My first brush with Unity came in the late 1970s when my father and I bought a truckload of apples at Unity Village to resell in our produce market. It wasn't until some 20 years later when my mother forcibly took me by the ear and marched me into a Unity church that I discovered the Unity movement. For that, I thank her.

For me Unity means healing. For the movement's founders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, it was about physical healing. But I submit that the same spiritual principles they used and taught can heal people in many ways—emotionally, psychologically and ultimately spiritually.

As a Unity churchgoer before becoming a Unity employee, I've witnessed it too many times to think otherwise. People struggling with issues, struggling with life, struggling with themselves can find solace at a Unity service. I myself did.

In the late 1990s, I remember the beautiful moments of directed meditation given by the Rev. Charline Manuel at Unity Center of Miami. At a difficult and painful time in my life, I would wait all week long just for those precious ten minutes on Sunday morning. Charline's soothing voice and the spiritual Truths she discussed sent chills up my arms.

The Focus on God Within

The aspects of Unity I appreciate the most are the focus on God within oneself and having the freedom to explore Christian concepts metaphysically. I immediately connected with the Word because for the first time in my life the Word pointed inward. I was taught to consider that peace, love and the grace of God could be found within me. This message was extremely therapeutic.

Metaphysics resonated in me like large bells ringing in a clock tower, and my simultaneous discovery of New Thought authors led me galloping down a road toward integration of body, mind and soul.

On Acceptance and Love

Beyond healing, for me, Unity provides freedom. In a Unity church, you have the freedom to be as you are and think as you like. Everyone is welcome. Many Unity congregations are a micro-representation of diversity in the broadest sense.

To me, Unity is much more than positive, practical Christianity. It is love, and love heals. Love frees. Love is open, accepting, respectful, unlimited and undefined. It is that which induces some people to hug each other, yet heartily welcomes all those who choose not to hug.

I cannot say that Unity is the only means of healing and peace that I've found through the years, nor is it a cure-all. But without a doubt, Unity has provided me with a spiritual healing that would have been much harder to come by otherwise.

David Swafford is a writer for the Unity School of Christianity in Missouri. To find a Unity church in your area, click here.