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2020-02-09-TheSecretCodesinMusic.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian. Churchpop. For february 9th. 2020. This week's service is. The secret codes of music. By kaya hart. This morning's big idea it's actually about a person with a big idea his name was isaac watts. He is one of our forbearers he was a non-conformist. And what does that mean. Anybody know. Well back in england. They went through a. of time where they had a puritan leader and then they brought the king back charles the second. In 1660 they call that the restoration cuz i restore the monarchy. And when they did that. The king of england is in charge. Of the church of england. And in 1662 they said. Everybody must join the church of england. Well the people who didn't want to do that they were called the centers. Or nonconformist. What that meant was they couldn't get any government jobs they had. The go to special schools and couldn't go to oxford or cambridge. Anyway it was a drag. And. If unitarians had lived in they would have been nonconformist but anybody proust and that wasn't in the church of england was a nonconformist. So our boy isaac's w he was born in 1674 and he was he lived right then. And. In fact his dad was in prison when he was born. For being a nonconformist. And so his mother. Was on the steps of the of the jail taking care of her oldest son isaac. And they and then she had seven work it. So. Isaac was very small for his age he was he was small his whole life. He only got to be 5 ft tall. And his head was really really big. It's true so if you ever see a picture of him. He's always got robes on so his body looks bigger. And he wasn't very healthy. But so when he went to church. The people that were nonconformist they only sing the psalms you know what a psalm is. It's from the old testament and they're only 150 of them and supposedly king david rotom. I never play as liar and he would sing the song. Now of course these were written in hebrew. And people in england spoke english. So. In the catholic church you would sing it in latin but once the church of england came in people started doing in in english. Well isaac. Weatherboard silly in church he was born. It's like i hate these songs nobody sings them with any saw they just kind of go to the lalalala. And so his dad being a smart dad said. Write your own isaac. And so isaac started writing hymns. Now isaac was really really smart. Isaac. Could speak latin greek. French english. Hebrew. He was abused. Who's a bad dude he was cool. And so he started writing him sitting and if you ever read some of his early hymns are very funny but anyway by the time he died he'd written 700. Him's. Including one you know. Joy to the world. You know how it goes. Even though it's christmas song. Joy to the world. Butter 3 seafood king. Every heart and heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. And her and a truth. So isaac. Started writing hymns. And he's really smart and he was a good teacher and he wrote a book on logic that people use for 100 years and anyway he was really smart and he wrote a lot textbooks. And he never got married. He asked a girl but she said no. And he wrote lots of songs and he trains things now the thing he did that was the most cool that he ever did was when people were just singing songs the songs are from the old testament and they're in hebrew and sometimes people who are wrote them were mad at somebody their enemies and they talked about that but there's no jesus in the hymns right. No jesus in the psalms. The here's what isaac watts did. He put the i in hymns. When he wrote him in english. Until he started talking about how they made him feel. So joy to the world is actually psalm number 98. Anyway. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have any hymns that are cool we wouldn't have spirit of life we wouldn't have any of these cool hymns show. Thank isaac watts. I'm going to read you a quote by martin luther on music. It's all the stuff is important later. Martin luther said. Beautiful music is the art of the prophets. That can calm the agitations of the soul. It is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents god has given. Okay for this sermon you're going to need a handle. A great hymnal. There should be one close by to everyone. This morning i'm talking about all the secret codes and music and church music and i'm talking about church music in general and some of the theology. Like did you ever think about why you sing the songs you do in church. And why we singing the way we do. Now that's study of that is called him daddy. The study of hymns hymns are sacred songs. Right. Now in the original church. The christian church. It's coming out the judaic tradition and then you dip tradition. You have a cantor and rabbis right. Now canter is a rabbi but the cancer is a rabbi who sings. And they actually believe that god hears the cantor. The rabbi talking that's for you. So it's kind of interesting so the musics forgot. So when it came over into. Christianity. Originally before had any pagans involved. Did you take tradition what's the primary thing and the way that you could separate judaic. Tradition from all the pagan. Traditions around them. They had lots of dancing and lots of instruments. Westin i have instruments. I'm just saying and mostly people saying together that wasn't harmony. Just saying. Right. And god is listening to the cantor. You're enjoying the music. But the music's really not for you. This changes quite a bit later on. So. So what's how did it happen. That. Church music was considered separate from secular music. Like where did that idea come from. I'm pretty sure. St augustine. Augustine wrote in his confessions. The weaker mind may be stimulated to devout thoughts by the delights of the ear. Yet when i happen to be moved more by the singing. Then by what is song. I confessed to have sinned grievously. Now. He i am not crazy about him either but. Things really start happening. Once we get the printing press. And you get martin luther. And the other person that we're going to talk about this john calvin. Yeah pretty much every protestant church. Comes from. From the musical tradition. Martin luther or john calvin. Now both of them were born. Martin luther's born in 1483 and he live 215 46. And john calvin was born in 1509 and live and live 250 1564. So these are early. Protestant reformation people who left the catholic church or got kicked out. Martin luther is german. And calvin is french. But he moves to geneva pretty quick because elsewhere. They're going to take him out. Okay. So. As you can tell by the the reading i gave martin luther was pretty into music at fact he was a train composer. He studied the same. Tradition that i studied in music school to be a composer that mozart study that hide and studied. Four-part harmony. Okay. None of that happens until the 1700. Things that we take for granted that weren't there. Okay. Show. If you're from the the martin luther tradition you can have professional singers you can have four-part harmony you can have instruments. Can have organs you can. Piano. Later. Pianos are later. Okay. To all the stuff comes from martin luther know which churches. Do you think that martin luther influence. Lutheran. Methodist. How many people grew up lutheran methodist baptist. Okay. Now john calvin. He is only about the psalms he doesn't think they should be accompanied he doesn't think there should be any harmony because he thinks that music is distracting you from heaven. Here's everything you need to know about john calvin. John calvin's eating dinner. Everybody's have a nice soup and and really good homemade bread okay. Person across from hymns enjoying their soup a little too much. He pours cold water in it. That's john calvin. Guess where our unitarian universalist come from. John calvin. So a lot of the reasons why our music has always traditionally been the way it is. Has to do with singing the songs. Now. When you sing the songs the original songs like the heat my toes. Is in. Hebrew right. So if we're going to. Have the reformation i'm going to start talking in the vernacular going to quit doing the search. Church service in latin we're going to do it in german we're going to do it in english. We're going to do it in dutch we're going to do it in french. Then somebody has to take those. Original psalms. And translate them into a new language. And they do it metrically and what do i mean by that. Everything i say and everything you say has a beat. Get it. Okay. That's metrical. Metrical psalms is what they call them. And so it took a little talent. To change something that work that was done in hebrew. What you read from this way to that way. Into a vernacular language and it. Beat correct. That people could sing it. Pretty cool huh. Isaac watts did one of the first english version. That's why he's called the father of english in the d. He's very cool. So. Here we are and we're going to talk about this now if you look in your hymnal in the very back don't use the numbers for readings use the actual page numbers on the bottom go to 664. There's a metric index of. The hempz. Now they're not talking about the music they're talking about. The syllables. Because back when people could only sing the psalms. You had to translate them. Into a certain number of syllables per line. How do you know that. So when you look. In the back there. There's a metric list and you see the second one listed says cm. 8.6. Point 8.6. Amazing grace. Joy to the world are both common m that's what that's called, m. So anytime you look at a ham on the back on the bottom and the right-hand side it's going to tell you the metric. Of that pam. If it says d that means double. If it says irregular it means it doesn't match a pattern that other people use. Okay so. Common meter. Here we go amazing grace. Amazing grace how sweet the sound eight. That saved a wretch like me 6. I once was lost but now i'm found. Was blind but now i see 6. Got that. Now. It's not till 1831. That anybody puts music in a hymnal. They have just the words. And by knowing the hem m. Your accompanist or your music leader. Would know a couple of tunes for each kind of him m and they would sing that song to that tune. Here i'm going to prove it. So joy to the world joy to the world the lord is come. Let earth receive her king. It's also. A common meter. So i should be able to sing. Those two each other. Okay. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Joy to the world. The lord has come. You see how it works. Okay that's why it's in there. Every hymnal in the world has this in it. It's a secret code. And so if you like isaac watts decided that you wanted to write him. You would take it him that you knew. And you would study its him m and you would study its rhyme scheme. How does it beat where is the accent you know what i mean by accent. The beat that's louder. Hello. Hello not. Hello. So to write a him you have to match. That him m you have to match the rhyme scheme if you want to sound great. And you have to match the beats. And that is a way to learn. How to do it. Take him you like. We sang one today. That's to the hymn of. Mighty fortress is our god the tune of that. Then it's rewritten into a more unitarian friendly him. But martin luther wrote about atms and he almost always use drinking songs and marching songs. Because that's what the german people knew. So he's translating the songs into german and people are singing them to tunes that they know because he believed that congregational singing is the way it's right up there. With a good sermon it's right up there it's just as important congregational singing having your heart involved and that your singing is heard by god. That is revolutionary. Cool huh. So you can also sing amazing grace. Add joy to the world to a number of songs i hear you can sing it too. The house of the rising sun and also gilligan's island. So if you were stuck out in the frontier and you didn't have a piano and you didn't have any somebody might have some form of a guitar. Or dulcimer. You would be able to sing the hymns that you had the psalter for the words. But you didn't have any music till 1831. That was revolutionary to put music in a hymnal. Pretty cool huh. And so we've carried that to history over to the present-day that's why we have a metrical. Metrical hymns. In there. So you could sing it to different words. I think that's cool. So the whole idea behind the theology of music is different if you came from a lutheran. Point of view. Or. A calvinist point of view. Bright. You don't want the music to distract you from god. Are puritan ancestors. Brought over. A psalter is what they called it. Henry ainsworth wrote an english salter and he translated it. The first one was a geneva salter that calvin did in french. And then when the puritans went to to hang out in holland. They saw dutch version and then they translated into english this guy henry ainsworth and that's what are mayflower people carried over. And then in 1640 they did their own. It's called the bay. Salter. The bay psalm book. And so that's about 1640 and people use that for the next hundred years. Now. In the 1700s in america a whole nother thing happened. That i particularly liked and you've heard this morning wondrous love done in that style which is called shape-note. During that period of time that were american composers that came up with their own system of reading music. It was called shape-note had four shapes. And each of those shapes was fossil also just saying like do re me you would go. Fossils. Fossil. Me. And they had shapes return those note so far was a triangle. And so was a circle and la was a square. And me was a diamond. And so the singing teachers would go around and stay a week or a month and they would teach you how to sing in the style and you do the style way different than the way we do it now where it's almost like. I'm performing. And you all are an audience. That is not the shape note way. So in shape note. We would all sing there are no. Audience there's no audience there's only participants. And you doing four-part singing usually in a small wooden place. So the sound really resonates with people sing from the bottom of their feet. They sing full app. What wondrous love is this like that. And the person who's keeping time is in the middle the song l stands in the middle of the four parts. So everybody's in a square. And they keep time. What wondrous love is this singing as loud as they possibly can. And they thought that.. A2b reverent. Okay. The most popular composer in in the revolutionary war. was a guy named william billings. And he was self-taught american songwriter. And they're about forhims in here that he wrote. And he was a shape note writer if you go to a shape note sing. There are lots of them in texas. Go experience this for yourself. It's a really wonderful thing. So everything's great. Except this unitarian guy named lowell mason. Not my favorite human. He went he went to school and he learned how to write. Classical musical notation. And he felt that that was the correct way and that all these americans were singing this kind of shape note loud singing. That wasn't cool. Now. The best-selling book. In the 1700s. With a shape notebook. If y'all have ever heard of the sacred harp that's shape note. If you ever look in the bottom of your handle and you see southern harmony if you all look at number 18 wondrous love. It's going to say southern harmony. I think it was publishing 1835 originally and the guy who organized it was from spartanburg south carolina his name. Was william walker. And he's the one who put the tune that you sing. To amazing grace. Before that you'd sing any tune that fit. A common meter. But he's the one who put the one we are familiar with. To that and it was a best-seller until like a million copies. So there are number. Of shrapnel songs in our hymnal. Lone wild bird is one. Which is 15 +. 18 is. And there's more than one version. Because i gave you the shape-note version and they gave you a more standardized notation one. So low mason's people were called the better music people. And he was really active in boston trying to get people to have music in public schools and he insisted that they learn. Western. Dramatic notation. European notation. And that's why you had to learn. Doremi faso latido that's why you had to learn that's why our handle is written that. But there's a whole hundred years there that that wasn't the case. Someone guy decided. And changed it. Anyway he's not that terrible really he was a lot of tunes for songs that we sing now but i don't like that he killed shane up cuz i really like shape. And the rules are a little bit different compositionally you can do things like sing parallel fist in the shape note and you can't and. Traditional notation. So is this stuff kind of interesting. Okay. How many of you were raised in a calvinist church. How many people were raised in a lutheran based church. Methodist baptist. Church christ. If you're presbyterian you're in the calvinist camp if you're a unitarian you're in the calvinist. It's hard to say about universalist. There's not a lot of universalist hymns in our hymnal. But there are in the shape notebook. And also it has to do with class. So how many people think you should not clapping church. And how many people think. To be more reverent you should sing slower. How many people think classical music is the best music and everything else is kind of under under there somewhere. Okay. A lot of these decisions are based on what class you were raised in. Where you were raised. The rules in the south. If you're from a poor family are different. Then if you're from a welfare family. The rules in the northeast which is the primary center of unitarian universalism. The rules are different. And so often congregations fight over the stuff to the point of breaking up a church. So i just want you to consider a couple things. What you think is reverend somebody else may not. If you want diversity you're going to have to not like the music some of the time. Everything's different. If you're interested in him na'tee and you want to study or you want to become a hymn writer there's actually a ham society. You can join. To write hymns. And there are a lot of famous him writers. A blind woman from the 1800s who wrote over 8,000 hymns. She's not in our hymnal once. But you wrote a lot of jesus songs. And you probably would recognize some of them famous methodist songwriter with name fanny crosby. 8000 hymns. John wesley brother charles. He wrote almost five thousand hymns. And we sing them but we change the word so we don't list him as a composer but he wrote hark the herald angels sing. As well as a number of other things she went to. He went to oxford. And he stayed an anglican minister all his life even though his music is the center of the methodist. So the more you get into this kind of stuff it's very nerdy but i think you would like it it's interesting. And. I want to talk a little just a little bit about gospel. Anybody ever hear of ta dorsey. Or iris kanki. Precious lord take my hand is in our hymnal. He was a black composer. He actually play piano and arrange music for marini in the 20s. And then he got saved in the 30s. And he spent the rest of his life until the 1990s sometime. Writing gospel songs he's considered the father of gospel music. So there's people who are riding hymns and that's their focus. Throughout and our handles full of them. Who decides who isn't what's in here. Ministers. Usually a committee every twenty years this mark valentini was the lead minister on the committee do. Chose the signal. Mary grigolia who wrote i know this rose will open she was also on this committee. Interesting right. In the 1800's around the civil war. it was. It was. Longfellow samuel longfellow. And a guy named johnson. They were the minister's they were unitary ministers who decided. And henry longfellows brother actually. So. I hope you get more interested in this and look into it more. I think it's fascinating so if you take anything home from this. Just that. Don't be real righteous about how you feel like church music should be because it might be how you were raised. And the church that you came from.

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2018-03-18-Sermon-TheCrackinEverythingTheTheologyOfLeonardCohen.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For march 18th. 2018. This week's service is. The crack in everything. The theology of leonard cohen. By steve brooks. Stop me. If this has happened to you lately. I'm talking with a friend who is perfectly good-hearted and caring. And they're telling me not to worry myself about current events. It's all going to be okay. I feel the sudden urge to. Reach over. Slap them upside the head. Thankfully. I don't act on that thought. Probably you don't either. Instead. First opportunity. I'll get together with someone who understands. I listen. Play some leonard cohen. He was the consummate. Feel bad entertainer. They called him. The poet of pessimism. And. The godfather of gloom. And yet. Long before his death two years ago at age 82. Leonard cohen it become one of our most beloved performers and iconic voiced was part buddha and park. Barry white. In the seventies. You selling out concert halls. Is anti love song. Hallelujah. Has been recorded by more than 200 artists. And played. It many a wedding. What. So many of us love leonard cohen to words that can be sad cynical and cryptic all in the same breath. Are we. Waller's musical masochism. Or responding. Do the spiritual vision on a level. It's deeper than words. Could there be. Theology. Leonard cohen. Any other songwriter that might be an unfair question. The collingwood song writer who inspired books to philosophy. Essays and religious journals. You left behind a rich trove of interviews. God is personal spiritual journey. I had another more personal reason. For delving into the gospel according to. I was beating myself up over a six-year relationship that it just sputtered to an end. Why not i thought. What leonard cohen. Do the beating up for me. 14 albums later. I've learned a lot about why i love leonard cohen. Beyond his luminous lines beyond his precision snapshots of emotional nuance. I found a worldview that is multicultural is any unitarians. More than that. I got a window. Do the evolution of a modern-day mystic. One who soldiered through dark nights of the soul. Become a ruby. 4 time. Especially. For present time. Optimism seems obsolete. When the new age is turned into a new dark age. Cohen. Offers a manual for spiritual survival. An alternative you. A shaving grace. No coincidence that he passed away the day after the presidential election. Or is he described one of his apocalyptic duties. It's a hot little track and you can dance to it. If you couldn't. I think it would be really dismal. Who was leonard cohen. Let me start with the outer man who can be sketched in a few broad strokes. He was born in 1934. Two prominent jewish family in montreal. His first singing came in synagogue. The bike is teams who's playing guitar at square dances. Browsing at a bookstore. He also discovered tempestuous spanish poet garcia lorca. Eddie fell headlong into poetry. Predict aid. Cohen lived poet's dream. He resided on a greek island. What's a norwegian beauty. Returning home to canada just long enough every couple years. Pick up a grantor to. But. After publishing. Four volumes of verse and two novels. Decided. Did the real money must be. In songwriting. What followed was a historic case of beginner's luck. He was headed for nashville in 1965. When he stopped off in greenwich village. Got introduced to judy collins. Within a few months she had recorded suzanne. And so had he. For the same producer that discovered bob dylan. Billie holiday. It later on. Bruce springsteen. Theme. Turned out to be a bigger challenge than obscurity. Cohen was played with crippling bouts of depression. Stagefright so extreme. He was sometimes walk off in the middle of a song. After two best-selling records his sales started to swoon. Nineteen85. When columbia records refused to release his newest album it's president. Broke the news with words that have become infinite. Excuse me had become infamous in music lore. Leonard. We know you're great. But we don't know if you're any good. No one suspected least of all calling himself. The track from is rejected record would reignite his career. That track was. Hallelujah. At the same time a new generation of rock acts began to champion his songs. From nick cave u2. What is anxieties stage their own comeback. At the height of his resurgence cohen dropped both his career. Andaz movie star girlfriend. Spent five years as a zen monk. Outside la. When he resurfaced. In the new millennium. It was with a new phone and hard-won inner peace. You would need it. Because. Well he had been sitting on. The mountain his manager had been embezzling millions of dollars from his bank accounts. It's been his golden years. Rebuilding his finances in a never-ending tour. The perfectionist. Even in dying. You released his final album. 3 weeks before the end. Was quite essential leonard cohen. You want it darker. For all the drama. The coins outward story what really hooks this is his inner one. We have it in great detail. And yet. We don't. The spiritual autobiography is all there in his songs. It's written. It puzzles in paradox. Part of the paradox. I discovered is i don't deeper was. Corky personal fusion. Religious traditions. I would like to explore three of them in particular. Because. They've helped me to decipher some of my favorite leonard cohen song. Perhaps i can help you too. Starting with his first track. On his first record. Which is an old. Trees hometown. Cohen's montreal. Was the city of french catholics. It was also a sea port. As a young man he strolled the streets and sailors bars. Besides st-lawrence river. Adamite. Suzanne. Suzanne vallencourt. Captain apartment near the water. He was a thrift store queen who serves tea to visitors. Constant comment. A variety flavored with orange peels. Cohen was not the only young poet who carried a torch for her. But he was mindful. That you was married to a friend. Years later he explained. I touched her perfect body with my mind. Because there was no other opportunity. In the song. Is mine touches much more. Wonders to a nearby chapel called notre dame the most secure. To which sailor. Come to be blessed. The rooftop. Features of gilded virgin mary who faces the river. Cohen music jesus himself. Was a spiritual sailor. After all. You did hang out with fisherman. Today. He looks down on them from a lonely wooden tower. An image which. Can describe a ship's mast. Orchard steeple. As well as across. Never hurts to remember that any leonard cohen song any single line can open itself up to more than one meaning. And all of those meetings can be true. Typical. For his meetings to muddled together sacred with the sensual. His imagination transforms an off-limits woman into a virgin. Dubster. Our lady of the harbor. It has her blessed beginnings of his own poetic voyage. What do poets do. Is it get their toes into the depths of the unconscious. But attempts. To walk on water. The colon spell catholic fluently. His first spiritual language was jewish. His surname. Is hebrew for priest. And the colons traister mythological lineage back. To the brother of moses. All of the family business was men's clothing. Any dressed in dapper suits all his life. One grandfather was a scholar of the talmud. Danger body of jewish law. If you're seeking the sources of his songs. There's no better starting place. The old. Doll there. Family betrayals and lovers deception. The praises of the psalms. You're right poetry of solomon. A social criticism. Prophets. The songs like. Everybody knows. Cowan rails against everyday corrupt. Sardonic. Jeremiah. But there is a more obscure jewish tradition. They also echoes throughout his lyrics. A branch of the medieval mysticism known as the kabbalah. The dates to the 16th century. When jews have been exiled from spain by the inquisition. Their grief. Got mythologized. In a story known as. The breaking of the vessels. God's light turns out to be so intense that it shatters the vessels that were. Mint carry them to humankind. If there's one where is it. Cohen uses more than any other in his songs it is. The word broken. The most vivid reference. Comes in the song we just heard the song anthem. There is a crack. A crack in everything. That's how the like it. Cohen call deadline close to a personal credo. Elaborated. Enjoy the truth. There's always something that will have to break. Usually it is our personal pride. Unless heartbreaks we will never know anything about love. Long is our objective universe doesn't collapse. Will never know anything about the world. Where's another jewish storyteller. Put a long time ago. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If far. Human condition. Sits on cracked foundation. How might we begin 2-minute. Our brokenness. Solving that dilemma is one of the basic functions of any religion. Collins case. It led him into zen buddhism. Is personal version might better be called. Zen judaism. He said. I'm very happy with my religion and i'm not looking for another one. In the tradition of zen that i've practiced. There is no prayer for worship. And there is no affirmation of a deity. Sociologically there is no challenge to any jewish belief. Instead. Cohen like to describes an in terms of fixing things. He called his teacher a mechanic. And he added. He's not talking about the philosophy of locomotion. He's talking about repairing the motor. It's mostly talking to the broken. Besides living a spartan lifestyle. Cohen's chief method for pulling his metal spark plugs with sit still for hours. Well meditating on. Koan's. Those seemingly nonsensical zen riddles of the one hand clapping song. There is no right or wrong answer to a cologne. Answers are beside the point. Which is really to observe the workings of your mind. The russells and ultimately. Surrenders. They make you sit still for 7 days. Finally you get so bored and fatigued with your mind that you might be lucky enough. To let it drop. Soon as that mine does it rest the mysteries. Manifest. In. A thousand kisses deep. Song that he wrote and rewrote in the monastery. Cohen trust but words. To the mystery. Is everyday shell thinks it's the one. Making the plans. But underneath. Life itself that is really running the show. Call it god. Or call it the unconscious. You just glimpses. When is conscious mind momentarily let's down at school. We come into contact with another will. Seems to be much more authentic. To reach that authentic will. Our little will. Have to undergo a lot of. But out of that battery he said. I am perceptible degrees. This background of anguish that have been with me my whole life. Began to dissolve. I said to myself. This must be what it's like. To be relatively sane. All cohen's tradition stinks and obsessions. Make their appearance. Hallelujah. But his most celebrated song. Offer something more. Pictures of clues as to how. He looks at himself. Isn't it. Humidifiers with another songwriter. You might say with the original singer songwriter. King david. As a musician. David was reputed to have supernatural powers on the harp. He strummed it. Call miss predecessor. King saul. When the monarch was having a seizure. As a songwriter. His lyrics form half of the book of psalms. The expression hallelujah. Which translates as praise god. Appears more there than anywhere else in the bible. Like cohen songs david's are largely about relationships. For him. Personal relationship with the divine. And it's rocking. Some of his songs are ecstatic but the best majority are lamentation. The king is plenty to lament. Well walking on his palace roof. Despise the bathing beauty bathsheba. She is inconveniently married. One of his bravest soldiers. But. He seduces her. And he sends her husband off to be killed in battle. His actions ultimately blowback in the civil war. It's going thinks about david and muses on his own transgressions is versus drip. Regret. And yet. In the midst of it all. He recalls a fleeting instant. Carnal passion felt like the descent of the holy spirit. He feels his god nearby. Eddie calls out. It going. The word hallelujah. Course is so rich. People have been singing that word for thousands of years. It seems to call down some kind of beneficial energy just when you declare in the face of the kind of catastrophes that are manifesting everywhere just to say. Hallelujah. Crazy energy. The benefits. Is both good and evil. Just to affirm our little journey here. It is very invigorating saying that word. Perhaps what he's home with hallelujah. Is it a counter story. To the one that were sold in countless songs movies and romance novels. Stories. Lasting love. Key human happiness. Sometimes it for some people that actually works out that way. It from any of us. It often seems as distant and unattainable is heaven itself. Cohen tells us that. Although love may be fleeting. We need not regard it as failure. In this moment of rapture it brings us closer to the divine. And. And its moments of grief. Emptiness. It brings us closer. To the divine. Is novel b****** theology. Coin gives us not one but two. Hallelujah. There's a holy one. And then there is a broken. And like. The buddhist ideas of form and emptiness they are one and the same. At least. Leprechauns hallelujah means to me. If i touch you. In a very different. Part of the lure of a leonard cohen song is it. It doesn't give us neat and pre-packaged answers. Invite us in. Seek for our own. Like a zen koan. It's meetings are less and it's words than. And what we learn about ourselves. Struggle to make sense. Perhaps we also appreciate this exquisite sense of acceptance. We strive to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every human being but. Deep in our hearts many of us. Have a hard time affirming our own. Leonard cohen song meets us where we are. As we are. We've got it all together. A business not turn away from the cracks. In our carefully constructed egos. Because we just might see the light. Leaking through. Same goes for the cracks in our world. From the perspective of three thousand years of jewish history. Colon reminds us it. In spite of our religion. And often because of our religions. Wars always been fought. The chillers will make their ways in a high places. Butwell injustice will have its day. So2. Will justice take its. In the meantime. The job of being human. Patiently excavate the light is hidden all around us. Anesthesiology leonard cohen. Saving grace is not for spiritual saints. But for spiritual schmucks. Just remind us. Ultimately. We are something more than our failures. And. We are something more than our successes. We are spiritual beings on human journeys. And whatever our temporary situations. Any given moment we all have the same opportunity. Deliv. Our lives. 1000. Kisses. Praise god. Hallelujah.

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2017-10-29-GoulsGoblinsAndFreaks.mp3

You listen to the podcast of live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin. For more information about our church visit our website at live oak to you. org. Today's service. Ghouls goblins and freaks. Again by ron reverend joanna fontaine crawford. On october 29th. 2017. Ar reading today. This is a poem from 1999. X forget. He has been around as long. Pixie. Kobold elf. Sprite. All or on their rounds. Widen the one-man silver ray. Thrives their helter. Fond of seller barnor stack. True one to the almanac. They present to credulous eyes strange. Hobgoblin mystery. Cabbage stump straws wet with dew apple skins and chestnuts to. Add a mirror for some last shows what wonders come. Doors they move in gates they high. Mischief saint moonbeams ride are there deed. And by their spells. Lover chords there oracle. Don't we all of long ago by the ready fireplace glow in the kitchen in the hall.. Queer. Crew flight. Every shadows were they then but tonight they come again. Where we once. Precious. So this next one there will be howling. I would like to encourage everyone to hell. Still have a good holidays early. Can you help on the count of three one two three. Let's all do it together. Who's that i see walking in these woods. Hey. Little red riding hood. But yeah. So my family this week. At our. Annual viewing of it's the great pumpkin charlie brown. Anyone else watch that on a yearly basis. Like you should be please please watch. Am i 18 year old. Pointed out she said you know it's funny we forget. How funny. This show is like there's all of these little one liners just slipped in that especially when you're a little kid you don't always catch. And then year-to-year some of them you catching. That's why you watch it every year right. And and there's this one just kind of put in there fairly suddenly and it. Involves lucy. Lucy sky. Right. Why can we just say that i mean she she has her good points. Good assertive leadership potential. I think in her heart she probably really does love her friends and family. But you know she pulls the the football away from charlie brown and she calls people blockheads. I'm talks about her stupid brother. She's kind of mean. So the kids are all gathering together in their costumes. She explains that one should always choose a costume. That is indirect. Contrast. To her personality. And she pulls out this really mean. Which mask. I don't think that's in direct contrast to your personality lucy but you know that's. We don't always. See ourselves as. I think she's kind of right. I think there are people who. Pick a costume that is the opposite of who they are. At least i hope that's what they're doing because this year there's a whole lot of people that are dressing up as zombies and killer clowns. The president. I think a lot of us though. When we choose a costume. We are choosing something that has an element that we. Spire. Something way. Wannabe. Or maybe some aspect of ourselves. That we keep him. Most of. You know something that people may not know about us. And then it's. The day after halloween. And we put on. Are masks. Anarchists. You're at live oak. Put a premium. On authentic. Something that we are always working. Is to make this a safe place. Where you can be your off. Where you don't have to hide any. We're if you're really struggling and someone says hey how you doing. You don't feel like you have to just smile and say. We're if you're part of a. Same-gender couples. Or a poly family you can sit. And hold hands sitting in the pews. And it's welcome. Where if you're an atheist or a pagan or just really questioning some deeply held beliefs. We hope that not only will you not. Feel that you have to whisper that here. But that in fact you'll talk openly about it because she. We grow through your journey. As well as. At our best. At live oak. You will get to experience. Genuine love. And. For your. This is the heart. And because so many of us have had that experience. We want to be able to authentic self mama we want to be able. To share that experience. With other people. We want to be. Genuinely welcoming so that people out there. I know we talked about this before that. Some of us worry about that cuz we we remember what it was like before we. And we worry that there are people out there. What they really need is. In this community. How do we know. That. We're here. And dr. wells. Last week i talked about the need that when you have something. You do something that you believe in strongly. To go. Underneath it. Took to dig and try and figure out. What is the big. Underneath the real heart. That's actually sounds like pretty good advice. So i took it myself. And i started we've been talking about being at two services and and y and last year if you'd asked us anything about why. What we would have said was. Because we want to grow. But that doesn't really get to the heart of the matter does it i mean like. But why like there could be so many reasons why we would want. So for those of you who weren't part of the des. We were trying we're trying to make you part of the decision all of the leaders were trying to talk to as many people. But let me tell you about how a. So it wasn't a fast. It was over many months we had a task force who was looking at different options because we were growing. Attendance. Growing. And. Leaders of worship team executive team the borg we were all researching growing church. And there was this one little detail. Stop. Every single study. Said the same thing. It said.. When we. When it when a church. Gets to wear 70 to 80% of its usable see. So like not those far wins in the corner but the actual seats people sitting. When you get to 70 to 80% of those being filled. Church members. It feels so. Good to us it feels. Cozy and we all know each other and we get to cuddle up together we're just like a giant puppy pile right. And to a guest coming in. It does not feel like that. It feels like when you were in high school and you walked into the cafeteria at lunchtime and all your friends were in a different lunch.. And there was maybe a seat here or sit here. But you didn't really know those people. It doesn't feel welcome. It sends the message that there's no room for you. Even though that was exactly the last message. That we wanted to. And so ultimately. The decision that was made. Was one of. Radical. And i don't use that that term. Loosely. Or with hyperbole. Because. It actually became a matter of. We are going to choose. To prioritize. Comfort. Over our guest. People we have never even met yet. Over. And this was why that just. Is we wanted to. Erratically. Hospital. And radically welcoming because at our heart this is core to our relay. Is this inclusive. Now. The thing with getting.. Experience. Being out of love and acceptance. For your authentic self. Is that. We wind up being like paul. She decided that having. Death. On halloween. One day a year. Was not enough. She wanted to have. A little halloween in everyday. And for us we get to where it's not enough for us to get this. One day a week. We want to have a little live oak in everyday and by that i don't mean coming up here everyday although you are welcome come visit me. We want to put more live oak. Out in the. And this is the great thing about being welcoming. And even. If we are only a part of their journey for. It means that there are more people. Taking my boat. Ouch. Into the world. So that they too. Have that. Feeling. Pavlov. An acceptance. Whether you are pagan or atheist or queer. Ghouls goblins and freaks of us all. May we spread that.

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2018-12-02-KeepinItRealHolidays.mp3

You're listen to podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin tech. For more information about our church please visit our website and live oak. org. Today sermon keeping it real holidays. Is giving byron reverend johanna fonting crawford. On december 2nd. 2018. Are reading this morning. Comes from how to spell hanukkah and other holiday dilemmas. By emily franklin. 2 years ago the smoke detector went on overdrive in the middle of my chest. Reinforcements in the form of husbands husband in-laws and children were called to open the doors and fan the air with placemats. I stood in the kitchen grease stains on my pants and shirt smoke and flaming my eyes and wondered. What the heck i was doing. Can you make cheese latkes this year my seven-year-old asked me at the market. I could i answer thinking back to the smoke-filled kitchen. The truth was the two years ago i'd gone a little overboard between my prior days is a chef in my desire to make hanukkah every bit as enticing for my children is christmas had been for me i'd spent hours grading. I'm not just regular potatoes for pancakes. Thanks sweet potato latkes. Zucchini latkes half regular half sweet pancakes. Maybe this year we'll just do a big batch of regular latkes okay. I watch his face for disappointment. Peanuts. Sure. I will still have belt right. My turn denied the small mesh bags of plastic tasting chocolate coins still make me happy. The kids look forward to it and my husband and i laugh while listening to the levy's tune gelt melts. Favorite line if boys can eat a chocolate bunny why can't we eat chocolate money. Will definitely have gout. And charity night. Of course. Thought i would miss the holiday time i had as a kid. What i know now having watch the season more from tree to menorah is that what matters to us to the kids to our family. Is making the holiday our own. We have traditions. Latkes galaxy night when one child chooses a charity for us to donate to and we skip gift. Rotating years for each member of the family too. Make a call. The kids decorate the dining room with jewish stars. Some crayon colored others coated with glue and sparkles. When we like the candles. With all three of the kids. There is magic in the room. Each night is a little. Each year is. What would you like a holiday card. I'm here here here yes here you go to church ladies. Carmike. Haven't have a holiday card. What will talk later nice to meet you up here holiday cards from from our family to yours. I hear you already have it. Hidalgo. How about have a holiday card. Are there you go. So. Holiday photo cards. You're here you can just pass them around. Holiday photo cards. Have always been a part of the our tradition. In in our family. We started. Early with this. Before we had kids. Back when we had two cats. Forgive us we knew not what we were doing for cats. And back when we started with the photo christmas cards. For those of you who are younger. Once upon a time. You had to take. Photos with something called a camera. And a camera. Used this stuff called film. And you didn't get to like even know what the picture look like. How crazy is it. So you would have what 20 or 36 exposures on a piece of film and. And so you would take all of these pictures. I knew you had to drive somewhere and give people this film and then it would be turned into pictures and so you would go you're really excited you go driving. And if you were trying to put together a holiday card. Surely one of those pictures will have us looking half-decent. It is actually possible for none of the pictures. To look even half-decent but we. Persevered. We started we actually i can remember us budgeting every year. For the film just for the film. Our family changed but we kept doing the cards. I will tell you this particular one took three rolls of film. To get one picture you'll notice that everyone is looking down in the photo like that was the closest i could get to decent what i'm not sure you can tell but. You can probably imagine is that tom and i at this point or just gritting ortiz. Kept doing the holiday cards. Not only did our family change but the world change. We got this thing first we got. Digital photography. Yay and so now we could take a bazillion photos. Still trying to find that one decent one. And we had the internet. We had email we could email with people. Still like we were old school. Cat doing the holiday christmas card with the photo. Then you could have a blog. Everyone a lot of people used to have like family blogs just for this time of year and. Yes along with the photo card we always did the christmas letter with everything that had been happening in our family for the past year i mean we sent it ironic. Of course but. But we sent it. But now you know with blogs you could put it all that kept sending kept making the cards kept sending them out. And then facebook. Facebook. Changed everything because these people that may have only seen pictures of my kids once a year only heard about what we were doing once-a-year now could hear every single day. But still it was our tradition. And so we continued it. We kept. Continuing it because. Tradition is tradition. And the longer you do things the more it's just. Expected. That you're going to. Doing them. So now we come to. The interactive. Of this sermon you should have in your order of service and hopefully you picked up some extras. So that everyone can have one even the kids like. If you can't make words yet you can draw pictures that everyone have. Death. Okay. You got a defective order of service. That can happen. Y'all get y'all get to everyone have pins and what are like everyone's expected. And. You can rest assured this is not one of those things where i'm going to get you to do something and then i'm going to be like okay now share it with someone here you know this is just for your eyes. Relax everyone got one. No. So what do want you to do. Cortez holiday sings. You do every year some of these things we've been talking about just fast as you can don't overthink it. Just start writing them all down. The fun things. The other things just the things that you do every year. Things like. Volunteering for the pta christmas party. Going to the work christmas party. Putting up the tree. Lighting the menorah. Baking latkes. Getting up at sunrise. On the solstice. Write them down. Even the little thing. The things that you. Are going to make sure that you do every. December drink a cup of cocoa. If there's not one particular song you got here every year. Band concerts. Visiting family having family come in. Setting up the guest room. Serena mall down. And you can continue. So going back. That last. Christmas card there. Some of you are holding. So i we created the. We took the photo for this in october of 2016. My son to come home from college. Great. the picture and so that was going to be the year i'd be able to have all of the envelopes addressed and get the cards out by thanksgiving i was going to be that person. I was not. That person. That's okay like 25 days until christmas. View at the end of of november. Didn't send them out in time for christmas. But you know what it says is happy holidays. And new year's is a holiday so not a problem i was going to get him out by new year's. Didn't get them out. January 6th. Is a holiday. What holiday is. No that's that's december. Yes. Epiphany epiphany it's when the three wise men finally make it to the stable. It is and i'm a religious person i'm religious leader it's a religious holiday get them out in time for i didn't get them out. I wasn't going to go to value valentine's day i just said okay it's not happening. To be fair that was the year that my dad died. And those of you who have gone through a year of mourning know there's a whole lot of stuff that you wind up not doing that year. That's why they call it a year of morning that's how it's supposed to. Okay. Pick it up again next year. So in about the end of october 2017 i still had that pile of cards and i went to look at them to go throw them away and i went. You know there's there's no date. On these cards. I think we pretty much look the same as we did last year i mean granted. Khazaria no longer had the braces and now lily had the braces but really who is gather than us who would even pay attention to that. Great. And they're already printed this year i can get them out for thanksgiving and be that person. I was not that person. 25 days till christmas no. New year's note. January 6th snow. Talk about epiphany. At that point. I had to face. This probably isn't actually that important to me anymore. Maybe i am very sentimental because i did it for so long. Maybe it's still kind of important in my heart. But if it were truly importance to me. I would have done it. Because there are other holiday things watching l. You know going and looking at the christmas tree lights driving around drinking a mimosa on christmas morning. Except. For when christmas morning fell on a sunday and i was here preaching. Other than that. I made sure i was. Doing all of those things. And so i had to accept that. It was time to let this. It can be very hard. To let. Certain traditions. One of the things i had to acknowledge to myself. Was. That i was sad about. And here's the other epiphany. So. It's okay to be sad. Why did we get it. Through our heads or just speaking for me why did i get it into my head. That life that the purpose of life is to somehow make sure that you do all of the things within your control so that you never get sad. It's okay. To be sad. And it's still be the right decision. And for me for us. It was the right decision. When we say no to something. We are giving ourselves. The space. To say something. To say yes. To something else. So now if you could go back. To that piece. I want you. To imagine. What. Something that you could do in december maybe it's something that you already do. Maybe it's something that just you haven't done it yet. Thought of it. Makes you feel like. It could be something simple and relaxing. And there's a lot of value in the fact that when we say no to something. But we're also simply opening up. Some some empty space. But we don't even. That empty space is a value in itself. So what is something several something. When you think of them make you inside say. Start writing those day. And it can be great big things. I think. Often when we think of we think of something relaxing right like. Taking a bubble bath or drinking hot buttered rum. Or. Settling into a comfy chair with a good book. But i can also come from great big thing. Going to a big. Choral concert. And hearing a powerful. Or going to a club. For some live music. What are the things that make you. Feel like. Big sings in little. Write them all down. Listening to music. For me. I really enjoy. Turning off all of the lights except for the christmas tree lights. Or maybe for you. It's not a christmas tree it's a candle. I'm just sitting there in the dark. Listening to. Some gentle. Holiday music. What is it that makes. I realize that this. Sermon. And many of the articles that you will read during december about. How to have better holidays. Are usually geared towards those of us who are doing so much who have so much. On our calendar. So for those of you. Who. Some of the wealth that you have right now. Is time. You don't have. That many things on your cow. What. Are things that. Can do with that time. That will give you that feeling. What are things perhaps that you can do with that time in your energy. For those who don't have that time well. That you do. I had tom and i were really lucky when our kids were little. We had this woman this older woman in our life. And every year like at the end of november. She would call me and she would say look at your calendar. And pick a day. Like she would not take no for an answer. I am coming on that day. I am bringing pizza. I am watching the kids. You and tom are not allowed to stay. Go do your shot it is so hard to shop. Go do your shopping go out on a date. I don't care. What are the things that you can do. There's this concept that this. Practice in judaism. Of the the sabbath goygoy means non-jewish. And for those who are. More conservative and how they treat the sabbath. You're not allowed to do any work and not. Includes things like stirring a pot of stew like eno turning on your stove. And so jewish families would often hire someone usually someone young. Older child who would come on and turn on the switches stir the stew whatever. In fact if you look into this there's some very interesting people who have been a sabbath going for their jewish neighbors colin powell harry s truman elvis presley so iq would be in good you know. Good good company with that and it's something that i think we can also use for other traditions and we those of you who have been in work environments where the work has to keep going even over christmas and all the holidays. You see this happen as a matter of. The jewish folks will often volunteer to work. Christmas the non-jewish folks will say hey let me cover for you for passover or if it's at night for hanukkah. So this is something that is. Within our tradition. We can grab a hold of. I'm look around you know if there's that the neighbor lady on the corner who you know is jewish. And you've noticed that. She has arthritis. And has a lot of pain in her hand just saying hey do you. Do you do hanukkah. Can i come over and great potatoes for you. Achieving something so little. Can make such a difference and i bet when you think. Doing that. It makes you. And if you are one that has that super. Build schedule. Is there a way that you can include others who don't have that kind of. In what. Do that. That. A friend of ours. That i talked about. Was always at our chris. The right down those things that make. Now. If you could look back. At that first. First list of all the traditions. What are the things. That. Are important. To you. That really do fill you up. That are worth the time the energy the money to do them. Circle. The ones where you do not here's here's the big test. Do you feel any resentment doing it. The ones where you don't feel any resentment. Those are important. I think that sometimes. It's not just a matter of do it. Or don't do it we also need to take the time. To think about how we do it. Is there a way that we can do some of these traditions. In a little bit smaller. I have been one of those people that will make like 12 different kinds of cookies. Every year. Can i be satisfied. With only making three. I think that i can. Again it's not saying that it's the same. It's saying can i be satisfied because here's the thing the more time and energy we can buy for ourselves. Off of this list. The more time we're going to have. For those. Maybe what you do is you. Usually go down to the zilker tree of lights. But this year knowing all of the traffic and the parking and the everything that you have to deal with. You kind of want to but you're not sure so maybe this is the year you do something different like there's a cedar park tree i'm sure it is not the same but would it be. Can you experiment with finding. What is not the ultimate. What is satisfactory. So now look back at that first list. Are there things there. But you still want to do. What you could do them. A little smaller. A little more moderate. Just put a little?. Next to those. I hope you'll take those worksheets home. It's worth the start of december this is one of those years where we get. Don't be fooled by it we get this is like the longest. of time between thanksgiving and christmas. And so super some of us were like i can do all the things. It's not that you didn't get that many more. So you can take a look at this when you're at home. And think about what's really important to you and i. Which give you this last check. Look. At all of these traditions. And think about what is underneath. All of them. What is it that you're really hoping to get. Couple of years ago i bought a new card table. And one of those like thousand-piece jigsaw puzzles and laid it out like at the start of december my idea what i could just see us like we were going to whenever we had a little bit of time with sit down at the table and put some of the jigsaw puzzle together why are you laughing what are you talk. Number one thing that i was kind of forgetting is that most of us in my family actually don't like to talk puzzles. Including me. What was underneath that what was underneath that was the idea that my family that is busy crazy as we are this time of year. That somehow we would get moments of peace. And moments of being together. But you know what. We already have that. Here's one of our traditions. Every year we get into comfy clothes it start when the kids were little it was pajamas. One of my kids it's still pajamas but for the rest of us it's like yoga pants and whatever we go to sonic. We load up on junk food we give an outrageous tip to the carhop. We drive around listening to music that thinks the spotify can now include songs that everyone has been able to put into and we look at christmas lights. Junk food. Music. Christmas lights. But what was under that. Peace. A feeling of being together with our family. What's underneath. These things that you are wishing and that you are. Feeling that you need to do. Maybe you make your grandmother's latkes. Is it cuz you really like them those really intense ones. Or is it cuz you miss her and you want to feel connected. So couple of weeks ago now that i have fully. Accepted. And. I'm okay with the fact that i'm not. Sending out holiday cards i went through. My address book. And what i was looking for was. Who are the people that a. I'm not connected with on facebook. And be like we still have enough of relationship with that it's important i really do want to connect with them once a year. This was really interesting it was three people. Two uncles. Who are the surviving brothers of my dad. A family friend. With my dad's college roommate. It's not really hard. To figure out. What was the need the want. Underneath that. I want to be able to connect with my dad at crew. And the thing is. With those three people. They're still part. Of him. In den. So i went to the store. I bought a box of just regular christmas cards. I got three copies made of one picture of our family. And this week. I'll be sending out those cards. Find what is important. To you. And find.

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2017-10-15-sermon-WhatsItAllAboutRE.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast for october 15th 2017. This sunday service is. What's it all about ari. By carrie kraus live oaks director of lifespan faith development. Once upon a time. There was a little girl. Who lived in west texas. Havoline to be precise. She grew up in a town with three colleges and all of them were connected with religion. Her mother and father were professors at one of these colleges. And. It was kind of cool to grow up around all of those. College students. And it was fun to have six weeks off in the summer. To go on vacation with her family. End. Some other perks. A growing up. A college rat. However. With all those perks she still swore she wouldn't be an educator. Heard the learning at church and school with mostly memorization. She swallowed information and she spit it back out. And winter questions got too big for the story she was being told. There was no place to take them. Just like all children she craved acceptance and loved for who she was and what she imagined the world might be. She was a good. Child. And a quick learner and did what was expected of her. And when it seemed to her. But only certain people with certain ideas were worthy of love. Either the love of other people or the love of the god. Did she have been taught so much about. She stifled her questions. If it's society. And a creative approach to seeking knowledge. Dwindled by the time she was a young adult. She had lost her wonder. And all. That child with me. Deep in my heart i knew from an early age that everybody was worthy. Unlovable. And i couldn't imagine. Teaching in a way. The cut off part of our human existence. The need to ask big questions and search for truth. I could not be this kind of educate. Fast forward. Many years. And it was my own children. It was through their eyes. That i rekindled. Wonder and awe. In relationship to learning. Remember what it was like. To lay on a grassy hill and look up at the clouds. And pick out the shapes. The name them to play that little game. Or what it felt like the first time you stood in the surf. On the edge and the wave leftover your feet and suck them down into the sand. It gets hard to stand up. Or the first time you touched snow or rolled ball. Or watch the caterpillar move on a stem. Or chased a butterfly with a net. It was in reliving these experiences through the eyes of my children that i began the journey to this profession. And today i want to share a little bit about what that means. For me. So. What's it all about religious education. I won't pretend to know what it's all about this is what it's about for me. So what start with this question. Take a moment and complete the following in your head. For me religious education is. I'm curious what kind of thoughts came up for you. Maybe you squirmed as you thought about a specific religious tradition of your youth that you. Ran from. Or that you don't agree with anymore. Maybe you were reminded of your favorite sunday school teacher the person that knew you and saw you and you really love them. Perhaps it was an easy answer for you grounded in your love of unitarian universalist tradition and heritage. Or. If you came here unchurched. Maybe you don't have an answer yet. I know i have always been a spiritual person. Even when i felt. The religion of my childhood didn't fit anymore. Even when i left that religion. In my young adult years. And even as i searched. For the part of me that was missing. For the boy that needed to be filled. We are all spiritual people. Part of our human desire. Is to know in our soul we belong. To feel safe exploring answers to the very deep questions that we all have during our life. What is our purpose for being. What happens when i die. And how do i live an authentic life. We can try doing this while gazing at our navels. Some of us have. But i have found that my greatest growth. Happens in relationship with others. So bear with me as i define. Some words were you. Religion. Most modern scholars favor the route. Latin root ligo. For religion it means to bind back or in terms of religion we can take to reconnect to remind us to buy the back to what came before. In education there's two different different viewpoints depending on which route you choose. One side uses education to mean the preservation and passing-down of knowledge. And the shaping of youths in the image of their parents. The other side sees education as preparing a new generation for the changes that are to come. Reading them to create solutions to problems yet unknown. The first. Call for rote memorization and becoming good workers. And the second requires questioning. Thinking and creating. I'm sure you can guess which definition unitarian universalist and i prefer. And then there's that bugaboo spirituality. Reverend barry andrews a well-loved unitarian universalist minister of religious education. Describe spirituality as a personal and perceptual experience. It's based on our innermost thoughts and feelings. And. Religious identity. Is communal and conceptual. It's a representation of values. Beliefs and rituals. That a group of people hold in common. Are flaming chalice 41. Religious identity has to do with preserving values and supporting people and putting their values into practice. In their everyday lives. Now liberal religious education which is what we strive for here. Topix forum religious identity by giving us perspective on our history and heritage. By binding us back to our roots. And to each other. And because unitarian-universalism is a pluralistic living tradition. Because. We re-examine ourselves over and over again in relationship to the world around us and the changes in society. We have a perfect opportunity. We make room for varying belief we reconstruct ourselves. To be relevant. And religious education introduces us. Two new ways of thought. Through dialogue and questioning. The final word. That we might struggle with his face. It's in my title and there were a lot of. Different names for the job i do. Faith development is becoming more. Common. And i think it's a. Good definition for the broad. Spectrum of. Portfolio that i hold. I described. Face as a person's orientation to the universe. It's a way of seeing the world. Army bases personal. Another way to put it is i believe i feel i act. Faith development reflect. The changing nature of my perceptions as i go through my life's journey. It's a way of finding out what i hold to be true. And what my deepest convictions are. It is the journey i'm on. Everyday. My face development. Is. Stronger and is impacted. Do you have more impact on it than you'll ever know. The people that i'm in a relationship with. Have a greater impact. Been doing it on my own. Or call as you used to continue to learn and grow and challenge ourselves to be in right relationship with each other is an endeavour of faith. Trust isn't a big enough word for what we do together. Trust is earned through our actions. Faith requires. Did i set aside any preconceived ideas about who we are in relationship to each other. And be true to myself. And leave room for you to be true to yourself. Knowing that underpinning this relationship. Is respect for the interdependent web of life respect. For the humanity that we all bring to the table. I try to tie it together for you those words. It is through faith. The congruence of spirituality and religious identity. That religion comes to life. And finds expression. And we can function with increasingly complex and adequate responses to the big questions and issues of life. So when and where. Does this religious education happen. I know you've heard reverend joanna say that religious education is everything we do and the church is the curriculum and i agree with her. Is one of the first things i heard in my professional development. And. When you think about it you can't deny the fact we are learning all the time from the environment that were in were swimming in it. So if we're swimming in the environment of unitarian universalism and we're doing it well we're learning to be good unitarian universalist. I don't like the word good but you know what i mean. Ari happens in the kitchen when you make coffee for social hour alongside another person either talking to them or not. It happens in the messages we post on facebook the language we use the public face we present. It happens in the way we engage the wider community both those we agree with and those we don't. It happens when we open our eyes and ears and hearts for the world around us and seek to live a purposeful life amid all of the confusing. Mess that's going on in the world. The church is a living breathing body of religious education. It is in your moments of quiet. Celebration. Song. Connection anger grief conflict. The way you welcome a stranger. The way you include children and youth. Everything. You do together. Is informed by an informed your understanding of unitarian universalism and our covenant will tradition. And our task is to ensure. That the implicit curriculum. That we convey matches the explicit one. That we our actions match our words. And we need to take care to uncover the null. What is missing. Is there something we aren't talking about. Is there something underlying not being discussed. That's just as important. Because it's there. And if we don't acknowledge it. We don't grow. Most of us are here. Me not included 122 hours a week at best. This is why we say. Parents are the primary religious educators. We cannot possibly create religious identity in 122 hours a week. Adults can't do it and neither can children. So. Is there evidence of your unitarian universalist church outside these walls. You just religion isn't evident in your home. How can the message that it's relevant at all. Be conveyed to your children. How does unitarian universalist religious education carry over into your everyday life. What are you doing that reflects your values and convictions either as a family or an individual. Invite you this week to have a discussion make a list make it explicit. If it isn't already. Is it process of face development. Difficult. Of course. It requires thought. It requires practice and patience and compassion for yourself and for those you're in relationship with. Many of us. Founders religion. To be one of the first places we have felt truly heard. And don't like we truly belong. We found a place of acceptance and love. The place where we are seeing. And. Sometimes we don't fit. Maybe you've been in a small group and realize that your story is so different. From everybody else's. Your way what am i doing here this is not where i belong. Or you might find yourself trying to explain where you're coming from over and over and over again to speak your truth when the person on the other side cannot understand what you're saying or you've been the person listening and you can understand where they're coming from. With their truths there's a reason for this. Our brains working stories so what is your story. It doesn't want somebody to come in and interrupt your story. Write your your brain says i have this nice neat story and everything fits into a place in the story goes this way. And then you meet somebody that challenges your story. And you can do two things you can ignore it which is kind of impossible because you've already heard the story is already in your ear it's like a little earworm song he can't get it out of your head. Or. You can truly deeply listen. To what the other person has to say. You may not. Completely understand. But when we honor each other stories that way. We get nick space for our story. To be expanded. That's part of our faith development. B about me gets hard. When we were in relationship with each other. We have to practice. That's why our covenant is so important. And i believe that if we're going to be relevant. In the world today we cannot live in an echo chamber of our own story. If the our story is all we want to hear. We are not relevant anymore. Community is vital to building religious identity and faith development. And we have to leave room for questioning. And descent. I like the model. That's parker palmer he's a quaker educator. Call the community of truth. And in the middle you'll see the subject. And all around the subject are the knowers. Unlike the model of hierarchical person expert that knows everything and passes it down. In his model. He says that we all have a piece of the truth. Are we all have a piece of knowledge about a subject. And by sharing our knowledge with each other. We all learn. More. Even if you don't know anything about a subject your response could be i don't know. I'd like to find out. The privilege of a liberal religious learning community. Is that were more likely to have our thoughts challenged by the thinking of others with whom we built relationship. Partly cook the care about them. And partly because we're more likely to listen to them they're here. By creating a covenanted environment for sharing a space to try out new answers. While having the benefit of the wisdom and insight of others. We can find ourselves being let out into new ways of thinking. Being educated. It was no coincidence i chose a sermon title that mirrors that of the song we heard earlier. I know there's something much more. Something even non-believers can believe in. I believe in love alfie. Without true love. We just exist. Love is the core. Of my theology. The universalist view that all are worthy and saved through love. Love of self. Love of others. Love of this world. In my struggle. Hey my journey. To embody disbelief. I learned more about my strengths and weaknesses and more about the world around me. There's a quote that we often hear. And unitarian-universalist circles. We need not think alike. Djellaba like. That quote has been wrongly attributed to front of david one of our unitarian ancestors. However. The words still ring true for many of us. For me. It proclaimed that its core. Something that our religious homes can and must offer. Just a vibrant and alive. We need to be a counterbalance to a world full of hatred and self-loathing. We need to be a place where we are authentic. Imperfect human being. And know that we are still loved. So what's it all about ari. How to spell. Religious education. Is about the power of engagement with the holy. Meaning all of creation. And a desire to discover what is best and truest about us. It honors questioning and reasoning. And it nurtures the transforming power of universal love the kind of love that hurts. The kind of love that isn't always easy. Religious education. Binds us back to our past. And moves up into a future. Where we let loose our fierce love on this world. And bring more justice. Morkie. More holness.

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2018-08-12_DraggedKickingandScreaming.mp3

You're listening to the podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. For more information about our church please visit our website at live oak uu. org. Today sermon dragged kicking and screaming is given by our own reverend joanne fontaine crawford on august 12th. 2018. For those who couldn't see the chair it has winnie the pooh on it thank you very much for that spontaneous. Ar reading today. What comes from france's power cobb francis power cobb was a woman in the 1800's in england. And she was not a minister she was a suffragist and she was a social reformer. But because of her power and everything that she did she did often preached in unitarian churches in england and she is credited as being one of the big movers of unitarianism at that time. This comes from a sermon she gave in 1873. Universalism as a denomination. Was not happening in england it was it was strictly an american thing yet the idea of universal salvation is woven through all religions but it was not its own denomination. Until what is so interesting. About this sermon that she gave. Is that she was preaching universalism. In a unitarian church. She wrote. I believe. In the aggressive. Power of love and kindness and in the comparative weakness of every obstacle of evil or stubbornness which can be opposed there too. We do not think man's evil can in the long run of the infinite ages out speed finally god's ever pursuing mercy. He must overtake us sooner or later to look around on our fellow men the worst in the weakest or what is far harder to understand the basis and believe with firm assurance that they are one day to be worthy of all the love and honor we can give them. This is to enable us to love and labor for them now. And to have patience as god has patience with the weight of clay which overlays so heavily their seed of good. And this came from a sermon she titled. Doomed. To be saved. So a big thank you to our music director rebecca mayes who when i got the phone call yesterday afternoon saying that kerry was stuck in new york i even told her back i was like we can just you know do the same music two weeks in a row no she she absolutely pulled it together something appropriate for today so thank you very much i love music. I love all kinds of music classical music rock. Pop-punk country reggae spirituals gospel rap hip-hop i pretty much love it all i this is one area where i think that i'm really open-minded i always want to hear new kinds of music. That doesn't mean that i do not have certain. Points on which i am highly opinionated usually teeny tiny little details that the rest of the world frankly really doesn't care about i'm very passionate about to it i firmly believe that the music of a piece should match in mood the lyrics of a piece. Therefore michael bolton doing that screaming passionate version of dock of the bay. No dock of the bay is not a passionate song a travesty a travesty on the other side of that. The 2nd. Comb stripped-down. Put you to sleep version of layla. Know know i know i know that he was the one eric clapton was the one who wrote the song come on he was right he when he wrote the song he did it right the first time it was a song about being in love with with george harrison's wife like this is a passionate angsty song this is not a soothing lullaby i've got opinions christmas songs. Dot-dot okay lol i will just stay for the record my opinion which i am pretty sure i'm right about this and that is the definitive version of have yourself a merry little christmas is the one done by judy garland in meet me in st louis which embraces ambiguity and the bittersweetness of the season and of life in that line where she says someday soon we all shall be together if the fates allow until then we'll have to muddle through somehow. And the fact that that. Let me sensor mike words. Frank sinatra when it was his turn to cover the song said that's just terrible down or evelyne let's change that to hang a shining star upon the highest bow. What what is that even mean a travesty. So i have opinions about piney probably insignificant details in some music. But there's another opinion about a piece of music. That is not insignificant. It's. It's big and it's deep and it's theological. Anyone here know the song people get ready. Curtis mayfield usually i'm going to argue that in general the original is the best version of a song with with some notable exceptions. This is one of those notable exceptions. Because. You had. Thought the song one love. Flash people get ready who did that. Bob marley. Bob marley took lines from people get ready and combined it with his song one love one love one heart very rastafarian idea. And there was a significant change that he made. Because in curtis mayfield's version of the song the song by the way about getting on a train going to heaven this is a powerful metaphor especially for african americans because it harkens back to the underground railroad. And his song where he's urging people to get on board. Curtis mayfield wrote there is no plates. For the hopeless sinner who would hurt all mankind just to save his own. Bob marley took that. Any twisted it. Annie made it. A question. Is there a place. For the hopeless center. Who would sacrifice mankind. To save his own beliefs. Is there a place. And that is the question. Of universalism. Is there a place for the hopeless center. So unitarianism and universalism as many of you know we're two distinct separate denominations for a long time they both arose as named denominations in america in the late 1700s early 1800s. Unitarianism. The tendency when we want to explain the historical nature. Have unitarianism is to simply say that it was nontrinitarian that it was a reaction to trinitarians because people were reading the bible and they were going i don't see anything about the trinity in here and because they were questioning the whole what is called christology or the nature of jesus was jesus god was jesus human and they came on the side of saying human that only god is god but that jesus was a great teacher perhaps a perfect human being but was not god. So there is a tendency to reduce old unitarianism to that's and i i think i have probably been guilty of it cuz it's simple and easy. But it's not holy tree. See the unitarians were coming out of that they were a part of the congregationalist church and these were the liberals of the congregationalist church these were the people that were freethinkers they were the ones who lifted up the power of reason and said that you should use reason even when you're talkin about religion crazy idea. And so at that time. Unitarian was not yet their name and it was used as a slur a pejorative against them when the more orthodox conservative congregationalists would refer to these liberals they would sneer and they would say. They're unitarians. Until finally one day william ellery channing who is considered to be the father of unitarianism got up and gave a sermon very famous serving call it's called the baltimore sermon. Where he said. Okay you want to call us unitarians fine we're unitarian and here's what it means and he went through the fact that we historically and even today put an emphasis on reason and being open-minded and being willing to find wisdom in all quarters and being willing to look for ourselves idea that every person is charged with figuring out for themselves the big questions and meanings of life. So that's kind of unitarianism was more than just one simple idea. Universalism in those early days. Was one simple idea and it was a pretty radical idea it was this idea of universal salvation. The idea that god was so good. That god was love. I'm so therefore no one could be eternally separated from that love no matter what they had done why do unitarians they were reading the bible for themselves and yes there were some verses in there where you could make an argument for hell but there were just as many verses that refuted that including this one. This is from. Paul's letter to the romans chapter 8. For i am convinced. That neither death nor life. Neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future nor any powers neither height nor depth. Nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of god. Those of you who were raised christian genuinely curious cuz i have no idea. Was this a verse that you heard a lot you heard it memorized it guessing they didn't talk about universal salvation in that guessing they didn't talk about. About that. Powerful but nothing no angels no demons nothing can separate us from the love of god like i'm not even a christian and that just kind of nestle's in and feels good and feels right. This idea of universal salvation the idea that there is a love that embraces us all. Continues to be controversial. Now in 1961 the unitarian and universalist consolidated. And whether they knew it or not at the time they were creating a new religion and so for the 50-plus years since then we've been working to try and figure out some of these theological things what are the things we keep what are the things that we let go we are far beyond the. Beyond sounds kind of. I don't want i don't want to make the mistake. I'm saying that if you are still thinking of these questions at the rest of us have moved on from them these are questions frankly i think we should all still be struggling with but for the most part they're not something you're going to be here about in your average uu church whether jesus was god and will everyone go to heaven we all have so many different ideas that we bring into this and so many face that now are influencing us unitarian has come to mean more about us being one people and being interconnected and universalism has become more about the universals that we find across different religions across different cultures. That being said. There is one question. Where you can absolutely find where a modern unitarian universalist whether they lean more unitarian. Or more universalist. An atom's to give them this question. If you have to make a choice. Are you have to put one above the other. Which takes priority. Free will. Or universal salvation. When you talked to anyone even the people who don't think of that that anything is going to happen after you die or this. Is where you can really tell which can't people fall into. The universalist idea. Is one that free will. Is underneath it as francis wrote in her sermon you are doomed to be saved no matter what it is that your free will want sorry there is something even more powerful than that. That you heard from francis from 1873. Now i'd like you to listen to a video it's about 5 minutes long but really good. This is from the reverend dr. mark morrison. And he just retired he had been for in his early career he was a parish minister with his wife and then he became a professor at meadville lombard. And he is also one of the dominant historian about african-americans in unitarian-universalism just a little side point read everything he's written you won't regret it. So this is a sermon. He gave it at several places i believe the first time he gave it was in 2010 so fairly recent. Gordon mckeeman say. Universalism came to be called the gospel of god's success. Gospel of the larger hope. Picturesque ali spoken the image was that of the last unrepentant sinner being dragged screaming and kicking into heaven unable to resist the power and love of the almighty. What a graphic. Prosaic. Define kidnapping. The last sinner being dragged by his collar i imagined into heaven. I had to ask. What kind of god. Is this. When i had learned in seminary it was imbibing from love and supporting congregation game together. I got it. This was a religion of radical. Overpowering. Universal salvation insist no matter what we do. God so loves us that she will not. And cannot consign even. A single. Human individual to eternal damnation. Universal salvation. What is the reality that we share a common destiny. Is. Inescapable. Of universal law. Gun. Fathomable and the ineffable. That is his clothes. As your next heartbeat. As ordinary as a mote of dust. And as precious. As a newborn. God. Is the transcendent mystery that is at the core of all things. God is the mask we place upon the infinite. And the guard we drape over the sacred so that way. Edomites. Enter. Into relationship with it. For we of all the manifestation of this. Eternally. Unfolding creation are blessed to awaken to. And knowingly witness. And savor. Americal. Buddy guy. Who drags the last unrepentant sinner. Kicking and screaming. We can admire. We could have confidence skin we got feelings about we can even laugh at yes. It is a personification the most holy. All the most holyrood it and a powerful. Sometimes scary overwhelming feelings and experience that yes transcends description of yearning. What a relief the field ultimately there is nothing. Nothing nothing. I can do to alienate myself. From god's. Loving embrace. The almighty. Tender arms of the creative force. Little holes and sustain. Universalism insight. Is that you cannot. Coerce people into loving one another. The commandments are not threats if they are not fulfilled god will not withdraw is love no one has ever no one will ever draw true love from another with punishment. God's love is given to all freely given as a more powerful force. We're good then fear will ever be. And love is not just stronger than fear. It is stronger than death. Love survives. Love abides in us and all the depart. All depart reside. Behind. Simple simple simple truth. What is it. And being loved. We learned a lot and being loved we learn to love. Those who feel that love and the field infinite love within themselves willing turn feel so good about themselves connected to others and that they will not be able to help. It will overflow from them. And what is love. But to stand for life. With an open heart. Accepting arms. Eyes that are. Why. Wonder. It the whole sermon is great i i commend it to you if you go to youtube and put in dragged kicking and screaming mark morrison read you'll see the whole the whole video and it's it's absolutely worth it and if he even in the full version he distinctly makes the point of saying sorry free will then know this this overwhelming love is larger than that. Now. These these older these 1800's universalist we're not in agreement and and had many very strong argument about when the universal salvation actually happened i mean they were all talking about something that would happen after death they were that was still there eschatology eschatology the study of end things but they didn't agree on when it would happen i'm in fact francis cobb later on in her sermon absolutely disa bells the idea that it is an instantaneous thing and even talks about how perhaps you have to go through several cycles of immortality that's what she calls it cycles of immortality before you actually get to this final point. I've loved salvation. But you also had people like hosea ballou who was derided as being a death and glory universalist who said nope this is just the nature of god's instantly absolutely everyone this is what happens. We're kind of i mean we may have some kind of theoretical. Questions about that. I think though for many of us the whole question is. What does that mean to us today. Where you know back then they were all in agreement that there was a god. We are not it is absolutely okay to be atheist this is one of the funny things to me i'll be out in the community and people will find out that i'm a minister and they'll say well i'm an atheist like they're saying something profound you know and and really radical to come join us on sunday. What's a what what does that mean. 4 for all of us. That's something each individual has to figure out. I've decided that for me. I am. Theologically non-binary. Once we move away. From the strawman the old bearded man god in the sky. Once we dispense with that. There are so many different understandings and thoughts about the forces that move through our universe. That it's impossible for me to say with any finality that i either don't believe or that i do believe. I keep coming back to something that a friend and a now-departed colleague of mine rev beth cooper said. She was asked this question in a public forum one-time and about whether she believed in god and she said. I don't believe in god i experienced god. It's not a real clear answer. But for me at least that's something i can rest in. I'm so for this whole question about universalism. This wonderful picture of people being dragged kicking and screaming into love. All i know is this. That when i allow myself. To experience that. To feel that. To feel that there is some sort of a force in the universe. And then i'm supposed to be here. The mind very creation makes me of worse and a value. When i rest in that feeling of love. I find. That i turn to others. And treat them. With more kindness. And more love. There's so many really terrible things. That are happening in the world. What you will not get from me. Is some sort of saccharin thing of all just love them love is all we need love is the answer. Frankly there's too much proof. But that doesn't always work. But it's way more complicated than that. I can't control the outcome. I can't control what other people do. But i can control what i do. We say often in this church. I love you and there's nothing you can do about it. And that's kind of our version. I've dragged kicking and screaming no we believe in consent so we're not literally going to drag you into love. But we get to control. Our love. And there's nothing anyone else. Can do about it.

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2020-01-26-TheDemocracyExperiment.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For january 26th. 2000 +. This week's service is. The democracy experiment. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning. Is from a sermon that martin luther king jr gave in 1957 at dexter avenue baptist church. Titled loving your enemies. Democracy is the greatest form of government to my mind that man has ever conceived. But the weakness is. That we have never touched. Isn't it true that we have often taken necessities from the masses. To give luxuries to the classes. Is it true that we have often in our democracy trampled over individuals and races with the iron feet of oppression. Isn't it true that though our western powers we have perpetuated colonialism and imperialism. And all of these things must be taken under consideration as we look at russia. We must face the fact that the rhythmic beat of the deep rumblings of discontent from asia and africa is at bottom of revolt against the imperialism and colonialism perpetuated by western civilization. All these many years. The success of communism in the world today is due to the failure of democracy to live up to the noble ideals and principles. Inherent. I suspect that for many of us when we first read our fifth principle the fifth principle of unitarian universalism. We don't think too much of it we could get the right of conscience the use of the democratic process. Those are good things i can sign on to both of those i believe in both of those things. The problem is. This is not a belief state. Are seven principles are not a creed we are a creed list religion we are as we say a religion of deeds not create. And are seven principles are a sacred to-do list. That we as a congregation have committed to making real. I'm so when you read that again and you realize it's not a belief state. But it's actually something that we're supposed to do something that we are supposed to make become real both in our congregation and in the world at large. Then you might realize. This is a little more complicated. Because. These two things are not synonyms. Having the right of conscience in the democratic process. And so what do we do like in our congregation when this person feels that you know their right of conscience tells them that we as a church must do this thing and that person says that her write a conscious says that we must absolutely not do this thing. Then we also have to go then to the democratic. Process. Not everyone is going to agree on everything. I'm so yes this is another one of those tricky little principles that unitarian-universalism gives us where we have two different ideas. That we have to hold intention because as we heard in the story today simply saying democratic process that doesn't mean that the decisions that we make will necessarily. Good. Or be fair. And so we have to allow that to influence our right of conscience and our right of conscience to affect how we use the democratic process. As unitarian universalist minister reverend presa parsa has written in our religious lives the democratic process requires trust. In the development of each individual concha. I believe that such development is possible for each of us. As well as a commitment to cultivate our own conscience. We can call it a commitment to the value of each. Perhaps you have wondered at times. Why. Democratic process. Is in a religious. Because underneath. This idea of democratic process. There is a deeply. Theological idea for us and that is of the equality. Of all people. I'm when you deeply believed in the equality of all people. Then that means that. Everyone. Should get a vote. And race doesn't change that and gender doesn't change that and wealth. Should not change that. It is one person one vote at in this congregation if you have been a member of this church for 30 days we do have that minimum you get one boat. If you have been a member of this church for 27 years you get one vote if you have barely a dime to your name you get one vote. If you have a lots of money. Be sure and talk to me after the service so i can make sure. Everything's going okay with your plaid but you still only get one vote. This is for us a profoundly. Theological idea. The equality of all. And we see it represented in the country in which we live. United states of america are what we call our founding fathers. As they were putting together the government that we would be under. They had actually many different influences those of you who had american history if you can remember back to that some of this probably sounds familiar starting with the greeks right democracy is a greek word meaning the rule of the. And of course there was the enlightenment thinking the magna carta john locke. I'll ask y'all like i did the first service did anyone here learn about the iroquois confederation i'm glad to see some people good good glad to see some people did not all of us did. That was a significant. Influence. On the founders. The so that your confederation is actually the oldest living participatory. Democracy. On earth. Was established in 1140. Iroquois the name for themselves is who know shawnee. And so the. Colonist. We're around the hood nose. That it was a civilization they were trading with them they were creating treaties they were getting advice from. And benjamin franklin was one of the ones that was soaking it all up he was writing about it he was going over to europe and telling them all about what this civilization was doing over here so that was another one of the influences. And so are founding fathers. Managed. To create a vision. That was. Beyond. Even their own lives. Beyond what they themselves were living out. Which is pretty significant. Because you had people who were still. Slave owners. And yet somehow the vision. Was larger than them. And their narrow understanding of the world. And so they signed on to this. Amazing idea. That all men. Are created. And so they created our representative. In a nutshell means that we the people. Electro presentist. To create laws that we will live under. And that they're supposed to live under 2. By the way. And yes it is far more. Complicated. Then that. But that is the vision. That was underneath all of the. And democracy itself. Has. Plenty of of flaws. We're seeing that right now in the senate. Aren't. Because ultimately democracy does come down to majority rule if you do not have other things that are influencing. How the majority. Are making their decisions. Winston churchill said democracy is the worst form of government except for all of those other forms that have been tried and i. Tend to relate to that i also relate to paraphrasing m.l.k. from our reading today. You know his contention that democracy is an amazing idea. When we really should try it sometime. I am paraphrasing. Mlk was not known for his snark. Unlike some of us. We have structural issues. That take us farther away from the vision of democracy things that we are still debating now like the electoral college. And we have forces. That. 200 years ago they cannot even have dreamed of things like social media and how a foreign nation could use social media to influence the way that we vote and we have to also be open to the fact that we are brains are not as completely independent as we would like them to be we have influences. Better put also on us. Francis more sloppy and you may know her name because she is the author of diet for a small planet. She is a researcher she's an expert in environmentalism and democracy she's writer she has many books out including books. On democracy. And she says that democracy. Shut up. Condition. There there are three conditions. And they are. Needed. So that we can bring out the best. Of human nature. And we can keep the worst in check. She says those three elements are. Continuous. And why dispersion of economic. And political power. Transparency. And cultivating a culture. Of mutual accountability. Let's look at those for a second. I think about this past week. How we doing. Not good. This is been a really. Really hard week. It has been heartbreak. How do you get one b. Of hope. From of all things. Upholster burl poles. I know the fact that in 2020 i'm i'm allowing poles to give me any hope i just can't quit you. What did you see this did you see the fact that. Numerous polls. Said that the majority of americans not just democrats the majority of americans want there to be a fair trial in the senate. And i want witnesses to be called and they want documents to be produced. The majority of americans. I do take maybe i'm grasping but i do take great hope from that because what that tells me. Is that. The soul. Of our country. Which i feel has been so damaged. The soul of our country still has something left in it. Where we do believe in democracy. And we do believe in equality and we do believe in the rule of law and that everyone should follow the rule of law. That gives me hope. For our soul. I don't have. I hope. But it's going to change. It doesn't look like it is. It doesn't look like. Any senators are going to change their mind because of the poles. And so yes. I am weary. And i am heartbroken. And i am. Exhausted. I was reminded of. Of my favorite one of my favorite religious. Cartoons. This week religious cartoons it is religious in its theme but it is quite irreverent do there's something new in this church. It's mark you can't read it it's okay i'll tell you about it says welcome to martyr khan 07. And there's three characters there one in a toga one with a. A beard little guy. And one with beard says. Hello i'm jesus. Give me a part of me i got nailed to a cross for mankind's sins. The guy in the toga says. That's a cute story sounds like a rough weekend. Jesus turns to the little guy and says what the heck is with this guy. Little guy says 0. That's prometheus the guy who gave the secret of fire to mortals doing so really pissed off zeus does zeus shackle prometheus to the side of a cliff each day an eagle would swoop down rip him open and devour his liver every night zeus would heal him so it could happen again the next day this went on every day for a few centuries. Dang. Prometheus says. Yeah but i got those little nails in your hands were really ouchie before your ascension to heaven later that week. Oh snap. The reason why i remembered. This cartoon was because of something that i read by heather cox richardson. And i encourage you to seek her out she is a history professor. And everyday she. Has an essay that she post you posted on facebook. And she recounts what happened that day in our government. And give the novices with a historical lens. And this week he was watching the hearings and at the end of the week. She relayed this story. Have a conversation that a friend had with her. Her friend said have you been to the african american history and culture museum in d.c.. It's designed to be experienced in a particular way. You go down down down in an elevator through time to 1465 or something earlier than i expected definitely 15th century. Three floors of history. Europe and africa colliding into america. Trade capitalism new world opportunity. Slavery. You end with video and still images of america from 9/11 through obama. I found that part really emotional. Then you eat. Big cafeteria with regional food. After you eat you keep going up three floors above the entry level 42 is the research center floor floor three is all about building and maintaining community education churches publications clubs and civil groups civil rights organizing. The top floor is sublime in a way. All about expressions of the spirit culture athletes dance theater tv movies. And music popular american music. Poetry and literature. Curejoy. Expression and life. And then she made her point. White people who believe in justice and democracy. May have to learn resilience. I am weary. It has been 3 years. I am weary what must it. Belied it like and i am addressing this. Do the white people in the room. What must it be like to have that same weariness that same. Feeling. Of powerlessness. That that nothing i can do is going to change anything. If someone can go and be interviewed and say hey there was this crime i did this crime and nothing will happen the feeling that nothing matters anymore and that justice. Will not. Be served what must it be. Like. To feel that. Your entire life. And your entire parents life. And your entire grandparents life and your entire great. Grandparents. Life. I've been dealing with this for three years. We are weary. And we are exhausted. And we are hopeless. That's not an accident by the way. That's by design. It is much easier to control us. If we are apathetic. I feel hopeless. I know that i have said perhaps even from up here. But i just need a break from all of this no i'm not i didn't watch rachel last night i just for my mental health. I need a break. I've heard others say it too. But i've definitely. What a load. A privileged. Bull. That's not who we are. We are unitarian universalists that is not who we are that is not who we get to be and you know that there have been people like that throughout history in 1963 there were people that they turned on their tv and when they saw the fire hoses and the dogs being set on people who just wanted an end to segregation there were people who said who this is kind of hurting my spirit and they changed the channel. In 1954 when they started televising the mccarthy hearings. There were people who win that came up on the television they said. Oh this is terrible it's stressing me out and they changed. The channel. We can't do. The consequences. R2 dyer. I know parts. Of my problem. Part of my problem. Is that i love movies. I've seen so many movies and i've seen so many classic movies and so what is playing out on my television right now. I've seen this movie before i know what is supposed to happen it looks really hopeless now you have a slight majority that is more interested in power than in principle. But then. Representative adam schiff gets up and he gives the closing speech. Frank capra could not have done any better am i right. I do i know what's going to happen next. One of those people on the other side is going to have a transformation. I know you're going to do the right thing. I'm someone else will start the slow clap that will build into rousing applause. I don't think it's going to happen. Part of the issue in this. Is that. We think of ourselves as the audience. We are not the audience. Democracy is not a spectator. Sport. And so it is not ours to turn off the channel it is also not ours to just. Sit there. Stock quote about resilience and patience. We need a certain kind of patience not the kind of patients that says i'm going to sit over here in my armchair and i'm going to wait until this whole mess is fixed and cleaned up and then i'll get involved. That day may not. We need to kind of resilience of sisyphus. We need to be willing to push the rock. Up the hill every single day knowing that it is going to roll down again but somehow we have to. Keep doing it with a tiny bit of faith that one day one day that rock is not going to roll back down that is the kind of patients. We need. Every generation. After fight. For democracy. Anu. Our grandparents our parents did it. On foreign soil. Our parents. And some of the people right here in this room. Did it on the pettus bridge. Our children. We'll have to do it. They will have to if it survives that long. They too will have to fight for democracy. They are watching us right now. They're watching to see what we are going to do. This is not a political issue for us. This. Is part of our religion. This is one of the tenets of our religion based in the radical idea of you quality of all people. And so we may be weary but it is time to wake up and get that energy back again remember that energy that we had three years ago when we all had our representatives and our senators phone numbers on speed dial. Put them back. You may not change the outcome. But let's not make it easy for them. Let's not make it easy for them to sleep at night. We as a congregation have committed ourselves to the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process in our congregations and out there in the world. This is ours to do. What we do. Matters. Truth. Matters. Right.

