Liz Harris to speak

   The Bear Valley Center for Spiritual Enlightenment (BVSCE) will host Liz Harris on Sunday, July5. BVSCE starts at 11:30 a.m. and is located at 578 Bonanza Trail, in Big Bear Lake. Our own Liz Harris (former Big Bear Lake Mayor and current Councilwoman) will discuss turning hope, which Ernest Holmes called, "... a subtle illusion and an unconscious compromise" into an abiding faith. After the November Presidential election there were so many folks who were so filled with hope for our country. Our nation had elected its first African American President. This in itself was a wonderful thing to behold. It made us hopeful. There was hope that our status in the world would improve with his efforts, our federal government would return to dealing with the world's stressful situations through diplomacy rather than confrontation. Many folks had confidence in our country's future.

   Then I read the words of Ernest Holmes, "Hope is good; it is better than despair, but it is a subtle illusion and is an unconscious compromise...". As I read that my eyes got BIG! I was feeling all good and puffy about our nation being so hopeful; however this passage made me stop and think. My mental wheels started to rotate about Turning Hope to Faith.
   Liz is a retired educator who worked as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent for 35 years.  She holds BA, MA and Ed.D. degrees. Liz is honored to serve her community and her church. Liz is serving her 3rd term on the Big Bear Lake City Council. She served 2 terms as Mayor. She is currently chairperson of Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) and the City of Big Bear Lake Improvement Agency. Liz is co-chair of the Big Bear Cowboy Gathering and of Big Bear’s Wild West Storyfest. Perhaps most important for the readers of this email, she is Co-Treasurer for the BVCSE Board of Trustees!

   Liz grew up in the Methodist Church and has very fond memories of the opportunities that the Methodist Youth Fellowship afforded her. She was very active at all levels of the Fellowship including serving as Vice President of the Southern California/Arizona Conference. Over the years Liz attended several Methodist and Episcopal Churches but never felt as strongly about church as she did as a young person. She considered herself a spiritual person not knowing truly what that meant.

   Julie Grandi invited Liz to attend our church  many times. What was of particular interest to Liz was how many of the folks she knew as church members were very happy people with a positive outlook on life. Liz had decided to do her best to surround herself with folks just like them -- so it seemed natural to attend church services to see what it was all about. After a year and a half of attendance, Liz decided to join the church membership. The Bear Valley Center of Spiritual Enrichment is her church home. 

   When Liz finished her doctorate she vowed never to take another test. She’d taken enough of them! That didn’t mean she was through studying. Liz enjoyed taking the Foundation Class from Rev. Diane. She has read or is in the process of reading several books by Ernest Holmes. Liz says, “His words are timeless and proufound.” She wants you to know that that she is not a Practitioner and has no training in this belief system. She is a student who finds this reading to be very helpful and interesting.

   Please join us on July 5th as Liz shares some thoughts about how to turn hope into faith!

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