By Lysa Allman-Baldwin

Rev. David McArthur, chair of the Board of Trustees for Unity Worldwide Ministries and minister of Unity of Walnut Creek, California, is one of the many inspiring speakers who will present at the 2011 Unity People's Convention hosted by Unity Worldwide Ministries June 13–17, 2011.

At Convention, McArthur will discuss the spiritual power and intelligence of the human heart, which he says is at the core of Unity's teachings. “Through the understanding of the heart's amazing power and intelligence, we unleash the full power and potential of Unity's truth teachings,” he says. “I am eager to share with our Unity community how much [Unity founders] Charles and Myrtle Fillmore used the heart and its intelligence in their teaching and growth.”

Although McArthur believes the Fillmores did not have the science or “the extensive language of the feeling world” to describe their use of the heart that we have today, he says their understanding of the intelligence of the human heart is fully evident in many of their teachings. “It was Charles Fillmore who said, ‘… head knowledge must decrease as heart understanding increases.' I'm sure that wisdom came from the deep heart intelligence he gave voice to as the greatest mystic of our age.”

HeartMath
McArthur's Convention topic ties to his work with the Institute of HeartMath. Founded in 1991, HeartMath provides products and services that enable people to transform stress, better regulate emotional responses, and harness the power of heart/brain communication.

“In searching for the underlying understanding of human transformation, the Institute of HeartMath researchers discovered that the heart is the central instrument in the transformation process,” McArthur says. “By choosing heart-based feeling states, we take the heart into a change that transforms its own patterns, creating a powerful, highly ordered pattern that is then sent to the brain, and transforms the brain into a higher state of functioning. The new pattern also transforms our emotional processing mechanism, lifting us out of reactive states and into emotional balance.”

The result of this process, McArthur says, is measurable, replicable transformation at our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of being that quickly reverse our physical and emotional stress. “This process can also be used to bring to our conscious awareness the unique intelligence of our hearts,” he explains.

Putting Principles Into Practice
With more than 27 years in Unity leadership positions, McArthur is a nationally recognized presenter on the science, laws and techniques of human transformation and heart intelligence. He is author of the book The Intelligent Heart.
 
Recently, McArthur had an experience that put his Unity and HearthMath principles to the test. “Someone had very bitterly criticized something I had worked very hard on and cared deeply about,” he recalls. “Upon hearing the criticism, my mind immediately realized the distortions in their argument and that they had not clearly thought the situation through well. It strengthened my perception that I was right and that person was wrong.” Noting his emotional reaction of feelings of anger, resentment and blame, he says, it took only a moment to go through the HeartMath process, and to then ask his heart for understanding.

“Once I did that, I felt a deep change take place within me,” he notes. “I felt physical change, however, the biggest change was emotional. I understood the reasons for the person's feelings and words. I also saw how they were not wrong but simply had a differing perception than my own based on different backgrounds. I believe I experienced what [turn-of-the-century holistic pioneer and writer] Emily Cady calls ‘spiritual understanding,' because I also saw our involvement from a greatly expanded perspective. One of the most satisfying moments of the experience was that I was no longer defensive, hurt or angry. It was clear to me how to go forward in a way that was respectful of that individual yet true to the guidance I was receiving.”

According to McArthur, these head and heart shifts in his life have become very meaningful. “Each time I access the deep intelligence of my heart, I feel as though I have allowed Spirit to move into my being at a deeper level, guiding and caring for me.”
 

2011 Unity People's Convention
This year's Convention theme is “The Radiating Heart of Unity.” Held at the Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas, the annual convention is designed to support Unity ministers, licensed teachers, ministry boards and key movement leaders.

The general public is invited to attend all evening sessions, free of charge. A love offering will be taken. Other keynote presenters will include Lynne McTaggart, Gregg Levoy, Brian Luke Seaward, Barry Johnson and Howard Martin.

Musical performances will include: Bukeka Shoals, Here II Here, Eddie Watkins Jr., Jami Lula, the Messengers of Love Choir, and Richard Mekdeci, Sue K. Riley, Heartdream and Michael Harrison.

Register for the 2011 People's Convention.

Read more about other inspiring Convention presentations.