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2019-08-25-LiveOak101.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian. For august. 2000 +. This week's service is. Live oak 101. A reverend johanna fonte. Are reading this morning is from living in community is hard beautiful work by jason moorhead. Community is one of those words that usually causes me to roll my eyes whenever i hear it. And i hear it in a lot of church circles. It's a lovely concept this idea of living and sharing life together. But it's often the concept that we only pay lip service to. Extol its virtues and then we move on to something else. Because real community requires work. It requires the work of looking past our own lives and preoccupations so that we can take stock of the lives and the needs of those around us. It requires the hard work of exposure of making our lives by honorable enough to let people into them. Regardless of the messiness that lies within. And it requires the really hard work of loving people in spite of their messiness. And being willing to believe that people will love you. In spite of yours. Living in community in other words. Requires us to humble ourselves enough to put others first. And be willing to be humbled when others discover the more unflattering aspects of our lives. This is probably the cynical introvert in me talkin i don't like the idea of being open and humbled. I like to be seen as confident. Self-made and independent. I want people to think of me as a good. Husband a wise father a reliable co-worker and interesting bloggers. And so on. I want people to think that i have it all together. Even though the reality may be. That i'm just getting along by the skin of my. So. Welcome to live oak i will be your tour guide this morning on this adventure rides please keep your hands and your feet inside the ride at all times hahaha i'm only kidding if you want to knit or tweet out something you here today or post a picture on facebook hashtag live oak you you you go right ahead and do that if during a him you want to get up and not only seen but dance we encourage that here. This is a community of and for all ages and when you come through the narthex. By the way narthex is a fancy word for that room outside of the sanctuary sanctuary is a fancy word for that room where we do worship. Worship is a fancy word for shaping what is of worth. But when you come through the narthex if you look at the back you're going to see under that flat screen they're all kinds of things for those who are kind of fidgety during the service and like something to do with their hands there are coloring pages and white boards and my favorite. Pipe cleaners. Because pipe cleaners are cool. For all ages twin was the last time you played with some. Some pipe cleaners here you can have. When you're done at the end of the service take the pipe cleaners back straighten them back out take the white boards that we have. Cleaning back off put them there for next week. But everything that is back there is. For all ages. This worship service is for all ages as are all of our worship services. Most importantly this. Church. Yes. For all ages. And that's not accident. That is very intentional that has been part of the vision of this church since it's very beginning. And it's important. And it's countercultural. Because nowadays. We often are segregated by age. And most of us don't have extended family that is living in the same area. And this means that we're losing something. Because we all have such different experiences. Whether we are a child or an eighty-year-old. And when we can get together. We can share those experiences. And we can grow together. Those of you who are. Not young. Which would be anyone over 25. Ask one of the young people about. Tik-tok. It's a thing. They'll tell you all about it better yet. Ask one of our youth about anti-racism. Or about the work that is being done now around lgbtqia a apostrophe and what is the language around this they will have an answer for you. And those of you who are young by which i mean anyone under 50 be sure and ask someone of another age about their experiences. Because we have a well. Of knowledge and experiences and wisdom in this room we have people here who march. With dr. king. We have people who in their own personal lives. Hobbs fermented grapes. Challenges. And it's important to have these conversations. Because as it is we only have our own experience we only have our wisdom. When we can gather together we can share all of that. And that's how faith development happen. And that's how relationships happen. This thing of being an intergenerational congregation is not just. About teaching certain classes and it's also not just about what happens in here on a sunday we create. Relationships. We are mindful about them. Stacy's relationships go on past our doors. And that's a very good thing. As i said feel free to to move around a little bit if that is something that you need to do this is not. A silence like pipe organ we are not the frozen chosen if you hear something in a service that you really agree with feel free to say amen if you hear something in a service that you really disagree with feel free to send me an email preferably on tuesday monday is my day off. But i can learn to sew do send that email. What we do here for all ages. Is faith development in fact something that you will often hear. At this church. Is faith development. Is all we do. Unitarian universalism is the faith we teach and the congregation is the curriculum. Faith development. Is all that we do. And it's happening all the time when you go out with fellow church members. To try and repair the house of someone who is in need you're not just helping them. You are developing your own faith you are coming to a statement about what it is that you value in the world. When you go out with fellow congregants whether it's to a movie or to the capital you are continuing to develop your faith when you march in a parade or attend a vigil this to is faith development. And we. With our children. We do something really special. We do this thing called a child dedication. For babies and children. Where we lift up our children so often literally. And we say their name as a community we give them blessings. And we have a dedication but here's the thing. We're not dedicating the child. To the church. That's their decision. When they get older. We are dedicating ourselves. To the child. And what we are doing is we are dedicating ourselves to the faith development. Of the child. So when our director of lifespan faith development comes to you and says hey can i get you to teach elementary school class. Well remember you've already dedicated yourself to. The faith development of our children. But here's the other thing. I defy anyone. To teach a class. A knot at the end of it. Say their faith. Has been developed through that. 2. Unitarian universalism is the faith that we teach. And what we mean by that is everything that we teach is going to be through the lens of unitarian-universalist value. You may learn about buddhism in a class. Or anti-racism or systems theory but it's always going to come back to our unitarian universalist values. That's what we do we are a uu church. And there's kind of a pragmatic part about this which is we're the only ones who are going to teach. Unitarian universalism we are i contacted the southern baptist church that's here close and i asked them if they would do it early enough they said no as did the catholics they're going to teach catholicism. Unitarian universalism is the face that we teach and the congregation is the curriculum. We can teach. 100 classes. About love. A humility and respect. But we're all paying attention. And our children are paying attention. And that is going to be the number one part of the curriculum. That day and we absorb. Again when we do all of those things marching in vigils helping out serving at the church. We are the curriculum. And this is how we live out our faith. Now when i talk about faith development yes unitarian-universalism is the faith that we teach. But in case there's anyone here who. Doesn't know that does not mean. That we are developing a set. List. A belief. That everyone will agree to. When we talk about faith development we are talking about your individual particular. Say. And it's going to be in terms of beliefs. There's going to be a lot of differences. As they say if you've got three unitarians in a room you got five different opinions. And that's good. That's okay. A system of shared beliefs. Is not what binds us together. So what is it. That holds us together. What is it that unites us. What holds us together is our covenant. We are a covenant all people and every unitarian universalist congregation. Create their own covenant. We have a different covenant than first uu austin or the san gabriel congregation. Out of covenant. Is very simply a set of promises. It's a pretty radical thing. When you think about it. In this day and age. That a group of people many of them. Strangers to each other. When they first come in. We make a set of promises to each other. About how we're going to treat it. How we're going to support each other how we're going to be. Together. I was talking to someone recently. And. He was talking about the importance of. The covenant and the fact that it is not always easy. It is often hard. We can do hard. Things. How do you make the point you said you know if if i feel a certain way about this person. How i act. Towards her. Musk. Align with. This covenant. Man i hope. That with all of your neighbors and your co-workers and the person who caught you off on 620. I hope that somehow we are all able to rise above that and treat them with kindness. And respect. But we have not made them a promise. We have made a promise. To our fellow church. I think it at least once a year we should probably go back and look. At this covenant. Hear the words a new of this covenant and so i'm going to invite you right now if you are a member of live oak or if you are in agreement. With these promises to say it with me now. We the members of live oak unitarian universalist church. Affirm a welcoming vibrant caring community for all ages. We embrace you you value. Humor and community growth. On our shared spiritual journey. We covenant with one another to create relationships that are inclusive. Open-minded. Sensitive and celebrate the differences within our community. We will accept. Support and appreciate one another. Keep our commitments. Maintain healthy boundaries and use constructive communication. We will be accountable to one another in a helpful non-judgmental. Peaceful environment. With integrity respect. And love. When you put that together. With this knowledge that everything that we do is faith development. Clearly means that there is a call for us to be open-hearted. To each other. An open-hearted to learning. And growing. And. Dealing with unusual ideas ideas that may not be from our experience. But we get to learn. From others. That's what we do. Yes. It is hard. And we can do. Hard things. That's what holds us together is our covenant. And what unites us. Is our mission. We adopted a mission for this church. And everything that we do we try to align around that. Our mission is deceptively simple. Or deceptively complex i don't know how you want a phrase that. The words themselves. Are simple but every word is just a symbol for something larger write the word church. It's just a one syllable word. But it means church building it means congregations that means the actions that we're doing in the world it means the values that we have. And so each one of these words. Springs in. Hun. Of other meaning. I think that when we first adopted this. That first one. Embrace joy. I think we thought that that was going to be the easy one. Right. How hard could it be. Embrace joy. Well welcome to 2019. We are living in a world where we are constantly between the 24-hour news and everything else we are constantly getting a message that we should be mad and outraged and miserable and you know what. We probably should be at least. Mad and outrage. Because there are some terrible. Things going on in the world the world is literally on fire. I saw someone who posted who said the wrong ice is melting. Think about it. And the wrong amazon is burning. We can have disagreement about that. We can do hard things. To embrace joy. Right now. Is. A revolutionary sort of thing to do. Because we can be mad and outraged and we can hold that in one hand and in the other hand we can also hold joy not only can we i think that we have to. I think that we are not going to have the strength to do the things that we need to do. If we don't get really really good at looking for joy wherever we can find it. And celebrating. Not something that this church. Does really well. We look for all of the things. Where we can embrace joy where we can celebrate. And we do it we have rituals of celebration. We gather together because. Yes we have this covenant. And by the way. Are covenants. Let me be real clear. Our covenant does not say and we will always get along. We will not always get along. I don't always get along with my spouse in my kids and i love them more than life itself of course we're not going to get along. That being said. There isn't this congregation. Deep affection. For one another. So every time we gather whether it's here at church for a potluck or out seeing a movie or doing something. It is a celebration. And we should pause to embrace that. Every. Sunday. When we gather together. We should make a point of also embracing the joy of being together and celebrating. I am envious. Of our jewish friends. Because they know that their sabbath. Is a holiday. Is a day to celebrate you have made it through yet another week we are here together. Until i want to make it a practice. That we say happy sabbath. And realize that just to be together. Is something worthy of lifting up in celebration. The way we celebrate is most often together. Often the joy that we find is through our relationships with one another. And the second part of our mission is to enrich connection. We take that as a church very seriously. We want all of us to be able to grow and learn so that we can enrich. Our connections with our partners with our families with our friends. We want to enrich the connections of all of the members to each other that's why we do a lot of the fun activities that we do although i'll tell you you can also be doing something you might not consider to be fun like trimming these zombie bushes that grow like crazy but when you're doing it with other people. You're still enriching connection. And the connections are not just about us. We are not a cave in which to hide from the rest of the world we also work to enrich our connections with the organizations that use our building and the organizations out there like i act the interfaith group. Hill country community ministries. Are different community partners. Enriching connections is something that we take very seriously. And when we in rich connection. We grow. And this. This drive. To grow which we mean not on many levels. It's also something that we take seriously. And we put time and energy towards. We want to grow as a congregation we want to grow in maturity. But we also want to grow in your numbers. Because we know. That right now. Many of us. Often feel hopeless. And helpless. But when we come here on a sunday and we're together. There is a renewal. That happened. We find replenishment. And we know that there are other people out in our community and they are feeling ostracized they feel like they can't be their authentic self. And so we want them to always know that there's a place for them here. And the more we grow numerically. The more we will grow in maturity and as individuals because again. Every single person. Comes here. Is so valuable. If you think of each person just as a resource for your personal faith development which be careful with that let's think of people as people. But when you think of the idea of someone handing you. A book. That has a lifetime. Of a person's experiences no matter their age. Because of five-year-old can have many. Important experiences that they're still in touch. When you think about that. Every person here will enhance. The face development. Of the rest. And we grow together. And when we grow we learn new skills. We learn how to be more effective at doing the things that we do. Which means that we're going to be better at being able to empower dreams. I've seen so many dreams just in the last 5 years. Watching so many dreams come true where someone has an idea. And we put the work toward it and it becomes a reality. One of the things were really proud about. Is the that we partner with hill country community ministries. To do fresh food friday. I was there at the beginning this was one of these things and i can't take credit for i am just a witness to this but donna durbin and i were talking about should we enrich our connection with hill country community ministries and we met with the director. And she told us of a dream that hccm had at that time they have they had at that time a food pantry but they knew that it was important for people to get something beyond just canned goods and to be able to get fresh fruits and vegetables but they have a challenge because they're located out in leander and there's there's no way for public transportation to get there so how do you get to. The food to the people. Has she talked to us about this idea of having churches throughout our area worth it was closer to the people who needed this and they could get to it. I remember donna and me talking about that. It seems like a dream. Surely live oak wasn't quite big enough. To be able to do that. Surely they weren't quite enough volunteers to do it. And now it is a standard thing. That we do every month. I saw a person okay it was me complaining about how expensive it is. Toosii. Santa. I know we talked to other people who told us about the issue for special needs parents. And how difficult that is for them to be able to have that coveted photo with santa. It happened. Every single year. And people come to me parents. Literally with tears. To tell me how important this is. I have seen so many dreams happen at this church. Including individual dream. We all have dreams what is a dream that you want for yourself. I want to be. More anti-racist. I have dreams that i want both for my ministry and for here. And i know that this is a place. That will help empower me. So that those dreams can happen. Live oak. Is. A church that is united by our mission. We talked about it and an awful lot. I ate a good lot. It's something whenever we have a big decision to make about a new program the first thing we do is run it through is this apart of fulfilling our mission. But i was talking to someone recently. About the mission itself. And we came to the same realization. That along with being a mission for this church. I would make a really fine spiritual practice. I encourage you. To experiment with this i would we haven't tried it yet. Put on a weekly basis. Try and catch yourself when is the time this past week. But you embrace. When is the time that you and rich. Connections maybe you have a long lost friend and you called them up. When did you encourage growth how did it happen was it picking up a book. I'm reading the new how to be anti-racist book by ibrahim x kendi i highly recommend it. How did you empowered dream. Yours or someone else's. Consider this to be a potential spiritual practice. And please do send me your results. So you want to know about this crazy adventure ride. Call live oak. Well. It's complex. But it's also pretty. We are a deliberate. Intergenerational community. Devoted to faith development. We are held together. In our covenant. Are you at we are united by mission. That's why i vote. One other thing you'll probably hear. Quite a bit here. I love you. And there's nothing you can do about it.

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2019-07-28-AuditoryHallucinations.mp3

Welcome to the live oak. Unitarian. Church podcast. For july 28th. 2000 +. This week's service is. Auditory hallucinations. A dick picture. All the children and the young-at-heart come forward for the big idea. Emerson cheap seats. I don't know what is the big idea. Somebody asked me what i was talking about today and i was wondering the same thing. So how many of you know the story of the tower of babel. Add people back.. Well that the tower babel is actually a story from genesis. And it's a really short story. I was really kind of surprised with how legendary the story actually is there's not a whole lot about it. So course i kind of based a whole circle around it. So i'm going to read directly from the bible. This comes from genesis 11 verses one through nine will try okay i'm going to try to if i fall asleep in the middle give me a poke. Okay. So now the whole world now this happens after the great flood flood noah to buy to whatever no. Well there's a there's a real great big flood destroyed the earth and noah. I'm with you but let's suspend our disbelief here for a minute okay okay so. Well use our imaginations so imagine the world goes round and only a few people survived. And those few people. After the flood resettled in one spot even though god said go forth and populate the earth they went cool we're going to hang out here. And they squatted. So now the whole world had one language and it comes beach. Most people moved eastward they found a plane and shannara and settled there. They said to each other come let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly. These bricks instead of stone and par-4 mordor. The first of all here here's my first thing right. The world can't be flooded. Giant tower of bricks. They said. Come let us build ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth. Floppy aspirations i think. But the lord god. Came down to see the city in the tower in the people the tower that people were building. The lord said if as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this. Then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. And apparently turns and starts talking to somebody else i don't know who it is. Come let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. Church. So the lord scattered them from from they're all of the earth with a shovel. So the lord scattered them from their all over the earth and they stop building the city. That's why it's called babel because the lord confuse the language of the whole world. And from there the lord scatter them all over the face the holler. Right so there's a lot of people a lot of biblical scholars take a look at this. Priests take a look at this and they say that this is a story about pride. I'm not really so sure about that i think they're only looking at it at one level. I think this is really a story about putting challenges in the way of people. And if humans and asking us to make ourselves better. Everybody speaking one language is way too easy for the human mind. When we get. Ford there's no challenge in a way that's when the worst of ourselves comes out. I think. I'm not a biblical scholar so take that for what it's worth. Here's the really interesting part. So the tower of babel might actually be a real place. Whoa. I didn't say that. Sew in. Yeah but stories come from somewhere. Brent has got to be a kernel of truth in everything so in this one this might be from a place called and i will probably butcher this because i don't speak sumerian. Intimate nongki. I need a picture. And that means temple for the foundation of heaven on earth and its name of the ziggurat for a stepped pyramid in ancient. Babylon. Was dedicated to the babylonian god nordic. Now. It was famously rebuilt in the sixth century bc by. Nebuchadnezzar. If you haven't heard of nebuchadnezzar. He's probably one of my favorite names ever. Because it's just a lot of fun to say. So now it says that. He originally wrote that the tower was built and antiquity. Which means a really long time ago. The former king built the temple of the seven lights of the earth but he did not complete its head. Since that remote time people have abandoned it without order expressing there without order expressing their words and since that time earthquakes and lightning had dispersed it sun-dried clay. The bricks of the casing had split and the earth of the interior had been scattered. So. This will all come together a little bit more in my sermon today but that's the story of the tower of babel and the fun part is it might be real. They used to be real it's falling down. So that's it thank you guys. Are reading today comes from. Author of the virgin suicides but the book middlesex. Emotions in my experience aren't covered by single wards. I don't believe in sadness joy a regret. Maybe the best proof that language is patriarchal is that oversimplifies feeling. I'd like to have at my disposal complicated hybrid emotions like the germanic train-car constructions like. The happiness that attends disaster. Or the disappointment of sleeping with one's fantasy. I'd like to show how. Intimations of mortality brought on by aging family members connects with the hatred of mirrors that begins in middle age. I'd like to have a word for the sadness inspired by failing restaurants as well as for the excitement of getting a room with a mini bar. I've never had the right words to describe my life and now that i've entered my story. I need them more than ever. Really. Resume. I find myself saying. I don't have the right word for this but i'm going to use this one because it's imperfect but it's what i have. So way back in october. I emailed reverend joe and i said hey i want to speak. I have any idea what i wanted to say. But she was like her. Those of you who know me know that i'm not the best conversationalist but there's something about coming up and speaking in front of people. Makes me really. My blood going. I was a theater kid. Elyson high school. I unfortunately i found theater a little bit too late. But i enjoyed. Define. Fast forward a little bit and i became a supervisor at apple. I know anywhere from 30 to 60 people depending on the season. And i gave a meeting. That i really did not have any. I didn't have anything prepared anything else prepare the team is doing really really well. Usually have been making these team meetings to. Kids highlight problem areas and get them really fired up or make. Corrections or whatever i had nothing that week so i went okay cool let me. Can i put together a bunch of slides and. I delivered it was really good. I got the most compliments from that particular meeting that i had that if anything else. Which made me feel really excited so a few years later i gave it again. And again the same thing happened i got in a lot of really good critique out of it. He became upset and really enjoyed it. So i went back into my vaults after joanna said yes you can speak and i pulled this thing up. But by then another two years had passed so i had four years of experience under my belt. Kind of talking to people and being a supervisor and understanding how their brains work. And something became immediately clear to me in that communication is a real. Big problem with. So i've adapted this. My sermon is titled auditory hallucinations. And for those of you who are familiar with those words are probably assuming. The talk about. Hearing things that aren't there and innocence that's correct. Talk about. But it's not going to be about. Curing random noises that. Like walking down the hallway. Voices. Why am i talk about is a phenomenon that i've noticed in. A failure of perspective or standing and other people shoes when in the middle of a conversation. And hearing things that people say. When they didn't actually say that. So. To do that i'm actually going to use a series of optical illusion. Flip the script. Talk about perspective because it's. Or so. We think. Mcpherson this year. I have. A. Graybar on a gray background. One of these is actually gradient from light to dark. Can anybody tell me which one is which. Are they both great it is one grated. They're both gradated. Turn back. I think you're correct. You probably seen this before. But you have experience with it. All right so you have a lot of contacts in a lot of experience with color. Okay so take time to demonstrate what. What just happened here right we'll look at this time ago why this is aggravated background integrated bar that's not correct i'm going to take away the background. It's amazing what a little bit of perspective will do. To the way you see the world. Will you take away the background noise. This is now very different. The nest. I want to highlight today. A lot of background noise a lot of things that we pay attention to that we shouldn't pay attention to if we want to get to the truth. So this is. Everything is in black and white. Nope everything's gray. Okay so for the next one. Here. The house okay what kind of house. Shed. Super fancy shed. Okay. Let me focus on this what color is it. White okay what color is the other side. Green are green i hear gregg. I heard a chuckle. I hear white. From this picture we can all extrapolate lot of information. Alright think of this is a very simple conversation. I'm having a conversation with you when i described to you a house. Brighten this is what comes up. We don't actually know what the other side of this house looks like doing. But we can assume. And that's one of her greatest strengths but also one of our greatest weaknesses. Is the second that we assume. Now. We want that confirmation. Right we want to be right. Nobody likes to be wrong. But the only way for us to actually know whether the other side of that house is white is by either. Going all the way to the other side of the house and checking. Or by asking the question of the person who owns it hey what color is the other side of your house. Right. But we do this in conversations all the time. We assume the other side of that house is white what the other side of that house is really hot pink. Then we start talking about this house like we own it and we know it. Right but we don't know what we're actually talking about. All the time. It baffles me. Pictures of simple question clarify everything. And all the sudden start getting into an argument about whether or not the other side of this house is white. Okay. What is he here. Oranges. That's rather general in it. What do we actually see her. One cut orange one whole orange i'm looking for. What else. Two fractions goldstar looked in the back. Oh even better. Okay we see a picture of a whole orange a half orange into quarter oranges. With this one on try to highlight a precision of language. I can say get me a picture of oranges. This is what i have in my brain. But i don't actually. Say what i want. And my helper whoever it is goes and gets me a picture of a bunch of gorgeous. No. Now i get mad. Tell you what i wanted but not mad cuz i left information out but it's not my fault it's yours cuz you didn't have questions. If this is the picture i want i need to go to the person who's helping me and say i need a picture of one whole orange. 1/2 warrants and 2-quart oranges. Ifunny assistant i'm probably going to look at that person go really. But if this is really what i want for this presentation that's what i have to say. I have to have that in that in that communication pics. I don't have it in a communication piece everybody comes out frustrated. And yet again. We do this all the time. Everyday conversations like this happen at work at home. And relationships. You start throwing emotions you start throwing energy into this kind of stuff these little things become really big. Real fast. Okay. I saw this one from the internet i can't tell. Working state. And the word mistake. Alright. Programmer. So this one is a really good example of going too fast. Write all of the details are there. But. I know when i first saw this one. I looked at it for a good long time. Cuz i was going too fast i was prepping for meeting right i'm trying to find something that i'm going to that's going to put us together and so. This highlighted for me how if we go too fast and we're not paying attention we miss out on some really important details. Right like the mataki in the picture. I can't tell you how many times i counted in my head. 45. 67. I don't get it. And then i read it. It's misaki. And of course my little brain goes what does that mean. And i start googling. Other than the fact that i get. Squirrels in my head knife. But again this is something if we're going too fast we're not paying attention where we miss important details so sometimes the person that were speaking to in the conversation gives us everything that we need. We're just not paying attention. And that's not a conversation that's a monologue. A monologue you don't have to listen to me. I'm delivering a monologue right now. None of you have to listen to me. I'm going to keep talking whether you're listening or not. What are the. The horse. Picture of a horse. A projected picture of a horn. See this is the part of the presentation that i really love to see where everybody's brain starts to turn. Cuz now i've got you thinking. I've got you thinking about precision of language i've got you thinking about. What exactly am i seeing am i seeing a brown horse in a blue sky and a conda greenfield. That's exactly what. What is it looking for. He's looking for a picture of a horse. Looking for a picture. A picture of a horse is it just a horse is it a brown horse is it at. What am i looking for. This is another problem with communication that we have all the time. I've never i haven't given you any context on what i'm looking for i just said what is this. You don't know exactly. I didn't ask you for it i didn't ask you for specifics. But that's what i was looking for. Brown horse and a blue sky. Pre-fill. This is where me as the communicator now i'm feeling frustrated because you don't know what i want. I didn't tell you. Is really fun the first time i gave this i had my team so worked up they did give me every single specifics and so i immediately flipped it on her head nasa guys horse. There's no right answer on the slide i just like to mess with you. But this is really important in another because as you begin to communicate with people and if you begin to talk to them you begin to build up a common vernacular between. Right. If. You and i've been having conversations for a long long time you start to pick up on all of my idiosyncrasies. What am i looking for what do i like what are my dislikes what burbage do i like to use all of these things but. I have carried on an in-depth conversation with a very. Small amount people in this room. For a long. of time. So. None of you really know what i'm looking for here. Auburn henley and alyssa. Ct and ashley live live with me for a long time. So they kind of know where i'm going with us they've also heard me talk about the presentation a couple times. But without that experience right you just don't know. So we are going to have to. It went to remind herself to take a step back. We don't speak the same language. The lord. Came down and confused all of us. We think we speak the same language. We think we all speak english but we don't ice picnic. I understand. A little bit of tina. I understand a little bit of bill. I just speak me. I'm the only one who truly understands nick from top to bottom. Somebody been arguing don't even understand. So. It's really important for you guys when you start talking to people when you start trying to develop relationships as for the relationships that you take this into account. You don't know this other person inside and out you don't understand their language. We have commonalities. We have a certain set of rules that we can all build from. But notice no. So it's important to work on that. And build that relationship. What about to happen here. This display is about to get mugged right. By the slug. This is a big scary thing this is a giant snail about to eat this lady. We need to go save her. Lady lady lady lady. We look at this from a different perspective. Is really cool. There's a couple of things here that. That struggling one that's a really cool picture. + 2. This big big big big thing. This big giant snail about to eat this lady. If i. Step aside. And look at it from a different perspective. It's a really cool piece of. And this is another thing that i've noticed that we do over and over and over again we take these things. We see that they're huge. Blow them out of proportion. Again all we had to do was ask a couple of questions or even just take ourselves out of her own shoes for a second. And look at it from a different angle. We look at it from a different angle suddenly. Oh. No this is a beautiful thing. And like i said this happens all the time cuz sometimes you circle around the object can you do realize it is a giant man-eating snail. But it is important for us to kind of take a second and take a step back and begin the maneuver around the object and figure out what it actually is. Again i abused all of these visuals. Kind of. Show what we do in conversation all the time. Soap. If you guys walk away with anything today. It's that words are infallible. People are infallible. You're the only one who speaks your language. You can kind of bring people along. If you take the time to understand. You take the time to figure out how they understand the world. That's the only real way that we can bridge cam. And this problem only gets bigger and bigger the more people you add into this. Two people great we can actually take some time to talk about. When you're delivering a message to 60 people. Or more. Now i've got to break down all of this conversation all of this monologue into something that everybody can on. The difficult thing to do. So i'd like for y'all to kind of think on that. And where do we go. And how do we pray. The top one. And we may all go to our deathbeds. Not knowing exactly how to communicate effective.

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LivesOnFireAllBoundUpTogether.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For february 3rd. 2019. This week's service is. Lives on fire. All bound up together. Iriver joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning. Comes from a unitarian few harper who wrote these words in 1866. We are all bound up together in one great bundle of humanity. And society cannot trample on the weakest and feeblest of its members without receiving the curse in its own soul you tried that in the case of the negro you pressed him down for two centuries and in so doing you crippled the moral strength and paralyze the spiritual energies of the white men of the country. When the hands of the black were fettered white men were deprived of the liberty of speech in the freedom of the press. Society cannot afford to neglect the enlightenment. Ivd class. Of its members. Is grand and glorious revolution which has commenced. Will fail to reach its climax of success until throughout the length and the breadth of the american republic the nation can be so color blind as to know no man by the color of his skin or the curl of his hair it will then have no privileged class trampling upon and outraging the unprivileged classes but will be then one great privilege nation. Who's privilege will be to produce. The loftiest manhood and womanhood. That humanity. That was written in 18. 66. Arsene. For this entire year for our church. Is live a life on fire. To live a life on fire memes first and foremost. To live. In a mindful. And deliver it. Way. Choosing where it is that we are going to spend our energies and the days of our lives. To live a life on fire means to not easily accept. The barriers that other people. Would try to put. In our way. Live a life on fire means to live. Boldly. And courageously. I kind of like the song we just heard to at least. Consider the idea. That each of us could sing those words. I was made for you. To life. To this world. To consider the idea that each one of us. Has unique. Gifs. And passions. And that we are all called. To make a mark. To make a difference. 2 in the words of unitarian horace mann to be ashamed to die. Before winning a victory for humanity. This month. For february we are going to be. Telling stories. Talking about unitarian and universalist and unitarian universalist we merge tonight. 61. Who have made their mark. And who have lived lives on fire. People who lived or are living give you that little. Today though. What i'm going to ask of you is for you to use your imagination. K. I want you to imagine that you were born in 1825. In maryland. And by the time of 3 you had already known. Tragedy you had already been orphaned but you had an aunt and an uncle who brought you in and raised you as their own they moved within the literary circles of baltimore and so you were arrayed raised up being exposed to that world. An education was very important to them your uncle was an educator and in fact he started his own school and he taught there and you attended that school and so you received what was considered at that time to be a classical education learning things like literature and composition and oratory and mathematics and deportment. I'm so you were raised to move in an educated. World. By the time you were 13 you did what was expected which was to apprentice with someone you apprenticed with a quaker family. And they owned a bookstore. And they quickly realized the passion that you had for that and so state encouraged you and all of your off-hours to make use of the bookstore and read as much as. Cut. And they also realized that you had a gift. For writing. By the time you were 14. You had already had published. One of your poems. In an abolition jar. And so they encouraged you to keep up at that until by the time you were 21. You had already had published. One full book. Of your poetry. Call. Autumn leaves also called forest leaves it would prove to be so popular that it would go to 20 edition. Now be raised the way that you were education was something that you felt was very important not just for individuals but to change and shape a society. And so you devoted yourself to that when you were 26 you got called to teach at union seminary. And a year later you were sent off to pennsylvania to be a teacher to be the sole teacher of 53 students. And it was about that time you began to question whether teaching was in fact you're calling. You had other passions. Notably. The big issue of that day. Abolition. And you struggled with. What exactly was it that you were being called to do. Often with our calling. It's not that we choose our calling it's that our calling. Chooses us. And this is what happened to you because in the state of your birth. Maryland. They passed a new law. Saying that any. Freed men or women freed black men or women. It was against the law for them to enter into maryland. And the punishment. Was to be sold into slavery. And in fact. You heard the story of a young man that that happened to he was captured he was sold into slavery. He tried to escape. They caught him again. And. A young man but he died. Exposure. And abuse. You had been already making contacts. Within the world of the abolitionists. And one would become your good friend william still. And you wrote to him. After hearing that story. And you told him that you. We're quitting teaching. And that you were going to devote yourself. Completely. To the movement. Abolition. I think that anyone. At that time when hearing the story of that young man. Any good thinking person. It would have registered in their heart. But for you. It felt. Very personal. And you in fact. Pledged yourself as you said. On the grave of this young man. To this work. Of anti-slavery. It felt personal. Not only because marilyn was your home state. But because you were an african american woman. Frances ellen watkins. She did devote herself. To the anti-slavery movement and very quickly people realize that in addition to the gift that she had for writing she was amazingly gifted at oratory and very quickly she was hired at first by the main anti-slavery society and then by the pennsylvania anti-slavery society to go out on the lecture circuit. Because that's how people heard about things back then. They couldn't turn on rachel maddow right. So you would often pay to go and hear lectures and so you had people like frederick douglass. And frances ellen watkins who were going out. Talking about what was happening talking about the reality of the day and talking about how you could make a difference and how things needed to be changed. And francis supported this movement not only by going out giving her life to it going out and doing this work but also by her money. She gave so much money. To the underground railroad that in letters her friend william still would often kind of fuss at her and point out that really you know she should be putting back a little bit of her money for herself she was a single woman you do for a rainy day. And she would write back and say. Nope. This this is what. I am called to do this is whatever. Good person right now should be called to do. Even with that though. There were people who. Did not appreciate her contributions. There were black men who were involved in the abolition movement hoe because she was a woman. Didn't want her to be in any sort of a leadership role didn't want women to have any sort of a public role and in fact when she applied to be an agent on the philadelphia underground railroad. When he pause cuz we have people of different ages hear the underground railroad in case you don't know about this. Was not actually a railroad. It was a way that. People could help those who were enslaved get to areas where they could be free. She applied to be an agent on the philadelphia underground railroad. And was turned down. Solely because of her gender. Nonetheless she continued giving. Everything that she could. To this movement and. Forging friendships. With the people that were in the abolition move. William still and frederick douglass sojourner truth harriet tubman. In 1854. She read a book. And. And know this about francis. Her entire life people right about this her entire life. She always saw herself. As a student. She was always trying to read more learn more and she was one of the great thinkers of that age. And so she read the book. 12 years of slave. Anyone see the movie it came out a few few years ago that the true story. Of solomon northup. And. As she read the story. She began thinking about what it was what was the underpinning. Stat caps. This industry this slave industry. Going. And. She spoke out about this. She. Critique. The capitalism. That gave this its power. She wrote these words all those years ago but think about. What we struggle with now i struggle with it. I know that many of you do which is. Where are clothes coming from. Our ipad. Who was it that put who who made that who put that together what is happening in indonesia and china for us to get these things. She wrote these words. How can we pamper our appetites upon luxuries withdrawn from reluctant fingers. How could slavery exist long if it did not sit on a commercial throne. Oh friend beneath the most delicate preparations of the cane. Became chairs. Can you not see the stinging lash and clotted whip. I have reason to be thankful that i am able to give a little more for a free labor dress if it is coarser. I can thank god that upon its warp and woof i see no stain of blood and tears that to procure a little finer muslin for my limbs no crushed and broken heart went out in size and that from the field where it was raised went up no wild and startling cry upon the throne of god to witness there in language deep and strong that in demanding that cotton. I was nerving. Oppressions hands for deeds. Of guilt. Still speaks today. As i said. She made friends with other leaders in the abolition. Movement. And it's interesting you can find now like reviews of her as an orator because in the same way we were view movies or tv shows now they would do that with people on the lecture circuit. And invariably someone in praising her would talk about. Her dignity. And her lady likeness her sweets woman's voice. But in no way should that make you think that she was not a radical she was a radical and she supported. Radicals notably john brown. John brown who he and his men had gone to harpers ferry to try to get. Guns. To give to those who were enslaved so that they could resist. And as many of you know he was caught he and his men there was a very quick trial and he was sentenced to death. As that was happening. Francis went and stayed with his wife. Mary. Trying to. Console her. During those dark days and. Gave her money and then once she had to go back on the lecture circuit would continue. To send to mary brown money. She wrote a letter to john brown. And managed to get. It smuggled into him in prison. In which she thanked him. For the work that he had done. And promised him. That she would continue. To look in on. She wanted to be. Hawaii. It must have been lonely. Doing this work. That she did and then and for all of her life. She had to exist in attention because. She was moving in what was primarily a world of white abolitionist. In fact the woman who was hired to travel with her was a white woman and she said all she was very lovely and she appreciated these white abolitionist for the work that they were doing. And. Has she wrote. To william still. She miss. Her own people. She met a man. And got married. At the age of. 35 benton harbor. And he was a widower with. Three children. And so she did what many women did at that time she went off of the lecture circuit she did continue riding and the little bit of savings that she had she invested all in it and buying a farm for their family she had a little girl at a daughter mary. And for the most part she just stayed home in domestic life. She made butter. She she made and sold butter that was her way of bringing money into the family. But in less than 4 years. Benton.. And the laws were such at that time that when he died and it was discovered that he had been in great debt. That the administrator of his estate came in. And took everything. Everything. She said the only thing that was left to her was a looking-glass took the farm took all of her belongings even took the butter churn so she no longer even haddaway. To try and support her family. So. He was back onto the lecture circuit. And now in this very life-and-death sort of way she had had an experience. Of oppression this time for her gender. And so she became aligned with the women's rights. Movement. And became. Close friends with the leaders of it like elizabeth cady stanton and susan b anthony. And. She still. Spoke. The hard truth. That needed. To be spoken. In 1866. She sat. On the stage. With these two women they were there to address the 11th national women's rights. Convention and so. I want you to. To imagine this right. She is there and women's rights at that time all of the focus was on getting the vote. She had. Some different experiences. At this time especially for black men. Being lynched. Was just rampant and was that without any consequence. And so she stood up at this convention. Probably looking mostly at white faces. This was 1866. First she spoke about how different. The experience would have been for her husband if it had been she who died that's all of his stuff would not have been taken away like that and she said justice is not fulfilled so long as woman is unequal before the law. We are all bound together in one great bundle of humanity and society cannot trample on the weakest and feeblest of its members without receiving the curse in its own soul. And then. She got into some critique. Of the organization in which. She stood. And she did not hold back. I do not believe that giving the women the ballot is immediately going to cure all the ills of life. I do not believe that white women are dewdrops just exhaled from the skies. I think that like men they may be divided into three classes the good the bad and the indifferent. You white women speak here of rights i speak of wrongs i as a colored woman have had in this country and education which has made me feel as if i were in a situation of ishmael my hand against every man and every man's hand against me. Let me know tomorrow. And let me take my seed in one of your streetcars i do not know that they will do it in new york but they will in philadelphia the conductor will put up his hand and stop the car rather than let me ride. Talk of giving women the ballot box. Go on. The white women of this country needed. Wild bear exist this brutal elements in society which tramples upon the feeble and treads down the week. I tell you. That if there is any class of people. Who need to be lifted out of their airy nothing. And selfishness. It is the white women of america. That'll preach. And what my fellow white sisters. It will still. Preach. Today. Feminism has never brought in to itself the inclusivity. But it always should have end today when we stand and we fight for our rights if we do not do this with full and equal voices. Ivar sisters of color and transgender women. Then we need to go back. And read this speech. As i was reading so many of the writing. A frances ellen watkins harper. It was as if i could feel her sitting next to me and going are you kidding me. What this is still an issue. We've got work to do. So the war ended. And people who had been enslaved. Now had their freedom so what next will it 1870. Frances moved in and settled in but continued. To go around on both on the lecture circuit but now it was even expanded because she was going into the south. And often she would be speaking two or three times a day because she would be going into african-american churches and african-american homes and talking to the people about what were the next steps. She had a reconstructionist vision. And so she was trying to pull all people into making this vision come true helping get education for those who had been enslaved and helping to do the hard real work. That a real reconstruction. Would require. During all of this time. She continued being in relationship with the women's rights. Movement. And supporting them. And speaking power. To them. In 1893. I was the chicago world's fair. And they also had this thing called the women's congress to speak about these issues of that women were dealing with and of course still trying to get the right to vote. And at. .. Congress. She called out. The leaders of feminism. For not including the black suffragist. In what it was that they were doing. Because it really was shameful you know in other ways like stanton and anthony. They are heroes of mine. But we also have to look. At. The ugliness that happened those tooth they wrote a book. About the history of the suffrage movement. Not including the contribution. Of their black sisters. I'm so she called them out for this. I'm 3 years later she and other black women started the national association for colored women realizing that constantly being in this battle where they would work with. The men who wanted to get the vote for the black men who would tell them i'll just wait your turn will come later and the white women who were trying to get their vote just wait your time will come later and they realized they needed their own organization and she helped begin it and serve. As their first. Vice pres. In her older years. She. Still did some lectures but devoted more time to writing. She has written. Books & books of poetry. And of novels and by the way you can get them now just get on the miracles of modern technology they're free. You can get them on your kindle you can download them. On your computer and they still. Speak to us. Now. And she had there there's one book. That she had that i particularly recommend it's a very. Simple easy read. And it was written in 1888 it's called trial and. Triumph. And she did what many of the riders who were also progressives. Did at that time she wrote a novel but in the novel she laid out a vision. She laid out her vision of how. Progress could happen. Through moral development and education and altruism and racial pride. She did continue lecturing especially on this whole issue of. Anti-lynching. In 1911. She died. 9 years before women were given the constitutional right to vote and of course so many many years before black women in the south. Could ever votes. The more i read. And learn about her. The mort. Completely in awe. I am. Of her. She did so many things and she was ahead of her time and she did things. Her way. When she talks about you know the trolley cars. Years before rosa parks. She refused. To go. Where. Her black. Brothers and sisters were supposed to go. She would not allow them to move her. She became a unitarian. Joining the first unitarian church of philadelphia and at the same time maintained her ties with mother bethel african methodist episcopal. Church. She really did do her things. Her way. And she was so. Ahead of her time. She wrote. Poetry. Talking about the sexual double standard this was in the 1800's. She was talking about intersectionality 100 years. Before the actual term was evercoin. She was talking about capitalism and its role in depression. And she was talking about the need and the cause for black pride to people. Who they named themselves. Had been enslaved. She was a visionary prophet but see here's the thing. With visionary prophet. We usually don't like them. In their own time. We have to wait many years later before we can finally grasp. The wisdom that they were sharing with us in so it's probably not surprising that. Francis. Her life was a sermon. Her life. And her writings just sort of faded into obscurity. And it's only in the last few decades. The scholars began looking in finding these writings and putting them out there and telling this the story of. Her life. In 1992. A group of black unitarian universalist. Wanted to put up a grave marker. For her it was believed that she had none. And when they did this there's is that kind of triangular when there. But this one in the foreground. When they were working with the cemetery to put up this new when they discovered that her gravestone was still there. It had somehow fallen. And grass had grown over it. Which is kind of a fitting metaphor. For what happened to the stories about her. But it is up right now. And we have access to her wisdom now whenever we talk with pride. About the visionary profits of unitarianism and universalism. We should always have at the top of that list. Francis. Ellen. Watkins.

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2017-09-10-TheWatersThatBringUsHome.mp3

Welcome to the life of get itarian universalist church podcast. Visit ever the 10th 2017. Today's service is the waters that bring us home. The river joanna fontaine crawford.

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2019-01-20-TheRockStarInstinct.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast. January 20th. 2019. This week's service is the rockstar instinct. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning. Comes from the last sermon that martin luther king jr gave at his home congregation of ebenezer baptist. And it's titled the drum major. There is deep down within all of us an instinct it is a kind of drum major instinct. A desire to be out front a desire to lead the parade a desire to be first. And it is something that runs the whole gamut of life. Let us see that we all have. The drum major instinct we all want to be important to surpass others. To achieve distinction to lead the parade. Alfred adler the great psychoanalyst contends that this is the dominant impulse. This quest. For recognition this desire for attention the desire for distinction is the basic impulse the basic drive of human life. This drum major. How'd you know we begin early to ask life to put us first. Our first cry is a baby was a bid for attention. At all through childhood the drum major impulse or instinct. Is a major obsession. Children ask life to grant them first place they are a little bundle of ego and they have innate lead the drum major impulse. Or the drum major instinct. Now an adult life. We still have it. And we never really get by it. We like to do something good and you know we like to be praised for it. Now if you don't believe that you just go on living life and you will discover very soon. That you like. To be praised everybody likes it as a matter of fact and somehow this warm glow we feel when we are praised or when our name is in print is something of the vitamin a to our ego. Nobody is unhappy when they are praised even if they know they don't deserve it and even if they don't believe it. You only unhappy people about praise and is when the praises going too much towards somebody else. But everybody likes. Appraised. Because of this real. Drum major. Instinct. So tomorrow is martin luther king jr.. The words of martin luther king jr. are frequently. Taken out of context. They're incomplete. And that's because we are a society. That is dominated by whiteness and buy white concerns. And so we will lift up some of the poetry will lift up the parts about i have a dream and we'll kind of ignore that part where m.l.k. talked about his disappointment. With the white moderate. And will often re-quote that part about how hate is too great a burden to bear. But we leave out that part about how riots. Are the voice of the unheard. I'm so perhaps it's not surprising. That win finally the mlk memorial. In washington d.c. was unveiled. That at the base of it. Werewords. That were taken. Out of context. I'm literally carved into stone. This mistake wound up having a $1000000. Price tag. When they were. The pressure was put upon the makers to remove them and the words at the bottom of the memorial were taken from the sermon that are reading was taken from the drum major instinct. I thought the base of the memorial it said i was a drum major for justice. 4 piece. For righteousness. At the time of the unveiling. Poet maya angelou said that that made king sound like. Quote an arrogant. Quit. Which he was not. Everyone who knew him said this was a man of deep. Humility. The actual sermon. The drum major instinct. You can still listen to it today or read it but i really i'm going to post the links to both the audio file and the written file if you do read it like read it while you're listening to. This is why you need to listen to. Because. It is probably one of king's most. Castrol not prophetic. Castor oil. Sermons he was talking to the people who were in those pews about things that concerned their lives and 75%. Of this sermon on the drum major instinct. Was in dieting was criticizing. The drum major instinct. He pointed to that instinct as being what has caused so many personal and societal ills. You said that drum major instinct. That's what causes us to do things like buy homes. And cars. That aren't that we can't afford. Because we want to keep up with the joneses. That drum major instinct because it's an urge to be first. Or to be on top. It can be destructive. When it leads to having to have other people right if you're going to be first then there's got to be people behind you. If you're going to be on top there half. People below you and so that same drive. Can lead us to meanness. Two as he said malicious gossip. That instinct that drama major instinct. Can we. Criminal acts. It can leave. Classism. He referred to that as snobbish exclusivism. When we want to feel that we are better than someone else because of our education. Or because of our wealth or where we live. And of course. That sort of drum major instinct. Is what is underneath. Racist. Because. People want to feel superior. To someone else. And he talked about when he was in the birmingham. Jail. And how the warden's wanted to come down over those days and engage him in conversation they would come down and try and explain to him why segregation really was good and why intermarriage really was bad. Because for those who were not alive at that time that was always kind of the bogeyman that was lifted up of why it was so important. The hashtag rogation. Because otherwise people of different races would get to know each other and they might fall in love and they might get married. He said on about the third day. The wardens came to him with all of this talk again. And they were actually having they were engaging and dialogues. And so he asked them he's he wanted to know like where they live. How much money they make. And i shared that with him. And he says that he left. And he said you guys should be out there marching with us your you know you're you are supporting your oppressors. Simply because you want to feel. Superior. To someone else. That's how this racism. In today's time. I think that we could take that idea of the drum major instinct and for us. We would call it the rockstar. Instinct. Everyone can be a rockstar nowadays you don't even have to be musical. And that is not a critique of modern music. Like that's what music doesn't even have anything to do with it this. We have this. Cultural. Vsauce. Around being a rockstar being known and being known as cool. I did a little research this week and i googled and i encourage you to do this. Not right now. And. So here's what i googled i google. Rockstar of the. And then world. And google filled in that blank so these are these are all articles. Talking about someone who was the rock star of the blank world. Rock star of the art world rockstar of the culinary world rockstar of the wine world. Rockstar of the business world of the biotech world of the sewing world of the psychology world of the classics world of the plant breeding world. Rockstar of the euthanasia movement. Rockstar of the submarine world of the foreign policy world of the cybersecurity world of the dive world. Rockstar of the catholic nun world. And i think this one was my favorite rock star of the soybean world. Why don't you. What what's that like if you're talking to that person or if you are that person at a cocktail party right like. So what are you do well. I don't want to but i have been referred to as the rockstar of the soybean world. Thanks i'm going to be right over here. I've even heard some uu ministers referred to as rockstar and i am here to tell you that maybe the most ridiculous one yet. Where the people that the tracking keep speed up. But. It is still a part. Of our culture. This whole thing of wanting to be a rockstar and mail unlike. And reverend kings time. There are so many avenues so many vehicles. For being a rockstar for getting attention because now we have 24-hour cable and radio and of course the internet and social media youtube. And so there's all these different ways that you can in your own little area. Become a rockstar i have teenage girls in my house and so i kept hearing about jenna marbles. Jenna marbles this jenna marbles. for those of you who. Are my age or older and have no idea what i'm talking about so youtubers. Youtube stars are a theme. Because nowadays you have a smartphone which has a video camera in it and anyone can get their own youtube account their own youtube channel and so you can be what we older folks would have called a tv star. On youtube and there are. Youtube. Stars. People go out. And get to see them live. Huge fans. All of this this ability to self promote. To self express your yourself in a much louder way everyone has a bigger microphone. I think. I think it's. I think it's terrific. What an opportunity that we have now. The doctor king. What can you do with this. And i love it. For being able to watch the people who are doing something with that which includes many of you. Each of us. Is a story. And with things like facebook i love facebook. I know y'all are shot shocked i tell you. I love facebook. Because i get to read your story. While it's happening. We have a a member of our congregation who is part of the silent generation while he is silent no more and he has been sharing his stories and his memories of growing up and things have happened during his lifetime some of them have been funny some of them have been serious. How to read those stories. Right now i get to ask the book. Questions about that. When we have a youth. Who gets their letter from hogwarts. And their mom cheryl shares a video of it with his consent i did verify that. On facebook. I get to watch. It happening. Right then. We have all of these different ways. To share our stories but also to share. What is important. To us. In the drum major instinct. About three-quarters of the way through. Reverend king. Hibbets. And he says yes that drum major instinct can be. So destructive. But we all have it. And so if we all have it how can we use that instinct. For good. He says we all want to be great. Okay. So what are you going to be great. Can you be great. At love. Can you be great at standing up against bullies. And then. Reverend king. Effectively delivers his own eulogy. He says. If you happen to be there. Whenever they have my funeral whenever i die and they have my funeral. Don't. Don't let them talk. About. My education. What schools i went to don't let them talk about the awards. That i have one. I want them to talk about what i tried to do you tell them that martin luther. King junior. Really tried. To serve this world. Really tried to love somebody. Really tried to feed the poor and clothe the naked. And then he says. So if you want. Call me a drum major. Say that i was a drum major. For justice. Say that i was a drum major for peace. Say that i was a drum major. For righteous. So if you're going to be a rockstar. Here's my challenge to you. Very specific. Figure out. What your top five core values are. What are the five core values that you have. That also or something that the world needs. You're going to be a rockstar be a rockstar. At those. Because the world has a lot of needs right now. Figure out how you are going to rock. These values how you're going to be a rockstar. For nurturing masculinity. How you're going to be a rockstar for dismantling white supremacy. How you're going to be a rockstar for giving up unearned privilege. Right now we need rockstars. Of kindness. We need rockstar's of humility. We need rock stars who are willing. To listen. To champion love. And to work. 4 piece. Each one of us. Can be a rockstar we have more. Tools at our disposal. Then we ever have. And you get to be the rock star of your own life even those of you who never would get on social media or youtube or anything else you still have your own particular. Spheres of influence. And you can be famous. You can have a reputation. Within those spheres. So what exactly is it. That you're going to rock.

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2019-12-22-YesSheKnewMaryAndTheMagnificat.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For december 22nd. 2019. This week's service is. Yes she knew. Mary and the magnificat. I rev joanna fontaine cross. A reading today is the poem annunciation. By denise levertov. We know this scene. The room variously furnish almost always elector in a book always the tall lily. Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings the angelic ambassador standing or hovering home she acknowledges. I guess. But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentions. Courage. The engendering spirit did not enter her without consent. God waited. She was free. To accept or to refuse. Choice integral to humanness. Aren't there annunciations in one sort or another in most lives. Someone willingly undertake great destiny. Enact them installing pride on comprehending. More often those moments when roads of light and storm open from darkness in a person. Are turned away from. In dread. In a wave of weakness and despair. Hand with relief. Ordinary live. Continue. God does not smite them. But the gates closed. The pathway banishes. She had been a child who played eight slept like any other child but unlike others. Wept only for pity. Last enjoy not triumph. Compassion and intelligence fused in her indivisible. Call to a destiny more momentous than any in all of time she did not quail. Only asked a simple. How can this be. And gravely. Courteously. Took that to heart the angels reply. The astounding ministry she was offered. The bear in her womb. Infinite waiting lightning. Decarie in hidden finite inwardness nine months of eternity. To contain in slender vase of being the sum of power. And narrow flush the sum of light. Didn't bring to birth. Push out into are a man-child needing like any other milk and love. This was the moment. No one speaks up. When she could still refuse. A breath and breathe. Spirit suspended. Waiting. She did not cry i cannot i am not worthy nor i have not the strength. She did not submit with gritted teeth raging coerced. Bravest of all humans. Consent. Illuminator. The room filled with a slight the lily glowed in it. And the iridescent wings. Consent. Courage. Unparalleled. Opened her utterly. Humankind. Creates legends. As a way to explain the world around us try to make sense of the world around us. And to articulate a vision. Of how a better world. And we have done this since the beginning of time. Sometimes the legends are created whole cloth. From the imagination. Other time so it's more like those crime dramas where they'll put the little thing that says inspired by real-life events or real life people. Even for the modern events that can sometimes be a challenge to try and figure out what are the facts and what came from someone's imagination. With the ancient legends it is virtually impossible. About to try and figure out. What are the facts of a legend. Is to miss the whole point of a legend. We look at a legend seeking not fax. But some deeper timeless truth. You don't have to believe that king arthur and his knights were based on anyone actually existed. To see the idea the philosophy of a round table. Where leaders would all come together and be treated as equals. You don't have to believe that robin hood was ever existed or based was even based on someone. Distill. Get. The deeper meaning. That. If systems of oppression exist. That sometimes the only way that we can create justice in the world is to go outside of those systems and indeed even outside of the law. We're still struggling with that one. Stories are powerful. But i think what may be even more powerful are the storytellers. The people who retell the stories and emphasize certain things or minimize other things simply by doing that you can change the deeper truth that is being revealed from one lesson to another lesson. Humanity loves heroes and storytellers are part of promoting the story of heroes but. Heroes can be dangerous. Heroes can give the rest of us. The idea that maybe we too. Can change the world. I'm so often those who are in power are the ones who most try to take down the heroes. Strip them of their power. Sometimes that is done very directly. We still see it happening today depending on what news channel you watched what is maximized in a gyro what is minimized in a gyro. But often if we look at history. The most effective way. Ups tripping power. From a hero. Is to turn them into a saint. To make them perfect. Not controversial. Take away anything that is dangerous about the. We see this every single year on mlk day. Right. We talked about martin luther king jr.. And voices will lift up over and over again. His dream. But they ignore the things that king said where he criticized capitalism. And war. And greed. And hunger. So this is another way that we can strip. The dangerous power. That a hero has. And i think perhaps the most quintessential example of this is one that we made a literal saints. Mary. Mother of jesus. Even if you did not grow up christian i'm willing to bet that if you grew up in the united states or in the western world that you are familiar with the story of mary or you are familiar with a. Story of mary you have a picture of who she was in your mind. And you have adjectives that go along with her. Right. Quiet. Meek. Mild loving. A source of comfort. But probably not dangerous. The thing with legends. Is we can go back. To the earliest. Writings about the legend. And examine them. I put them in the context of their time. Define doubt okay. What were the people of that time when they were creating this legend. What was the character. That they were trying to create here. What were the deeper lesson. That they were trying to create. Simeri's story as you heard in the big idea began before she began. She had two parents joachim and ann who were righteous people. And you don't. Hear anything about that in the christian canon. But this is the other thing with legends sometimes we're lucky and there are multiple places that we can go to to get information about a legend. And with mary this is the case. Because we can go both to the stories that were in the canon the accepted canon of christianity. There is also a lot of apocrypha written about her that in the catholic church is still drawn on. And. The quran. There is only one. Woman. Who is name. And all of the quran. It is mary. She's a significant part. Of islam she and her family and her family joachim's family is lifted up as being parallel to abraham as being one of the families that was most favored. By god. So when we look at all of these different legends we can piece together a story that maybe a little different than the one we have always heard. So she had. Her parents. And this is you know it's it's kind of a biblical trope. The couple who can't have a baby. And what is important for the context. I'm desk is the understand that at that time girl babies held no value. Alright. There's even a story about joachim going to a religious service. And the other men turning on him. And saying you have no right to be here because you have not provided a son of israel. And he and ann. Slinking away. And then an angel comes to them. The angel says. You're going to have. A baby and it's going to be even better than a boy. That's what they say. I can't think of the contacts at this time. The riders were already pushing against the sexism of that time. Angel said you're going to have a baby girl and she is going to be a. Holy person. She is going to be filled with the holy spirit. And generations will always remember her. Samaire is born and on her first birthday. Joachim throws a big feast and invites all of the priest. And the priest come to it and they have also been getting these messages that this is a very special child and they give a special blessing to her and they say your name will be magnified. Through all of the generations. When she is 3 years old. And this for those who know the story of reincarnated leaders and other religion dalai lama this may sound a little familiar when she's three years old they take her and present her to the temple. And it is said that there when she arrived she was so happy she danced with joy. And that all of the priests and everyone who was there in the temple loved. And were felt blessed themselves to have her. And then she continues to do what those who are training for holy work. Do. She prays. She reads there's numerous art pieces of her reading. The scriptures. Seeing what the prophecies were. She prays she fast. And she is visited by angels. This becomes just kind of a normal event for her. As you find in mini stories of mystics of religious mystics throughout history. Chi. Becomes a teenager. And so the priests began praying. Wondering what is going to be the next step for this holy leader what what is she going to be called to do. And they are told to gather all of the widowers who are descended from the line of david. And ask them to come together. Because she is a teenage girl and living in that society she is going to need protection. And they asked them to all bring their staff the walking staff that you so often will see men of that time picture. They all come together the men present their staffs. Nothing happens. Very last man to come. Was a much older man. Joseph. He presents his. And as the prophecy foretold. It blossoms and a dove flies from it and lands on. And that is their sign. And so mary and joseph. Arbitro. There are different. Versions of what happens next as she go and live at joseph's house while they're still betrothed and he goes elsewhere does she go back to her parents. But. It is away from the temple where an angel comes to her the angel gabriel and this. I'm sure you probably heard this part. And the angel gabriel. Comes to her and in the quran it even says. She was not. Surprised or shocked. Or anything like that because. Angels have been coming to her her entire life. The angel gabriel kneels down before her kneels down to her. And says the words that many of us have heard. Hail mary. Full of grace. The lord is with thee. Which meant the lord is with. Her she is closer to god than the angel is. And so. The angel goes down on the knee. And. Ask her. To do this ministry. To do this calling of. Bearing and raising. Someone who will become a great teacher and a great leader. Which was more aligned with how people understood messiah. At that time. And she says. I have been preparing. To serve god my entire life. Yes. I will do this. After she has become pregnant. She walks and people estimate this to be 80 miles. A pregnant teen walking a mi let me just emphasize that. To see her cousin elizabeth who is also pregnant. Who is bearing the child that will become john the baptist. And she stays there for about 3 months. And while she is there. She seems a hymn. That we all now call. The magnificat. This is actually this is not from the apocrypha or for the. From the quran this is actually in the accepted christian cannon. And yet. If you grew up evangelical. You may have not heard very much about this. This is another part of her story that yes it's out there but it has often been minimized. And frankly. For good reason. This is a song that is it is a a hymn of praise. To god but even more than that. It is a prophecy. And it is a revolutionary statement. Remember. Teenage girl. At a time when girls. Held no value. In their society. She sings my soul magnifies. The lord that's why it's called the magnificat. Magnify. You might have thought perhaps that. God being. You know god that god doesn't need to be magnified. What an audacious thing for her to save my soul magnifies the lord. And my spirit rejoices in god my savior for he is looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold. From now on all generations. Will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name and then here. Here's where she gets into revolution. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. He has filled the hungry with good things. And the rich. He has sent away empty. He has helped his servant israel in remembrance of his mercy as he spoke to our fathers to abraham and to his offspring forever. She's talking about. Taking down the rich. She's talking about taking down the powerful but the tyrant. Dietrich bonhoeffer. Who was the german theologian who was put to death by the nazis. Wrote the song of mary is the oldest advent hymn. It is at once the most passionate. The wildest some might even say the most revolutionary advent him ever song. This is not the gentle tender dreamy mary whom we sometimes seeing paintings. The song has none of the sweet nostalgic or even playful tones of some of our christmas carol. It is instead a hard strong an extra ball song about the power of god and the powerlessness of humankind. Oscar romero the assassinated archduke el salvador who fought against. That country's oppressive regime. They say that every day of his priestly life. He would recite. This song. This prayer. A powerful man. Reciting the poem. Have a teenage girl. A l. Then and now. We're paying attention. The magnificat again i'm going to emphasize this this is actually in. The bible the christian scriptures. In. Argentina. And guatemala. An india when it was under british rule. They band. The magnificat. From being recited. In liturgy or out. In the public. That is how powerful. This song is. Mary did you know. Please child. I was raised to be a holy person. I knew i even wrote a song about it. How different. Might the world have been. If this had been the story that was emphasized. If we had taught teenage girls to use their prophetic voices. Then and now. There are still forces. That try to silence. Those voices. Whether it has been joan of arc. Or anne frank. Or malala. Or greta thunberg. Or marry. Teenage girls. Are powerful. Teenage girls are prophets. And it would probably do us well. To listen to them. They probably know things. That we should hear.

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2018-02-11_SowingAcornsofLove.mp3

You're listening to the podcast. Unitarian. Live oak uu.. Play sermon sowing acorns of love. Is given by renowned reverend joanne fontaine crawford. So y'all know as unitarian universalist we look for wisdom wherever we can find it including in the the written text of the religions of the world. And our big idea today comes from a christian text and it is a parable. Can anyone tell me what a parable is. Yes miss alyssa. Whew it's an earthly story with a heavenly meaning gulfstar. It's a story that has some deeper meaning under it. And in the christian scriptures you'll find a lot of these because apparently jesus was fond of telling parables and some of his parables like you here i mean you're like okay i know exactly what they mean and some of them are more kind of like zen koans wear. Different people have different understandings of what it means and this is one of them and so those of you who grew up in a christian church you may have heard this story having a very specific meaning i'd like you to put that out to the side and then concentrate on the actual story. So this is the parable of the sower. And the story is that there was a farmer. And the farmer took some seeds. And he's sold them out in the fields. But some of the seeds fell between the rows and they were eaten by birds. Some of the seeds fell into the ground but the ground was was rocky and and there was very little sorrel and so even though a shoot came up at quickly withered and died cuz there was no room for its its roots to go anywhere. And some of the seeds fell among thorns and so they started trying to grow but then the thorns and the weeds choked them out and so they couldn't really grow and they died. But then there were some seeds that deadfall on fertile ground and they were able to go into the deep rich soil and and rain came and made it all wet and then the sun came out and warmed it and so they were able to grow. And they were able to have nice lush fields. I'm not in the parable. So any anyone want to say something that they think like is the deeper meaning of this. Anyone anyone feeling brave today. Okay then i'm done. Oh okay yes. You lose nothing by trying right. So just kind of sit with that it cuz that's going to be our big idea of the whole service today and you can go back to your seats. Do we have two readings. This morning the first was written by universalist theologian clarence skinner this was written back in 1915. This is from the social implications of universalism. How to transform this old earth into the kingdom of heaven. That's the primal question. For thousands of years sad-eyed people have looked upon this war-wracked and greed broken world yearning to gather it into their great healing love. Many have days with amazement at the sorrow and misery of humanity and have wondered. Some have climbed into the high places searching the heavens for an answer others have gone down into the deep places for the secret. Prophets have caught adarius vision their eyes have been lighted by many and devious enthusiasms which have sent them into the world to labor into serve. The new passion for humanity. Comes not to destroy but to fulfill. Your promise is not less religion but a religion more complete it is not a problem of subtraction but of addition or multiplication it is the expansion of the ideal values of religion into all social values. It seizes upon the vast mechanism of civilizations resources and spiritualize has them into terms of larger hope. Deeper faith. And more transforming love. With such enlargement of the function of religion. With such enrichment of the personal life universalism is a lie. Sporto passion is to bring the human soul into the realization of all of the potentiality until it attains the stature of the perfect human. To that divinely human end it unfolds before our vision the unities the eternities and the universals and bids us live in conscious communion with them. And our second reading today is very short this is buy another universalist the poet edwin markham. He drew a circle that shut me out. Heretic. Rebel. A thing to flout. But love and i had the wit to win. We drew a circle that took him in. So we got a holiday coming this week. Day after tomorrow. Had a couple of holidays coming this way. But the holiday that's coming up day after tomorrow anyone know what that is. Mardi gras fat tuesday listen to bon ton roulet. New orleans. Has so many lessons i love new orleans i love new orleans has so many lessons for the world. Right now though i think that the biggest lesson that all of us should be learning from. Is the fact that they have this tradition of. Joy of embracing joy and celebrating even when times are bad. Understand that often when times are bad that's when you most need the happiness in the parades and the joy and the fun. My colleague the reverend melanie moral ensminger has this on at the bottom of all of her emails she's. A new orleanian. And this is by alan malone. This is the home of mardi gras. It is said about us that if a neutron bomb were to be dropped at the exact geographical center of our city and if that bomb killed everyone except for to new orleans. One of them would eventually be out on the street parading and the other one would be sitting on the sidewalk watching. We need those celebrations most. During hard times we need to be able to remember what is important to us and to put it out there. Right now. There are a lot of people. A lot of us. Who feel that. We're in some bad times. We're seeing hatred just out in the open not even trying to hide marching in the streets. We're just seen such meanness i mean like things already been being couched in polite you know subtle ways i guess we should kind of be grateful right it's just out there right. In front. You know there's a couple of books so it's a dystopian series that was written back in the 80s or talked about him before written by octavia butler's parable of the sower and parable of the talents he's written in the 80s and. Even if dystopia syfy things like that or not normally your genre that you enjoy i highly encourage you. To read these books they are. In some ways. Eerily prescient. For instance there is someone who becomes president who runs on a campaign of bigotry. He is supported by the religious right. And his campaign theme no lie. Is make america great again. Read these books written in the 80s written in the 80s. The first book parable of the sower which draws in that story that i told earlier. In this dystopian world arson is a huge problem for many different reasons and. Butler rights people are setting fires to get rid of whomever they dislike from personal enemies to anyone who looks or sounds foreign or racially different. People are setting fires because they're frustrated angry hopeless. They have no power to improve their lives. But they have the power to make others even more miserable. And the only way to prove to yourself that you have power. Is to use it. There are. Firestarters of a different. Sort right now people who. Like to just get out there and and stirrup meanness. And nowadays. In this internet age we call them trolls. Now if your understanding of trolls is was shaped by you know billy goats gruff or. Or dora the explorer. I'm the grumpy old troll who lives under the. All the parents who raised kids at a certain age are going anxious now put that song in my head for the rest of the day. But in this internet age what trolls refers to. Are the people who get online you often find them in the comments of new stories that's why we often say don't read the comments. And their goal is not to push a particular message or to try and shape your thoughts. They have a singular goal and its to stir people up. To start fires figuratively to start fights. Push more meanness out there. And up until a couple of years ago these trolls were. Organic. Immature like they didn't just you know they were being paid or anything they did it just to try and and you know how that have that power that she talks about try and stir up things. But we come to realize is that the last couple of years the field has gone pro. And there are now people who are being paid. To do this and specifically we have traces back and found that in russia there are russian internet trolls that are paid to try and stir us up. And a research paper came out just here recently where they went into this. You don't have to actually read that from where you are this is just too. This is just to prove to you this is a scholarly paper that i'm talking about. I can send you the link. I did all kinds of research. And what you do in research when your is your you try to narrow things down so that you can learn and so that you can make conclusions from them. I'm so what they did is they started focusing on twitter. And first we already know there are certain accounts that that have been proven that these are russian accounts cuz you think you can do that you can find out where accounts are coming from. And they are not pretending to be are they are not portraying themselves as russians they're portraying themselves as normal americans. One of the accounts that that was used the most is the name krystal johnson does not just sound like right normal american no it was not. So first in this research study they isolated out so they could focus on them these known russian troll accounts and then they started following what they were doing and for the sake of this study. They decided to focus on. The tweets that were about black lives matter bluelivesmatter police brutality because right now this is one of the most divisive issues in the united states. So they again they're putting all of this together they're looking at the russian troll accounts that were tweeting on this subject. And what they discovered is that these russian accounts perhaps you've had the perception that this was only happening on one side of the political spectrum no no not at all. This is a cluster graph that they did about these accounts as you can see left. Left-leaning and right-leaning in fat. A little more on the left. Then what they looked at. Word the retweets. Because and those of you who don't do social media hanging with me because this affects you too. A retweet is where the power lies. I think most of us understand that because we understand how gossip works right if you if if one person says i think the minister is stealing paper clips. I actually kind of hate paperclip so this is a safe except one person says that in a healthy system nothing happens but if you have an unhealthy system than that one person says it to two people and those two people say it to two people and on and on and on right we bought like since middle school we understood how this dynamic works so they looked at the retweets. Because retweets are where. Things began being influenced. And so they looked at the retweets and then they tracked them back to the original tweet. And what they discovered. Is that orange. See these are all the retweets. Does orange areas fair. Those are the ones that were started by the russian trolls. If you are looking closer and going it seems like there's more of those on the left-leaning side. There are. And in fact that the writers of this study one of their conclusions was that the russian trolls had had greater success at infiltrating the left. Then they did. The right. And this affects all of us because then this gets moved to facebook it comes out in the news that comes out in our conversations but here's the thing. This wasn't about just trying to shape certain messages trying to play upon our our tendency for confirmation bias. Here's what one of the writers of the study said. She said in other words there are paid trolls sitting side-by-side somewhere in st peter petersburg. Hate quoting each other's troll account helping to shape divisive attitudes in the us among actual americans who think of the other side is a caricature of it of itself. Let me unpack that a little bit so what was happening was. Those two russians who are sitting side-by-side and one is going to pretend to be right-leaning and one is going to pretend to be left-leaning. The right-leaning one. Post something as as in their portrayal of the write something completely hateful and ridiculous. The left-leaning person then picks that up. And retweets it as a way to say look at how hateful and ridiculous they are. See what i'm saying. They were doing this on both sides. Their goal. Was to make us meaner. This wasn't just to shape some sort of. Philosophical ideas. This was to shape how we see each other. To make us look at each other with more hate. And more meanness. Within unitarian universalist whether we are atheist or theist will often talk about whether there's a power in seeing god as a metaphor. We really don't talk about that like on the other side the whole devil and hell thing is just not part of our theology. But maybe in cases like this. We should consider. Using that as a metaphor. Because it's very clear. That there is a very powerful force not otherworldly not supernatural completely human and yet demonic. That is working in us to try and make us less of who we are. This is a force that is trying to take. Parts of our soul and so you know maybe if we make it a metaphor. Then we can identify it both when we see it or when we recognize it in our self. And we can. In the words of bianca. From rupaul's drag race. Say. Not today satan not today. Mardi gras is. Next week which means ash wednesday is the following day yes ash wednesday and and valentine's day at the same time. Ash wednesday is not the illogically a part of our tradition even back when unitarian-universalism when both sides were still explicitly christian which we no longer are even then this was not part of our tradition because it's based on a theology of substitutionary atonement. This idea that jesus died so that you wouldn't go to hell right that's never been a part of our theology. But the broader community the broader world including unitarian universalist. Even those who weren't christian have begun using lent every every year. As a time to focus on something about themselves give up something or have or add something in and it makes a lot of sense and i absolutely support this because it's good to have a. of time that is finite right there's an end to this to experiment with making ourselves better. So i am going to embark. On a lenten practice this year. And i invite you. Encourage you. To join me. My linton practice is going to be this. To give up meanness. And to spread love. The giving-up meanest. This is going to start. Internally. With our thoughts. And this is an idea that you find across the different religions the idea that it is important to pay attention to what we sink. Because those thoughts can become a habit and that habit can lead to actions we normally wouldn't want to do. I'm in the hebrew bible it says above all else guard your heart for everything you do flows from it and buddhism in the dhammapada says the light in heedfulness guardwell your thoughts. So what this means is that whenever we catch ourselves having one of those mean thoughts even if we don't articulate it to anyone else or act on it. We are going to stop ourselves and identify it. And try to not do that. Perhaps this sounds easy to you. Because you're already is saint i am not. I am not i started experimenting with this this past week. Oh my. This is not going to be easy. I had i genuinely had no idea how how just often you know just seen things on the internet seen pictures hearing things how i just instantly have. Amin thought. All the time. Going to be using the. of lent. Just stop.. Where to try to stop that. They say that. When we practice we change. And what i'm hoping to do is to change myself i'm hoping to go from a habit. An instinct towards mean judgy snarky. In 21 where my first. Instinct. Is instead. Loving. And generous. So that's the first part of this one pass out. A little present to everyone and a corn. Take one make sure they. Get all passed around here. So the reason why we get acorns i'm so glad you asked. Reason why you get acorns these are not these are craft acorns don't plant them that nothing will grow. Anthem here. Put it. Carried in your pocket. Maybe put it by your keys or your wallet so everyday when you start your day you go oh yeah that's right. Planting. Planted by your laptop planting. Planting acorns of love that's. That's the goal here. So the first part is this thing of thoughts and the second part. Is the more active role because right now. In this. This culture. Of meanness. It's not enough that we simply abstain from meanness. I think we need to take the extra stuff. And start trying to plant more kindness more love in the world at the end of 2016 right after the presidential election. This cartoon started going around the pasture i start going around again you have this very anxious looking creature who says why so optimistic about 2017 what do you think it will bring. A person who looks a little palmer or creature says i think it will bring flowers. Yes how come. Because i am planting flowers. What's plant flowers. That's also plant something that will last longer. Let's start planting. Trees. Planting trees of love. And yes just like in the story parable of the sower. Some of these acorns are going to fall onto dry ground and nothing will happen to them but i think. Rather some people listen to that story of a parable of the sower and they say okay so be really careful where you plant your seeds or in this case acorn. I say no cuz. At the end the result was the same which was the lush fields. Plants. Indiscriminately. Trusting that some of those are going to take route. I looked into live oaks cuz. We're live oak. And this was really interesting. Sunset live oaks will put out lots of acorns. Most of them will not take route but it only takes one acorn to make one tree. 1 live oak tree. When it is going through a fruitful.. Can drop. Can drop 50,000 acorns. In one year. So you're planting these. Is acorns of love and yeah a whole lot of them are. Nothing's going to happen. But all it takes is one to then have that ripple effect and i bet we all have a story about this a story where we were having a crummy day and like we went into a coffee shop or something. And someone. Smile. Or open the door. Or maybe even bought us a coffee. We couldn't help ourselves at that point. Our whole day changed and when we left that coffee shop it was not just with the coffee. It was with that acorn that had been planted inside us. And we just instinctively. Started paying it forward. How do we serve. Each other what are the different ways in which we can. Spread love. So that's the linton practice of learning to stop meanness in ourselves. I'm looking for opportunities to plant too so these acorns of love. That quote again. From butler. The only way to prove to yourself that you have power is to use it. You can use your power. 2. Set fires. Or you can use your power. To plant trees. Let's plant trees.

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2019-11-10-WhatEncouragementLooksLike.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For november 10th 2019. This week's service is. What encouragement looks like. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. So are reading comes from something discussed and written by bernard lumen bernard loomer was a unitarian theologian. Who wrote about process theology which contends as minister rob hardy's writes that the universe is always growing in size and complexity and as the universe grows so does god and so must we. Bloomer was a member of the first unitarian church of berkeley in on sundays would often lead thought-provoking theological conversation. After describing his vision of the complexity of creation. He often asked the group. What is the size of your soul. And often when he would talk about size or right about size. He would write it in all caps with dashes between it s dash i.. The dash 83 wanted to try and visually you know present this this expansiveness. In and he wrote in size is the measure. Buy size i mean the stature of a person's soul the range and depth of his love his capacity for relationship. I mean the volume of life you can take into your being and still maintain your integrity and individuality the intensity and variety of outlook you can entertain in the unity of your being without feeling defensive or insecure. I mean the strength of your spirit to encourage others to become free or development of their diversity and uniqueness. I mean the power to sustain more complex and enriching tension. I mean the magnanimity of concern. To provide conditions that enabled others. To increase instead. The finns are. One of the things. But i really love about this church. Is we're not afraid. 2. Have. Discussions about. Hard things. You're willing to go there were willing to struggle. Right now for instance in our adult face development classes we have one faith development class that is going deep. I'm with anti-racism. Including the racism within ourselves that we have absorbed often without even knowing it from our culture. We have another adult thing faith development class that is focused on death and dying. It started last week. And you know in our culture people often don't like to talk. About death or dying we want to pretend that that's something that happens somewhere out else in fact do you know the history of the word undertaker. That that's the usual families. Took care of of the body when someone died. And then as. We began outsourcing this the undertaker. Was the person who undertook. But the family didn't want to do. And i feel like often in our culture if we could undertake even thinking about it what you know and just off source that to someone else we would. But at this congregation we don't and. We wondered carrie our director of lifespan faith development and i and our intern minister kaya. We wondered was anyone even going to come up to this class and instead. Kerry came to me last sunday and said if we do this class again we're going to need a larger room because so many people went to it. We're willing to have these. Tough discussions. I'm in this also happens with our children and our youth. They will go there. What makes it possible. Is the way that we all. Treat each other. And what we do when people come forward to have these. This month we're talking about the third principle of unitarian universalism. Which is that we as a congregation have committed ourselves. To affirming and promoting acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth. In our congregation. Last week we talked a little bit about being on the recipient. End of that and the fact that. That being the receiver of acceptance and the receiver of encouragement to spiritual growth has its own responsibility. We can't adequately do that unless we are willing to come. Wholehearted and open ourselves up. And be vulnerable. And share our tinder stories of the spiritual experiences that we've had even when we wonder if other people are going to find them silly. And the meaning that we have drawn from the. So i've got everyone prime. To be vulnerable so now maybe we should talk about what we should do the rest of us as givers of this support and encouragement. When people are going to take that step. And do that thing. This is what church is about like this this is. You don't often have these conversations you know at work or at a pta meeting or another place. I think that. In order to adequately. Bastille. This principle. I think there's three things that we have to do. One is we have to self differentiate. The other thing is we have to learn how to listen. Generously. And the third thing is we need to stake and. And you know this when you look. I think the first time you look at this principle you probably kind of go. Okay that that sounds good like acceptance and encouragement the spiritual growth. Why would anyone disagree with that. How hard can that be. Hahaha. For one thing when we look at it a little more closely. We might say there's kind of a attention there isn't that acceptance of one another. An encouragement to spiritual growth is that kind of like i love you now change. Give me i think more of there's a zen buddhist monk suzuki who has this quote in buddhism but i think it applies here too. You are all. Perfect. As you are. And you could use a little bit of improvement. And so that's what we that's kind of the model for unitarian-universalism you are. Welcome here. As you are. And we don't expect you to stay there we expect all of us to continue growing. So this dispersed. Step. Self differentiated. So you haven't been around here for very long you will soon pick up on this is a term that we use. Quite often self to self differentiate ourselves differentiation. It comes from systems theory. And it is the cornerstone of emotional maturity. Self to self differentiates in a very basic way means simply to understand where i end and the other person begins. Which may sound simple but being able to kind of parse that out. Can sometimes be a challenge for for figuring out. Okay this person has opinions about me so isn't that really like part of meat no actually that's. I tell you what. I have a training video on this i've shared before want to share it again. So there we go there there's the training video for self-differentiation. Hold the frame it means to be really clear. About what is in my dance space and what is in the other person's dance space. And i feel that. In order for us to fully be able to accept one another. And encourage each other to spiritual growth. We actually have two kind of paradoxically start with ourselves. And do a check in with ourselves of our wee self differentiating. Or are we getting fused to the other person's growth. And who they are we want to stay connected but to be fused means that we're not being really clear about what is in their dance space and what is in hours. And even in the unitarian universalist church there is a whole lot of diversity of thought. And there are things that can make us anxious. Because the person next to you has beliefs. That are really different than yours. And so being able to self differentiate means that. That you are respecting that this person. Is on their own spiritual journey. And you get to be on yours. So here's an example of how we do this kind of an endless process of self differentiation. We get better at it the more we practice it. But it's never something we're like we're done where we just get to check it off i'm self differentiated that that's it like it's a it's a lifetime task. And even within one conversation. We may need to keep checking back with our self. And and doing that the work of checking okay is this about them or is this about me. So you're talking to someone let's saying coffee hour. And you find out that they really believe in horoscopes. And you don't. You what you are a a fax and and scientific method and frankly you just find that ridiculous. And i have your own beliefs is fine i think this is one of the mistakes of unitarian universalism that people often make as they often think that we are required to respect the beliefs. Of everyone else. You're not you're in it you are. Supposed to treat with respect. The other person. But you don't have to. Respect something that to you you just can't make sense out of. And so this is where we do our own growth. And our own work. So we're listening to that person who is saying something that we really don't believe in and you do the work in your own head of whatever that is maybe you believe in. A force of life you believe in god and you are next to someone who absolutely just does not believe in any of that. And you find yourself getting stirred up. As they're talking. So. Is that in their dance space. Or yours. You're anxious i'm kind of. Tipping this off your anxiety. It's in your dance space. And their beliefs. Are in their dance bag. And i often find that when i start getting stirred up about something. That. Originates in someone else's dance space. It's usually cuz there's something that i really need to dig in with myself. Why is this bothering me what's. What is going on here. And so this is part of how we support each other is by taking responsibility for our own anxiety. And for what gets stirred up. Stop to. Is to listen generously. So what do i mean by that. There certainly is the issue of time. Right what did grandma used to say about you got two ears and one mouth using proportionally. Especially for those of us who are extroverts it can be really hard we get really except we hear someone talking about something and we get really excited we have all of our ideas and we want to put them out there. So part of it is being able to. Hold back. And give someone else. The time. Of listening to them. Another part of. Of that listening generously. Is learning to be comfortable with xyl. In our culture. In our culture we are not. Comfortable. With silence. Unless you practice. It's not. If it's not like a hard-and-fast rule. Have you been in that situation where you're with a group. Or you're with another person and you just. Stop talking. Again what is that stir up in you i know that for me it often will stir up some feelings of anxiety of. Oh this feels really awkward i need to do something to to to deal with this awkwardness and so i'll just start start talking. And often i just don't even make a lick of sense i'm just trying to fill up that space. Silence is something that we can learn to be. And i think that this. Is something that when we when we talked about encouragement to spiritual growth. Each of us learning to be comfortable with silence. Is one of the biggest. Gifts that we can give to someone else. Because. In that silence. Once we are able to overcome our anxiety and feeling that this is awkward. We're able to settle in. I were able to listen to our own thoughts. And the other person is able to listen to their own thigh. A tremendous gift but you have to practice at. But to be able. To learn how to truly listen. To another person. We're not doing that thing of trying to come up with what we're going to say next. Face it when we're doing that we're not really listening to the other person. Silence gives us the room. To be able. To listen. Because we know that we're not going to have to be prepared to start talking immediately. There will be silence. For us. To gather our thoughts. And so you can see what a gift this can be to someone else. To be able to respect the silence. And realize that. Maybe what's happening. Is the person is having some sort of important thought. But they have the kind of dig through. And they need silence. In order to be able. To do that. So that's another part of listening generously. Listening generously is also. Going back to this issue of self-differentiation. When someone is talking and someone is processing something or they're trying to retell an experience that they had. If we self differentiate. That helps us to not try and move their story. Into our. Dance space. I think it's a very human instinct that we have. To try and center ourselves into someone else's experience. But that means that we're taking it away from them. How many had this. And i. Feel free to continue to remind me of this. Listening. Is it complete tasks. To listen. Is a complete. Just. To listen. We don't have to offer. Our opinion. Or our perspective. Now sometimes. The other person wants that. But if we wait for them to actually say i would like your perspective. I would like your opinion we've all heard that from friends before right. But like don't hear it until they actually say it. Because a lot of times i think we jump into offer our perspective. And that person doesn't need that cuz where does our perspective come from. It comes from our dance space. And so we are taking their experience and pulling it over here and we don't have the experiences that they have had before that. That have led them to be able to try and. Sort through this and come up with their own meaning. The great. Example of this listening generously. It comes to us from the quaker. Has anyone here ever heard of a clearness committee. Good i'm so glad i get to to tell you about this. I'm the first time i heard about it was when i was in seminary and i had a quaker professor. And she told us about. Her experience. In making the decision to come to the seminar. She was a pastor of a successful quaker church and she got this offer. And she really didn't know what to do. And so she convened a clearness committee again this is part of quaker trudeau. And it is a circle of people whom you trust. But not people who are so close to the situation that they won't be able to. Satisfied their own concern. So she pulled together this clearness committee. And the whole purpose of a clearness committee and it usually runs for about 2 hours it can be a little less little more depending on what. What's going on. It's when a person is having a hard time getting clearness getting clarity. Around a decision that they need to make. And so the whole purpose. Of the people who come together for this. Is not. To give advice. Or give their perspective or give their opinion and so they have a lot of internal work that they have to do. And that's usually ignore alleged at the start of of the process. Answer my professor. Said that she sat down and some of them were board members. Those of you have served on the board. That the level of trust that this had to take and self-differentiation. Just. Amazes me. She sat down with them and you ahead of time if you are the person that has this big question you right out the whole situation and all of your thoughts. You shared that with the rest of the committee. And then and they acknowledge first that they have their own issues. And then they very deliberately. Set those aside. So that they can be there. Completely. For the person in the center of. And they will burst they begin asking clarifying questions that are about. That's right so let's say your question that you have come with is. I have been offered a chance to move to paris. And i don't know if this is the right thing from. So a clarifying question would be paris texas or paris france. So the first set of questions are these fact-based things. Then they go deeper. And so the questions are about your discernment and quakers have a different theology than we do and so often they will they will invoke god of what is god trying to say to you. But the underlying idea is one that works very well in unitarian universalism because it's the idea that inside of us is a source of inner light and inner wisdom. And so what we need to be able to access that is the clearness of all the other noises that are inside our heads our anxieties and concerns of others so that we can get to that inner wisdom. I'm so for about 2 hours. This is what happens with the the committee again. Doing their own self checking in so that they're not bringing in their opinions their advice. Their own anxiety. And instead. Asking questions. That are for the other person. And sometimes the other person won't even answer they'll just say i need to think about that. When they do answer their answer is not. To try and. Give. Particular information about the conclusion to those that they're with. But. To provide more information so that they can continue having productive. Questions. So i heard about this in seminary and i was just. Blown away with the level of. Humility. I'm required in that and the level of trust. And then about three years later. I had a unitarian universalist colleague and friend. Who was struggling with some things and he asked me to be on a clearness committee for. So i got to participate. It was amazing and an honor and it is. Very hard work. It is very hard work because. You have to be so careful. Set the questions you are asking. Are not because you have a predetermined idea of where the person should go. That's a one of the coaching that we got around that was. Don't ask a question. That you think you know the answer to. Write like. Well did it ever occur to you that that maybe your mother was really jealous of you like that's kind of a directing question right it has to be questions that are completely open-ended. Where the answer is not one that you could know ahead of time. Now for most of us this is not our normal experience of having a discussion with someone. It is usually sort of a a given take and we are going back and forth. Between being the giver. Of acceptance and encouragement and the receivers. Of that. But i find that this is a helpful idea when i am in those moments. To be able to kind of say okay. Who are we focusing on. Right now. And it may stir up some things in me. There's a really good metaphor that i got when i was doing chaplaincy in a hospital because when you're doing chaplaincy right you're going and you're sitting with someone who has often just received a terrible diagnosis. And of course it's often going to stir up some things and you if i go and i am talking to someone whose child has just been diagnosed with cancer. Because that's part of my experience to it's going to stir up my own experiences so here's the metaphor. Keep. A mental clipboard. When you know that you want to focus on this other person and what they are saying and truly listening to them. Yes you'll still get stirred up and you'll have these ideas. Take the idea. Put it on the mental clipboard. And put it away. So that you can get back into the deep listening. Now i will also point out. Once you're no longer in that conversation when you're you know maybe by yourself or something be sure and go back to that metaphorical clipboard cuz otherwise you're going to be in the middle of heb and all of a sudden it's going to decide that that's the time to release that you're going to be stopping in the middle of h-e-b ask me how i know. So this is the second step. To listen generously. The third step in this is in our adult re classes they have a covenant that they're following was certain little things to keep remembering so that they can listen and be supportive to each other it has a lot of things on it here for the ones that i thought we're just kind of. Helpful for us and any conversation and that is the be open to learning. Engage tension but don't indulge the drama and other words. When there. Be willing to go into some of those really tough discussions. But. Pull the anxiety to the side. For those of us who are extroverts i really loved twin weight. Why am i talking. And be open to someone else. Speaking your truth. So the third step is to stay. Connected. It's really hard. It's really hard. I think that. When it's not that hard i think that it's simply a matter of reminding ourself to do something when someone has. Shared with us. Some sort of experience or something that they're going through and they've been really venerable. Have you ever been in that situation where you've been the one who's doing it and then afterwards you get. Feeling all anxious and all stirred up like oh my gosh what what is this person think of me and why did i share all of these things anyone just me i'm yeah. If we have been the giver of acceptance. Ants. Port. It is. It's a gift. 2 then make sure that we touch back with the person maybe even say hey thank you. For sharing that with me. We are not responsible for their feelings and they're being all stirred up but it's a little gift. What's harder. Is when we have been with someone and we really disagree. About something. I think that right now our culture is so. Prime. To just say if someone doesn't agree with you. Panama. Make your circle only people who agree with you on absolutely everything. We keep doing that eventually we're going to be a circle of wine. It's just not going to work. And we ourselves are missing a tremendous opportunity for growth. To be able to stay connected. To someone with whom we have had a disagreement or simply someone who thinks in a different way than we do right the person who believes in crystals and horoscopes and we are the person that only believes in things that can be proven by the scientific method. To say i'm still going to be connected with you. Is an opportunity for us. To do our own growth to be able to withstand someone being different. When i say stay connected it doesn't have to be about. The topic that you disagree on. I think we sometimes have this idea that we have to have closure around this idea in order to move forward now you don't like that thing about it's okay to agree to disagree. But we can still then touch base with that person hey i saw you know hallmark is going to have this movie that you might like and and thought of you or hey i saw that hallmark is going to have this movie on and i know you really hate those so i kind of laughed and thought about you. Stay connected. In whatever way we can because that is going to open us up. To being more wholehearted. And to doing our own growth. It's hard this this third principal the one that i think is is the one where we can look at and when we first look at it we just think that is the easiest one of all acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth. I think it's actually really hard. But i think that if we learn to self differentiate. If we learn how to listen generously. And if we learn how to stay connected. We can do. These hard thing.

