesus told us: "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in." I sometimes think that all too often we Christians tend to worship the "door" instead of the essential lessons of our Savior. What was Jesus' essential teachings on this subject? I believe that they were as follows: "The Kingdom of God is inside of you." Nobody-- not any high church council-- can take that away. Heaven is a state of consciousness. When we feel at one with the One we are in heaven-- right here and right now. When we feel cut off from our Spiritual Source, we are in a mental state of hell-- no matter how many high church council's tell us differently. It is "as a man thinketh." That is the key. "The Christ within" is truly "our hope of glory."

Remember the time Jesus went to the temple and saw the sanctimonious Pharisee who thought he was bound for glory because he had dotted all of his ritual "Ps and Qs"? There was another man who may have not said all of the priestly prayers and "correct words',  but his "heart broke open to the Lord." Jesus said it was the second man who went home "justified."

The way of the Spirit is a broad and expansive highway, and we are all "children of the most High." My suggestion is to rest in peace in this knowledge, and do not fall into contentious arguments with your fellow parishioners. Instead be a "city on the hill" and "your light will shine forth."

Concerning your health, rest assured that if I had believed my doctors way back in the 1880s, I would not be here today to share with you.  I have met many wonderful doctors over the years, but I have found it necessary to always listen to the "Great Physician" first. My suggestion is to see yourself whole and free-- as that is the Truth about you.

When I first read in Scriptures that Jesus said, "The field is white and ready for harvest", I thought that he said this in the summer or fall. But now many leading Biblical scholars believe that Jesus said this in the dead of winter. We have the same power as Jesus to see beyond material appearances. Do this in your prayer times and you will be amazed at the positive changes that will come about. I look forward to hearing about your progress in this area.

Thank you for your support and kind words.

Blessings,

Myrtle Fillmore