YouTube: The Prospering Principle of Love
Audio: The Prospering Principle of Love
A theme familiar to those attracted to Unity’s approach to spirituality is that of prosperity. If we continue with the principle that love draws to us that which is for our highest good and dissolves that which is not, then we see that our highest good and prosperity are actually one and the same. How do we understand our highest good? Is it that which enables us to continue living unchallenged in our comfort zone, or, is it that which is nudging us out?
The embryo of the chick develops naturally and comfortably within its shell. But the day comes when the shell – once a solution – becomes a problem. When we find ourselves in this predicament, we usually pray for some alteration in the shell. We need more room. The chick, uncertain of what lay on the other side but sure that life has become a bit too cramped, instinctively begins pecking at the shell.
This is a clear example of the prospering principle of love. The chick not only has the instinct to start pecking, it also has an egg tooth to aid in the escape. Love urges the chick into a freer environment while dissolving the old, now confining world within the shell. Within moments of hatching, a life-sustaining environment becomes a useless pile of debris.
The shell we humans deal with is the universe of ideas that make up our current consciousness. These may have worked for us at one time, but now we are beginning to feel cramped. Our life is not working so well. Affirming the prospering principle of love is at work in us now is a willingness to acknowledge our desire for greater freedom is God calling us to move into a broader experience. We’ve reached the limit of a shell and it’s time to let it go. In silence, we listen, we learn, and then we start pecking.
J Douglas Bottorff 
I’m not convinced that it is LOVE urging the chick (or the person who has outgrown his/her shell.) Although love is expansive, it seems to me that pecking one’s way out of the confining shell is a matter of desperation.
I prefer to see the process as the outworking of love rather than desperation. I would rather say: “Love brought me to this point and love will carry me through” not “Desperation brought me to this point, and desperation will carry me through.” Of course, every person is free to adopt whatever view they want, but there is little value in studying spiritual principles if your primary motivator is desperation. I don’t buy that one.
“Tough love”, maybe. It can feel like desperation, but you know that you are being supported and helped with each little victory.