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2017-09-24-Sermon-BeAHero.mp3

Welcome to the live oak podcast for september 24th 2017. Today's service is be a hero by reverend joanna fontaine crawford.

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2018-04-29-NonJeNeRegretteRien.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For april 29th 2018. This week service is non regrette by reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning. Is one that may be familiar to many of you probably got it like in high school english or something. I would. Challenge you as you listen to it. Not to bring in any preconceived notions but just to listen listen to the words themselves. The road not taken. By robert frost. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood. And sorry i could not travel both and be one traveler. Long i stood and looked down one as far as i could. To where it bent. In the undergrowth. Then took the other. As just as fair and having perhaps the better claim because it was grassy and wanted where do ask for the that the passing there had worn them really about the same. I'm both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black. Oh. I kept the first. For another day. Yet knowing how way leads on to way i doubted if i should ever come back. I shall be set telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence. Two roads diverged in a wood and i i. Took the road less traveled by. And i just made all the difference. No regrets clean never got plans. No regrets. No regrets. I regret nothing. Edith piaf was france's most famous worldwide singer probably still holds that honor. She is the person who when she was 30 years old she wrote and performed the song that is most associated with france la vie en rose. That's the song that even if you think you don't know what you probably know it. La vie en rose. She led a controversial scandalous life. Almost from the moment when she was born and like this was in france where the bar for scandalous is set pretty high. By the age of seven she was a street performer she had numerous affairs often with people who were rumored to be mobsters she was implicated possibly is being connected to a murder. Her loyalty to france during the german occupation was question. Until finally at about age 40. She retired. To the country. She was just. Years later. Two songwriters charles dumont and michelle beauclerc came to visit her she did not want to see them she was not fans of their work somehow her housekeeper had set this up. She left them just relaxing in her living room cooling their heels for about an hour. Finally she came out and said you can see that i am tired. One song. You can play one song. Charleston mount went over to the piano and sat down. And play that song you just heard notion of regret for yen. And the two songwriters. Waited to see how she would respond. Play it again. By the middle of. His second playing of it. She said for me darla fantastic fantastic. She asked him to play it. Once. Twice. Three more times. This. Will be my resurrection. It was. Who's that huge cat. And it would turn out to be her last. Big. She died. At age 47. With her death related to the way that she had lived her. The song jenna regrette rien. Was not just a hit for her it was not just. A song it was her statement of defiance and in fact the songwriters had written it. For her. I regret. Nothing. So this year. As we continue on our theme of find your purpose. Is there any value in that philosophy for us. No regrets. I regret nothing if nothing else does provide a humorous internet meme. But i have to say. In terms of taking it as a philosophy that affects all of our lives. I'm not a fan. Because regrets. Is simply another tool in our toolbox. The way that we grow. Is to take the things that we do and then to analyze them to kind of sort through and go well. That work toward that didn't work. We make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes hurt others. Until we have to go back and try and clean up our mess apologize make amends. Again. That's. Just part of what we do and and regret is part of the thing one of the tools that can help make that possible. But where regrets. Is not helpful. Is when we allow the fear. Martha regret itself when we allow the. Fear of potential regret. To hold us back. From living bold lives of experimentation. Unhealthy riff. At. Is when regret is not helpful. And yet. It's what we've all been taught. I bet that you probably had a parent or a teacher who said. Don't do anything you might regret. Anyone else hear that one right. Don't do anything you might regret still first of all like that's just impossible i would never leave my house i mean like every time i have to drive into austin i have to make that fateful choice 35 or mopac. And more than 50% of the time i'm going to have regrets for choosing the wrong way. Maybe there isn't a wrong. Maybe there is a right way. The other things though. With this fear of regret. The other. Great teacher of this to us beyond parents or teachers. Is life itself. In partnership with our own amygdala. The part of the brain where all the anxiety gets all stirred up. Life. Combined with our amygdala. Teach us. Be afraid you may regret this you may regret something that happened. And it's emotion because this is happening in the amygdala. It's emotion that fuels all of this. But here's the interesting thing. I don't think that it is usually. Pain or grief. That is driving that that's the most powerful thing. Because our memories of pain and grief. Not always but for the most part. We remember them in an objective sense. Not a subjective set. When we think back when i think that on. Physical pain that i've had or emotional pain. I can remember it. Objectively i can see it happening i may even feel sad for the person i was that had to go through it. But i don't really experienced that pain. That's why i have 4 kids. But there's an emotion. Where you can still. Re-experiencing. Decades later. Embarrassment. There are things that i did when i was in elementary school. Where they did not work well. And i was publicly embarrassed. And to this day. When i remember them. I remember them subjectively not objectively and i can still feel those feelings anyone else have that when you look remember back right on some of those embarrassing moments. You actually re-experience it. That's a pretty significant power. And so our brains say wow like i don't. that kind of stuff like there's no expiration date on it and that will just keep coming up andre traumatizing me and i don't want to have anything to do with that so yes you do not do anything that you might regret. Do not do anything that might cause you embarrassment. I'm so den. Holds us back. From doing things that we might otherwise do. Here's the thing about embarrassment. Embarrassment. Has. Are required elements. Embarrassment requires a witness. Bright. Don't like the thing of you know if a tree fell in the forest and no one was there to hear it. If you fell. Tripping over you know are atoms as i often do. Get up. And you may feel embarrassment for a second as you scan to find out did anyone else see that. But once you know that it was just you that there was no witness to this. The embarrassment. Vanishes. Unless of course you hurt yourself so bad that like you know you didn't have to tell someone i know the reason why i have two black eyes is because i tripped over are atoms. But again at that point. Because you are bringing in. A witness. Keep following with me here. We are afraid. Of what other. Think about. We are afraid of. How they perceive us. But their thoughts about us. Their thoughts about us. Where is that happening. Not rhetorical. Right. It is happening in their heads. Do you know the one place that you don't have a right to go. Someone else's head. And yet we spend so much energy trying to do just that trying to shape how other people perceive us but it's in their head this is a boundary issue. We are crossing their boundaries when we try to go in and change their perception of us. They get to do that. We get to the side. How we live our lives how we move through the world comes ali or not clumsily. But we have no right. Do the thoughts of others even when it is about. Okay. If you've been asleep. Perk up for a second cuz i need you to hear this. What other people think of you. Is none of your business. What someone else thinks of me is none of my. Business. That's their thing. So then we circle back to this whole idea. Of our fear of regret. That is based in embarrassment that is based in what someone else potentially thinks about us. Then that means that we are allowing someone else in their own head. Partnering with our own amygdala cuz that amygdala like makes friends everywhere and it's often not to to our betterment. Are anxiety den. Becomes what drives our decisions and drives our choices. Rather than. Here is my purpose in life. Here are my guiding principles. Here is who i. Choose. Tubi. When we follow this whole thing of. Don't do something you might regret. It means that we are letting someone else. Drive the bus. That is our. Lives. Until what you right here. But i think we can grasp this idea of no regrets. And it's not really no regret. It's no fear. I've regret. It's saying i am not going to let. A fear of potential regrets. Keep me. From doing what i am called to do in the world or what i just want to do in the world. It's my life. I'm going to steer this bus. I'm going to make. These choices. Don't feel regret. Don't stop make it a monster that we have to try to avoid. Invited n. Make it a friend. Of sorts. Regret allows us to look back. Figure out some things about our own life. And grow. I would say. Make it a casual friend at beth. Don't set up a room for it in your house. Cuz that's a whole other issue. When you can't move past the regret when you invited to live and be a constant companion rather than using it as a tool and then letting it go. That's a whole leather. Know who you are. Figure out what your guiding principles are and what your purpose is. And be clothed in your own authenticity. We have some actual scientist in the congregation who wear actual lab coats that's their calling but figure out what your version of a lab coat is what is it that's going to make you feel empowered to go out and experiment and take risks and not be afraid of regret. That poem the road not taken. What i was hoping you would. Here. Or not here. Is this. Frost doesn't say. That. The road not taken is the best. He simply says i took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference. It's simply a neutral statement of fact had he taken the other path. That would have made. All of the difference. When we get tied up in the regret of all what if i had taken this path or that path. We didn't. We took the path we are on. We can always change direction. You may take. The road less traveled. Or you may take the road that is most traveled. Either one. Is a valid choice. So long as you are making it. Out of your guiding principles. And your purpose. And not out of fear. And that. Is a choice. You will not regret.

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2019-08-11-UnlearningGoodness.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church pot. August 11th. 2090. This week's service is. Unlearning goodness. Why live oaks director of lifespan faith development. Carrie frost. This morning's reading comes from a workshop presented by rev dr. rebecca parker and rev dr bill murray. At a meadville winter institute the name of the workshop was called congregation as theological school. The task of liberal religious education is personal and spiritual growth. That makes us more fully human. Part of our task is to help people to unlearn those things they have been taught. Which diminish the human soul. And oppress us rather than enhance life. This includes teaching people to become more caring and compassionate people across racial class cultural and other social boundaries. And more. To move from compassion to action. For justice. Hi. My name is keri cross and i'm a perfectionist. I'd like to say i'm a recovering perfectionist. Because spiritual practice and therapy have gone a long way to shift. What my childhood taught me. And what society waves in my face everyday. There is a puritanical ethos in this country that puts an emphasis on performing behaving in a certain way so we may prove our worthiness to god. To our country our peers. And ultimately so we are rewarded with life in heaven. Are white european puritan four-seamer white in european puritan founders built a system where they are seen as righteous and others are less than. Evil. Even in human. During the history of this country. That ethos has never fully gone away. And today i'm calling bs. Honest system. And. I recognized that is you use we don't have those same ideas. About god. And about heaven. But we're still caught up in the equation of goodness and perfection. Because let's face it most of us want to be successful in our lives. We want to be successful in our job. And our success is measured every day by our performance. And it goes deeper. Social sciences dolly chewed who studies the psychology of good people. Says that many of us care deeply about feeling like a good person. Ending scene. As a good person. So. Let's talk about that word good. Give me some synonyms for good. Good good. Obedience one that i have down. Worthy. Nice. I heard perfect i heard right. Humble okay. How about opposites of good. Immoral immoral. We have a lot of ideas right. A lot of different words flowing around here. Good my opinion is an overused word in our vocabulary. And also very descriptive one. Even when we all. They don't have the same definition. What a good person means. Our moral identity is important to us. And if we take our cues from mainstream american society. That's not us in the room by the way. We take our cues from mainstream american society than moral identity or goodness becomes even more fraught. Because if we consider the status quo. In this country. I'm afraid that are white dominant culture perpetuates. A moral ethical behavior is beyond the pale. What'd perpetuates is beyond the pale nowadays. And it always has been. Don't forget the good old boys. The good old times. When you consider our country's history of colonization. Of slavery. Internment camp immigration law economic disparity rooted in discriminatory practices. The subjugation and imprisonment of people of color throughout our history and laws which replied unequally across racial lines. A sense of goodness that is rooted in that history. Cannot continue if we are to realize justice. So. Today i want us to consider how we might begin to unlearn. Goodness. Can we pinpoint where our definition doesn't serve our desire for justice and equity. What cultural or personal definitions of good. Perpetuate oppression. Some of you may have seen this next graphic before but i'm going to invite you to look at the slide. Are the characteristics of white supremacy culture created by kenneth jones and t mccune. And i want you to take a moment to read through it. And see where you individually. Or in your work or in your community. See one of these characteristics at play. Just give me a couple of minutes.. Did i forget to say this won't be easy work. Perfectionism. Is up there i want to point that out. And my own struggle is right there for all of you to see my own struggle with perfectionism equaling goodness. Is upholding white supremacy culture. I'm curious which words made you uncomfortable or defensive. Pay attention to those words. I think that it's important to know that while i'm speaking about white supremacy culture and behavior it doesn't just apply to the white people. In the room. When it is the water we swim in it affect everyone. People of color are repeatedly asked to adhere to the structure in place and to give up part of themselves to assimilate. They're asked to do the heavy lifting of educating us. A pushing for systemic change and in return they are vilified for being too loud. Two angry. Too militant. In short. Awesome when we. White people say we want things to change we actually want to bring about their freedom within our. Parameters. And none of this is new. In essex conversations written in 2001 rev marjorie bowen's wheatley talks about liberalism. Versus liberation. And i quote. The classic liberal vision seeks to make free. To provide opportunities for individuals to realize freedom. Stopping short. Up confronting systems that stand in the way of freedom. Liberation theology. Seeks to restore right relationships. It is not a one-time event. But recognizes the need for ongoing process of struggle. To preserve and uphold freedom. Justice. And equality. And quote. And the struggle is exhausting. Particularly. For those whose lives. Depend on that change. Bowens weekly goes on to quote jack mendelson in her essay. And middleton says. The trouble with too many liberals according to radicalized black women use gays and peace activist. Is there complacent. Spirit. Yes they have a decent concern for social change. But where is their passion. Where is the sense of their own oppression. Buried and middle-class standard. That's where it is. Tucked into the benefits that infuriating unjust social structures have bestowed upon them. Yes they would like to share these benefits with the less fortunate. Those has been locked out and denied access. But at little or no cost to themselves and their children. And quote. We liberal white people are being called out again by marginalized communities including our own face community. For a complicity in the system that upholds oppression. We are being asked to change ourselves and use our privilege. To change the system. And that calling out. Chase against our sense of being good. As a dominant culture we mount a red-zone defense. We talked about how many friends of color we have or what charities we donate to or how many volunteer hours we put in. Are all the books we've read to educate ourselves and we list all our good works. But that's not the answer. It's part of it. But it's not the answer. I have no doubt. But those of us sitting here today have good hearts and the best of intentions. That we really believe in justice and equity. Dr2 says. We overestimate both the importance that our inner compass is playing. In our ethical decision making. And we overestimate how much our self-interest is driving. Our decision. Aunt. We fail to realize how much of our self view. As a good person. Which isn't the same as being a good person. It's affecting our behavior. We work really hard to feel like a good person. We work so hard in fact. That we aren't giving ourselves space to learn. Hermana steaks. Our defensiveness gets in the way of our ability to listen deeply and engage in work that is uncomfortable and messy. We make mistakes. But sometimes hurt other people. Or promote injustice and we explain away our mistakes rather than learning from them. We approach it as. Either or that was one of the characteristics. Either a person is good or bad. Either they have integrity or they don't. There's no room left. For growth. In that mindset. So what are we supposed to do. I'm going to go back to chew and her siri. The definition of a good person is so narrow that it is scientifically impossible to me. She says the key to being a better person. Is letting go. Let it go. And set the higher standard of being a goodish. And here's were perfectionism rears its ugly head for me once again. Letting go of good. For goodish. Learn from our mistakes. Own them. Expect them. And go after them. How could we make mistakes if we don't risk. Recognize of course that there will be costs to our mistakes. Recently i rewrote our class covenant. For adults for the coming year and one line that i added says assume best intent attend. 2 impact. It isn't enough for us to assume best intent. Without addressing. The impact. Of our words. Except the cost of our mistakes. Notice them. Practice finding them. Either before you make them or in the middle of making them or after you've made them practicing them for yourself. And let's get comfortable being. Vulnerable. And make peace with being. Instead of being well-behaved. Let's aim to misbehave. And be goodish. If we are new to this work of dismantling white supremacy culture we can practice conversations in spaces like this where we can risk ourselves. Held in love. In a covenanted community. If we are out in the community the wider community working for systemic change we can bring our broken hearts are pain and disillusionment here. And we've refuel for the work. To be done. We were part of the dominant culture can use our white cisgender. Especially male. Privilege. Not to ride in on a white horse and fix the problem. Halal liberalism of the past. What is liberationist. In partnership with. And in service. To those who seek freedom. Whatever we do it has to be more than talk about. Find something to do that is anti-racist and do it. Make it a spiritual practice. We're going to screw up. It's inevitable. And if we are to be of any use we have to allow ourselves to be challenged in our privilege. Confronted by those. We want to be an ally ship with. Being goodish means we drop our defenses and remain open to change. We let go of perfection. We let go of being right. None of us are done in this process of unlearning are racist history. Being goodish means we may have to eat crow. Or apologize or sitting discomfort or just playing shutter mouse. When are good for thought has four. Freeing is that. How freeing is that to not have to live up to the standards that have been thrust upon us by by the centuries that this country has been in existence. To define ourselves first through acting. From a place of deep love for all. Unitarian universalist. We should be up to the task. Paulo freire brazilian educator and author of pedagogy of the oppressed. Quote because love is an act of courage not fear. Love is a commitment to other people. No matter where the oppressed or found the act of love is a commitment to their cause. The cause of liberation. And this commitment because it is loving is biological. Only by abolishing the situation of oppression is it possible to restore the love witch that situation made impossible. If i do not love the world. If i do not love life. If i do not love people. I cannot enter. The dialogue. Our unitarian universalist theology of universal love. Is a theology of strength. And determination. Not of weakness. Our love is not weak. It is a theology that equips us to engage in this work with our minds and our hearts. Liberation depends on unlearning goodness and embracing. Goodish. Taking risks. Building relationships. This work doesn't just liberate the people oppressed by racism sexism ableism in moore. It liberates those of us who hold the privilege. When we truly celebrate that there is more than one way to be goodish in this world. When we embrace our principles of inherent worth and dignity for all people and we collaborate in the interdependent web of which we are all part. I went to close today with words from the beloved voice of toni morrison. These are from the bluest eye. And fantasy it was for we were not strong only aggressive. We were not free nearly license. We were not compassionate. We were polite. Not good. But well-behaved. Recorded death in order to call ourselves brave and hid like thieves from life. We substituted good grammar for intellect. We switched abbott's to simulate maturity. We rearranged lies and called it truth. Seeing in the new pattern of an old idea. The revelation.

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2018-07-08-Sermon-RevMarianaThompsonFolsom.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For july 8th 2018. This week service is reverend. Mariana. Thompson folsom. 1845 to 1909. By seminarian. Kiya heartwood. Morning had the pleasure of talking to. About reverend mariana thompson.. To expand her congregation from being a young universalist minister she was sofia woman ever ordained. In her 20s. And. She eventually moves to texas. And like i told the children. Spent 20 years lecturing. On the railroad because she wasn't wealthy she didn't have a wagon. Cheddar follow the railroad line and the railroad line after the civil war really expanded mean texas just exploded especially in the 1880s 1890s and she would go to the little cowtowns and stand in the mud and speak about suffrage. And she did this her entire life she didn't live to see us actually get the vote. But i think she's a really interesting person so let me tell you a little bit about her. She was born in pennsylvania she was born to a quaker family i hicksite. Quaker family excites were. The kind of like the unitarian version of quakers. They were they were for abolition they were very liberal they believe in women ministers they really the first denomination to have women ministers. Aunt mary i was born into a family where her father sold. Queensware. Crockery do you know what i'm talking about wedgewood. Yeah okay well what you might not know. The reason why wedgewood got so popular. Was it frances wedgwood was an abolitionist in england. Until the quaker started selling his. Crockery. Because they were trying to live their values. Kind of cool right. So she's in a member of the quaker meeting when she was a little child. And she was would have been exposed to people like lucretia mott. And other quaker abolitionist to become the early feminists. See. Lucretia mott in the in the 1830s 1840s. And elizabeth cady stanton they were abolitionists. Stephen went to england to a big anti-slavery rally. And. So. We they went to they went to england to this anti-slavery rally and because they were women they weren't allowed to speak or sit in the hall. So they got to be friends. So in 1848 in seneca falls they organized a gathering. Of women to talk and men to talk about. Women's rights not even not even talking about voting rights yet. They're just talking about. Women should you know our human. And should have education's. Crazy ideas like that. So this is 1848. The second meeting they had in rochester that's when susan b anthony meats. Elizabeth cady stanton and we're off to the races. What mariana was born in 1845. So her father and mother move of them as in the gradually expanding family they move a little bit further north right before the civil war they're very close to the mason-dixon line. And i start hearing about a place called mount pleasant iowa. Where there was actually a university that allowed women in in the 1840s. I'm so they're thinking about there gradually expanded family and they want to educate their daughters as well as their sons and marianne has their oldest. Until they moved to mount pleasant iowa. And there's a meeting there. And a man moves their name joseph dugdale anybody ever hear his name. You might should his mother sarah was a minister. And he was an abolitionist and they are reportedly. Underground railroad people. And so what happens is he knows everybody. So as mariana's going into our high school years. The ducks tales are having people visit them like mary livermore. Frederick douglass. Susan b anthony. All these famous people who are abolitionists. An early women's rights workers. Everything is going on during the civil war. There was a thing called the sanitary commission if you ever heard of it. It becomes a red cross later. Bonita's the universe it is a unitarian run thing. During the civil war a guy named bellows reverend bellows. Was the head of the sanitary commission. And he got people to work on it mary livermore and daniel livermore were universalist in chicago. Ameri livermore got really involved and she ran. The fundraising for the chicago branch of the sanitary commission and these are people who are making bandages are getting women to organize and raise money for the troops so that they have medicines. All that stuff leads to the red cross. Will they start speaking now at that time there wasn't any tv or internet right. I'm so the way people got entertain with they had things like if you if you were kind of wild you could go to the saloon. But if you weren't wild and you wanted to be upstanding you would go to the lyceum. Weather chautauqua where people would lectured. And talk about things like mariana tops. Right. And i would do it in a real structured way there was actually a whole circuit and a lot of women got involved in this. And started speaking in public which was unheard of until that time. Tamara livermore gets really famous during the civil war for doing this kind of work and her husband is a universalist minister daniel livermore. And they run a newspaper that's the other thing that people did then instead of the internet it's a read magazines so they were universals magazines. And it was all kinds of stuff going on like that. So people were doing that kind of work. So mary livermore meats mariano which is getting ready to go to college. And i can't prove it but it looks like. They sponsored her to go to st lawrence in canton new york. Which is where the first unit. Versalus unitarian minister. Olympia brown. Was ordained in 1862. And so marietta goes to school. And then i start writing about her in the magazine's cuz she's young and single and beautiful. And smart. And people are writing about her. And also. All the women. Are organizing and she's like they're great white hope right like she's going to be. The. The young minister that they all dream will happen and that will make the same salary as a man. I said happened yet. No i don't think so. But anyway that was her dream and so. They write about her the whole time she's going to school and like me during the summer she goes and preaches to help pay for her school. So she's preaching all over and they're writing about her in the magazines or writing about how she's preaching here and she's preaching there and. She was successfully seen. It was so hard the women were getting ordained but they weren't getting churches. So when mariana gets ready to graduate. There's this article that shows up that says she's had two offers for. 4 parishes. For $1,200 a year. This is 1870 that were talking about. $1,200 a year would be a fortune now. It was published in magazines and papers from indiana to sacramento everywhere. You can look it up very funny and sometimes say. They say. Young miss. Thompson received two offers for $1,200. And the bad thing about doing research is that you find out perhaps it wasn't true. What i believe that mary livermore and olympia brown cook this up. To help her get a job. I don't think there were actually were offers but she did get an interim minister ministry in and michigan and get ordained. In 1871 and she marries another minister that she went to school with alain perez.. End. They he gets parishes in massachusetts and she meets all the famous people like julia ward howe. And people like that. And she's preaching all the time and she starts having a family to start having a family. They had four children. He doesn't like the ministry he doesn't for about three years and she's got a church and he's got to church and she kind of did the preacher's wife thing for a while. The babies were really little. But. In the 1880s. They move to iowa and he becomes a crockery merchant. Like her father. And she. Keeps preaching in universalist churches. But she's already starting to move beyond its like it was disappointing they thought this was going to be there way in. To get women equal rights and become a minister. And then the church's wouldn't call the women. Now this happened again later for for gay and lesbian and transgender administers. They would get ordained. But they wouldn't get churches. It takes a lot of work to make change. Takes a long time. So mariana. Is becoming a lecturer for suffrage she starts talkin for the iowa. And that she's estate represented for iowa and she meets all the big famous suffrage and they're working on suffrage really hard. And she's just trying to talk to people and get them just to consider the possibility that women should have the right to vote. And she's gets sent to texas in 1881. And her husband comes along. And her her parents take care of the children. And she comes on the train to texas. And starts lecturing she just looks 60 lectures and 10 weeks. Yeah. And then she starts. Looking for a place to live so she moves to san antonio originally she lived in edna she lived in austin in the 1900s. But anyway she starts lecturing. An organized. But she's not wealthy. And they're still writing it without her in all the suffrage papers and they're writing about her in the universalist unitarian papers. But nothing is really happening and i don't know if you know how long it took to get suffrage in texas but. We only could b vote in the primaries in 1918. So. It was pretty rough i want to read you a little bit. Give you an idea what her. What her sermons were like. So imagine that she standing up in in the only public building in the town. And maybe it doesn't even have a floor. The guys are in their cowboy hats and their their suits and their slickers. And mud. And maybe they let their wives come and maybe they didn't and this is what they would have heard. The ballot. To talk of freedom for women without the ballot is a mockery. What is this about gentleman. What does your boat mean. What does the right say to every possible man native inform black-and-white rich and poor educated and ignorant drunk and sober to every possible. Man outside of state prison the idiot and the lunatic asylums. It says your opinion is worthy to be counted. That's what it says on the shadow of the american flag. What does it say to every possible woman native inforum. White and black rich and poor educated and ignorant virtuous and vicious. To every possible woman under the flag at says your judgment is not sound your opinion is not worthy to be counted. Pretty good huh. She was righteous. Now. She dies and 1909 her daughter or mina continues to work. And two of her sons all three of her kids went to the university of texas. And graduated. Baylor was the first. University billet women in in texas. In 1865. Any diversity of texas from its inception let women in. So right there. Texas is already ahead of the curve. How many states in the west allowed women to vote earlier. But texas had a large. Difficult time. Getting the first. Through the first door because of people like paul ferguson anybody ever heard of him. Yeah. He got in pizza 1917 and then hobby. Becomes. The governor. And he. Is interested in staying in office. So he becomes very pro suffrage. And suffer just really attached. To temperance. And prohibition. And so a lot of people. Okay we're going to give women the vote and that's going to help make that possible so. The first time women can vote in texas is 1918. And it's only a few weeks before the 8th the election. + 3. 165,000 women. Registered to vote which was almost the same number as a number of men that voted in texas that you. Tell kanave interesting history. And so when suffrage was ratified in 1920 federally. Texas was the ninth state to ratify. And the first state in the south. And part of the reason that happened is because mariana thompson. Folsom. The word adore. Town to town. Just following the railroad line talking and talking and talking. And talk. And talking. Or very little money. She supported her whole family. Her husband and her eventually separated and she dies and 1909. So. She never live to see any of her work come through. But if you go to the texas archives her papers are there and they're online digitally if you want to see some of her pictures with no photographs of her. A lot of quaker women didn't go for that. And she wasn't wealthy. And it's all often the wealthy people that get the credit later for making suffrage happen but in my opinion. It wouldn't have happened without her. And i know a lot of you all are doing the day-to-day work a lot of people are working on campaigns the poor people's campaign. Transgender campaign. Sanctuary network. That work is really important and i know it's easy to get to spare to feel like. Everything you do is you never going to see any result. But it takes it took 72 years to get women the right to vote. If you're not counting abigail adams. That would even make it longer. So i just want to encourage you and all the work that you're doing in the day-to-day work that you do. One of the speakers at ga this year said. Ask yourself this question. What you're doing is. Supporting white supremacy or dismantling it. Whatever your issue is. Ask yourself if what you're doing today is supporting it. Continuing the way it is. Or dismantling it. That'll help you make your decisions. Thank you all very much for listening to me.

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2019-07-14-ShouldWeLoveWhenFacedWithHate.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian. Craigslist. Podcast. July 14th. 2090. This week's service is. Should we love. Open face with hate. Biking sia crawford. Note. Due to technical issues. The audio at the end of the service. And now for a reading. It is that time and that place. Now is the time to call on the memories of the ancestors who thought they could not walk. Another step towards freedom. And yet they did. It is that time and place. Call on the memories of the ancestors who when the darkness of their lives threatened to take away the hope and light. Reached a little deeper. And prayed yet another prayer. It is that time and place. Remember those who came through the long night. To witness another sunrise. It is that time and place. Remember the oceans of tears shed to deliver us to this time to remember the bent knees and bad back. Remember the fervent voice. Asking begging and beseeching. For loved ones sold off. Time to remember their laughter and joy. Do they had far less. And little reason for optimism yet they stayed on that path. For a better day. Time to hold to the steadfast hands and hearts. And prayers. Of the ancestors that that have brought us this far. Time to make them proud and show them and ourselves. What we are made of. Time. To show them that their prayers and sacrifices and lives were not in vain and did not go unnoticed. Nor have they been forgotten. Did you not know that this day would come. Did you not know. That we would have to change places. Did you not know that just. As our ancestors were delivered that you would also be delivered. Have you not seen the greatness and power of the creative energy in the universe. Called god that moves and has its being through human agency. Have you not seen god or the divine energy in your neighbor's faces. In the homeless. In the battered woman the traffic. Child. The undocumented worker. The dispossessed. It is that time. And play. To know that is our turn. That we must leave a legacy for our children. And all. It is that time. And that place. We are the ones that we've been waiting for. And for that. Let us be eternally great. Amen and blessed be. People killing people. Father father father help us. I've been auu since i was a baby. I grew up having fun in the nursery at my church. Going to re and singing the principal song. Being in youth group and going to why are you you rallies and doing social action project. And i walk. This very stage. In my spiritual graduation from houston to young adult and lifelong member of being unitarian. And through that time. I have basic conclusions about you you values that i always turn back to. Namely at its most simplistic version i equated the first principle with the belief that all people have good in them. I've met many that interpret the first principle in this way that's a fairly easy believed to hold on to when you're young. Except maybe when your so-called friend cheats you out of your ice cream and trade for a chocolate chip cookie that turns out. To be oatmeal raisin. However. I did really hold this. To be true until fairly recently. I find that myself and others. Seem to really be struggling lately with the first principle. The first principle essentially states that each and every person. Has inherent worth and dignity. In a broad overarching way. We can think about it and agree with that fairly easily. However when we think of specific people. Members of ice. Certain individuals who are in high positions of power within our government. It is much harder. Do believe there's good in them. I went to a vigil on friday night. One of many held all over texas. Help for the children being kept in concentration camps. Hearing all of those stories of mothers being torn away from their children and fighting for months or longer to get their children back hurt. Reading aloud with my fellow youth. The words of children held in these camps and their words of fear and sadness. Her even more. I do not believe. That deice members that kidnap children and take them from their parents are good. I do not believe that these essential. Essentially prison guard to make toddlers sleep on the concrete floor won't give them soap or toothbrushes are good. I don't know that they have any good. Anywhere in them even deep within. When all of these terrible things. Are happening. Out in the world. How can i believe that each person has good in them. After reading articles. Watching videos. Listening to others sermons. I could tell there were a lot of people who felt that the first principle did not have a place in modern day. I started to feel that way too. For a while i honestly felt like what i needed to do. Come up here. And ask everyone to totally re-examine the first principle. However. Then i read the words of reverend shawn parker denison. Reverend denison delivered these words in a sermon after the tragic of 911. And the words still ring true today. This is perhaps. The most difficult time i can imagine to live by this principle. Like many of the people i hear on the television coverage. And even like our president ifield a fierce fire of anger in my veins. How easy it would let it be to ignite it into hatred and vengeance. How easy it would be to begin to dehumanize those who i believed to be responsible for this act of terror that is changed the world i lived in. How easy it would be. To say that they have forfeited their worth and dignity by committing an inhuman act. It would be easy to give into that kind of thinking because i am enraged. These despicable acts. Are cowardly. They're evil. They are wrong. Yet. Even in the face. Of this incredible wrong. Our principles. We must grapple with them. Wrestle with them and let them guide us. Even in the face of this tragedy. As i've wrestled this week with what to say. I become convinced. That now more than ever we must commit ourselves to live by this principle. Every person has value. Every life is precious. Each. Baby. Child. Teenager adult. Elder deserves life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To live by this principle in the face of tragedy is a very difficult thing. But it is the exactly right thing to do. In a time like this it is important to remember that inherent worth and dignity. Is not the same as blamelessness. Or freedom from accountability. If we uphold the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We are not saying that whatever they choose to do is somehow okay what we are saying is that unlike. The people. That planned and carried out these horrific events we've value human life. Every. Human. Life. When people behaved cruelly and with hatred we will intervene. But will do so in ways that protect and preserve life. Even when we are in rage. And seek to redress a horrible wrong. Will measure rx. By the standards of dignity honor and justice. Even in the face of tragedy we must not forget that every life. American arab persian afghani. Is precious. Maybe not waste a single one. The inherent worth and dignity of every person is not an ontological principle. It is an ethical one. Inherent worth and dignity is not something we confer upon people when they are good. Andres end when they are bad. Inherent worth and dignity is not something that resides in the other. But something that is demanded. What i believe reverend denison means by our first principle not being an ontological principle. Is that it is not a principle about the soul about a person's being. Ontology is a branch of medicine. Dealing with the nature of being. So when he says that it means that the first principle. Is not related to being but it is something that we commit. To live by. Reverend denison's last line about the first principle not being onto logic. But as a goal. Makes me think of a quote from famous philosopher. Act in such a way that you always treat humanity. Weather in your own person or in the person of any other. Never simply as a means. But always at the same time. As an end. In this quote. Is the realization for me. Believing in the inherent worth and dignity does not equate. To each person being good or having goodness deep inside. We treat everyone as an end as having worth. But that does not mean we turn a blind eye to the hatred. And vile acts of those around us. I can see a nice member or even a nazi. And in recognizing they are a person that they are human. They still have inherent worth and dignity. This recognition by no means means that we can do horrible and cruel acts. This also doesn't mean we believe that they are inherently good. We must fight against these people. But we must also continue to fight to keep love in our hearts. And values in our souls. All these people we see. Or hear on the news in person we must hold fast. The first principle. Because they have gotten to where they are. By not having value. Or having very poor ones. If we look at our universe list. The first principle more refers to the divine spa. That lies within each and every person in the world. To the nine. The inherent worth and dignity. Of all. Is to deny the spark that we believe to be in each person. It's also tonight the always possible possibility of change. Learning and becoming new. Can people not change and become better people if they work for it. Should we not give those seeking change of their old ways the opportunity to do so. Now i'm not saying we need to be too idealistic or naive with these values. I would say we got to where we were by being too idealistic. How many of us believed. That four years ago that our country that people around us. People all over. Would be expressing this level. Would be committing such blatantly. Eva. Against children teenagers adult we need to open our eyes. And fight. But never. Never. Let them take away our values. Our principal. Believing in the first principle living our values is naughty. It shouldn't be. We should always be coming back to them. Questioning our own interpretation. Struggling with what is true. I can say now that i don't believe in the first principle as i did as a child. But i strongly hold onto my new first principal value. And that's a good.

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2019-10-06-GivingUpContempt.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For october 6th. 2019. This week's service is. Giving up contempt. By reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning comes from the book tribe on homecoming and belonging by sebastian junger. I know what coming back to america from a war zone is like because i've done it so many times. First there is a kind of shocked at the level of comfort. And affluence that we enjoy. But that is followed by the dismal realization. That we would live in a society that is basically at war with itself. People speak with incredible contempt about. Depending on their views. The rich the poor the educated the foreign-born the president or the entire us government. It's a level of contempt that is usually reserved for enemies in wartime. Except that now it's applied to our fellow citizens. Unlike criticism. Contempt. Is particularly toxic. Because it assumes a moral superiority in the speaker. Contempt is often directed at people who have been excluded from a group or declared. Unworthy. Abbott's benefits. Contempt is often used by government. To provide rhetorical cover. Torture or abuse. Contempt is one of the four behaviors that statistically can predict divorce and married couples. People who speak with contempt. For one another. Will probably not remain united. Does your face hurt. Like i don't mean like the dad joke i know there's a dad joke does your face hurt cuz it's killing me. Dads. I don't mean that. Like really genuinely. Does your face hurt. Does your jaw hurt. About your shoulders. Your shoulders hurt. My colleague the reverend nate walker now the reverend dr. nate walker before he became an academic. Was a parish minister. Like i am. Very involved in social justice. I remember hearing him say that he just. Got to the point. Or he was tired. Of his face. Hurting. All the time. That's that thing that we do right. Or so filled with anger. And outrage. And he just. Couldn't take it anymore. I suspect that all across our country. And going across a lot of idiot logical lines. I think a whole lot of people. Faces. Are hurting. Or their jaws. Or their shoulders. We have. In a very short. of time i think. Sort of collectively. Redefined or added a new element to what we feel. Is required to be a responsible citizen. And what we now feel required to attend to. Is constant. Vigilant. Anyone else feel like that. Like it's not just too roughly be informed of things that we have to be constantly watching everything that's happening like not even once a day right come on cuz that's it who else is checking the news multiple times a day and it's the feeling of responsibility like it's not just you know trying to watch you know what rubbernecking watching a car wreck happening. We feel that responsibility. That we have to be paying attention at all times other things otherwise things are just going to pass right by and we need to be able to speak up. I'm react. And we're exhausted. I feel that our society is going to need. Some serious healing. And we. Everyone in here. We are. Perfectly. Poised. To be the healers. That our society is going to need. Everyone in here is positioned in some way and some unique. Way in your workplace at the pta meetings with your neighbors or friends your family each one of us has these particular spheres of influence that we moved in if we tried to map all of them it would be a huge area. So part of this is your positioning and part of this is because. If you're a unitarian universalist. You have acquired some skills some tools and some experiences. That will help. You to do some of the healing. That our society is going to to need. Once you become a unitarian universalist you are handed a universal theological translator. And and and it's going to get a workout including in here in this room because we are a big tent of religious and philosophical thought and so we draw from so many different places and these different places use different theological language. But you have that universal translator and so when you hear the word god or jesus. Or allah or worship or praise. You have the capability and responsibility. Of doing the translating. Into something a concept that is more universal or. Milia a concept that makes more sense to you. Goddess. Love. Life itself. So we have these these tools. And skills and experiences. That we can bring to the work. That our society is going to need. And. Unitarian universalism. Also provides a call. For us to do this work. This month we will be talking about the second principle. I've unitarian-universalism we have seven principles that all of our congregations promised to make a sacred to-do list of to work toward. And the second principle. Is that we affirm and promote. Justice equity and compassion in human relations. I think that often when we first read that bit about justice equity and compassion we may even just kind of gloss over it and yeah i agree with all of it those are good things right justice equity compassion yeah i'm all for him next. But when you look at them as being part of your to-do list. It gets a little more complicated. I don't know about you but i. Ifocus skin-on in that last phrase i forget focus in on the word and. It doesn't say justice equity or compassion it's not a multiple-choice list and actually says a way like you use trying to. Get sneak something and sneak like a 3/4 into this one principle what. We actually are supposed to do. All three. At once. We're supposed to hold them in some sort of a dynamic tension we're supposed to juggle them. And that's hard. Because a lot of times when we go to make a decision. At least two of these are going to come into conflict. Right. Systems theory tells us that the hardest decisions. We will make. Are the ones where we have two or more core values that just crash into each other. And we have to prioritize. 1. And it's hard. And it's supposed to be hard. In fact i would challenge us. That when we actually are in a situation where we have to try and juggle all three of them and we can't. If we find it easy. It's because we have probably dropped. One of those balls. W easier to juggle. With only two. Or even better yet just one. Right. But we're called. To juggle all three of them. And we're going to have some opinions. About the priorities that other people make. Me to show you a video clip this this issue of what do you prioritize justice. Equity or compassion and is there a way even if you prioritize one to keep juggling all three. Well we saw. An example of this an illustration of this. This week. So amber. Geiger. Was. Found guilty of murder she had. She was. The crime was she was an off-duty police officer in dallas. And. That. The defense was that she was confused she walked into the wrong apartment and she shot and killed an innocent black man. Sitting on his couch. Ice cream. She was found guilty of murder. And she was sentenced. To 10 years in prison. After the sentencing. The brother. Of the victim both machine. Brandt jean. Said. And did. So first thing. Justice equity or compassion which one did he prioritize. Compassion. Lot of people had a lot of opinions. About this. Don't know if you were paying attention but a lot of. Essays and editorials a lot of conversation on social media about his choice to do this. And if you look at these i encourage you to search them out because they're they make some really important points. Most of them i think that that all of the arguments about this. Pretty much fit into one of those categories. Do you prioritize. Justice. What was justice. For the victim. Do you prioritize equity. The statistics show that if the roles had been reversed. As a black man he probably would have been sentenced to far more than 10 years. Do you do you prioritize. Compassion. And. Are any of those ones that. It's okay to simply. Drop. Do all of these different pieces that you'll read they generally fall into those categories. And it is not for me to say. That one is right and the others are wrong that's what makes these decisions so hard. Is that all of those perspectives can be completely right. All at the same time. And it is up to each individual. To make those choices. About which one should they prioritize in this given situation. Not sure that we always do that. I think that if we are being honest and we look at some of those hard decisions that we make. That we will probably see a pattern. That we probably often have a particular one that we favor. Some of us are instinct is always going to be to go towards compassion. And we're always going to prioritize that. And the weakness of that. Is that there may be some situations. Where what is more called for. Is justice. Others of us justice is always going to be what we go to. And we drop the ball on. Compassion. There can be weaknesses even with. With the good things. That we are prioritizing. I don't know this i suspect that most of us. Fall into those two groups but i know that there are also those where that the main priority is equity. Frost. We are looking for consistency. We are looking for some type of leveling. And there is of course with all three of these you know some sort of cross pollination. Above what we're we're looking. The issue. Where we can strengthen ourselves so that we can become the healers that our society needs. Is to stop having a favorite. And get ourselves to where we can more. Clearly. Look at a situation and say. This particular situation i'm not going to be fused. To my identity as a peacekeeper or a justice seeker i'm going to look at each. Situation. And try and figure out is there a way. Where i can still juggle all of these and yet i can do the thing that this situation. Calls me to do. Because we are getting called into those situations all the time. We're being called to speak up. All the time speak up for justice. And we do that. And then we realize that perhaps someone has been hurt. In doing this. Or. And this is the issue where anxiety often can drive what we are doing. Right like it it's not all way we are not always making these good principled decisions. Are anxiety cancerous up and we don't want to upset this person over here so we prioritize compassion when perhaps we should be prioritizing one of the other two values. Or we feel the weight of what i should do and so we prioritize justice. When perhaps. In this particular situation. Compassion. Was the better choice. We are going to need healing as a society but i don't feel that that time is here yet. It's going to get worse before it gets better i think most of us. Pretty much agree with that we are going to have to go through the impeachment hearings. We're going to have to go through next year's election. And i make no predictions about what is going to happen with that other than to say next year 2020 is going to be in kent. What start start resting right now. Whatever it is though that happens. We are all going to need healing afterwards. And the reason why we need healing is because there are such monumental problems. Number one being saving the earth. That we have to work on and we're going to have to work together with others who may not think exactly the same way that we do but we are going to need everyone we can get. And so our society is going to need some of this healing. We can't. I don't think really start doing a lot of the societal healing yet. But we can start planting seeds. Within ourselves and within others and we can start looking for the weeds that will be a barrier. And removing them. And as we tried to do this balance of justice and equity and compassion there is one particular weed that i am convinced we have got. To identify in ourselves. And remove it or we are not going to be able to be the healers we are called. Tobe i'm going to show you another video clip. And i want you to do two things. As you watch this it's really short. What there's two people in it. And so far so i want you to think of each person. And out of those justice equity compassion which one are they prioritizing. And the second thing is. Do you see an emotion. That will be a barrier to future healing. This is not from the news this is actually from fiction science fiction i know big surprise. It is from one of the star trek movies. If you don't like star trek it's okay that you don't need to know anything about it for this other than that she need to know that the two characters you see have been very close friends. And the situation that they are in those two close friends have been at war. With the same enemy the klingon. The klingons have had a catastrophic event. That threatens to wipe them out and so they have come asking for peace. And for help. Okay so old pointy ears their spot. What's what has he prioritized. Compassion. Jim kirk what has out of those. 3 what has he prioritized. Justice. And perhaps completely drops. The whole compassion. Right. Was there any motion that you saw expressed that could be a barrier. The future healing. How y'all bread the order of service. Contempt. First service a couple of other things that were called out that that i didn't plant them but it was just perfect one. With anger. The other was. Hatred. Those are important because. They are not contempt. They can be hard. But it is. Easier to come back from anger or hatred. Ban contempt. Contempt. Is. When you no longer believe. That the other. Has any. Value. Which of course goes against our first princess. Which is to promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. So jim kirk. What did he say how did he describe the klingons. Animals. And. When when there was a plea for compassion they will die what did he say. Let them die. .. Is contempt. When we believe that the other is irredeemable. Absolutely no value. So there is a marriage therapist by the name of gottman. And he can predict with 94% accuracy. If a couple is going to get divorced. And he has four different elements that he looks at the number one number one is contempt. If he sees when he meets with a couple of pcs contempt. But they're expressing for each other. He knows that it will be almost impossible. To come back. From that. Contempt. Is where you have art have raised yourself up over the other person. You know better you are a better person. And that person. Is not. And there's just. Just nothing to even go to. Our country is going to need. A really good marriage therapist. And that is something that i feel we can. Step into. If we are able to. Work on ourselves on this. This idea of how do we keep justice equity and compassion how do we keep all of those. In our minds. At the same time. And contempt. Is something. That has to be self-diagnose. It is so tempting. Rights to look at other people and we so clearly can see the contempt in them. And then sometimes we are contemptuous of the contempt we see and then it's so easy to see it in other people and it's hard to see it in ourselves right because. Justification. Righteousness. Is part of the mix of this. Part of identifying contempt in ourselves. Is that we have to acknowledge something we probably don't want to. Contempt is from what i read like antifreeze. You're looking a little confused. Here's where it's like antifreeze why do they say it is so important that if you have antifreeze like spilled on your driveway that you clean it up immediately why do they say that. It's it's. It's poison and. It's suites. It's sweet. And so animals and young children will go for it. Cuz it tastes so good and it is poison. And that's contempt. We had if we're going to identify it in ourselves we have to admit that contempt. Is tasty. Right cuz we are all filled we want to lift up justice. And so we are filled with that and so it is tasty tasty tasty. Poison. Because contempt doesn't just poison our relationships. It poisons us. And speaking for myself. I find it very addictive. I know especially over the last couple years that i have gone into phases. Where i am just eating up that contempt. And i'm never like potato chips i'm never satisfied with just one i want more and more and more and it poisons me because i start looking at people. Cuz i want to get my contempt fix right. So i start seeing the things that i think could be contemptible. About them. And so i am working really hard. Do i did it to catch myself in the act. A feeling it and it's hard and one of my little clues is if i'm feeling really good and really righteous i should probably. Look a little bit closer. I see if i am trying to slurp up that antifreeze of contempt. It is hard. Work. To do this thing of juggling. Justice. An equity and compassion all at the same time. We are going to have to prioritize. One or the other of these at certain time. The issue is to not. Drop. The others. It is a hard thing to do. We can do hard things. And if we don't do this. Who will.

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2018-02-25-Sermon-ItWillNotBeEasyItWillBeWorthIt.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast for february 25th 2018. This week's service is. It will not be easy. It will be worth it. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning comes from walden by henry david thoreau. I left the woods for as good a reason as i went there. Perhaps it seemed to me that i had several more lives to live. And could not spare any more time for that one. I learned this at least by my experiment. But if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams. And endeavors to live the life that he has imagine. He will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. You will put some things behind will pass an invisible boundary new universal and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him. Or the old laws will be expanded. An interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. In proportion as he simplifies his life. The laws of the universe will appear less complex. And solitude will not be solitude nor poverty poverty nor weakness weakness. If you have built castles. In the air. Your work need not be lost. That is where they should be. Now put the foundations. Our day-to-day life. Is. In some ways a lot easier. Bennett used to. Read i'm not even talkin like. You know back in the days of spinning wheels and washboards but i mean i can remember and i bet some of the people my age or older can remember my mom like once a week. She get in the car and drive to the bank. Fill out a withdrawal slip. It was a huge deal in our town when they put in a teller window and several drive-through lanes in a like like what could ever be more convenient than that. Take the cash and go to the grocery store. Because back then grocery stores didn't take credit cards anyone remember this. Pay for everything with cash. At holiday time it would mean weeks of going around to two different stores finding the right price for everything. I have older siblings and my mom says that when they were little. She and my dad didn't have a whole lot of money but they would save up their money to hire a babysitter for one night so that the two of them could go out and do the christmas shopping together for. Wow this is not the reality that i'm living now writes like if i need cash you know i got to whatever the most convenient atm is although. Like i barely ever even get cash because every place takes credit cards now. Even your church there's a a qr code on the back of your order of service little plug. My holiday shopping and all of that it's all done online and i like my kids can make their wish list and send them to us with links and and everything and groceries. I mean like every years something makes you know life a little bit more convenient and i have to confess that now i rarely ever even go in the grocery store cuz now i can place my order online and do that curbside to go i drive up they put it in my car and i feel very righteous. Because i've actually done that much work as opposed to instacart where they just deliver it to your house right. I love it things are a lot easier i for one cannot wait for the self-driving cars right that that's next next step. Been waiting for that jetsons flying car but this i'll take this i'll take this. And i wonder. What. Are unitarian forebears like in the 1800's. What they would think of this not the technological stuff right that like that would just kind of blow their mind. But the fact that everything is. So easy. These kind of day today. They're so easy. Because for them hard work. Was a virtue it was a religious virtue. Unitarianism had come out of. Puritanism. And they rejected a whole lot of puritanism but not that puritan work ethic. They still felt like that was. Something really important. And valuable. And. I have to agree with them. I mean i guess i'm going to take all of the the shortcuts for these. Mundane things as i can. But i also think that there is something about. When you when you know that you have really. Work hard. 4 something. There is a value in and out of that. By itself. And i imagine those of you who are gardeners. Know about this. Right cuz you can a tomato you can walk into the grocery store. Or if you're me. Drive your car up to the drive grocery store and get a tomato. But when you have. Had your hands. In the soil. Raised it from a a seedling. Watering it mulching it weeding it. And then you go out on that warm. Funny. Summer day. They are coming back. And you. You pluck that tomato. Off of the vine and take. Inside. Like all of that. Work. Is in. That one. There's kind of a rule with. They say never make yourself. The hero of the. I'm totally going to break that rule. Cuz i'm really. I'm really proud of this. And also this this is my testimony about how going that extra mile and working harder. How it can be a reward. Of itself when you when you decide that you're going to become a uu minister. Very quickly you learn that all the way down at the end of this journey there is going to be this this fearsome beast this monster that you have to pass. Call the mfc which stands for ministerial fellowshipping committee. And so if you are smart all the way from the very very beginning you start putting your packet together every class you take every book you read your writing it down so that you can prove that you have mastered certain competencies my packet was 120 pages long which is actually just. Normal. You go through seminary. But you know the mfc is down there at the end of the line waiting for you. And you do your hospital chaplaincy and get evaluations that go in your packet and you know the mfc is still ahead and you do your internship more evaluations more essays to go in the packet and that mfc is still down there waiting for you and then you get your appointment date. When you're going to go to boston and go in front of them. You're going to preach about a 10-minute sermon and then for the rest of the hour. They are going to ask you. And they can you ask you any kind of question. What are the four noble truths. Who preached the baltimore sermon and when and why was it important. What is the dedham decision. All of these questions. And it was around about that time. I was looking at my date preparing for all of this. I knew that i kind of can have a tendency towards putting things off till the last minute and i knew that that would not serve me well. And. A mice can't spare time. I was watching grey's anatomy. And i saw this thing. Every morning 5 days a week you are in my office at 4 a.m. we work gray if you don't show up if you are late i will kick your ass we work great we work. Meredith was preparing for her medical boards but i saw that scene and i said that is what i need. Oddly enough i couldn't find any you ministers who are willing to meet me at 4 a.m. 5 days a week and so i decided i was going to make hurt that the character the one he was saying i'm going to be the one teaching you and all of this her name is torres. I decided i needed a torres and i was going to make facebook. My torres because i had all of these friends who are you you ministers and you you lay people and so i said okay. Every sunday i'm going to ask you for questions and then monday through friday every day i'm going to answer one question. Publicly. And i did that starting in. March. April. May. June. July. August and into september. 5 days 6 months. 5 days a week monday through friday answering these questions that people would post. To prepare me for the mfc. I was also studying on my own time i can be a visual learner so for me that meant sticky notes. Lots. And lots. And lots. And lots. I'm lots. And lots. And lots. Of sticky notes. And lots and it also meant timelines great big butcher paper timelines up on the walls. My daughter cuz i goes i remember all of this. And timelines with sticky notes. Timelines and sticky notes and preparing and all of the questions on facebook and finally the day came and i went to boston and i went in front of the mfc. And. And passed it. And frankly it was a lot easier. Meeting with the mfc and getting their questions then all of the questions on facebook because you know they didn't argue with me and i don't know if you've noticed this but people especially unitarians on facebook really like to argue. I had a couple of colleagues at this time who were watching all of this kind of bemusedly and. You know they suggested that this was a little overkill that i perhaps didn't actually need to do all of these things. But i got to tell you. I've never regretted it. This many years later you can tell i am still. So proud of this this is something that became a part of me and it changed how i even see myself. And the thing is. I did all of this. Because i felt and i knew i knew. That unitarian-universalism. Deserved it. They deserve all the sticky notes and the studying and everything else and i didn't know where i was going to wind up but i had faith. That i would be called to a church. And that church. Would deserve it. And i was. And you do. Underneath all of this. There was love. I love. This space i love this church. And i think that when you combine love. And hard work. There's nothing that you can't. Accomplish. You can move mountains. Evermore hope. Today. Then i did a week ago. Those of you who were here last sunday. Know that other than the prayer. I didn't address. The parkland. The very first sermon i ever gave. Was. The sunday after columbine. Had to throw out what i planned and preached on that. I was pregnant with keziah. 18 years ago. 18 years i've been doing. So many sermons about school shootings. And last week. I was done. There was nothing else i could say. I had no hope. Anyone been watching those kids in florida. I got hope today. What about y'all. Those kids and i will say. They are combining. And hard work. They are not doing this for themselves they've already survived a school shooting. One of the one that is getting the most attention emma gonzalez she's about to graduate and go on to college. They're doing this because they have love in their hearts. For the world. Didn't want any other student to have to go through what they have gone through. I told they are shouting never again hashtag never again you're going to be seeing a whole lot of this. Been reading articles about what all they've been doing and. They are barely sleeping. I don't have time to listen to their spotify list let alone go and see black panther like all of their other friends. They are sleeping on planes and in chairs they are going on tv shows their writing speeches and they are organizing a march there are several marches that are being talked about but the one on march 24th. They are planning. They are the ones behind this the march for our lives. Love. And hard work and in case you haven't been noticing. People are paying attention. It feels different now doesn't it. Tiab does it kind of feel different. 14 politicians who are actually coming back and going. Well i think i might have to change my mind. We're seeing businesses that are breaking their relationships with the nra. These kids are already getting a whole lot of pushback. They're being vilified. They're being accused of not being what they are which is. High school kids. And they're keeping on. Because they got that love in there. Other willing to do. The hard work. What is it. Or who is it. That you love. That you would give your all for. For doing and for changing the world. We don't do things alone that stuff that i did. That was because i had. This huge group of tourists who are asking me questions and pushing me. I had a family that said. Will eat pizza again tonight you go study mom. You have resources just as these kids have resources and i want to be one of their resources and we have the resources of those who have gone before. Are unitarian and universalist ancestors. Change the world with their love. They did amazing things. They work for abolition. They work for women's suffrage. That work for civil rights and they are still working now we have unitarian universalist who are working to change the world and starting here at home because for all of those you use that did amazing things. We also had ones who. Just went along with the norm. Takes a lot. Of work inside. An outside. So what is it that you like. What is it that you can combine. Hard work. To achieve your dreams. Your goal. It will not. So many things in life are easy. And i think that there is something in naming that and saying. In in accepting for ourselves that we are embarking on a journey that will be difficult. But it will be worth.

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2019-03-24-CirclesOfTrust.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For march 24th. 2019. This week's service is. Circles of trust. Irreverent barber kooiman. Well good morning everybody. It is such a pleasure to be here this morning. I'm honored. Grateful that i can. Share this time with you this morning. It was in this sanctuary 14 years ago it's hard to believe it's been that long. That i was ordained to ministry by this congregation. I am so grateful for the this conversation support. Of ministry and ministers in formation. You are offering an important and important role in our denomination and the development of ministry so thank you so much it's really good to be back here. Reverend johanna was not the minister at that time but i've known her for a good twenty years going back to when we were both in houston together. And she's been a good friend and a good colleague. I understand she's rounding up her vacation time and she's well and she will be back with you soon. I want to talk about paradox this morning. So let's start with a reading. Bigen eleonora about paradox. It is a paradox. That we encounter so much internal noise. When we first tried to sit in silence. It is a paradox that experiencing pain. Releases pain. Is a paradox that keeping still. Can lead us so fully into life. Ambien. Our minds do not like paradoxes. We want things to be clear. So we can maintain our illusions. Safety. Certainty breeds tremendous. Smugness. We each possess a deeper level of being however. Which love paradox. It knows that summer is already growing like a seed in the depth of winter. It knows that the moment we are born. We begin to die. Announce that all life shimmers. In shade. I'll be coming. That shadow and light are always together. The visible mingled with the invisible. When we sit in stillness. We are profoundly act. Keeping silent. We hear the roar of existence. To our willingness to be the one we are. We become one. With everything. Impossible paradox. By camila. So i want to start with another story about an animal story for all of us. It's not about a rooster or a pig. Or a cow. It's about a whale. No i don't know if whales have ever learned acro perhaps i do know how but anyway it's still a story about a whale. And it's a story i expect some of you have heard before. There was a prophet named jonah. He was commanded by god to go to the city of nineveh. Torn about great wickedness in the city. Jonathan want to go he wanted to dodge his duty. As a prophet anybody ever want to try to get out of a workout legation. Well jonah didn't want to go. So we headed out in the opposite direction on a ship that was headed to the town of tarshish. Enroute a big storm came up and everybody on board concluded that jonah was the cause of the weather. Jonah was to blame for the weather. He told them that if they would throw him overboard. The storm would subside. They threw them overboard. And the storm calmed. Now i'm not too worried. A large fish. Some stories say some versions of it's a large whale. Came swimming along. And rather than nibbling jonah bit by bit. The whale swallowed jonah whole. He lived three days. And three nights. In the belly of a whale. Now lacking much else to entertain himself within the whale belly there's not much to do i guess inside whale bellies. Jonah pray to god. Apologizing for trying to dodge his prophetic call to nineveh. The whale lechona go. Call. Near the shore of nineveh. Where jonah fulfilled his duty as a prop. Jonah experienced a paradox. A contradiction. He ended on a sure-fire route to just the place he didn't want to go. And trying to go one way. He went in the opposite direction. And then shot in the belly of a whale for three whole days. So to find some meaning from this dilemma. In which he did find hazard reading said a deeper level of meaning. He learned that the work of prophecy. Can sometimes involve contradictions. Intentions. I wanted to tell you the story of jonah. Because of inspire demanding parker palmer. I know some of you know the work of parker palmer and it's parker that i want to talk about this morning including my in my offering to you this morning. Parker palmer. Heard the story about jonah from the trappist monk. Thomas merton. The parker palmer is a well-known quaker spiritual leader. Whose writings about 25 years ago. But laid the groundwork for a spiritual institute that's called the center for courage and renewal. I'm at parker palmer around the year 2000. What a professor of mine at austin presbyterian seminary. Recommended a seminar that parker was leading at texas state in san marcos. My life changing journey with courage and renewal which i want to talk to you about this morning it all started here in texas and i'm so grateful for that original meeting. Your before that seminar that i attended with parker. He had heard thomas merton. Compare martin's sacred calling. As a monk. To jonas story. Martin wasn't caught inside a whale you know there were that many whales and kentucky where martin lived. But he was caught in a similar. Conundrum. In committing to a life of the spirit. Martin thought he was headed in one direction. But the reality of living that spiritual life kept taking him. A new path. He didn't expect. And he didn't want. Or he didn't need or at least he thought he didn't need them. Martin roach. Like jonas. Himself. I find myself traveling. Toward my destiny in the belly. Haloperidol. The belly of a paradox. So what do we mean by paradox. Paradox is that state of contradiction. Created by a parent opposites. Wichita one way and then the other. Paradoxes when two seeming opposites can both be true. Or recalling our reading. It is a paradox that keeping still. Can lead so fully into life. And being. So as a monk. Thomas merton took about solitude. Yeah she wrote over 60 books and became an international celebrity was on the road a lot. While serving also. His calling as a monk. Living quietly in the hills of kentucky. He had prophetic insight into social activism. Which benefited literally thousands of people around the world. Undoubtedly each of us has experienced some paradox. In ourselves. Or in others. You know that sense of people whose actions and values don't quite line up don't quite match. Our sense of getting. Cotton struggles and pensions should we go one way should we go the other way. Lots of paradoxes. In modern life. Parker palmer came to understand that pursuing a life of contemplation as he hoped for as a young man. Was like living in a whale belly. Perhaps a parallel for us. And our participation in a religious organization such as this congregation is the same. Bremerton. For parker for us. We may experience that entering a spiritual community and we hope it will be calm. A stress-free. When in fact we often encounter the opposite and i'm not saying this is true of this congregation. But pop in theory when we enter a spiritual community along with the many joys we might meet some contradiction. Or confusion. What's dressing. Or feel like we're being swallowed up in a direction we don't intend. Martin's image. Of the spiritual life as the belly of paradox. Was freeing for parker palmer. Who until then had experienced paradox as vulnerability and risk. As a place where he wanted to create an illusion of safety without the reality of safety. Well tossing and turning. Not being sure which way to go. That metaphor of the belly of paradox help parker palmer realize that when we feel swallowed up by paradox. We can still arrive at a safe landing. On the other shore. He knows the reality of paradox well. He's experienced three fairly serious clinical depression. During his 80 years of living lost far. He knows well how paradox. Can feel. And i work directly with. Parker palmer and he's just. Incredibly inspiring gentleman. Who willingly talks about his clinical depression. It's what has inspired this amazing work of these.. So motivated to get beyond the vulnerability of paradox. Martin and parker. Both came to realize that stress and tension are not impediment to a spiritual life but they're actually interval to it. As long as we learn to deal with paradox gracefully. And lovingly. Grounding especially in practices of trust. We can find effective ways of reaching deeper levels of being. Azar reading called it. Is martin's whale story. Parker came to realize that he was not alone in experiencing life as a series of contradictions and tension. Perhaps you have some similar experience to just think on it. When are there be times in your life. When you've been pulled one way and pull the other. You don't know which way to go both avenue seem possible both avenue seem right. Your your card and contradictions you're caught in intocables back and forth. I think all of us. I've had experience. Like that truck after the service you might want to talk to one another about some of your experiences. With peridot. One of those stories about your stories of. The whale model. The whale metaphor. Inspired parker palmer's important spiritual program that's called circles of trust. Which i will tell you more about injustice. We can avoid paradox if everywhere. It pervades the natural world. It's part of what it means to be human. Mother nature model paradox. Plants that flower in summer. And lie dormant in winter. Without dormancy there would be no new flowering the next spring. A metaphor for the humans. Right. Hi. slow. we go inward sometimes. Perhaps the words of humorist eb white convey the dilemma and the humor of paradox. Eb white wrote this and i love this quote from him. If the world were merely seductive. That would be easy. If the world were merely challenging that would be no problem. But i arise in the morning. Torn between a desire to improve the world. And a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. Ironically around the time i'm at parker palmer. I myself was in the belly. The paradox. But i didn't know anything about circles of trust at that point. My parashockx had to do with moving here to texas. In the late 90s. With a career as a professor. And then hearing a call to ministry. I was torn between two truths. Certainly both teaching. And ministry. Are honorable calling. And eiffel i felt pulled one way. Then the other way. I felt vulnerable if i made the wrong. Choice. I wish i had known then what i know now. About how the role of trust. When we face dilemmas. Can make the going. Much easier. So far few moments then friends. Let's explore how developing intentional habits of trust. Kanequip has got her to faithlife contradiction. What does trust look like. How can we intentionally nurture trust. When those paradoxes of life. Come along. The word trust conjures perhaps legal agreements. For property or financial assets is where you go first in. My daughter and her wife have just set up a trust fund for my new grandson college-educated. Trust. Trustor parallel meaning. Trust. Concerns assurance. That the character or the ability or the strength of another. Is something that we can place our. Trust is also related to respect. And the author ruth gendler. Wrote that trust is the daughter. Truth. Trust is confidence in how life will unfold. Especially when we don't have total control. Of life. As anybody not. Ever had a time when you're not in control and you happen to anybody. Like when we going to whale bellies we don't have control right. Trust is core to this process called religion. Remember the word r a legal the core of it means bound together a legal bound together in these common questions about human existence. About the mysteries of life and death. Trust is core to this process of being religious. So what does trust mean to you. What does it look like. In this congregation. And your family's how about in your schools. Or in your workplaces. For me trust is something intuitive. It's some. Building block of relationships that i sent. Very often. That freedom to be myself. To connect openly and honestly with others. So to live a creative life. Indeed for me trust is core. To spiritual deepening. Without trust i can't build spiritual connect. With all life. Around me. Trust is also essential to relationship with others. Communities congregations can't function productively without trust. And our people their principals. Their operations. In part because trust is also related to power. Without trust in programs and institutions designed to hold power. We're less likely to give ourselves over to that leadership and i would suggest that our current national political system is in a crisis. How do we trust the leadership. That we are receiving out of our nash. Officer. It may seem like a no-brainer. That we one living trust. But you know sometimes creating or rebuilding trust after it's been broken. Can be challenging. Trust me require tremendous courage. As parker palmer said the work of trust is the challenge of becoming whole. He wrote. If we are willing to embrace the challenge of becoming whole. We need trustworthy relationship. To sustain us. Tenacious communities of support to sustain the journey. Toward an undivided life. He thought a lot about how to bring more trust to our lives. And to the lives of others we interact. So let's just consider for a few moments a few of the trust-building habits. Which are core to this practice called circles. Trust can calm the instability that we find ourselves in. When we're in the belly of a. So just for a few months moments some of the ways in which we practice trust-building when we're in this retreat mode called circles of trust. So central. To trust. Is deep. Listening. Or some folks call it active. And i understand some of you were in a inch'allah circles and you've been considering a deep listening recently. When we listen deeply. We're fully present to the person. Speaking. We're paying attention. We're not thinking i had to haul will respond with our just ever so brilliant words of wisdom. My experience is a deep listening may be the single most powerful habit in generating trust. Because it helps the speaker feel accepted. And heard and acknowledged. I wonder how you ever had an experience of talking to someone. And you realize that the other person is not really listening to you. Their body language. Or the lack of eye contact. Or perhaps they're yawning or interrupting you. That's not a good way to build trust my. Another habit that we practice is a circle of trust. Is a partner too deep listening what i called deep. Speaking. Or the capacity when you're speaking. To know that your words are heard. And they make sense. That you were accepted as you are. As donna. Read in the opening words to this congregation come here just as you are. Your authentic self. Is well. Here. Parker. Talks a lot about trusting oneself he calls at the authentic self and he also calls at the true self. The quality that the person you see on the outside is the same one as a person inside. Authentic self. Crusoe. It allows the self that was born in us to emerge and we can feel safe and secure. With true self being open and present. 1/3 quality we consider about trust. Is that when we're in the throes of a paradox. Our authentic self can be guided by what parker palmer refers to as our inner teacher. An inner guide that we have the capacity to call up to call upon. The inner teacher calls us to very deep soul work. This process of uncovering who we are and what this journey of life is all about. Especially when this journey takes us. Into challenges. The more we can trust listening to ourselves. The more ably we can trust and deal. So just a few of the examples of how we practice trust. Deep listening. Authentic speaking. I'm doing the deep soul work by listening to the inner teacher. What how do you respond to paradox when you're in a dilemma. Think of what you do how you respond. Often. Perhaps some of you have responded with a binary mindset. When we face two opposites. We go to either or thinking. Both sides can't be true one is good the other is bad. Either i'm with you or i'm again you. Someone a political or religious beliefs different from my own must be wrong right. Because i am right right. Around the time i'm at parker i thought choosing one career path. Meant giving up the other. I will be either teacher. Or a minister. Alas. Will be defeated. When we assume that opposite or irreconcilable. Because either or thinking leaves us in positions. Not relationship. When were in a position especially when we're defending our position. Which must certainly be true. It's hard to make deep listening. An active engagement. It's hard to listen deeply to others when we're positioned ourselves as we plan out our next response. And then propositioning another common response is fight. Or flight. Either we overtly confront. Difference. Has anybody ever raise your voice at family members when they are doing exactly what you've asked. Or we're on our way we turn around run the other way. Has anyone ever swept off conversation. Under the rug. They don't really go away. They just create lumpy rugs. Weather fighting or flighting. We're short on track. Parker candy realize it early in his life he did a lot of sweeping under the rug. And he ended up leading a very bland life. Either-or and fight. Plight. Doesn't leave open the opportunity for growing from the realization that the opposite of any truth maybe another truth. Both teaching and ministry for. The rather than either or how about trying both and. Rather than opposition to difference. What about considering that the other person can't be totally wrong. And perhaps i am not totally right imagine that i am not totally right. Bachelor's truth in both years. And we can learn from one another. Perhaps trusting. there is a third way. That neither of us thought about. Especially if we're locked and staunch positioning. Both and mindset he keep the conversation going. So to find some higher plane some commonality which generates deep deeper levels of meaning. Oneness with everything. Which some express as the core of the religious quest. We can let go of winning the argument because in fact there is no argument. Or in martin's language. We can find a hidden wholeness. Or is one of my colleagues in the circle of trust program has said the capacity to live in paradox. Is perhaps the only way we can hold together the sheer complexity of what it means to be alive. Aware. And fully human. Toys i said if i knew them. What i know now about choosing a career path. I might have had a whole lot easier time for my. So following ordination here at live oak in 2005. I went out and began to serve my first ministries outside of texas. In that process. I started attending circles of trust retreats. In moving more deeply toward my authentic self. As a consequence of those retreats. This helped me realize i wasn't facing an either-or. Between teaching and ministry. As a minister i have ample opportunities to teach others. Including when i leave circles of trust retreats. I'm clearly when i'm wearing an official hat as a teacher. As when i offer ruu history course at a local seminary up up north. I'm bringing ministry. To the minister's information that i'm serving. These habits of trust. Especially the deep listening and the listening to true south. Have helped me open up d places in my soul. Which had been hidden. I'm so grateful that i've had this awakening. Sunday then a circle of trust. Is a soul deepening experience. On average of a retreat involves between 10 and 20 participants. And no surprise sitting in the galuteria circle. In which participants. Engage in conversation as a wish it's all by invitation there's no requirement. In circles. So cancel trust are grounded together by what we call touchstone. Which are somewhat like the covenants and unitarian universal. Agreements for how we will be together with one another. An inspired by poetry and the visual arts and getting out walking in nature. And through personal reflection. A small group conversation. And conversations in the whole circle. We come to the deeper levels of meaning. An understanding of life with one another. I've not known any other spiritual practice which build connections as quickly and as firmly as circles of trust. After attending retreats for several years i applied and was. Wonderful accepted as a facilitator in the courage of renewal. Tune and that's that's how committed i become to this work. So to this i want to invite you to a explorer circle to trust retreats here the central texas area. There's a strong cohort of facilitators. Including my mentor who lives in fort worth. And leaves a number of circles of trust. In the central texas area. And additionally i want to offer you a direct invitation. To a circle of trust workshop i will offer at the point. This summer. In the last week of july the last full week of july the uu camp in northern texas the point. I'm going to lead a particular program that's called geography of grace. Which calls on the natural environment as sources of inspiration. I understand many of you attended point-of-use i've been at the point. I thought that the summer camp the point if you haven't been i encourage you to try to attend. I have fond memories of that summer camp from when i lived here fifteen years ago. I many fond memories of being together with with. Congruence and with who became my future minister colleagues. And also after the service i'm happy to talk with anybody more about what i'm going to be offering there this summer anyway if that's a carrot for any of you to register for the point. When our life takes detours into bellies. A paradox. Let us not despair. Trusting in a both and mindset. Paradox can become life-giving. Not death-dealing. We can uncover larger truth. We never imagined exist. Sharing higher truths especially with person. Who might have become adversaries. We grow in trust. We reduce stress. We eliminate confrontation. We open the door to asking. And offering. Forgiveness. As niels bohr wrote. How wonderful that we have met with a power. Now we have some hope. Of making progress.

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2020-02-16-BeBulgarian.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church. For february 16th. 2012. This week service is. Be bulgarian. I rather enjoy the fontaine croft. Are reading this morning is one that is perhaps familiar to some of you. Invictus by william ernest henley. Out of the night that covers me dark as the pit from pole to pole i thank whatever gods may be for my uncomfortable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance i have not winced nor cried aloud under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears. Looms but the horror of the shade. And yet the menace of the years finds and shall find. Unafraid. It matters not how straight the gate. How charged with punishments the scroll. I. And the master of my fate. I. And the captain. So bulgaria in world war 1 had been dipped. And in 1919 with the treaty of new e. Certain parts of their of their area. Have been taken away. I'm specifically in the areas of thrace and macedonia. And this was i mean as you can imagine if. Imagine if part of our country had been taken away and given to someone else. It it certainly affected their morale. And then as the years went on after that they became more and more financially dependent. On germany. For doing trade with. They had wanted to remain neutral but the time came when the czar tsar boris the third sign the tripartite pact. And they became part of the axis powers. Along with germany. And italy and japan. And when they did that the one benefit that they got was they were given some of that territory back that those areas of 3. And macedonia. And from then on they often would refer to old kingdom which was the part of bulgaria with that was within the 19th. The pre 1941 borders. And new kingdom which was these other areas of macedonian. Bulgaria was. Different. Then some of the other countries in europe and specifically. Between the jews and the gentiles. Jewish families had been there for generation upon generation most of them since 1492. And so rather than there be a jewish side of town and a christian side of town they were next-door neighbors to each other they had fought in the previous wars together shoulder-to-shoulder they worked together they played together in the words of bryan stevenson they work proximate to one another and there was their developed sort of an interface. Ethos. In their culture they would go to each other's houses of worship and even respectfully they would celebrate each other's holidays. Again they were genuinely. Friends and neighbors and there was not the same history of anti-semitism that there were in other parts of europe. Butts. They had now signed on with the axis powers and they were watching what germany was doing as it was a occupying different lands bulgaria would never be occupied. Because they had signed on to this. And the government of bulgaria began to respond. To the demands of hitler. And in 1941. They passed in their parliament. It was it was their version of the nuremberg laws it was laws for the protection of the nation. And the served as interim dirtburglars did to strip away rights. From all of the jews and to force them to wear the yellow star. When this happened in this was something that the government didn't especially the czar was pushing for this but the people were not. Supporting this this happened under a lot of protest the intellectuals of bulgaria work we're riding pieces and we're going and talking to the politician. And the church the main church in bulgaria was the orthodontist bulgarian orthodox church. They were very much against this they were protesting and in fact one of the high bishop went and talked to the czar and said if you pass this. I fear for your immortal soul. This is wrong. But to no avail. It's still. People went on. More or less as before. But the pressure was still being put upon bulgaria. And then the news came. That about what was happening in other. How they were departing the jews and other countries and sending them to concentration. And then in 1943 in the spring of 1943. Boris gave his assent to this. And the police and other officials began rounding up the jewish bulgarian citizens and sending them to holding centers. As the trains were rolling into take them out of bulgaria. And to take him to. But this time. In this country. The people. Revolted. They said you. Cannot do this cuz this was again this was their friends. And their neighbours these were people that they played in bands with and work together with. I'm so the people stormed the streets they went to they went and talked to the politicians they went out to these holding centers they went out to the railway stations they found out when it was supposed to happen that they were going to move the jewish citizens and they showed up at the railway station. Bulgarian orthodox church was deeply involved in des and one of them bishop by the name of bishop. Carol. Showed up. At one of these town squares with the railway station and he made his way to the front and he told the officials you will not do this i will lie down on the railroad tracks. To keep you from doing this. And the people responded as well they too said that they would lie down on the railroad tracks. To keep those the trains from moving and it wasn't just in the cities either because just like in our country and i'll have the trains will go out through big wide swaths of of country the farmers heard about what was happening. And they chew said we will go and lie down on the railroad tracks. You will not do this. There were some politicians. Who were responding to this one of them was demeter pesha. Who is the deputy speaker for the parliament. He managed to go around and he got about a third of the parliament to sign on to a resolution that would prohibit this from happening. And under all of this pressure. Tsar boris really didn't have a choice and so he told hitler. That they would not be releasing the bulgarian jewish. Citizens that bulgaria needed them for some labor efforts and indeed many of the jewish men were sent. Two labor camps. Within bulgaria. But. Before world war ii. There were forty-eight thousand jews. Bulgaria. After world war ii. There were forty-eight thousand jews. In bulgaria. The only place where. And there are memorials. Throughout bulgaria. Talking about this and many of the people like carol and pesha were later awarded the distinguished meant of being righteous among the nations. From israel. Who. Would you be willing to. Lie down for. Across the tree. Parasite. Is an interesting word and i'm not talking about the movie that just won all of the oscars. Although it's really good and it's somewhat connected to this i recommend it i recommend it's not as scary as people think that it is like i'm. If i'm saying that and i got scared at like the thriller video you know it's pretty safe for you. Maybe not for the youngest. Parasite i think it when we often think of the word. Parasite. We think of it in two meetings right we think. We think of it as the metaphor when applied to humans and then we think of the scientific use right like tapeworms and fleas and ticks and organisms such as that. We actually that's what you think which is what i thought we have it backwards. It actually started the other way it came from the greek word parasitos which was used to they was before they knew about bugs and stuff like that and so it was used to apply two people admit one who sits at your table and it was it was a disparaging term but it was pretty mild it was you know that person who comes over and you know eats at your table doesn't usually you know give the same hospitality back doesn't really reciprocate. And then you got picked up again. In about the 1530s in europe. And again it was use pretty much the same way you know that person that that hangs around knowing that dinner is coming and drinks your wine and eat your food and never really reciprocates. And then he was about two hundred years after that. The scientist. Began understanding how what we would call bio parasites how they work and so they actually the one he was a metaphor for them you see and so they use it. To apply it to bayou parasites. And then just a little bit. After that. Was when. Civilization began using the term again. Towards when referring to humans. But this time they were using it as a metaphor based on that idea. The flea. The tapeworm. And it meant something far more serious. It meant. It was usually applied not to individuals but two groups of people groups of people who in when it was being used. That it was thought that they lived off of other people. And that they were damaging. And that they in fact could damage the whole of. Society. It was used during the french revolution. And be at the parasites at that time were those who were privileged by births in other words the aristocracy they were the ones referred to as the parasites in the russian revolution it was talking about the bourgeoisie. And now is china the enemies of the people they were said the enemies of the people are. Parasites. And then it began being used. In germany. To talk about those. With less privileged to talk about the romani. And to talk about the juice. And then it began being used again in the soviet union under cruz chef but by this point you know the bourgeoisie we're not really the issue and so it was used on those who they would say are not contributing enough to society. And so you were beggars. People like that except. But they also created laws against what they called social parasite ism. And i would exile. The hard labor camps cancel it became a really effective way to get rid of someone that you wanted to get rid of. I'm so dissidence. Poets were charged with this. Anyone who had any level of power this was a tool that they could use and so farm managers in an effort to get their their numbers of what they were producing up they would look at the disabled workers that they had. And charged them with that. Widows. With children. Parasite. And we are still using. The term. It is being used right now. In germany. In great britain. I'd in the united states. And most of the time when it is used. It is used to refer to. Immigrants. There is no telling. Who will be labeled. A parasite. In the future. Looking at history it has been everyone from the privileged. To those with the least. Amount. For whom are you willing. The lie down. So let me tell you the rest of the story. About bulgaria. And i'm afraid that this part is not. A corolla. So as i mentioned before. There were really kind of. Two parts of bulgaria. Old kingdom and new king. And new kingdom grace and macedonia had jews as well. But the bulgarian. Did not see them. As their neighbors. As their friends. And so when the trains came. To take them. There was no one willing to say that they would lie down on the train track. And they took away over 11,000. Juice. To the concentration camp of treblinka. And very few. There's this story that people tell of a rabbi. Who was asked the question who is my neighbor. And he chose at that time to take a member of the most despised group. The samaritan. Make that person that hero of the story. And the reason that person was the hero of the story. Was because he saw anyone in need. As a neighbor. And would make. Sacrifices. Of himself. To help that person. The sixth principle. Have unitarian universalism. Is that we have promised that we will work toward the goal of world community. With peace liberty and justice for all. If this is our goal. The goal of world community. It requires us to see. All people. As our neighbors. People who look different than us. Act different than us. And people who think differently. And right now i don't know about you. But i'm finding that part. Really hard. Really difficult. I've been reading hannah arendt book that was published in 1951 the origins of totalitarianism i highly highly recommended there will be a copy in the live oak library that you can check out. It is disturbing. She's talking about both what happened in the soviet union and what happened in nazi germany there are so many parts. That you will read and you're going to go. Huh. This seems really relevant right now. This seems like what i am seeing happening in my own country. She writes in it it has frequently been observed that terror can rule absolutely only over people who are isolated against each other and that therefore one of the primary concerns of all tyrannical government is to bring the isolation about. Isolated people are powerless by definition. Isolation and impotence that is the fundamental inability to act. At all have always been characteristics of tyranny. Political contacts between people are severed in a tyrannical government and the human capacities for action and power are frustrated. And it doesn't just mean isolating us as individual. But even when we do the thing that we do where we just huddled together that with people who think. Like we do. This is isolating. And now. The internet has been invented. Some people have a whole new way. Isolating us one from another. There is someone right now in russia and probably also in the united states hired guns that are sitting there on social media and the whole goal. Is the separate us. One from another. Etiological. So that we sever. Any connection that we have. So peshab that was the deputy speaker. He wasn't always the good guy. When they pass. That thing that was like their version of the nuremberg law. He supported it. But when they came. To get. The jewish citizens. .. Was too far. We have to believe that people can change. We have to believe that people are capable of changing their mind. And we have to stay in relationship with them. So that perhaps. We can be a part of that. But i am so sympathetic i have done. The same thing that i know others have done especially on facebook where i get stole. Frustrated and so just hurt at seeing the apartment views that people i know are putting out there but every time we post on facebook and we say if look if you support x. Candidate. L. Etc. Every time we do that where we say if you support this person just unfriend me we are the ones who are self-isolating we are the ones that are cutting that precious thin. Thread. Now i'm not saying do things different in your life. So as not to offend anyone know live your life out loud talk about why you do things share your opinions. If you had a post about it talk about it why i am going out to register voters because i believe that everyone should have a right to vote if you're out here working for fresh food for all talk about why you do that i am doing this thing because i believe that all people deserve to have nutritious food. Represent yourself. Show people who you are yes. There will be some people who will cut the thread themselves. And we can't do anything about that everyone gets to make their own decisions. But make it their choice. Not ours. Stay in relationship. In this hope i hope that i know sometimes can feel. Futile. That yes. People can change if we look at history history is full. Of people who have made a bad decision. But then made. A good one. If you're interested in this story of what happened in bulgaria there is. There's a glade. Documentary and its streaming on amazon for a fee if you're interested let me know i can buy a dvd and put it in our library. It's called the optimist. And and they're talking to people who were there. At the time. And at the end of the documentary. They have jewish cantor avrohom behar yaffa. Who is there. And he says. From where such people born. Because of good relationships the people resisted the nazis. The nazis used to write on jewish homes and synagogues. Jew. By morning people had already cleaned it. They risked their lives to do this.. Death. The nazis used to hang nazi flags in the morning the flags were burned they the christians not us we were imprisoned in our homes. In secret. They brought us rice. Potatoes meat they brought. Where can you find such p. The jews wear their friends and their neighbors. I wish. But it had extended farther. But 48,000 people. Were alive. At the end of world war ii. Who might not have been. For whom are you willing. Lie down on the train track.

