Mike Kramer’s Story
Michael began his study of spiritual wisdom as a young boy while attending a Catholic School. He had an unusual spiritual experience at the age of twelve. While sitting cross-legged on his bed, he felt himself float above his body to enter into extreme spiritual ecstasy. He experienced the joy and love of being one with spirit. Shortly following his spiritual experience, he began to vividly recall a past life as a Tibetan Buddhist Monk who taught his students logic, a system of thinking that conflicted with some core Catholic beliefs.
With a weekly allowance of $7, Michael began to buy books on Tibetan Buddhism and alternative spiritual teachings focused on meditation and God Realization. He kept his studies and his growing bedroom library secret, but often came into conflict with Catholic teachings in Religion Class. At his all-boys Catholic High School, he was labeled a trouble-maker for challenging Catholic dogma. During his college years, he began to teach meditation, soul travel, and how to work actively with one’s inner guidance to experience the spiritual energy that surrounds us, the light and sound of God. After 40 years of speaking and teaching, he stepped aside from outer activities to focus on his family and international advertising business. He felt the need to recalibrate all of his beliefs to incorporate a new understanding of Soul’s reality as Source.
Michael discovered The Unity Center seven years ago while searching for the fellowship of like-minded, spiritually aware, people. He remembered watching a YouTube video of Reverend Wendy speaking with a large waterfall feature behind her. Rev. Wendy spoke intelligently, had a spiritually progressive view, and embraced wisdom from all paths, free of dogma.
On his first visit to The Unity Center Michael sat in the back to leave quietly if it wasn’t for him. On the following Sunday, he sat in the third row and began attending both Sunday services. Michael shared that his heart and mind were renewed by the spiritual energy of the The Unity Center group consciousness, and Reverend Wendy’s messages. She spoke of authors and teachings familiar to him. “The Unity Center just felt right.” Michael shared that he loved sitting in the audience as an anonymous person, not having to speak. The subtle spiritual energy flowing within the congregation helped renew him.
Michael enjoys Reverend Wendy’s talks, and especially appreciates the work and skill it takes to create and deliver a weekly Sunday message and service. When Wendy refers to a new book he hasn’t read, he often downloads the book during service, or in the Sangha Café immediacy afterwards. Probably his favorite series of talks was on the Tao Te Ching. As he sat listening to Rev. Wendy speak, he was taken back to when he was sixteen, reading the Tao Te Ching for the first time. The Tao is without dogma, embodying the science and poetry of high spiritual wisdom. As Wendy was speaking, he experienced a feeling of timeless joy, and an appreciation that our world really is anchored in eternal wisdom and compassion. Like teenagers growing into spiritual adults, we’re just going through growing-pains.
For anyone interested in The Unity Center, Michael suggests, “If you appreciate books by Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, or Deepak Chopra, you’ll enjoy Unity.” He describes The Unity Center as a community of warm-hearted people who embrace ancient and modern spiritual wisdom. Michael says he finds it effortless to love the Unity path. When recommending Unity to others, he suggests, “Do what feels comfortable in your heart. Listen to your heart!”
Michael contributes monthly to The Unity Center with their easy, automated App. “You enter the amount that you’d like to contribute monthly, then you don’t have to worry about it. You can change your monthly contribution anytime you need to. It’s a simple, easy way to give, plus the automated monthly contribution creates an important fundamental support for The Unity Center to offer all of its wonderful services.”
At 73, between golf and mountain biking, Michael has more time to serve. At Sunday services, he often greets people at the front door, occasionally makes coffee for Sanga Café, helps prepare the sanctuary for large events or arrange rooms for workshops. He’s power washed Unity’s patio and painted patio walls. He is a member of a Unity Life Group and is presently serving on The Unity Art Gallery committee sharing his art in the Art Gallery’s first show. “I love being retired and on vacation from leadership. I’m not a follower, but it’s a joy to serve a spiritual community that seeks to heal and serve the world. I feel a deep sense of contentment.”
Michael is an accomplished author. He has written, “Soul To God, A Soul’s Journey Over Many Lives” available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and Audible.