Hello,
Rev Cassandra asked me to write a guest blog about my experience of CSL. So, here it is. I’ve been with CSL-White Rock for a little over a year, and a good part of that has been as a volunteer or a board member. I have been to other CSLs over the years, but I had never taken any of the courses until last year. I took three Science of Mind courses with Dr. Nadene Rogers.
The timing of the courses with Nadene was perfect for where I was at in my life. No surprise. That’s the beauty of life – everything we need comes to us in divine timing.
But I need to back up a bit to explain how and what I did to get myself ready to embrace the teachings of Science of Mind. I’ve spent a lifetime looking for the “meaning of life...what’s it all about, Alfie?” was my burning question. A friend once joked that clearly Alfie wasn’t answering and perhaps I should look elsewhere. And so, I did. I looked down many paths over the years. Energy work has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I started working with an amazing energy healer over 15 years ago. Curious to understand it better, I took courses – Reiki, Pranic Healing, Crystals Healing – I did them all. It changed me. I was on my spiritual path in a big way. Until I wasn’t.
In 2009 I accepted a Director position for a large organization. It was a stressful job that required long hours and a strong fortitude. I was moving away from a heart-centred approach to life. The ego was in charge now. Five years into the position I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. I was told I had a 60% chance of survival and would require aggressive chemo followed by radiation. I was off work for a year. During that time, I dropped back into my spiritual practice – meditation, energy work, visualization, and a change in my mental attitude. I also worked with a homeopath and radically changed my diet. But the biggest impact was the love of family and friends. I have never felt more loved or cared for. I finally had the answer to my question to Alfie – it’s all about LOVE.
The Science of Mind courses took this concept deeper for me. I knew it at some level, but something still wasn’t clicking. I knew that my cancer was a way for me to learn about love, but I didn’t understand that love isn’t just the love we might feel for or from another. Love is so much more. It’s about BEING Love. I sometimes use the word Light in place of Love because I see them as one. This is my mantra for days when I need a reminder: “I am in the Light, I am of the Light, I AM the Light.” We are all the Light. We are all LOVE. And we are all One.
The fundraising efforts we have done at CSL-White Rock – and that you have all participated in – have made my heart burst with joy. To bring new shoes* to Covenant House for their at-risk youth was probably one of my most satisfying moments. Thank you for being part of that. CSL-White Rock is a lovely community and I am proud to be part of it.
Kathleen Butler,
Board Member, Director of Fundraising
* Shoe-In project - this was Dr. Nadene Roger's project that she started in Calgary a few years ago and brought to CSL-White Rock while she was our Interim Minister in 2019.