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2017-10-22-Sermon-StopRaisingTomatoesAndRaiseCain.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast. For october 22nd 27th. Today service is. Stock racing tomatoes and raised. I rev joanna fontaine cross. This machine kills fascists. Obviously as as a kids and i were talking about that's not because woody guthrie used it to you know literally kill someone. That's because he understood. That people can hear a message. And they can radically change. The wait is always on the person who's doing the hearing. This is something that we preachers are well aware of. What we say. Is frankly not important. Is what it is. Important. And this is something you find this idea throughout. The different religions in christianity there's the verse about let those who have ears to hear. Here. Buddhism. Talks about how when the student is ready. The teacher. Will. So there was a guy named. Larry page. He was a student. Here's a grad student. And he went to a seminar these you know extended learning kind of things like they have at the community colleges. I know she was sitting there. He heard the speaker say. Have a healthy disregard. For the impossible. I don't know if larry got anything else out of the seminar. But he remembered that one line how the healthy disregard for the impossible and he made it here very deliberately made it. His mantra. He would repeat it to himself over and over again. When he started to really get frustrated struggling with a a problem trying to figure out something. He would go back to this this mantra became for him a guiding principle. The guiding principles are not what we're already doing we wouldn't need them then a guiding principle is what you go back. When you need direction. And this became his guiding principle have a healthy disregard for the impossible. He woke up in the middle of one night. I had a vision that he was really it was a question. What. Yeah. You could download. The entire internet. Not just the content. But the actual internet itself. The pages. The pictures. The links. What if. You could download the entire internet. At that time. This was. Completely ridiculous. I didn't even have servers big enough for that and if you could manage to get the servers for that where would you how's the servers how would you provide the energy for all of those servers a it just didn't. Make any sense. It was completely impossible. His guiding principle however. Was have a health healthy disregard for the impossible. And i'm awfully glad. Because. He didn't only change his life. He changed my life. And he changed. Y'alls lives. Because together with. The help of his friends sergei. He invented google. This whole thing of have a healthy disregard for the impossible. Has continued to be a guiding principle for him and he talks about this all of the time he said you just have to forget those limits you just have to step out and yeah. You're going to have some things that don't work anyone remember google glass. Doesn't mean it won't work in the future. I think of all of the things that have happened since then. Google maps google drive i am i can't wait for the google self-driving car. Have a healthy. Disregard. What is your purpose. And is what you think your purpose. Yes. Is it big enough. Have you. Allowed yourself. Just stop. To not stay the course to not step out and take a faithful risk. Because you heard those voices saying. That's impossible. It can never happen. Is your purpose big enough. Or have you confused. The howe. With the y. Is your purpose big enough. Or have you made it smaller and smaller by saying. Oh i have plenty of time. I'll get around to that. One day. Someday when my life is less busy less complicated. I'll write that novel. Or do something with my music. Or try and change. A whole community. Try and change the world. What is your purpose. And is your purpose. Big enough. To deserve you. To deserve your heart and your time and your energy. In finding what are big purposes. I've already said the first step and that is. Take as a mantra this idea. Of having a healthy. Disregard for the. It might doesn't mean you don't do your appropriate research all that due diligence. We call it. But you have you don't let this idea of something being impossible. Stop. You keep moving forward. What is an idea. That you have had. A calling that has been in your heart. To change the world. But if you stop saying that's impossible. And instead. Start taking steps towards it. You can in fact. Change your life. And change the world. That's a first.. Have a healthy disregard for the. Here's the second. Figure out the why. Find. The y. If you if there's something that you feel really. Wrongly. About. Ask yourself. Why. And keep digging. And digging and digging. Until you no longer. Can ask that. Some people have heard this story. There's a. The acme drilling. Company. Or not drilling company drill bit company. Creates drill bits. And for a long time they were absolutely the leader in their industry. But as time went on competitors started springing up and they were doing the same thing that they were doing creating these drill bits. I'm so the time came when they had to figure out what they were going to do and what they wanted their future to be. They hired a new ceo you came in and he said well first thing we need to figure out what the mission is of this company. So those of you who've worked in big corporations they did all those things you know the small groups in the surveys and all of this. And after all of that the people came back. To the ceo and they said. We know. What the mission of this company. Should be. The mission of this company is we're going to focus on quality. We will make the best. Drill bit. In the world. And the ceo said. That's not your mission. Because he knew. This whole idea of you have to start with y. You make the best drill bits in the world. Like. Give you seen drill bits interesting bits of metal but by themselves. The ceo said here's the mission of this company. To make the best. Kohl's. In the world. Once they identified that. Once they knew the y underneath it all once they they. Had that been. It opens up. The skies for them. And yeah they did go on and they focus on quality making these really high quality drill bits. But they also went into things like lasers cuz what a laser do lasers make holes. They knew the why. Underneath it all. So some of us this is real recent just since i've been here i i came to this church and a whole bunch of us. Had is one of our purposes. To work for marriage equality. What do we have now. We got marriage equality. It's still a thrill for me every time i i do a wedding i get to stay with gusto and by the power granted to me by live oak uu church and the state of texas. I declare you are legally married. So good we got it. We're done with our purpose. I'm going to go eat some pizza for the next 40 years. Why. Why was that important for different people. We're going to head just like with the tomatoes we're going to have different answers to why from me i had to kind of think through that and go elwell. I believe in in marriage and i believe that gay lesbian bisexual transgender queer folk have the right to marry. The person they love. Why. Okay. Well. Cuz i i believe that. All of my. My community my queer community. That everyone should have a right to be treated equally. And have the same opportunities for pursuing happiness. .. .. Is a purpose. So now let me go back to that okay so. I believe that one of my purposes is to work. For the queer community to be treated equally. That done. Queer community. Are we treated equally. Still a whole lot of work to do. Bat. Is a purpose big enough. For my entire life. And. Now what i get to do is now i go back to the house. And because there's so many house just in this example right okay well you can still you don't have a right to housing you can be kicked out of your apartment for being gay you can lose your job because you're gay. Our own texas legislature keeps trying to pass things about this so that they so that the queer community can be oppressed. Okay so which of these house am i going to focus on neck. Go underneath. And keep asking why. Until you can't go any further. And dad is going to give you an answer about the big purpose. That is calling to. So. Healthy disregard. For the impossible. Find the y. Bird. Carpe diem. Unless someone like you cares and out awful lot. Nothing is going to get better. It's not. The third part of this is to seize the day. And take action. Don't keep waiting. For everything to be perfect. For that perfect moment when you can finally do that big. Theme. Because i'll tell you. Doesn't exist. Make your plan. That's important. Make your plan. Do your research but at a certain point. Stop waiting for that perfect moment or that perfect piece of data. And take action. Because in a little twist to an old saying. All the plans in the world. Are not a substitute. Action. For moving. What is it that you have that deep calling for. That you can start doing something about. Right. Now. What are the things that you've held back on cuz. It just wasn't the right time. It's never going to be the right time. When would you like this to happen. And then go backwards from. There's an old thing about you know like someone who. Decides. In. Their 30s i'll make it personal. But they want to be a minister. I need that person says do you know how make do you have you seen the process do you know how many years it would take to become a minister do you know how old i would be when i became a minister. I never joined her to that is okay how old will you be in that many years if you aren't a minister. The clock is ticking. All of us have limited time. And if i have any elders here who are kind of sitting back relaxing right now and going. I'm done i've already. i've already know. No. You can't know. What you will be called to do you can't know the surprises at the universe has for you one of my favorite stories is about malvina reynolds. At least some of us of a certain age know malvina reynolds she was a folk singer know that song little boxes on the hill. She'd already retired. She was done. And that is when she became. A musician. This was in. Her third act. Shall we say. Take. Action. Figure out how you can start on whatever the deep calling is right now and yeah sometimes you're going to make mistakes google glasses right. But if you know the why. And you can go back you can make adjustments. And you can stay the course. Towards fulfilling this great. Purpose. That you have in you. For us. This whole thing of having a healthy. Disregard for the impossible. Is actually a religious value. 20th century theologian. You use yellow james luther adams. Call jala. Summed up. Our whole religion in what he called the five smooth stones of liberal religion. And two of those five speak directly to this. One is he said that the resources divine and human that are available for the achievement of meaningful change. Justify an attitude of ultimate. Optimism. Optimism is not optional for us this is part of our religion. And right now i think all of us including me need a reminder of that. I've had a few days this past year i haven't felt real optimistic about the world. Who's with me. Again a guiding principle. It's not something that just happened. Natural. A guiding principle is something we go back to and it gives us. The nudge or the kick. In the rear. That we need. And so when we say as i have ice i did just very recently when we say something like. I have no hope. Precautions gun reform. It's impossible. Clearly it can't happen. I have to go back and say. Other people can say that. But i've committed my life to this religion and this religion tells me. I don't get to say it. Optimism is part. Aku we are and what we do i read a quote this week and this was very interesting cuz i read it in two completely different books and i have enough wu-wu in me that when something like that happens i can go o. Maybe the universe is telling me to pay attention to this i sometimes need an anvil on the head. It said. The opposite of leadership. Let me stop for a second. Everyone in here is is a leader like you get that right not in some hokey way everyone in here is a leader with your friends or with at your work we all have different ways that we lead everyone in here is a leader. The parts shed. The opposite. Of leadership. Is not. Being a follower. The opposite of leadership. Is pessimism. My evengelical say. I received that i received. The other thing that james luther adams said. And i think this is simply another way of phrasing have a healthy disregard for the impossible he said revelation is continuous. This is a cornerstone of our fake and don't take it for granted cuz believe me there are plenty of other religions who. Actively reject this. I was shocked when i went to seminary and evangelical seminary as many of you know i never faster stood up and said revelation is sealed. What. There are people who actually believe that. Not not in this religion. We know that revelation is continuous we are continually learning new things new science new things about spirituality new things about ourselves we are not static characters we are dynamic. And what was impossible yesterday. Is is possible either today or tomorrow. Because someone else. Refuse to believe that. This is our religion. Avoid. This whole idea of. The impossible. Have a healthy disregard for. Figure out find the y. Underneath what it is that is calling you. And take action. Carpe diem. It is not up to you alone. To change the world. That's why we do church. We do church. So that we can do crazy audacious seemingly impossible things together. And together. We can. Change the world.

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2018-04-01_RisusPaschalis.mp3

You're listening to the podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. For more information about our church our website at live oak u.org. Today's sermon reese's pascalis. Just going by run reverend johanna ponton crawford. My easter sunday april 1st 2018. We have two readings this morning. In 2012. Members of the russian punk band p**** riot were tried and convicted in russia for hooliganism that was the actual charge. And inciting religious hatred. Our first reading this morning comes from the statement that they gave at the end of the trial this by p**** right member yekaterina samutsevich. That christ the savior cathedral had become a significant symbol in the political strategy of the authorities. Was clear too many thinking people when vladimir putin's former kgb collie carol goodier of took over as leader of the russian orthodox church. After this happened christ the savior cathedral began to be openly used as a flashy backdrop for the politics of the security forces. Which are the main source of political power in russia. Why did putin feel the need to exploit the orthodox religion and its aesthetic. Apparently it was then that he felt that the need was for more persuasive. Transcendent guarantees of his long tenure. At the pinnacle of power. It was then that it became necessary to make use of the aesthetic of the orthodox religion which is historically associated with the heyday of imperial russia where power came not from earthly manifestation. Such as democratic elections and civil society. But from god himself. Our sudden musical appearance in the cathedral of christ the savior with the song mother of god drive putin out. Violated the integrity of the media image that the authorities had spent such a long time generating and maintaining. And revealed its falsity. In our performance we dared without the patriarchs blessing to unite the visual imagery of orthodox culture with that of protest culture. Stop suggesting that the orthodox culture belongs not only to the russian orthodox church the patriarch and to putin. But that it could also ally itself with civic rebellion. And the spirit of protest in russia. Our second reading is from this christian scriptures. Mark. 831. He then began to teach them that the son of man must suffer many things. And be rejected by the elders. The chief priest. And the teachers of the law. And that he must be killed and after 3 days rise again. So one day a young man stopped at the grocery store after work. Just picking up a couple of things shampoo beer you know how you do. And she was making his way to the front to check out. On an old woman stopped him. I should just. Peered into his face. For a long time. I finally kind of. You know within embarrassed. Sort of laugh. She said i'm sorry it's just you look so much like. My son. Who died a few years ago. He kind of. Yelp said i'm i'm sorry awkwardly. And she said no no no it's it's okay if it makes me feel so good. Look at you and to look at your face. She said i i know this sounds. Really strange. Silly. But i'm about to check out and when i leave when i get to the door. Can you call out see you later mom. And he said. I'd be happy to. So they got in line she checked out. Went to the door turned back and looked at him. And he called out. See you later mom. And she smiled and laughed. Cashier smile. The guy in front of him in line smile he smiled. And he felt. So warm. Inside that would such a simple gesture. He was able to do something so meaningful. For her. They got up to the front of the line. Put his groceries out the cashier. Ring them up. And said that'll be $121 sir. He said. What are you talkin about i just had a couple of things. He said yeah your mom said to put hers on your bill to. April fools. The content of that joke. Has. Absolutely nothing to do with today's service. But the fact that i began this sermon with a joke. Connects us all the way back to bavaria in the 1500. They had a tradition at that time reese's pascale's. Which meant easter laugh. I'm so the priests would start their easter sermon with a great big joke. Imagine part of that was for pragmatic reasons after this was the end of the austerity of lents and so it was a way of. Letting people know that it was okay to celebrate and. Laugh and be happy. But for them more importantly there was a theology. Underneath this idea of the easter laugh. What they believe. Was that easter. Resurrection. What's the greatest joke. Ever. That this was god's way. Pulling a joke on satan. You thought that jesus was dead. Hahaha. Surprise surprise surprise he is alive again. No. Unitarian universalist. Satan has never been part of our theology even back in the 1800s with the the separate movements of unitarianism and universalism. It wasn't part of our theology but. Even today. Idea. That's underneath. This idea. Resurrection. As a defiance. 2a power of oppression. I got something. We can get behind. Because that's what resurrection was. Oppressive regimes. Did. And still do to today. Is they try to kill a movement. Spy in some way killing the leader they may try to vilify. Deleter. We've seen a lot of that this week right with the kids from parkland. A lot of people in power trying to vilify them past doubt on their character. Oppressive regimes will try to arrest a l. And sometimes. They will execute. Delete. All in the idea that they're going to be able to stop. A movement. And resurrection. Is this great. Defiance. Of that idea. And one that i think we can still learn from today. On easter morning. When the leader of an empire jose the american. Empire. Tweets out that daca. The deferred action for childhood arrivals. Is dead. Happened this morning. We need to start talking about resurrection. We need to start talking about. Defiance. There's another form of defiance that's also perfect for this. April fool's day that is also easter. Enat is the archetype of the holy. School. Now this archetype this role of the holy fool you find it throughout many different religions especially when you look at the mystic. Because the holy fools were the ones. Who operated outside of the norms of society. Underwear thought to be fools or crazy. And that gave them a freedom. To speak some very uncomfortable truth. In the christian scriptures. This is one of the roles. The jesus place. He deliberately plays the role of the holy fool he didn't do what he was supposed to do you know like like you know getting apprenticeship as a as a carpenter and find a wife and settle down instead he did all of these really. Radical things and he started arguing against the rules and the guidelines of the day trying to get to those deeper truths those deeper religious truth. Underneath all of these different ideas. And he was funny. And he would subvert ideas he would say things as mystics do that make no sense the first shall be last and the last shall be first. And some of his humor. I think we missed today. Because even if we weren't raised christian it's just so much a part of our culture that we've heard certain sayings. Over and over again often in hush. And reverence chones. But when you can get yourself to that place. Where you can read these lines. And see them in a fresh way. Some of them. Very funny. Right. It is easier for a camel to. Pass through the eye of a needle. Then for a rich man to make it into heaven. Funny status high-level snark. Boy am i glad lent is over. I gave up snark for lent. If easter lent over. Jesus with jesus like this was a snarky thing to say and it was biting humor it was biting humor then and it is still biting humor today. Why don't you go up to your the billionaire owner of your company and say well you know they they say it's easier for you know a camel to make it through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. Okay don't actually do that. I would prefer that you be able to. Keep your job. If you so wish. So jesus was the holy fool and the christian scriptures will frequently refer to the idea of being a full being a fool for christ in the early church. You had these people who took on this role of holy fools. It gave them the freedom to deeply act out their religious beliefs. And sometimes it was simply by taking. The actual scriptures themselves. Seriously. I'm following them. This is a very countercultural thing to do right i mean we we live in a world where certain ideas. Hoarding your wealth. Abusing power. Are considered to be normal. And things like. Radical abundant generosity. Or amplifying marginalized voices. Those are considered to be. Strange. Foolish. Outside of the norm. One example of an ancient holy fool. Are you probably heard of is saint francis francis assisi. Read the scriptures. And it had this thing in there about how you should. Give up. Everything that you have traded in get money and give the money to the poor. And so he did that. And the people of his day said. And this guy is crazy. But it allowed others to see. A deeper truth. About serving others. The sting of the holy fool in russian. Culture. If it's deeply embedded and in russian culture. And the term for it is. Euro. Euro tv takes the idea of the holy fool. And gives it even more of a b. More of an edge. The holy full and you read about this archetype. In postal and dostoevsky it's the person who can. Subvert. The norms the person who is irritating the person who makes people uncomfortable. And this is. Deeply a part of russian culture. I'm sewing 2012. When the punk band p**** riot did their event they were pulling into this. Who idea they went to the orthodox church church of the saviour in moscow that was most affiliated. With the political regime. And they went up on the chancel and then.. Tradition. Only the priests are out allowed up on the chancel. And they were dressed in bright neon like mini dresses they had balaclavas and wild colors over their faces and they were. Hope musician. And they started performing what they call their punk. Prayer. Which was all about asking mary to become a feminist. And to push putin out. And they paid dearly for. Two of the members would serve two years. At hard labor. In a labor camp. This is the role of the holy. To speak the truth. And to be defiant. Even. When they are foolish. To do so. Even when it is that great. Cost. It is easter. And one of the themes of defiance. Is this idea of. Resurrection. Annabelle resurrection does have this political meaning. There's also. A personal meeting. A personal defiance. I'm not saying denial. But there is a defiance against death itself about death. Being. The end. Again this isn't about denial as. A pastor. I do funeral services memorial services. Every once in awhile i'll get a family who says. I don't want any tears to be at this memorial service it is just to be a celebration of life. And i'll tell them. I think that's a mistake. I understand wanting to celebrate a person's life. But for your own health. You have to acknowledge the loss. The pain. Degree. So now i'm not talking about denial. But there is a power. In defiance. And saying that noah person. Life a person's meaning a person's story. Does not end. Just because they have died. I've gotten so much. From this church. Last year one of the precious gifts i got was when someone shared an idea. My dad had died. Someone shared the idea with me that a person. Is never. Completely dead. Until the last person who knows stories about that person. Is going to. You can do a lot with that. You can defy a lot of death with that by telling the stories and it first when the death is fresh it is hard to do so you may be doing it with tears streaming down your face might tell the stories tell the stories to your friends tell the stories of this person's life to your children and to your grandchildren take what was best about this person. I'm bring it into your own life. And bring it into the live. Aldi's other people. Because no. April fooling. When you do that. When he brought the stories. And help them become part of another person. That's the power of resurrection.

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2018-05-06_ChildrenOfADifferentTribe.mp3

You're listening to the podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. More information about our church is supposed to rub site at live oak uu. org. Today's sermon children of a different tribe. Given by run reverend joanna fontaine crawford and her director of lifespan face development kari krauss. On may 6th 2018. This morning's reading is an excerpt from we are children of a different tribe by sharon wong culligan. I am not a native american nor am i a child of the dominant christian. Or anti-christian culture of america. I grew up in the shelter of uuu societies. You you. A european-american free religious community. For tradition's sake named unitarian universalist. More accurately understood as unitarian universalist transcendentalist. Humanist. Feminist. Pagan. I was taught by jews hippies asians scientists montessori ins. I learned in sunday school to be skilled in trance journeying. To visualize myself as a tree. To cast circles invoking the four directions. To gather for celebration and meditation on the turning of the four seasons. To invent my own ritual expression. As my spirit moves. The word god was not feared. But was translated for children as love or mystery or specialness. At 13 i was gathered in a safe and sacred place with others of my age. And taught that sexuality was an interesting good and special thing. Well worth making careful decisions about. We were taught about disease and birth control about shyness and communication. About honoring homosexuality and masturbation. About the goodness of our bodies. We were taught to talk with one another. With frankness care and trust. We were not divided by gender. I had never heard of a world. Ruled by an old white man in the sky. I slept in comforting and braces with friends of both sexes. Knowing there is safety in togetherness. Knowing our elders trusted our wisdom. I was not taught that my upbringing was unusual i was not taught that any of this was different from what other kids learn. But how are you. Know that they are different. They give all kinds of names to this feeling of difference. They say i'm a vegan i'm a queer i'm a pagan i'm a punk rocker. I'm here to say. The reason we feel we are different. Is because we are different. Are formative experiences. A childhood abuse. Of spiritual transformation. Are profoundly different than those of the dominant culture. We are the children. Of a different drive. However you grow up. That is what you define as with all of the different little quirks in any family in any system. For instance in our family it's tradition that and so far it's only been the girls interested in this that's once you are 12 years old once you have shown your maturity that you can get your ears pierced. My husband and my father both wear hearing aids and so my youngest trying to kind of fit all of this logic together wanted to know how old her brother needed to be when he got his hearing aids. That was just the normal. I'm so as someone who grew up unitarian universalist the experiences that i had. I just saw as being normal just as our children will have experiences here that they define as normal all of course every late april or early may you put a maple out on the lawn and do the whole maple ritual isn't that what you do in all churches. I saw the things that i grew up with going to classes and having an expectation that adults felt that i had good ideas and wanted to hear them. And when i ask deep questions about religion or god that often the answer was going to be. Well what do you think. I just took that as normal. And. At a certain point. The world starts telling you that. It may be normal for you but it's not normal for the rest of the world. And there's some cradle you use here that i've been seeing not and i bet you're going to not at this. When is it that it first happened that you started realizing the way you were being raised religiously was not how everyone else was being raised. For me it was in kindergarten. It starts pretty early especially if you live in the south. I had fellow. Well-meaning. And not. Five-year-olds asking me questions what what religion are you what church do you go to. Unitarian universalist. Wow that's a pretty big word for a five-year-old well what does that even mean and then the questions would come. Always the same questions. What do you believe. And i actually was pretty good as i think most of our kids aren't talking about what i believe but when that question comes it's not really what do you believe it's something way more pointed it's what do you believe about jesus. Do you believe that jesus is god do you believe that jesus is the only god and have you accepted this jesus. And if you innocently thinking that the way you have been raised is the way the whole world operates. Answered in an honest way there's a good chance that you were then told you were going to hell. Which meant that you went home and had the talk. With your mom and dad. Or however your parents your family was aligned so what the heck is this hell thing anyway. Although often in kindergarten it was h e double hockey sticks because they had somehow learned that you should talk about it but not talk about it with the word. So this was normal and that's that being reminded. That what was normal for you was not normal for everyone else would continue. I think the next big kind of. Rite of passage around this happens in middle school. Your friends are talking about a lock in that they're having at their more conservative church and you say oh yeah yeah i'm going to a lock-in this weekend too. And then you start talking and comparing what those lock-ins are. There's some similarities. Pillows. Pizza that kind of thing. And then they do radically different. Because they're depending on how conservative their churches. They're locking is more about jesus. And being saved and perhaps even about evangelizing the world. And you're locking is about. Comprehensive sexuality education. Are you tell them a little bit about that and they think that that is the weirdest thing ever going to church and at church they're going to teach you about sex. But for those who go through it and we seen it with our children. Those same kids that in junior high thinks that you're so weird. Are the ones who come to you in high school. With serious questions. Because they remember. That your church. Pachuca. About these things. This continues going on often into your life. Now i grew up. Iuu in the 1970s. And one thing that was true then that i think is still for the most part true. Is that. One of the. Sort of odd things. Is that most likely you are being raised in a different religion. Then your parents were. This is still the religion where the majority of people come from other faiths. Now think of the context of the 1970s. This is where i think it's a little different. In the 1970s most of our parents had been raised in a restrictive religion where they had been told these are the things you must believe. And if you don't believe them. You're probably going to go to hell. And in your family context it may even have been if you don't believe these things. You're going to lose family members. We're going to put a lot of value on you aligning your beliefs with this certain way. I'm so it's important to remember that that was the context for the parents who brought their children. To a unitarian universalist church and so it's no wonder that at that time. There were two main messages that guided the religious education. The first was. You can believe whatever you want to believe. And the second was when you grow up. You will choose your religion. Again when you understand the context what we all want for our children as for our children to have a better experience than we had growing up we always no matter how even if it was a great. Time growing up we still want it to be even better for our kids. But this was problematic. And some ways. Gradually we started isao in the last fifteen or so years we started pushing back on this within unitarian-universalism and saying wait wait wait wait. This is not a tabla rasa blank slate religion this in and of itself is religion. Because the thing is that whole thing about when you grow up you'll choose your religion. The one thing we usually left out. What's the religion of unitarian universalism. It's always we've changed we forgot on teaching that. Because if we don't teach unitarian universalism. Who's going to. Something that we will often say is all that we do. Is faith development. The face that we teach. Is unitarian universalism. And the congregation is the curriculum. We still held on to teaching our children and our adults about other religions which is very important but now we do it in a different way now we do it as a way of understanding your neighbors and also looking at the religions and see how clean how they interact and how they shaped unitarian universalism. Because this is as we say a living tradition that continues growing and changing. We also began to push back on this thing of you can believe whatever you want to believe. Cuz i don't know if you've picked up on this in the last few years but there's actually some pretty terrible beliefs out there. At a certain point we had to say. There are certain beliefs. Better not consistent. With the covenant of unitarian universalism. We are a covenant old religion. We make promises to each other. The big role for both. Are teaching elder in our preaching elder is this. That we teach the covenants and we hold each other to the covenants and we understand that we are a covenant making covenant breaking and covenant reclaiming tradition. This last one though. About choosing your religion when you grow up. I think there's still some value. In that. Now in terms of how that shapes religious education faith development we now call it. It's not the same as it was when i was a kid. Because back then it was here's a menu of the different religions when you grow up you'll choose one. Now we're starting to understand. But even for those who have been raised unitarian universalist. There is still. A choice involved. We go through things in our lives. Hyundai. Begin to affect these beliefs. The covenants that we hold. And we cast them. We continually. Test them. And for anyone in this church our children are youth are adults. At some point you may realize. That this religion has been a part of your spiritual journey. But now it's time for you to go elsewhere. And that's okay. I think we need to claim the fact that this can be a part of someone's journey. And we're honored even for that. The most common book. That is handed out to new you use is called a chosen faith by john buren's and forest church. And it's called a chosen face. Because of the idea that the majority of unitarian-universalist chose this face if they came from another religion and made an active choice. But i can testify to this. Even if you are raised in this faith. It is still a chosen. Faith. You go through things in your life you go through big dramatic terrible things. Or you see amazing beauty and wonder in fellow human beings. And you take. This face and you say. Does this still fit. Do these covenant still work. And at that point. You make a choice. This is. A chosen faith. And i would say every single day. It's a choice. I know that it is for me. I wake up in the morning. I look at my life. And every single day. I make a choice. To commit. To this faith. It is not a normal. Bay. And if you growing up in it you will be reminded time and time again that what is normal for you is perhaps not normal for others. I remember in college going with a boyfriend to his southern baptist church. And we went to sunday school because sunday school is very important to baptist and frankly it should be for us to. Their reason for it being important to them is the idea that the personal connection with religion is of paramount importance more so than a priest or some other way of making those decisions. But we do split and go different ways as i discovered that particular sunday. We were in sunday school and the leader of our little class said. So. What happens when you die what happens when you go to heaven what does it look like. Well. I was operating out of what was normal for me. Surely this is how everyone acts i began. Sharing what was true for me at the time and saying. Perhaps we don't actually know because you know no one has really done all of that and come back. And it was at that point that i was reminded a new. That this is a very for some people abnormal religion. I'm. what to me was normal. Which was. The authority of the individual. To best decide their own beliefs. Is not. What it is for everyone. That there are still some faith that say know there is a higher authority. We find it in this book. It is. An abnormal. Religion that we are apart of. And it is a chosen faith. May you choose wisely. This morning at this early service we want to lift up the transition that comes when our youth move into a deeper understanding of their sexuality. Your participation in the our whole lives sexuality education program. For those who are unfamiliar our whole lives or owl as we call it here is a comprehensive lifespan sexuality curriculum. Developed jointly by the unitarian universalist association. And the united church of christ. It is taught in congregations but also in schools community centers and other secular settings. That doesn't mean that owl is values free. The program gives clear messages about the following key sexuality issues. Self worth. Sexual health. Responsibility. Justice and inclusivity. Our whole lives recognizes and respects the diversity of participants. With respect to biological sex gender identity gender expression. Sexual orientation. And. Disability. Activities in language used throughout the program have been carefully chosen to be as inclusive as possible of this human diversity. In a church setting we also. Including special sexuality in-your-face component that helps our participants enter their sexuality and decision-making in a religious context in alignment with their unitarian universalist prince. Something happens to most youth who participate in this class. Particularly those that take the age level we offered this year the 12 to 14 year olds. At a time when youth are inundated with messages about what it means to be a sexual being. Including the ones that their own body is sending them. Opposite counter. To the cultural messages. Receive daily about body image. Sexual expectations. Gender norms. Relationship do's and don'ts. We offer them a different tribe. To belong to. This year we offered the program 216 7th and 8th graders. Most of them from our congregation but not all. They spent over 45 hours in community together. Learning sharing and growing their spirits and their understanding of their own sexuality. Thank you all for your commitment to each other. Your acceptance and your willingness to be uncomfortable together. It is important work. That we do together. Raising are used to have strong. Just and compassionate values. To go out into the world and make it a better place. Through their living. This community sees you. Will support you and your grow. And is therefore you and things are great. Or not so great. So let's take a moment to hold. That work. These youth whose name by red. Those leaders. Whose names are red. Whether they're here or not. Let's hold them in our hearts. Maybe always remember. We are whole. Holy. Unloved.

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2018-03-31-AReasonableUseOfOracles.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast. For march 31st 2019. This week service is. A reasonable use of work. Irreverent joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning. It comes from an essay titled guidance through divination. By nancy vetter schultz who is a uu pagan. Sometimes i feel lost confused or completely topsy-turvy. Life throws us all curves once in awhile. That's what i need guidance unfortunately if i'm anxious which is often the case if i'm confused i keep spinning round and round from one old unworkable answer to the next i can't seem to find a way out of this impact at least not with my conscious analytical mind. Luckily. That's not my only option. Instead i've learned that i can tap into my unconscious my inner wisdom for new perspectives on my motivations my emotions and my thoughts because who knows me best. I do. Of course. So how can i access this mysterious realm of insight. For me the answer is in divination. Reduce to its essence divination is a means for answering questions that make active use of intuition. It employs a variety of methods for getting in touch with out-of-the-box thinking. When i was in 7th grade. I got to go over and spend the night. At my friend dana's house. And you know how exciting those of you who haven't done it for awhile how exciting it was to spend the night at someone else's house cuz like they had all these toys that you didn't have and there was just that feeling of their toys were so much better than yours were. I think some of the adults are like i kind of still feel that way. That that car your driveway is really nice. But she had. One particular toy. That i had never seen before a fluid-filled device used for manipulating. Dice also known as. Y'all heard of this i'm not the only one yes. The magic 8 ball. I was. Entranced by it because you could ask it. Any question had to be a yes or no question. But you can ask it any question and get an answer. Will i be rich and famous when i grow up. Ask again. Tommy love me. You may rely on it. My spouse is sitting here going. You can ask it any question and it always had an answer. The answers were not necessarily good answers but it always had an answer and i could have played with it. All night long. Dana had you know she'd had it for a while so the magic had kind of worn off for her so after a little bit of time she was like mine come on like. Let's go play space invaders you know. I could have played with it all night i did not get. A full-size magic 8-ball until i was a grown up but i did for awhile have one of those like like keychains size ones that they had and and i would take it everywhere it was. It was kind of comforting. Right. Even though i knew that often the answers would not pan out but i get a 100 on my history test signs point to yes. 75. Maybe i didn't specify which text dot-dot-dot was. Even though the answers weren't. Always. Helpful. There was something about. . feeling that maybe i could get a little bit of insight through something outside of myself. We grow up. And we become. More skeptical. Upset. Devices. In the adult world. People often look at you a little funny right if you admit to reading your horoscope. Or checking the tarot cards. And. And we lose something that has access to helping us look deeper into. And this attitude that the world has around divination. We see it in many ways and including in fiction. Oh, my children. In this room you shall explore. Oh yeah. You're going to suffer but you're going to be happy about it. Isn't it interesting. That even in the harry potter world. A world that is like even if you haven't read the books or seen the movies you understand it it's about a magical world right everyone we're almost. Page there. The even in harry potter world that is ruled by magic we're magic wands actually work and you can transfigure yourself into another animal and you can disapparate and all of these magical things even in that world. Divination is treated with scorn is all hermione there. Rubbish. Professor mcgonagall one of the the dignified professors of hogwarts. Says that divination is the most imprecise of all magic. We bring that into our world as well write a disdain for anything that we don't. Fully understand and sometimes in our world we try to make more of it than it is. Rather than focus on but what can this. Do for me. The wisdom that i have deep inside of me the creativity. How do i get to that. Now as a religion unitarian-universalism has not always been of one mind. On desk. So first of all. Both the unitarians and the universalist cuz we didn't emerge until 1961. We can. To swing wildly from one side to another whatever it is that we're doing we generally do not take little incremental steps and so to give you a little bit of history so. Two words that like the the beginning of the 1800. The. The dominant idea underneath unitarianism that we still carry today was. Freedom reason. Hollering. Emphasis on reason they were still a christian faith but it was still very much based on intellectualism and defiance of that time. Then you had the transcendentalist many of whom were unitarians. That began pushing back at that. That began saying this dry intellectualism is missing the mark we need to be able to go to our own human experience. Which includes mystical experience. We need to walk in the woods. And and value that that that that in and of itself has some religious values and connect to the messages and the signs that we are getting through that. So it wasn't.. Big of a step. Since they were already in this sort of transcendentalist questioning. To look at another movement that was happening in the united states. And be a little intrigued by it. Not movement was spiritualism. Like medium. Talking to the dead. And so you had unitarian who had already been kind of going along with this whole walking in nature and so they said okay well. Maybe there's something here. And then the universalist. On their hand they were also interested in the spiritualism movement because their big thing right was universal salvation. I'm so if you are communicating with the deceased great aunt marge then that for universalist confirm for them this idea of universal salvation. Now. Not all of the unitarians or the universalist. Work into this including not all of the transcendentalist ralph waldo emerson when talking about the whole spiritualism thing referred to it. As midnight searching over a mahogany table. Because that was often what was done right the medium would sit down with you at a table and there would be a knock. And so old this means something so. You know snark has long been a part of our religious history and. Emerson indulged in a little bit. .. And then people could make money. From being medium. Right because people were desperate. And unfortunately it is very easy to take advantage. Of those who are desperate. The new start did coming out as these mediums were exposed for the con artists they were. And spiritualism began dying a natural death and as for the unitarians in the universal if they were like what are you talking about i've never been into that i know not not part of what what i do and so we swung back again to rejecting. Pretty much anything that couldn't be proven through science. Then we come to the 1960. And in the united states and in other parts of the western world you had a rise of wicca and new age movement neo-pagan movement. And many of the people who were practicing those. Found a home. In unitarian universalism. It was not always a smooth. Sort of pairing in fact if you look at articles from around that time they would often talk about this this. Discomfort that unitarian universalist had with the pagans coming in and humanists. Who who this this was something really new and different to them. And we have progressed since then. Now we are really on pha. To being a church that is truly a big tent we are learning more about self-differentiation and the idea that i can have my beliefs. And you can have your beliefs. And and that's okay they don't have to be the same thing and maybe we can even learn. From each other. Divination. Is. Something that you find across the world in different cultures and in many different religions different forms of it. There are course. The divination devices right tarot cards. And runes and eiichi. I'm practices of like opening your bible to a certain page and reading what's there to see if there is a message for you. There is natural divination. Reading the tea leaves or reading the stars reading the lines on our hands. So there's all these different ways. That people have. To try and expand their own consciousness. And listen for what is not right in the forefront. Of our analytical minds. Whether you believe. That there is some sort of energy some sort of magic that is outside of yourself. That you can tap into. Or whether you believe that no it is. Purely reason bass. But from a psychological standpoint there are things that we can do to try and open ourselves up. There is something in divination. I think for everyone. And it's okay in a uu congregation to have different beliefs about what that maybe. Divination. Serves. 2 main. Purposes. 1. Is that it helps us to sort of suppress the noise just the ordinary noise that's going on around us all the time including the ordinary noise in our head. And most spiritual practices. Have some element of this of wanting to push that down so that we can focus on something else think of meditation when you're doing breathing exercises it's the same sort of thing. And that suppression. Can then allow us to focus on a particular question. Or open ourselves up for inspiration. Now i'm one of those people who believes that mysticism and science can walk hand-in-hand with each other. And here's an example of that and this is one that you find in meditation we talked about meditation if you. They have done mris of people who are. Experience. Meditators. And while they were meditating. I have no idea how the meditators were able to do that i don't think that an mri machine i could have done that but they have. And what they discovered. Is that when someone gets. Into a deep. Meditative. States. The activity in their parietal lobe. Decrease. Here's what the parietal lobe does. The parietal lobe is the part of your brain. That lets you know where you are gives you a sense of time so that a sense of time and place. When you're sitting on that meditation cushion and you are aware cuz your back is kind of hurting and you're and you're aware that you are sitting on the cushion your kind of aware of what time it is. That's because your bridal lobe is busy at work. People that do deep meditation. Once they get into that deep meditative state. The activity and their parietal lobe. Go still or at least. So you know how you often here and maybe you are one of these deep meditators. You hear. Meditative people talk about a feeling of oneness. That they get through meditation. That's how that's happening. That the sort of mystical that the feeling of oneness. With the world and with all of existence. Can exist with this scientific fact which is yes and in that section of our brain. That awareness that kind of constant subconscious awareness that we have of this is my chair and this is where i am. We're muting that. So that we can concentrate on other things. So that's one of the big things that spiritual practices and divination. Do when we use some type of divination tool or when we focus on one thing because we're trying to get an answer. We are hyperfocusing. Which has the benefit of making the other noise around us. Decrease. So that we can put all of our attention towards this one thing. And that's the other the second part of using divination tools. Is that as we are doing this hyperfocusing as we are quieting the just regular noise. At the same time we are expanding. Our brains and our creativity we're using our brains and ways that we often. Don't. When we know there's like so much. Of our brain. That's just working all of the time. Like when you get an idea you don't even know where that that idea came from. Right. It's because it has our brain is accessing something that we normally. Don't. And again this can be for a very logical reason it can be far more mystical. Reason i've heard a story before about a woman who is on a highway. And she's driving home. And all of a sudden she has this irresistible urge. To do a u-turn. Until she does. When she does that you turned over on the other side of the highway she finds her daughter whose car has broken down. Is able to go help her. You can interpret this as being esp. And i have to say like this is an area of woo-woo that i'm going to kind of leave open for myself cuz i got a mom and i got a sister and there's some like weird freaky things where we call each other just all of a sudden. And we're thinking of each other so i leave myself open for that. And. It can also be. That the woman is driving down the highway. Focus this way. But she still has her peripheral vision right always at work. And out of her peripheral. Unconscious vision. She sees her daughter. It doesn't make it to the conscious part of her brain. But it registers enough to give her that irresistible feeling that she should turn around. Divination. Opens us up to our literal peripheral vision and our metaphorical peripheral vision. All the different ideas all the different creativity this is it opens us up in ways that we don't normally think when we're just trying to sit down and solve a problem. Now. The writer of our reading has also written a book the world is your oracle nancy vetter schultz. And she gives some anne in her. As you can probably tell from the reading. Her kind of philosophy underneath this is that you are going in and finding your own wisdom and so she can have some kind of steps for how to do this. The first is about finding your question. You know when you sit down and you decide to consult the oracle. Come up with the question. Stay open to intuition you may have one specific idea in mind it may be that once you start concentrating you need to make it a little bit broader. Let go of preconception. The thing is sometimes when we want an answer to a question it's actually that we have a very specific answer that we're looking for a right like. Does does tommy love me. Ask again later. Does tony love me. Right. Letgo. Dupree. Conception. If you ask a question that already presupposes something. How much does tom love me right that's already kind of assuming something there. So as you sit down. Open yourself up and let go of some of those presuppositions respect. The oracle if you get an answer. You don't like. Maybe the answer is not to go back and ask again. But to sit with that. And see if there is something else. Inside of you that you need to address. Respect boundaries. And you can look at this photo from a pagan and a systems way my pagan friends take the the issues of boundaries. Very seriously when you do any sort of work it should be focused on you and systems theory would say the same thing because there's only one person that i can control and it's me my question should be about me. And not every answer. Needs a question. Even though the writer started this by saying come up with a question she also leaves this opening of maybe it's not a specific question. Maybe it's just. Kind of a broad. Sort of thing. Just sit with dad. And you may get. An answer that you didn't know you had a question. I mean it's time to interpret. As we as we did with the cootie catcher getting a message is not the significant. Part the significant part is going through and seeing what it is. That this stirs up. For you. Use free association again the idea is to get out of our normal sort of linear analytical thinking just even if it doesn't make sense just start writing down some of the words and the symbols that come to you. Develop your own symbolic vocabulary now you can go to amazon or the library and there are tons of books about different symbols and what they mean in that might be helpful. But first. Think about what certain symbols mean to you. From your own experience. If the symbol of a piece of toast. I'm allergic to wheat and so that will symbolize pain for me. But for you if every day after school you used to go to your grandma's house. And she'd have a cup of hot cocoa in a piece of buttered toast. Then for you the symbolism of toast is probably about love about nurture. Think about what are the symbols in your own life and develop your own vocabulary around them. And. Wait. Framing answer. If an answer doesn't immediately come to you. Wait. Not just five minutes not just 10 minutes. The rider. Rilke. We talked about how. You need to learn to love the questions themselves because you may not be ready. For the answer yet you may need to live your way. Into. The answer. So. Wait. For it. Be attuned to it. Kind of habit somewhere in the back of that lateral thinking. The thing is with any form of divination. The answers aren't. In the rooms themselves. The answers are not. In here. Whether we believe that the answer is out there or in here. It requires. For us to engage with the answers and try and figure out what it is that they mean. So. Open yourself up. If you feel silly. Feel silly. Our kids are more attached. To playfulness. Then we are. Was very interesting in the first service when i did the cootie catcher thing i talked to i told the fortunes of three people two kids and one adult. And when i got to that part about what does the stir up for you. The only one who just did not know and who needed help. Was the adult. Play. Have fun with it. Open yourself up so that the possibilities. Spread their wings and sides. Remember. The world is your oracle.

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2018-10-28-HalottakNapja.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. Rocktober 28 2018. This week's service is. Nakia. By reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning is a poem by francis bellerby. Titled all souls day. Let's go our old way. By the stream and kick the leaves as we always did to make the rhythm of breaking waves. The stage was no breath. Shows no color anywhere except for the leaves. In there.. Brilliant as never before. Yellow of brimstone butterfly brown of oak egger moth you'd say. And i'd be wondering why a summer never seems lost if two have been together witnessing the various nuses of light. And the same to and lusterless november. Enter the years night. The slow warren stream house till. Above that spiders unguarded door look dull pearls. X full brim can hold no more. Next moment. We will know my darling you and i. What the small day cannot hold mess spill into eternity. So perhaps we should move cat soft meanwhile. I'm leave everything unsaid. It'll no shadow of risk can be left of disturbing the scaleless dead. But you were always lie flight. And you so seldom talk as we go. But they're at my side through the bright leaves you walk. And yet. Touch my hand that i may be quite without fear. Francine. As if a mist descends. And the leaves where you walk. Do not stir. Sometimes when we walk with people. They may not physically still be with us. So this is the time of year where the leaves begin falling. And. All over the world. No matter what the exact weather season is that is happening for them this seems to be a time in which people are drawing close and wanting to feel connected. With those who are no longer hear their deceased loved ones or their ancestors. Except. In the united states of america or specifically except in the white. Often protestant or secular. United states. Because for us in my opinion. We just don't do this well we don't do death well and are continuing connection. For us it's like you know swoop in take care of it remove as much evidence that a person ever existed and back to work. To work the next day. And we are very. Unusual. Indus. This is something very unique because when you look at all the rest of the world. You'll see so many different traditions annual traditions were people. Pause. And make time for honoring those who went before. So we do have a holiday this this week anyone. Halloween halloween and halloween. Halloween yes. I'm getting their halloween for the most part we do celebrate it in the us like crazy i think i read something that said in terms of the money spent towards it it's second only to christmas. But we have lost our connection to the religious significance many of us. Not our pagan folks who are celebrating not halloween but samhain. And stalin is the holiday that we believe many of our traditions of halloween came from. And it was a celtic holiday but if you look at the world if you look at the ancient folk traditions you're going to find so many similarities. In in so many different lands. Now with. Samhain one of the things that is said if that this is the time when the veil grows. 10 mi pagan people thank you very much. And end the idea behind the veil grows thin is the idea that there is a veil between the worlds of the living and the world of the dead and it's at this time that that failed grows thinner and we can feel more connected to those who have gone before. Now stalin was overtaken by the early church. As they did. All of the folk traditions in the lands that they colonized. And first they tried to just get rid of so many of these folk traditions ones that honored the old gods but you know people were persistent and it was hard to get rid of them. Answer with a certain point the church decided if you can't beat them join them. But what they did they didn't honor it in a respectful way they took it over they renamed it. And they made it fit into their religion honoring their god. And at this time of year what that translated into was all saints day and all souls day. Already out of the pagans now i'm going to try and out the the lapsed catholics in the room right cuz you're never an ex-catholic you're only a lapsed catholic. What's the difference between all saints day and all souls day. Anyone. Well that that two pregnant. You're very much a unitarian pragmatic answer. All saints day is the day for those who you know. Went to heaven those are the saints the next day all souls day is the day for everybody else the ones that you know grandma were peeing on your pretty sure she went to heaven but could be in purgatory. Now as unitarian universalist. If you want to choose one of these and try and bring our religious values into it. It should be clear that there is only one of the things that is appropriate to us and that is. All souls day thank you right because our universalist theology believed that in the end all souls would be restored to the everlasting love of god. If you look around the globe you will see celebrations for all saints day and all souls day. And i bear many similarities but what's interesting is you can also still see the seeds of those ancient religions that predated christianity moving into the area that's where you'll see a lot of the differences. Are sermon today is titled how a talk nakia. Which is hungarian i don't know if you know this but in hungary they also have a day of the dead. And in hungry some of the traditions may seem familiar even if you've never heard of this particular holiday. They. Make a they gather in cemeteries and often clean them up. They light candles. They make a sweet bread. And the sweet bread is taken to the grave. It's also given to the poor. Enter the clergy. I really like this part of the tradition. And it's a time for honoring those who came before. Going to a place where you would feel connected with them the cemetery. And leaving leaving candles out and communing with. In some way. This also happens in sweden that's the the picture there but see. But the picture. And see a little bit of a similarity between those two. Again in sweden you're gathering with family having feast lighting candles on the graves. In poland it is a national holiday called sadoski. And all saints day is brought together in poland with baltic pagan celebration. And it is tree it is celebrated very solemnly. You gather with your extended family. Special bread of the dead is made and given to clergy. The poor. Left on graves. You go when you visit the graves decorating them with chrysanthemums and lighting candles. And one reason why it is so solemn. In poland is it there is an emphasis. I'm on the fact that you that there could be loved ones who have not yet made it to. Loved ones who could be in purgatory. And so when you are gathering. Part of what you're doing is praying for them praying for intercession so that they can be allowed into hell. Now you don't have to go to europe to see this. New orleans has a rich tradition again new orleans was was and still is highly catholic. And when they visit the graves. There's something specific that they do there that you often don't see and other places. They actually paint or whitewash. The grave. Other than my new orleans people here who live here any idea why that like what's a different here what's different in new orleans. They don't let the graves rrr above and so it's going there often covered in plaster and then whitewash on top of that and so that's part of the celebration. Laying flowers celebrating the ancestors. I'm remembering their stories telling up this is new orleans right telling those stories over and over again the idea being that you will tell the the stories of your loved ones you'll tell the stories to your grandchildren. And they will repeat the stories to their. Now. I've shown you these but what's the one living here in texas what's the one that we know the best. Dia de los muertos. At again. Remember what the church did is it came in and it found these ancient folk traditions and merge them with dares. The ancient folk traditions of the aztecs were combined with catholic all saints and souls days. Unlike. Poland. Do the los muertos is a time of joy. And celebrating because the idea behind it is that again the veil of is thin. And this is a time when your loved ones who have passed on. Can return and be with you. And so at the cemeteries and in people's homes ofrendas are set up with the favorite foods. Of the deceased cigarettes if they smoke liquor if it's a child toys candies. And you know what you're trying to do is your you're trying to be a good host and you are trying to entice the spirits. To come in to visit you again. Decorate with marigold. And again bread of the dead panda marto is set out. How many candles are lit. Now doodle off somewhere till she find us what i was describing was was mostly at the mexican holiday but you find it in other countries as well and again it has its own particular flavor based on what were the fault. Traditions that were there. When the colonizers came in so in guatemala. Their dia de los muertos is also a kite flying festival. At the cemetery say have these. Huge tights and and many of them are so heavy they can't actually fly they just kind of stand-up. An individual client kites that are being flown and this is tied to the mayan folk tradition. I did most of these traditions like that the symbolism is not difficult to see right there's a whole there's many traditions that. Entail some sort of reaching up. To the heavens. With kites or in other ways. Now it's not just the countries that have been affected by the christian church. There is just something universal in us that we want to mark. The lives of those who have passed on and feel connected to them again. In china you have the ghost festival. And the belief underneath ghostbuster ball is that and it's usually is about august when it happens. Is the idea that the gates between heaven and hell and the living have been opened. And the living here try to absolve the sufferings of the dead. There are religious services burning of incense. Elaborate feast that are laid out. And. Does anyone recognize this. Recognize what you're looking at. Anyone. Kind of looks like clothes right. The clothes are made out of paper. Trosper. And they're all of these joss paper find good cars money clothing and they are burned at this time with the idea again think of smoke rising that you are sending things to your deceased loved ones into your ancestors so that they may have better lives in their next life in the land of the dead. In japan. Much of this tradition made it over to japan. There's is called a bomb the festival of lanterns and there's many similarities. Putting out the good food and such. There is a belief more of an emphasis. On your door where you came from your family. Do people return to their hometowns they clean the cemetery. And it's called festival of lanterns they put lanterns out at the cemeteries to welcome the spirits in and then at the end of the festival. They make paper boats and they put candles in them. And they they set them to flow down rivers streams and the idea is that they are guiding spirits. Back to the land of the dead. To come again next year. In nigeria. There is another festival that takes place in august and it is called a goon goon. Which it is the festival of spirit dancers and this is part of the yoruba culture. Priest in elaborate costume. They put on these costumes in the end the idea is that this is a masquerade. Are there is dancing and drumming and the belief is that it is certain point. These these. Priest tour inside the the costumes. That through the ecstasy the religious ecstasy of the dancing and the chanting that they actually become inhabited by the spirits of the ancestors angoon refers to the collective spirit. Of all of their ancestors. I'm so every year. They are doing these the special. It's it's marches and. Dancing and it is only the priest and of course. Only the male priests. Who can be inside this who can have this connection to the ancestor. This last. Week. I sat down with rabbi reese. And she told me about some of the jewish tradition. Which. Of course yesterday hearing about. The terrible shooting. In the synagogue in pittsburgh. I was thinking about. Those. They just ended ended the high holy days in at the high holy days. You have a tradition of cover of boat. And which refers to visiting the graves of the ancestors. Every year twice during the high holy days. You go to the cemetery. And you're saying special prayers are often special services that are given your lighting candles. And. It's a time to to bring the ancestors and bring your loved ones your memories your grief about their death. Into these high holy days. And those are not the only ones that happen. During the year if you are jewish. Robbery said it's actually 5 times a year 5 times a year minimum. You have two of these times during the high holy days in the autumn you have one in spring you have one in summer and then also on your loved one's death day the. the day that they died. You give special prayers. And and many of those prayers are about your grief. And asking for comfort. And rabbi reese made the point of. This is the minimum. The belief is also that these prayers are there for you whenever you need them. And. I have to tell her as she was describing them because like me she has also lost a pair. And she was talking about saying these prayers. With other people who have lost loved ones. Lighting the candles giving sedaka which is charity to others. I was envious. Because. In the culture that i was raised. I don't have something. Like that. And so i think that it is. Completely natural. That. In. This white. Culture that we live in that's been influenced by protestantism and the secular culture that we're in. We are missing something so profound. That it is no wonder that we mess up. And try to steal the traditions of others. And we're talking about that as people we are talkin about this more and more now about what it is like when you are the one who does have. The tradition. And your mother taught you the tradition and her mother taught her the tradition and so on all the way back and then for someone who grew up outside of that tradition. Who doesn't have the history of the people the pain that they went through the struggles they went through that when we try and just go take that. An adopted for what we want. We are effectively doing the same thing that the early church did when it appropriated these traditions of others now our motives. Maybe more innocent. But it is hurtful. To those who have that claim on the tradition. That is not to say though. That we should simply say well i don't have a tradition and walk away. Because it's easier. For us. It's time to do the deep work. Of for everyone no matter how you grew up of looking into your own history what were the stories that your parents told you. Perhaps even doing research if you don't have things like that if you know that you come from a particular heritage. What were the things that they did. To honor the dead and to honor the ancestors. And to honor our own grief. I think and seeing all of those different services and. And let me tell you i only gave you just a teeny tiny tastes if you look at just about any culture. You're going to find some sort of ritual. For honoring that this world between the dead and the living i was talking to ram between the services and he was telling me it in hinduism about the traditions that he grew up with. So that's part of it is to do kind of the research. But also in all of these traditions. I think that they speak to some needs. That we can articulate from our own experience. So this isn't rhetorical like what are some of the the needs. That we have in this area. To celebrate a time of those that you lost. Closure. Often when someone dies we have unfinished business. And by having rituals we can go back and we can have. Conversation. That we need to have we may not get the exact answers that we want but there is something valuable simply and having those conversations. Maintaining connection. Yes. Because and i think that that's something i think that's why these holidays. Speak to us even if we didn't grow up with those traditions. Because when someone dies i think most of us know that feeling of but i i still feel connected. My dad was a fisherman and i know that for the rest of my life whenever i go fishing i'm going to hear his voice. Probably criticizing the way that i'm casting but. I still feel connected. To tell their stories. And i have heard this and i've shared this before the idea that no one is truly dead until the last person who has heard stories about them is gone to. They're all these different reasons he's different needs that we have and there are universal even in these different celebrations where the people did not mix states they sprang up completely independently and yet somehow they wind up doing some of the same things what were the things that you saw. Visiting the graves. Lighting candles making bread. Flowers. Getting together with family. Giving to the poor. Saying prayers. And communicating. In some way. And let me say this unitarian universalist. Skepticism is a good and noble part. Of our religion. But it should never be so rigid. But it's like an iron bar across our soul keeping our spirit from moving. I communicate. With those who have gone on is it just my imagination is there really a connection frankly. That's not very important to me. What is important to me is does this serve me well. Cultures around the world. Make a time of. Remembering those who have gone on before. And it's wrong to try and steal someone else's traditions but it is also foolish. To ignore the wisdom of having an annual time. I've going back and connecting. With those who have gone before. We are all connected by an invisible string. Honor the dead. Honor your ancestors. Someday we will be them.

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2018-12-30-AUUMysticMeetsTheParaclete.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For december 30th. 2018. This week service is. Are you you've mystic meets the paraclete. I seminarian lila golf. Are reading today is from the christian bible portions of the gospel of john chapters 14 and 16. If you love me. You will keep my commandments. And i'll ask the father and he'll give you another advocate. To be with you forever. This is the spirit of truth. From the world cannot receive. Because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him. Because he abides with you and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned. I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me but you. Will see me. Because i live. You also will live. On that day you will know that i'm in the father you and me and i in you. I have said these things to you while i'm still with you. But the advocate. The holy spirit whom the father will send in my name. Will teach you everything. And remind you of all that i have said to you. I didn't say these things to you from the beginning. Because i was with you. But now. I'm going to meet him who sent me. And yet none of you ask me. Where you going. But because i have said these things to you. Sorrow fills your heart. But nevertheless. I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that i go away. For if i do not go away. The advocate will not come to you. But if i go. I'll send them to you. And when he comes. He will prove the world wrong. About sin righteousness and judgment. About sin because they do not believe me. And about righteousness. Because i'm going to the father and you will see me no longer. And about judgment because the ruler of the world has been condemned. I still have many things to say to you but you can't bear them now. When the spirit of truth comes. He'll guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own but will speak whatever he hears. And will declare to you. The things that are to come. The greek word. Paracletos. The paraclete. Is a mystery wrapped in a riddle. Or it's his familiar intimate and ordinary as trust and hope. Depending on how you think about it. Scholar spend most of their energy debating how to translate that word and in my opinion not anytime sinking into the function of that special agent of the divine. In today's reading from the new revised standard version of the christian bible. They translated paracletos as the advocate. I disagree with that translation. So you're going to hear me refer to what they called the advocates. As the paracletos or the paraclete. There's only a handful of references to the paraclete in the entire new testament. And all in the gospel of john or 1st john. The paraclete is not a translation or transliteration of any hebrew or aramaic concept that scholars can tell. In greek and latin the words closest paracletos refer to a legal position. Akin to a defense attorney but as someone who also acted as a special kind of character witness. Someone of high social standing who personally vouched for the defendant to the judge. Fitting in with the overall sort of courtroom drama feel of the gospel of john. The most popular translation of paraclete is the advocate. But the closest literal translation which i like a little bit better would be something like. One called alongside to help. And perhaps for that reason some versions of the bible translate paraclete as the comforter. 3 any translation other than paraclete just doesn't do justice to the paraclete for at least two reasons. As we heard in the reading. Jesus refers to himself. As a parakeet. When he says the father will give the disciples another paraclete. And no scholars i think would equate jesus to a defense attorney. So doesn't really make sense to me to do that with the paraclete either. S. The scholarship that's focused on the literal translation of that word. Misses the context of this parakeets appearance. And the range of functions and roles that this new paraclete is going to perform. Jesus speaks about the paraclete during a time of what i think we've now call anticipatory grief. Around his own death. Scholars generally agree that this part of the gospel of john. Was written either right after or right before the leader of the johanning community the beloved disciple. Died. So these verses were written about grief. In the time that the author himself was experiencing grief. I've been a defense attorney so i can tell you with all candor and humility that. The defense attorney is not what most grieving people need or want. The paraclete fascinated me when i started going to seminary and i read the new testament for the first time. But most of the christian students at my presbyterian seminary they don't seem to find these verses that i read to you particularly revolutionary or interesting. Babe quit the paraclete to the holy spirit. That doesn't seem quite right to me either because at various points in the gospel of john. The author will refer to the holy spirit. As the holy spirit and whenever the gospel talks about the paraclete it has the special name. Sodamy. I think of parakletos something a little bit different and it strikes me as something important. If jesus has a paraclete brought salvation. Then i submit that when jesus talks about another paraclete. That he's talking to people in grief. And he's talking about a hope bringer a lot more than a legal advocate. For my preaching class. I needed to write a short homily based on a christian text and i chose those verses about the paraclete that i shared with you today. It was a real challenge to produce a message that fit my unitarian-universalist sensibilities. And they're also did justice to the christian scriptures. And was absolute truth. As i understood it. And i wanted to be very respectful of my christian seminarian audience in the seminary chapel that day. So here's what i said to them. If jesus is life. And crucifixion brought salvation. In his absence. Offers hope. The christian bible gives that hope a name. The paraclete. The gospel of john tenderly describes conversations that jesus had with his disciples. Breaking the news of his coming death. And equipping them for life after his departure. Jesus says i'll ask the father and he will give you another paraclete. I don't know how much of this message that jesus's disciples could take in. I imagine in those moments. They were. Mostly feeling a lot of resistance. Because this person that they so loved and trusted. Was about to die. Even though he look to them hale and healthy. Even as he described the death that was to come. But jesus gently asher sis disciples that they will never be alone. And he will not leave them orphan. After giving them a little while to process that first pass jesus raises the subject of his death again and he paints for disciples a picture of a future. In which they're known and trusted teacher jesus is gone. But in which. They will gain another trusted teacher and companion who's very much like jesus. But has unique. And wonderful features. In john 16:7 jesus consoles. Nevertheless i tell you the truth. To your advantage that i go away. Or if i do not go away the paraclete will not come to you. But if i go away i will send him to you. And he goes on. Telling them how to identify this paraclete. Based on what the paraclete brings out in them. And how the paraclete app. In the world. Imagine jesus disciples didn't feel terribly comforted by these words. About this unknown interloper that's paraclete. I bet they felt. A little angry. Anger is easier i think. Then sadness. Especially the deep aching sadness of. I think that's why psychologists talk about anger is one of the. First emotions in the stages of grief. I'm at the disciples wish that jesus would just hush up. Because no one and nothing. Could take the place of jesus. Not in their lives. Not in their community and not in the world. I can't imagine how it would feel to lose a precious. Teacher like that. I searched my own life for an experience that can help me understand a little. And i find to that i will share. In one i was the consoled. And in one i was the consoler. The first happened about 8 years ago. When i was very upset because my mother didn't seem like. My mother. She appeared hale and healthy. But she seemed distant in an indescribable kind of way. Ask me questions about my day like she used to. And she didn't want to do things together the kinds of things we used to do together. I have my physical mother. But my mom had gone missing. I took this up with god. One day. And i got an answer in a moment of prayer in distress. Bright is a flash. And just as a femoral. The words. Other mothers. Appeared in my head. And it felt like it came from somewhere outside of me. This happens rarely. But it's always quite jarring. And this time it was infuriating. Other mothers. What does that mean god. I don't want another mother i want my mother. And i don't think that you're understanding me. Or else you're an insensitive lout who thinks that mothers are fungible like wheat. I could just be swapped around. After the anger ran its course. I tried to figure out what to do with that message. I felt silly and i felt a little guilty too. But i started talking to some older women that i ran into during my day. A lady at the locker room in the jewish community center gym. Who would later help quiz me on hebrew vocabulary when i started seminary. A woman at my office who would later help me find the courage to apply to graduate school. A woman on my swim team. Who later brought my daughter souvenirs from her travels. None of them. What's my mother. But they all did things. That my mother would do. And a couple of years later. My mom started having really noticeable episodes of dementia. And a little bit after that. Her health declined rapidly and she died of congestive heart failure with severe dementia. After she died. One night. My daughter asked me. What would happen if i died. And i assured her. I would not leave her orphaned. She would have her daddy. Not to be deterred. She asked what would happen if her daddy and me died in a fiery car crash at exactly the same moment. In a fiery blaze of death. After shaking that image off from in it. I assured her. She would not be or i would not leave her orphan. I told her. There would be other mothers for her. She rejected my answer. What other mothers there could never be another mother that was exactly like her mama. And i told her. Another would come. Maybe her aunt. Who would tell her too much about my childhood escapades. Maybe her godmother who would tell her too much about what i was like in law school. Maybe my friend sinead who had been vedula at my daughter's birth. And could tell her all the hopes and dreams that i had for her. Probably all of them. They would all come to her. And she would need. To let them in. It wasn't it was a tender evening and i am extremely glad to report that i have not died in a fiery blaze of death and i have no intention of doing so. But also. I'm more at peace in my soul. Because i have seen the paraclete. One pearl of great price. Passes from site. 1 / love great price. Weights to be seen. And you shall find. I'm in and blessed be.

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2019-05-12-ItTakesAVillageToHealASoul.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For may 12th 2019. This week's service is. It takes a village to hela cell. A river joanna fontaine. Are reading today comes from jean vanier. He created this worldwide organization. Call l'arche and what the organization did is it help set up. Individual communities for people with intellectual disability. Or people with these disabilities and people without them could live together and create community. And because of that he's also he was also a philosopher and a theologian. And through experiencing that. himself and then seeing this replicated over and over again. He became one of the foremost authorities on what community means and how it works. He writes today i want to talk to you about belonging and about community. Community is a place of conflict. Conflict inside each one of us there is first of all the conflict between the values of the world and the values of community. Between togetherness and independence. It is painful to lose one's independence and to come together in togetherness. Not just proximity. To make decisions together and not all alone. Loss of independence is painful particularly in a world where we have been told to be independent and to cultivate the feeling that i don't need anyone else. Community also means death to ego. In order that people might grow to become one body truly belonging to each other not in a closed way but in a mysterious way where each one is growing an inner freedom. To accept the risk of personal consciousness and growth to inner freedom. Can be painful it is never easy to follow the light inside of oneself when others do not seem to agree. Communities can 10 to close in upon themselves. Belonging should always be a means to personal. Becoming. It is accepting the risk of dying to aggressiveness and rivalry in order to discover a new freedom and a new fecundity. A new way of giving life to others but still to belong to others. To be in one body. With them. Community means caring. Caring for people. A community is not an abstract idea we are not striving for perfect community. Community is not an ideal it is people it is you and i in community we are called to love people just as they are with their wounds and their gifts. Not as we would want them to be. Community means giving them space. Helping them grow. It means also receiving from them so that we too. Can grow it is giving each other freedom it is giving each other trust. It is confirming but also challenging each other. We might be called into or choose a particular community. But once we are in the community the siblings are given. Some. We'll get on our nerves. Others will attract.. But community means caring for each one if we let ourselves be attracted to those who flatter us or who are like us who share our ideas. Then we won't grow. Growth will come as we come closer to people who are different from us. And as we learned to welcome and listen. Even to those who trigger our pain. It's pretty great isn't it. Find a walking stick. I got it at our service auction a couple of weeks. Ago and made by one of our members wayne mccullough. Luckily there were two of them so you didn't have to watch your minister you don't get into a brawl with with someone over it. And you know how sometimes you get. An object. And you know that there's that there's some sort of deeper meaning for you than just the object itself some sort of symbolism. I knew that but i didn't know what it was i knew it had something to do with this church maybe that were journeying together or something. So we are very lucky in this congregation we have an amazing full-time director of lifespan faith development that means she helps all of us including the minister with our faith development she helps us find meaning. So this is kind of her wheelhouse so i went to carry jerry krause. And i told her about what i was thinking and did she have any ideas. And she looked at it and she thought about it and she said. You know maybe you should use it for what it's meant for. Maybe you should. Go on a walk with it. And. See what what comes do. See what that stirs up. So i did that i talked to another one of our members who used to be on the hiking team tim buckley. And i asked him if he knew of any good places around here to go on a hike something that was challenging enough that i might need a walking stick but you know. Not too challenging. He gave me a couple of suggestions and so on my day off. I took my walking stick and went for a hike. And one of the things that i notice. Right right off with i was i was starting on pretty level ground. And i've never used walking stick before and so the first thing i noticed was that i felt really awkward. And i felt kind of self-conscious to like i'm looking around at the other hikers who clearly know what they're doing and i'm looking at me you know who does she think she is gandalf. And it was because it's not it's it's not intuitive or at least i know you're like. How smart do you have to be to use a walking stick rev joanna apparently a little bit smarter than i am because it wasn't intuitive i didn't really have a rhythm and in fact i first was wondering if i should have just left it in the car i tried kind of carrying it around it's surprisingly heavy because that's not what you're actually supposed to do with a walking stick. But i continue using it. And. It's things are very lush right now have you noticed that because of all of the rain a lot of overgrowth including there were parts of the path that. You couldn't even see. I had worn sport sandals that day. And as i'm looking at the overgrowth and thinking about it's spring and i have bare feet and snakes i was thinking about snakes. But i did have this in so i could i could kind of push the overgrowth aside so that i could see the path i could see what i was stepping out onto and it made me a little bit braver. I want to down in the path led to the water and i'm one of those people are do we have any other water people here like being around water just kind of heel shoe. Thrilled to see that. And. Since i had this before i went wading in i was able to see exactly how deep it was. Because i've. The water can be deceptive y'all have you know i've had that thing before i thought it was like this. Destiny but i stepped in and it's like up to here so i can i could see what i was doing. All around the water because this is central texas it was it was all rock. Around there and. If they were wet. It was slick. And. I was glad that i had. The walking stick take to give me some balance as i walked over those slick rocks. I continued on the trail and there were parts of it. That went up where you had to kind of do a little bit of climbing and then parts that were kind of steep. Going down. And so what i. Right by then it was kind of starting to feel like a rhythm. Using the walking stick. And what i realized was kind of the. The physics of how it works is with a walking-stick you can find a secure piece of ground and put your stick down on it and then when you leaned on it like all of your weight is going there and so you can be more nimble with the rest of. I mean when you're walking down one of those steep inclines you can do this to kind of slow you down because you know that feeling when you're kind of like i hope i'm not about to start doing somersaults here but but. A walking stick you can kind of brace yourself. Against. And. And i found the value. In this hike of the walking stick. Carrie said to me. Don't you think that the walking stick. Is symbolic for the church community itself. We have the community so that when we're going over when we're going through the rocky parts of our lives. We have something that we can lean on. We have a community that will help us kind of push away the weeds and get some clarity and see the path that we're on. It can help slow us down where we were maybe going a little bit too fast. And it provides balance. It's that thing that's there for us when we need it. So that we can be a little braver. And take a few more healthy risks. And get outside of our comforts. This community. Is an intentional village. We come together and intentional village. Of all ages and all kinds of people. Last week i talked about unitarian universalism in the 21st century in about how we as a religion. Are a big tent. I really just thought and that is made possible by an ethic of personal responsibility. And a commitment to sacrificial love. Last week i talked mostly about sort of the big picture the broad world of unitarian universalism. But today i want to talk about. The individual congregation and specifically this. Individual congregation. Because that's where unitarian-universalism happen. Is in our individual congregation. I sometimes will refer to unitarian universalism as a denomination. Does people know what that means right like methodist is a denomination episcopalian all of that. But organizationally speak. We technically are not a denomination. We are an association. We are an association. Free and independent. Congregation. Every congregation. Is its own body its own independent. Body. We decide how we are going to spend our money we take care of our building we elect our own officers we create our own bylaws. You vote even on your minister whether to call a certain person to be your minister. We could because of this independence if we decided that we were going to make a rule that on sunday every sunday everyone took was to wear red to church. We could do that. We're not going to do that because i'm like what your great uncle dave said we are not a cult. But we could. Each congregation is its own independent world when we have visitors who come here i will let you know i say hey i hope you come back here cuz. I think live oak is the best. It's okay mike my colleagues think that the church has a server the best to. Encourage them to visit other congregations in the austin area because. If you seen one uu church. You've seen one uu church and we are all different in different ways. But we are a big cat. We i think it is easy for us to sometimes think that we are more alike than we are but we have all kinds of. Different beliefs about the world and about religion about politics even. And. That's good. And this is all made possible through this ethic of personal responsibility that we have. And we are grounded together in covenant and this is something specific to live oak every congregation has their own covenant that they have come up with and a covenant is a set of promises. This is where we say here is how we are going to be together and so this is our covenant. And let's go over it real quick cuz we don't we don't like it's hanging on the wall and we teach it to our new members. But we probably should go back on a regular basis and kind of revisited. When you join this church. As people did today. When you become a member. You are not signing on to a set of beliefs or a creed even are seven principles. Which are the bottom line that connects all the different uu congregations together. There a promise between congregations they are not a promise between individual. You can be a member of this church. And disagree with some of them. But this is what you are effectively signing onto so let's read it together. We the members of live oak unitarian universalist church. Affirm a welcoming vibrant caring community for all ages. We embrace you you value. Humor and community growth on our shared spiritual journey. We covenant with one another to create relationships that are inclusive open-minded sensitive and celebrate the differences within our community. We will accept support and appreciate one another. Keep our commitments maintain healthy boundaries and use constructive communication. We will be accountable to one another in a helpful non-judgmental peaceful environment with integrity respect. I'm love this covenant. Is what holds us in integrity with each other and with our larger values. It is not a set of laws like if you break one of these you're not going to get thrown in live oak jail. I don't even know what that would be. But we do call each other back into covenant the expectation is yes. We're going to break covenant sometimes and then we're going to go to each other and we're going to say okay we need to have a conversation. So that we can be back together in right relationship. And. That can be hard. Forgiveness is hard. It's hard to forgive and sometimes it's hard to accept the forgiveness of someone else but it's part of what we do it's part of how we come back. Into covenant. We're going to make mistakes that's what happened. And. At that line from from the frances story is key where she says do you want to be careful or do you want to be friends. If we are too careful about everything that we say and everything that we do. Then we're not going to be able to be vulnerable we're not going to be able to be our authentic selves. I'm so yes will screw up but we come back together and there is healing. In that. The sermon is called it takes a village that heal a soul because that's what we do here we all come with different wounds and healing can happen here if we each have the humility right to know that we that that we have healing right that's kind of the buddhist thing of you know you're perfect and you could be better we have to have that humility we have to be able to do our own work which can be really hard. And we have to have gratitude because i think. That the last step that the really important last step of healing. Is after we have done our own healing when we can look. And we can go out. Like this person did this and that helped my healing and this person did this. And we can learn from what we did. So that den we can help someone else. There. This is this is part of. Who we are and and what we do and sometimes the wounds that we have. We aren't even aware of. But part of being in a community. Is that we can take classes and have conversations where we can go. Wow i had. I had that thing. That oppressive belief. Like in my subconscious. And then we can go deeper and together we can. Can heal those different places. And we do all of this because we are rooted in sacrificial love. We don't hear the word sacrifice. That often. And i think we should. Because when i think the probably part of the problem is we've seen or heard about so much unhealthy sacrifice right being called to sacrifice when you don't want to or when you have to give up something of yourself. But sacrifice when it is freely given and given as a gift. It's one of the things that we all do for each other we sacrifice our preferences right i don't really like this color of paint but some other people do and so that's okay. We sacrifice having to have our own way all the time i think that is the number one thing that when you come together in a community this is the number one thing that we are constantly practicing right because we can't have our way all the time i three-year-old doesn't understand that all the time but those of us as we get older we understand that disappointment and not getting our own way. Is part of life. And so i may not get my way today but. Tomorrow it may be you who is sacrificing getting your own way. At this church were grounded in covenant and we operate through a democratic process. And there is sacrifice woven in all that we do. We often talked about time talent and treasure right to be a member of this church. We're going to ask if you to give some of your time to give some of your talent give some of your treasure. But we're also going to ask you. To at least consider. When the community has something it's working toward. Even if it's not your top priority. The chew help us. Make it so. I have an example of that we are a year ago democratic process we voted to begin a capital campaign and had a successful one. We were talking about all of the things that we needed and wanted things like air conditioning kind of important here in austin and things like a sign we had an older sign that was falling down. And so we knew we needed a new one and we started talking about wouldn't it be cool if we could change the message if we got one of those digital ones so we can let our neighbors know something about who we are you know hire you the the weirdo liberal in the neighborhood so are we. And. So we have we raised the money. And our chair of aesthetics to buckley who said i could share this. Story with you. She work she got all the bid she got all the plans got drawings showed them to everyone and then last december we voted yes. We want to have this sign. I chose to buckley made it happen because this was something that the congregation wanted and so she helped make it a reality. Do you know. Who really did not want a digital sign. Sue buckley. She did not want it she will tell you she did not want a digital sign she wanted like one of those nice wood ones would be a lot less expensive and it had a certain ghetto aesthetic. But. She loves this church. And the church had said both through money and through both. This is what we want. So she works for the success of that thing even though she originally had not really wanted it. She will also tell you right now doesn't it look so nice i think she's kind of come around this is the kind we talked about sacrificial love. This is what we mean in terms of sacrifice sacrifice should not. Ever mean giving up something of yourself it should not mean that you ever feel that you have to come here and not be who you are your authenticity. Not only do we want to lift it up and honor it because it's a part of you. But it makes our whole community better because we are that big tent. Jean vanier wrote death true unity cannot be achieved in a family or a community which denies differences. Indifference and behaves as if everyone should be the same and thinking the same way. Unity is achieved when each member of the body is different. And contributes a different gift but all are united around the same goal by mutual love. That's what this church does this church. Ears. 4u the walking stick on your journey. So that you can take some rest. And be braver. On the bottom line. Try absolutely. No to be true. Is your life. Will be better. If you are an active member of this congregation this congregation voted to call me here 5 years ago. And i will tell you. I am a better person today. That i was then. And it's because of y'all it's because i have all of these amazing role models who are living your lives with integrity and i learned from you and you push me and challenge me to be more of who i should be. You are. You're my walking stick. And we are the walking stick. For each other. And the thing is when you're an active member of this community. It's not just that your life will be better. You being a part of this. Makes our unified congregational life better too.

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2018-01-21-Sermon-GiftFromBothHands.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast for january 21st 2018 today service is gift for both hands by river joanna fontaine crawford. Church's marvelous. Like everyone should find a church that fits their values or synagogue or temple. And invest themselves just jump in with both feet. I realize. You may be thinking that i am biased. In this. You're wrong. It's not that i believe in church. Because i'm a minister. I'm a minister. Because i believe in church. This is my second career. And long before i ever even thought about seminary i was a member of northwest community uu church. Smaller church. And i got to try out an experiment with basically. Every area of that church. I was on the worship team i was on the ret my was on the stewardship tank not all at the same time don't do it that way. I was on the garage sale team the chocolate festival team i was on the board i was webmaster. Add all of these different experiences. Gave me stuff in return i walked away from all of them with new skills or finding talents in myself that i didn't even know that i had. Or finding things that i absolutely were not talents of mine. It was a wonderful experience and that's the thing about church it's kind of like you take. Together a community college and research and development and municipal governments and spiritual development and and spiritual practice and village life. & group therapy and a family reunions and sometimes on sundays doesn't it feel like every week we get a family reunions complete with weird uncle george. And if you're looking around right now trying to figure out who's weird uncle george maybe it's you. This is not a gender-specific title. And it's like all of those things rolled up into one here you go let me give you the church experience. Have fun make the most of it. If. If church. Hadn't already existed for thousands of years. We would have to invent it just for this time in our civilization because there's really nothing else quite like this combination. Of all of those different things. James luther adams unitarian theologians said that church is where we get to practice what it means to be human. And i would add church is where we get. To figure out the meaning of what being us is. And who we are. And at all ages we get to continue exploring what are our talents and what are our gifts. And in church you get that opportunity. There's an old southern saying someone will. Will point to someone and go. Man that guy. God gave to him with both hands. And unlike the other southern saying bless his heart. This one is unequivocally. A compliment. It's an idea you know that status to someone that you know boy god gave to this person with both hands it's the idea that all of us are born with some sort of talent or gift. But there are some people who have so many talents it's as if the universe came to them with both arms filled. And gave it all to them and i bet that you know some people that you kind of think that about. But the more people like see. Especially in church because in church. I see so often people who discover a new talent. The more of that that i see the more i think it's not so much that the universe gave to them with both hands as they have had the luck. I've been being able to discover. Their talents. And maybe some of the rest of us have it. I mean. Finding talents and gifts. Really depends a lot on your circumstances. Right. I maybe. The greatest curling. Player you know curling that that thing that you see at the olympics like right with the broom in the weird thing that looks kind of like a wheel. I may be the greatest one i may have some sort of innate talent for this. But i have lived in texas my whole life. Plenty of people have walked up to me with a football and said hey wanted you want to try some of this no one has ever walked up to me with one of those curling things and said hey you want to go. Oliver black guy. I have no idea and there i couldn't you know i've lost well if i wanted to pursue what i could but so far i have missed out on that opportunity. I'm so we have to. Deliberate. About finding what these these talents are. It's hard though isn't it. Because the even. Admit. That you may have a talent for something. We find that really hard to do. We don't want anyone to accuse us of being egotistical. Or we don't want to venture out and say hey i think i have this talent for someone else to say no you don't. But there's always going to be someone right i am sure that right now you could probably get on the computer and find someone who says barbra streisand can't sing and meryl streep can't act like there's always that person. Out there. So how do we find these talents. I think one thing is. By listening to others. I think a lot of times. The box. That we put ourselves in. Is exactly that something we have put ourselves in other people don't see us in that box and especially at church because unlike. It at work where you know you already have sort of a designated box. You come here and people don't know what that box is. And they're ready to see whatever it is that you have and they may see things in you you don't see in yourself. Our director of lifespan faith development kari krauss. Shared a story with me. Before she was a religious educator she was a member of a church. And her minister. Saw something in her. And came to her and said that there was this outside organization for the children and would she go to one of their meetings. She went to a one of their meetings not knowing that actually it was they wanted to bring that organization to the church she was at and they were hoping she would start it. So she wound up. Starting this new chapter of the organization which meant. That she was president. Abbott. An indie experience. She discovered talents that she never knew she had she had to interface with community leaders. Andaz. And she's at a self-proclaimed introvert she said this was way outside of her comfort zone. Yeah she was able to do it. And she was able to coordinate things and she was able to lead other people someone saw in her the leader within way before she saw it herself. She went on from that she became a member of the us district board and then president. Of the board. And she will tell you today. But she would not. Have been able to do any of that. If someone else had not first. Seen this town within her. And then urged her to take the opportunity to develop. That pallet. Developing the talent. Is a key piece. I think that often we think of talent is just like you have it or you don't like you can instantly do something perfectly or not. There's this this great little scene in the movie bridget jones diary where she throws she decides to throw a dinner party. And she says to herself. Cubs taking suspicions i. Maybe a genius in the kitchen. During the dinner party at she's never cooked before right and so she of course you know pulls out all these complicated recipes she ties up some links some leaks with string she didn't have cooking twine so it turns out to be blue string that turns the whole soup blue. And it is just a complete mess. And her friends say. Wonderful bridget. 4 hours of hard labor and you've served us a feast of blue soup and omelettes and marmalade. But we love you. Just as you are. You may have. A little talent. But trying and failing the first time is not an indication whether you have that talent or not. You have to learn you have to develop it. And some of the most talented people. We look at them right and and and they make it look so easy. And so then we think that it's easy. And we think that we're not good at it when we try and we can't instantly be at that level. Anyone in here know how to knit. Okay so a few years ago. My best friend's mother who has been knitting i think since she was 3 years old you know i would watch her knitting and and and those of you who don't let you know have you ever watch someone that they're just like they can hold conversations they can watch the tv and they're just like so surely it's that easy right. Like. You're trying to do when you first learn to knit your like. I have 10 thumbs why did no one ever tell me that i have how are you are you going to roundup. And then all of a sudden. Because you've been practicing and practicing a. Getting it wrong over and over again all of a sudden. The muscle memory. Click send. And you two can it. While you're watching tv. Talking to other people. As we get older. I think that we we have bought into this myth. The only children. Can learn. This is one of those things that everyone just accepts to be true. Kind of like if you steer a steak your ceiling the juices in. You're not science is actually just proved it google it but later. There's this this thing that we hear all the time about how children. Are just such sponges they're just so ready to learn and that's true but guess what. So are we. When researchers actually started looking into this neuroscientist started going in and experimenting. Of course the big thing with the scientific processes you try to separate out all of the factors that are different from one group to another. Think about how it is. For kids right they're not going and spending eight hours at a job and trying to learn something you know if they're lucky 15 minutes a day they're doing that. All the time. There's so many other circumstantial things once they separated those out. They discovered that yes there are some advantages. To being a child and learning. But there's also a lot of advantages to being an adult. And learning. And they look also at how children learn. And this this is very interesting they learned that if you apply those things to adults. They can learn at the same rate to and here is a perfect example i loved it at the university of minnesota. They were looking into language acquisition which is usually one of the big areas where you look at 4 for learning. Babies toddlers kids right date they can so readily pick up their initial language or if they're in a home with two languages they can pick those up. The researchers looked at okay how. How is it that we actually teach a baby a toddler to talk. Well we talked very slowly. Very simply. And with a lot of repetition. Think of it. Do you want some peas yes you want some peas say mommy i want some peas. I know we hear ourselves doing it and go god i sound like an idiot no actually you sound like a really really good teacher because then once they took that. And applied that to teaching adults a new language not quite with that you know bending over sort of thing but. Very slowly. Very simple words and with a lot of repetition. Turns out that the adults. We're able to learn a new language at roughly the same rate. As the children were. So don't be trapped into this idea. That you are too old to learn something the whole thing right about you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Yeah you can. They did find us that the number one difference between a child learning something an adult learning something with motivation. Those of you who have raised children or been around children have seen this right do it. The child is very focused on learning a new skill. Whereas adults. Not as much. I'm part of it because of this whole thing of questioning ourselves. A child that a toddler does not say. I really don't think that i'm going to be able to master this walking thing i think that that's something more talented people can do. I'm going to focus on something else. Kids don't do that they're they're motivated they just keep doing it until they can do it. And when adults have that same motivation. They often get the same results. Church is where you get to. Do the same kind of experimenting. That a kid does. For kids are playing. The church you get to play to there's so many things you get to kind of just mess around with and find out is this something that i'm good at. Is this something that i could develop is it something that i like. Think of the opportunities that you have here. I want to say this. At this church. Just becoming a member of a team. Is low-commitment. And we need to make it low commitment if you try something for about 6 months and just decide this is really not for me. You should be able to move on and find something that fits better now leadership is a different thing leadership has a higher commitment but hopefully by then you have been doing enough other things to have a better idea about whether this is going to be a good fit for you. So say you. I've always thought about opening your own business. Get on the finance team. After you're being on the finance team you were going to know so much about how to read quicken and and spreadsheets and know how to budget and know how to forecast. Maybe you've been watching joanna and. Games what's her husband chip right joanna and chip gaines who who have that tv show where they flip houses maybe you've always thought that would be something kind of cool go into some home improvement. Get on the facilities team if you'd been on facilities team this past year among other things you would have learned how to rebuild a bathroom faucet. And wouldn't you feel proud when you didn't have to call the plumber. Maybe seeing in the shower. Can you. You're shy but you kind of thought maybe someday i'd like to be able to. Nothing big but you know sing at karaoke or something. Come talk to rebecca get in the choir maybe you want to improve your public speaking skills. Join the worship team be up here with me as a worship leader there are so many different things that you get to experiment with. And a church. And you get to find out where are those talents and those gifts. Everyone here. Everyone here. Has been given. To arms full. Gifts from the universe. But it's up to us to. Play. To experiment. Do not be afraid of failure but just to get up and try again. We can receive all of those gifts but we have to reach out. With both of our hands. To take them.

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2018-12-09-AGiftFromTheWorld.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. December 9th. 2018. This week's service is. From the world. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning. Is a personal reminiscence. By philip hewitt. I well remember the first christmas after i became a unitarian or perhaps i should say after i knew i was a unitarian and acknowledge that fact. It was a time of strangely conflicting feelings. On the one hand here was the time of festivity. Well-nigh universal festivity. One could hardly take kindly to assuming the role of scrooge and declaring this all to be humbug. One wanted to join in to be caught up in the spirit of the season and yet at the same time there were the demands of intellectual integrity to be met. The conventional celebrations of christmas were bound up with the illogical schemes and pseudo historical events to which one could no longer give one's assent. How could one sing about god and sinners reconciled. If one no longer believed in the scheme of thought which presented jesus christ as a unique mediator and savior. How could one sing about choirs of angels. If one didn't really believe in angels at all. How could one avoid being a hypocrite without being a spoilsport. These were very real questions i was not very old at the time and wasn't any case passing through the teenage stage of rebellion against the established and traditional ways of looking at things. And so i was a little unhappy and bewildered. Perhaps also a little cynical. I made uneasy compromises and got through the season as best i could. I was not very impressed by the efforts of some unitarians i had met. To make the observance a satisfactory one from their point of view. By altering a word here and there in the traditional songs and affirmation. However liberal-minded they may have been. They were also literal-minded. The word made flesh is here made word again wrote edwin mirror of his calvinistic forebears. I'm unitarianism had not altogether outgrown this aspect of its calvinistic ancestry. By myself. Had not outgrown literal-minded this at this stage of my religious evolution. But it was still more than one or two particular words that i took issue with. What's the whole pattern of thought they express. To the question asked by friends and relatives. How can a unitarian celebrate christmas. I could find no satisfactory answer. Perhaps it was true that unitarian should just join with jehovah's witnesses and crystal delfines and refusing to mark christmas at all. All that now seems very long ago. I can honestly say that heat christmas since then. Has meant more to me than the one before. I am sure they have met more than ever that they could have done had i tried to remain within the bounds lay down in the church of my upbringing. It may seem strange to claim that christmas can be more to someone not bound to an exclusive dependence upon the christian tradition. Get this is exactly what i do claim. Why. Because the response of the unitarian universalist to the season. Can include the whole range of its meaning. Not confining itself to the one narrow emphasis. We found in conservative traditional churches. A universal religious festivals such as this. Must appeal to anyone who wants to be inclusive. In outlook. It is kind of. A challenging thing. This time of year. If you have left the faith that you grew up in. Right. A lot of. Questions about. What is okay to do and what is not okay to do if you have left. A more traditional christian faith. What are the things you want to take an are you even allowed to celebrate it if you don't do it the way. You did when you grow up. If you grew up in a non-christian face. The question about. Is it being disloyal to celebrate christmas in some way. But christmas. Has always been. Multicultural and multivalent. I don't way of lifting up shared universal values. Sometimes i'll see those cars i imagine you do to the ones that say keep the christ in christmas. And i wonder who they're talking to. Because i absolutely respect those who would talk. To the people of their own tribe i will tell you as you use there are certain things where i feel very strongly hey don't forget you know the theology in the face underneath the things that we do. But if they're trying to make this. A a holiday. Of exclusivity. Where if you don't say the right things or believe that the certain. Creed's that they do that you're not allowed. To be a part of it. Well that seems to go against everything. Christmas is supposed to be. And it certainly goes against. The history. As i said christmas has always been a multicultural. Multivalent. Holiday multivalent means that different people can look at something and extract. Different meanings. From the same thing and there are so many different meanings. That we can assign. To christmas. As unitarian universalist. Looking for those shared values. That are woven into christmas. Is part of our religious tradition. So. The kind of bring us up to where we're all on sort of the the same page of understanding our tradition i'll give you the really short synopsis which is that the unitarians and the universalist for two different states they went back to the the the in terms of thought in terms of theological thought they went back to the very earliest days of the church before. People had sorted through the pile of letters and stories to decide which ones were going to go into the bible. With the reformation as people could then read the bible for themselves they begin again picking up on certain unitarian and universalist thoughts. And then both unitarianism and universalism. As organized religious movement. Began in our country in the late 1700s and early 1800s. And then in 1961 these two face. Decided to consolidate. And when they did. They created a new religion. Unitarian universalist. And so we are simultaneously. A very old religion. And a very new religion a religion that continues to develop. And this has always been part of the heritage unitarianism and universalism. We're always trying to push the boundaries of their respective faith. Defined out where they needed to continue going. And with universalism this is where when we look at christmas. We can take a fundamental ideas. That began emerging in the early 1900s. And apply it to the holiday. The universalism had traditionally referred to universal salvation. The idea that god was so good that no one would go to an eternal hell. By the 19th. Universalist theologians. We're beginning to push on that and trying to evolve it further. What if they said what if universalism is not only about that but universalism is also about trying to find universal values that exist in different countries and different cultures and even in different religions. About 19:35 theologian clarence skinner. Had coined the term the unities and the universal. To talk about this responsible search. For finding what seem to be true. Outside not only of creed's but outside of completely different religions boundaries. Until we look at christmas. This idea of searching for universal truth. Is something that we can lift up. And celebrate. Because christmas from the very beginning. Has been multicultural and multivitamins. It started of course not as christmas but as various. Pagan folk holidays there's something in it. That wants to mark the time of the winter solstice. It's always been there and you have a saturnalia and you have you all. And so when the christian church. Began consolidating their power. I'm getting more political power. They wanted to do away with these old religions and get people to join what they felt was the correct religion. And so they tried to do away with these ancient pagan celebrations. As even the grinch learned though you know it comes without boxes and bags christmas comes as it will and the celebrations continue. They were often full of feasting. And being together with others they were a time of celebrating the return of the light the return that that spring would come again. I'm solid starting point the church said. Well if you can't beat them then join them and okay you can still have your mistletoe and your christmas tree and your deck the halls but now we're going to call it christmas and it will be a religious holiday. If you look at the history. A christmas. There's kind of doesn't this interesting sort of pattern where the world and especially the church. Keeps trying to figure out exactly what is supposed to be the meaning of this holiday. When the church took it over they tried to get rid of much of the what they felt was wild behavior and to make it something more pious. That work for a little while and then you would get a new pope in or a new political leader in and the revelry would become that the height of the holiday again. Then a new leader would come in for instance during the reformation mini of the protestants associated christmas with catholic. And because the mini of the protestants at that time had a very anti-catholic attitude. They would refer to all of those pagan parts that had been part of christmas and said no no no we shouldn't celebrate it either. But christmas would wind up coming back in our country the puritans went so far as to out. What so you know like when you see that the christmas special of santa claus is coming to town was like the meisterburger burgermeister he's probably kind of based on this idea of all the toys toys toys and then get rid of it. This seems to be a common theme these universal themes. Not only of what we lift up but also what we reject. Can be found in so many of our different story. In our current. Mythology. But here we are we are now in a world that has so many different ideas. Of what. Christmas can mean. I'm so to say something like no it is only for this one particular sect. And the whole purpose of it is this one religious idea. Simply flies in the face of the history. That is already there. Christmas. Has been a gift. That has been given to the world. And the people who have done much of the gifting. I'm not even part. Of the christian religion. The songs that we are singing today rudolph and the christmas song and later we're going to sing rockin around the christmas tree. Does anyone know. What a common element is in all of these songs. The riders were jewish. Goldstar. Star of david in fact. So much. Of what we think of as just being heart and soul of christmas. Was a gift. From people of other religions and other cultures. Let it snow let it snow written by sammy cahn and jule styne both jewish. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer first be story of rudolph was written by robert may jewish he didn't share the story with his brother-in-law johnny marks a songwriter also jewish that's how we got the song that we now know. The christmas song written by bob wells and mel torme. Both jewish. Johnny marks was a big in case you don't already know this a big songwriter and especially of christmas songs he also wrote rocking around the christmas tree. How about white christmas. Stop song that even for those of us in texas is just like the picture we think of how christmas is supposed to look while the song was written by irving berlin jewish and for those who love the movie the director and screenwriters were both jewish. Do you hear what i hear. Okay so this is personally for me the story one of my favorite because the writers of it they they were it was a actually a protest song. About the cuban missile crisis. And it was written by noel regney and gloria shane baker. Unitarian universalist. 31 here who likes the movie elf. Elf is kind of a new part of our christmas canon but i think it's it's it's right there well you can thank director jon favreau and screenwriter david birenbaum both jewish for elf. Oh holy night things that you do rudolph and all okay like there's not. Like when i said that about it being a really religious him you know it's there's not a deep theology in it right but oh holy night i mean like that's that's candlelite and cathedrals right. Let me tell you about the story of o holy night you don't like it already maybe you will now. So it was can't take to noel it was written by first the words were written as a poem by placido capo. Who was a self-proclaimed atheist. And then adolph adams wrote the music to it. Adolphe adam. Jewish. And it's very interesting when you look at the history of this song. Because the french catholic church. It's such a beautiful song they they made it apart. Of their christmas services. And then at some point you took a little while cuz like social media hadn't been invented yet. But it's some point someone came up and whispered in their ear by the way do you know this song was written by an atheist and a jew and all of a sudden oh holy night was no longer allowed in the french catholic church. I thought it might have just disappeared. As so much of art does. Except that there was an american john sullivan dwight. Who was dissing france and heard the song and loved it and so he translated it. And translate it is kind of a loose way to aunt it to really refer to it cuz he also did some significant reinterpretation because he was an abolitionist. And a unitarian. And so that's why i like in the third verse of the song you'll see the line about for the slave is our brother. So when you're when you're hearing the song oh holy night just say to yourself. That was created by an atheist a jew and a unitarian good song. There's so many songs. That have been written by jewish songwriters. Pretty much the way that we think. Of christmas. Has been completely changed by then. Just imagine a christmas with no holly jolly christmas. Happy holidays. The christmas waltz. Winter wonderland sleigh ride. It's the most wonderful time of the year. Silverbell. There's no place like home for the holidays. I'll be home for christmas. Santa baby. Christmas. Baby please come home. I could probably go on and on. The point is that. Christmas. Has the whole way that we think of that. It has been given to us by others it has been shaped and formed for the purpose of putting more joy out into the world. It goes both ways. Christmas is sort of in the import-export business and there are many cultures. Who are not. Majority christian. Who's still celebrate. Christmas. You can find christmas being celebrated in india you can find it in places like lebanon and bangladesh. One of the really interesting ones is japan. Japan it has a very small minority of people who are christian. But christmas is huge there. Is there anyone here who has ever spent christmas in japan. Okay we do have some folks at the back so. Find those folks after the service they can fill you in more. It is fascinating if you go there there are christmas lights everywhere they call them illumination. Christmas trees people go around in santa hats. And interesting thing. About christmas. And the way that we all benefit from it is that every culture. Brings in something new. And some of those we decide to export. And keep an example of that would be the poinsettia. Which was an aztec tradition again these folk traditions became part of christmas. Andy evolution. Continues. In japan. Number one christmas is less about family and it's more like valentine's day. I guess expected christmas eve night you're going to take out your best girl or guy or whatever and go out for a very special dinner they'll be gift-giving but it's usually between couples it's a romantic holiday. There is one thing though that is sort of family-based and this started in the 1970s. So. Anyone know what the big feast is. 4 in japan for christmas. Kentucky fried chicken. Thank you. Because. Other cultures look. At a lot of the things that we have in the western world right just like we look at white we don't get much snow here but like snowmen are still an icon of christmas for us. The song a lot of turkeys. Turkeys aren't artists thing in japan and so a savvy marketeer. Look at that. And work for kfc and introduce that had this big. Campaign advertising campaign about have a very kentucky christmas. Item now. People will wait in line for hours families place their order for kfc like months in advance. And everyone gathers around. And as we've talked about before. I'm what are the ideas underneath that. Getting together with your family. Having fun. Christmas itself. Has an ethics. Of globalism. An inclusive eating. And as unitarian universalist we can raise up. value. As well as. Eternal values. A piece. Unloved. Generosity. And charity. Christmas is and always has been. A multicultural. Multivalent holiday. And that in and of itself. Is something to celebrate.

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2018-11-11-WhatNow.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For november 11th 2018. This week service is. What now. I rev joanna fontaine proper. Good morning. I'd like to invite the young young at heart. Come down here and join me if they like to. Once upon a time a long long time ago. Or maybe it was just yesterday. There was a rather large henyard. We're alive chickens live together laying eggs scratching in the dirt eating scraps. And dozing and their nests. And at the center of our story today is the little. Blue. Hen. Now little blue wasn't the oldest hen in the flock. And she wasn't a spring chicken. She was somewhere in the middle. She was in her prime land days. And she was busy raising her chicken family. Just busy. Minyard was a pretty good. Pretty good. Deal right. They were all living together in and it was pretty good but she wanted to be better. She wanted to be better for her. Baby chickens. She wanted to be better for all her friends she just wanted a better community. One day. Little boy was thinking and she decided that. Feeding everybody in the hen yard was the best way. The best way to make the community better she bring everybody together in the community. And they could eat. The rewards of their work. Now. She decided she was going to do that by baking some bread but little blue had never made bread before. Rarely even tasted it. But she knew there were some old hens in. Spaniard. Who invented bread before. So she thought. She would ask them for some help. Been there. Done that. Hi josh. want to sleep on my neck. I can't help you i have an appointment to get my feathers fluffed and blued. And what's the use nothing ever changes. Will you think that little blue would be discouraged but she wasn't. She was sad because there was a lot of wisdom there that wasn't being shared. In the community. But she was committed to her cause. So she went to her closest friends to ask for help. Omg i'm way too busy laying eggs and raising chickens. Booty gluten-free bread i only eat gluten free and vegan. I got work and goat yoga and happy hour with the gals this week otherwise i'd be happy to help. Admire what you're trying to do you go girl go and i'll definitely eat whatever you bake. Still no helpers. Little blue fox amore and she thought she'd ask. Young chickens but she went off to talk to the pullets. And the bullets they were pretty cool they were all down with the idea to make some bread. They wanted to do something meaningful. But they didn't have a clue how to do it. Nobody never taught them how to bake bread. And even if they had i'm not sure they would have listened you see they weren't terribly interested in the bread that their grandmother's made. They had their own ideas and their own way of doing things. And they wanted to share that with the world. Little blue with getting a little discouraged but she thought some more she was a really really wise hand. And she had an idea. She went back to the old hands and she asked for a recipe. And they were very very proud and happy to share. Their recipe. They pulled him out of their nests and dusted them off. Anthem tour. And then she went to her friend's her close circle of friends and said. Would you please organize a big gala for me i mean you'll be great at it cuz you're good at socializing and you know how to utilize that chicken network. And finally she went back to the poets recipes in hand. And invited them to experiment together and bake some bread for the party. And they did. Now. I'm not saying it was a perfect party. And maybe you would have done things a little differently but little blue. She was content. And the henyard came together for a big celebration of community where everybody play depart. And they feasted on fresh baked cornbread roti. And even a good old-fashioned sandwich. Are reading this morning. Comes from one of the dominant. Unitarian universalist theologians of the 20th century james luther adams and he wrote this. Somewhere towards the end of the forties and start of the 50s. So kind of put that in context. And this is from guiding principles for a free faith. Liberalism holds. That the resources divine and human that are available for the achievement of meaningful change. Justify an attitude of ultimate. Optimism. This view does not necessarily involve immediate optimism. In our century we have seen the rebarber ization of the masses we have witnessed a widespread disillusion of values and we have seen the appearance of great collective demon reader. Progress is now seem not to take place through inheritance. Each generation must a new when insight into the ambiguous nature of human exist. And must give new relevance to moral and spiritual values. A realistic appraisal of our behavior personal and institutional. And a life of continuing humility and renewal are demanded. For there are ever-present forces in us working for perversion and destruction. So. Some week huh. All the feelings. Anyone feel after tuesday some some joy. Some celebration. Anyone feel some disappointment. Anger. And we're still waiting for some clarity on several races still waiting to hear what's going to happen. One thing. But i do have clarity on. Is that at times like this. The power to come together in an intergenerational community. You need this. We all need this. Because we come into this community with different experiences and we have people who can help us. Put things into certain context. And we have other people younger people who can also give us hope. For what happens next. This is a deliberately intergenerational community. And that isn't something that you can just take for granted with a church i assure you i have. Colleagues. Who are very envious about what we have here at live oak and they say well how do you especially young people how do you get more young people coming into the church. I didn't just happen accidentally discharged before i ever even got here this church was making decisions both about their children and about the young adults and saying okay we are going to. Get the young adults to go into leadership and that doesn't always happen i assure you because you know the thing about young folks and when i say young folks like in the church contacts that's like anyone under 50. Like i'm considered to be a young minister. But the but the church. Was deliberate about that and they were willing for those young folks to do things different ways they weren't just looking to replicate themselves and so now we have a board that has people in their 30s in their 40s. I think that these if not after june i'll represent 60s and 70s. I'm looking forward to the years when we not only have people in their 20s. But even teenagers cuz let me tell you. We are raising some amazing kids here and i am looking forward to following their leadership. Now all that being said that does not mean that this is easy. We come from different generations. We have had different experiences that have shaped and formed how we view the world. And so occasionally can but up against some of those those differences. And we have to be more intentional about listening to each other and not assuming that what is the view for our age cohort is simply the view for everyone else. We are different. Because different. Things. Shaped us. Let's start at the top start with. The silent generation. So the silent generation came in after. The gi or generation or the generation tom brokaw has now named the greatest generation. Which had high population. Then you have the silent generation which was a baby bus. Lower population when they were kids the great depression was on they saw that and they saw wwii. And i often have been called the silent generation because there was sort of a generational ethos about just kind of. Head down and do the work like you don't have to go you don't have to be a show-off you don't have to go for glory as they probably thought that their parents had been right cuz we always do that with our parents. It was it was very much get the work done and just put in the time do what you need to do. They grew up in a world of significant hierarchy. They grew up being having a commitment to following the rules because for the most part. The rules. Worked for them. I want to pause just a second. And define who is them. Because we always have to do this the one. Problem with generational theory and i hope that we will begin having people who can who can do more work around this. Is that with generational theory. We format. Around the dominant voices in a particular culture. So when we talk about the different generations we usually are talkin about white. And middle-class. So be aware of that caveat. But there are certain things that affect the generations that you then she played out. In lacrosse. The view of that generation not perfectly. We paint with very broad. Strokes. So the silent generation not only were they silent because they were just focused on getting the job done. But the lesson that they continue to learn. Was that the wisest thing to do. What's to fly under the radar. To not attract attention to yourself and assert certainly if you were in any marginalized community at that time if you work day if you were transgender if you were a person of color. Of course you were trying to just. Be quiet. And get the job done. This is the generation that didn't watched mccarthyism happen. And so. that message was reiterated. Because if you drew attention to yourself you could lose your job. If you were a person of color and you drew attention to yourself. You can lose. Your life. For the silent generation. Duty has always been one of their significant value. They believe that they have a duty to helping those who came after them. And. Loyalty. Silent generation is loyal to institution. Including. Their jobs their employer. Usually what would happen if you would get a job and when i say you for the most part i didn't mean male. Women at this time we're giving the message that they could be secretary teacher or nurse right. But you got it you took a job and then you were with that company for life. And the whole idea of being loyal to a company was lifted up. As of value. After the silent generation came of course. The baby boomers. Who were never silent who were never caught. The baby boomers were then as they are named a baby boom there were so many of them in some. From a very early age the baby boomers learned that they had power they were getting a lot of attention. Until wednesday became teenagers they began exploring will what can i do with this power. And sometimes wheaties boomers about well y'all thought that y'all could change the world but they often did. Now they were doing it with other with the people who have gone before and then later some of the people who would come after but their whole thing was they were looking at the world. And they knew that the world needed to be broken. That there were hierarchies and patterns and rules in place that did not benefit everyone and that in fact made some things harder. And so they came in. Powerful to try and break those down. Are we had other societal things that were happening at the same time one of the biggest being the invention of the pill the birth control pill had so now you had all of these with these women who wanted to go into other professions than what had been offered to them before. And. What does smith. What you already had a high population and now you had all of these other people in the workplace. And so all of that passion and that drive that had serve so many social causes. When we got to about the 80s began being pushed. Into professional work. Because boomers had been taught that you were supposed to win you were supposed to be the best right. But now they had all of these other people who were competing with them their own age cohort. And believe me computer companies could use that. They could make you compete. And you were given a message that you whoever was the person who overworked the money. That was the person who was going to get the promotion. This is been considered the baby boomers have been considered to be the first generation. Of the of the over workers of the ones who are addicted to their job. Because at that time it wasn't just about results. It was also being the first person that the boss saw when he came into work and the last person that he saw. Right. I could go into the boomers y'all have had so many so many different things that have pushed. And pulled you. And and now you're going into boomers are now going into this new phase and they are treating it as they always have very different than the generations who came before again painting with broadstripe strokes. The silent generation their idea of retirement was like. You could rest right you can sit in your rocking chair and rest and the boomers idea of retirement is out now i get time to go hang gliding. Talk to the minister who when i started up a seniors coffee had to deal with all the people going i don't think i'm a senior. I'm middle-aged you know because a lot of people into b150m anyway. You can tell that i am a gen-xer gen-xers. We are snarky and we are cynical. We came along and and you have to realize that that's in. Cynicism. Pain from someplace one of my first memories of when you're starting to learn about like government and stuff like that was hearing the grown-up talk about nixon and something called watergate. For many of us are parents were divorced many of us were latchkey kid. Which put a a streak of being self-reliant. Into us. We saw as we were young adults we saw the whole y2k thing which just reinforced our cynicism because it was like oh this terrible thing is going to happen now it's okay. Go back to what you're doing. Gen-xers were another baby bus in fact there's a lot of parallels between silent generation and gen x we just like they were we were squeezed between two big and loud generations for us at being the boomers and the millennials. We were the middle kid and and we were all marsha marsha marsha boomers boomers boomers. If you don't understand that reference. Talk to a gen x er. And sulfur gen-xers to two dominant things in the way that we operate one was this is the generation that really started talking about balance. Because they had been those latchkey kid. They had seen their parents. Pour out their life into a job and often. Not be rewarded for it often get get fired right before retirement age. Again decides to the sinister. But we had the spirit of self-reliance. And individualism often rugged individualism this is why you find so many entrepreneurs who are in this generational cohort. Then of course came the millennials. First of all for all of the gen xers and up if your thought about millennials is like that they're all teenagers. Adjust your thinking by the way the nighties were not 10 years ago. Ann and all of the dates the dates that you're seeing up here like born between 1982 and 1999 like. Any of it there's no consensus there's no agreed-upon starting in dates these are kind of rough numbers. Based on the experiences that a generation went through. The millennials for the most part. They had they had a significant thing where they all remember where they were right we all have those kind of things boomers what was yours where were you when. Genex where were you win. Challenger. Gen x gen x challenger and she went to the next one millennials. Current columbine and 911 right and especially 911 because actually the two of them both of those columbine in 9/11. They sent a message to our society of your children aren't. States. I'm so the parents of millennials. Effectively tried to wrap them in bubble wrap right you can't no you can't go to the park by yourself i'm going to drive you everywhere. I thought that has had its effect on them. They were a little cynical of the generation that came before as we all were they look at our cynicism and snark and kind of rolled their eyes but especially the individualism. They and the generation that came after them. Have seen that in this world. Like you can't do it alone. And the late millennials. And ginsey which i'll talk about in a second. Also look at all of us from the older generation. Like we always look at the older generation and feel that we're out of touch. But they're out of touch. But the thing we're like we really are out of touch. Is the whole issue of. College education. They cannot. Imagine. A world where you can just plan on going to college and you most likely aren't going to to graduate with any debt. I said that has been another. Force. On all of them. It makes a big it's a big force in terms of how much money they have because so many are still paying. Death. And i think that we can all understand them being a little bitter. At the generations who went before who didn't have this kind of burden. Stop the millennials came. Gen z. And that's what they're calling it right now the thing is it's still so young that we really don't know what it'll be there will be some formative events. That it will come out later and that's where we'll kind of understand okay well here's more of gen z there are certain things one of the things being the issue of privacy. And this is where you can see a difference between the generation. The silent generation remember. They were really committed to flying under the radar. This is why your parents or your grandparents. Cannot understand why you are posting what you had for dinner on the internet. And going all the way to the other extreme jinsy thinks that all of you who are so worried about your privacy are really adorable because there's no such thing as privacy anymore. Gen z. Right now there's already one name for that generation. That's already being put out as an alternative to jency and it's being put out by. The kids themselves. The kids from marjorie douglas. High school. I've been going around and speaking. Have been sadly. Claiming the name of. We are the school shooting. Generation. Because whereas for the millennials. Columbine. It's something you remember because it was so dramatic. Jenzie has never. Nona time. When there were not school. It's not. Traumatic. I talked to the genzies and my house they come home and i say there was another shooting. Or was it this time. It doesn't mean they're not compassionate. But this is simply. What passes for a normal world. And their reality. We have all of these different generations all of these. Different perspectives and it is. Sort of the the hubris of being human. That whatever our experience is. We think that that somehow applies to everyone. When we share our thoughts specifically within our own generational cohorts. gets reinforced. And so it's really easy for us to think that our opinion and our preferences somehow represent like an objective truth when i'm fact all they represent is opinions and prep. Where you can i think very easily see this. Is the issue of music. We got some different opinions about music right about the music of of our parents about the music of our kids. Music. Is so. Influence. By our experiences. Of when we heard the muse. And our memories of those. Variances that. That we can't separate them out. Here's one example of.. Boomers. If you were a teen in the 1960s. There was all of this great. Powerful music of rebellion write the times they are a-changing blowing in the wind if i had a hammer. And it was when you were beginning to feel your. Power. Until you could hear these songs. I didn't would resonate give gave you commitment. And it howard you up. If you haven't seen peter paul and mary. Sing if i had a hammer. At the newport folk festival. This was a 1960. You can find it on youtube parents like show it to your kid. And look at their faces. They weren't smiling. Peter paul and. They do not smile at all during this song because this was an anthem. This was a song of commitment. This was a song of claiming their power. And they followed through with it. Bright. People put their lives on the line. Because of that love for my brother and my sister my black brother. My black sister. I'm so when a boomer hears if i had a hammer. It evokes in them that feeling of being a youth. Out of the things that you made commitments to. And at the end the power. That you claimed in that moment. And then you had kids. And you raised your kids. On that same music. Right it wasn't just lullabies it was that stuff. I do for me growing up. I was hearing if i had a hammer. Right next to old macdonald had a farm. I was hearing it in preschool i was hearing it at summer camp. I'm so now. For genex and for the millennials who have been exposed to it. When we hear if i had a hammer. It evokes. Childhood. Safety. Summer camp. And so yeah. We often are a little snarky. About feeling that songs like that are. Cheesy. Imaginext. Cheesy. Because the context. Was different. But each of us can learn from each other contexts like i said go go watch the video if i had of if i had a hammer. Mary travers. Shaking that head as she did and belting out that song. And boomers. Realize. That certain songs when you have heard them. In this way. We're going to have a different feeling for it. Just like my kids are probably going to listen to you know red hot chili peppers under the bridge and go a lullaby. My mom used to play it all the time rock me to sleep. Being in a community. With this many generational divides. Is wonderful. This is amazing. Do you know what kind of power this gives us this means that we can take our life-saving world-changing message out into the world and we can meet people where they are and we can speak in their generational language. Not so silent generation silent no longer you can go out and you can talk to those in your age cohort about how it this church we believe that we have a duty to care for and feed our neighbors. Boomers you can go out there and talk about how it discharged we are working to build beloved community both inside our walls and outside them. Gen-xers we can go out and talk about how we are learning how to operate outside of those patriarchal bolt. Bull. Paradigm's. Millennials you can go out there and talk because inclusivity is so important to millennials they are discovering these things in a new way millennials can go out there and talk about how we are working to dismantle white supremacy in ourselves and out in the world and ginsey can go out. And share how they know that we have more power in community. Then we do as rugged idealist. The world is in dire shape right now. Our earth is literally dying. We can't. Get away from.. Objective. True. Because our world is dying people are responding out of. Fear. That's what's so much of this stuff about immigration is that's why we're seeing so many things about stripping away voting rights and stripping away civil rights. The situation is dire. And if we are going to have any hope. At changing this it is going to take all of us. So if you're one of the older generation. Are you kind of feel like man in out like i've done my time it's time for the younger people to step up. Sorry. I genuinely am sorry. Because no one deserves to rest more than you do. But we need you. We have to have we're calling you back into service. I'm for the younger folks the ones who feel like. Y'all made the mess y'all clean it up. Sorry. It's never worked like that. And it's not going to work like that now we need your energy we need your leadership we need your ideas. Time for those of us in the middle generations who feel. So then the sandwich generation trying to take care of the generation ahead of us in the generation after us. There's no time there's no time. Sorry. You got to go back to your calendar and figure out where you're going to squeeze out a little more time a little more energy and a little more resources we are on one fundamental level all one generation we are the generation that is alive right now. We are the only generation. That can try and change this and try and yes cheesy as it sounds save the world. That's john legend wrote where the generation that can't afford to wait. Future started yesterday. And we're already late. If you're out there. Sing along with me.

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2018-12-23-HappyXmasTheNoAndNotYet.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For december 23rd. 2080. This week's service is. Happy xmas. The now and not yet. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning is an excerpt. From a sermon that unitarian minister the reverend apal davies gave. In 1946. Titled christmas always begins at midnight. Whenever we feel pessimistic concerning the future of humanity upon this troubled planet. We can always remember this. But with all his fears and failings man has yet somehow managed to put. The brightest of his festivals in the dark. Part of the year. Knotted midsummer but it midwinter. He celebrates most universal. His hope. Enjoy. Perhaps this is the thought above all others. The christmas can cheer us with. This year. We're certainly we shall not find it easy to be spontaneously happy. In a world so full of miseries. Nor should we. Anyone who could be truly carefree this christmas would need to be either inhumanly callus. Or verging on the imbecilic. Yet in the darkest hour. The brightest hope. And at midnight the sound of caroling. We have this at our best that we shall never be altogether overtaken. By what we are at our worst. Brotherhood. We may betray it but we cannot forsake it. Love we disown it but we cannot renounce it. And the dream. Even in the hour of treason. It reclaims us. For we know that sometime there shall be a world in which man's humanity to man is ended. A world of gladness from which all cruelty is gone and which the joy of each is the joy of everyone the sorrow of each. The sorrow of all. There shall be such a world because there is a song that sings it at midnight. Because this is so let us open our hearts. The christmas. Open them to all the hope that stands against a world that wastes with evil things open them wide enough for gentleness in a world that is bitter and harsh. For loveliness in a world that is desolate. For faith. And it's joy. And the song. On christmas eve the cbc presents doctor martin luther king was christmas sermon on peace and non-violence as the fifth and final four 1967. Peace on earth. This christmas season. Finds us. Are rubber bewildered human race. We need to have peace. Within peace without. Everywhere paralyzing fears. Hera people by ban hunt them by night. My friends christmas. Hope. Puppies. And goodwill toward all men. Can no longer be dismissed. As what kind of tire. Dream of some. Utopian herpa. If we don't have good will toward men in this world we. Will destroy ourselves. By the misuse of our own instruments and our own power. It is 2018. And this. Isabel will during christmas. We know that joe and while we're woven together fine. What's a juxtaposition. Of the normalcy. Of the holiday season. And the reality. Ab so much. Heartbreak. And everything that is going on in our country and in the world. It is the wilderness. We are confused we don't know quite which way to turn. The lights are up. There are tons and tons of christmas movies. And we get to. Enjoy them and we get to partake in some of our local traditions going to the armadillo bazaar and spinning under the zilker tree and our new tradition of selfies with santa. And it's right and it's good. That we should partake of that that we should celebrate this joyous necess. Because we need to refill ourselves we need to be strengthened by this joy. So that we can do the work that we are called to do. Disconcerting. We change the channel. And there's another report. About the increasing devastation. Of our planet. We change the channel and there are reports and news about what is going on in our country. That even our elders say. I was not prepared for this. I don't know how to make sense. Out of this. We worry. About what is being done in our name. We worry about the people in our own country. The people at the border. The kurds. What all is going to happen. What will be the consequences. Of the things that we are seeing happy. Play out right in front of us. And then we turn on the radio. And we hear what people have been hearing since before radios were even invented. Songs of. Peace on earth. Goodwill to men. It's one of the strangest thing. That all of the greatest military geniuses of the world have talked about peace. The conquerors of old. Change chilling. In pursuit of peace. Alexander. Julius caesar. Show me the napoleon. What a canon seeking a peaceful. World auto. Do you know if you would read mine come close enough. Hitler contended. Everything that he did in germany was for peace. Now let me say. The next thing we must be concerned about if we don't have peace on earth goodwill toward men. Must be the nonviolent affirmation. Of the sacredness. Of all human life. Life is sacred. Every man is somebody. Because he is a child of god. So when we. Say thou shalt not kill. We're really saying that. Human life is to secret. To be killed. On the battlefields of the world. Man is more. Valentine avega recording electrons auto christopher smoke. I'm a limitless smaller man this is child of god made in his image. And therefore must be. Respected as such. When we truly believe in the sacredness of human personality. We won't explode people. We won't trample over people with iron feet of oppression. We won't kill anybody. Hyundai. Four sundays. Leading up to christmas. We light a candle. And we have a reading about the theme for that particular day because there's one word that it's assigned to each sunday. And those themes traditionally. Our hope. Faith. Joy and love. And. Unitarian universalist. Often have a complicated relationship with the word face. So we will often swap-out faith. For the word peace. This year. I went back. Two-face. Part of that is because. I feel that in times such as what we are going through right now. That we religious liberals need to think. About what faith means to us. Everyone puts faith into something what is it. That we each of us individually. Put our faith into. What is it that we put our face into. So that even on those days where we're not sure that there's evidence to support it. We still hold it. In space. For one more day. I also switched it back. Because. I am having a complicated. Relationship. With the word peace. We are such a divided. Nation. Right now. And i've been listening to the voices that are calling for greater unity the voices that are calling. 4 piece. But it seems to me like so many of those voices. What they are really calling for. Is for us to keep the peace. Cannot stir up the waters. Do not speak of inconvenient truth. That may make. Other people feel. I do not want to keep. .. I agree. With barbara jordan who said if the society today allows wrongs to go unchallenged. The impression is created that those wrongs have the approval of the majority. We cannot. Give the message. But the wrongs we are seeing in our country today. Have our approval. I cannot. Be silent. And i cannot. That. Now let me say that it weird to have peace in the world. Men and nations. Must embrace the nonviolent affirmation. That. In van means. Musco here. One of the great philosophical debates of history has been over the whole question. Means. I'm in. And i have always been those who argued that. The end. Justifies the means. The mean brianna important. The important thing is to get. To the end you see. So if you were seeking to develop a just society. The important thing is to get that in the means really unimportant and it means that we may be violent. They may be untruthful mean they may even be unjust means to get to adjust in mebane those. Who have argued this throughout history. We will never. Have peace in the world. On demand everywhere i recognized. That enzyme not cut off from me. Because i'm means represent the ideal in the making and the ending process. Hello. You can reach cut in three with me. Because. The mean represent the sea. And the end represents the tree. I do not want to be a. Peace keeper. But i do feel called to be a peacemaker. To make. Real. Not to compromise. My deepest health values. But to work for the peace the kind of peace. That will come naturally. When we have created a world that is more fair. And more compassionate. And that operates. In an ethics. Of love. I want to work. For peace on earth. But i have realized that if i am to do that i must first. Work for peace. In my heart. And let me be very clear i am not talking about some sort of personal peace that comes with warm bubble baths and scented candles i am not talking about a self-indulgent piece i am talking about a piece that will take hard work. Insignificant. Sacrifice. And if i am to have peace in my heart. I know the first. Thing. That i must sacrifice. It's that feeling. A pleasure. In divisiveness. And superiority. That feeling. That pleasure that we get. When we divide and take sides. When we draw a line in the sand and say that's them and this is us.. Feeling of pleasure. That we get. In the divisive. I have to sacrifice that. Because that pleasure in divisiveness and superiority cannot coexist. With peace in my heart. From what i have seen. This malady. Of displeasure in divisiveness affects every group. In our nation. There are people who look at the liberal elites. And i think those people feel superior to me. And they're probably not wrong. There are people who look on those liberals and say. I am superior. Because i know what is right. And i am morally righteous. We divide between classes between races. And always. That drug that can feed all of us. Is that pleasure. And feeling superior to someone else. And in feeling i get to be part of this group and you are parked. Of that group. Now let me also make it plain. That this is not. A call to compromise our deepest held beliefs this is not a call for unity at all cost. In our nation right now. When we see. Actions and policies. That are bad or even evil we need to not be silent we need to speak of them. But we need to be really clear about what we are feeling what is that motivation inside. The bible is often misquoted i know this is a surprise to no one. One of the lines that i think it's miss quoted the most comes in the christian scriptures in the first book of timothy. Money is the root of all evil. I don't believe that. Because i have seen money. Do transformative healing powerful things and that's not what it says. What it says is the love of money is the root of all evil. Intentions do matter motives do matter. And so for us. The way we may feel righteous because we are speaking to some sort of truth we have to be willing to do that hard work of identifying the feeling inside of us. That feels pleasure. Superiority. Because if we don't and if we don't work to eradicate it. Then.. Rather than the pursuit. Our guiding principle. Feeling. That drug. Is going to be what we are pursuing. I know that for me. It is time. For me to identify. That feeling of pleasure. And to call it for what it is. Ascend. Because it separates me from my fellow humans. And from god. I agree with. The modern prophet. Ruth bader ginsburg. Who says fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you if we are to create. Peace in the world if we are to create. The vision of beloved community. I know that i cannot do it myself. I know that if every single member of this congregation commits themselves to it we cannot do it ourselves. I know that if every single unitarian-universalist in the entire world commits to the hard work of building beloved community. We will still. Fail. It is going to take working with so many others. People who may not look like us. People who may not sound like us. People who may not think like us. But we have to find these common things and we have to approach the other person's before we can even approach the other person and know whether we have common cause. We have to eradicate. That pleasure in divisiveness and superiority because otherwise. They will see that attitude coming before we even. Say hello. We must turn to what all religions. Have always lifted up. And that is. The ethic. And the power. Pavlov. Then the greek language comes out with another word for love it is a word i got paid. Got a moron. And romantic love it is more than friendship. A understanding. Created redemptive goodwill for almond. Agape is an overflowing love. Which speaks nothing in return. Theologians would say that. It is the love of god operating in the human heart. I'm so when you rise to love on this level you love all men not because you like them. Not because the waves appeal to you but you love every man because god loves. Love is understanding. Creative redemptive goodwill. Ballman. The now and not yet. Is. The missional concept. That we can experience. Little bit. Of the vision of beloved community the vision of heaven on earth that we can experience some of those. Right here and now. As a foretaste. Of the beloved community. That we work. To make real. One day. But that is. Not here not yet. I believe that christmas. Also has a now and not yet and it is connected to this vision of beloved community. The christmas of now we can get little bits of the four taste. Of the christmas that we dream of to come. There is a reason. Why christmas is so popular around the world even among people who do not identify as christians. The point. Of every. Great. Christmas story. Is the power. Of transformative. Often sacrificial. Blob. A christmas carol. The grinch. Gift of the magi. Rudolph. Frosty the snowman. Even die-hard. Fine i will claim it as a christmas movie because. The ultimate point even a bit. As of the power of transformative. Sacrificial love. This is the core of christmas. I'm so right now i am enjoying. The christmas of now i am witnessing. All of the examples of that transformative love that i find around me. I am soaking it all in. And i am recommitting myself. To be in service. To that. Transformative love. Until work. To make. Peace. If that is to be peace on earth and goodwill toward men. We must finally believe in those or morality of the universe. Believed that all reality. Hinges on. Moral foundation. I still have a dream. And with this face. We will be able to attend the council's of despair. Bring new light. Into the dark chambers of pessimism. With this face. We will be able. To speed up the day. And there will be peace on earth. And goodwill toward men it will be a glorious day. The morning stars will sing together. And the sons of god. Will shout for joy.

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2018-07-01-Sermon-RevMaryCBillings.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast for july 1st 2018. This week's service is. Reverend maurice e-billing. 1824 1904. And the texas universalist mission. A seminarian kia hardwood. So this morning i'm going to talk to you about reverend mary c billings. And the texas universalist mission. This is what text was looked after like after the civil war. Most people came here it's really started going right around the 1880s right that's when people really started moving to texas the railroads were coming on. Go ahead and change it. This is mary c ward grannis webster billings yes she got married three times. She grew up in litchfield connecticut go ahead and change the next one there we go. She grew up in litchfield connecticut and litchfield was famous for two things one that had the first law school in america. And i had sarah pierce open the school for women where she actually educated women like men. How shocking that was. Well mercy is 14. The 14th of 16 children in her family. They were pretty wealthy her dad was a clockmaker the wards were pretty well-established family. And her grandfather had been a famous episcopal priest. But her older brother henry. Was. Evangelize into being a universalist. Some people feel like they know what a universalist is. Right on. Okay for those y'all don't know. It's a no hell we're all going to heaven kind of situation right. It's a very very radical idea and especially in the 1880s it was a very radical idea. So henry gets evangelize who becomes the universal city talks his mother and mary see. Into being a universal. Now why do we call a mary see well she had a daughter a sister who died. Who was named mary and so they always called her mary charlotte or mary c. So. She grows up in this place. Pretty wealthy she goes to the sarah pierce's litchfield female academy. Six of her brothers and sisters went there but five of them died early. Probably from overwork. So her parents took her out of school when she was 10 and she got to basically read and run around in the woods all she wants. Which is kind of good i think because she became a writer when she was 12. She started writing poems. Anda in the 1800's. The trajectory of women's lives was very unique very different. Her job basically as a young person. Was in a wealthy young person was to read. Write polite things for women's magazines and things like that. The idea was. Too bright. Well. Let me read you something she wrote. There was something in the strangers dark melancholy i that told her he had been a suffer. How she knew not. But of this she was confident and that he had found peace to she read from the holy and subdued expression of his noble countenance. Get the idea. Okay. She got married she married a guy named frederick augustus grannis. He was a little bit older than her that was kind of the standard thing people did then you married a guy who was 10 or 15 years older than you. I hopefully one that had more money because you couldn't work so he had to support you. And so he was a silk merchant and so he was pretty well-off and they moved to west hartford connecticut. And they built a home called lillis rest. And they joined the church of the redeemer. This is a church of the redeemer. It's a universalist church in in hartford connecticut. And she wrote her first novel emma claremont or life changes kind of in a very dickens kind of style in 18-49. And what i read you that's from that. So then she she wrote for the ladies repository they went on a vacation like people used to take the grand tour if you were wealthy you went to europe and you took a grand tour for a couple of months. And saw the sights and then you came home and lord it over everyone. She did that shoot but she wrote about her experiences. And show in 1859 at 1860. She wrote a thing called siracide sketches. A little bit of that gives you an idea. So thank byron. Think emerson these are the writers of this. of time and charles dickens writing in the newspaper cereals. Like just. A little bit of a christmas carol. Something like that. Again we live over that charming day spent a mid shifting scenes of delight so beautiful as required a little effort of the imagination to fancy oneself treading on enchanted ground. Under the especial care of some benevolent genie. Who is bent upon doing the agreeable and giving us such a fine never-to-be-forgotten peep into his own demesne. For about 3 pages. Okay. So this is what her life is like when she starts out being really involved in a church for the first time when they were living in litchfield. They weren't members of any church i basically just stayed home and. Knew they were going to heaven. Which is not a bad thing to thing. So anyway. He her husband got sick. He got pneumonia. And they went they went to alabama and tried to improve his health by putting him in the pines in the heat. It didn't really help. And he passed away. So she moves in with her sister and she's. She's keeps writing and she gets more and more involved in church affairs well what else is going on in the 18. Fifties 1860s. Was. The universalist women. How to send terry association they were raising money for 100 years from john murry do you all know the story of john murray. Okay john marissa first basically he came from england. And this man is already build a church he shows up and the man says you're supposed to preach my church is also know i don't preach anymore my wife died no and then he preaches in the church. And becomes the universalist minister basically the first one in the united. It's pretty cool story i check it out. So. Hundred years from that. The cemetery association is trying to fix up the place where he gave that sermon it's called maurice grove you can go there now. It's a cool place. So anyway she gets involved with that and we'll all these women started raising money and they were very effective at it and they were actually pretty good at organizing and then we're pretty good at doing lots of things. And this is right before the civil war while the civil war happens. Know what happens with during the civil war for women. Is actually this guy named bellows was a unitarian. He organized the thing called the sanitary commission. And that was the people who it becomes a red cross later. But a lot of women got involved in that and they were making bandages and they were starting to speak and they were doing the lyceum circuit which was kind of like. Lecturing. About the stuff like this this is the kind of lecture that would be done at a lyceum circuit and a lot of ministers did that. Well about 1862 we get the first woman universalist minister her name is olympia brown. And she went to school at a school. St-lawrence in canton new york. Of course i want really excited about having her but after they had her than they did before i got excited about. 1862. She was the first. So next week i'm going to talk to you about somebody who also became a universalist minister but she was much younger. And she's really cool too so. I hope you all enjoy this sort of history nerd thing. Anyway so we're going back we're going back frederick dies. And mary she is hanging around. And she marries a guy named charles henry webster. Who was the universalist minister he was the missionary for the state of connecticut. Which is sort of a. Weird thing to think about that they needed a missionary. He wasn't union chaplain during the civil war he was also 10-15 years older than her. And he was very effective and he was a publisher so a lot of people that she meets in her life is because she's writing for magazines. And editors are always men. Almost always. Till much later. So. During this period of time merci preaches her first sermon. 1872. In the third woman who ever was ordained phoebe hannaford pulpit in new haven connecticut. Where they live. She's an ss officer in the cemetery association she's in contact with many universalist women ministers is sort of the thing is like this is the way we're going to get our freedom we're going to take on roles. That man had always had right there's a lot of debate there's stuff in the bible people argued about it a lot. About whether women could be ministers or not. Have you heard this before. This kind of stuff. Sophie b hannaford was amazing she was very good she's one of the first women to actually have her own church. Where she is the main minister. And she. A picture of her right there. She's amazing. Check her out if you're interested. The line crossing women in the ministry and also suffrage women's rights. Later on she gets in trouble for having a live-in woman companion. And loses her. Okay. So. During the webster years when she was married to mr. webster she wrote a lot more she would have lie to him some fact she wrote quite a few hymns. I think she's going to book from that period of time with 11 hands in there. Which is pretty good. And she wrote a lot of books. And then she often filled in for ministers and steph when her husband was away or. You know she needs to do it and she became involved in a lot of church things including. They had a bookstore. It's kind of a cool couple. They open the bookstore in hartford connecticut. They've moved to a place called rocky hill and they had a house known as sycamore place so she still pretty wealthy or houses have names. You know. And then charles dies of pneumonia in 1877. She wrote another book a christmas book it's a still you can still get it. Online it's called the wonderful christmas tree a story and rhyme and she kept preaching and stuff and she meets julia ward howe no relation i tried to find a relation but they weren't. In the 1880s she was written up in books like she's pretty famous. Cuz she was a good speaker and she was a very well-known writer. And she said in the book our women's workers she said this. Which is kind of her philosophy of life. I wish to have it distinctly understood that whatever of sorrow trial and care maybe endured in this life i firmly believe the essential good far over balances the evil. Even of the slower existence. And if that be the fact here how much more will this obtain hereafter when the weakness of mortality is over. And the spiritual life. Begun. So she's unflagging lee optimistic and she's very organized. She's like. Your dream secretary. Do you have one of those. Or well i sort of imagined a metrosexual assistant named drake. Anyway. Has her writing thing and she's preaching a lot. And. She meets a man named reverend james billings. Was born in 1811 so quite a bit older than her. Safe for 13 years older. And the reverend billings was the editor of months for tomorrow gisin out of chicago. Which was universalist magazine. You should imagine that. Just as there are magazines everywhere about every single thing and you can read all day long there's no tv no internet so that's what people did right. It was their fun thing. And so he. Mary c goes to waco texas. Tamara reverend james. In 1885. And this is actually what they said. So let me see i've got a. Okay waco 3rd march 30th special edition. Reverend james billings an evangelist of the general conference of the universalist church. Preach to sermons here yesterday. In liberal hall which is the headquarters of the three free thought agnostic element. Headed by x reverend jay dee shaw. At the close of mister billing sermon tonight he quietly step down from the pulpit walk to a lady in the audience misses mary c webster. And to taking a position before the lectern stand were made husband-and-wife by mr shaw. He came all the way from hartford connecticut which is her home to meet reverend billings and waco and marry him. She is a widow of a noted universalist preacher and has herself receive some reputation in the east as a lecturer. The couple have both reach mature years she's 61 and he's 74. So. Here's their dream. This is the part of. Really concentrate on. Their dream was to. They were the texas missionaries he wasn't particularly assigned by the universalist. Conference. To come to texas one of their 5 missions. One of their missions was in japan. And one of their missions was in texas. And this is it. And their dream was that they were going to bill estate church and they were going to evangelize the entire state of texas. And they were very serious about it. Now they're only about six of them involved in the whole thing. The entire time but that did not stop them. So they built the church. Texas railroad about 75 miles south of dallas. A place called hico texas which was a cotton town at the time. Oh and this is the church that they built that's on the right there. Couple of pictures from that era of a cotton mill in that town. So go ahead. And. Mercy was a very good marketing. And she made these tracks and she mailed them out all over the state of texas. They're really awesome and i think we should take it up and do it again. What kind of church would my church be if every member we're just like me. It's pretty good right. They have tracks. This is one that used with the youth they had a very strong use. Program. $0.02 a week for misha. Every union. Enlisted. Every union. Subscriber. So $0.02 a week for all our members would yield $7,280 a year. Enough to helps. 412 pastors in our mission. Pretty cool thing. And it would have their basic tenets of universalism. And they would hand them out and say you know we're going to have our yearly convention. And i went to harvard where all the papers are. And all the paperwork from the. On the texas mission are there and they're big. Books handwritten. Mostly by merci. Or the secretary at the time. And so. 4 for about 20 years. Reverend james. Went all over texas on the railroad preaching sometimes six times a day. Think about it. Trying to get people to join. And people were all in the on the move then like people came through texas but they might have moved on west. So a lot of times the church gets built up and then it moves on in the people go out to california for whatever reason. And then you know why would anybody leave texas on it. But this is what happened here so here's the preaching part of the store. So reverend james dies in 1898. And so at that point. Merci is ordained minister they ordained her at the second texas. Conference. When she was 68. She became the first woman ever ordained in texas now you know her name. She was a very loving person and she was very. Very good and all the jobs so she carried about 6 jobs when it reverend james died she became the missionary of texas. And she was a secretary for the state of texas. And they brought some different ministers in but for the most part. When she dies in 1904. That's the end of universalism in texas. Here's here's election there's somebody in this church i don't know. I have not heard any stories or anything but there's so many this church that does every. Everything. Right. You can hear it feel the temperature drop in the room now i'm telling you somebody in this church does everything. Plan for your demise. Plan for you leaving the planet because it's some point you're going to you need to train. Your successors. In all the jobs that you have if you're indispensable make sure somebody else. Can become indispensable when you are no longer here. Stuff happens. That's the that's the theme of this this sermon. Because of 1904. When mercy died. The church lasted and they sold it in 1907 to the catholic so if you go to hicko. The catholic church was the universalist church. And that's the story of mary c billings. I'm sure you all have all planned for your succession. Bright. Thank you.

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2019-04-21-EasterBelieveWomen.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. April 21st 2019. This week's service is easter believe women. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning is the magdalene's blessing for easter day by jan richardson. You hardly imagine standing here. Everything you ever loved suddenly returned to you. Looking you in the eye and calling your name. And now you do not know how to abide this hole in the center of your chest. Where a door slammed shut and swings open at the same time. Turning on the hinge of your aching and hopeful heart. I tell you. This is not a banishment from the garden. This is an invitation. A choice a threshold a gate. This is your life calling to you from a place you could never have dreamed but now you have glimpsed it's as you cannot imagine choosing any other way. So let the tears come. As anointing as consecration. And then let them go. But this blessing gather itself around you let it give you what you will need for this journey. You will not remember the words they do not matter. All you need to remember. Is how it sounded when you stood in the place of death. I'd heard the living. Call your name. Do not let anyone. Silence. Your prophetic. Voice. I wish that you could hear that. In the tones. That i heard those words. Spoken by dr. herbert saying who was the professor of my ethics class. A dignified you know these these kind of wrote not quite james earl jones but these rich. Tone's an african-american male professor and those details are important i went to an evangelical seminary that had many denominations reflected. And when dr. fein said that he was directing that to the women in the class. And i think especially to the african-american women because he knew that many of them. Even after they earned their master of divinity degree no matter how brilliant and how gifted they were and they were. They would never be invited to preach. In their own church. Because they were women. I think he also wanted. The male students. Who came from those same churches. To also hear that. The church has done this the church has long tried to suppress the prophetic voices of women. Can we still see it going on and it's easy for us to point some fingers right like to the catholics and southern baptist. And feel that we are. So different from that and it is true it is true unitarians since 1863 that was when we first ordained a woman into the ministry. And we talked about that a lot. But it's not like we did that and then we just kept doing it. It dropped for quite a while women were. Not encouraged or in some cases throughout our history i'm not allowed to become ministers. And this was not that long ago we speak with pride about the unitarian universalist ministers who were their marching in selma with dr. king and we should be proud of that but you should also know. There were no. You you. Women. Ministers. There. Because at that time it was still being discouraged for women to go into ministry. We now have many and back we crossed over the 50% line but that influx of women ministers really didn't happen until the 80s. The 1980s. Just to be clear. This happened in the church starting in a sort of organized way in the forest. Century. Before that with the early christian church. It was still this struggling religious movement it wasn't even called christianity it was called the way the way of jesus. And they were resisting empire they were pushing this message of radical inclusivity. Radical equality and so there were many women religious leaders. At a certain point however empire and church. Decided to come together. And to mutually benefit. Each other. Or their version of benefit. And the way that you consolidate power is by having very clear rules and regulations and so in the fourth century. They began having counsel. Where they would decide what the rules were of this religion. And what books what ridings all these stories that were floating around which were going to be the official ones the ones that made it into the canon. That we now know of as the christian bible. In hamilton there's a song about how you want to be in the room where it happens right because only the people who are in the room where it happens are able to know exactly what happens in that decision-making and have their influence. There were no women in the rooms where this was happening. I'm so certain things gospel of mary magdalene were not included and other parts were. But even. Even with.. It's not just about. Which things were included in the scripture it's about how things were interpreted. Because if you actually read. The story the story reflects. The the teachings of the rabbi jesus. Which. Had some radical i mean radical now and of course radical back then some radical equality. When you look at the different story. And end these were stories that for so long the priests were the only ones who could share the stories and so they could just gloss over certain ones or interpret them in their own way but when you actually look at the stories there's some fascinating things like the story of mary and martha those of you who grew up christian and probably heard this story. And in it martha goes to jesus and complains about her sister mary this is mary of bethany not mary magdalene or any of the other mary. And she said my sister isn't helping me with the hosting duties that we should be doing. Because mary had been sitting at the teachers feet. With the other. And jesus says. Harry's doing what she's supposed to be doing. He wanted her to be a student just. As the others were student. And significant. Jesus wasn't just a teacher. Of women if you read the stories. He was also a student. Of women. In one of the most pivotal. Turn. Of his ministry. Because of a woman. Asherah phoenician woman comes to him. A non-jew and at that point jesus had only been ministering to jews. And she comes to him. And she says i have heard that your healer and my daughter is ill please would you heal her. And he says. The ministry that i bring is. Not for dogs. Rather than. Disappear. Embarrass. Chasing. She speaks back to him. And she said even. The dogs get the crumbs from the master's table. And he says go home to your daughter. She's healed your faith. Has been part of this heat. What's more significant though is not. The effect in the story on the daughter. But the effect. On jesus. Because jesus at that point. The stories that happen after that are where he stops preaching just to jews and starts opening up his message. To everyone to gentiles and jews. He changed his ministry in the stories that weary he changed his ministry. Because of a non-jewish. They had stories like all of this. And then you have the easter story. And scholars still today we'll talk about how significant this was now one thing that's that you also will often hear when you're hearing the story of jesus's crucifixion and resurrection and she'll hear this thing about how all of his friends. Abandon him right if y'all heard that version of the story. Let me change that headline for you all of his male friends abandoned him throughout the gospel that talks about how the women stayed significantly his mother and mary magdalene who were there at the foot of the cross in all of these different stories. And then a big thing. Easter sunday. You'll see this reflected in art. You see this in all of the gospels. I'm not is that the first people. To go there. That saw an empty tomb. According to the story. Which we may take as mithun as metaphor. But the people who go the first people to see this. Are women. Often the pieces of our two referred to as the three marys. Mary the mother of jesus mary magdalene and mary salome. They are the ones who go. This is significant scholars will talk about this even conservative scholars. Because at this time. Women were not considered to be of the same value or even fully human so much so that they were not considered to be reliable witnesses in a court of law. Until scholars still marvel about the fact that this. Was. Put into all of the gospel. That the initial witnesses were women. The oldest of the gospels is the book of mark and mark has two endings. In the first ending. The three women are there. And the tomb is empty. And they are given a message. That. Something has happened with jesus. And then it ends with them simply running away. It says because. They were afraid. A few years later some additional stuff was thrown in and in this version of the story. Jesus actually appears to mary magdalene and this is repeated in the other gospels and even talks to her. And she's the one who goes then to the apostles. To give them this news. And they don't believe her. In fact in one of the gospels it even says you know they didn't believe the women because they believed it to be nonsense. Oh there's something new and unusual haven't times changed. Saint mary magdalene was the first. Preacher. Of this easter story. And whether it was the story of the three women or of mary magdalene. What happens next well there is a cartoon the cartoon isn't exactly in the the bible but i think it kind of reflects the truth the apostle saying so ladies thanks for being the first to witness and report the resurrection and we'll take it from here. Mary magdalene. Was a significant problem. For the early church because in that fourth century they expressly said that women were not allowed to be priests. But what do you do when you have a woman who was an apostle who was treated as an apostle in the stories and who was the first one to bear what the christian church feels was significant defining story of their religion. Well. Back then you did the same thing that you do now. You start trying to vilify her. In 591. Pope gregory the first. Gave a series of sermons on mary magdalene. An indy sermon. Date he shaped what has probably at some point in your life been your perception of mary magdalene. What was mary magdalene the way you've always heard it like in in jesus christ superstar and lasting tationil christ. Prostitute. No. Pope gregory very deliberately conflated stories of. An unnamed sinner aaa known center the pharisee said in the story. And mary of bethany. And the stories of mary magdalene. This was not true. And it but this has shaped everything because then you can paint her as a repentant sinner but of course not someone who was really an apostle and certainly not someone who was worth being considered to be the first prophet. Of the resurrection. In the story. Jesus. Comes to her and she recognizes him as rabbi and then she goes out and gives the news. What we do know from reading the different story. Is that she was treated as an apostle by. She said she was treated as another student he was highly favored. By him. She probably was a woman of me because it talks about her and some of the other women supporting and it's believed to be financially supporting the apostles as they did this work. But. This is what the church did. It came and it painted her as a woman of fallen virtue. In fact pope gregory actually had some words talking where he was conflating her with the woman and the jar of the oil and saying shirley this boil had been used before 4. Some bad thing. Some sexual thing. There has been. And admittance. Even by the catholic church up late. That this was wrong it started in 1969 when they very quietly just removed it from some of their texts and from their liturgical calendar this conflating her with being a prostitute. High in 1988. Pope john paul. Said that during early christianity is most arduous test of faith infidelity. The crucifixion mary magdalene proof stronger than the apostle. And then just three years ago. Francis announced a royal decree. Or whatever it is that popes. Announce. Stating that now. Mary magdalene would have her own. Feast day. So that she liturgically would be celebrated. I just like. The other apostle. It actually says this. So there was finally this admittance. That she was like the other apostles and in fact. Pope francis went on to call her as other scholars had throughout the centuries. Apostle. To the. Apostle. We are still doing this thing of trying to silence the voice voices of prophetic women. Part of me is just it's high i'm just kind of amazed like. Like really haven't we gotten any more creative because we're doing the same stuff. Look at the things that are written about alexandria ocasio-cortez and other women. What do they so often go to. Slots. Hor. Look at the way she's dressed. Look at what she dies. We're still doing. No matter what it is. That we believe about what happened on easter morning. There's a truth here. The truth is that a woman. A prophet. Came forward when when everyone else. Was feeling in despair and in dismay convinced that everything they had been working for was gone. And she came forward and she said the vision is still alive. And this person who teach tuss. We can still access him we can still feel connected to him. And so this vision of the kingdom of god the kingdom of god which is in here we call it beloved community. Heaven on earth that we can create. A radical equality. And compassion and mercy. Where we feed the hungry and clothe the naked and where love wins. Over green. Over hate. And even over death. Love. When. This was her message. And she was. The preacher. Do not let anyone. Silence. Your. Prophetic voice.

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2018-03-25-Sermon-ButIDontWantToGoToNineveh.mp3

Welcome to the live oak. This week's service. But i don't want to go to dinner. Like to ask my younger friends or those who feel young and spirit to come forward. For our big idea. A really big idea. It takes like three books today. Okay. So can anyone identify what this book is. Wre. Who knows what this book is. Holy bible who knows what religion uses this book. Christianity right and for the bonus round. There are two parts of this book what do christians call those two parts. Old testament and new testament yes okay so. Who knows what this book is. The tanakh. The tanakh that also called the hebrew bible. What religion uses this book. Judaism that's right and. So the first half of this book. Is this. And so because this is the jewish bible. Christians call this the old and new testament. Many of us refer to the second part the new testament as a christian scriptures and the first part as the hebrew bible. Because it's more respect. Now i third book. Yes. The quran. Who knows what religion uses his book. Islam that's right now. What do these three books. Have in common. Yes. The first part. Very good yes. Starrett they are all booked and they are all considered holy bucks but what you said is yes the first part. All three of these books. Share many of the same stories. And these three religions put together are called the a abrahamic. Religion. Because they have so many of the same stories. And our story today. Can be found in all three. And it is the story of jonah and the really big fish anyone ever heard this before. Yeah. Okay you love fish what we'll see if you like this fish so here's the story. The way that it is told is back in the hebrew bible we have the whole lot of stories. Where people believe that god would talk directly and very clearly to people kind of like the way i'm talking to you now. And so in this story. God goes to jonah. And says. I'ma gonna need you to go to nineveh. None of those kind of like for us like houston. Okay. And he said they're being they're being really mean to each other. They're being really wicked. So jonah i need you to go to nineveh and tell him to cut that out. Otherwise i'm going to destroy their city. So what do you think jonah does. Jonah says to himself. Go to nineveh. Tell the people they're being really mean to each other and if they don't change it's going to be there city will be destroyed yeah that doesn't actually sound like much fun to me i don't think i'm going to do that and gets on a boat and says i want to go to nut nineveh anywhere but nineveh. Stories on the boat. And as he's there. He goes down and is sleeping down in the bottom of the boat but meanwhile huge storm comes up and start tossing the boat this way and that way in the people. I'm bored or getting really worried they're afraid the storm is going to like break the boat into. And the captain goes down and wakes up jonah he's like. Dude huge storm going on how can you sleep through this. Come up. Answer they're all up on board and everyone cuz they're all different religions they're all praying to their different gods and trying to figure out why is this happening because at that time they felt that this had to have been caused by something other than just whether that it was being caused like by a god. And so jonah is talking with them and he says. So i kind of think that this is my fault because my god asked me to do something and. I didn't do it. And they're like. Whoa dude okay. So. What should we do about this and jonas says. I think you're going to have to throw me overboard. Now these are actually really nice people and they're like we don't want to throw you overboard let's let's just wait see how it goes but the storm is getting bigger and bigger and bigger and so finally they're like. Yeah dude okay we're going to toss you overboard. And i do. And he goes into the ocean. And then along comes what is described as a really big fish sometimes it's called a whale because it is so big but especially jewish scholars will point out that a whale is a whale a fish those of you who've had science. It's a mammal so they say no it wasn't aware it was a really big. Fish. And it swallowed jonah. And he is in the belly of the giant fish they say that he was there for three days and at a certain point he's like. You know. Nineveh didn't sound great. But i'm kind of thinking it may be a little bit better than that. I so he starts praying to god. And then according to the story and it says this in all three books. The fish vomits him up onto the beach. It actually says that vomit. So he gets out he's walking along the beach and he's like. Okay god and so god speaks to him and says. Yes don't want you to go to nineveh and goes. Okay. I'll go and he goes to nineveh. And he tells the people you are being mean to each other and you are being wicked and you really need to stop. And you know what. They actually do. They start being kinder to each other and so then there is no punishment. On nineveh. And our big idea today is about this thing of what do you do when when like there's something that you feel called to do. And you don't want to. And y'all can go back to yours. Are even though i have all these holy books up here with me are reading today comes from. What other what what some people here may consider to be another holy book. To kill a mockingbird. By harper lee. And in this excerpt. Uncle jack and atticus are talkin while atticus's daughter jean louise. Scalp. Eavesdrop. Atticus. How bad. Is this going to be. You haven't had much chance to discuss it. It couldn't be worse jack. Only thing we've got is a black man's word against the ewells. Evidence boils down to you did i didn't the jury couldn't possibly be expected to take tom robinson's word against the ewells. Are you acquainted with the ewells. Uncle jack said yes he remembered them he described them to atticus but atticus said you're a generation off. The present ones are the same though. What are you going to do then. Well. Before i'm through i intend to jar the jury a bit. I think we'll have a reasonable chance on appeal though. I really can't tell at this stage jack. You know i. I'd hoped to get through life. Without a case of this kind but. John taylor pointed at me and said your it. Let this cup pass from ua. Right. But do you think i could face my children otherwise. You know what's going to happen as well as i do jack and i hope. And pray i can get jem and scout through it without bitterness and most of all without catching maycomb's usual disease why reasonable people go stark-raving mad when anything involving a negro comes up is something i don't pretend to understand. I just hope that jim and scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town. I hope they. Trust me enough. Jean louise. Scalp. Jump. I stuck my head around the corner sir. Go to bed. I scurried to my room and went to bed. I never figured out how atticus knew i was listening. It was not until many years later that i realized. He wanted me to hear every word he said. Once upon a time. There was a powerful king. I told y'all about this king before long long ago there was this powerful king who was. Narcissistic. And insecure. And had no loyalty to anyone. Other than himself he even allowed his own sons. To be tried and convicted. In order to hold onto his crown. Because he was so narcissistic and insecure he really wanted people to give him the honor that he felt he was doing so one of the things he loved. Most of all. Was a parade. A military parade. Long long ago. I didn't those military parades it was a a show of force. Of the empire and people had to show up for it and line the streets and give honor. To the leader. There's that saying about everyone loves a parade i'm not sure if that's true but. You know parades can serve different purposes they're of course just the fun parades. Thanksgiving parade that kind of thing there are the parades. That are a show of force. From the empire. Showing the people here is the power that we have. And then there are those parade some call them marches. That are a show of the people. Coming out. To show the empire. The power that the p. Anyone seen anything like that. Recently. Baby participated in one. This year. Are steam is find your purpose. Cypress feel pretty confident in saying that there is no one here who feels that their purpose. Is to have the world throw a parade for them. I think that we. We all pretty much. If you word it. I think we all pretty much understand. That purpose. And call is not about what we receive. What about what we give. To the world. Anna purpose a call. Canby. All sorts of different sizes i think often when we hear the term call we think of it in terms of a profession or something that you give your life to. Being a teacher or an artist or a writer or a minister or what have you. But a call purpose. Can also be something. Barry time-limited. Just for a certain. of time. Where can beat a score. Didn't once that task. Is complete. Then you move on from it. And perhaps. Find a different call. But what happens. When you get a call. And your responses. I don't wanna. I don't want to go to nineveh. That doesn't sound like fun to me. I think sometimes when we have. That response. It's less about what we want to do. And it's more from a deep insecurity. That we don't have what it takes. That we are not the right person to be call we're like looking around like. Surely you don't mean me that this call must be for someone else we say. I'm not talented enough i'm not smart enough i'm too young i'm too old. I'm not ready i'm not equipped. And if you find yourself. Having those thoughts. Let me tell you that not only is this normal it is downright biblical. Our holy books. All of the holy books. We're written by people. Who were trying to make sense of the world they were trying to find. Patterns things that they could learn from. And in the hebrew bible. This story happens over and over again isaiah jeremiah moses jonah gideon. A call comes to them. And the person says. Oh. Not me i'm like like i can't i can't talk in public i'm too young i'm not strong enough. This is the pattern and so if you feel yourself saying i don't think i'ma quit. Well maybe that's a sign that you precisely are. Or maybe you're not equipped but it is something that will come to you so. With all of this biblical talk today if you are not already using a certain device it is time to bring it out. Everyone here has a universal theological translator it's just like the one in star trek except that rather than being handheld it's something embedded in your brain and rather than using it to translate. Alien languages while it may still do that it is for you to take the language and the metaphors. That are used in other religions. And translate them. Into something that makes sense for you. And christians have a thing that they say. And i think that it. I think there's value in it and i think it is worth. Pulling out that universal theological translator. Here's what they say. They say god. Does not. Call. Be equipped. God equips. The call. Figure out your own translation of that. Inner voice. Universe. But it's this idea that no no one is ready. For the great. Call. Shaundi wasn't ready. Martin luther king jr wasn't ready. But that somehow by stepping out in faith. We will get the skills and the experience that we are needing need to do the great work. Speaking of king there's a quote that has been attributed to him i haven't been able to go back to its source but it's a great quote anyway. And it is. That. Faith. Means stepping out. Even when you can't. See the rest of the staircase. Taking that first step. Even though you don't know what's going to happen next. This whole thing. About being about stepping out in faith and then in the process being equipped. I think we're seeing it play out. Right in front of our eyes. There were kids. In parkland. And high school. Cool before february 14th. We're thinking about. Dances and dating and school and putting on a musical. And then february 14th. And someone walked into their school. And killed. 17 people. And 3 days later. Those kids. Where some of the most powerful activist. For gun control that we've ever seen. February 13th. They weren't. February 17th. They were. And i appreciate this much has been written about the fact that they were getting a good education they had wonderful teachers yay for our teachers. They were being told. Taught. How to create. Good debate how to stand up many of them were theater kids and speak publicly. And yet for all that. That was not. Enough preparation to be fully equipped to all of a sudden being on cnn all of a sudden debating politicians and nra officials. And they've done it. And a. Put on. A march. In washington they organized.. But they are saying that this march. Who is the largest one the largest single-day march. Mdc history. Des. After just over. A month. From when this dreadful thing happened. They are being equipped. And we are seeing it happen. And i feel confident in saying. But if this had been a choice presented to them hey here's what's going to happen and then here's what you're going to do. They would have said. No thank you. Let this cup pass from me. This is not what i want. But it happened. They responded. To have that doubt. To have those questions. And to even say no i don't want to it's completely normal. What's important is what happens next. So. Today in the christian calendar. Is palm sunday. So what used to happen. Was you had this powerful empire who was in control. And the jews were the oppressed people and yet their history was so recent that they could remember when they were not under this type of oppression. And passover the empire felt was a very dangerous time because that's when they would be telling all of the stories. And so the empire wanted to make sure that they were really clear to send a message. That if there is any attempted rebellion any attempted uprising we will quash you. And so they would have these military. Parade. The parades would go into the city into jerusalem and you would have the chariots in the soldiers and at the end there would be the powerful insecure king king herod on a warhorse. And the people as they were compelled to do with line the streets and they would have palms. Giving honor. To this king. But this one year. There were two parades. That parade happens. And then there was this. Poor. Probably dirty cuz he'd been walking from another town. Carpenter rabbit. Who had been talking to people about how no. It was the poor. And the oppressed and the marginalized. Who were going to rise up. And have power. Until he came to jerusalem he sent his friends ahead he said. Go get me a donkey. Not the war house. Horse. But a donkey this was something they'd written a story about in the hebrew bible anyway. Until he came into jerusalem not on a warhorse. But on this humble donkey. And the oppressed. And the marginalized the poor lined the streets. And wave the palms. And said. This is our king. It was this wonderful act. Street theater. Absurd version. Taking something the empire did and mocking. And when you. Empire. There are consequences. And this young rabbi continued though the next day he went into the temple. Overturned the tables of the money-changers. And he knew that there were going to be consequences coming because the two things that history wise look at martin luther king jr.. Whenever you go after both empire. And money. There will be swift and sure. I'm so as the story goes he gathers. Together with his friends. They share a special meal together he lets them know of his love for them he gives them instructions about how to continue this work. In the future. And they all. Go asleep. You know how it is when you have been just running on adrenaline and bravado. And then that moment comes where you're alone with your thoughts. And it all kind of. Hits. About everything that's going to happen. The story says that that's what happened to him. And he prayed. And he said god. If it be your will. But this cup past 4. It is completely normal. The not immediately jump up. Joy. Especially the harder the call is. But to say i'm. Just not sure. Then i'm up for this. And it takes a lot of discernment. To figure out. If it is indeed your call because there's so much heartbreak going on in the world right now. You can't solve all of the pro. I thought you have to talk with your friends. And tell you i think. I think i'm being called to this thing. Solicit. Opinions from others you'd trust and most of all go deep. Inside. To figure out if this is your call. And when you decide that you are ready to answer. You once again. Can be biblical. And isaiah. Fixate. It says. Then i heard the voice of the lord. Saying. Whom shall i send. And who will go for us. And i said. Here i am. Send me.

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2018-09-16-AFGEAnotherFunGrowthExperience.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast for september 16th. 2018. This week service is. Afge. Another fun. Cross experience. Reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning comes from. The now-classic when bad things happen to good people by rabbi harold kushner. If people lived forever and never died. One of two things would have to happen either the world would become impossibly crowded or else people would avoid having children to avoid that crowding. Humanity would be deprived of the sense of a fresh start. That potential for something new under the sun which the birth of a child represents. In a world where people live forever we would probably never have them form. But we have to acknowledge. But it is one thing to explain that mortality in general is good for people in general. The something else again to try to tell someone who has lost a parent a wife or a child. The death is good. We don't dare. Try to do that. It would be cruel and thoughtless. All we can say to someone at a time like that. Is that vulnerability to death. Is one of the given conditions of life. We can't explain it any more than we can explain life itself. We can't control it. Or sometimes even postpone it. All we can do is try to rise beyond the question. Why did it happen. And begin to ask the question. What do i do. Now that it has happened. So this is the start of our new church year. And with it. A new church theme that we will be exploring from now until may and the church. Beam is live a life on fire. To live a life on fire. Memes to search for the meaning. In everything. And to be intentional and to bring a spirit of assessment to all the aspects of our lives so that we can make the most of them. That does not mean that you are not allowed to veg out on the sofa binge watching netflix for hours on end i myself consider it up to be a form of self-care. But living a life on fire means. That we assess. Its value and what we need and we are deliberate about our. Choices. The title of today's sermon. Is afge and i believe a few months ago our music director rebecca contacted me she saw that in the schedule and she was like i guess you'd googled it and like there's some labor organization she was like is this i said no. Not that. It's a slang term standing for another. Fun. Growth experience. I've also heard it described as a fog another. Fun opportunity for growth. I think watch is underneath this saying. Is a sort of grudging acknowledgement. That many of the things that we do not want that we would not have chosen. From the announce the annoying to the downright tragic. Are often terrific opportunities. For growth. Whether we want them or we don't. I'm so how can we go into all of these experiences. And try to extract out of them what we can. Another something. Kind of. Connected to this. A platitude. That i have heard and i will admit. At a younger point in my life. I used to say i don't anymore. And that is. Everything happens. For a reason. I think a lot of times. When we either accept this. To be true. Or reject it. We're often doing that. Based on our feelings. We have strong feelings that died. How we think about this. What is unitarian universalist. More is required of us one of the tenets of our religion. Is that an unexamined faith. Is not worth having. Where can be true only by accident. We have to actually go through and be analytical. And follow some sort of process for ourselves. To determine what it is that we feel is true to us. So this morning we're going to do exactly that we're going to go through a process of deconstructing this statement. Know what i'm going to be offering to you is one process not the process. There are many different ways to examine things and you might come to different conclusions than i do. And in this church and in the face of unitarian universalism. That's okay. What's important is the process that you go through some type of assessment. So let's start with it so first let's start with the word everything okay what does everything mean well everything could mean. Everything except. The word everything is followed by that word. Happens. Okay for something to happen it has to be an event. Of some sort right an apple. Does not fit this however if i were to throw an apple at your head. That would be an event. For which you could then try and figure out what was the reason for that so. Everything. We're going to define as. All events. Turn off look at the end of the this sentence. Reason. Now. When people say the majority of people unless they're being smart aleck. Whenever they say everything happens for a reason. They're not referring to just like some basic scientific facts. Write up a basic like yes you have cancer because i know that you know everything happens for a reason and the reason is your cells began multiplying and like that's. Right that's not what people mean when they say this. What do they mean. Not a rhetorical question reason what do they mean. Something good is going to happen. Some sort of purpose. God's plan. So. Fake so yeah so deeper meaning right that's kind of the idea underneath all of this is that there is going to be some deeper meaning to all of the events that happened. But first so we we've already kind of defined everything and reason but we also need to look. At the order. Of this because the statement says everything happens. For a reason. Because right everything happens. Because. I've a reason because but cause. Any fact. Which comes first. Right. So we need to flip this around. So what we are saying is. Deeper meaning. Is he caused. Of all events. However there's not just one deeper meaning right just just when i was asking you to find it we had all sorts of different answers. And every single event every situation there is an infinity of different. Meanings that can happen. Because you know to drive to give dance. So this seems to be calling out. For something else for an agent. For some sort of a force. A spiritual physics if you will. Commonly the term used as someone said earlier god. So there is some sort of force. That pushes things into play and. That there is some that. for somehow is connected. With. A desired outcome. If the force is going to cause certain events to happen so that we can get to the end and there's a deeper meaning that drives all of that. There has to be some sort of force. At work. And so what we might say then is okay to required agent. Is that there is a force or a god that manipulate manipulate saucepan has kind of negative connotation but like it's not just like if you if you set your watch right you're manipulating your watch. So there is some sort of force that manipulates events. So as to lead to the forces. Desired outcome. If you have not agreed with any of these arguments this far that's totally okay. But i think on this one i think we can all agree right. The facts of the matter are some events in life are painful and or catastrophic. Hurricanes. Disease. Cruelty of humanity. Right are we are we in agreement on that that. Some events are painful and or catastrophic. So then applying that thing that we already know. To this deconstruction that we have given. Means that if we apply logic. Then that statement of everything happens for a reason. Could. It can be surmised. Mean that a force. A spiritual physics. Apologies to the actual physicist in the room this is a metaphor. Is that that force. Is willing to allow great tragedy. In order to achieve a desired outcome. Which. Is not conditional on it being in equilibrium. It may or may not have proportional worth the events. And the meaning the thing that happens later. So i see a logical conclusion. That many people have said for centuries many religious thinkers you by the way or a religious thinker you're sitting in a in a church that makes the conclusion that. The force. Or god. Whatever the nature is of that force it can either be all-powerful or all good. But not both. Maybe really clear. That this is. Hey. Conclusion. Not the conclusion. There are many people who will argue this. As someone who went to an evangelical seminary they will argue this at great length. So then we take whatever theological conclusion. We have come to. And we didn't go back to ourselves. To try it out and just say okay so then what is my. Personal. Conclusion. About this idea that everything happens. For a reason. Until one possible conclusion is. No. Everything does not. Happen for a reason. So that's one way of deconstructing. An idea. But we don't just leave it there. Because it's not just about stripping away beliefs it's also about what are the things that we do believe in that we do have faith in. And for many of us. To leave it just like this. I'm walk away. Feels really incomplete. It feels like there are some truths that we have that yes we can support this. And. In our own lives. We have had experiences. .. Seem to lead to something good. And maybe that doesn't mean that the bad thing happened to cause that. But we can't just walk away as if. Important things and bad things have no connection to. Right. We. We were fired from a job. And that. Propelled us. To find a career that was more what we really feel that we should be doing. Or relationship ended. I'm not open the door for a better healthier relationship. And sometimes. That good thing that comes out of the bad thing. Is that. Fun. Growth experience. Because we go through something. Really terrible. And we are different. At the end. And sometimes. That different nurse in us. We determined to be better. We are stronger. Or we are wiser. Or there is something that we have learned. That. We didn't know before. This is not inevitable.. Please please don't say the things like you know whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger i realize it's comforting at the time. But as a pastor i will tell you. That's not always the case. Sometimes. Things. Break us. And we may not be stronger afterwards but there may still be lessons there may still be value we can extract. And this is where we go back to the issue of agency. Because rather than there being some other. Force. That is. Forcing events to happen so we can learn things we have the agency. To look. At the events of our lives and say. Okay. Is there something that i should be getting from. I read an interview with stephen colbert. A few years ago this was in gq magazine. And there was part of it. That that has haunted me. It just won't let me go. Colbert in addition to being a comedian and a talk show host is also deeply spiritual and deeply religious. When he was 10 years old he was the youngest of eleven kids. And when he was 10. His father and the two siblings who were closest to him in age. Died in a plane crash. All of his other siblings. Had already grown and we're living their own lives and so it was. Colbert and his mom just the two of them. After that. And apparently his mom was. A really amazing person those of you who've been following colbert since he was on comedy central he would often talk about his mom before she died. And he in fact credits. Her. 4. The help. That he feels. He has. Around this tragedy he said that he'll learn from her. Not. Tubi. Riddle. About all of this. Broken yes. But. Not to be resenting and cynical. And he realized. These things that happened in his life. Growing up. Just he and his mom and the tragedy itself. They formed. And they made him who he is. Besides that he was 35 years old and he was walking down the street. An all of a sudden. It just hit him. That he had. Gratitude. For all of the things that had happened in his life. Because they shaped him informed him and brought him to this. Point. And a way that he phrased it. And this is the thing that has. Just won't let me go. I'm still struggling with it. Is he said. 30 realize. I love. Just saying. That i most wish. Had not. I love the thing i most wish. Had not happen. And he talked about. How you can hold. 2. Very. Strong. Perhaps things that seem like they contradict each other. You can hold both of them at the same time. Because on one hand. The death of his father and his siblings is this is tragic and it is the thing that if he could change anything in his life he would. It is the thing he wishes the most had not happened. And it did happen. And so he has drawn meaning from it and he has realized that it shapes. And he has embraced. That ambiguity is he says he can hold both of those. At the same time. I'm still struggling with this. Because a lot of the really. Terrible tragedies. In my life have involved other people. That's why i can't quite bring myself. To say this. And yet i also at this point in my life can't just walk away from it. There's something in me that knows that there is a value in this ambiguity and it may. Be true for me. 2. No everything does not. Happen for a reason. But everything that happens. Matters. And you get to use your agency in deciding to what extent and how something matter. Maybe you decide. It matters very very little. Or maybe you decide it was absolutely terrible. And. There were important lessons. That i drew from this. And in some way i am grateful. In the hebrew bible in the book of job. There's that line about the lord gives and the lord takes away blessed be the name of the lord and when we take the idea of a supernatural agency that it drives things. Out of this. And instead either don't have a belief in that or have a belief in a very different sort of forced or god one that is love. We take that out then we can simply say this. As a statement of reality. Life gives. M life takes away. But blessed be life. Because no matter what. It is still a gift. We are right now in our country. Going through. Everyday. Another. Fun. Growth. Experience. And i can understand how it is very easy when we see things happening when we see people say dreadful things or do dreadful things it's easy to kind of follow that meme that says oh that's right nothing matters anymore. Suspend. Of time is long. Who are we to say that. I am hopeful i think that all of these things matter and i can hold ambiguity i can hold the ambiguity of the fact that on one hand. There are terrible things happening in our world right now happening in our country things that i worry that our country will never really recover from and i know that there are things that are happening to individuals. That day and their family. Especially people with less privileged than i. They will not. Recover from. A nothing. Can make this. Worth it. And at the same time. I can hold the fact that right now. We are going through this tremendous. Unveiling. And this will not be going backward. We are finally. Curing certain truths. We finally have the ears to hear those truths to hear those voices that have often been marginalized we see things in a different way there are certain things that were acceptable in our society three years ago that are no longer are. That's amazing. That's an amazing deeper meaning that is happening i can hold both of those. At the same time. Both the despair. And. The hope. Living a life on fire. Is about examining. The different things in your life. Having you know playing with that idea that yes maybe everything does matter. And deciding what are the deeper meanings. That we will say. Yes.

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2018-09-02-MusingsOnFairness.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. Put september 2nd. 2018. This week service is musings unfairness. By mike schultz. Alright i would like to welcome. Are youngsters that are young at heart. Come forward. For the big idea. Okay everyone. Mystery. Does anybody. Recognize. No it's something organic it is flour. That's not salted flour. Which one of the things that we make. Absolutely. Yeah play-doh butt. I was thinking about. Brett. So. Does anyone know has anyone done this. The process of taking this. And making one of. Yeah. So is it quick. Even though. Well i was thinking about the. The old school way of. So in order to make. Bread. From flower. You have to take if you just take the flower and you mixing water in it and you put it in the oven. It's going to basically. Will be really hard to eat. So what they do. Is they. Mix into the bread. Slum. Tim gettys. And when the yeast. Starts it does its thing. Puts little bitty air bubbles. In the bread. And then when you cook the bread but don't eat it no eating in the sanctuary. When they make up the bread the air bubbles. Get bigger and that causes the bread to rise. And apparently i'm not apparently i've done this. When i. What i'm at my wife. She was a really big. Bread baker i cannot imagine. I could not believe how much time it. To make a loaf of bread. And you mix it in you got to get it all right. Too sticky got to add more flour. To dry got to add more water. When you get it just right then you have to set it aside and let the yeast. And then after it rises something you have to use your fists. The punch it down. And let it rise again. And eventually after all of this happens. You get up you get to take the the dough and put it in a pan and bacon. Now to do this. Requires. Not just i'm just going to get up one morning and. Fix brad. You have to learn how to do. Someone has to teach. Let's just imagine. That. In a big you're so that's how you you make it for yourself. But. If you have like a factory. Where you make. Thousands of loaves of bread that day. You got to have people who know what they're doing. Now. I know that. So. You really want a baker. To do this. Now. This is the big idea. How do we pay the bank. Do we pay the baker well with money that's true but do we pay them. For each loaf of bread they make. Well. Right so when people go to the grocery store. Big give money. To buy this loaf of bread. And after they do that. The money goes back to the bakery. And eventually i think we have to get back to the baker. And the question is his what's the fairest way. To give the pay the baker for their time and talent. One way to do what i think would be to pay them for each loaf of bread they make. But i believe that way. That the way things really are done now is you pay them for their time. So every hour that they're there. They get. Await. Is that. Is that a fair thing. Exactly. So that's the big idea. What in the course of human events. It becomes necessary for one people. To dissolve the political bands. Which have connected them with another. And to assume among the powers of the earth. The separate and equal station. Of which the laws of nature. Head of nature's god entitle them. A decent respect of the opinions of mankind require. They should declare the causes. Which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator. With certain unene unalienable rights. That among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights. The governments are instituted among men. Driving their just powers. From the consent of the governed. From the declaration of independence. 19 or 1770. The tv show parenthood have a character named max. Repeatedly shout it's not fair. At the top of his voice when things weren't going his way. I think about this whenever i hear someone say something is not fair. And i wonder if we have any right to expect things to be fair. Of course. Maksud asperger's. So his whole life was unfair from the start. In the sermon i like to take some time to consider fairness and what we mean by it. Marxist definition of fairness. Roughly amounted to i know fairness when i see it. Or in his case unfairness. So what start with something more concrete than that and oddly it is something that i saw in another television show. The 1980s. Tv sitcom family ties. Depicted the growing divide between the counterculture of the sixties. And the conservatism of the 80s. It rather topsy-turvy plot. The parents were escapees trying to make it. It's a culture shift around them. And their children reflected that culture. The show was a breakout role for michael j.fox and justine bateman. Fox played alex. A young republican. An hour and bateman played valerie of material girl. I don't want to deal too deeply into the show but in one seeing alex and mallory were faced with a dilemma. The each wants to have some cake. And yet there was only one slice left. The question was then how to divide it fairly. Of course someone had to make the actual cut. And mallory didn't trust alex to do it. But alex propose a simple solution. To ensure it was a fair cut. He would cut the cake. Did mallory would get to choose which half. This would motivate alex to make the best cut possible. To me this is the essence of fairness. Treating everyone equal. Of course life really resolved to a single slice of cake. But if we as individuals drive to treat each other as we want to be treated ourselves. Do we have a good start on being fair. The thing i like about the cake slice method. Is that a built-in self-regulation. There's no need to use a scaling way the cake slices. There is no need to establish regulations about what is a fair slice of cake. Two individuals establish simple rule and live by the results. Now let's consider the phrase. A good product at a fair price. Einstein was famous for his thought experiments. So. Consider for a moment that there are two bakeries living in a community. You wonder what the bakery thing. It one bakery. Create a better loaf of bread. The residents of the town will use it over the other. Get the products of these two batteries are equal but one bakery charges more for their product. Then the people will use the cheaper one. Again it is a self-balancing system. And that is the beauty of it. People examine the products in the price. Decide which one they want. Antenna ford. And then make a choice. At the center of the decision is again and individual what is the collective decision of the group. That sucks the price. And motivates the bakeries to keep quality high. Unfortunately there are things that destroy this balance. The bakery's can no longer can decide to no longer compete. Instead they can work together. To set the price. In this case they are no longer to bakeries but operating as one. There's no longer competition between the two. To determine the fair price. This will tell you. That what should happen at this point is that a third bakery should open. And the system will return to equalism. I thought this is what. Capital is called. Pre-market. Although i think of it is better described as the only thing that will stop a bad caplets with a bankroll is another capitalist with a banker. Of course bakeries are more than flowers and ovens. It takes people to run them. So let's continue i thought experiment. Let's say that a bakery has 100 employees. There are ninety-nine bakers and the people who support them and one ceo to make the. And let's say that the ceo takes a vacation to aruba for a month. What do we think will happen to the output of the bakery at this time. Well barn hostile takeovers from another bakery. I'm guessing that it will remain the same. And let's say that the co comes back and the very next week. Taylor swift decides to have an unplanned concert in the bakery style. Everyone at the bakery is a big deal because. Suddenly everyone at the bakery take the vacation on the same time same day and what happens to the bakery output. It is 0 of course. Because it takes the bakeries employees to produce the final product. It is their time and talent. That adds value to the raw materials. And produces the final pro. Crystal's example have some flaws. Because you can take one employee out of the bakery. B e e o bakery. Or rc or baker. And they will not impact the output of the bakery by much. But each person in the bakery is contributing to the value. The bakery creates including the ceo. And the workers should get a fair value a fair share of that value. Amen. Unfortunately the workers are rarely compensated as well as a ceo. There seems to be the idea that wall each worker should be paid. Their part for their part. The ceos. Is. Pay is based on the output of the entire bakery. And that somehow. The bakery produced is spread only because of their leadership. Part of the problem is that while it is easy to measure an individual baker's contribution to the bottom line is ceos contributions harder to know. Simply because they don't make a direct contribution to the process. Situations like a ceo receives a bonus because the bakery has made its production goals. But would that production have been affected if the bonus was doubled. Or half. Or not at all. It seems to me that if the baker is the ceo's job. Is the see that the bakery make this goal. Then. Then that's what they're being paid for. In general when we see that it. In general when we see a direct relationship between how people are paid and what they produce. Determining if their compensation is fair is straightforward. Can we accomplish the same with the ceo. If we can't measure measure their compensation in terms of the output at the bakery. Is there compensation fair. If we can't. How will we know. And it's ultimately they're being overpaid. That money comes out of the paycheck of the people who are actually creating the wealth. There are several ways to bring this. To bring fairness to the situation. 1 ways with government regulation is minimum wage. The free markets crowd will not be happy with this solution. They will claim that it ruins their competitive advantage with other markets they don't have such pesky regulations. They make these claims even as they met were making record profits. The biggest problem with government regulations is that the free market guys can control the government and subvert the process. A better solution and warm natural solution. Is to give workers a voice for the use of unions. I must admit that when i was younger i did not care for unions. As a native texan and fiercely independent. I bought into the whole right-to-work argument. But i'll come around to realizing that unions are important mechanism. To giving workers a say in their employment. I highly recommend. The home strike. The homestead strike episode of the history channel's series. 10 days that unexpectedly changed america. I won't describe the entire episode here. But it's short working conditions at the homestead steel plant were really dangerous. And what are the goals of the union was to make conditions better. The history channel episode was about an attempt. History channel episode was about an attempt to break the union. But for me the working conditions were eye-opening. We take unions granted for 4 today. But we are living everyday with improvements brought about by unions. And we let companies weaken them at our own detriment. When i wrote this. I was not thinking we're going to be doing it's labor day weekend. Really. To be honest it boggles my mind that we even have to have this conversation about economic fairness. But there is the attitude that if you have a low paying job. You just didn't apply yourself. And you deserve what you get. This is exceedingly unfair because people don't have any control over anything about their birth. Our gender identity intelligence economic status are all something that we are born with and into. Our parents have some say in the matter. But in general we are just born. And we have to make do with what abilities we have. Sure there are stories where people overcome their disadvantages and are successful. That's the american dream after all. I'm sure that there are people who have done that. But they are the exception. There is no and it's no reason to mistreat people who don't. To be honest. It seems more like an excuse the reason. Sort of. I'm not paying you what you are. Or worth. So you will go get it at better job. Although it is clear the reason the real reason is i'm not paying you what you were worth because there is nothing you can do about it. The declaration of independence speaks of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It does not define what happiness is. It could be wealth. It could be writing poetry. It could be raising a family. Or just doing nothing at all. We all need a job to be able to support ourselves but the job does not define who we are. If we want just a nine-to-five job in order to support our true passion. Then we don't need some wealthy person looking down their nose. Ata's. Because we did not choose their path. To me this attitude is systemic at our society. I know that i personally immediately give difference. Does someone with a ph.d. And sadly i think less of someone who only has a high school degree. I give more respect. To someone who is the vice-president of company. Unfortunately left to the person working the register at the burger place. I grew up in houston in the 1960s and i don't like to think of myself as a races. And yet i struggle with this all the time. The attitude that black people are just not as good as white. Was so prevalent when i was young. I have to wipe my initial impression of someone based on their gender race. Education and even the way that they speak out of my mind. Every person is unique. Every person. Deserve to be treated the same. Every person deserves to be treated fairly. So what can be done to achieve social fairness. Again we could use the government. But we really can't. Legislate fairness any more than we can legislate morality. In the late 1950s the government did mandate a racially mixed workforce. The dryden flight research center instituted applications. That did not contain the names. Or the race or the gender of the person. Merely. The application had a number to identify the applicant. People were chosen based on their merits. I really recommend reading the book hidden figures for more about this it is a lot. Different than the movie and as much as i love the movie. That book. Really talks about. What women and the impact. Had to go through. We could say. Differential the erasers will eventually die off. But we've been saying that for 100 years. It appears that they just passed their attitudes on to the next generation. They either believe that it is proper to be racist. Or that there's just something some evolutionary trait that causes people to hate peeps someone who doesn't look like them. It wouldn't surprise me to be honest. But there's but we are no longer separate tribes competing for the same resources. So this crate is no longer serving as well. We also used to live in caves and i don't hear anyone advocating that lifestyle. When i was young smoking cigarettes was very common. But attitudes changed. And the cigarettes killed off the people who couldn't kick the habit. I just don't see that happening to racism. We can use media to change people's attitudes. For the longest time you only saw white couples in commercials. Then there was the occasional black couple. Now it is not unusual to see a mixed-race couple in the commercial. The part that i love. About this is there's no explanation about it in the commercial. There's justice white guy who can't seem to run office errands and then single trip. There is white adidas black wife takes the keys and next we see her finishing the errands driving electric car instead. It is all perfectly normal. I think that the only way that we're going to seriously combat this problem. Tackle it head-on. To say it is not right. It is not fair. The white folks who say this. We will be dismissed as coops. It has to be the oppressed people. Refusing to sit in the back of the bus. Demanding to be served at the lunch counter. Marching in the streets. Chanting black lives matter. People who say all lives. La lives matter just. Don't get it. They seem to think that the system is already fair. When in fact it is very far from it. And it is not going to get there just accepting the status quo. People have to stand up. Be counted. And name the unfairness. The bring it out of the shadows. To make it visible. So it can be banished. Of course race is not the only place in our society where we need to name our demons. Me to is the rallying cry against sexual abuse. So i'm a white guy. Are there any others that i'm missing. Yep do they have a crime they have a. Like a slogan. Loveislove. Y'all mean all. We need more of this. I think the real problem is that people like me. White male and heterosexual. Just don't see the unfairness. Everything is fine with us. What's the problem. Before i started coming to this church. I really didn't understand the issues. When is growing up near houston we had black kids at our school. But i really didn't socialize with. In high school. During the late 60s early 70s. My only impression of my black classmates. What's that they were angry. And i always wondered why. To be honest our creditors religion and this church. To this change in my attitude. Before coming a member. I would tell you of course i'm not a racist. But to be honest. I didn't understand the problem. Little on how complicit i was in it. I still only have one black person that i count as a friend. I'm not really sure what to do about that. But i admit. Videos of personal problem. To me this is what unit this is what universalism is all about. I don't mean lee everyone is save part. As a secular humanist i don't believe in the hereafter. But the idea that everyone deserves saving. Really resonates with me. That says we are all equal. We are all worthy. When i was young i was a nerdy kid that bullies like to beat up. I was the object of their oppression. So i understand at least that much. As an adult. I understand the importance of treating others fairly. We are not all the same and thank goodness. But we all deserve to be treated. Barely.

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2018-02-04-TheSpiritualGuidanceOfPunxsutawneyPhil.mp3

You're listening to the podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. For more information about our church visit our website. Live oak uu. org. Today's sermon the spiritual guidance of punxsutawney phil. Is giving byron reverend joanna fontaine crawford. February 4th. 2018. Ar reading. Goes back we're going to go back in time here go back to a classic this is. Lines composed 21st february 1825. This is. Work without hope. By samuel taylor coleridge. All nature seems at work plugs leave their lair the birds are stirring birds are on the wing and winter slumbering in the open-air wears on his smiling face. A dream of spring. And idlewild the soul i'm busy saying nor honey make nor pair nor build. Nursing. Yeah well i can the bank's where amaranth blow. I've traced the fount went streams of nektar flow bloom oh yeah marantz bloom for whom he met for me. You bloom not. Clyde rich streams away. With lips on brighton's reflux bro i stroll. I would you learn the spells that drowns my soul. Work without hope. Draws nectar in a sieve. I'd hope. Without an object. What would it look like. For you to live. 1. Perfect. In 1993 the movie groundhog day came out directed by harold ramis and starring his friend and frequent collaborator bilmuri. Bill murray plays phil connors a tv weatherman in pittsburgh who along with his producer and the cameraman are sent to punxsutawney to cover the annual groundhog day festivities. Phil is arrogant. Totally selfish. People hold no value to him other than what they can do or give. Take him. And he is completely. Completely contemptuous. He is contemptuous of everyone and everything including punxsutawney and that darn groundhog. He. Wakes up. February 2nd. Bed and breakfast in punxsutawney that he's staying at the radio is blaring i've got you babe it's 6 a.m. the djs come on and say it happy groundhog day. And dripping disdain. Everywhere that he goes. Bill gets up. And goes down to where they're doing the festivities. And perfunctorily and sardonically. Does his job and then urges his co-workers to get on the road so they can get back. To pittsburgh. They are stopped by a blizzard. A blizzard. That the key the weatherman had not predicted. And they have to go back to. Punxsutawney. For the night. If you have not seen. This movie. Dude you had 25 years. There's going to be some spoilers in this sermon. The next morning. At 6 a.m.. The alarm clock. Comes on. Playing i've got you babe the announcers are saying happy groundhog day. He just contemptuously blows it off that they're playing it old tape. He goes downstairs and as the day unfolds. It becomes apparent. That he is living. The same day all over again. No one else knows for them it's the very first time on that day. But for him he is reliving. The same. Day. The next morning. 6 a.m. alarm clock i've got you babe the next morning 6 a.m. alarm clock i've got you babe over and over and over and over again. There's a rider on on the internet who actually sat down with the movie and analyze every reference that he could find to time and he calculated that still actually lives this day. 12395 days. So. Nearly 34 years. Which the director at one time he had said he thought it was about 10 years and then later he said i don't know i think it's more like 30 or 40 years so. Pretty pretty right on the money. Perhaps if you haven't seen this movie you it's because you just dismissed it as you know one of those silly bill bill murray. Comedy. This silly little movie. Has hundreds. Articles and scholarly papers written about it. It functions as a sort of a religious worship. Test. Buddhist watch the movie. And they see a buddhist movie clearly this is all about from sarah and the cycle of an unending coming back and living a life over and over and over again the cycle of reincarnation that you're trying to break out of. Christian's watch this movie and they clearly see a christian movie this is all about redemption and resurrection catholic see it of courses being about purgatory. Jewish scholars watch this movie and say no this is clearly a jewish movie because the way that you find enlightenment and meaning in life is by learning to do mitzvahs for other people. So i'm going to jump in miami unitarian universalist theologian and i clearly see how you you movie. This is a movie that brings in all of those different things just as we do it pulls wisdom universal precepts that you find across the religions. And. At the end of it. It is a movie about deeds not. It's not about a system of belief this movie is about a way of living. How what is the way. In which you. Would live. Thing often when we when we hear that that thing a perfect day. Our mind goes to like a vacation day right a day of indulgence a day at the spa day with no responsibilities. And for phil connors once he works past his initial stage of denial about what is happening. Once he realizes and test. That he truly now has a life with no consequences or at least no consequences that live past 6 a.m. the next day. Then he immediately goes into full-on. Hedonism. Likes a man of advancing years throwing caution to the wind. My ears are not advancing as fast as you might think. Don't you worry about cholesterol lung cancer love handles. I don't worry about anyting. What makes you so special everybody worries about some. That's exactly what makes me so special. I don't even have to floss. Centered. Livingsocial. Fairy now. And doubly dying. To the bile duct. What you don't like. Defining characteristic. A day with no consequences total hedonism and every day he indulge has he finds different ways to indulge he uses this power that he has because remember he has he gets a total reset every morning physically and he still wakes up in bed except that. His memory. Is the still working he can still remember everything but no one else can. And so he can use that to manipulate people he now knows things about them and they don't remember from the previous day he manages to get women to go home with him he manages to rob an armored car he buys himself a rolls-royce and insisted everyone call him bronco. We don't know how many days he enjoys this hedonism days weeks months years. And eventually though. It. Rings hollow. And he grows bored with it there is no meaning. Eventually in desk. Three tries to go after the one thing he has not been able to get his producer you saw there rita. And now he has all these skills right he can find out what her definition is of the perfect man and then pretend to be it. In order to get her. I didn't never works. Day after day ends with. Her slapping him in the face. He even with these powers that he has. Cannot. Make her. Love him. And he goes into despair. Here he is in a reality that he did not ask for. Our reality he doesn't understand he doesn't know why it's happening and he tries to escape through death over and over again he tries to escape. And every morning. 6 a.m.. I've got you babe. He's lost. Think many of us can relate to this. He's lost. Living in this reality that he doesn't understand he doesn't understand. What's going on. He doesn't understand who he is. And what his role is in this. Lamb of god. Your god. Because you survived a car wreck. You folks ready to order. I didn't show survivor. Poison. Electric. Oh really. Every morning i wake up with a scratch on the fender. Special today is blueberry waffles. Why are you telling me this. Because i want you to believe in. You're not a god. You can take my word for. 12 years ago. I can come back if you're not ready. How do you know i'm not a god. How do you know. It's not possible. They're supposed to be getting married. What. Let me ring. He's been a waiter. Toy soldiers. I am. 20 years. Well maybe the real god uses tricks. He's just been around so long you knows everything. Who's that. Dallas. Make noise like a chipmunk. I called you i know everything if i find s r waiters going to drop a tray of dishes. 54321. Bill. Is. Increase. This is not what he expected this is not what he wanted. How is he going to live alive. Trapped in this very small box. Of reality. And i want to point out he takes. The time to grieve we see him doing things like. Spending hours just throwing cards into a hat. It's important. To take the time to grieve. When we are in this kind of shift. Where we need to figure out. What's next. One of the things that he has to face is the fact. But he really doesn't. Like himself. He doesn't like the person who he is. Of course. Rita never fell for his tricks. He admits to himself. He doesn't. Deserve her. And that's. The turning point. Where he starts looking at. Where he is in rather than trying to escape it or try to change the fundamental reality that he's in. He decides to make a life for himself in this crazy repeating day and he begins seeing it as an opportunity. He gets up. He goes to work he makes time to read. Listen to music. I'm he starts changing things about himself himself he learns to play piano. With a teacher who everyday thinks this is his first day to ever sit down at a piano. He learns to ice sculpt. More importantly. He learns compassion. An empathy. And he learns how to use all the things that he is learning. To serve other people in this is. A fundamental precept. Of all religions. That in serving others. That is how we grow. And we become the people we want to be. But he has to learn that his. Control. Is still limited his control is only around what he can do he cannot. Control. The other person's reaction. And he cannot control reality itself. He finds a old homeless man. And he gives him just all of his money. And that night. He finds out that the man has died. So he finds the man on a different day earlier and and he takes into a diner and get some just all full of hot soup and good food. Night night. A man died. He gets the man to a hospital shirley stay can change this. And the man died. He does cpr on the man. And he died. I'm so phil learns. Do you have the serenity. To accept. What he cannot change. And the courage. To change what he. When check off. He saw winter. Yeah we know that winter is just. But standing here. Basking in the warmth of their heart. I couldn't imagine. From punxsutawney. I surprise myself. Where you going. I'd love to grab a rain check i've got some errands. I thought we were going back. Just be careful alright. He goes on with the rest of his day doing other mitzvahs other good deeds he helps. That the young couple to go ahead and and get married he save someone who is choking. And he has his perfect day. He still has enjoyment in his day you seem in a later seen enjoying being at a party and playing music. He is not perfect as you saw him snarling at the trials. But he. Has. Reach the point of being. Self differentiated he does these things. Not because he is expecting reward or even expecting the outcome to laugh i'll see you again tomorrow. He does this because he is very purely. Living out. His. Guiding. What would it look like. For you. To live. 1. Perfect day because your perfect day is going to be different. From her perfect day in his perfect day and her perfect day. What would your. Perfect. Day. The living of it. Entail. Here's the sad postscript. To this movie. This movie. Which is beautiful and about relationships. And about making everyday count. Caused the breakup of the friendship. I've harold ramis and bill murray. There's different people who have conjectured as to exactly why that was with a creative direction was it the bill murray was tired of people attributing his success to harold ramis. Neither of them have said why. But what it meant. Was that 421. Years. They did not talk to him. When harold ramis was on his deathbed. Bill murray went to him. And they talked. Apparently they made. With bill murray. Give anyting. To have some of those days back. I don't know. But i know that i was watching the oscars. After harold ramis die. And i saw. Bill murray. Talk about ramos. And get quite choked up. We don't get. To have 12000. 395 x to redo each day. We get one chance. Make the most of it.

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2018-11-18-BreadOfHeaven.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For november 18th. 2018. This week's service is. Read heaven. A reverend joanna fontaine crawford. A my younger friends can remain seated today i mean i don't know where you anyway but our big idea today is a very short story. And there are aspects of it that may sound kind of familiar to you it may remind you of another story that you have heard. But this story is from the tanakh it comes to us through judaism and from the hebrew bible this is in second kings. And it is part of water called the elijah wondertale. And the elijah wonder-tales off and have morals sort of like aesop's fables in greece. I'm in pain from ball shalisha and brought the prophet elijah some bread of the first harvest. 20 loaves of barley bread along with some fresh grain in a sack. And elijah said. Give it to the people gathered here and let them eat. He replied. How can i set a mere twenty loaves before such a crowd. There's over a hundred here. But the prophet said just give the loads to the people and let them eat. Or so says the eternal. They shall eat and have some leftover. So he set the loaves before then. And when they had eaten they did indeed find that they had some leftover. As the eternal headset. But since our big idea. Ar reading today comes from uu minister the reverend mark valentini and he titled this sermon poem. In the folktale from the bible. An insufficient amount of love. Feeds a whole lot of people sufficiently and more than sufficient. The story does not say o a miracle. The story does not say god made the barley loaves swell and grow to the size of horses just like that. The story simply says. The bread was placed before them. And they ate. And there was some leftover. Why. I'd like to think that it's because they ate together. They had to share a limited amount of bread so they divided it evenly. No 18 more than their share no man grabbed five loaves all to himself and let the other 99 split the 15. No woman shoved others away they all broke the bread. And shared. They all recognize. But not one of them how to write. By birth or even giftedness to more food than anyone else. So that's social understanding that deep sense within them that it was time for them to stop panicking about what they did not have. And give thanks for what they could share. Must be part of the meaning of the story. What did they just share the bread. I wonder. Without reaching out to each other. Did they eat in perfect an awful silence tense and withdrawing their backs turned. I doubt it. I bet they faced each other. I bet they spoke with each other. I bet they shared other stories of other meals and other times they gave thanks and broke bread. I bet they feasted on their hopes for a world where hunger was no more. And anyone could come to the table. Without anyone else making a face turning away. Tomorrow. Everyone can come. And there will be enough. We know it now. And the bread became more than bread maybe. It became the foretaste. A beloved community. Past year. In our nation. Has been hard. Think would agree with that. And for some of us individually in this congregation this past year. Has been here. But in this church. This has been a really. Goodyear. Some wonderful things have happened. And i think that when that happens when we have those really good years those years that help us change our identity into something even more of who we are. We need to pause and acknowledge. And celebrate that. This past year we had our first full year with our first full-time lifespan faith development director. And she has changed things and we've all grown we have grown individually a spiritually under her direction and the program has grown we are averaging about twice the attendance now than we had a year ago. This church has continued to be able to give beyond our own walls. We partner with hill country community ministries and so are fresh food friday has continued to grow and more families have learned about it and they're coming here and they were here this past week. And it did my heart so much good to think that some of those. That those bags of food that they were taking home we're going to be used on their thanksgiving tables this year. This has always been a generous congregation who understood that part of why we are here is to serve that outside world. As you heard every week we give away half of our offering and since we started doing that we've already given over $71,000. We have an endowment that we used to give grants to other organizations that are doing good things out in the world and that reflect our unitarian universalist values and us far with that we have given over a hundred and $1,000. And this year this spring it became very apparent to us. That we needed to do some work here at home. We needed to take care of this building that we are so blessed to have that we get to share with the community. We needed to go into the mundane things of doing stuff like replacing ac and furnaces and making some changes to attract more people here and to have a more accessible building for all. I'm so we had what is called a capital campaign we went into our own pockets took a giant leap of faith. And raised over $730,000. Which means that this building will be able to continue serving not just us. All of the people that we welcomed in we did a count a couple of years ago. To find out how many people apart from us. Come into this building every year. It was over 5,000 people counting every person just one time. Wii support. Through our love and through our building so many different groups out in the world and out in our neighborhood. So this generosity that we have. Is something is one of abundance and something that we should lift up and something that we should celebrate. But i will tell you of all the abundance that we have. There's two other things that are even higher on the list. Number to would-be promise. This is a congregation of such great promise and yes we have done amazing things already in the 26 years that live oak has been here. But i know. That we have only just begun. And that our better days are still yet out there in the future as we expand on the programs that we have like selfies for santa and feeding our neighbors and find things that right now we haven't even dreamed up yet. But the number one. Thing of abundance here. Is love. As i said. Several of us have had difficult years. This past year. People come to me is the pastor and talk with me and i will tell you what i have heard over and over and over again. And that is. This has been such a hard year. But i was able to keep going. Because of this community. This community loves people so much that it powers them up to keep going. I'm comforts them and holds them as they break apart. We haven't done it in a while. So you know what i'm about to invite you to do. Turn to someone near you and say i love you and there's nothing you can do about it. Today. So much love. Today. I dedicate our annual bread service to a celebration of all of the abundance that we have here the abundance of care the abundance of generosity and most of all the abundance of love.

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2019-08-04-DoNoHarm.mp3

Unitarian universalist church podcast. For august 4th 2019. This week's service is. Do no harm. Reverend eddie swor. This morning i'm going to start with. A unitarian universalist principal. And. If you're new to unitarian-universalism it's important to understand that we are a covenant already religion we don't have anybody telling us to do. Don't do that. We agreed together we have a covenant with one another and part of that covenant includes what we call the principles. And today our service is mostly about the seventh principle. Which reads. That we covenant to affirm and promote. The interdependent web of all existence of which we are apart. We are. Apart is one word. We are a. And i have a second reading that comes from tick not han book. Love letters to the earth. A lot of our fear hatred anger and feeling the separation and alienation. Come from the idea. That we are separated from the planet. We see ourselves in the center of the universe and it concerned primarily. About our own personal survival. If we care about the health and well-being as a planet. We do so far own sake. We wanted the air to be clean enough to breathe. We want the water to be clear enough so that we can have something to drink. But. We need to do more. Then use recycle products to thor donate money to environmental groups. We have to change our whole relationship. With the earth. Now in the first book of the bible. Christian jewish. Hebrew scriptures. God tells the people he has created. Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the seas or the birds of the heaven. And over every living thing that moves on the earth. Now the human species has done a pretty good job of this. We're everywhere and we're able to do just about anything we put our minds to. That maybe our fatal flaw. Our earth. Is amazingly adaptive it has put up with us for a long time. We put garbage into our oceans. Disintegrated into nothing that makes it disappear or or so we thought. Gases into the air. She would create raindrops around the pollutants in clear the air. So that we could continue to breathe. When we cut down our forest. She would bring forth plants just waiting for the sunlight. Until the trees began to grow into a new forest. No. Let's be clear we're not dead people. Many of us agonize over the destruction of our environment. Over global warming at scott's and if consequences. We recycle we can serve. We buy fuel-efficient cars. Just look at our parking lot out there. And keep the indoor temperature as close to the outdoor temperature as we can. We even compost. I'm have a garden. But is that enough. If we are to survive. Do we need to make some drastic changes. How many flood how many drought how many tornadoes how many hurricanes. Can we endure. Before our lifestyles become untenable. Now ask youmans. We believe we can fix this mess. After all we created it. So we should be able to get rid of it right. Our scientists and engineers have given us new energy sources to. Relieve us of our dependence on fossil fuels we have dams and levees to protect people from floods. We create lakes old water for cities to drink. But when we put in the dams. We didn't think about the salmon who needed to go upriver to spawn. When we contain rivers. We protected people from flood waters. But we can consider the natural flow of silt and sand that creates delta's peaches. Where the river meets the ocean. When we spray ddt to eliminate harmful insects like mosquitoes and flies. We didn't understand that this poison. Also cause bird eggs. To have. Search then she'll. Set the baby birds would die before they could hatch. We almost lost two species. Brown pelicans and bald eagles in that process. There are so many stories like these. Impossible to tell them all. The bottom line is. That we people keep making changes to improve our lives. But too often we do not have an idea about the complete results of our action. So we keep on trying to fix the world. And we continue to mess it up. Maybe. Maybe it is time to change our thinking. What if we actually began seeing ourselves. As part of the interconnected web of all existence. What if we decided. We're not in this alone. The other creatures other things. Including the earth herself. Have something. To offer. Michael dowd and his book thank god for evolution points out the way is that the earth itself has been able to change to beat its own needs. What if we were more observant of the way the earth cares for herself. Robin kimmerer writing her book rating sweetgrass. About the earth. And how it gives us gifts and. How we might reciprocate. She brings up the idea that exchange of gifts. Even small ones. Is a statement of love. All are engineer's and scientist. Can predict. But can't stop the ice from melting in greenland or antarctica. And we humans are often. So arrogant that we don't know that. Am i buddhist studies one lesson that come to homes to be all too frequently is my own arrogance. If there's a problem i can solve it. And beyond that it's even my duty to solve it. What i'm learning ever so painfully. Is that i don't have all the answers. I'm lucky just to have some of the questions. I keep looking at me or rather we. We are our friends we include the world we live in. We includes our neighbors. It includes the flowers in the little squirrel that runs along the top of my fence. It includes of people living in tents under the freeway in the blind fishing. That live in the hidden pools of water in death valley. I know my arrogance is part of being human. But i'm also beginning to understand that i need to set it aside as i am able. If i am to be one. With the world i inhabit. And this is where religion comes in. Science is very good at helping us understand things. Not so good and has in helping us. To understand how we feel about things. In my search for answers. These are some of my newer understanding. 1. Whenever i have a problem. I need to check. And see where my ego is in the equation. It's often hiding in plain sight and pushing me and directions that are not healthy. One big ring. Red flag for me is seeking accolade for my work. If the reward is a goal. I need to look carefully at the purpose of my process. Maybe it is something i don't need to be doing. Or not doing. In the same way as i had conceived. For me this is a concept of non-self. I know i'm very human i also know that my humanity is not fixed. Maybe it. That means that at my age. I can change. And that change is necessary. At times. Change off of cones just a little bit at a time. Very seldom is paying some big fancy taking okay here it is. Archange. But so does everyone and everything around me. It is so. But it continues to happen. This is how i see the idea of impermanence. Knowing that people and things do change. Give me hope. Everything we do. Is. Our best work. That's the third one. Everything that we do is our best work. If i could have done better i would have. Stop. But i did the best i could at the time. Our actions are often affected by emotions. Physical conditions are ignorance. The fourth one. We are neither good. Nor bad. People. What. Might become bad in some cultures. Is named unskilled in buddhism. I love that phrase unskilled because it tells me. Bath. What's a perfect if. Didn't quite understand this. I have the opportunity to learn and it also tells me that anyone or anything that i'm interacting with also has the opportunity to learn. So. This leads to a proposal that i would like you to consider. If you practice meditation or have some interest back to practice. Consider. The. Advice. The. Buddha gave to his son rahula. Rahul rahul came to be with his father his father had already gone through enlightenment and it had started gathering his followers and when was 7 years old. He came to be with his father he was younger. Person to ever become a monk. And he came to be a monk. As he got older. Has father and the other monks with. Teach him a lot of things. He was. Bitching about things and he said. Eat in one day his father came to see him. Father sat down and he said. I need to ask you something. How do i know. What. To do. Or what not to do how do i make that choice. And. His father said this. When you know you have a choice to make. Think about it. Meditate on it do whatever you need to do think about it and ask yourself this question. Am i going to do harm. If i do this thing. Simple question right. Unfortunately it's a very difficult answer because almost everything we do in life might have some. Some way of doing harm and often we have to mediate. Does is this more term. Then that. I'm one of the best examples i've heard is. When an oncologist offers. Give somebody chemotherapy. Which is more harmful. Cancer. Okemo. And the oncologist has to make. Twisp. So. You have to ask yourself is this. Going to. Cause harm. And. Am i will and how am i willing to live with. Now. If you decide. Yes it is going to cause harm the first thing you should do is say it don't want nothing to do it. But if you decide. It's not going to cause harm. Go ahead. One of things that is so freaking about this particular message is. You thought about it you don't need to feel guilty you thought about it you know what you're doing. And you feel pretty good that this probably is. going. Create harm. But just in case. As you're doing whatever you decided to to. In the middle. Ask yourself the question again. I don't know about you guys but all i can think of all kinds of times when i did something that. I. I thought was fine. And when i got into my going to wait a minute this isn't what i thought it wasn't going to be about i bet everybody has had that experience at least once. And so. At that point. You ask yourself the same question. Am i doing harm. Or not. If the answer is yes i am doing harm. Then. Get out of it. Stop. If the answer is no. Great go ahead enjoy what you are doing now. This is a particularly difficult time because i know when i get into something. I usually have made commitments to talk to people and all that kind of stuff. You know. I'm there i've committed myself. And then i'm going to say no. This is not okay. It's hard it's a hard time to be making the decision. Particularly if that decision is now. The next time to ask yourself am i doing harm. Is afterward. Now. Let's hope everything turned out well and going crazy this is wonderful. And. Off of that is a case one of the things that we find is that. Sometimes. When we do something. If everything seems to be good but afterward we find out it's not quite as good as we thought it was. Sam i'm going to give you some examples here. Sometimes in the middle. In the middle when the. What when the. Decision-making is the toughest. One of the one of the places i'm seeing some people who are in that place right now. Who are. Having to make some decisions decisions that. Roma change your life and that is some of republican congressman. Who have decided not to run for congress again. Not all of them some of them have other reasons. But for some of them it's because they cannot support. The current. Policies of the republicans. And so they have had to choose to leave congress because of that. That's a hard decision they're making that right in the middle of their careers often. And they have to ask what do more harm. What. If i support. The current policies. Or if i leave. I thought of another one about the end of the process and there's somebody here mary hines to bet that i'm going to talk about just a little bit. When i first started as a community minister here one of my jobs with the adult basic education program and my job was to start it. 2m to work on it now so good. Was it was a great thing to do i enjoyed it it was wonderful had lots of great support. From people. And one got to the middle it was still good. And we got lots of support. Great wonderful. After towards the end i began to realize. This is my program. And my ego is getting in the way. It's not my program. It's the basic education program for all of the people who help with it and do it and everything else it is not my program. I have plenty to offer to the program. But i wasn't growing in the program and on top of that there were a whole bunch of people in that program like him over here. And. Anyway there were several people who were able. To easily do. What i could do. So. We talked about it i said i was interested leaving the program so kim took out part of the program paul air guard took part of the program married to part of the program. I'm still working it didn't need me. It needed to be a good program and by the way at least kim and mary are here so if you're interested in being a tutor and that program they need tutors so. Yeah. But. That's the kind of decisions that sometimes happen after the end of something you say okay. This is where. If happens. Each time we go to the processes asking ourselves if we're doing harm we could better at it. One reason i have buddhist practice is that i'm still learning. If i were perfect and maybe i would need it. But if i'm honest. Oh no i'll never be perfect. There's another gift that this process gives. I can explore. Not everything i try is going to be good. But i can try. We live in. Society. Expect perfection. Right out of the starting gate. And i love the fact. I don't have to be perfect. Right out of the starting gate. Recently. I started taking tai chi lessons. I had taken them 15 years ago so had forgotten almost everything besides my body doesn't work the same way it used to. It isn't easy for me getting able even a little proficient will take time. But i know it's something i can do an already. It's improving my balance and coordination. This particular program is for seniors which lessens the pants i will hurt myself and that's awesome portent. This is decision that comes from saying this will not do harm because if i'm going to be a part of this world. Picture of me too. Technicon rights. If we think about the earth as just the environment around us. We experience ourselves in the earth as separate entities. We may see the planet only in terms of what we can do for us. We need to recognize at the planet and the people on it. Are ultimately. 1. And. The same. I'll during this whole time you probably been seeing pictures up here. These are at very amateur photos taken with my iphone. But they were things that i saw on the earth that i love. I love these things the sunset that's yosemite falls. Things that.. That i have. I realize that one of the things that i need to do. Is 2. Make that connection with the world with the earth. That it is something that i love.

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2018-11-25-TheSinsOfOurFathersReapingWhatTheySowed.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist podcast for november 25th 2018 this week service is the sins of our fathers reaping what they sowed by reverend betty suarez. Each religion can be seen as a unique strand in the tapestry of the world's cultures. Enhancing its beauty and holding its integrity. Russian approach. Styx unity of hearts. But not dismantling unique theological. Ritual. And philosophical paradigm. Today don and i are going to be talking about the parliament of world religions that we both attended at the beginning of this month. When i was growing up i wanted to be a missionary. To go to faraway places when china or africa and save the people there for christianity. Many christian denominations have sent people to convert others to their religion. The spanish catholics and priests with their soldiers to convert native americans to christianity. Protestant and catholic missionaries were so successful. Converting people in south korea to christianity. That today korea is a christian country. Now. I know i'm old. The time when i was growing up today's children read about in history books. But it's important to remember. That was in the memory of living people including me. The belief that one religion is better than another existed. And unfortunately. For some people. That idea still exist today. The first parliament of world religions. Withheld. In chicago. In 1893 in conjunction with the chicago's world fair and after look at the pictures up. Bear. There's some random pictures of things that we took while we were at the parliament there's way too much. For anybody to experience a whole finger. But these are few more things besides what we was out there. Jacob lloyd jones and unitarian minister. Was one of the primary organizers of the first parliament. Buddhists hindus and representatives from other religious groups were invited to attend. Not as potential converse to christianity. But as representatives of their own religious practices. This pluralism was something that had been. Virtually unknown. At least 44 christian people in the united states before then. The next parliament wasn't held until 100 years later and once again it was in chicago. Since then there have been five more. Cape town barcelona sydney. Salt lake city's at both don and i attended. And this year in toronto. For those best ethan unitarian-universalism it is difficult to imagine a world without pluralism. For many people. That is. Still a reality. On the parliament. Is important experiment. And making a change. Have a nice think of parliament i think of a government body getting together to enact laws but this is a parliament that. Stems from the french word parler. How to speak until it's really a gathering of people to speak and dialogue. And i'm in toronto this year there were about 8,000 people. From 80 countries. And 200 spiritual backgrounds and that includes. That only the major religions that we might think of that also pagans and non-believers and an ethical culture. Culturist i guess and. Notice there were offered. 500 programs and workshops. And many speeches and. Opportunities to worship so obviously even going from 7 in the morning until 8:30 at night we were not able to partake of all of these opportunities. But we were able to experience. Some that we thought were meaningful. And. But i also wanted to say is that we did not go as delegates from live oak but we went. As part of our own personal journeys. But even just going to us very small slice of this event was meaningful for us. Okay and you said there was one particular. Religious experience that was especially meaningful for you can you talk to us about that. Yeah i think. It was actually a series of events. I think jane's with some of you might know is a very old religion from the 6 century bc. And. Sometimes considered as fact of the hindus. But. James were not the most. We're not in the majority of the religions represented there but somehow i kept running into them i kept finding very sessions on film that i went. To see a experience in the children's portion of the exhibit hall and in a workshop so i kept the jay and seemed to kept sitting or coming up to me. I think that maybe it meant that i was to take away something from the jain religion. And a big part of the jain religion first of all the symbol is a hand. And then there's a wheel in the center of the hand. And then written in sanskrit across the wheel is the word. So you can. Because i'm not sure i print out the right stuff. And some of you who do yoga might recognize put the word because i think sometimes. People try to incorporate it into their yoga experiences. And basically the. Translate i think to nonviolence. But it extends further i think. Then what we think of maybe as non-violence because it's. Lights on. Nonviolent in speech. Non-violence in action and non-violence and thought. And so. I guess i think often. Of non-violence in action which i think is. Fairly well maybe not so fairly easy to do but doable. But the one that i've been struggling with is non-violence and thought because. I. I know i probably have. Not murderous thoughts but certainly not on. Thoughts that are conducive to which we call nice thoughts about other people and then it also extends to about yourself your person and. Difficult. Often i often say. Not nice things about myself i'm really trying to embrace this heathman. On and so i feel like that was a gift from the james and then also i wanted to mention one other principle of the james which is an anaconda davida. I think it's how he might say it. What it means is listening to the other person. And being open to multiple viewpoints. And so i think it's really important at this. Time in our country and maybe it's especially important. I want to say that i've heard several people say that on facebook. I've been corresponding with people who. Don't have you. But are the same as theirs and i other really. Appreciative of that on. Glad they didn't befriend them that they are really trying to listen to them and understand. What what it is but those people are saying. And from the jane. Their thought is that. Even though that point-of-view might not be correct. There still is some value to it. And so it's really i think a part of their. Religious principles to actually listen to different perspective. I am really trying hard to do that and appreciate this gift the giants have given to me. So what about you you had something that was exciting things that i thought was anger. I think they say it's 6 but speaks b. Depends on who you talk to. They had it at the last. Parliament in salt lake city again this time and what they do. Is that you are invited to come to lunch. Everybody is invited to call 1000 people. Are invited to come to lunch now they may only serve freestyle 7 if it's only. And so when you come in you take off your shoes. They have a rose upstairs. With that you can sit down on or when you're sitting on these chairs there's a real woman behind there with scarf and she put the scarf on your head. Because you're supposed to have your head covered. When you go to lunch. And then they guide you. Over to where the food is served and give it give you the food it's vegetarian. Is the kind of thing i might not usually choose but it was delicious broke. Really. So we take the food we sit down on their strips of. Pretty wide strips of paper along the floor. I think it paper. And so we sit on one of those and. You eat and as you're eating people sometimes even there with their children are walking up and down offering you more offering you water you need a napkin if you need help cleaning up. Whatever they give you all of it all of these things. Little kids come along with baskets bread and offer you bread. And it's lovely to feel really cared for. And then at the end somebody comes and takes your dirty dishes. They don't even have such dirty dishes away and you get up then walk out. Give your scarf to somebody. And put your shoes back on. It was a wonderful restful. Feeling. And i felt. Hospitality had been offered. And it felt great. Retarded like thanksgiving here only magnified thanksgiving at the church isn't my nephew came here for the church but magnified a hundred times. And then you heard that he mentioned the cosmic mask the portion that we did with the meditation. That was pretty the whole cosmic mass was pretty amazing i've never been to one and actually those are the puppets that you're seeing on the screen right now that were part of it what happened was we were in the room about this size i would say and there were probably 200 people i'm all sitting around the edges of the room with. A few people in the middle on a blanket. But everybody was talking and. But then is women. Who had this incredible voice. Started to sing in the whole room just went completely silent. Yeah we listen to her fang. And then when she was banished you followed by a spellsinger. And there was people in the middle who were. Starting to do some different things. I was so taken by the math so i actually went and looked up what this is about first of all the person who has developed this mask. Is a band named matthew fox. He was originally a catholic priest. Pizza. She's a rebel maybe he shouldn't remain a catholic priest so now he's an episcopal fries. And. He has developed he can't he put together with the first cosmic matthew did in 1971 so it's been awhile and he put together elements of raves which were very popular then. With regular elements of the mass. And he very much believe that the whole body needs to be involved that's why we did some whole body stuff this morning. By walking around and we'll be doing some more before that. Before we're done. The mass actually have four parts. And that so that the walking we did would be part of the first part. The first part and that would be celebration of existence. We're celebrating that we exist. The next part that will do later on is a communal grieving. For the sub safrina planets in the beans. The third part is a blessing. And then we send people off to serve so those are the four parts of the mass. Matthew fox's current. Interest is in the environment and global warming. And i was really taken by the cosmic math. And so i went to every thing that he was apart of. Just like i wanted to see it. And there were four sessions on global warming plus keynote session and i got 23 of them. It's a long ways from one end of that convention center to the other so. The one of them i just couldn't even get there it was too far. But what they talked about was very. Dyer. And if you've been reading the news lately you know that there's some. There's some really. Strong predictions about what is happening in terms of global warming. One of the panels of scientist talked about the need to curb emissions particularly carbon emissions. They used to demonstration and i did not take a picture of it and i regret it cuz i can't find it. About how. Working with global warming is born in is like going across the river or a straight. And. What we've been doing is. We've been like putting stepping stones to cross the river. A stepping stone might be buying a prius a stepping-stone might be recycling a stepping so might be putting. Solar panels on your roof. Each one of those are stepping stones. But there aren't enough. 2. Change what is happening to our world as rapidly as it's happening. And what this particular scientist talk about is he said we need bridge. We have a bridge. She get across to the other side. And most of that bridge. Is. Doing something about carbon. And. And at least trying to meet. The. Things that people promise to do in the paris accords. Something that our country is it even trying to do. And they're saying that. They were saying they don't think that what was agreed to at the paris accords is even enough. Global warming is. Coming. And we may not have a lot. Much choice in it. I said that. What happened to this planet if we're lucky. We have 12 to 20 years. To change drastically enough. Global warming not become runaway. And in a way that we can't deal with it. But to do that. Some of the people on the panel that we're listening to we're saying. We need to. Hughes resources. In the way that we use resources to fight wwii. And i said. The weather is not the well within our society or the society to the world to do that. Which again is. Very very dire. And we see it the fires in the west. Storms the north. Lots of ice. Melting permafrost. The warming of the oceans. Hurricanes typhoons. All of these are much worse than they were before. I will continue to get worse. As the earth warms. Sephora meditation today. Can we. Meditate on. Sorrow. We feel for what is happening. And think on that for a few minutes. Now i didn't ask you to do it matthew fox had us to. But we were actually morning. Moaning. Arnie's. I thought i had it it's here pretty quickly i couldn't stay. But. He actually had his morning in owning. 2. Think about what has happened. Between the last two sessions. I got a chance to talk to mr. fox. He had to go for a walk and so i went with him to the on the walking like the talk to him by myself it was wonderful. I said. I was having a problem reconciling the optimism of love a goodwill. They come so many religions. And the dire prognostications about global warming. I said i wondered if we're dancing to the ghost dance. He didn't know what a ghost ants was and. I've done quite a bit of studying of native americans but. Lots of people don't know what it is. Near the end of the indian wars. The end of the 19th century early 20th century. When most of the indians had been killed with reservations excetera there were still some people. Who hope that they could. Outlast the cavalry and return to their their way of life. One of those groups with the paiute indians in nevada. They had a spiritual leader who gave who put them through a series of activities and exercises which included a lot of dancing that's with the ghost dance with they actually danced in circles. And then they went through some different magic kinds of things. And. Delete this l promise them that if they did this right. The cavalry billets would not kill him. And. They were desperate. Their lives had just been totally turn. Upside down. And so many people including the chief sitting bull. Practitioners of the ghost ants. And the truth was it didn't work. And when and when the. Cavalry came. They were shot at guide. Or they were sent to reservations. It was a very very sad time for them. And so what i said to matthew van since i said are we doing a ghost dance. Is our belief in love and religion and caring about each other. Is that are ghost ants. And he said no. I listen to him. And he said. It's getting in touch with who we are. Working together getting together. Making what biscuits. World is. Apart of ourselves and he also talks in terms of his creation theology which is that. Everything. Rocks. People. Birds. Trees houses. Everything is fine. And that if we understand that and we treat everything including ourselves as divine. This will help us get through what is. Facing us. Now. I can't believe what he said. And i'm not quite sure it's true i want to believe it because i know. Get my granddaughter. And her children. Will not know the world that i knew. But. I at least want them to do a world that is a good world for them. In the buddhism that i practice because that's my religious practice. We repeat behaviors. And thoughts and ideas. That we want to. It's what i do and loving-kindness practice and if you practice loving-kindness you're probably familiar with doing that. And now you will offer loving-kindness to people that are really problems for you. And sooner or later. Well i'm hope i find that. I understand better. It works. It works for me. And there are certainly other ways that we can do things. I am of the. Of the impression now and i think what matthew fox is saying to is. Do you like to want to believe. To it. Maybe there is hope.

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2017-09-03-SoWhatAreWeSupposedToDoNow.mp3

Listen to podcast of live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. Good morning formation about our church live oak to u.org. Today's sermon so what are we supposed to do now. He's coming by around. Reverend buddy skorik. Find. September 3rd 2017. Today this morning i got permission to share something with you written by. Administer minister from emerson church in houston. Becky. Evenson lange. And she of course is one of the people that has been. Affected by the. Hurricane. She wrote. Dear family friends colleagues and beloved church members. I have blessed news2share. Most of you read my earlier missive in which i described evacuating from my home. Certain that it was going to flood. Well. Yesterday. I learned my house have been spared. My house and that of my next door neighbor. Are the only ones on my street. That do not have any water. And street even farther from the by you than mine are flooded. My house is just that much higher by inches. No reason for it. Except. Indiscriminate dumb luck. Meanwhile adair church member had lonely her spare car a ford expedition. With the tire clearance i was able to drive. To within a mile of the house and wait in the rest of the way. My neighborhood declined to evacuate headed learned at me. But he thought my house was dry but he wasn't sure and i wanted to see for myself. I waited through hip-deep water at times and in front of my house. The water has receded almost to the sidewalk. I was able to get back in confirmed that indeed my house was dry. That the. Turn the power back on leave the key with my neighbor and backpack out with some more clean clothes and other comfort items. I don't know yet. When i will be able to get back into stay. The water from buffalo bayou is receding. But slowly as i continue to release water for the reservoirs. I was feeling fortunate before from all the evacuation assistance i received from neighbors and people i had never met and will never likely see again. And from all the outpouring of concern and caring that i had received since. From you all. Now i am blessed beyond words. Humbled. I took a picture today. A rain lilies in bloom in my front yard. Ironically these flowers with your supposed to bloom whenever the sun comes up after heavy rain patently refused to bloom all spring and summer. Indifferent to the vagaries of our weather. But harvey finally made them you. Maybe they are a small harbinger of hope and renewal. At least a beauty in the aftermath of the storm. There is much work that awaits us. So much misery to alleviate so much building and rebuilding to be done. My hope is. That we won't forget again as we too often do when tragedy passes in the lesson fades. Really are all neighbors to one another strangers though we may be. In faith and love. Becky. I don't know what i found so special about that. When i read that but there was something you know there was hope there. For people who are really really bound in devastation. Now when i started writing this sermon it was shortly after all of the terrible things that happened in charlottesville. And i was preaching another congregation and. Alvin walked out there was this woman that i do a bit and so she and i talked and she said. What are we going to do now. And i had to say i don't know for sure. I can't tell you exactly what we're going to do now and as. It has been said by a number of people. Charlotteville show. Hateful side of human being so often. The pain harvey came. And all of a sudden we're seeing the beautiful loving caring side of human beings. That. If such a difference from what was occurring in charlottesville. Are people coming from northern states are people coming from the west and from the east. All to help everyone who is here. Who needs our help and there's plenty of help coming right here from austin because we didn't get hit all that hardware. Pretty fortunate. This week the message of love has reigned supreme. Not as someone who follows a buddhist practice. I have learned. That. Suffering happens. It always. Happens there is always always always suffering. But there are ways to get out of it and that and these are what are called the four noble truths the first one is. Suffering exists. The second one. Is we can know what causes the suffering now. Harvey didn't cause our suffering. We'll talk about that in a minute. As as we weren't crosby suffered we didn't have a cause of suffering by. What's going on in syria or by what's going on in bangladesh or what's going on in somalia. They aren't our cause of our suffering. But they exist. Suffering does not have favorites. As harvey has really shown us. It is within us. Though. To create our own suffering and therefore it is within us. To get. Out of our own suffering. The third noble truth the second noble truth says we know. We know there's a cause and the third noble truth says. We have. We can find if we know what the cop is we can find a cure we can figure out what to do about it. And the fourth noble truth gives us an eightfold path gives us a way that we can. Actually. Deal with. Life. So that. We can overcome the suffering in our lives. Now. These. Things were written. More than 2,000 years ago. Almost 3,000 years ago. And. They still whole truth for us today. There is a way that we can deal with what is happening. Because we have to deal with what is happening with us individually. Before we will be very effective of dealing with what is happening in the world around us. Now i'm not suggesting that you become a buddhist. I'm not a buddhist on the unitarian universalist. But i am suggesting that there are many different ways to get to truth and there are many different ways to find out who and what. What works within you. There are lots of things that we're going to be hearing. In the next. Weeks in months. Some of it is going to make sense and some of it is things that we need to be strong enough to know how to get it to be able to deal with. When i've heard already is that it's houston's fault that this occurred because they didn't have good zoning organizations. A loss. Yeah but it better zoning laws with maybe helps. Keep some of the houses from flooding but that didn't stop harvey. Harvey would have still been there. Whether they had better zoning laws or not. There's a story in the bible. About it's in the hebrew scriptures. About. Man named joe now we don't know for sure if. Joe is a true story and there's a very good chance it isn't. That it's so. The end of that was made up to teach a lesson. No. Jobe. Was. A wealthy man. He was. He had everything he had farms he had everything. And one day. God and satan. Out somewhere in heaven or whatever now this is a long long time ago so belief systems were different than our belief systems today. They were having a conversation and satan said to god. I bet. I can make anybody that you've say is a believer in you to turn against you. And god looked down on the people b. Believed in him. And. He said i don't think you can do that with jobe. So. Satan said he's got everything. He's wealthy. You know his life is going wonderfully. I can make his life so awful but he's going to curse you. And satan started to do that. He killed his wife. Gilles children. He destroyed his crops. You took away as well. He had bad stories going on about him so that people thought that he was a terrible person and they gave him boils at i don't know if you've ever had a boil but that is one of the most painful things that you can have. It's worse than fire ants. To have boils on your body. And. He had nothing left. So i'm sitting by the side of the road. And three of his friends came along. And. You still have three friends. And these for you three friends said. If all of this is happening to you there must have been something that you did wrong. You were bad god hates you. You need to do something different you need to repent. For whatever you did. Until it's going. Do anything. The patent his friends kept saying. Nice for what. I can't repair. I didn't do anything wrong. I just lived my life and it was a good life. But i just lived my life. And then. God change in warwick. And he said to joe. Show where were you when i was created the universe joe. Where were you when i made the oceans where were you when i created the animals. Where were you. And of course joe hadn't been there then. And god and effects said. I have. I have. All of this effect. Upon the world weather is god. I got it sweetheart i don't believe in but it's a god that is. It's something that is much greater than any of us. Exist. And we are only a little person and a little piece of time. In this whole huge existence. And this was the message. But came to joe. He wasn't there when the world was created. She wasn't there. When the oceans. Mermaid. He was only where he is in his. of time. And the same is true for us. Now when somebody says to us. That. Harvey. Is punishment for whatever we've done. I wouldn't say yeah. But it isn't. It is a result. Or a partial result of things that we as human beings have done. But it would have been equally devastating if it hit havana or. Miami or any other place. It was not aimed at the petrochemical industry. That. Some people blame for what has occurred. In the world. And the reason it's important to think about. The big the huge picture. And not just. The little picture of what is happening to us eldo both pictures are incredibly incredibly important. Is. Bat. We need to understand what is happening and we need to get that bigger vision. What is occurring in the world. Now when we as human beings are saying. I love you. I want to help you. That is important. Because. I can't change the stars. I probably can't even change the petrochemical industry. But i can do something. To make this world a better place. And those are the same. That i need to concentrate on. I can concentrate on. Helping somebody. I can concentrate on. Just being nice to the guy that just pulled in front of me on the freeway. Angela he must be much more of a hurry than i am. And i need. To be kind to myself so that i can be strong enough. To deal with what is coming. There's a possibility that we in this country are coming to a place. Where we are going to have to make some very very hard decisions and there's going to be a lot of people who do not like what those hard decisions are going to be. They. I know. They're been lost it and pass it. Are hard decisions are armenian lausat have been passed recently. What are we going to do about him. We have to think. I can't tell you what to do. But i can certainly tell you. You need to think about it and how it's going to affect your life. And usa. When. Harvey first came i had scheduled a. A meeting over at silverado memory care unit 4. Ar. For the tutors that work in the adult basic education tutoring program. And. The people of silverado contact me and they said we're taking in a whole bunch of people for victoria for but memory care unit down there. Because they've been told that they need to evacuate. Which was a very good thing because we're talking about people who have alzheimer's and other dementias. And so they needed to be moved and a careful fashion. So they took an all these people and they were making beds and everything and since i couldn't have a meeting there. I decided i was going to go over and be a chaplain for a couple of hours while they were getting settled. What's a very small thing. It probably did me more good than it did them. To be there too. Feed this woman who could not feed herself anymore. To talk with seban by riding on a tablet because he can't hear word anybody says. But it also helped them because then their staff to go get the beds and make the beds and make sure everybody had food and all of the things that were there. There is a place. Where we can all if we speak about it. If we meditate on it. Can come to something. That is right. Now. To do that it actually came to me in meditation cuz i was sitting. Thinking about should i cancel this meeting. Should i not cancel this meeting it took us awhile to get it set up and these people are planning to come and if change their lives to be there that day. And. That still small voice it comes to being meditation said no you probably do need to cancel this meeting. And that same boys told me i needed to. Be there. To go there to see what happened. And. One of the things that we know about meditation is that. When you can slow your mind down. You can sometimes have those things come to you sometimes it'll take a long time. But half the things that. We're math by all of the business business. Busyness that you have in your life. Can often come through. So. That's what i ended up doing it was like i said it was a very small thing. It was more for me i think that it was for the people that were there. But i know that what i did. Was important. And i hope that you among yourselves can take some time to think about. What is going on. Not just with what's happening down at the gulf coast although that's very important. But what is going on in your heart and in your life or the lives of the people around you and what small changes. You make. That will make a difference. For you. And for the people. That are in your life.

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2019-08-18-OneLightManyWindows.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For august 18th. 2090. This week service is. One light. Mini windows. Reverend johnny fontaine cross. Are reading this morning is an excerpt from the cathedral of the world by forest church. And this one really uses your imagination and it's a little bit longer reading than i normally do so i invite you to kind of settle in. Whatever part of your brain it is that uses your imagination kind of wake it up. If visualizing something is easier for you closing your eyes feel free to do that. Imagine awakening one morning. From a deep and dreamless sleep to find yourself in the nave of a vast cathedral. Look about you. Contemplate the mystery in contemplate with aw. This cathedral is as ancient as humankind its cornerstone the first alter marked with the tincture of blood and blessed by tears. Search for a lifetime which is all you are surely given. And you shall never know its limits. Visit all its transept. Worship at its myriad shrines or span its celestial ceiling with your games. The builders have work from time and memorial. Destroying and creating confounding and perfecting tearing down and raising up arches in this cathedral buttresses and chapels organs theaters and chancel. Gargoyles idols and icons. Throughout human history one generation after another has labored lovingly sometimes fearfully crafting memorials and concentrating. Trying. Welcome. To the cathedral of the world. Above all else contemplate the windows. In the cathedral of the world there are windows beyond number some long-forgotten covered with mini patines of dust. Others revered by millions the most sacred of shrines. Each in its own way is beautiful. Summer abstract others representational some dark and meditative others bright and dazzling each tells a story about the creation of the world the meaning of history the purpose of life the nature of humankind the mystery of death. The windows of the cathedral are where the light shines through. As with all extended metaphors for meeting this one is. Imperfect. The light of god or truth or being itself call it what you will. Shines not only upon us but out from within us as well. Together with the windows we are part of the cathedral not. Apart. Together we comprise an interdependent web of being. The cathedral is constructed out of star stuff and so are we. Because the cathedral is so vast. Our life so short and our vision so dim. We are able to contemplate only a tiny part of the cathedral. A twenty-first-century theology based on the concept of one light and minnie windows. Offers to its adherence both breath and focus. Honoring many different religious approaches it only excludes the truth claims of absolutist. That is because fundamentalist claimed that the light shines through their window only. Some go so far as to besiege their followers to throw stones through other people's windows. Skeptics draw the opposite conclusion. Sing the bewildering variety of windows and observing the folly of the worshippers they conclude there is no light. But the windows. Are not the light. They are where the light shines through. We shall never see the light directly only is refracted through the windows of the cathedral. Prompting humility life's mystery lies hidden. Beyond knowledge is most ample kin. The light. Call it god call it true. Is vail. Get that weekend and compass with our minds in the universe that encompasses us. Is a cause for great wonder. I humbly stand in the cathedral of the world. Trembling. So. What do you say how do you answer when you get. The question. If you've been around here for a little while you know the question and even for those of you who try to just kind of fly under the radar never really telling anyone what it is that you do on sunday mornings or on certain weeknights. There comes a point. Where you flip up. And it comes out. That you go to church. And the person looks at you you're you know hip cynical self or your syfy nerdy self. Or you're very skeptical probably atheist self. And wants to know what kind of a church do you go to. And so you say the words. Unitarian universalist. And then you get. The question. Often phrases you know what. Anyone else get that you know what. Bright. We have been encouraged as unitarian universalist for sometime that's that each of us should come up with an elevator speech and that's the idea that you'll come up with a complete explanation for unitarian-universalism that you can given the length of time it takes you to go from say floor 1245 in an elevator with a stranger. But to do that. The problem is that we are often. Starting first. With some assumptions on the part of the other person. And if we have not really kind of thought it through. We are liable to start. Just spewing out random statements some helpful some not so much some relevant some not so much things like. John adams and and and christopher reeves were unitarians and you can believe whatever you want to believe. And. And. We like gay people. If you ever catch yourself saying any of these things i assure you. Every single one of those examples. I have set. I do not do well unprepared. Please remember this when you're talking to me and i say something really stupid it's a matter of when not if give me time to backtracking. Explain things. If we are prepared. Though we can give something that is useful. But the first thing is you have to know that they're often is miss a sumption in the person who was asking the question. Answer is going to fit. A certain model. And specifically. It's the model of different denominations of christianity. Where the core of their religion is belief. And so they are starting with an assumption that you're going to say. Well here is what we believe in all of us believe the same thing and that's why we all come together on a sunday morning. Except that that paradigm doesn't fit us. We are not. #that kind of religion. Instead. The core of unitarian universalist. Rather than being what we believe. It is what we do. They're just saying i've heard before about you know asking what where do unitarian universalist. Stand on whatever in the answer is we don't stand we move. We are a religion of action. And so this is what binds us together. Is what we do and specifically. The core thing that we do. Is we covenant with one another. In this church we have a covenant that is about how we are going to be together what are the things we are going to do how we are going to do the. Unitarian universalist congregation. Are each a relationship with each other through a covenant that we called the 7 principles. Chinese principles are promises again not of statements of belief. But of what we are going to do they start with the phrase we affirm and promote. These are action word. Stores you can tell. Explaining what year is unitarian universalism in any sort of a complete way i have already just been explaining that we've gone way past the 5th floor i think we have to be in like willy wonka's elevator by now. So i would say. Don't. Throwaway an elevator speech. And instead. Let's think about the concept of clickbait. Clickbait. Is a term that has come up with the internet and it is the idea that you will come up with a headline or a tweet or a blurb that is intriguing enough that it will compel a person to click and read a longer article. No clickbait also you know that cake can be can be on the somewhat fantastical at sensational and urgent sort of way you know so if we took that literally it would be like. What you must know about unitarian-universalism before you go to bed tonight. Even i would say that's a little too enthusiastic. But instead. Think of. Some key words or phrases. And everyone should come up with their own. That might. Spark the interest. Of someone. Sunisa. Someone who as such people will often say our a unitarian universalist without knowing it. So what are some of those. And it should be kind of personal it should be something that that you can speak to with some authority. Three of the terms that that i keep in my head are liberal because we are a liberal faith. And to say liberal religion or liberal faith automatically perks up a lot of people's ears in this part of the country. It's not. What people assume. World religions. Because of that indicates two people that we are a big tent. I thought. And. Nowadays. My third term is ethical. I think that ethical right now. Has taken on new value. And new meaning. And ethical has a different connotation than moral. Right. It was the moral majority not the ethical majority. Hey maybe we should start an ethical majority what do you think. So those are the three that i used and so it's easier rather than try to come up with a perfect statement if you just have some kind of key terms in your head. That you believed would attract the attention of someone who this might be the home that they don't know they've been looking for. And then you can just leave it into your explanation. What's unitarian universalism. Well it's a liberal faith. We. Try to find wisdom and all the world's religions. And we work together to learn how to live at the kauai. Oh that's that's mine. What's yours. If they have a little bit more time. And want to know a little bit more. Then. Depending on the person you have to. To kind of see what the level of interest is there. I will often go to metaphor. Which may be kind of a surprising thing. That metaphor from our reading of cathedral of the world. I have shared. . metaphor not the reading you'll have to memorize that you don't have to go walking around with it all the time but that's central idea. Of one light mini windows. People connect with that. Even people who will never be unitarian universalist. There's something about that metaphor and and i would urge you don't don't try and explain it. People are smart. They they get it. And. Even the most. Skeptical. Person. How's room. For mystery. And there is something in that metaphor that both. Hawks about. Who we are and how we view the world. And it also leaves in that mystery. That's an important part of religion. Now if i have more time. With someone. And if i feel that they really do want to know. About this crazy religion that we're apart of. I throw away all of that stuff. I throw away any idea of an elevator speech. Or trying to give a complete answer. Or even the metaphor. And instead i go to something more personal. I was talking with one of our membership leaders this past spring we were talking about how we're going to format and what the exploring membership class. Where if you haven't gone already anchorage you to go you can learn more about unitarian universalism. Specifically live oak. We're talking about what exactly we were going to do and he said. You know at the end of the class. When we're giving them the forum. And you know we're letting them know hey if you want to join the church here's how you do things. That shouldn't be. So businesslike. Because this is actually. A pretty profound theme. A very personal thing. That people will be discerning. Is it right. In their life. To become a member of this congregation to. Join in covenant. With all of these people. It's really personal decision and no matter what happens after that once you become a member. That's always going to have been part of your spiritual journey. So he said i think that the only guy i think it was appropriate would be for me to just. Tell them. A little bit of my story and why i chose to be a member here. And i said. Well you know. There's a name for that. What's that. I said. You want to give them your testimony. I think tim has forgiven me for that i'm not entirely sure. What it's true. We all have a testimony if you have been in this church or in another unitarian universalist church for any length of time. You have a story. About how this church. Or this religion has shaped you. How it has changed. Your life. So i will briefly give you my testimony. Tom and i were a young couple with one baby. And tom was given a job offer it would mean moving to another. City. So we thought it through we both. Quit our jobs we decided that. By being really frugal with our money i could stay at home and be a stay-at-home mom. And we moved. To another. Town where we did not know anyone. And within two months. The company which was a startup. Was going under. Tom had been let go. And we were being sued to pay back the moving expenses that of course had already been spent. It was a pretty low point for us. And as we were taking care of the pragmatic reality. Use of that. We had a conversation and we acknowledge the fact that we didn't know anyone there we didn't have a community there and we really needed a community and. We didn't have any tools. To try and make some sort of larger sense. Out of everything that. And are disillusionment. I remember the exact phrase that we used was. We've had the religion book on the shelf for too long. And it's time to take it down. I have been raised unitarian-universalist so we found the closest uu church. And went in and from day one we were embraced. And they were there when things got better for us. They were there for. So much darker. X. And. In that community. We could live our life. With all of its ups and downs and we can stay in that community. I went through a period where i lost everything that i had ever believed in like there should be another word beyond despair. Beyond even atheism. I had nothing everything i've ever believed in was just. Shattered. On the floor. And i never had to leave. Mi religion. Because i no longer believe certain thing. I never had to believe that community and that community didn't try to say here are the answers or you just need to have more faith they didn't tell me to put on a smiling face. Instead they said we're going to sit with you. While you go through this. Very literally i was part of a small group called the deep listening big questions group. Where i could just try and go through and figure out okay well what what is it. But i truly believe. And i could do all of that. Within unitarian universalist. Is it wasn't just that community is important is that community was. It was also this faith itself. Because in unitarian universalism. There is nothing that is blocked off from you. You can look into buddhism you can look into hinduism. You can look into all you into humanism into atheism. Into ethical humanism. And you can search for your answers with no limits. And you can also look at our own theology. And history of unitarian universalism inform me that was where i found so many of my answers. And unitarianism i found that answer where they denied original sin back in the 1700s. And said no we do not believe that people are born broken and bad and in universalism. I found this answer about a force of love that moves through us. And around us and is for everyone there are no chosen people there's nothing predetermined it is not based on right belief. It is a force of love that encompasses all. And i found. What are called the five smooth stones. Of liberal religion that were articulated by james luther adams and in this. I found. The basket. To hold me. I don't hold all of these different thoughts that i was having. Starting with the one the first smooth stone which is that revelation is continuous. In our religion there is no sort of like revelation is filled or what was true yesterday is true today is true tomorrow know we believe something radically different. We believe that there is always more that humanity will learn and there is always more that we personally. Can learn and this is part of our faith. Development. Revelation is continuous. The second smutstone. Is that all relation. Have to be based on free. Whether it is your decision to. Joined becoming member of a church. Or your relationship with another person it has to be based on consent. Not. Coercion. Not even a feeling of duty the relationship itself must have that freedom. And it's not just. About me. It's not just about you. That part of liberal religion. Is it there is a call for all of us to direct some of our energy. Towards creating a just. And loving community. Which we do whether it's through feeding people or learning things ourselves learning how to be anti-racist. How to be anti-oppressive. We do this cuz we know that it's not just about us. That we do have a call to move in the world. Death. You phrased it. Very interesting right he starts with a rejection. We deny the immaculate conception of virtue and affirm the necessity of social incarnation. What that mean. That our actions. Matter. What we do matters. We are not a religion that says there is good and this is what good is and you should try and align yourself with this one thing that is written in a book. Instead. We go to action. If you believe in love. Then you have to make it real. You have to be the hands and feet. Of love whatever it is that you value the value. Has no. Being. Without you. And your action. I know. The fifth stone. It got me then but i think in the last two years and right now in my life this is become. One of the most important parts of my personal. Faith. And it is often for me a fake. Statement. Something that i have committed myself that i am going to act as if this is true even on those days when i have doubts because this is a religion where doubts are just fine. Not is this assurance. That there are resources. Both inside me and out in the world. And that these. Resources justify an attitude of ultimate. Optimism. No matter how cynical i can get. No matter how dark it seems when i am reading the news and i'm going really there are people saying these things there are people doing these horrible things i can't give up. I may occasionally feel helpless. But hopeless. Is not something that i can sit in too long. Because i am taking this. As a matter of faith. That the resources are out there that ethical majority we can create that. And they justify an attitude. Ultimate. I went i have been in some very. Dark i'm lost.. This is what speed. So this is my customer. I would love to know what your testimony is. And i hope you will share it with other. I'll tell you i went to an evangelical seminary. Famous different denominations. Whenever i would ask someone about their church or about their religion. They never started talking to me about bylaws or even creed. Or history. Instead they say what can i tell you my story. What's your story.

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2018-02-18-Sermon-YouAreEnough.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For february 18th 2018. This week's service is. You are enough. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. So unitarian universalist congregation make promises to each other. And we call these promises are seven principles we teach them to our kids you'll find them in your hymnal and some people look at our principles and feel that they provide sort of a framework for how to live a good life and i want to encourage that but i also want to be clear that these principles are first and foremost simply a promise between each congregation to the other congregations. The first promise that we as live oak unitarian universalist church make to all the other congregations is that we will affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Kind of a radical concept especially right now in the world that we're living in. And in 1935 our universalist theological forebears took that a step further. It's 1935 and they were seeing the rise of fascism and totalitarianism. And so they issued their statements. Affirming the a belief in the supreme worth. Of every human personality. That's the actual quote the supreme worth of every human personality. Think about what that really means that means supreme it means there's nothing else above it. Not politics. Not profits. Not philosophy. Not second amendment rights. The supreme worth. Of a human life. You have. Inherent. Supreme. Worse. I think that that is something that is when we look at other people it's it's easy to believe that. And then we look in the mirror. And suddenly it becomes more difficult. We are constantly measuring ourselves we're measuring our productivity how much did i get done in this day we measure how much weight we can lift we measure how much wait we way we measure our. Carbohydrate grams we measure our pocketbook. We are constantly measuring ourself we wear devices to measure every single step that we take in one day. We are constantly being measured. And rarely do we feel that we measure. I think part of this is because. What we are always trying to look at. Is what we can do. Rather than who we are and in fact i think that we often try to define ourselves. By what we do. Rather than the fact. That. Adverse. From the very beginning. We were enough. You are enough. Not that there's anything wrong with looking at what we can do and trying to to do better. The problem is when we allow that to define us. Because what happens if the day comes. When you can never no longer do what you've always done. Who are you then. Christopher reeve. Did a lot. He was one of those people that you know that we look at and say wow that's someone to whom god gave with both hands he was tall and handsome and athletic he was smart he was a gifted actor both stage and screen he could sail boats he was a licensed pilot. He could do all the things i read something where he was described as a great brain on top of a great body. And then one day. He was on a horse that threw him. And when he woke up later in the hospital. The great brain could no longer communicate. To the great body. Because he had had a spinal cord injury. He described it as the doctors basically had to reattach his head to his body. But the spinal cord injury was permanent he couldn't even breathe by himself. And in those first few days as the doctors were working on him and his family was there and they were trying to make decisions about what to do. He still couldn't talk but he miles to his wife dana. Maybe you should let me go. And she said to him. I'm going to do whatever it is that you want me to do. But you need to know this. You are still you. And i love you. Then she extracted. A pretty a pretty big promise from him. She asked him if he would give it two years. Two years of living in this new reality and she said and if after that two years. Your life is not worth it. I will let you go. I won't insist that you continue living. Christopher reeve. Not only would live another two years he would wind up living nearly 10 years and he would have been willing to live much longer but his body failed him. In this new reality. Where he couldn't do. Practically everything including breathing that he used to be able to do. He had to find out who he was again. And what it was that he could do. In this this new. Trapped reality. He didn't always with gratitude he would always remark about the fact that he knew he had great economic privilege. I did some pretty amazing things in those ten years he became an advocate for raising money and promoting education and awareness around spinal cord injuries do doctors and researchers that work in that field say he changed everything by doing this he expanded that this was remember when we were having all the discussions about stem cell research and he was a huge promoter of of that and how it could help not only people with spinal cord injuries but those with alzheimer's and other issues. He dictated to books to his assistance. And the first one was titled still me. Somehow he understood. This this whole idea. That he. Was enough. Doesn't mean he didn't. Keep trying to do better and do more things and grow. He did continue growing during those two ten years both mentally and spiritually. The minister of the unitarian church of westport. Went out into his courtyard one day kind of. Like our fellowship hall. And there was chris and dana reeve. And they became unitarian-universalist they joined the church. They did things they you know donated things to the to the fundraisers just like we're going to have our service auction day donated yunoki with dana and chris. And chris would talk extensively about what it meant to him to be a unitarian universalist he talked about this publicly and an interview with a writer from readers digest he said that he was a unitarian universalist because it provided for him a moral compass. He had played superman before. But now he. Truly became. Superman to a lot of people. And it was because of who he was all of these things that he was able to do in the last ten years of his life. Didn't define him. Instead they flowed from him. He was enough. I told them that could let loose all of these other things. You are enough. And yes you do things and you learn things and you grow but i think that you have to start. From that understanding. When you truly understand. That you are enough. The talents you have the skills who you are as a person the way you were simply born. That is enough. It will liberate you. Because you see you're no longer trying to fit into some mold of someone else some. Better version of you that isn't really you. When you accept that you are enough. Then you can start working on what that means. And what will you do based on that. What do you want to do. What are you willing to do. Those two are not always the same thing. Sometimes right where we're asked to do things that we may not want to do. But for the skills or the gifts that we have. We will be willing. To do them. You. Ar. Enough. I want to end by reading something. Written by one of my colleagues the reverend chip roush. You aren't already kind of settle in. And get comfortable. You are enough. You are enough. Although perhaps beaten-down exhausted lonely distracted overwhelmed by life's relentless complexities. You are enough. You are. Enough. You may be behind in your bill payments and ahead in your calorie intake you mayo handwritten letters to a half-dozen friends your bathroom may be messy and your kitchen even worse whatever the reasons that you feel inadequate or sorry or wrong. You are still enough. The spirit of life which is pushing greenbuds through bare branches which is produced blossoms from stocks where two weeks ago or nothing but hard ground. That spirit of life exists within you to. Even if you are deeply grieving this morning. Awash in memory and morning. We wish you peace. May you eventually remember. That you are enough. We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all persons you do not have to earn your worth. Because you are already enough. No matter what our troubles whether or not we notice it the universe is filled with love the universe is full of love showering us with it every moment and that love is not only outside of us we two are filled with love the instant we remember that fact we were gained access to the care courage and compassion that is our human birthright. There is pain. Yes. Each of us knows suffering of 1,000 kinds and amidst it all we are held in love. We are held in love and we have love to give to hold and heal others around us. Do this now. Turn to a neighbor and tell them you are enough. You are enough. And you are not enough. You are not enough to save the world by yourself you are not enough to save your family by yourself you are not enough to blame yourself for every failure or transgression you are absolutely enough. To fulfill your dow. To do what god has planned for you to live out your best human potential you are enough to sit with others who are themselves enough. And be together enough for our aching and sparkling planet. For the next 60 minutes and for the rest of our lives may we truly feel the pulse of life evolving through us. Whatever. That picture is. In your head. That you have been striving to be the thing that is not you maybe it is that kid in elementary school. Who stocks never fell down. Who always had perfect hair. Who always had perfect handwriting. Or the guy in high school who was tall and gorgeous that everyone was in love with. We don't need. 2. Of either of these people. How sad would it be. If we never fully got. You. Authentic. Real you. Because you were so busy trying to be something else. Don't you know. You. Are you enough.

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2017-12-03-ThePropofolBottleTree.mp3

You listen to podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. For more information about our church is at our website at live oak u.org. Today sermon the propofol bottle tree is given by ryan revenge amanda fontaine crawford on december 3rd 2017. Are reading today is a short poem. By the poet wendell berry. This is titled the peace of wild things. When despair for the world grows in me. And i wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives maybe. I go and lie down. Where the wood drake rest in his beauty on the water and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of greed. I come into the presence of stillwater. And i feel above me the day blind stars waiting with their light. For a time. I rest in the grace of the world. And damn free. He was already. 78 years old when i first met him. Tall and imposing. Kind of brusque in his white lab coat. But there was also kind of a a grandfatherly feel about him which made sense because he was not only a grandfather but a great. Grandfather. Dr. kleinman worked at methodist hospital in houston as an anesthesiologist now methodist hospital doesn't have a pediatric unit they don't treat children and children are treated at the other hospitals around them especially at texas children's about a block away there is one exception. Methodist hospital has the equipment so that cancer patients can get radiation. And so texas children's since they're their kids who need that over to methodist. And dr. kleinman had already apparently retired. But his call was just too strong and so he came back to methodist. On a limited basis. And it was to be an anesthesiologist to a very small group of patients because of the children who come over for radiation most of them like adults can remain still. For the radiate radiation of course is very toxic you only want it to go in a very small limited area but kids from about 5 and under in case you haven't noticed are a little wiggly. And so they need a little help in remaining still in the form of knocking them out. And so that's what dr. kleinman dead. Like i said he was he was brusque but. Obviously. Felt very much for his patients. And the most common anesthesia that you give kids for this kind of procedure is propofol. And he would take the propofol bottles after they were empty and very carefully cleaned them out. Then he would run them through the sterilizer and then he would take them home. And he would glue them together with a special glass adhesive. And then he would stuff them with. Pencil. And christmas lights. And his wife would carefully cut a piece of green felt that perfectly matched this. To the back. And they would make. This beautiful. Christmas tree. And every december. He would. Give one of these. To his young patients. I remember before i met dr. kleinman and others in that world i remember having a different times conversations with friends. Where we would talk about the people who went into careers or did volunteer work. Where the side effect was going to be a lot of emotional pain. Write like. The people who are veterinarians having to work with hurt animals social workers hospice nurses people who work with victims of abuse. Pediatric oncologist. We would talk with admiration about the people who did all these different kinds of jobs or volunteer work. And at the same time we would say. We. Could never do that. We weren't strong enough. We were too tender-hearted. Now what i know. Is that it is the most tender hearted people. Who go into these lines of work. And we have. Many of them here in our own congregation. I think that when we had these conversations and probably many of you have had those conversations to write well i could never do that i think the big kind of fear underneath it was the fear that our hearts would break. And that's valid. Because that's exactly what happens these tender-hearted heroes among us. Get their hearts broken. Over. And over again. They get their hearts broken. But from having observed them. There's something that they do the ones who are able to remain in that work for the long haul the ones were able to have happy and fulfilling lives. They all do something that we should learn from and that is they make. Healing their hearts. A priority. For them it's not optional. They have to do this. It's a we can learn from that. The heart. Is literally and figuratively. A muscle. But the athletes. Among us or those of us who were athletes at some point can talk about how the only way to make a muscle stronger is that have a cycle of stress andres you stressed the muscles and you have to rest the muscle you can't just go in and start pumping iron and just keep pumping iron right you have to rest. The muscle so that it can heal from the stress that you have put on to it. And metaphorically it's the same way with our hearts. We have to make it a priority to rest them. So how's your heart. Right now. I am going to go out on a limb. And say. Probably not in really good shape. Right now. We've had a year. Where it has been unrelenting. In addition to whatever has gone on in your personal life because our personal lives keep going illness keeps happening divorce keeps happening. In addition to that. Every single day for a year. We have woken up. And there has been a legitimate reason for outrage. A legitimate reason for heartbreak. Every single day. This isn't normal and i'm going to keep telling this to us and y'all keep reminding me this is not normal don't let it start feeling normal. But this is the reality that we have been living in for the past year. Right. Have you found that it's starting to actually feel a little bit more normal and natural to be like like your mouth kind of clinched an outrage your fist kind of like this. Every single day. And so what we have to do is we have to figure out how do we put into place. A system of healing our hearts. On a daily basis. Are you doing that. Or are you like i have caught myself. Catching yourself in in a moment of peace. A moment of joy. Just a fleeting moment right. And then you catch yourself and you go no no no no no and you yank yourself out of it because my god don't you know what is happening in the world right now. Don't rest don't relax don't feel joy don't feel peace. We can't live like that friends. It's not any good for us and you are not any good to the rest of us if you have burnt yourself out. To a crisp. This is the time of year when we. Talked quite a bit. You're quite a bit about peace on earth. Sometimes we even seeing right. Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with me. Are we letting ourselves do that. Not just make peace. Are we letting ourselves experience. Peace. Are we letting ourselves. Andres. In the feeling. Have peace. Rest inn. Piece that's a phrase that we often hear referring to what happens after death but. You know maybe maybe we shouldn't have to die in order to deserve. Resting. In peace. Your homework. Should you accept it. Is this very practical. For the rest of december. Every single day. Rest. In peace rest in the feeling of peace carve out some time take 1 hour everyday. If you can't carve out one hour then half an hour. If you can't carve out half an hour fine 15 minutes. Everyone can do 15 minutes even those with young kids and jobs and. And being a minister. We can do this. Take a. of time. Put your phone down your tablet close the computer. And y'all you know i'm i'm going to have to live this to and y'all know i like me some facebook i don't know if you've noticed this. Turn it off. Close it down. Turn off the news. Rachel maddow is my boo but. I feel confident in saying even she would tell you. Turn off. The news. If you have a christmas tree up with lights or menorah. Or maybe even just one single solitary candle. Like tacos. And turn off all the other lights. Play some music. Music. It makes you feel relaxed. It makes you feel joy. That makes you feel at peace. If you are lucky enough to have someone to cuddle with. A child or a partner or a dog or a cat. Cuddle with sam. And just. Sit there. Try and stop all the bad news that's going through your head. Try and break from this anxiety that's anxious feeling of. I'm not allowed to feel peace. And sit there. And rest in peace. You're not going to stay there i'm not asking you to. Monday morning i hope that all of us are back on the phones again. Calling our representatives. Doing what we have to do. But we have to take. Time. To heal our hearts. On the regular. I wonder what it was like for doctor. Kleinman. He was clearly tender-hearted. He didn't like to show it. But like the propofol when he was washing those bottles he didn't just wash them. He wash them he sterilize them because he knew that what had been. Inside them could be harmful and yet. He had to put that into these little bodies what did that do to him on a regular basis. But i know that's about him. Somehow. He figured out how to live without pain. How to take that pain. And literally. Make something beautiful. He took his pain. And he met joy. So may we all.

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2018-09-23-168Hours.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For september 23rd 2018. This week services 168 hours. Irreverent joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning comes from the book. 168 hours you have more time than you think. By laura vanderkam. Much has been written about the good life what it means to be happy or successful in our own minds at least and how people become that way. But all of these things are abstractions all our ideas people think about in phrases such as when i grow up or. Someday. Or broadly as our identities and our values. A few years ago though i had a realization. But we think of our lives in grand abstractions. A wife is actually lived in hours. If you want to be a writer. You must dedicate hours to putting words on a page. To be a mindful parent. You must spend time with your child teaching him that even though he loves the new shoes he picked out he has to take them off so mommy can pay for them. A solid marriage requires conversation and intimacy in a focus on family project. If you want to sing well in a functioning chorus. You must show up for rehearsals and practice on your own in addition to setting goals and attending to any administrative duties. If you want to be healthy you must exercise and get enough sleep. In short. If you want to do something or become something. If you want to do it well. It takes time. People assume the time is a strict progression of course to affect that i actually from a nonlinear non-subjective. Timey wimey. Sirius standard time. Powerful. When metals with. Obviously the time continuum. This line represents time 1985. All of this point in time somewhere in the past the timeline skewed into the stands with creating an alternate. Buck. Everyone else. Time time time time see what's become of me. Anyone recognize any of those movie clips. What you say. Harry potter. Doctor who. Time machine the timer should yet so the tides so there are people here who could identify that first clip. Which was from the movie the time machine h.g. wells wrote the novel the time machine in 1895. And ever since then we have been. Fascinated by the idea that technology could free us. From the constraints of time. That we could invent a time machine or a tardis a time turner. Something that would allow us to move forward in time move backward in time and if we needed more time no problem. We could control it. Now. Less imaginatively but perhaps. Justice rooted in fantasy. Was the idea that we've had for a long time that we would reach a point with technology. Where we had so much leisure time that that was going to be the gift that technology would do for us it would. All the machines would take care of things right machines would take care of us. And in fact i read something i believe it was about written about 1950. We're a rider very seriously said that the big problem in the future. With that we were going to be so bored. Because there was just going to be nothing to do anymore it was just all going to be leisure time. Now it is true. That technology has freed us up. From some things how many people this week used washboard to do your laundry. Got up at 2 a.m. to stoke up the kitchen stove for me neither. And yet. Somehow. Technology has. Increase. Our work in fact many people say that we have less leisure time today. Then we did in the past. That you probably have less leisure time. Unscheduled time. And your parents. Or your grandpa. And for those of us who work with computers. Rather than this idea that the machines would take care of us it often feels like our lives revolve around taking care of the machine. It was a time in human history. Where the link. Of a day. Differed. According to the season. I mean that the unit was still 24 hours but daylight. Define for humans a day at defined when it began at defined when it ended. We started pushing back on that with. Candles and with oil lamps. And then we invented electricity. And so now. Artificial daylight could exist 24 hours long. But even with that. Our culture. Still help. Define. What a day was. I am so old. That i can remember a time when tv. Actually ended. Minaj right. There would be if you stayed up late enough. Then a a video would,. Right. And they play the star spangled banner very slow. And then they would put up a graphic recognize that. And that meant. Doctor the station had had cc. Operator. For the day the day was over. If you woke up at. 3 a.m.. There literally was nothing on tv like no infomercials you know no reruns of leave it to beaver there was nothing on tv. You could read a book. And then we invented cable tv. Shortly followed by we invented. The internet. I'm so now at 3 a.m. you can watch movies you can watch tv you can go shopping right 3 a.m. perfect time for online shopping get all your holiday shopping taken care of right then. And of course. At 3 a.m.. Most of us can now. Work. Does technology that was going to lead to much leisure time. Has instead. For most of us anyone who uses a computer in your job it has led to an opportunity to work at whatever time. We feel we need to we can work evenings we can work at night we can work holidays we can work. Weekend. We can even think they still quaintly call this. of time vacation. But we can even work then and i know. That my spouse and i are not the only ones in this room. To have gone on vacation and. But let me just check my email once a day. Are you just do this one phone call when you just handle this one thing. What all of this means. Is that. No longer. Can we rely on an outside source for defining what a day means to us. Neither nature. Nor culture. Nor technology. Can define a day for. Living a life on fire. Is about taking back. Control. It's about looking at the difference. Parts of our lives. Analyzing them. Looking for what has meaning and what is a waste. Coming to conclusions. And then making. Choices. I will confess. That often the way that i have to find a day. Or at least the end of the day. Well i haven't defined. I have allowed. Exhaustion. To define it. I'm not just work right i mean everything like the internet there's so much stuff to to learn and to read about it and facebook and connecting with friends and seeing what there is anyone else awake at 2 a.m. although it's not just me like there's so much stuff and i just want to cram all of it into everyday until finally. My body says like we don't care what the rest of you doing but we're going to bed. Because we are about. Dewdrop. And as my body is dropping into bed out of the side of my eye i'm looking at the clock. And i'm doing the math of figuring out how many hours i'm actually going to get to sleep before the alarm wakes up in the morning and it's never enough. It's never. And there has to be. A better way. For defining. What a day means to each of us. Dan to allow outside forces. To define it for us. So. You're going to have homework today should you wish to take it. You don't have to write down any notes. You don't have you don't have to. Free choice. I will. Have handouts at the end of this. So if you would let you don't have to remember. It'll it'll all be written down for you. If you're at a point. Where. Your day. Is not. Ideal. If you're at a point where at the end of the day on a regular basis you don't say this was a great day. And i'm not talking about special days i'm talking about ordinary days. If you're at that point to make a change. I think the first thing we have to do. Is start with y. We have to find the y in it. What is it that matters to us what is it that is going to propel us to make. Different choices and not just fall back into the same old habits. So your first assignment. Should you wish to take it. Ismay. A list. Of 100 dreams. Not drinks that your mama has for you. Not dreams that your spouse has for you. 100 drinks does that sound like a lot. Here's a little bit easier here's here's what makes it easier i love the fact that our young ones will i know i got 500 dreams how am i going to cut them down learn from them learn from them. Here's one of the things that makes it easier. And this is. This is not like when you have the 3000 word essay you got to turn in and so you're trying to pad it this isn't about patting this is an important step. In your list of 100 dreams this is not just a to-do list. This is looking at your entire life. Write down the dreams that you've already fulfilled. That's important. That's important going to do something with that. So when you're looking at your whole life. 100 dreams things that you both already have done. And things that you wish to do. And. Don't make it just the big. I mean those are important and you should you should put them down on there too. But it's often are smaller little ordinary dreams. Those are going to be the things that at the end of the day. We're going to feel. Satisfied about. Like here's one of mine. One of my dreams is to learn more about tea. Tea. And to cultivate. A stash. Of delicious keys. For my use. Pretty simple one. So i can be stuff like that maybe yours is. Dark chocolate. Or something. Maybe yours is for maybe have a smaller goal that you want to put as a dream maybe it's something like you know what i have never actually run erase. I would like to run. A 5k. Put it down. Maybe. Your dream is not about the outcome. It's about what you would like to actually do on a daily or a weekly basis. Each of us gets 168 hours. Per week. It's not fair. That it is that we all get the same right get absolutely should be that like like the single parent who's working two jobs like some of us should be able to give them a couple of extra it doesn't work that way. We can help them in other ways but each of us gets 168. Hours. So. As you're writing your dreams is there something like maybe you would like. 2. Meditate. Maybe you would like to block. Or to journal. Everyday maybe there is something that it's not about the outcome. It's actually about the. So put that into your list. Of 100g. Now. First thing you're going to do with that list. Look it over. Know how i told you about you know writing down dreams you've already fulfilled. Go through slowly. All of the dreams that you have already fulfilled. Ride along 3. And pause. To see how that. Because if it was your dream. It feels great. And you need to get back. In touch with that feeling you're going to use it in other ways. And we often forget right week we check off something on that. big to-do list and we move on but it's important to look back and remember. Wow i did that thing. And no matter what happens in life. They can't take that away from me cuz i did it. Allow yourself to feel that feeling. Memorize that. What does it feel like cuz you're going to need to have. Because den. You're going to look at your dreams. And you're going to decide okay. I'm going to pick a few of these. That are things that right now. I want to start working. I want to start. Putting into my day or my week. And i want you to play make-believe. I want you to look. At those. Few dreams that you pick out and that feeling that you re just rediscovered of how it feels. What to draw that line through when you fulfilled a dream. I want you to imagine. Drawing the line. True that dream. And what it's going to feel like. And be sure to come back to this. Because there's going to be those days. Were there just aren't enough hours in the day and you're not going to want to do that thing. Go back to that feeling. It is. Fuel. For you. When you are at your most exhausted this can be the thing that fills you up. But i sure looking. At your dream. And deciding what are the things. That you want to focus on right now at this time. I want you to be aware of a voice in your head. But isn't so pleasant. Be aware of the lies. That comes swimming into your head. Because it's skeptical and cynical as we are about information that we get from the outside world when it comes to that voice. Everyone. Is gullible. We are so willing to believe those lies that say you can't do this. If you're going to pay attention to that voice. You tell it you're going to have to have a significant pile of evidentiary support in order for me to believe this. Because there's so many things that we believe. Without any proof. Baby what you've always wanted to do is run a marathon. You've never been an athlete. I saw you say that voice in your head says she. Do that hold sure you can't do it immediately no one even though the best athletes have to prepare for it you break it down you try it step-by-step few experiment this is something that is part of living a life on fire is being willing to experiment. And assess and yeah it may be that you experiment and after giving it a really long experiment you or your doctor says. You need to pick another dream. But that's life. And that's okay because i will tell you. When you scribble out not draw a line through but when you scribble out one of those dreams that you have really. Tried. And. But you for whatever reason you really can't do it. If you really tried there is a feeling. And they're even that scribbling out. And make you feel proud cuz you can say you know what. I tried. I gave it my all. Okay. Where's the next dream on the list that i'm going to pull up to bat. So you can look through all of those dreams. How do you find the things that will light you on fire. And motivate you. To make changes. And then we go to the second assignment. Log your time. For a week. I know it's what they always say to do but. You're looking for data at this point. And on that piece of homework that that you can take with you i have some links there are places where you can print out a log so you can write it down there's even a website called called toggle where you can just type it in and it adds it all up for you. Be aware of the inclination that most of us have to lie. No one is going to see this. Like the homework itself like to doing the dreams and all that if you told first service if you want to come back next week and say that you did it i will have gold stars i will if that's what motivates you. But i'm not going to be looking at your time log no one should be looking at your time while you're looking for data for yourself you're looking for facts and the research proves over and over again that we overestimate the time spent on work whether it's employment work or on housework we overestimate that. And we underestimate the time spent. Is there a synonym for farting around. Can i say that. We underestimate that right i mean who hasn't you know started doing just some sort of puttering around you know being on facebook or playing candy crush and whoa it's what time how did that happen. So you want to get an accurate log of how you spend your time and then at the end of that week. Take all of the data. Put it into a calendar this is not. You're at your calendar your log of a week. This is not your ideal. This is just how you actually spend your time. You want to have those facts down and yes there's always going to be exceptions in every week. You're going for the general overview. Then when you look. At that calendar of how you spend your 168 hours. This anyone at did anyone ever have that experience or maybe it's where you are in your life right now we're like you would go into the couch cushions looking for change anyone ever did just trying to scrounge tom and i married young we were still in college and i can remember that we would like there would be those days towards the end of the month we're like we would be checking the couch cushions would be like have you checked all of your pockets you know look at the back of the bottom of your your backpack and somehow all of these like quarters and and dimes and nickels weed weed adam all up and there would be enough for a pizza. Or which was really exciting at that time or enough to do laundry which. Was not as exciting but. Necessary. That's what you're going to do. With your 168 hours you're going to glean through this. And figure out. Okay. Where can i find a little bit of change. Here in there i mean maybe you have big blocks of hours and yeah goodie for you to mow the majority of us don't have time that is that. Expendable go through. It doesn't mean cutting out everything right candy crush maybe it means okay you know what i could play this for half the length of time. And still get the satisfaction and then i'd have the rest of that time to put towards one of my dream. So you're going through and you're trying to figure out. Trying to scrounge where can i find those extra moments. Then. You're going to sit down. With both of those things in front of you your dreams. And how you spend your time. You're going to start with a clean slate. Of designing what a day means to you. A day. And a week. Cuz we have things right choir rehearsal on wednesday our our days are not always exactly the same. Treat it as if you are an architect. Design it. Think about what will it mean what needs to be in this day. So that at the end of the day. I can say. This was a good day. This was a day. Well live. I may be part of it is that you have a significant dream that you're going to have to devote a big chunk of time to going to grad school or writing a book or whatever it is. Some life-giving. Joyful. Activities or routines. Everything is a choice. Everything an end and sometimes it's you know bad choice vs. bad choice which is going to be the better one. But taking control. Means that you're in the driver's seat. I will fully admit i totally love to have a lot of unscheduled time i i kind of chase sometimes it too much schedule. But recently i had to make a choice and it wasn't even over something significant it was again i was not i did not have a good bedtime routine. Like a three-year-old. And i needed one. And so i gave up. Some of that unscheduled time some of that that feeling at the end of the day of this just gets to be me doing whatever i want. And so i was able to establish for myself. A routine. Where i could. Decompress. Dressed for bed. Have a cup. P. Go to bed at a decent. Time knowing that that is a gift. For my tomorrow cell. I'm going to go to bed at this time. Because i love. Tomorrow self. And i want to do right by her. There is a a triangle that you may want to consider. Henry cloud talks about how we always in relationships or in life. But it's a matter of keeping in balance freedom love and responsibility we all want freedom we all crave. Freedom. But because we also want lives of love. Where we have relationships we have friendships. We have a church. Then we give up some of that. That freedom. For the responsibility. Right we give up some of our freedom so that we can take our child to soccer practice we give up some of that freedom to go to work and earn a living or come to church or come to choir practice. So as you are designing that day. None of us live only to serve ourselves but it's equally a mistake. To only serve others that love up there also pertains to you loving you. Design your day. With a start. With an ending. With the stuff in the middle. This is what living a life on fire is. It's taking back control. Refusing to feel like a victim of time & life. And making. Choices. Choosewell. Spend your time wisely.

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2019-03-10-MeditationAndWorldReligions.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast. For march 10th 2019. This week's service is. Meditation and world religions irreverent joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning is by rumi translated by coleman barks this is the guest house. This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy a depression a meanness some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all. Even if they are a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture. Still. Treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought the shame the malice. Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in. Be grateful for whatever comes. Because each has been sent. As a guide. From beyond. So there are i think many myths about meditation. But the two that i think most are a barrier. To us-1 is this the idea that there that meditation is one thing right there's just one form of meditation and so if that doesn't appeal to you or if you can't do it then then you're done with meditation. I think for most of us unless we actually have a practice of meditation what comes to mind is someone sitting in lotus position right you know like feet up on your thighs and so you know so a whole bunch of us are right there like yeah i'm out and sitting there in the quiet and you have to be quiet. And you have to be emptying your brain and you have to be still not moving this kind of like the stereotype that we think of with meditation. Now there are some aspects of that that. Are true there are some people who meditate in the lotus position and they are very still when they do it some do it even for hours of the thing about emptying your your mind isn't exactly the goal will get to that later but. Even if those sort of true markers. Of meditation they are only true of one type. Of meditation. The truth is there are so many different types of meditation just because one doesn't work for you. Doesn't mean that there's not another that is exactly what you need. We're going to get into that. And then of course i think the number one meth about meditation is. I don't have time to meditate. Any anyone thought that before. We'll get to that one too. Barstow a sort of quick history. Of meditation. Medication is very interesting because you see different forms in it. Across the different religions. Now that in and of itself it's pretty common that we will see commonalities. Around different religions there are often things that. Team 22 kind of come up in different locations and at different times disconnected from the other religions that practices and this is because. Religion is about us trying to make sense of the world and trying to have a rhythm to our lives. And so it's not unexpected that some of those human needs all religions are going to address and we kind of talked about this last october when we were talking about remembrances for those who have died. You you seem any different rituals for that and that's because it's a very human need. And so you can have these different things that pop up. Completely with no relationship between this religion and this religion. But meditation. Is different. If you look at the history of meditation. You can actually track it. Going from one religion or philosophical thought to another. We don't exactly know when meditation began because it seems to have predated any type of written communication. The earliest references that they have found our. Archaeologists estimate around. 5030 500 bc. Before common era. In india in caves they have found drawings and it is of people in what even today we would consider to be. Meditation positions they are often cross-legged they look like they are still their eyes are at like like half-open half-closed. So it seems like meditation is been going on at least since a little bit before that. In about 1500 bce that's when the hindu vedas were put into written form. Before that they'd existed in the oral tradition. And so these are the first. Written references to meditation. That we know about. And obviously meditation is a big part of hinduism. So then about. 400 sbc. Buddhism becomes a movement. Taking meditation from hinduism and bringing it into. That tradition. Also around that same time you have taoism and jainism confucianism all springing up and becoming movements and they are all developing their own forms of meditation. And shortly after that. Moving over you have plato. And plato and end their most scholars feel that. That the philosophers of that time were being influenced. By the east. So you have plato who makes a whole practice. Of meditation or a form of meditation. That he refers to as contemplation. So then you. Go forward a little bit and around 122 years into the common era. Jewish mystics begin meditating on the visions of ezekiel. It's a little bit after that about 11:00 is when kabbalah. Most of us have heard about kabbalah thanks to madonna. The jewish practice of kabbalah. Becomes a bigger thing. And it's also around that time around 11:00. That the christian mystics and monks are coming out with their meditative practice. Also around that time that's when you start seeing this in islam especially among the mystics of islam this the sufis. So you have all these different. Ways that meditation has kind of you know traveled around like this and these religious movements continue growing and they continue developing their meditation practices. Then we get into the 20th century. And this is where more of the eastern forms of meditation start coming to the western world and this is first happening like in the 1920s because you have writers and musicians who are learning about the these what they call the eastern at that time they would say the oriental meditation practices and they're writing about it they're putting it into their music this is what night 1930 is when hermann hesse. Write siddhartha. And it's right around that time that the tibetan book of the dead is translated into english. Then of course, the 1960s and thanks to the beatles and other celebrities that's where we in the west really start hearing about all of this meditation stuff in a way that. Those who were christian had not been talking about it and so now there's the growth of hot a yoga and transcendental meditation. In the 1970s. A scientist. Gets involved. A scientist dr. herbert benson at harvard starts looking at meditations effects on the human body. I'm actually going through and measuring all the different physiological illogical responses to that. And he writes a book called the relaxation response. Which is just a game changer. In that world right but this is already been happening but you know cutting to the chase he demystifies meditation for white people. And. It's it's it's very good information because now we actually can see scientifically what it is that is happening to the human body. When you meditate. Then it says what a couple of decades later. And. The iphone. The first. Iphone. Is released. And if you don't think that the release of the iphone is a significant part of meditation history then you have not gone to the app store and google meditation app because there are so many in fact i believe it was forbes magazine estimated that as of right now between apps and workshops and retreats. Meditation has become a 1.6 billion dollar industry. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with that it gives an example of how meditation this whole myth that there's one kind of meditation. You can see how that couldn't possibly be so because it is it is spread throughout the religious world and the philosophical world and now even the the consumerist model of the world. The different forms of meditation especially when you look at religion. Are connected to the. Theology. Of that religion and they're also connected to a specific. Purpose. That that religion lifts a specific purpose or a specific outcome. One of the big desired outcomes of meditation. Is what i'll call listening. So this form and there are many forms of it of meditation. Is where you are trying to. To get into your own brain. Quiet down some of the noise that's in there. So that you can hear. So that you can get messages. And it may be that you are listening to a mask for a message from god. From the holy spirit. You may be listening for a message from the universe. You may be listening for a message from your own higher self you may be listening for a message from this still small voice within. But this one outcome is based on. On listen. Think of. Quakers. Right when quakers either communally or by themselves are listening for spirit to move because it is part of their theology. That god does not need an intermediary that god speaks to to eat. Person. So that's one outcome. Another outcome. Is communion. And what i mean by communion is. Feeling connected. To something outside of yourself. So it can be communion with god. Or kind of liking the story that we heard last week about move. Connection to a great oneness that we are apart of. But it's a connection outside ourselves. And it's very interesting because. What does the object of of what you're trying to commune with. Can be very different. But the practice may be exactly the same and i got to see this because of our capital campaign. We had someone who was working here who kind of moved in with us about a year ago john morrison. And he was christian he came from the contemplatively. Christian movie. Movement. And he would anyone in here in the meditation group okay so you know he would meet with the meditation group. Not only when he was here but don't tell anyone he had he got after us he got another job down the road like an episcopal church or something and on saturday mornings he would come over here. To join i kind of took that as a win. Not that we converted him or anything but but for him. The objects i reached out to him this week and i said tell me a little bit more about that. Like for him it is very christian-based like it starts with the idea you know he was explaining it all to me about you know a man's fallen nature which is part of his theology not ours. And about feeling connected to jesus christ. And when he would come he would be doing all of that with people who i know that is not their particular theology. But it was the practice itself so it was not. What. The ultimates. Connection was it was. Having that connection and being in a place. Where. Where you could do that. Where you could relax and you were with other people that had. Similar sort of goals so communion. Is one of the purposes. Know the purpose that i think most of us. Think of when we think of meditation. I'm going to call it. Quieting. Harry and i talked about this carrot carry our our religious director is a meditator herself. And we're like what word would you give for this category cuz. Often the the cat that the word that's given is emptying but that's not really it. And quieting isn't entirely it. I'm going to use that cuz i don't know what else to use. It's the idea. That you. Ar. Sitting with your own thoughts. And you identify them. As they go by. But you don't have to chase them. That's the big thing. They are i've heard the term used before thought stories. And you have a kind of like on on when you see on facebook or on emails like the just the hint of a story and so they clickbait they want you to click on it so it's kind of like your brain is throwing this click. Bait. At you all the time. And meditation is where you choose. What you are going to click on or you try to choose it is always. A practice. I've learning okay i can see that clickbait. Go past who i need to put something on the grocery list or who this embarrassing thing happened when i was in second grade or all of those different clickbait things that are going through your brain. But this form of meditation. Is where you are making. Choices. I'm trying not. The clique. On those things you're just noticing them. As they go by and so that it there is a quieting in that. Because when you're constantly clicking on all of those click-baiting things in your head it's not very quiet right our know our our heads are very. Noisy. And in all of these different outcomes of meditation like it's not just one that you are going to be hitting it as often multiple but the basic goal is usually one of those and the last one is health. Physical mental emotional health. And science has shown us that you know it's not just in our minds or it is just in our minds but it's actually affecting our whole body. There is a physical. Response. 2 meditation. That helps us. If you have people who have regular meditation practices. Are significantly less at risk of heart attack. Of stroke. I'm on the mental health side. The whole issue of depression and anxiety. Meditation can help with.. No i am not suggesting that you fire your therapist or throw away any needed medication but meditation it's been proven can help. With.. For wherever you are. On your own particular journey. The overarching. Sort of. Outcome. Purpose of meditation. Whether it's whether you're doing a meditation that falls in with communion or listening or whatever. The overarching purpose. Is for you. To be able to regain control. Over. What is going on up here. Because you have all these different rogue parts of your brain that want to go off in different directions like. We can't trust we can't just trust our own brains. Because our brains can be manipulated so easily right confirmation biased sugar hormones anxiety right the amygdala is always fighting to get into the driver's seat the amygdala that's the part of the brain that controls the whole. Fight or flee response. And we know that when the amygdala gets vibrating. When we get anxious we get. Stupid i've said this before i guess. Meditation. Is a way of putting us when i say us i mean. The conscious. Deliberate us that wants to live by guiding principles. And has things that we want to do it puts us back in the driver's seat. To where we can see all of that clickbait. And we can choose. What are the things. That we are going to put. Our attention. An our time. Cuz i don't know about you. But i got so much stuff flying around up there so many anxieties and fears and to-do list and obscure 80s lyrics that do me no good right now cuz i don't even play trivia. Meditation. Is. A tool. So that you really can live a life on fire you really can. Choose which of your gifts and your powers you are going to use rather than letting your brain be what is manipulating you. And there's a tremendous. Freedom. In that when you are the one that is in. The driver's seat. When. You finally. Are set free. What can have. So that other mess that i said about i don't have time to meditate first i have to address sort of the philosophical and. Many of you have heard this story before this metaphor you come upon someone in the 4s who is furiously trying to chop down this giant tree and you look at them and then you say to them your ex is totally dull i think you'd be much more effective if you would sharpen your axe. And they say i don't have time to sharpen my ax. Meditation. Is how you sharpen your axe. It can buy you. Sometime. By making you more effect. And now for our meditation let me address this in a very pragmatic way. I'm going to teach you a 16 second. Meditation. Everyone has even the mom's right everyone has 16 seconds. Here's what we're going to do. You're going to breathe in for 4 seconds. And imagine. They are coming into your body coming into your lungs. Your valley expanding. And then you're going to hold it. 4/4 second. Imagine that life-giving are in your body. And then you're going to blow it out. 44 seconds imagine. Your breath. Going out. Into the universe. Ready. Breathe in. 2. 3. Hold it. 2. 3. Blow it out. Now if you are. in a little extra time maybe you're driving into work. You can double it let's do that again breathe in. 2. 3. Hold it. Blow it out. And return. To live oak. You now have ac. 18 seconds meditation. You can repeat it as many times as you have time for don't tell me you don't have.

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2018-02-24-LivesOnFireUntamed.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast. February 24th. 2019. This week service is. Lights on fire. Untamed. Reverend johnny fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning is actually three quotes. Buy unitarian margaret fuller these were all written in the 1840s. From summer on the lakes. All around us lies what we neither understand nor use. Our capacities our instincts for this our presents fear. Arbet half-developed. Let us confine ourselves to that. So the lesson be learned let us be completely natural. Before we trouble ourselves with the supernatural. I never see any of these things but i longed to get away and lie under a green tree and let the wind blow on me. There is marvel and charm enough. In.. From her book women in the 19th century. We would have every arbitrary barrier thrown down. We would have every path laid open to woman as freely as to man where this done and a slight temporary fermentation allowed to subside we should see crystallization is more pure and have more various beauty we believe the divine energy. Would pervade nature to a degree unknown in the history of former ages and that no discordant collision but a ravishing. Harmony of the spheres would ensue. And she also wrote this. Remember. In the 1840s. Male and female represent the two sides of the great radical dualism in fat. They are perpetually passing. Into one another. Fluid hardens to solid solid rushes to fluid. There is no wholly masculine man. No purely feminine. Mormon. Writing about gender fluidity. 1800. So there is this old. You you do if you have been around unitarian-universalist for any length of time i am sure that you have heard it. And youyou dies and is walking through the afterlife. And comes upon a signpost. And one sign points towards. Heaven. 1 arrow points towards hell. Or as we would say in our current vernacular to the good place and the bad place. And one arrow. It says. Discussion. I've havin and hell. Being are you you the person follows that arrow. So as someone who was raised you you i have chase. Against this joke come on please can we have a little less talk and a little more action let's go out and see and do things. And maybe. I have been to hell. Perhaps. There is especially for the time in which we find ourselves. A significant. Need. 4. Discussion. And for. Good converse. This year. Our theme is live a life on fire in this month we've been talking about people who have lived. Lives on fire and the more you look at. These unitarian and universalist especially from our history. The more it becomes aware that. To live a life on fire. Means to fully as fully as you can live in the time and context in which you find yourself. But to never be fully. Comfortable. There. Mlk said to have a creative maladjustment. To the times in which you live. Is it seems like all of these people that we look at who really did live life saint lives on fire we look at them now and we say. Just like. Was margaret fuller. They were so ahead. Of their time. When is that mean to us. To be living fully in our life. But also to be aware that things can be better. Can be more jaws. Can be more hole. Margaret fuller though. Absolutely. Did not fit in her time i mean so much so that to me when i look at the things that she did and the things that she wrote in her life it's like i have dropped into an episode of doctor who right or some other time traveling show where someone from one-time you know wines up in this time that is really kind of foreign to them. So margaret fuller was born in 1810 in massachusetts white woman her father was a politician so she grew up with in what would have been considered you know. Middle-class or upper-middle-class. And she never quite. Fit in with the gender norms of her day in fact. Edgar allan poe said humanity is divided into men women and margaret fuller. In reading what she would say about herself i don't get the feeling that she was transgender so much as. She didn't fit in with what was expected of a woman at that time it made me think of the quote by simone de beauvoir you know 100 years later about how men are defined as human beings. And women are defined as females and when a woman attempts to behave like a human being she is accused of trying to act like a male. I think that this was kind of. Dot-dot gender issue that margaret. Fell into. Her father wanted his oldest to be a boy. But he got margaret. And so he raised her not only like a boy but like a boy that he expected to be a great scholar. A boy who would go on to harvard starting at age 3 he gave her a rigorous education at home by 4 she was reading and reading competently by 6 she was reading latin by 8 she was reading shakespeare. And. I think that it fair it fair to say that both nature and nurture. We're working here even in her own time margaret was considered to be a genius. In no way though. Should you think that what her father was doing. Was nurturing. In fact. In our time and probably even then we would probably call it abusive he had her studying no elementary-age and he had her studying. 12 hours a day she started developing headaches. That she would have for the whole rest of her life. Nonetheless she was brilliant and she was soaking it all up. Different languages classic languages modern languages and she was processing and coming up with ideas for that. When she got to where she was getting close to puberty. It seemed to dawn on her father and her mother that. They were raising her. For a world that didn't. Exist. At that time. 0 colleges in america. Admitted women and wouldn't for quite a while. What she was supposed to do. Was grow up. And be a wife. So they shipped her off to school not for any of this education she was already far beyond you no formal education that she could get but to try and make her. Into someone who was more marriageable. By all accounts at that time she was not. Physically attractive. And she had in fact made up her own mind and her words that she was going to be ugly and brilliant. She was brilliant and she knew she was brilliant. She was not. Popular. How could she be someone who had been raised the way that she had been and suddenly she's around all of her peers who had. Had such a difference. Upbringing her parents at one time even. Wanted her to throw a party and they they sent out 90 invitations. 9 people paying. And after the party those nine people were not talking and very complimentary. Weighs about margaret. So she came home. She designed her own education which was even more rigorous than what her father had given her and so as a teenager she devoted herself. To those studies now she was studying 15 hours a day. She couldn't be a student at harvard but she did manage to convince them to allow her to use their library the first woman that they gave such a privileged. And she was getting to know the young men. Who were also doing studying at harvard. And they would often become friends she was one of them. She would learn what it was that they were learning they would exchange ideas some of them would go on to divinity school something else that was denied her she would read their sermons before they gave them and. Give her own notes and corrections and probably rewrite. Many of them. When she was a young adult. Her father died and her parents had had more children and so it was now up to her to be the breadwinner and to take care of the family. And so she did the one thing she could which was to become a teacher. And one of the places that she taught at was the school of bronson alcott. Also known as the father of louisa may alcott. And a transcendentalist. And margaret fuller became part of that world getting to know the other transcendental thinkers she has often not did anyone here learn about her when you were learning about the transcendentalist and high school. Yay well okay so most of us know never heard about her we heard about emerson we heard about the row we heard about alcott but she was. A big part of that right in the middle of that and she and emerson. Had a. Lifelong. Tumultuous. Relationship. When he first met her he was not impressed she was everything that he was not she was. Out there and loud i'm sure he thought of her is obnoxious he. I'm trying to be so cool and emotionless she wore her heart absolutely on her sleeve and yet there was something. Charismatic about her by the end of the first weekend that they were together he wrote to a mutual friend. Talking about how amazing how she was held just by her presence just being in her presence. Would make you feel expansive and bigger than you even really. Were. But. You can read about their relationship. There doesn't seem to be any indication that. Their relationship went into an area. That broke any marriage vows. However they definitely were had a lot of emotional. Connection with each other and intellectual connection with each other they would go off. For long walks. And in fact this was a source of strife. Between emerson and his wife lydia. But she was a part of that world nathaniel hawthorne. And. That she was exploring all of these different ideas that she had they were all meeting as equals and growing from each other in their conversations. And she decided that. She needed to take those conversations to another group. Women. She knew that women most women all women had not been able to have the kind of education that she had. And so she started these things called conversation. And it brought in a little bit of money for her to you would pay for this and it was a group that would meet on a regular basis kind of like we do here by the way you know how we have those things called fuller conversations. Now you know why they're called fuller conversations they're named after margaret fuller. So they would meet. All women. And. She would bring in. Greek. And art what she wanted the women to go into some some self-evaluation. She wanted to bring out their ideas many of the women who initially joined these groups. Did so no doubt because she had time for reputation at this time and so they thought that they were going to just come and listen to her talk and she would share her thoughts. But it was equally important to her. That she be able to draw out. From the group. What it was that they were thinking about. And they would go on with this sort of self-knowledge and these skills to be able to do these in other areas. Margaret fuller was. So far ahead of her time and she did so many things that like if you're just looking. At the list its first to do this first woman to do this first woman to do this in so i would be remiss if i didn't mention. Some of those to you she was hanging with the transcendentalist so now another thing going back to high school english who remembers what the dial. Was anyone the dial it was the journal of the transcendentalist. And she was the first editor. Of that editing the words of emerson and thoreau and writing her own stuff in there. And about four years after that she was asked by universalist horace greeley. To come to the new york tribune. And to be an editor and a writer she was the first woman to do so about four years after that she went to europe and she became the first female foreign. Writing stories and sending them back to the tribune a little bit after that she went over to rome and rome at that time was gearing up for people to to rise up for a revolution. Until she became embedded in that and became the first female war correspondent where she was actually down there in the war where the action was happening and sending stories back to new york. At that same time. She's been given advice. By cathy she while she was in europe she continued conversations but in different ways she would have salons and she was getting to know many of the european thinkers over there. Elizabeth barrett being one of them but one of the intellectuals she was talking to. Pushed her and said. You are living. Mentally in a very male sort of way you should do that. With your whole life. Don't just think about things. Do things. Well one of the things that she did was she fell in love. He was an italian revolutionary he was 10 years younger than she was when they met she was 36 he was 26. He did not have the education that she did. And he was very very handsome. I don't believe that they use the term boy toy back then. But and there is some debate. And there was some debate about this but the horse that historian some of her contemporaries at the time definitely peg him is that in fact nathaniel hawthorne referred to him as clownish. But there are other historians that say. She was really smart we it seems kind of improbable that. He could not. Rise at least somewhat up to her level. They had a child together. Minor scandal at that time. And then the revolution. Fail. And they needed to get out of italy. And come back home to the united states. She was forty her child was to. And her husband who's now. 30 they got on a ship. And just. 100. Yards. Off of. Fire beach new york. Hurt the ship ran onto a. Sandbar. And she and her family. Very sad story. Emerson sent henry david thoreau up to that area and throw dovin the waters and search the beaches for margaret body. But it was never found nor was. The book. That she had written. A history of. That roman. Revolution. It only 40 years. Margaret fuller did so much with her life and and she would continue to have a huge. Influence. She had written a book one of our readings was from that about women in the 19th century. And later elizabeth cady stanton and susan b anthony would say that no one had had the influence. On the women's rights movement. The way she had she was the first. To write about all of these things and she continued having an influence on those friends of hers on on emerson and on unitarian ministers on nathaniel hawthorne. There's so many things about margaret fuller and i encourage you i encourage you to read more about her so many things where she was out of her time but today i would like to lift up. Brinkley where she was not. Out of her. And that was on the art of conversation. Throw emerson referred to her. As the greatest conversationalist. Of their time. I skipped it as she was as a writer. Apparently her skills and conversation just left those in the dust. And for her. Conversation. Was. An art form and it was not. A monologue. It was not just about holding. For she felt that it was so important to be in a group of people and to get all of those ideas to come out. In fact one of the young women who attended her conversations. Said of her that she had a gift. To where. You would feel glad. Not sorry. About things that you had said. And not really for those of us who have said something afterwards gone at all why did i say that thing. That's such a gift. She had studied socrates. I'm so the idea of a socratic. Dialogue. Was deeply embedded in her and. This. Like this was not particularly unusual for that time. There was no tv no netflix no no no smartphones right that's what you did. You would get together and you would have. Conversation. But the importance of those conversations can't be underestimated and i wonder. If this is something that we have lost. That we need to have right now. In our time. A dialogue. Is not a debate. In a debate. You listen to someone and what you are listening for is the holes in their argument. The times where they slip up so that you can go in and prove them wrong. A dialogue. Is where you are listening for greater understanding. And when you yourself put your ideas out there into a conversation it is. It is not to be put out there and then to defend the idea. In margaret's time. Is that you would put out an idea and that there would be a collaboration that your idea could be made better. By the discussion that would happen with all of the different people in the group. Doesn't feel like we do that that much anymore does it. Especially with social media and everything else. That's why i wonder what would it look like in our own lives and in this world that we are living in now. If we try to learn a little from margaret. Fuller. If we really thought about what does the art of conversation mean in our time. And in our context. How do we listen for understanding how do we listen not to try and push an idea down but to make that idea. Better. Margaret fuller was a woman ahead of her time but this thing that was part and parcel. Of her time. I think maybe we should bring it. Into our time.

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2017-12-10-ConspiracyofLove.mp3

You're listening to the podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas for more information about our church please visit our website at live oak view. org. Today sermon conspiracy of love is given by our own reverend joanne fontaine crawford on december 10th 2017. And our story today. It's called the christmas menorahs how a town fought hate this is by janice cohen illustrated by bills farnworth and the story that you are about to hear is based on real events that happened to isaac schnitzer teresa hanley and their families. It was a cold december night in billings montana. Christmas lights twinkle on mini houses on from a few homes hanukkah menorahs shown into the darkness. It was the third night of hanukkah. And i sick schnitzer's house there was a menorah and almost every window isaac was in the den working on his math homework suddenly there was a loud crash isaac jumped up. This is davis the babysitter ran in from the kitchen what happened she called. Are you okay. I'm alright isaac answered i think the noise came from my bedroom. They went down the hall and isaac flipped on the light. The big front window was shattered the electric menorah that had been on the windshield window sill was lying on the carpet still glowing pieces of glass covered the floor and on isaac's bed was a big rock. My goodness someone threw a rock through your window. Isaac rushed to the window and looked outside the street was quiet. Whoever had thrown the rock was gone. Who did it. Isaac. Why would someone do this. I don't know that mrs. davis shivering she quickly pulled down the blinds and unplug the menorah isaac i think we should call your parents let's go to the kitchen and find the phone number they left us. A little while later isaac's parents came home. When they saw the window they just stared for a moment then they turned isaac and folded him in their arms. Isaac was glad they were home. His parents decided to call the police we should leave everything just the way it is said his mom. You mean so the police can look for clues as a caster. Exactly. She said. Chief edmund came to their house and talked to isaac's parents isaac crept down the hall and listened outside the living room. He heard his mom say we're not taking down the hanukkah decorations being jewish is who we are we're not going to hide it. You shouldn't have to set chief inman. Yet it might be safer. The police will try their best to protect you but with the holidays here jewish family seemed to be these haters special targets especially families with menorahs in their windows. Isaac heard that you couldn't help rushing into the living room someone threw a rock in my window because i'm jewish. I think that's why someone threw the rock chief inman answered. There's a small group of people in billings have been causing a lot of trouble first they sent out leaflets saying hateful things about other groups about jews and some other groups who live here than they spray-painted threats and insults on a native american home and tried to frighten african americans and their church. Last week they damaged the synagogue. I can tell you this we're going to do everything that we can to stop them. Next day a television reporter and a cameraman came to the schnitzer's home isaacs mom explained what had happened then spoke about the other acts of hate that had been going on in billings and then she showed reporter and cameraman isaac's bedroom. That evening isaac was excited to see his room on the news but he felt kind of funny too. Kids slept in his parents bedroom the night before but. Tonight. He was planning on going back to his own room again what he be saying. Many people in billing psalm is mrs. schnitzer on tv a special meeting was called by chief inman in a woman named margaret mcdonald who was a friend of the schnitzer's. A big crowd filed the fill the hall. The police are doing everything they can to catch these people chief inman said but it's important that we take a stand as a community we have to show that an act of hate against even one person in billings as an act of hate against all of us. I have an idea. Sad ms mcdonald's. I've been thinking about a story my parents told me about what happened in denmark during wwii. During world war ii many countries in europe were fighting the nazis i believe that jews and some other people should be imprisoned or killed because they were different. The nazis order jews to so-so stars on their clothing so that they could be easily identified. But denmark how to courageous king named king christian. After the nazis conquered denmark in christian said that if the jews had to wear stars he would wear 12. And soon many of the danes were wearing them. Schnitzer's have been urged to take down there menorahs so they won't be a target continued miss mcdonald what if the rest of us were told to take down our christmas trees and light because people might throw rocks i say let's take a stand like the danish people let's all put up menorahs. Great idea said reverend corny i'll speak to other religious leaders and we'll talk to our congregations. But where would they get that many menorahs. They decided to get copies of a picture of a menorah and spread them throughout the town. The day after the meeting isaac's class talked about what happened in his teacher invited isaac to show them his menorah and talk about hanukkah. Isaac told them about when israel was ruled by king antiochus who decreed that jews could no longer practice their religion traditions at small group of fighters called the maccabees fought for their religious freedom and after three years were finally victorious. When they went to light the sacred lamp in the temples alter. They had only enough oil to provide like for a single night. But miraculously the oil kept the lamp burning for eight nights and that's why the menorah has nine candles there's one for each night with an extra candle to like the others. Dinner that night. Isaac's friend teresa told her family about hanukkah and what it happened to isaac's family. Let's draw our own menorah said teresa and put it in the window. But what if someone saw it and threw a rock through their window. We would be taking a risk. Teresa's dad said. But some risks are worth it. People shouldn't be treated this way. And so it was decided. Good evening isaac and his mom we're driving home it was getting dark and they drove slowly through the neighborhood look mom isaac ride. Look at all the menorahs. There wasn't a single street without the hanukkah symbols. Did anyone else have rocks thrown through their windows isaac asked. Yes that is mom. But people have become even more determined. The newspaper printed a pool a pool page picture of a menorah and ask people to display it on their door or window in their home thousands of menorahs. Mom stop. Isaac suddenly shouted. What is it she said slamming on the brakes look. I had was a house with a big picture window taped across the window was a large picture of a beautiful menorah drawn with brightly colored crayons over the menorah was a message for our friend isaac with love from theresa and the rest of the hanley family. Underneath there was a picture of a crisp of a jewish star and a christian cross. Isaac's mom turn toward him. I saw that there were tears in her eyes. You know honey. Hate can make a lot of noise. Love and courage are usually quieter. But in the end. They're the strongest. Are reading this morning is from 1893 this is from my study fire by hamilton wright mabie. The world has been full of mysteries today everybody has gone about waited with secrets the children's faces have fairly shown with expectancy and i entered easily into the universal dream which at this moment holds all of the children of christened them under its spell rosalind and myself are charlie orthodox when it comes to the keeping of holidays here at least the ways of our fathers are our ways also. Orthodoxy generally consists in retaining and emphasizing the disagreeable ways of the fathers and as we are both incline to heterodoxy on these points we make the more prominent our observance of the best of the old-time habits. I might preach a pleasant little sermon just here taking as my text deep survival of the fittest and illustrating the truce from our own domestic ritual but the season preaches its own sermon and i should only follow the example of some ministers and get between the text in the congregation if i made the attempt. 4 weeks we have all been looking forward to this eventful evening and the still more even full tomorrow there have been hurried and whispered conferences hastily suspended at the sound of a familiar step on the stair packages of every imaginable size and shape have been stripped his flea introduced into the house and have immediately disappeared and all manner of out-of-the-way places and for several weeks past one room that has been constantly under lock and key visited only when certain sharp-sighted eyes were occupied and other directions. Trawl of the scene of mystery rosalind has moved sedately on with sealed lips the common confidante of all the conspirators. And herself. The greatest conspirator of all. Blessed is the season which engages the whole world. In a conspiracy of love. So. Along. Long long time ago. There was a ruler. Mini felt him to be an evil ruler. There were questions about his legitimacy. Whether it was really right for him to be in this position of power. And he was. Thoroughly unpopular. His unpopularity unrivaled in history. Along. Long. Time ago. Evil ruler was very insecure. And his insecurities often drove him to do certain things he created mini building projects. Even building a huge wall so it was never completed. And he paid for all of these things by raising the taxes on all of the people this ruler a long long time ago his insecurities caused him to do so many things he would try to quell dissent. He tried to make protests illegal he even created a secret police force so that he could keep tabs on the opinions of all of the people. This ruler from long long ago named. King herod. It was. To whom it was king herod to whom three. Wiseman. From other lands came. They came onto his land he heard about them and he sent messengers out for them to come and talk to him. And he found that they were on a journey on a mission. They said that they had heard of an amazing baby who had been born a baby who would grow up to be the greatest ruler of all. They said that they would call him the king of the jews. King herod. Had some opinions about that after all he was the king of the jews but. He smiled and just ask them for more information. They told him about how they had consulted all of the signs and they were following a star. He gave them some additional information from his stages and then he told them he said oh when you find this baby. Afterwards come back here and let me know where this amazing baby is so that i may also go and honor him so that i may also go and take gifts. And these gifts that i take to this baby are going to be great great gifts the most beautiful gifts you've ever seen. Be sure and come back here. Conspiracy. Has probably been around. Since the very start of humankind that was probably. Some of the first things once you had three humans you probably had two who were conspiring against one of them we're hearing a lot about conspiracy right now conspiracy and collusion cahoots things that are going on behind the scene. And conspiracy is simply part of being human. It's seductive. It feels powerful to be in on a secret to be working with someone else to generate a certain outcome. Conspiracy feels good. But. Conspiracy in and of itself. Doesn't have to be a bad thing. Can we can conspire to do good things and in fact this is the season for this this is the time there are whispered conversations in corners and there are packages that appear that you're not supposed to open boxes wrapped boxes under a tree or buy a menorah that you're not even supposed to touch let alone shake. All kinds of conspiracies parents with a little glint in their eye little knowing glances passed from one to another i had one just a couple of days ago i was with my mom and my sister and my mom said you know what i really need is i looked over at my sister and i said. It feels good right conspiracy when we're using it to bring more love into the world can feel good. And it's a part of our culture. And right now don't we need more love in this world. Don't we need a conspiracy of love. And conspiracy especially about the holidays when you really start going through all of the stories that make up our whole holiday culture it seems like almost everyone has some element of conspiracy think of scrooge right he's already been visited by the ghost of christmas past present and future he's had his wonderful epiphany that he is called to bring more love into the world and the first thing he does is he rushes to the window flings it open and there's a little boy outside. And he says little boy little boy. You know that prize turkey in the butcher's window and the little boy says the one that says big as me he says yes oh what a clever boy go and get that turkey take it to the cratchits home. But don't tell them who it's from. It's just woven into all of our christmas stories. Just now been delivered to the post office. I understand the post office. The living creature cannot hide himself. Perhaps. You might help the toys here. Help them. Yes. When someday you return to christmas town would you tell santa about our homeless toys i'm sure he would find the boys and girls who would be happy with them. A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child. Ready set up. The stockings the stocking to jessica she'll know what to tell the truth. Thank heaven there 10 toys. And i never saw anything look so wonderful my whole life. Not over yet. Everyday. People like you. But don't expect. Naked. To be so useful and i don't worry you pray and i will do what. Recognize any of those. You noticed one i was hoping that i was kind of cutting across some generational divides and that there would be at least one that you would recognize in their miracle on thirty-fourth street rudolph. Let's see santa claus is coming to town. It's a wonderful life and the last one twas the night before christmas even a miracle needs a hand start thinking this is interactive your start thinking what are what are other christmas movies holiday movies that also have conspiracies and then i started thinking of a fairly recent one elf ride and at the end everyone has to do something in order to put more christmas spirit into so that santa's sleigh can fly does anyone remember what that was that they all had to do. Sing sing they all had to sing together. I'm sure we could come up with many more examples and as we get older we start realizing that. Even miracles do need a hand all of the magic of the season requires us putting our self into it hanging up the lights and helping someone write a letter to santa claus wrapping gifts. I think one of the greatest ways though that we can be conspirators into bringing more love into the world. Is when we do it and. We're not even doing it for someone who is close to us. We're doing it for someone who's out in the world maybe it's a neighbor maybe it's someone we don't know at all. Think of the ways that this week. You can be a conspirator for love. I will share one of our favorite little things that we like to do and i will admit this fully is for our own benefit if you happen to have an extra $20. Go to sonic. Go into the little don't go through the drive-through through go and park. Order something simple like a coke. Have that $20 bill ready. I just give that as a tip. On top of your price. I will tell you. It will reawaken in you that christmas spirit. And you will be reminded how something. Perhaps insignificant to you can be so significant to someone else. It doesn't have to be through money. Go over to your neighbors and bring their empty garbage cans back up to the house. Or simply when you have someone who is lonely around you. Listen to them. Not rush off not come up with an excuse well i must be going. But simply listen to them. Because even a miracle. Needs a hand. And that little thing that you do make touch someone in a way that you can't even imagine yesterday with our selfies with santa. Those of us who were here. I would say. Probably got more than we gave because we heard so many amazing stories people who. Because of money or circumstance couldn't you know didn't have the time to go stand in line at the mall. I'm special needs children who could never sit on santa's lap because of the hurry of the mall but here they could get the time for santa to talk to them and make them feel more comfortable. We all walked away with a special level of christmas spirit that i don't think we had before. The three magi. Did not. Go back to herod they did find the baby they followed the star and there he was and it says that they felt such joy. And they presented him with their presents. And they all had a dream that said maybe you shouldn't trust this herod guy. And so they took a different path home. I invite you this week. To take a different path home a different path in this time of cynicism and distrust. Create love.

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2017-11-19-Sermon-BreadFromHeaven.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For november 19th 2017. Today's sermon is bread from heaven. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning. Comes from the promise and the practice. Words matter reading by carol thomas sissel. Diverse. Multicultural. Inclusive. Welcoming. If i made a list of every single unitarian universalist congregation i have served. Visited or worshipped at they would have a few things in common. Including the use of those words. Perhaps on the front of the order of service. Or scrolling across the homepage of their website. Maybe they've been in blazoned on a rainbow-colored banner hanging in the sanctuary. Wherever they are more often than not the words are probably combined with another expression that has been embraced and every day you you vernacular. All are welcome here. The congregation. Churches and fellowships on my list. All have one or more of these words proudly on display. I know why they are used so freely. Initially i felt embraced by them. There's a warmth of recognition when my eyes first catched capture their site. A sense of being acknowledged and valued moves from my heart to head and then a smile settles on my lips. My heart balloons. I feel like the welcome table has been set for me and i am eager to pull up a chair. All of this takes place. In the unmeasurable instant. In the next moment. It is tempered. I remember past experiences and unconsciously recalculate and measure my response. The petals of my heart close a bit protecting the delicate stigma and stamen that lie within. Fear of disappointment rises within me like the sun. I love those words i want what they promise. But i have been repeatedly disappointed. It is simply not enough to print them on an order of service or in a newsletter they must have meaning and intention at their core a desire for multicultural worship is wonderful but it will not flower if that seed of yearning is not nurtured by a commitment and a plan. Longing for diversity. I've raced gender or age is only a beginning. It calls for caring and creative programming. Our congregations are primarily white female and over 60. If we are to serve into the future that must change. I believe that we can transform first ourselves and then the world. I am injured repeatedly. When we do not. When we use words just for the sake of using them i am hurt. Without true resolve planning and measurable goals behind the things i see my trust and hope or broken a new. Why does it hurt. Everytime i see those words i feel the possible revival of unitarian-universalism germinating in the warm soil of spirit i've seen the transformation begin to take place in washington state washington d.c. in california. Congregations in oklahoma continue to push our faith forward. So yes i am hopeful. Hopeful but weary. On too many occasions and in too many places these words and the ideals which they carry are given lip service. Words matter. They lift. And hold us. They illuminate the future and shower us with possibilities. When misused. They hurt. Verbal cuts and abrasions sting language leaves wounds that becomes scars. Words matter. If you and your congregation or not ready to meet the promises you craft and then share with the world. Stop publishing. Them. Please don't invite me to sit at your table unless you have a warm satisfying meal to serve. It doesn't have to be a gourmet feast a potluck is fine. A souffle may have only risen halfway the cookies might be burned on the edges the pasta maybe overcooked. That's okay. I'm starving. What it must be is full feeling real made with love and ready to be eaten. Remember. I believe what you say and write. Words matter. So this is the fourth year. Of us having what is now becoming an annual tradition our bread service and it's not just here at live oak this is one of our more recent ceremonies but i have seen it spread across the united states in unitarian universalist churches and i think it's because. We recognize in it the symbolism. Of what we want to be. What's going to happen today if you've never been to a bread ceremonia to uu church before and i'll lead you all through it. Is people are going to come forward with the bread they brought today. They're going to hand over the bread to be sliced. And they're going to stay a little bit about the significance of that bread. Perhaps it is something from their heritage. Perhaps it's something they enjoyed with their family but they're going to tell us a little bit about it. And this is the great symbolism. Each of us comes to this church and we bring with us all of our experiences and stories and even the experiences and stories of those who came before us. And this is our great diversity is bringing all of those stories together when we bring the best of what we have experienced and we put it out here on the table for others to share. And then each of us gets to take a little bit of that. Literally into ourselves. This is. The welcome table. And that phrase has been used. 4. Hundreds of years in our religion it harkens back to our universalist route. The idea that everyone is welcome at the table. And. If people have no way. To easily get to the table. Those words ring hollow. And i don't mean that just as a metaphor i am here to stand before you and repent. Because i. Didn't. See it. I didn't see the fact that it was so literally difficult to get to this table. That we had not made it so that someone who uses a walker or a wheelchair or crutches or a scooter. Could come to the table and that they would have to rely on someone else to bring the bread to them. This is how it happens. We we center what we do. On a very. Franklin narrow group of people. We still center. How to roast centrism an able bodies and being cisgender. I'm being straight and being white. And then we announce everyone is welcome. At this table. If what we are implicitly saying is come and be more like us. Then it's not really a welcome table. This is something that our denomination unitarian-universalism has struggled with. Our entire history we have often been on the forefront of civil rights actions. But we plan our churches in white neighborhoods. We have to become more aware. Of those who want to come to the table but do not want to have to give up some part of themselves we have to become more aware of the barriers that we place out there. Otherwise when someone comes to live oak. They're going to get that message all or welcome. Then they're going to look up. At the stairway. I know that they can't go to the second floor. Or we're going to say something like to someone who has brown skin so what country are you from. New jersey. We have to become more aware and for those who do not fit in that tiny little box. That we create and call normal. You should not have to be the ones constantly teaching us. We know this. We are learning we are going to make so many mistakes. But when you do teach us. Our hearts. In our ears will be open this is the commitment that all of us have to make so that we can truly be that inclusive and welcoming community we have always tried to be. Part of our mission. Is that we encourage growth. And that means the growth of everyone of us. I'm sometimes we're going to be teachers and sometimes we are going to be students. And i think in the best of moments. We will be both of those. I thank you. Because for four years you have been teaching me you are my greatest. Teachers. And when we learn from each other. That makes us stronger. And it gets us one step closer. To being able to love. Better.

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2019-01-27-WhatDoWeDoWithTheAnger.mp3

Welcomes the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For january 27th. 2019. This week service is. What do we do with the anger. I rev joanna fontaine crawford. Our readings this morning come to us. From judaism and buddhism. The stages of talmood said. He who yields to anger. Is that zip he worshipped idolatry. They also said whosoever yields to anger if he be a wise man his wisdom leaves him. And if he be a prophet his prophecy leaves him. Marilee the life of irritable person. Is no life. I'm buddhist author inesha drawn in mind and life 2000 right. Science says that all emotions are natural and okay. I'm not emotions become destructive only when they are expressed in an inappropriate way or time. Or to an inappropriate person or degree. Therapy. Is aimed more at changing the external expression of the emotions. Then the internal experience of them. Buddhism. On the other hand. Believes that destructive emotions themselves. Are obstacles. I need to be eliminated. To have happiness. Anyone been feeling a little on edge lately. Little angry little irritable. Like this past week. I'm feeling feeling a little angry this past week. The past 35 days. The past two years. Hopefully not all your lie. We are angry we are angry so often. And we are often angry. 4 reasons. It feels like. Like that the reasons like it's just it never stops its unrelenting we're angry all of the time anyone else. Feeling like that. And anger. The anger when it's like. Occasional. It's it is. It is fine in fact that you didn't say that it may be physiologically a little healthy for us because that's you know in terms of evolution that's what we are meant for we have that fight-or-flight response you don't need to use it occasionally make sure that we're prepared when a tiger comes to try to eat us. But we're not. Created for. Is for chronic. Feeling anger. All the time every single day multiple times a day. It is bad for us. It's bad for our health. Having chronic anger decreases your immune system. And it increases your blood pressure increases the chance that you are going to have a heart attack in fact this is very interesting. This applies to about everyone but especially men men who are middle-aged or older. The number one thing that can predict whether you will have a heart attack. Is not what you eat it's not whether you don't get enough exercise it's not if you drink too much it's not even smoke. The number one. Predictor. Is if you have what is called a high. Hostility ranking. That's what they call it in the medical world. Hostility ranking. It's bad for our health. And it is bad for our relationship. People who are angry all the time there tends to be a correlation that they do not have as many friends as other people do and the friends that they do have. Are not off and on the same sort of deep. Intimacy level that we have with really close friends. That is life-giving and helps extend our life. But we have. Anger. And we have so many reasons to have that anger. And so what do we do. Common advice. I think i started right about two years ago i started seeing this in so many different ways in poetry and in essays i am sure that i gave this advice myself and not his to use your anger has a power source. Write anyone else hear those messages about yes you have all of that anger use it use it to this is going to fuel us this is going to be the power for us to resist. The most. Common literal. Fuel source in our world right now is oil. We know that the. Manufacturer of it and the use of it and the disposal of it are destroying our world. Bio-oil is cheap and plentiful and convenient. And so even though i know that it is destroying our world. Every few days i go and i feel up with. Right now. Anger. Is. And plentiful. And convenient. I think it's the easiest. Way for us to fuel up. You feeling a little low energy feeling a little bored. Turn on the news. Go to reddit. Go to huffington post. Open up facebook. Open up twitter. You are refueled again. And i believe that this is destroying our world. Fueling ourselves constantly. From anger. We see it all around us we. They keep talking about this about how we are creating these spaces where we are only going to hear the ideas that echo r us. And we're building we're building our own walls right we're building our own walls around these little groups. We're not communicating with the people who made think a different way than we do. And we're killing. Relationships. In doing this. I worry that we're also destroying our smaller worlds. Because from my experience. None of us are as good at compartmentalizing as we think we are. How do we have all of this anger this unrelenting anger in one part of our life. It is probably going to bleed into other part. I think about a time when maybe. At work. You've been going through a rough time and you are so. Angry. At your boss or at your co-workers or at the organization itself. Despite all of our best efforts. When we come home. And we open the front door. It is really really hard. Delete all of that anger. On the front stoop. And to walk into the house. Light. And happy. And this thing of constantly. Fueling ourselves up with anger in the same way that because oil is cheap. And plentiful and convenient we're not putting as much effort as we should be into finding alternate forms of fuel. Because anger is so easy. I feel that we are not. Doing the work. A finding. Alternate fuel. That can help fuel the necessary work for us too. So no. Things have changed. This is not the same world that it was. Two-and-a-half years ago. And i think we need another. Fuel source. That being said. We still have this issue of this anger that we have and what do we do with it. And denying that anger is absolutely not the answer because when we deny anger when we try and repressed anger we're not actually getting rid of it right we're just pushing it down and when we do that we have even less control over it and from my experience that often means that that anger is going to come out like sideways and probably not even we're going towards the person i intend it to go toward. Repressing our anger is really not that the solution it rarely works it means that we have less control in that anger is going to come out sideways often to people whom we love. And the thing is. With anger. When we do it in this sort of repressive way. We can get addicted to that in the same way we can get addicted to oil or get addicted to anger and rrr loud ways of expressing it. We also can get. Addicted to that little power feeling that cam. When we are holding that anger. Inside. Right. A friend of mine my colleague the reverend brian ferguson. Had this thing a few months ago and it has just stayed. With me he said unarticulated expectations. Are premeditated resentments. Unarticulated expectations. Are premeditated. Resent. Like we're actually play. Consciously or unconsciously i know that i have been guilty of it right that kind of thing where you're like well when i get home my family better have done the things that i never told them that i expected them to do because if they have it going to be so angry i'm like i'm planning my anger you know without telling anyone about that who can who can win there. It's over pressing that anger and pushing it down. Can be just. As or more so destructive to our relationships. As the loud kind of anger and it can be just as destructive to us because all of those health things that they say about. Feeling anger. Are double. When you never express. Any of it. I feel so good right it feel that feeling of righteous anger. Well nowadays. We have a lot of excuses. For righteous anger. Right. Every single day. Just. A week ago. Write all i have to do is show you the picture and in the span of just a few days because we have become so addicted to anger. We were angry for this reason and then everyone said no no you haven't seen the whole thing so then we were angry for this reason that everyone said no no you were right the first time so back to angry for this reason. And i'm not saying. That that was wrong. The thing with righteous anger is we do have a lot of legitimate. Reasons for it. But the problem is right now. It is becoming a habit we are being programmed. To just immediately respond with outrage. I think that on this topic. Have righteous anger. Let me be really clear. Righteous anger has its place. All the religions. Talk about it you know in in christianity right even that piece nikka jesus has his moment where he goes in and he's tossing over the tables of the money lenders in the temple and chasing them out with a whip. If there is a role in a time and a place for righteous anger. What i am concerned about. Is that because. We are hitting.. All the time. Number one it's hurting us because it's just becoming instinct. Number two. It is declining and it's. Effective. Have you ever had one of those friends. Who you barely ever seeing. Until when that person does express anger. Everyone around them is like. Pay attention. This is probably something big. I think we need a little bit. More of that and so for me. I'm going on a fast. I'm setting this. App for myself. 30 days. Fasting is a common thing that people do in different ways. When something has become such a habit. But they're no longer mindful they're no longer really even choosing it. Bright people who are who don't really have a problem with alcohol but they realized you know i'm coming in after work everyday and i'm a little angry and so i'm self-medicating. I'm going to get myself 30 days with none of that so that when i do choose to have a glass of wine i'm actually like tuesday. People do that with fast food because it's so convenient and we just get in the habit. People do that with social media they say i need to see what my life is like without this for about 30 days. So i am embarking. On 30 days. Of pausing. That. Righteous. Anger. So that when something happens. It is not an automatic response of outrage. But it is actually. So i'm getting i'm pausing righteous anger. And what i'm putting in its place. Is trying to find. Truthful. I'm looking for the truth. In my anger. Which. It's not always so. Easy. Knowing exactly what anger is cuz they're so many things different things that it can look like. We feel that. Physiological response of anger and we often times just go i'm angry. Rather than. Pausing to actually dig in and say. Is that actually anger or is it something else. There's an acronym. Halt. We often teach this to children as a way of kind of doing a self-check and usually what it stands for is hungry angry lonely tired. But if you're if you're starting to get a little revved-up you check on those. For me. I'm actually going to change that a. The anxious. And when i think that i am feeling angry. That's going to be my first stop is to go through those things. Am i hungry cuz like. Hangry isn't just a snickers commercial i'm alright it's like hungry and that yeah. My hungry. Am i anxious i think a lot of the times the answer is going to be. That's it right there. This person on facebook said this thing that i don't agree with and it makes me. Anxious. They are acting in a different way they are thinking in a different way than i am. Lonely. We may not think of lonely is being associated with angry that much. But think of those times when you just have felt. Disconnected. You felt like there's people over here and they're connected in some way but you feel all alone. That's lonely. And you can feel it in the middle of a thousand people. And tired. Right. Like we do with a toddler that when they get tired they get angry. I wish you just think it's toddlers. Have you ever been at a late-night meeting. I work at a church i go to a lot of them. You can tell when the meeting is going on so long that we're all getting a little tired cuz we all start getting a little angry right. Bring me to check those. And then go into the deeper stuff. The big thing being. Is this anger. Or is this gray. Right now. I think that's. Actually what it is for a lot of us. We're grieving. We had a belief. Yeah gnar. Fellow citizens we had a belief. In our country we believed. That we were past some of these things we believed that we were better than some of these things. And we are grieving. And every day we get another reminder. That hey. We might have been wrong. And so i'm trying to identify when something is grief. And then treat it. As grief. And allow myself. To be sad. And to grieve. What do we do. With our anger. I think. The big thing is actually comes down to the story that i told earlier and that is. We sit with our anger. We. Interrogated. We try and figure out first of all is this really anger. Then we. We go to the step of going and is this. Legitimate. Or is this just that i have an unhealed wound. That someone or something. Is bumping up against. Are there things that i need to do so that i can move from anger into p. Are there things that i need to say that i haven't said are there things that i need to do that i haven't done are there things that i need to consider that i haven't. Considered. But i think sometime. With anger. What we have to accept is that. There is no resolution. Not immediately. We just have to sit with it. We perhaps have very good reasons. For feeling anger. And we have to accept. The reality that sometimes. Anger.

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2018-01-07-NotLeftToChance.mp3

You listen to the podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. More information about our church please visit our website at live oak u.org. Today service not love to chance. Is given by run river and joanna fontaine crawford. On january 7th 2018. Are reading this morning is from a book called the war of art. By steven pressfield. The most important thing about art. Is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down everyday and trying. Why is this so important. Because when we sit down day after day and keep. Grinding. Something mysterious starts to happen. A process is set into motion by which inevitably and infallibly heaven comes to our aid unseen forces enlist in our cause serendipity reinforces our purpose. This is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers. Don't. When we sit down each day and do our work. Power concentrates around us the muse takes note of our dedication she approves approved. We have earned favor in her sight. We sit down and work. We become like a magnetized rod that attract that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights. What i call professionalism. Someone else might call the artist code or the warriors way. It is an attitude of egolessness. And service. The knights of the round table were chased and self-effacing yet. They dueled dragons. We're facing dragons 2. Fire-breathing griffin's of the soul when we must out fight and outwit. To reach the treasure of ourself in potential. And to release the maiden who is god's plan and destiny for ourselves. And the answer. So why we were put. On this planet. Fire-breathing griffin's of the soul. I was going to stay with me i think the next time i sit down with my computer in my lap. An open up facebook. I'm going to be reminded that. This could be something good or it could be a fire-breathing griffin of the soul that is keeping me from something else. My best friend katie and i have been friends. For about 18 years. And we both lived in. Houston. I'm when i was called to austin i was and am thrilled to be here at this church and in this area. But she and i were concerned. Because we met in houston then we had only ever been friends when we lived. In the same place. Until what was this going to mean to our relationship. Living in houston the way we did we could see each other whenever we want it. She's a director of religious education and at one church and i was a minister at another uu church so. Shirley would be running into each other all the time. Until what was going to happen. When we didn't have that. Well. A real interesting thing happened. We actually see each other more. Now that we live in separate cities. Play we left our friendship we left seeing each other. Up to chance. And it turns out that leaving things up to chance. Is a terribly ineffective way of getting anything done. Yes we both worked at uu churches and yet somehow whenever she was at the church i served or i was at the church she served. That was invariably going to be when the other was not in. And this whole idea that we could just pick up the phone and see each other whenever we wanted. We both have full-time jobs. Between the two of us we had six kids. And her two were twins and those of you with twins know that somehow exponentially that wants up equaling about 16. Not sure how that works but the mom of twins over there 20. We just. Didn't see each other. This one year when we were both living in houston. We went nine months without seeing each other and when we finally at last we're together. It was in providence rhode island. Not in houston it was where the uu general assembly was that year. When i moved here. This whole mess. That leaving it up to chance actually worked. Had to go out the window. I'm so now we compared our calendars we both have the same day off monday we figured out that. Roughly the midpoint between her house and my house is lagrange. And so we are methodically. Working our way through the lunch menus of lagrange texas. I don't actually recommend this unless your best friend happens to live. Exactly the other side of midpoint from. We became deliberate. About seeing. Each other. Katie is one of. The big. Rock. In my life. And so i had to treat that. As the priority that it is. What. Would you like in your life. Or that you would like more of in your life. That you've simply been leaving. 2chan. It's not a rhetorical question although you don't have to call it out loud but i'd like you to really go in and think about this so i'm going to leave here in a guided meditation. Those who have come here before know how this works. How to center yourself. Close your eyes if you're comfortable doing so. You're not. That makes you a little squirmy then. Look down at your hands. And i'd like you to think about. What. Is something that you. Would like. In your life. Something more consistent than it is now. That you have the power. What's some of the deliberateness. To bring in. Perhaps what you want. Is something physical. Maybe you want to be in better health. Maybe you want to exercise more often. You want. To run. You want to. Do yoga. You want to eat. In a different way. Think about what. Would make your life happier. Or give you more fulfillment. Perhaps it's something spiritual. To have a regular meditation. Or. A prayer prayer. Maybe you want to study religion. Perhaps study one particular. Religious text. Perhaps. The gift. You speak for yourself. Is more about your environment. Maybe you want to have a cleaner house. Or a garden. In your backyard. Maybe you want to declutter all of your closet. Perhaps what you most want. Is something. That is accomplished. Maybe you oughta write a book. Or do you more art. Or learn a skill. Learn a new music in. Or a dance. And maybe that one thing that you really want. Maybe you want to have a closer relationship with your. Or you want to spend more fun time with your. Or maybe. You want to have a regular lunch. I'm sure we all have multiple things that we would like in our lives but for now just. Think of one. I think of something that you want. Not something. That you think you should. The world likes to come up. With all sorts of things and try and tell us this is what we should. But this is your decision. Can you get to choose. This isn't. A new year's resolution. This isn't something that's going to make you feel shame later. This is a gift. That you can give. Come up with that one thing. Open your eyes. Andre join us. Here at live oak. Master p got your one thing. So. How can this year be any different. What. Can you have what can you put into your life. So that the chance of you getting this gift this gift. That you crave that you know your life would be better for having. What is it that you can do to increase the odds that that can have. Get an anchor. Anyone here. Have her boat. Anyone here like to bo. My dad was a fisherman. So. It seems like when i was a kid we were just almost always out on the boat somewhere you know. Out in the ocean. And my job was usually the one i was usually the person to drop anchor. Now if you've never done this before drop anchor probably sounds a lot more simple than it actually is. When you drop anchor modern anchors usually forget the cartoon picture you have a modern anchors usually have a couple of kind of wedges like this and you learn how to drop it a certain way so that it'll take any kind of give it a tug so that you know you're really stuck. If you don't do that if you just drop the anchor most likely it's going to go straight down and just sit on the ocean floor flat. I did about half an hour your dad is going to look up and that part on the shore that we were in front of half an hour ago is now way down there and lump web did you really set the anchor. I'm telling you this metaphor. Because this this is a key thing whatever you choose for your anchor. Can't be another wish another goal something that may or may not happen you have to find something. That is steady and firm and dug in and already. Part of your life. And anchors can take. Different. You're going to be attaching. This gift to yourself. To your anchor. So the first kind of anchor. Is an event. Some sort of event. That happens regularly in your life because you're going to be creating your own form of ifttt. First service no one knew. Do we have any computer people here who know ifttt yes of course what is ifttt stand for. I asked if this then that and it's something that you can set up on your computer like if i buy a book from amazon then post that into my good feeds list if this then that. You're going to take an event. That already happened in your life on some sort of a regular basis. And you're going to attach your goal to it. We are it is already recommended that we do this in one way twice a year. Twice a year we are supposed to change the batteries in our smoke detectors right. What is that anchored to. Time change. Unless congress changes it again this is a steady thing that happens twice a year every year and so the experts say that's the perfect time to do this other important thing. So. What is an anchor. In your life and events. That happens on a regular enough basis. That you can attach this goal to it. Probably your goal is going to require more than twice a year. Maybe it's going to be something daily maybe it's going to be multiple times a day. My friend ken. Really wanted to work on his upper-body strength and so he decided to start doing push ups. And she knew that. If you didn't have an anchor. That it would get to the end of the day and he would have forgotten and then he'd have to do them all then or he might just have a whole day where he didn't even remember. So his anchor who's going to the restroom. Anytime he went to the bathroom he would do a set of push-ups. He works from home so this could work. If you work in i don't know a high-rise law firm you might get a few strange looks outside the men's or women's room. But so that was his and it work for him. He started very small. He started with you know probably just a couple of push-ups every time and gradually kept growing and growing now i think he does 20 push-ups multiple times a day. Because he knew he had to study anchor of he was going to go to the restroom. So what are things that you have that you know you're going to do everyday it can be something enjoyable. Watching rachel maddow. So perhaps you have a goal that will work with that maybe what you want to do is you want to knit on a regular basis okay whenever you sit down with rachel you pick up the knitting needles or maybe you want to do something with exercise okay you got rachel maddow out there and you're on your stairmaster or treadmill. What's something else you do every single day. Well the most common one the one i will say everyone in here does. We wake up. Bright. So maybe you have a goal. That you can attach to that perhaps. What you want to do is start. Meditating everyday. So every morning. You wake up. You get out of bed. And then you meditate. In whatever way works for. The big thing is to find a firm. Anchor a firm event. It is not also something you want to do it's something you know 99.9% of the time it's going to happen. So events that's the first kind. Second kind of anchor. Yes. Other people. Or another person. The research proves this one. For exercise time and time again that if you have a partner your meeting your chance of success just goes up exponentially. And i can testify to this because i guess august my mom and i started meeting and taking walks. Several mornings a week. At what we have found and we have confessed it to each other. Is that knowing the other person is going to be there is what keeps us going. I quite frequently will wake up in the morning i am not immortal. I will wake up in the morning. I do not want to get out of bed especially when it's cold outside. But there's an 87-year old woman waiting for me at lakeline mall so i better get there. And for her. Her very busy daughter. Is waiting for her. And so. We get there. And this thing of meeting people who have similar goals it's not just for exercise. Writers groups this is one of the powers of a rider scraping so many professional writers swear by the. Yes part of what a writers group does is critique each other's work. But most riders will say the number one thing it does is it gives you that accountability because these people are expecting three pages for you this thursday so you better get on it. You can also have other people help you with your goal. Even if they don't have the same goal. You have. Tom and i had our home congregation years ago were part of a spiritual parenting chalice circle. And there was a couple there auto and lisa. And they always volunteered that we could have the chalice circles meet in their house. We met every two weeks. After awhile they confessed to us that they loved us and they loved the group but the real reason why they did that was because that meant that every two at least every two weeks their house was going to get clean. I'm sensing some familiarity with this this method there's lots of ways that you can do that i have another friend who used to have a friday night dinner with lots of her friends. Yeah new orleans the common thing is monday night red beans and rice have your friends come on in. So. We can use each other for our own goals even if we don't share. The same goals. So and. The third kind of. Person or persons that can be an anchor for you. Is people you pay. Right. A trainer. A life coach. A teacher maybe someone who's giving you piano lessons. Because that's going to give you that regular accountability. I've this is someone else who is paying attention to what you're doing. I'm so odds are that you're going to be much better at keeping up with the work. Or keeping up with the practice. Because you've brought someone else in and they can be. That's the second thing. His. Here's the third anchor. Your calendar. How many of us have to do list. Anyone got a to-do list about to do list. Is that there are some things on our to-do list that have a built-in deadline like every week on on my to-do list i'll have create order of service. Sunday is coming. Every single week. Sunday comes. Amazing how that happens so i have my built-in deadline. But a lot of the things we put on our to-do list don't have those built-in deadlines. And it's really easy to just keep them on the to-do list. Okay confession. I have one thing on my to-do list. That's been there for about 15 months. Set the top of the to-do list but really i don't even see it anymore right. When you move something off of the to-do list. And onto your calendar. You're doing two things number one. You're setting up. A designated. Time. But also you are changing the way you even look at it because when it's on your to-do list it's all about the outcome right here's i'm going to run a marathon right it's that the end goal. When you put it on your calendar. Day 5 days a week i'm going to run 30 minutes 5 days a week. You've now taking it out of the outcome. And you're focusing on what frankly is more effective. Which is the actual. Process of what you're going to do. And somebody by putting it on your calendar. That's going to make you think through. How much time can i buy allocate. For this goal. And how often. Is it going to be everyday is it going to be once a week. And go ahead. Even if it's a very small amount those small amounts. Add up. Gertrude stein. Wrote that she only. Woodwright. For about half an hour a day. But she said you know what. A year. A half an hour a day. Really adds up. Look at your calendar. Be honest with yourself. Bike. If you're not a morning person and you go oh 4 a.m. that's free. Set yourself up to succeed it's all i'm saying. But find that time. Put it on your calendar. If it's a repeating thing which i imagine it would be have it repeat. All the time and then. Protect. That time. Protected as if it belongs to another person because tell the truth. Aren't we much better about those things on our calendar that involve someone else. Then the ones that are about us it's not selfish. To do this. You're here for a purpose you have things that you are supposed to do. Protect that time unless it's an emergency when someone says hey can i have. This. Time of yours no. I'm sorry i already have an appointment. Or as some people say no. It's a complete sentence no. Put it. On. Your calendar. Think about what it is. That you want. Not. What your mama wants you to want. Not what society wants you to want. And then find an anchor. So that it can stop from being just an idea you have and actually become something real. Be clear about what are the big rocks. And don't let the sand. Just. Moved. All of your room away so that you don't have a place for them. You deserve this. You are meant to do. Great things. Find the thing you want. An anchor it to something stable.

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2018-04-15-Sermon-GiveYourselfToThePath.mp3

Welcome to the life of ketotarian universalist church podcast. For april 15th 2018. This week service is. Give yourself to the path. Labyrinth walking as a spiritual practice. By katherine and mike schultz and linda webster. William blake said. That to the imagination. The sacred is self-evident. Through my imagination. The labyrinth becomes my own quiet place. On the labyrinth. I've traveled a path deep into the earth. To the underworld. And i've been to hecate's crossroads. I've been to bridget's flaming well. And gazed into the water for wisdom. I've even been to the cosmos. Where i had the sense of floating in space. The tiny lights along the path look like stars or even galaxies. I've celebrated the winter solstice where the tired old sungod goes to sleep in the arms of mother night. And is reborn as the new sunchild. Ats allen or halloween when the veil between the worlds is thinnest i've gathered there with those wishing to remember and honor the ancestors. And their loved ones who have passed on. In following the changing seasons and the turning wheel of the year. The stories and rituals we celebrate their stimulate my sense of awe and wonder. Inspiring me to be in the world more fully. The first time i heard about labyrinth walking was almost 30 years ago. I was intrigued by the idea walking this twisting path with a bunch of other people. Sharing an experience together that is both ancient and contemporary. I like the idea that it didn't matter what religion you claimed. This was something that could be done anywhere at any time with anyone no matter their beliefs. A kind of moving prayer. It wasn't until about 2002 that i finally walked the labyrinth for the first time. I was at a women's retreat and one of the women through a labyrinth. On a concrete slab with sidewalk chalk. As we walk together and women walked a x beside me. Ever passed me turning this way and that. I had the sensation of being part of a cosmic machine of sorts. Kind of like a clockwork. Each of us on our own path yet our movements together though seeming random. Have a definite pattern. Like we were creating something through our movements. Setting something in motion. I've never had the mental discipline for a spiritual practice that involves studying meditation. Prayer or reflection. I've tried a number of things during my adult life. And they always seem to fall away. I find that i need movement and something that is a more tangible experience. Something that creates a mental emotional or spiritual shift through movement or action. And i've always loved rituals. Things that feel a little magical or mysterious. Capture my interest much more than words alone. So this is a practice that has stuck with me. When you're on the labyrinth remind is free to wander. Things can get your attention that you might not notice otherwise. Sounds thoughts physical sensations emotional feelings. All the things that may have been trying to get through to you. And on the labyrinth they get their chance. Something may surface that will inspire or comfort you. Or maybe give you the tools to face a challenge. From her book the sacred path companion laura lauren artrice rights. The spiritual journey the connection to the spirit of life fires up the imagination. Otherwise we feel dry and used up. And at the same time the imagination is also the path to the voice of the soul. And to the divine. Open-ended imagination is a tool you can use. If there's something that you would like to change go to the labyrinth imagine the change. Walk the change. Feel the change. Think the change. Be the change. We walk the path of life softly with a compassionate heart and an open mind. We learn to walk softide. With a quiet non-judgmental perspective. We learn to walk respectfully with others. Celebrating our differences. All the world's religious traditions in their most profound form teach these concepts. The labyrinth allows us to experience them. And as the philosopher paul recruiter said. People are changed not by moral imperative. But be transformed imagination. Typically when we think about meditation. We imagine sitting and being passive. But it doesn't have to be that way. Tai chi is a chinese martial art. That was originally developed for self-defense. But that has involved into a graceful exercise. It involves a series of forms or poses. The practice is the slow and mindful moving of one form to the next. The mayo clinic says the tai chi is often described as meditation in motion. And promote serenity through gentle flowing movements. In the version of tai chi that i learned the complete sequence takes a full 20 minutes. Although there is a short version that takes. About 5. The long version requires 10 to 15 ft of space. As the tai chi practitioner gracefully moves from one end of the space to another. And back again. Is often practice with a large group of people. All of them moving in unison. Local thai chi instructor heloise goal. And encourages the practitioner to develop the ability to listen within the release tension and connect to the natural healing forces of the universe. Another meditative practice is that a qi gong. And she gone there is also a series of graceful movements but the movements are much shorter and easier to learn than tai chi. And the end of the movement is the same pose as at the stark. Allowing the movement to be immediately repeated and repeated as many times as desired. Now. I'm going to bet that the next practice is a bit of a stretch. But i've had a meditative experience even while windsor. Sailing a windsurf board is not like other watercrafts. Except perhaps catamaran. And other craft the sailor is mostly a passenger. But a windsurf board has three main parts. The sale. The board. And the sailor. What hooked into the sale the sailor is an integral part of the craft. Balancing their weight on the list of the sale. They have two cents every wave. Counter every gust of wind. Be ready for every law. When i was sailing i found that i couldn't let my mind wander. I had to stay focused. Thinking about what's for dinner or about something at work what is a recipe for a wipeout. I felt that i was one with the sale. Footboard. The wind and the water. As the waves and the wind are powered by the sun. I was connected to the greater universe. As with windsurfing. When walking the labyrinth. I bring my focus. To the walk. Sure many times my mind wanders. But the labyrinth is more forgiving. Then windsurfing. And i never wipe out if i lose focus. I just noticed that i have and bring my focus back. During the walk as with taichi i move with intention. I remind myself that the goal is not to get to the center as quickly as possible. This is not a race. The most important thing is to get to the center and back again. At my own pace. It is about the journey. Not the destination. What you doing. The simplicity of the movement is paramount. When walking the labyrinth there is a steady pace of putting one foot in front of the other. When i begin a walk. I clear my mind. If there is something that is troubling me it will present itself during the walk. I try to stay open to that during the walk. But if it doesn't happen. That's fine too. I let my worries fall away. This is my time. I don't think about other things i should be doing. Sometimes i put on headphones and walk to music. At the center ipaws. I have arrived at my retreat. I enjoy the moment for all too soon i'll need to return to the rest of my life. Sometimes i perform a little standing meditation. I stay on heel to heal eyes closed. Using the starting position to taichi. I let my troubles flow for me and into the center. When i'm ready to return i set off. Perhaps a little quicker than the walk in. Letting my senses heightened. I'll note. When i reach the outermost circuit. It connects the inner. An outer set a circuit. And marks the transition from the inner and outer worlds. From here i'll prepare myself for re-entry into my busy life. But when i reach the entrance of the labyrinth. I'll take a moment. Abrea bit of the intercom for my walk with me. Bathing myself in it. As a bit of protection from the demands of life. I take a very simple protest to elaborate walking. I prefer active meditations because i just can't sit still long enough for the traditional one. If you feel the same about traditional meditation i invite you to try the labyrinth. It doesn't require months of training like tai chi. It doesn't require equipment and a good sense of balance like windsurfing. It doesn't even require you to learn a new way of walking like chicken. An. Do we have made the labyrinth path wide enough for wheelchairs. So even walking is not a requirement. I hope to see you soon on the labyrinth. Long ago. And far away. In the year 2000. My partner marian and i travel to shart cathedral in france. For a week-long institute. To learn about the labyrinth are. And you have in your insert. An image or a graphic of the shark cathedral so you can notice. What we were learning about and what we walked when we were there this was an exciting adventure for us. And i later decided. A pilgrimage. During the week-long retreat we learned that shard cathedral. Was the destination of pilgrims. During the crusades. Pilgrims who were not able to travel to the holy land because of the dangers and the warfare. Instead they came to shart cathedral and walked. The labyrinth. And they literally called the center of the labyrinth. Walking to the new jerusalem. We walk the shark cathedral labyrinth twice during the retreat. On my second labyrinth walk. I was barefooted. Walking the stones that had been worn down. By all those. Who would watch. Before me. In the hundreds of years since 12:05. I felt a strong connection with pilgrims through the ages. And a sense of the ancient. Archetypal essence. Of the labyrinth. My most significant learning however the one i want to tell you about. Came during my first labyrinth walk. Now. You can just imagine. My anticipation. My excitement. For walking this ancient labyrinth in a in a magnificent gothic cathedral. I hadn't yet learned the importance. Of letting go of expectations. And letting go of the illusion. Of control. But this walk was one of my first. Very. Impactful experience of the need for this so this walk was a great teacher. For me. Now you'll need to imagine. The shark. Labyrinth. With me it has very narrow. Pabst. They're 11 circuits that you walk till you get to the center but the pads are. Very narrow not like ours. And the center is small. 50 people. Came to that retreat. And 50 people. We're on that labyrinth. And. When you walk the labyrinth. You're walking the same path in as the same path out. So when you're walking that labyrinth some people are going this way on the path. Some people are coming back on the very same narrow path. And we got to figure out how to walk past each other. The other thing you can imagine is with the pass being narrow the space between the pads. It's just like a line. So you have. People on both sides of you coming and going on those adjacent paths. I think you're getting the picture i want to be sure you get this picture strongly. So here was the thing. I was walking in this really crowded space. And feeling very claustrophobic. I felt at times i could hardly move just kind of stuck there waiting for people to pass and go by me and all that. Other times i was unsure of the path. Because if you got somebody coming and going one person is going to have to step aside. If you can find room on that adjacent path. To get around so. You know when i tell you don't worry you can't ever get lost on the labyrinth. In that experience i had times where i felt very lost. Was i on the right path was i not. And there was no peace or rest for me in the crowded center. Where do i stand there we were all jostling each other. And it almost felt like i was in a meeting the minotaur in the sandra padilla kathryn rather than the divine. A group walk is supposed to lead to a sense of community. Yet in this particular walk. I felt trapped. By the crowd. I was frustrated. I was disappointed i was angry i felt pushed around. How could i possibly call my mind not to mention how could i find any kind of. Walking pace that suited me. Would this walk never end. I kept thinking. Did i come all this way. Pay all this money. Get my hopes up. For this. It was a it was a. Dark night of the soul during the first part of that labyrinth walk. But here's what happened. I cannot tell you how it happened. It was sheer blessing. Somehow someway. On that walk. Out. My body must. Just. Relax. Or you hear the concept i surrendered. To the reality. It was not my mind doing it i can tell you that i was still like. But somehow. Somehow. I just shifted. So that i was. Flowing. I was more relaxed i was noticing. There were ways to be on this. Pass. But it was possible. To really feel like wow. This is. Mypass. I started hearing the music. Bedhead the flute music live flute music that have been playing the whole time. But i promise you i didn't hear. Before. Be there. And it was. I was moving with grace. And when i say grace to me that means i've been given a gift. But i didn't even know i could. That has just been. Sound profound lesson. For me from that pilgrimage. I was thinking the other day about an lamott a words on prayer that the only three prayers you need our help me help me help me. Thank you thank you thank you. And. And that night i had forgotten the help me help me help me. Prayer. Yet. I received the help. Support i needed and i tell you i did. And have remember to this day the thank you thank you thank. And. The wow. The wow. So as we talked about pilgrimage as well as the labyrinth i just invite you to think i bet you've been on pilgrimages i bet you been on journeys. That have given you. That. That aha moment that chance to be given the gift of being present. And i hope maybe noticing that there. Things that are happening that are working for you and not just. This this is i'm stuck here and literally i was stuck there. For a while. So just a few few other thoughts about the things that are important to me as i walk the labyrinth. The labyrinth meets us where we are. Welcomes us. Invites us to bring our wholesale. And when we cross the threshold of a labyrinth. We enter liminal space. A place. Of not knowing how things are going to turn out. A place of possibility. A transition time. An invitation to is catherine said walk the changes. That we'd like to see in our lives. It. Who knows when they might happen that your insight might come when you're on the labyrinth. But and remember and kind of return to that experience often insights or thoughts come. Later you're planting seeds. As you walk the labyrinth. So we walk a journey a transformational journey a journey toward wholeness. One step at a time. As we seek the sacred in the world around us. And the sacred within ourselves. No matter your sacred journey no matter what you're seeking on the labyrinth or elsewhere. This is my fondest wish for you. And it comes from a poem by mark nepo. Called the dive. Brave your way on. You are a blessing. Waiting to be discovered by yourself. The wisdom waits in your heart like a buried treasure. Which only loving yourself. Can bring to the surface. So again please remember you are a blessing. To be discovered. We all know your blood. But now it's your chance.

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2018-06-10_BelovedNeighbor.mp3

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2019-05-26-Stonewall50YearsLater.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For may 26th. 2019. This week's service is. Stonewall. 50 years later. My kaya heartwood. So today has honor and sort of heavy burden. Because it's very a lot of weight to carry. The history. Of gay people. And. Transgender people and bisexual people. All on your back. It's a lot. So i can only speak from my own experience but i want to tell you the story. Of what i know about the stonewall rebellion. It happened 50 years ago next month. On the 28th of june. In 1969 the world was on fire. How do people remember. The world was on fire was not. I was 9. The world was on fire for me to. But more in a black-and-white kind of way watching it on television and not knowing who these people were not knowing what was going on or why people were so upset i'm trying to figure it out. From a nine-year-old standpoint it was very intense. Stonewall inn is at 51st and 53rd. Christopher street in new york city in the greenwich village anybody ever seen it. Have you been there. Well basically it's too old horse carriage. Barnes. That have been put together as a restaurant in the 30s. The stonewall restaurant. Bernie stonewall restaurant. And later the stonewall inn. Put together as a restaurant and then eventually a bar owned by the mafia. All the gay bars were owned by the mafia. Try to imagine. New york's finest would cajun lee come by and get a paper bag of money from the bar. Leave the bar alone. And stonewall. Was most. Endangered place. It was a place where the street kids who lived in the park that got thrown out of their house for being gay. They were sleeping in the park right across the way from it. And those kids were trying to come in now drinking was eighteen then. So it was a little bit easier to get in but not everybody was 18. You had to have your id on you at all times. You were not supposed to wear the clothes of the other gender whatever you were born you were supposed to be in that. You know you had your blue on if you were a guy and you had your pink on if you were a girl. Right and you weren't allowed to cross. Cross the line. Often. The raids happened and they would be tipped off ahead of time that the raid was going to happen. So when the police would come in there with flip the light switch. And the lights would go white. And suddenly all the people who had been dancing together split off and dance with someone else. Of the opposite gender so they wouldn't be arrested. The basically the way it went down. Was. Late at night. You were pretty safe usually the tip-offs usually happen earlier in the evening that you would know the police were coming you'd be ready to go. Some people would run out the back. Some people would hide in the bathrooms. Basically you had to line up against the wall and show your id. That's what happened. Can y'all see imagine this. The walls are all playing in black everything smells like beer. They actually have hidden alcohol hidden in the bar so that the police come and confiscate everything they can still reopen right away. Now if you're a gay person in 1969 and you want to meet other people that are gay there is no internet. Where you going to go meet people. There's just rumor and innuendo. And you almost had to go to a bar whether you wanted to or not. 99 i wasn't going to the bar. But what happened at the stonewall inn that night. Was i had been rated three days before. Everybody's already kind of had a bad mood about one 1:20 in the morning. About ten policemen and two policewomen came in the bar line everybody up. They merely walked all the people who worked in the bar the 11 people who worked in the bar they walk them out. And put them in a patty wagon. And people started you know escaping basically but instead of what they normally did which was kind of. Falling into the night. They. They stood by the door. And watch the cops take people out. Now some of the lesbians. We're at very butch lesbians and then what by that i mean i drove were dressed like i'm dressed today. They were crossdressing. They might have really short hair they might have their hair greased back or whatever. There were some famous drag kings. As well as drag queens in that bar that night. They say there's many different stories about how this all went down. But they say that they had taken the. This lesbian woman. And they were arresting her but they hit her with a nightstick in her head and so her head was bleeding. And she was not happy. And she escaped out of the back of the patrol car three times. But they kept throwing her back in. And finally she got so frustrated she's yelled at the crowd why don't you do something. What you doing something. Everybody's just watching. This is happening over and over again almost like. We're ashamed and. This is how our life is supposed to be where marshall ice and no one cares what we think. We're not real people. We have to pay a price being arrested. And embarrassed and our names in the paper. This is the state that happened at stonewall. So. There were a couple of drag queens. Name sylvia rivera. Marsha johnson. Who. We're young and we're living on the street as well as being drag queens. And they weren't going to take it anymore and the story is that marsha picked up a brick and threw a brick. Everybody started throwing pennies cuz they were embarrassed trying to embarrass the policeman because the policeman. we're always working under the table and getting payback. Cannot arrest or bust a place. And so everybody started throwing pennies at. This annoyed them quite a bit. So the night 6 come out. Finally the police are so. Overwhelmed by the riot that is happening. That they barricade themselves back in the club. So there's like 11 of them in the club. And an about 200 people on the street. Throwing things. Yelling. Somebody took a parking meter and broke the window. This is this is the stone route. This is what happened. 50 years ago next month. That's what life was like. Ana allen ginsberg very famous homosexual and pull it. Who lived in the neighborhood he said they got they got that haunted look out of their eyes. Suddenly they wouldn't look so. Beaten-down anymore. There was a little bit of fire. And so the rights didn't stop that first night. They came back. There were riots for the next 3 nights. And then. A year later. They celebrated by having a march. And out march. Walking from christopher street. Down to the sheep's meadow in in central park. People who went on that first march said it was more like a run. Dunham's. Can you imagine just a fear. That that entails but if you want to understand why most. Pride marches are in june it's because of this event. Do you remember that. Stonewall did you hear about it. And often the people who had been young street kids at the march were the marshals of the pride. Parades in the future. I have a big parade here in austin every year. And so what i loved about it was at stonewall was considered. The most. Louis mostly man. But there were women there to network trans people there there were drag queens their drag kings there. Everybody was there all different colors every race represented. Everybody was there. That and that was considered the most marginalized people the people had nothing to lose and those are the people who stood up. It's beautiful right. Okay. So. I was in girl scouts. In the 70s in junior high. My true best friend in girl scouts. Took me aside one day and my friend said. We're gay and i'm like. What does that mean. The first time i'd ever heard the word homosexual i was in the eighth grade and i was doing a report on. Tchaikovsky and his brother. Who were homosexuals. So i raise my hand in class. And my cool teacher who had been to vietnam and came back. I'll african american man. A very very hip. Very 60s. Kind of guy. He said talk to me after class and everybody start to laugh. And i'm like. What. I don't know what it means. I told me what it meant. Then my friend said. We're gay. I like. That's okay if you're gay then it must be okay. You know. And then my christian friend said. They're going to hell i said they are not going to hell. My friend carol is not going to hell. Sorry game over. Christianity over for me at that moment. And then when i was about sixteen or was that a big campout girl scouts and there was this. Women are young. Young teen teenager. Who had all purple on. And so she's watching she's not really from my group. A people there's maybe 200 girl scouts were all hanging out camping singing songs. Going for walks in the woods you know eating some more that's what you do. And so. I was doing that in and she came up to me and she's the one in purple and she said. Are you okay and i went. Oh my friends are. But i had never thought about it i've never never thought about it i remember. Being in the shower had one of those plastic shower doors you know not. Not a curtain. But a heart. And it would get all steamed up. And i remember riding the word lesbian in looking at it. That's what i am. And i think everybody had that kind of out coming out moment. Everybody in my high school found out i was gay and was going to high school in kentucky in the 70s. The psychiatric. Community thought that being gay was a mental illness until 1974 right when i came out. So when my parents found out. I had to. I had to go see my pediatrician. And he felt around on me. Any side you should go see the psychiatrist and time okay. So i go in the office and the guys he's in a. Cashmere sweater. With a tie and big thick glasses and he was a freudian. Sunnyside. Why are you here. But i'm gay and my parents can't deal with it. But unfortunately fortunately i went through the whole thing and i'd read rubyfruit jungle to send as anybody ever read that book. This book saved my life. Imagine coming out at 2:14 in kentucky. And the only two there's a waldens bookstore in the mall. There are two books about homosexuality in the walden book store in the mall. One of them is a history of gay and lesbians but it's all about men. And that's cool i mean it's walt whitman. And oscar wilde. Hooray. And i was afraid to buy the book so i shoplifted the book. Because i didn't want anybody to know i was gay right. And this book called rubyfruit jungle. And this is a book by a southern woman. Rita mae brown. He was later on one of the lesbian avengers and now if you know the story of that that's kind of cool. You know because the feminist didn't want the lesbians hanging out with them in the 1970s. You were considered the lesbian menace. Literally. And so great thing about rita mae brown it she wrote this book all the refrig uncle about coming out in the south and getting thrown out of her college. And going up to new york. So i had read that book so i knew what to say to the psychiatrist. I have no idea what whether i actually needed to go but it was that's what coming out was like for me and i thought i would ask nancy to tell you a little bit about what it was like to be gay and austin in the 70s 80s. What do you think what do you want. It was pretty supportive in austin. Austin's kind of a. Kind of kind of was a mecca of as far as i'm concerned. I mean i knew some people in knoxville. Tennessee. That we're gay i think but really didn't really didn't know him very many. And austin was like. Remember i came with this woman to austin. And then she figured out no not for me and she went back and i still struggled with it and. Racine. Bellazon. And found this bar called the hollywood. And i went. Oh i think. I think this is more more what i'm looking for where i'm at or where i fit in. And. It was a. It was there was a lot of support. There was a lot of support. From other people not necessarily people outside of the the gay room but. But you could be felt like you were a human being and you were okay and. You had lots of positive. Reinforcement. In those days.

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2018-09-30-TheHappinessAdvantage.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. September 30th. 2018. This week's service is. The happiness advantage. Reverend joanna fontaine crawford. An answer to the question. Where is happiness. Clearance mccartney said. It is not to be found in. Lord byron live such a life if anyone.. Lord byron wrote the worm the kanker and the grief are mine alone. Happiness is not found in money. Jay gould the american millionaire had plenty of that. When dying he said i suppose i am the most miserable man on. It is not found in position and fame lord beaconsfield. Enjoyed more than his share of both he wrote used as a mistake. Manhood a struggle and old age. Regret. It is not found in military glory. Alexander the great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so he wept in his tent. Because he said. There are no more worlds. Sid vicious played a four-string fender bass guitar and couldn't sing and everybody hated him. Ukulele has four strings did not play ukulele in smack and probably killed his girlfriend nancy. Play your favorite covers especially if it doesn't do your homework with a fork and eat your fruit loops in the dark and bring your etch-a-sketch to work and bike. Ukulele. Small and fierce. Ukulele brave and peaceful. You can play painfully simple. Banish evil ukulele save the people ukulele gleaming golden from the top of every steeple. Lizzie borden took an ax and gave her mother forty whacks and gave her father 41 the tragic pause. If only they had given her. An instrument those puritans have lost the plot completely. See what happens when a person do not let them sing or scream and nowadays it's worse cuz his have done it takes to build a standard sick bom. So play your favorite cover song especially if the words are because even if your grades or it doesn't mean you do your homework with a fork and eat your fruits in the dark and bring your flask of jack to work and play your ukulele. Ukulele thing of wonder ukulele wand of thunder you can play the london down under play joan jett. Neutral milk hotel the children crush the hatred play your ukulele naked if anybody tries to steal your ukulele let them take it. Imagine there's no music. Imagine there are no song. Imagine john lennon wasn't in front of his apartment. Now imagine if john lennon had composed imagine for the ukulele maybe people would have truly got the message. You may think my approaches simple-minded and naive like if you want to change the world then why not. Have needed music to survive. Play your favorite beatles song. Can your favorite room your bowie knife your stuffed giraffe your new boss i your sousaphone your breakfast your dictate tapes you're giving tree your ice cream truck your missing wife will remember when. This week i have a. I've been thinking about a few people that gosh darn it i really wish that someone had given them a ukulele. Maybe things would have been a little different. Little charlie grassley. Talkin outta tune. Lindsey graham a young lindsey graham strumming somewhere over the rainbow. Maybe things could have been different now i also think there's some people that i don't know about you i have a lot of imagination but like. I can't imagine our president even as a child playing ukulele i just can't even imagine it but. Boy maybe things would have been different. Right. If people were given a ukulele when they were young and we're encouraged it. To use at work encouraged. To be happy. This week. As i was watching. The hearing says i'm sure so many of you were as i was seeing so many people so many survivors sharing their stories. I looked at the title of. That the service and i thought. Happiness and the happiness advantage is this really this sunday to talk about happiness. Oh. Apps ukulele lutely. Absolutely because we have to move away from this idea. That happiness. Is something that we put on hold when times are bad. That happiness is the reward. For making the world a better place. No. Happiness is one of the most important tools that we can use to make. The world a better place. The word happiness like i think so many of the important powerful words. Love. God. Chile. Has different understandings about what it means. Depending on the person but i think we all. Agree. That it's important. Our founding fathers enshrined in the declaration of independence they said it is self-evident. The people have a right to pursue happiness. Okay actually. They said that men have that right but i'm not going to go there this week. A sermon for another day. But when they. Put it when they positioned it as something to pursue they were showing their idea that happiness is is an object or it's something to go after it is a consequence of something else. And today i would like to present. A different idea of happiness. That it is not something that we have to pursue but that it is a way of living. And it is something that will help us achieve our other goal. And help us to live out our guiding principles. So that the standing logic. About happiness. Has been that happiness is what comes after you achieve success in some way. And then some researchers began looking at this a little bit closer. And they did study after study and all of these studies. Came to the same conclusion. Which was no actually. Happiness comes first. And then the success. Can follow. Not all the time but most of the time they have the have studies i can post it on our facebook. Page study after study showing that it was exactly the opposite of what we thought and in fact that there is an advantage. To happiness. That happiness makes us more creative. It makes us better problem-solvers there is a correlation between happiness and physical health mental health better relationships. And. Happiness can help us achieve our goals especially because it is attractive and it is contagious. We want to help. People who have a spirit of happiness about them we come together around that spirit of happiness. In order to achieve great goals together. Now. Some people. Did not need these scientific studies to know this. Some people already knew it. Well. Some. People. Or some. Penguins. Notably. A surfing legend. Named izzy and his protege. Kodi. Okay so what are we doing. Let's do some training what do you say. Hey can we get a shot of you with your surfboard. I said clock. Where you going in the water. What are you thinking. You want to surf like. Big sister i got. I've got some tests are too. Potential. Come on your eyes. Text jodi can we do some training like seriously please. Having fun teaching. Now you go. Fail. What you're talking about. That's great it's all girl having fun right. Wake up wake up. Are you having fun. Oh well then cody. You passed what you did it you're ready let's start you don't play with me. I hope some of you grown-ups or paying attention to that. Cuz how often. Do you say no no no i don't have time for fun i have important work to do. But maybe the important work to do. Would be a little bit easier. If you first made time for. Some happiness. We resist happiness even though there's all of these benefits to us and happiness you know feels good we often resist happiness why is that. I think part of it. Comes from our. That the puritan ethic that is still so much a part of our culture we are a little suspicious of happy people right you know like what are you so happy about a maybe they're they're not very smart. Maybe they don't really get what's going on maybe they're not very intellectual and that puritan street by the way is not just a part of our american culture we unitarian-universalist have it double because it's also part of our theological history unitarian-universalism came out of the puritan church and let me tell you like we still have our streaks going through us. So that's part of it is this the sort of suspiciousness of happy people and and kind of a feeling like that with suffering that we get extra points. Right and so we don't want right to anyone ever come home and you know your your kid or or your spouse or whomever is like man i just had had such a hard day and maybe you didn't but you're going to be like. Yeah me too and then suddenly would that filter in your head even though you had a pretty good day you can pick out things that weren't very good because like someone's keeping score and whoever suffers the most wins. I think that also though. We are suspicious. And superstitious. But happiness itself. My dad was a. A great optimist. But life isn't had dealt him some things and he would say i don't. Trust happiness. Anyone ever feel like that. You ever have that moment where like you realize that things are really kind of great. In your life like on several levels things are really good. And you start feeling anxious about it you start being like oh what's going to happen what you know where is it coming from. And i think part of that is just. Evolution. Like we are wired for this because we look. For patterns so that we can learn from him and some of that is good right you're you're out in the wild and you eat a mushroom and you get really really sick and so then your brain goes okay what happened before i got really sick oh i ate a mushroom i bet i should not eat that kind of mushroom again. But the problem is we also look. And find patterns. Where there aren't. Correlation can be important. But correlation is not causation and so we are going through or have gone through a really hard time. And in our search for making meaning we do okay okay like what was happening right before that bad thing. Okay there wasn't a bad thing things weren't bad. Things were good things were really good i bet that is the cause and the next time things are going good i'm going to be prepared. Cuz i know what happens next. So where we are suspicious and we are. Superstitious. And and that hurts us. That keeps us from the full gratitude. Of life and being able when things are good. To say yeah it may not last forever. So i'm going to hold on and i'm going to enjoy this. For as long as i can. And you know what maybe even something better. Is coming. If we're going to resist something. What we need to resist. Is the false binary. That happiness does not exist. With other feeling. Right. Like you're either happy or sad you're happy or mad things are good or bad. But think about your own life. I imagine that you can pretty easily think of an example. Where you could hold two very different feelings. In one hand is dolly parton said oh you know laughter through tears that's my favorite emotion. You have someone that you really. Loved. And they died. And on one hand you are. Heartbroken. But if they. How did gentle death. If they died after a life well-lived. You're also happy. You can hold those both at the same time. Your kid. Goes off to college. And. You're sad. Because you're not going to see him everyday. And you have to acknowledge. That one part of your life. One part of your relationship. With that child that child who's becoming an adult. It has ended. Something else is coming. You're sad. Emotional. And then you get a phone call or the person says hey i really love my professors. I got a great roommate. And i am so glad i'm here. And you are holding sad and happy. In the same hand. This is a false binary to save that they don't happen at the same time. And you can be full. You can be full of rage. But also. Touch in and identify. As happiness. That feeling that is in you at realizing that you are not the only person angry that there are so many other people right alongside you and as you are calling your congress people are signing petitions or marching or registering voters. Or arguing with that family member on facebook. Get in touch. With that feeling inside of you. And recognize. Also the feeling. Of. Happiness. Rage. And happiness. Can coexist. At the same time. Happiness is. Resistance. The only person. Who can frame your story. Is you. I'm when you share your story. I and other people. Will believe you. And when you share your story. My. Heart. Maybe so broken. For what you have endured but my heart will also sing because you survived. And you are here now in the world is a much better place because you are in it. Find the happiness. That is your companion through all the different emotions. Of life. Tell your truth. Can play your ukulele.

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2019-10-20-StopAssumingTheChickensMotives.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast. October 20th. 2019. This week's service is. Stop assuming the chickens motives. A river joanne fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning comes from touching peace. Practicing the art of mindful living by. Near the mountain there is a lake with clear still water reflecting the mountain and the sky. With christine clarity. You can do the same. If you are calm and still enough. You can reflect the mountain. The blue sky. And the moon. Exactly as they are. You reflect whatever you see exactly as it is. Without distorting anything. Have you ever seen yourself in a mirror that distorts the. Your face is long your eyes are huge. And your legs are really short. Don't be like that mirror. It is better to be like the stillwater of the mountain lake. We often do not reflect things clearly and we suffer because of our wrong perception. Suppose you were walking in the twilight and see a snake. You scream and run into the house to get your friends and all of you run outside with a flashlight. When you shine your light on the snake you discover it isn't. Naked all the time. Piece of rope. This is distorted perception. We need to make our water still with we want to receive reality as it is. When we see things. Or listen to other people. We often don't see clearly are really listen. We see and hear our projections and our prejudice. We are not clear enough and we may have the wrong perception. Even if our friend is giving us a compliment we may argue with him. Because we distort what he says. If we are not calm. If we only listen to our hopes or our anger. We will not be able to receive the truth. That is trying to reflect itself on our lake. We need to make our water still. If we want to receive reality as it is. If you feel agitated. Don't do or say anything. Just breathe in. Announce. Until you are calm enough. Then ask your friend to repeat what he has said. This will avoid a lot of damage. Stillness is the foundation of understanding and insight. Stillness. I would love for there to be right now. A lot more compassion. And the world. Anyone else. Anyone. I don't think that's a really radical things. To say right now. I would like there to be more compassion in the world. And and i would like more compare. And i don't even mean compassion coming to me i'll do you know who wouldn't want that right. But i would like to have. More compassion. To be able to give. Two others. And i find that often right now with everything that's happening in the world that's not my first instinct. My first instinct is often one of cynicism. Or even mean us. This is something that i would like 44r. Our whole community for all of us to be able to have more compassion. And i think that the compassion that we have inside including the compassion for ourselves. His face that will like. Girl really mean to us. Right. You know our thoughts that that are going on someone will be telling me something about their anger they're having it themselves and i'll say okay imagine that you are someone else what would you you know a friend of yours what would you tell that person i know and of course the answer is always one of. Compassion. But we're not really good at doing. I have to believe that. The compassion we have inside in the compassion out in the world. But it's all interconnected that if one person. Gives compassion two-person number to then that person will give more compassionate person number three and so on and i actually take it as an article of faith that that somehow this all wines up circling back around in the original person. Will also receive. Our religion calls us. To put more compassion in the world this month we're talking about the second principle of unitarian universalism. Which caused us to work for justice equity and. Compassion. And. So i wonder is there. Is there something. One thing is our one thing that we could do. That would both. Put more compassion in us. And. Help us to put more compassion in the. An end. So that i could multiply. I think there is. I think that there is one thing. That. And it would say it's something to give up one thing that if we gave it up. We would have more compassion in us. Would be more compassion in the world. And it's actually. Metaphorically a place. There is a place. That i think many of us go to on the daily for me it is multiple times a day. And if we would just not go to this place. We would hold a whole lot more. It is. Skull cinema. Credit to my colleague. The reverend meg barnhouse i was talking to her about this sermon and she said oh yeah yeah yeah. I said who i'm stealing that she's. Go ahead i only steal from the. Scotia cinema. That is the movie theater that is inside our own heads. And we get a front-row seat to the movies that are playing in there but we're not just the audience we are also the head screenwriter and the director and often not always but often we are the star which might sound kind of cool hey we all want to be a movie star right. The mood the star of the movie is not always the good guy. Sometimes we are the bad guy. Tbh to be honest. What may be even worse for many of us is not. When we're the bad guy. But when we are the buffoon the object of ridicule the awkward the embarrassed. The one who is tripping all over themselves the one that everyone else. Is laughing. These are the movies that happened in skull cinema. And we are often the star but not always. Sometimes we're not even in the movie. And yet we are still the head screenwriter. We write all of the parts and it doesn't take that much like you don't have to choose to go into skull cinema we usually don't choose we're just kind of sucked right into it. Scroll. Talk about facebook yeah you're just you know like scrolling through your social media reading the post of other people. Why did she post that. I know why she. Who does she think she is. I know who she thinks she is like we we are riding all of the parts were riding the dialogue we're riding to action we're riding the thought bubbles we are the nishant narrator of the films that are playing and we even know the other characters motives right like we know them better than they even know themselves. The sometimes we are the star sometimes we're not even in it. But we are always riding all of the dialogue. Of all of the different parts. It can happen so fast. And it can happen with total strangers right like i'm i'm in the grocery store i'm at heb and i'm picking up a pint of ben & jerry's and a total stranger walks towards me and and. Looks at me and looks at the ben & jerry's and boom i am install cinema and you know half a second where the movie that is playing is that this total stranger. Is really a jerk. Because she is looking at that and she is thinking that i should not be buying ben & jerry's i should maybe buying a salad how about a little bit of kale. And if we just stopped there. If it was just what. Something that was in our heads that we were watching that would be one thing. Instead. We often will will act. As if that movie that we created is somehow reality. The buddha. Would talk about this he did not use the term skull cinema. Kitty. He wasn't perfect but he use the term prapancha. And it was which talks about mental proliferation. That. The way that we can take just a crumb of something and just start proliferating an entire. Story. And then acting on that story and there's this buddhist tale of a man who's about to go to the market. And his wife as he's leaving says get a good price you know pay as little as possible get a good price for the potatoes. So he's walking to the market and he starts thinking through this because. If he pays the the top amount that he's probably going to get the best potatoes. He can pay a little bit less but those potatoes aren't going to be as good and in fact they might even be really bad. And so he keeps thinking about this and thinking about this about end and why would why would the farmer do that. Why would the farmer try and cheat. Me why would they try and sell me these bad potatoes so by the time he gets to the market he goes up to the potato stand any said she can just keep your rotten potatoes and marches off. We do that. Right. We do that wait we create a movie in our head. And then we will sometimes. As if it is real. Even with those who we love. We somehow think that we can figure out all of the motives. Poor chicken. Right. Why did the chicken cross the road every one has an answer to why the chicken crossed the road everyone knows its motives. No one ever asked. The chicken. No one ever goes and says why did you do this thing. We often don't do that. With each other. Because if we were. Then that person may not agree with the movie that we have created in our head they make actually mess up. The narrative. War. Maybe they're go. To gaslight. Maybe they're going to just say that what we'd know happened didn't really happen. Talk about gaslighting. Some of you familiar with this term gaslighting. Comes from the 1944 movie called gaslight starring charles boyer and ingrid bergman it's a thriller. Spoilers but you had since 1944. Charles fortier is a murderer his wife does not know this. And the movie is about how he manipulates her reality. To try and get her to think that she is going insane. So gaslight this was at the time of gaslight you know she'll look around and the lights are are flickering or dimming and she'll she'll comment on it and he'll say. No they're not. No. They're not flickering they're not dimming they look the way they always have. Are you okay. So psychology in the last few years has adopted this term it is a very good term when it is used correctly. For those who are in abusive relationship. To talk about the abuser. If they are deliberately. Trying to make the person. Question. Their own sanity and their own perception of reality. Gaslighting is when there is a reality. And one person tries to. Took to dissuade the other that reality is reality. What has a very useful function. But in our culture we do this thing called concept creep. Where we take an idea that is used in one specific area and we gradually expanded and expanded beyond its own. It's it's correct meaning. So. Gaslighting. Is not a synonym. 4. Disagreement. Or for having difference. Opinion. So. Who is gas-lighting who there. Neither one like we we remember things in different ways they've proven this. Time and time again you have a a car accident at auto accident and they get five witnesses who were right there and right then they asked him to say what happened and you will have five door. We have. Different interpretations of events and we definitely have different memories of events. Again gaslighting is a very useful term when we're talking about an abusive relationship. Or. A presidential administration. But. It is very easy. For us to justify. When someone doesn't agree with the movie that we have created in our head for us to justify that by saying this person is gas-lighting. No it's it's it's a movie we created. In our head that that's not what gaslighting is. In order to be able to remove ourselves. From skull cinema. We have to be able to to differentiate to separate out. What the reality of just the details of what happened. And our interpretation in our feelings. About what how. So. Who knows who that is. Joe friday thank you. Whenever joe friday was. Was interviewing some someone he'd always say the same thing what would he say. Just the facts ma'am just the facts. I meant should be our goal. If we want the liberation of being able to move out of skull cinema. To be able to go through and separate out. What are the facts. And what are the things that i am bringing in. So let me tell you a story about me. That happened this week it is i am sad to say one of 100 movies i created this week. Very prolific. Thursday night. I was at the i-x. Red bench event at the zommick center of brushy creek. Johnny was there others who were there with me it's it's a great thing and i encourage anyone to come it's these interfaith events where they bring people from all these different face together and they break you into kind of small groups you sit around a table and you have one topic. That you are discussing not debating but just discussing from your own experience in your. Wonderful. And the topic we were discussing ironically was forgiveness. I'm so at my table. There were two muslim women. And a male muslim leader from that community one catholic. 3 methodist. And a unitarian universalist which sounds like the opening to a job but it was actually it was it was just an amazing experience. And i was able to have one of those moments you know those moments were like. You're really mindful of where you are right then. And did the islamic leader the man was sitting to my right and he was he was lovely and just one of those sort of natural. M. I work he could talk all about his faith and what the what it believed about forgiveness. Until i was in that moment i'm just thinking what a lovely man he was and what a great experience this was and then the event ended. It's time for us to leave. And since. And he got forward and and thanked everyone for coming. One of the house. So as i was leaving. I stopped to talk to him. And i thank him for the hospitality. And i said you know i drive by the center on my way home every evening. I'm from now on whenever i do that i'm going to lift up you know a prayer of gratitude and peace. For your community. And i don't even remember what he said it was just that it was really short and frosty was like yeah thank you. And boom. I was in skull cinema. 5 minutes before i've been thinking about what a lovely lovely man he was. And i was in skull cinema. And as i was walking to my truck i was in my clerical collar cuz that's what i do when i'm out in the community i was thinking. Because. Because if that center the women cannot be religious leaders and he has this opinion of me he saw that i'm wearing this this collar and he completely has no respect. For me or for any women. I got to my truck. And i realized. That i was in skull cinema. I would like to say that i just backed out of it. But no. I did what i suspect many of us. The thing with skull cinema is at the multiplex. There are multiple screens going on all at the same time that's all i just left that theater and i did feel kind of guilty about it and so i just went to the theater next door and watch that movie which by the way i also created and in this movie it was that he was very busy and he had to be a good host to all of these people. But i was still in skulls today. I think we do. a lot. When we do catch ourselves we just try to turn it around and make the other person the good person or a victim themselves. And the thing is. How do i know which film. I don't. I can't. I'm not in his head. And it doesn't. Even matter. Because he gets to make the choices for himself. I get to make the choices. For my cell. And so maybe he was thinking all those terrible things about me being a minister. It doesn't matter. He gets. To do that. So first i had to acknowledge. That i was. In. Skull cinema i had to become aware. The next step was responsibilities. Because this thing is whenever we realize that we're in skull cinema. There's probably a really great. Opportunity there. For us to know something about ourselves. Because usually when we walk into skull cinema. It is because we have been triggered. We are triggered because we have wounds and a metaphor that we often use here at live oak is glass in the shoulder. We have an unhealed wound if you had a piece of glass in your arm and you know i just barely brushed up against you. It would really hurt. Can you jump back. I'm so because i have done this kind of work on myself before. I was able to identify what that trigger was. It's not a particularly dramatic story it's just i was a late-in-life baby. And so i grew up in a family of pretty much all adults. And they treated me like a child because. I was a child. But the wound that was that was left there was a feeling of not being respected. So whenever we have wounds what we often will do is then we will create a vowel and unhealthy vowel around. So it's some early age i created the value of i am never going to be in a situation where people can. I became a mom of 4 and a minister. Like. Carvel's are most of the time really unhelpful and don't don't do it. And so i had this smell that i had made. And so. When i got. Just this thing that happened in one second. I was triggered. And i acted. The film that i made was coming out of that. Unhealed wounds. I'm trying to heal it but i'm not entirely there yet. So that gave me some information for me. About okay because the thing is once we have that glass in our armed we may not be the ones responsible for it getting there but once it is in us we are responsible for what we are going to do with it. I'm so now i could say okay. This is actually situation that i'm going to have to deal with a lot because. He was muslim he could have been southern baptist or catholic or orthodox jew. A lot of people that don't feel that women should be ministers in point of fact. Or i'll be in other situations where i somehow and triggered that i don't feel that i am being treated with respect. So how am i going to be. Until then i could make a choice if you know what. When i go into especially these interfaith spaces. I'm going to be fully me i'm going to wear the collar. I'm going to metaphorically where the authority that this congregation has put into me it is not my job to make someone else. Feel comfortable. But it is also not his job to treat me with the level of respect that i somehow feel that i am owed. Now this was a course nothing dramatic and here it had it been more dramatic had it been someone who said you're not welcome to come in here with the collar. Then i still get to create. My own boundaries. I don't have the right to change him but i can create my boundaries around us. But the first thing i have to do. Is get out. Ab skull cinema. And deal with the actual reality. At hand. So these are the steps for the. Awareness. Responsibility and choice. First becoming aware that we have been usually it's not a choice right we haven't walked into skull cinemas much as we've been like sucked into skull cinema. Identifying what it is in us that got triggered so that we can take responsibility for it. And then making a choice hopefully out of our guiding principle. About who we want to be in this kind of acid. Now i am not in relationship with that religious leader i'd never met him before i don't know if i will see him again the woman in the grocery store i'm absolutely not in relationship with total stranger. Sometimes the choice that when we are in relationship with some. Sometimes our choice is should be. To get more information. And this is hard. Right. To go to someone our spouse. Our child our parents. Each other. And identify the movie we have playing in our head. And find out whether it is based in reality. And it takes a lot of fun or ability. And honesty on both sides. Of the equation. Brene brown has written quite extensively about this. And phrase that she uses that i hope all of us can memorize is. The story i'm making up is. Because you see what that does is it makes it causes us to take responsibility. We don't immediately put you did this thing we put the responsibility back on us. Skull cinema is happening in here. And she tells the story when she was swimming with her husband. I just feeling so loving with him and she said something about how i'm so glad we were able to sneak away and be able to do this swim together in this beautiful lake. And and he said yep nice swim. She thought they were having this really romantic moment and so she tried again and said something about how great it was to be together. And again he just responded very very brusque. She started. Do it telling she walked into skull cinema and started creating the whole movie. But this time she actually went back friend. And when they got up on the dock she said. So. The story i'm making up is. That you're looking at me and you're thinking wow she really can't rock a speedo anymore. Heading. Was startled and he said no. You had a dream the night before that he'd been on the lake with their kids. And that their kids started drowning and he couldn't save them and so while they were swimming. Can bernie he was trying to fight off. A panic attack. She was vulnerable. Because she also was talking about her insecurities right. She was finally able to kim which open the door for him being vulnerable for her. Whenever we do that. We are giving ourselves the capacity for greater intimate. Which is what i think that we want in all of our close relationship. So sometimes that choice is. To go and to say hey. The story i'm making up is. And if we're the person on the opposite side. To try and match that vulnerability. Which also means. Being honest. Because sometimes. That the story that the other person is making up. Is true. And can we address that. If i if tom is a texting me and i responded all i say is okay. Those of you who text know the problem with okay right like sometimes it's just we're so busy all we can do is manage those two little letters. And sometimes it's not that and so if tom says. Hey. The story i'm making up is that you were really short with me because you're mad at me about this thing. Can i be honest enough. Say. Yeah. That's actually what i did and let's talk about that. Because.. How we get the intimacy and that's how we build the trust. That this will work. So i am issuing a challenge for this. And the first part is the biggest part and that is awareness. I got bracelets. For all of us here. That's what they look like. I've got children sizes or small wrist. And and larger ones and and this one it may not look this large but it really can stretch and. If you do this exercise. Okay so here's how the exercise works. Anytime you wear this all the time. Anytime you catch yourself install cinema. You have to switch it to the other wrist. And the more you do this the more your bracelet will stretch out. Ask me how i know. I've been doing this this past week and i will tell you it has been. A humbling humbling. Experience i have if you've seen me plucking at my wrist i have had the executive team is going i do that's what you were doing in the meeting yes i've have had to do this multiple times a day. Anyone willing to join me in this challenge. What to do at let's say let's do it for a month. Share our stories during that time but definitely a month from now like after the service let's let's meet in here and talk about what that experience has has been like. The first week or two it may be that the only thing that you're focusing on is the awareness. Because again i was really shocked like. Like out in traffic when a car you know cuts me off man i am install since i can't even see through their windows cuz their tinted and i know their gender i know. Everything about them i know their parentage like you know. So let's let's talk about it once you can once you have kind of the awareness going on then go to that. Painful. Growth opportunity. Which is why am i being triggered. And then after that move to the step and what is my choice. What do i want to do now. Thank you for joining me in this chat.

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2019-11-17-WhyGoToChurch.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For november 17th 2019. This week's service is. Why go to church. Reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning is from the reverend powell davies. This is from on going to church. Let me tell you why i come to church. I come to church and would whether i was a preacher or not. Because i fall below my own standards. I need to be constantly brought back to the. Must have my conscience sharpen sharpen until it goes me to the most thorough and responsible thinking of which i am capable. I must feel again the love that i owe my fellow people. I must not only hear about it but feel it. In church i do. I need to be reminded that there are things i must do in the world unselfish things things undertaken at the level of idealism. I want to experience human nature at its best. And be reminded of its highest possibilities. And this happens to me in church. In a congregation. We share each other's spiritual needs. And reinforce. I doubt whether i could stand the thought of the cruelty and misery of the present world. Unless i could know through an experience that renewed itself over and over again. That at the heart of life there is assurance. But i can hold an ultimate belief that all is well. And this happens. Life must have its sacred moments. And it's holy places. The soul will always seek to nurture. A religious experience which is life at its most intense life. At its best. Is something we cannot do without. It wasn't that long ago. That it was just. Expected. In american society. That on sunday mornings you would go to church. Unless you were jewish and then. It was still expected people didn't really know what they did but they knew that they went to something called synagogue. And of course beyond that religious diversity probably wasn't occurring to most people. And our whole. Culture our laws. We're set up to support. We for one thing those of us who can remember back before cable tv let alone the internet on sunday mornings like if you were a kid in the 70s there was nothing it was the rough you not like today store a few new shows and then everything else was church services probably from somewhere in town. Being shown on television chan. And there was nowhere to go it wasn't just the liquor store. That were closed on sundays. Most stores were there were there might be a few diners that were open but for the most part restaurants didn't open until noon. And this wasn't just a choice this was actually law. And i can remember i was in high school in texas it was 1985. And they lifted the blue law. So that stores could be opened if anyone else remember this and if you were a teen at that time. The mall would be open. On sunday it was the most exciting thing. You can't you kids today have no idea how desperate we were for some sort of entertainment some sort of diversion. That was not. That long ago. 1985 in our entire world has changed since then. We do have the cabling and internet and most businesses are open. Virtually you can do anyting brunch brunch has been invented brunch is a thing. I'm sorry where was i going with this thank you for not leaving thank you for not just getting up on mass and walking out oh yeah. I even with all of that. And with the fact that i think for so many of us. Our free time. Has just dwindled and dwindled. Dwindled. Even for all that. This prime real estate that is sunday morning. I still. It's worth it. I know it. In the bones of my bones. That to become an active member. Of a religious community. Is going to make your life by. And i will say just because. I want to speak from my own experience and so the church that i have experience in is this church. In this church. If you become. A involved. Engaged member. Your life. I think that the majority of people fight if i polled. The whole church and said what. The number one reason. Why you're a part of this. Community they would say. Community. And there's something special about it yes we can make community in other ways. But this. Is unique. We have a group of people who voluntarily. Have come together. Around shared values. And with all different ages. In this church at live oak. We have five different generation. And that's if you count the youngest generation from babies. Up as gen z maybe there's another that they're going to our babies will wind up being another generation generation. That's not an experience that most people get in their workplace. Or at home most of us don't live like the waltons right. It is something unique. Here. And the experience of being in community being with people. Who are going to know you. 4 years. Who are going to see you as one person when they first meet you. And dinner going to withstand and encourage your group. As you become another version of yourself. That's something that we don't get. Just meeting people for brunch. It's a powerful thing. And it starts. At the very beginning those of you who bring babies here bless you for that. I'm a mom before i know how hard it can be when when they're fussing in the service and thank you by the way when you take a minute and don't immediately rush out with him but but try to see if they'll settle down all of that we got your back we're cool we're cool that's that's how we all learn to do something. But i've also had those sundays when mine were little where i was just walking the halls at my church and going you know i could be doing this at home but i would be in my pajamas. But it's worth it. Because every time that baby is here. Even before they can form memories. They are forming their sense of themselves and their scent. Of the world. And when they see smiling faces. I'm when there are people other than their parents. Who will hold them when they're ready and with the permission of the parents. They are. We are forming in them a sense of reality. Innocent. But this is a nurturing world. That they can feel safe. And that continues as our kids get older when they start talking. They have people here who want to hear what they have to say. I suspect that many of us are going. The messiah is it might be this baby that's toddler right here i better pay attention. They go into middle school and they start questioning everything and we say yes. Do that. Question everything even us. They go into high school. And they start moving into leadership. And they are leading their peers and if we are doing our jobs right. They are also leading. The older. Two and they're going to need that skill. In this world. As adults. This continues for all of us all of us come here and what we should be able. 2x. Bat. Is that here. We will be treated. Respect. And we will be treated with love. And i don't know about you but right now. That's not a message that i'm always getting from the rest of the world. And so it's good every week to come back. And be reminded of that. Being involved member of this church. Means that your life. Will be better but i'm going to go a step further. You. Will be better. You're already gray. There's no criticism implied. But we all have things that we want to expand upon. Parts of our character that we want to make stronger right. Not the things that the world outside tells us we should want. Be richer be thinner be more confident. But the actual issues of character. We all have things. That we want to get better and here. We can help each other with. So tin man. You're feeling cynical about everything in the world. And you want more heart. Come to fresh food friday. And help us serve our neighbors i guarantee you. You can feel your heart grow that day. Cowardly lion are you looking for some more courage. Church's great. Encourage that's what we do we help. You find your. Courage. I will give you opportunities for it to. People serve up here with me as worship leader. And it is not uncommon. Sprint to be someone who says. I'm kind of terrified about speaking in public. But i want to work on that. So can i do this. Absolutely. And when the legislature. Is is in session we have the special thing in january we're all of the uu's around texas all gather at the capitol and we go through a class to learn how do you go to a legislators office and talk to them. And then we actually go into it we actually go meet with our legislators and tell them what is important to us. You don't have to wait every two years for that we also got some city councils and we can hook you up to go and speak at those as well. You do have brains. But maybe. You feel like you need a little more. Baby feel like just the constant diet of social media and the news and even a book that you pick up now and then that you need to be someplace that is going to stretch your brain that's going to challenge you you will find that here yes we are gathered around shared values but i will tell you we got so much diversity of belief here and so many different life experiences. I've heard of metaphor before that ideally church is like a rock tumbler did anyone ever have a rock tumbler when you were a kid so you know how you'd they work right you got these rough rocks and you put them in and they all kind of bump up against each other. And it smooths out. Their edges. And that's one of the things that being around people who don't necessarily think just the way that we do. It helps soften some of those. Rough edges. So that we can become more confident. In who we are and more accepting. Of other people. Being who they are. We are. Teachers. For each other. And we are constantly looking for who is the messiah among us. And what. Do i need to do to help nurture. . messiah. That is bad news. But no matter what you do. Maybe it can. You're a peach and i believe in you. In all of your pitching. Another great thing about. Being in a deliberately intergenerational community as you saw. Kids movie things that are called kids movies. Like they got some big stuff and i'm so like find a kid today and ask him about what's the latest movie that they saw it may be exactly what you need. We. Come together. And the goal is not to try and change each other until something that we are not. But the help support each other in being strong with the gifts that we hold. When i was in formation to become a unitarian universalist minister i heard a phrase and i have to admit when i heard it the first time i completely rolled my eyes are like. You use always coming up with these little little terms rather than use the terms at strength or weakness. The term that was used was growing edges. What are your growing edges. A growing edge is not something that you have is not the center of you it's not something that you have already mastered. But it is something that is a part of you it is not you trying to do something that is just. Not something you're interested in and not part of you if i try and match our excellent soloist. Like that ain't going to happen that's not even a growing edge that's like 2 mi down the street. But i do have things. That i haven't worked that much on. That i can. Strengthen. And make larger. There's this great quote by the theologian one of my favorite theologians dolly parton. She says. Figure out who you are. And then do it on purpose. And that's what we're here to do for each other to help each other figure out. Who we are. And then do it on purpose. And if we have a little bit of a skill what can we do to expand that skill if we have a little bit of wisdom what can we do to expand. That wisdom. In january of 2014. I began exchanging emails with the live oak. Uu church. Ministerial search. They were interested in interviewing. And the chair of the team. Sent me an e-mail we'd already scheduled when we were going to have this interview. And she said we're all we're going to set up a little altar. During the interview and we're each bringing something to put on it and if you would like to put something on it. We would we would welcome.. So i looked through the different things that i had. And. I chose this one. I still keep it here in my study at the church. It's a little tchotchke that i got in san francisco in chinatown. And it's a reminder to me. To always be a teacher and always be a student. The both parts of that and i'm sharing this with you not because i'm the minister and these are my. Both of those roles. Are for everyone here. Of all ages. We have three year old. Who are amazing teachers. We have 18 year olds. Who are amazing students. And the goal is to be both because that. That's what we do. That's very interesting to me if you look at this. You don't actually know for sure which one is the teacher and which is the stew. Why do you think you do. Cuz one looks older than the other right. But we know. That age is not a determinant. Of whether someone is a teacher nor. Does it limit someone to only being a teacher. And not being a student we are always low. Always growing. I don't know if you have. Been on social media. Much. Or the internet. There's a little bit of stress between the generations. Anyone picked up on that anyone seen this. There's some nasty stuff out there isn't it wow. Part of that. Is because of course there's nastiness right now. Our society is in a state of regression we are so highly anxious that we're just lashing out wherever we can. But there are some important stuff to. Our people will often and i do it too i saw an article that i'm gen-x i saw an article this week saying that oj nexus they're all karen's. Which you have to i won't go into explaining what that mean. Karen is the one who calls up the manager youtuber very racist ways or the cops or whatever that's that's the stereotype we have and so sure any generation we're going to see something like that and go. But if we just. React. Defense. And i'm not saying the defensiveness is wrong. But if we only react. Defensively. Then. We are missing. Some potential lesson. We are missing some information. We again what an incredible opportunity we have here five different generations. We are most of us shaped by the events that happen in our lives. And so no it's not we don't follow all the same things that are generational cohort do. But there are some patterns that we can look at. Some information that we can get. So that we can all become. Braver and stronger. And smarter. But it does mean that we have to listen to each. There's another thing that's going around the internet i like this one a lot more. You can read that. Does talk to old people they know stuff you don't. Talk to young people they know cool stuff you don't. The one change i would make his maybe change the word. Talk. 2. Listen. But i also understand colloquially when we say talk it implies. That there is a dialog. Happening. The more we can when we feel defensive. Take a deep breath. And instead say tell me more. And listen. To the other person. And if we are the one that's throwing out the meme. When someone says. I don't exactly agree with that mean. And here's why. Listening to them the more we can actually dialogue. The more wise we can all be. Now all of this work. Of becoming better. Is not something that just showing up will do it i will say i think some sundays just showing up really can be what any of us need. But to really get the most out of. We've got to engage. I have a a friend and when she had she had two little ones a baby and a toddler. And she joined a gym when they were at that age. I thought she'd go and should put them in childcare. And then she would go up to the women's dressing room. And she would sit for an hour in the sauna. And then she would go and take a shower all by herself no one calling mama. Why didn't you go get the kids and she'd leave. So two things a. That was brilliant and why didn't i ever think of doing that. And. She wasn't working on her muscle tone at the time right now that was fine what she really needed right and she knew this about herself what she really needed at that time was rest and i know that for all of us. There will be times when you need to go through a period where all that you are doing is coming into. This congregation and sitting. And resting and being there. But then once we get our breath back it's time to move on and it's time to get in a face development class it's time to go out and serve because we got muscles. Soul muscle. That we want to work on. James luther adams. Was that the. I think that the most important. Unitarian theologian. Of the 20th century. And he was a professor at meadville lombard which is a unitarian seminary. But he also was a member of the first unitarian church of chicago. And was on their board for a. of time. In 1948. And this makes me cringe to say it but we have to be honest. Both about the strengths in our history and the cringey weakness. Vacuums 1948. Not all unitarian churches have been desegregated. I'm first unitarian chicago had not been. I told the board was meeting they wanted to change that they wanted to officially desegregate and go out into the neighborhood so that they can invite all of their neighbors to come to church. At at that time this was still controversial. And the board. Argued and argued. Late into the night. Finally james luther adams. Pointed to the person who had been arguing against desegregating the person who had been the loudest. And he said. What is the purpose. Of this church. And he says that the man. Side. And said. I guess it the purpose is to get ahold of people like me. And change us. There are so many things that you could be doing with your time and your energy but i tell you. I will absolutely commit to this. Being here and being involved with this congregation is worth it your life will be worth it you are worth it. The mission of live oak unitarian universalist church is that here we embrace joy. In which connections encourage growth and empower dreams. You can take all of those and they come down to one goal we make lives better. It's an audacious goal. And together we can make it happen. It's worth it.

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2018-04-08_JoyinDissconance.mp3

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2017-08-20-YouStandOnTheShouldersOfGiants.mp3

You listen to podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. More information about our church business at our website at live oak uu. org. Today's sermon you stand on the shoulders of giants. Is giving byron reverend joanna fontaine crawford. On august 20th 2017. Ar reading today. Is a poem called lines. By frances ellen watkins harper. At the portals of the future full of madness guilt and gloom stood the hateful form of slavery crying give give me room room to smite the earth with cursing room to scatter wind and slay from the trembling mother's bosom room to tear her child away. Rim to trample on the manhood of the country far and wide room to spread our every eden slavery scorching lava tide. Pale and trembling stood the future. Boiling meat is frowned of hate as he grasped with bloody clutches. The great keys of doom and fate. In his hand he held a banner. All festooned with blood and tears. It was a fearful ensign woven with the grease. And wrong of years on his brow he wore a helmet. Stacked with strange and cruel art. Every jewel was a life drop wrong from some poor broken heart. Do her cheek was pale and anxious yet with look. And brow sublime. By the pale and trembling future. Stood. The crisis. Of our time. Confirm any of throbbing boozing came to words and fear and gloom tell us they'll coming crisis what shall be our country's doom shall the wings of dark destruction brood and heart hover or land till we trace the steps of ruin from their blight. From strand to strand. Person. Who wrote that was. Frances ellen watkins. Harper. And. She was born. With parents who were both. Free african americans. At the time of slavery. In her lifetime she became an abolitionist. And after the civil war she worked tirelessly for the vote. Both for african-american men and for all women. And intermingled and all of that. As you heard. She was a writer. She wrote many books of poetry she wrote short stories in fact she's on record as being as having the first. Published short story. Written by an african-american woman. She did all kinds of writing. And. She was a unitary. When i was being ordained into the ministry. The late. Very great. Reverend mark edmiston lane. Formally welcomes me into fellowship. And he said with tears in his eyes. You stand on the shoulders. Giants. People. Like. Olympia brown. And ralph waldo emerson. Geniuses. Amazing profound individuals. People who shook. The foundations of society. And insisted. We could do. Better. Dee's. Are your people. And these are your people. Now as unitarian universalist we often like to poke fun at ourselves. For the most part i think this is a very good thing we don't take ourselves too seriously. I'm one of the things that we like to do you know t's mock each other for is our propensity to talk all about those famous unitarian and universalist of before. Unitarians and universalist because we did not join together until. 1961 thank you. And. Sometimes these people will will will. Talk about this. As if it's something not connected. To what. We do now. As if it's a mere historical artifact. Some children living in my house. Will even claim that whenever they came home from school. Telling me about someone they learned about in history like john adams. Or some figure from literature like louisa may alcott author of little women that i would always ask. And what was their religion. I don't know mom scientologist. Snarky things. They clearly get it from my husband. I am proud of this i am very proud of this history and there are some people that will even say that we shouldn't do that that we shouldn't claim these people they say especially these these ones from the 1800s. Walked into a modern unitarian universalist church. But they would be shocked shocked i tell you. At what this religion has become. Personally i think if any of these people from the 1800s walked into one of our churches they'd be shocked shocked i tell you more at. Cars and televisions and cell phones. But they're missing the whole point they're missing the whole point the point is not. How would these people from our history. Fit in with the church that we have become the religion that we have become. It is that. They made us. The religion. That we have become yes we have changed. Because it is deep in our religious dna. That we believe revelation is not sealed. But their effects their influence. Are still being felt. By us they still. Form and shape what we do. Are very principles are. Seven principles of unitarian universalism. Were adopted in 1985. Which was not that long ago the person who graduated high school in 87 wants to assure you. They were adopted in 1985 but they didn't arrive from noplace they didn't come from a vacuum. These were an articulation. Taking place. Of the voices and the the writings of people over hundreds of years. These were the things that they grappled with. These are the concepts that they formed. That now. Forum us. You stand. On the shoulders. Giants. Whether you have. Better.you you for one day. Or for a whole lifetime. Whenever you sign the book. Or claim that identity. As a unitarian universalist. You instantly. Inherit generations of theological ancestors that are yours to claim. People who's riding and who's lot americans. She was a writer. And. Least of all this stuff. I can guarantee everyone in here knows one thing she did. Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go she happened to write that. A tiny little note. Ya naa profound life. And the reverend samuel joseph may also someone who was inspired by channing he was an intern of channing's he was an ardent abolitionist. He also happened to be the uncle of louisa may alcott. Little detail i think if you read her books you can kind of. Pick out some some samuel jaymay stuff in there. And. Lydia maria child. We're so inspired. By channing. And they were also in despair. Because c channing. Gave just kind of wishy-washy answers. On the subject. Slavery. He didn't come out and say what was so for him. Until finally. Sam may. Screwed up his courage remember he was you know the lowly intern of this great man. And he went and talked to him. And he talked about the fact that channing's integrity. Was out of alignment. On this issue out of alignment with his actions. And because of that. Channing change. Because that's what we do. Welearn. From each other. We changed because of. Each other. And this guy. I'm guessing most of you have not heard about him even even people who have been you use for a long time having airoldi collymore. So he was a dentist. And dr. collymore moved to white plains new york. Which was heavily segregated. He integrated by the way the white plains unitarian church he and his family. And he looked all around. At the living conditions for blacks up there. 44 the fact that they could only go to the ymca 3 hours once a week all of these things and he knew he had to take a stand. And the issue of living conditions. To him was. The most that the biggest issue that they had to deal with like when he moved there all he could get for it for him and his family was this tiny run-down apartment that normally was $30 a month. But he got the special negro rate of $80 a month. And so he moved. Into an all. White. Neighborhood. As he says. And then all hell broke loose. A 7-foot flaming cross was burned on his front yard in the middle of the night. What you think that only happened in the south. Newspapers the local newspapers ran these big. Article so neighborhood he had moved into was called the highlands. It said black invasion of the highlands. A dentist. A dentist and his those dentist man they're fierce. Get his ammo it is this is one of. I regret to say one of the few moments. Where we can look at white unitarians. And how they treated a race issue. And feel a lot of pride. The whole congregation supported him all through this. He remained a member of that church until his death in 1972. He was one of these active lay leaders like we have in our congregations yes i'm looking at you mark anderson. He was the very first person of color. To serve on the american unitarian association's board of trustees. In the 19. All of these. People. These. Geniuses. These people of noble character. These are your ancestors. And we still today can turn to them to their lives. And their words. For our questions. As we seek to figure out our own answers. For instance handi. What seems to be the big moral question of 2017. Is it okay to punch a nazi. When you stand on the shoulders of giants. Your view is so much. Weider. And faster. You can see across time so on this question is it okay to punch a nazi. We can actually. Talk. By reading. To the people who struggled with this issue. For instance let's. Go back to the reverend john haynes home again helped. Co-founder the aclu and the naacp. He went to india. And became a student. And a close friend of gandhi. As you can imagine. That kind of effexor person. And he became an ardent pacifist. 3 world war 1 and world war ii. He paid. Heavily. For this. At one point the american unitarian association passed a statement of conscience. About. Fighting. And they also decided that any churches who had a pacifist. Minister that they were going to levy a fine. Against them. For a while. Reverend holmes wound up. Leaving. The unitarian association but not his church they just dropped the name unitarian and became community church. Enjoying them again many years later. They put the unitarian back on the sign. This is what we do this is one of the beauties of congregational polity. He also i'm all of his other honors bears the perhaps dubious honor. Being the subject of a political cartoon drawn and written by none other than theodor geisel. Also known as. Dr. seuss. Dr. seuss was not a pacifist. And andrew a cartoon. I decided not to put the cartoon up and here's why. It depicts a very. Racist picture. In it of someone who is japanese. But i encourage you. Especially those of you with kids. Go home this afternoon all you have to google is john haynes holmes dr. seuss you'll find the cartoon. And have a discussion about it. How to discussion about. Pacifism. How do they feel how do you feel. And please also have a discussion about the fact that even when we are at war. With a people. It is never okay to. Racist. Not dr. seuss. Finest moment. So that's one answer that you can get from our ancestors however if you talked to prominence. Theologian of the twentieth-century james luther adams he would have a completely different answer for you. He was for just war. He was against pacifism and in fact he even said that. Hitler was someone who believed in power without love. And pacifist believed in love without power. So. As you go looking into what our ancestors would think. They will not give you the. Answer. They will give you their answer. Which you can then use to figure out your own answer. Your own guiding. We stand on the shoulders. Of giants. And what they say what they said in the past. Has such relevance now. I can still open up a book. From 200 years ago. And be astounded. At what i find in there. And it is very very important. That we do this hard work. Of looking into our own souls. And deciding. Which side are you on boys. A year ago i was looking back at my sermon from a year ago and a year ago. A year ago was 20 years ago wasn't it. Last year i stood up here. And i recommended that when uncle ralph. Comes to dinner and he starts his racist diatribe. That in some way we be bridge builders. That we try to find some common ground in order to help. Move him. Towards what we know to be right. I am no longer saying that. We have reached a point. We're certain things. Must simply be. Unacceptable and we need to say so in hard words as i spoke about with the kids when someone said nazis yes. Nazis. This is no longer. Hyperbole. This is no longer over-the-top rhetoric. Godwin's. Law has literally been revoked. For those who don't know godwin's law this is something that came out a few years ago mike godwin said. The longer an argument goes on especially online the greater the chances that someone is going to use the term nazi or hitler and whenever you do at that point the person who says not to your hitler you've lost. You've gone over the top. After the events of charlottesville. Someone reached out to mike godwin. And said. So what do you think now. And he said. Call the. Jerks. He didn't say jerks. Call the jerks nazis. Because that's what they are. We are now living in a time. Where we have actual nazis marching in the street. Saying nazi slogans. With swastika. With confederate flags. We have a president who says. I saw very fine people on both sides. Let me be very clear. There were no find people. In the nazis. It seems crazy that i'm even having to say this. Another little story. It all of the noise of this past week. There's a good chance that many of you missed this. The department of justice. Went to an internet service provider dreamhouse. And this and dreamhost. One of the the website that they hosted. Was the website that was used to organize people back in january. For the the anti-trump. Rally's that were happening on inauguration day. The department. Addresses the us department of justice. Contacted dream. Host. And demanded that they get a list. Every single person who has even visited that site. 3.1 million people. If they've even visited the site. The doj felt that they should get. Their personal information. Dreamhouse i'm happy to say. Is fighting this in the courts. It is no longer hyperbole. For me to stand here and say. Fight. Fascism. This is the reality that we are dealing with. Unitarians for good reason will often get a little nervous if the minister up here starts talking political. Friends. This is not political. When you have loyal members of the president's own party people like orrin hatch. Marco rubio. Rebuking. The president. Then this is no longer partisan this is no longer political this is not democrats versus republicans this is with no hyperbole americans. Versus. Fascist. We need to be really clear about that. And we each as individuals need to be thinking. What will i do. How will i step forward. There's so many ways that we can do this i would say let's start. Relatively quick release mall. You know how we treat smoking now and apologies to the smokers in the room but. We made it. Morally unacceptable. To smoke in public. Right. So how about we do the same with racism. When uncle ralph is sitting at your dinner table and start stalking racist or start stalking anti-semitism. What would you do if someone if your non-smoker and someone wanted to smoke in your house. I'm sorry uncle ralph. You can go out into the front yard for that. I can't have that around my kids. Can't have that around my soul. You're sitting in a restaurant. Got your table full of kids there cuz now we know right about second-hand smoking. Table lights up next to you waitress. Can you move me. So when you start hearing that hate speech. Waitress. Can you move me. I don't want my children to be exposed to secondhand racism. I think those of us with color privilege. Used to think that racism would. Would just a j out. Right. Uncle ralph. He's not going to be around forever. I was looking at the pictures of those people in charlottesville. That wasn't uncle ralph. That was people a lot younger than me. And we simply need to be very clear. In all aspects of our lives. But this is repugnant. And completely. Unaccept. The view right now. Right in front of us. It's not very pretty. Pretty horrifying in some ways. Thankfully we do have things like yesterday in boston where we see this year. Difference in numbers. To give us hope. And you. From your perch up there on those shoulders. You have a longer view. You have a wider context. You stand. On the shoulders. Giants. Profound individuals. People. Who shook. The foundations of society. And insisted we could do. Better. These are now your peep. You stand on the shoulders of giants. And you. Are giants. In the making.

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2019-04-14-TellingTheBeesGriefAsASpiritualPractice.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For april 14th 2019. This week's service is telling the bees grief as a spiritual practice and joanna fontaine crawford. A reading this morning is a poem by john greenleaf whittier. Call telling the bees. Here is the place. Wright's over-the-hill runs the path i took. You can see the gap in the old wall still and the stepping stones in the shallow brook. There is the house. With the gate red barn in the poplars tall and the barnes-brown links and the cattle yard in the white horn tossing above the wall. There are the beehive. Ranged in the sun and down by the brink of the brooke are her poor flowers weed or run pansy and daffodil rose and pink. A year has gone. How's the tortoise goes heavy and slow. And the same rose blows in the same sun glows in the same brooke scenes of a year ago. I can see it all now the slantwise reign of light through the leaves. The sundowns blaze on her windowpane the bloom of her roses under the eaves. Just the same as a month before the house in the trees the barnes-brown gable the vine by the door. Nothing's changed but the hive of bees. Before them under the garden wall forward and back. Went through really singing the tour girls small draping each hive. With a shred of black. Trembling i listen. The summer sun had the chill of snow fry new she was telling the bees. Of one gone on the journey we all must go. Then i said to myself. My mary weeps. For the dead today. Happily her blind old grandsire sleeps the fred and pain of his age away. But her dog whines low on the doorway still. With his cane. To his chin the old man sat. And the tour girls still sung to the bees stealing out and in and the song she was singing ever since in my ear sings on. Stay-at-home pretty bees. Why not hints. Mistress mary is dead and gone. So whittier wrote that poem in america in 1858 and one of the things he was hoping to do. Which he was hoping to revive in this country what had been a common tradition in the old. Humankind has always had a respect for bees sometimes even a reverence. In egypt. It was believed that bees came from the tears of the sun god re. And in hinduism certain gods were associated with bees. You can see in some arch like krishna often is pictured with a blue bee. Auntie on his forehead. In fact certain hindu gods. Were referred to as those who were nectar. Born. And in western europe. For a long time. It was just sort of expected that families would keep their own hives. Honey was how you made me. honey was your sweetener farmers needed the bees to do their work for their crops. And people felt. And attachments. To the bees. There was some question even whether the bees were somehow connected to the heavens. And connected in some spiritual way. And so it was just tradition. That when a member of a family die. You were to go out. To the hives. And tell the bees. And this was such a common practice that from the renaissance on you'll find this depicted in many pieces of art. People believed that if you did not go notify the bees that the hive would sicken and die or that the bees would all leave the hive and go somewhere else. And people would often put black crepe. Around the hives. As happens anywhere with superstitions you have different understandings about the specific details of how you do this. like like right now does anyone do the rabbit rabbit. Thing i know that we're not the only really we're the only want it okay someone's messing up so there's a tradition that a lot of people do on the first of the month where you say rabbit rabbit and that helps ensure that you have a good month but but there's much debate do you say white rabbit white rabbit or rabbit rabbit. I'm doing the same way. In western europe. There would be some people who felt that it was very important that you go over with a stick and rap three times on the hives others who felt that it was important that you do it via song or in a rhyming verse. And if it was the beekeeper who had died. And there was another person slated to take that slot you would introduce them. To the hive this is the new bbq. When i first read about this. It just kind of grabbed me i think part of that. Was. This whole thing where these families. We're seeing bees not just as something that. Provided honey for them but. I felt that there was some sort of a relationship there. Are r17 tutoring universalist principal talks about our respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are just one part and this is kind of like taking that another step. People felt that the bees in some way were actually part of the family. And so they all grieved together. Now beekeeping in recent years has had a bit of a resurgence. As some of us look to figure out how we're going to live the dream of the 1890s. But i still feel pretty comfortable assuming that the majority of us do not actually have our own hive that we are taking care of. But i think that we should still look. At this tradition. Examine it. And figure out if there is something in this. That would be useful to us that if we can adapt it to our own circumstances and some way. Last fall we talked about grief practices this was around the time of dia de los muertos. I'm one of the things that is very clear when you look at grief practices and other religions and in other cultures. Is that. For the most part american culture. White influence protestant influence white culture. Just really does not do a good job at grease. If you were to say that we had one communal practice. It would probably be that. You take however much time bereavement time they call it it you are allowed at work. At most jobs have it very specific you get 5 days for this kind of relative in three days for this kind of relative. We take our bereavement time. We go to the funeral. And then we get back to regular life. Trying to pretend that nothing has changed. And if someone catches you weeping at your desk. Or in the middle of the frozen food aisle at heb. What do we do. We feel embarrassed. And we apologize. Right i'm sure i'm not the only person who has ever apologized. For my own craving like. Stop. that's not normal that's not natural. Especially when we compare it. Two other ways that people have to grieve. Such as the catholic grandmother. Who every week goes to mass and like the candle and says a prayer for the soul of her departed husband. Or the confucian family who keeps an altar in their home honoring their ancestors and their departed loved one. Or those who are practicing jews. Who every year on the anniversary of their loved one's death they like with call the yard site candle and they let it completely burn until it's burned itself out. I think judaism. Is one of the practices that we should look more at snot. 2. Take their traditions but to see the wisdom in. And come up with our own. If you are jewish. And you lose at what it's called a cardinal relative so apparent or a child. Then multiple times a year. You will sit with others who have also lost that type of a relative. And you will say communal prayers and this happens multiple times a year. And. It happens for the rest of your life. Once you have lost a parent you are now part of that group that will say these prayers. And frankly i think that that is connected more to reality. I had a brother who died 40 years ago and i know that my mother my mother is very happy has had a good life but i know that to the very last day of her life there's going to be part of her. Grieving. Her son. My dad died a couple of years ago. And i know that there is never going to come a day. When i don't miss him. How do we make friends. With grief. And how do we come up with sort of. Ordinary practices. .. Speak to. And make sense to us. I asked some of my friends about this in one of the things that we all kind of agreed on is that. Grief is just a part. Of life. And the longer you live. And the more you love. The more grief you're going to. Grief is the tax that we pay on living and loving. But the thing is. It's worth it. I have a friend who financially a few years ago had a really really good year. And then it was tax time. And he had quite a bit to say about the huge check that he had to write but he did have the grayson the perspective to say okay yeah but like i wouldn't have to write this huge check if i hadn't made all of this money i mean i did get to keep it a little bit more money than i'm having 22 giveaway. Grief. Is the tax that we pay. But. All of that living all of those experiences that we have and all of that love. Is worth it. And. It may not always feel like that. I'm sure that my friend when he was actually having to write the check to send to the irs it may have been a little bit hard to to keep his perspective. And when we are in. The throes of grief. When it is fresh. And raw. And heartbreaking. It is understandable. To not. Be able to just put this into some calm perspective and to even wonder if it is worth it to continue loving. Animals. Pat's. Other humans. But grief has a way of. Softening. And one of the ways that we can help it. Is by coming up with ordinary ways. To check in. With our grief. In our culture we often treat grief. As if it is something that we are supposed to keep special right only for special events. Rather than acknowledging. that grief. Is part of life and it's just something that we. Carry with us and grief can walk. Hand in hand. With gratitude. Some of my friends that i asked about grief. I asked them if they had particular practices. Where they actually we're making it sort of a spiritual practice. I had one friend who talked about how her mother loves daffodils. And so now every year. Plant a ton of daffodil bulbs and thinks of her mom then and then in the spring when they come up. She's thinking again about her mother. I have another friend jonnalu and her brother was one of these people that donated blood like on a regular basis as often as they allow you to do. And when he died. Picked up the prac. And now she goes on a regular basis. And donate blood. And thinks about her brother. When she does so. 1 this is an actual photo that he sent me i had a friend whose wife. Keep this lamp on all the time it was her mother's. And she told him. She's just making sure that. Her her mother's spirit has a light. Delete her home. My friend patrick several years ago was out shopping with his mother and he found a mug. And they gave it to his grandmother. Grandmother would. Drink from it every morning. The grandmother died. And his mother got them up. And he said that that he never asked her about it but he was pretty sure that when she drank from that mud. She was thinking of her mother. I've been his mother died. And the mug has now come to him. How do you says that every morning he is drinking his coffee out of that mug and thinking both of his grandmother. And. So how can you. Touch in with brave how can you make. Grief. Ace. A sort of ordinary everyday practice. I thought about it in terms of my father what would my version be of going and telling the bees my dad was not a beekeeper i wouldn't even know where to go to find a beehive. But my dad did like to get out in the natural world. He was a fisherman but. I'm pretty sure the fish if i went and gave them the news they're just going to feel a little bit you know safer that he's at he's not around to be above danger to them. Then i remembered. He used to live in new mexico out in the desert he had this little kind of like postage size a little yard i guess you could call it that with with the fence. And every year there's these things called spoon-billed thrashers. And there was a cactus in the corner of his fence. And they would come and build a nest every year. Lay their eggs have their little baby thrashers and he enjoyed. Seeing them building the nest and listening to them seeing watching them fuss at other birds. Now. Occasionally he would look out into his little yard and there would be a bull snake. Somehow a bull snake would get in under the fence and it would start heading towards the nest. Now you don't actually want to kill bull snakes because they eat rattlers and bull snakes themselves are not poisonous. So he would go out to the garage and and get like an a hole or something and. Carefully get it under the snake and carrie the snake. Far far out into the desert. And come back. He's kind of protecting the thrashers. So i realized yeah. That's that's who i would go and tell the news. The thrasher's and even. The bull snake. I don't feel the need to actually make a pilgrimage to new mexico his house has long been sold to strangers. But i do like to get out in nature. And so my plan is i'm going to go out probably brushy creek park go out near the water and i'm going to look for some birds. And i'm going to tell the birds. I'm going to give them the message. That my father. Is no longer here. And ask them to pass it along to other birds and other birds until it wake makes its way to new mexico. I'm not planning on notifying any snakes. If i see any i will be sure to give them the news to. Very loudly over my shoulder as i run in the opposite direction. Greece. Is just the tax that we pay its ordinary it's not something to be put back for a special occasion. How can you make grief. Just. One of your spiritual practice. How are you going to tell the bees.

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2019-05-05-ITakeAsMyText.mp3

You're listening to the podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. For more information about our church please visit our website at live oak u.org. Today's sermon i take is my texts at 21st century unitarian-universalism part 1. It's given by ron reverend joanna fontaine crawford on may 5th 2019. Are reading this morning is a poem. Titled every third thursday. Every third thursday i am a buddhist. I empty my mind and lighten my heart. And try to let go of attachments. Every other friday i am a christian i look for the least of these and try to love god. The full moon of the month finds me wiccan i honor the dual nature of god and find my rhythm as maiden mother or crone. On the 15th of the month i am humanist i respect science integrity of fellow humans and all that we have learned and have made. Every force wednesday i am hindu i take a breath. And understand that what is unfinished now will remain for me to continue. Next life. An alternate fridays. I am jewish. Eva ricardo neither ishman. Tell my children. Softly touching. And thursdays in the mondays and saturdays and the sundays and all the other days in between. Find me reading or listening or watching. Philosophers muslims mormons bhai and more fill my heart touch my soul and yet. The one thing. But none of these provide to me. Is the surgitube that they are d1. They lend me wisdom. Sing to my heart caused me to question help me find answers make me. More me. And at the end of the day everyday. I am unitarian universalist. And parcel and in pledge. With all of my heart. Oh my soul on my mind and all my strength. I honored this face. I hold it close. As it lets me run 4. So. Today. Is. A big day. In the history of our faith. 200 years ago on this very day. William ellery channing preached the sermon at the ordination of jared sparks. And he preached a sermon that would come to be known as the baltimore sermon. Now. In this sermon. Named claimed and defined. Unitarian. For the united states. At at that time. Unitarian was an insult. It was a slur that was hurled at the religious freethinkers of that time you unitarian. So channing stood up. In the pulpit. And he effectively said okay fine. Where unitarian. Now let me tell you what that means. Often for the sake of expediency when we explain unitarianism we simply talked about how it's anti trinitarianism but this is actually just a very very small part. Even then of what it meant to be a unitarian. Now in his baltimore sermon channing did address that he directs address the fact that these religious freethinkers these unitarians at that time rejected the concept of the trinity and i've substitutionary atonement and of original sin. But what was most. Important. Was not the conclusions themselves. But. What made those conclusions. Possible. Channing took as his text. Align from the christian scriptures. Comes from 1 thessalonians 5:21 test everything. Hold fast to what is good. Now we are. No longer and exclusively. Christian religion. But this is still the heartbeat. Of our faith. And this is still the guiding principle that we can turn to as we figure out how we are going to do what. We do. A unitarian universalism. For the 21st century. Is a big tent. Of religious thought. And that is made possible. Through an ethic of personal responsibility. And a commitment. The sacrificial. Love. We have. Dreamed. Of this big tents. That we could be. For a long time. Just 22 years after channing gave his sermon. That he titled at that time unitarian christianity. Theodore parker would preach a sermon also at an ordination. Where he would extol unitarians to sort through the religion. And find the difference between what he called the transient. And the permanent. The transient forms of religion. And permanent forms the transient forms were the stories certain readings that sort of the things that were ava particular time and a particular contacts. And he challenged unitarians. To go deeper. Define the truth and the values that were underneath those stories because those would be able to continue on. And as we talked about in the big idea the humiliate e were embracing this idea.. You can have a universalized universalism. Where you could bring in the wisdom of all kinds of different religions and philosophers. So this idea of being a big tent is something. That has been part of our tradition. For a long time. But i think that we just now. Are getting to the point. Really can make this a reality. I take that as my text. This reading from the aaa from a pal davies why should any of us be confined within the single area of religious culture when i read amos and jeremiah i say would to god i were a jew when i read the parable of the good samaritan i say would i were a galilean when i read the 13th of 1st corinthians i wish might with all my heart that i might be a christian after the manner of the apostle paul when i think of buddha and his eightfold path i say i too would be a buddhist. And when i remember the trial of socrates i say in all but with exalted spirit o that i might be so brave a human. And us at the end. There is nothing i can say but that like emerson and channing. I want to live. With the privilege. Of the illimitable mind. This is what we are working for in our big tent the privilege of the illimitable mind. And we've had we've been trying this for quite a while this is a picture of the saint charles meeting house. Which is where you had universalist who were really trying to push on this idea of bringing in all types of different religious spot. And over the decades were we have been experimenting with this. We've messed up a whole lot. You don't know what you don't know we make mistakes we have many things that we can look back on and cringe things where. People had really good intentions but you know they were throwing a a passover seder seder over something that they had read in a book without anyone actually jewish present for at we've made mistakes but now. There is more information and we have learned from our mistakes. And we can move. Forward now we know that there's a difference. Between appreciation. And appropriation. That's all we need is it's a very common thing right that when we make mistakes. Often what we'll do is we'll say. I never don't want to do that again i don't want to make any more mistakes. Until we stop. Trying. We try to be safe. That's not the answer. Because this is a religion that is called to be a big tent and now we know more about what that means we know that having a cafeteria tray and going down the line and saying oh i'll take a little bite of buddhism and a little bite of hinduism without knowing what's underneath it without really struggling. With the concepts. That's neither respectful nor responsible. And. We don't get. What we need. When we do the. We need to have an exam in face. Where we struggle and where we learn contacts you can go. 2. Ac klinger. I'm still up your belly. But you're not. Going to appreciate. It's you're not going to appreciate. The religious thought behind it. Unless you understand. The devastation of the caste system. That. Sikh religion. Came out of. Being a big tent is more than just opening up. A book on world religions and studying it it's also about. Art the tent itself. The people who come into the tent. We have to make the tent. Weider. Bigger. It is not infinite. Unitarian universalism is a religion it has a history it has a theology. We are not the tabla rasa that the blank slate a religion that you can put anything on too and so there are edges of this but often when we make. Our religion smaller than it needs to be. It's not foresee a logical reason. It's matters. Culture. Often white culture. And preference. And taste. And. Wanting to be comfortable. Until we have to be able to move out the edges of the tent. Not only to let more people in but also. To stretch ourselves. Development. What this is going to take. Is an ethic. Of personal responsibility. The person who was being ordained 200 years ago was. Jared sparks many years later the reverend doctor sparks would say religion connect every man with his maker by personal responsibilities and obligations of duty. And not through the medium of other men's thoughts and advice. I'm using the language of his time in here because i do think it's important to to realize the contacts. The things were coming out of. The welfare of his soul. Depends on what he shall alone think. Resolve. And. Do. We are responsible. For what we have. Control. The things that we have control of the things that we can actually affect. R words. Our actions. Our beliefs. Feelings. And our healing. Church is a place where you should be able to come. For healing and we don't. Do our healing alone and everyone who comes here. Comes here with. That's just. Life. We're not responsible for having. Received the wind. Often the wounds that we carry came from other people are from the society that we live in. Once we have the wound. It's ours to deal with. And we do. Keeling. In community and with other people. But. Ultimately. The responsibility. For healing. Comes down to each one of us. I think that the oldest of the lightbulb jokes is the one about therapist how many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb. Only one but the light bulb has to really want to change. How many churches does it take to heal a soul. Only one. But the person has to be willing. To be healed. And has to be willing to do their own work. And i'm worried about this. I'm not. I'm not. Actually worried about this particular congregation. Because this congregation live oak. Has. Lifted up the importance of being a big catch. We've been willing to sacrifice. Preferences. We. Are doing the work. Of personal responsibility. We even have a healthy community. But i'm worried about. Ar. The larger association. That we are apart of. I'm worried about unitarian universalist. Because what i see out there. Is an unwillingness. 2. Embrace this ethic. Of personal responsibility. We are very worried. About people being. Hurt. We are worried about people being triggered. As we should be. But we are overfunctioning. We are not lifting up this essex. Of self responsibility. Self-determination. And the thing is. Keep calm down this road before. And it is a failed experiment. Cast everything. Hold fast what is good but when something is not good when something does not work. We need to leave it behind. During the 60s and 70s and 80s. The most common rooms that people walked in with was a religious one. They had been raised in either a mainstream christian church or a fundamentalist christian church. Your what. Metaphor that we often use here at live oak for wounds. Is glass in your honor we talked about how you know if you if you have glass in your arm. If someone barely even brushes up against it you're going to be triggered right. Can instantly react. But the answer is not to never be brushed up against the answer is to try and get the glass. Out. Your arm. And work toward help. So during this time 50s 60s. 70s 80s. Pastor quite a while. People would come in and it was as if they had a giant piece of glass sticking out of their back. And rather. Then work. Healing. Together. Instead we effectively decided in our congregations that we were going to get rid of all chairs that had back. Right. That way you would never accidentally sit down and be triggered by something pushing on the glass in your back. And so we stripped as best we could we stripped away anything that might trigger you if you had this particular religious glass in you. No using any religious language it was a talk not a sermon never use the word god it was songs not kim's no vestments no reverend. No worship. And what will end up happening. Is that it did. Work we were trying. To protect people. Rather than work together on healing. We just made it possible. For people to live. For a long time without wind. And often what would happen is. People. Came to church because they had kids and their kids. Graduated. And left the church. And they say. Effectively graduated. I left the church. And meanwhile during that time people who had come in who had heard that we had this message of having illimitable minds. They came in. And they were told no we don't. We don't talk about religion here. And they wang lb athlete. The answer is not. To try and create a world where we never feel discomfort we never. Feel pain. It doesn't. Work. We tried that before. The answer is to try and figure out how we can all heal because we all have wounds. Now what's happening is people are coming to our churches because they've heard that we are doing work around auntie oppression. And they want to come here and they have their wounds and we have our win. And let me tell you some of the most. Pernicious wounds. Are the ones that we can't even see. Right. Because many of us have the wounds of ableism and sexism and racism. Inside us because that's been the water that we swim in. And we don't even know it. But we need healing our souls need healing so that we can stop perpetuating that. We need to be able to ask questions. And have discussions. And this is what i'm concerned about because i feel that in the larger world of unitarian universalism and in the larger liberal progressive world that we are a part of the message that we often get is no. Don't ask the questions you're supposed to already know. The answers. Right now we're in this amazing exciting terrifying time. Where morris. Are our societies understandings of what it considers acceptable or not mores are changing so wrap. Right. They are something that was considered acceptable. By the bulk of society 2 years ago now no longer is. The words the language is changing there so many different words i mean like i'm i'm inside this world and every week i'm learning a new world word or a new concept. People are. Perplex. Is that fair to say. People are perplexed. Wait why can't joe biden rub someone's shoulders. Their answers. But discussion needs to happen there's not just the books that we can hand everyone. That answers everything. And we need to be able to ask questions. We need to be able to discuss these things. There are people out there. Perplex. They're so perplexed by everything that's happening. I think it's good but they're really not sure what kind of words to say and and what are the ideas they haven't even considered before they need a place they need a religion that they can come to. And struggle with these things. But i'll tell you if you think that just walking in our doors that. You're going to have it all figured out. Sorry to disappoint you. We don't have it all figured out. We're all learning together. We need to be able to do that we need to have our tent be large enough. That it's a little uncomfortable for us. And sometimes we are going to hear things that trigger russ. And we need to be responsible. And we can be responsible for that within unitarian universalism. Because this is a religion. Of sacrificial love that is how we put love into action. Is through sacrifice i take as my text these words by universalist hosea ballou should we be tenacious about certain sentiments and peculiarities of faiths the time is not far distant when universalist we've suffered every kind of contemptuous treatment from the enemies of the doctrine will be at war among themselves if we agree in love. What do you mean sarah's if if we agree to love if we agree that love is the ground of our being if we agree in love. There's no disagreement that can do us any injury but if we. Do not. No other agreement. Can do us any good. I think that when we hear the word sacrifice. We often think of something like i mean what do we think we think that your sacrificial love. Putting yourself in harm's way all the time right i mean dying for someone like that's kind of our ultimate. Okay and i honor the people who have done that but maybe we can start a little smaller how about if we start making sacrifices in ordinary ways how about if we sacrifice some of our preference. How about if we sacrifice. That wonderful delicious feeling of self-righteousness how about if we sacrifice being able to put someone else down. This in order to have a truly big tent these are the kind of sacrifices that we need to be able to make you may hear a piece of music that just does nothing for you but having that loving feeling of knowing that the person who's sitting next to you. It may be exactly what they need to hear. And sacrificing our. Connection our attachment to dualism. Right now we're seeing some truly horrible things in the world. And i think that that is making us retreat we are retreating away from nuanced and we are going into. The world of this is right and this is wrong. Part of having a big tent is opening it up. And saying no there may be some room for disgusting. Different. Parts. I've discussed are some things that i have solutely are off-limits but that doesn't mean everything. Is off-limits. And if we sacrifice this feeling of. Security. Our feelings of. Contempt. We open up to where we can all grow. In this religion. We can be contemptuous. Ab ideas. But to be contemptuous. Of other people. Is not who we are. It is not okay. To refer to someone else. As trash. .. Is not. Sacrificial. Transformative. Love. And spoiler we're going to talk more about this next. This whole topic of love. We can be. What we have been called to be for over. 200 years. The world needs that's in the world needs us. Right now. Because there's so many people that have so many questions. And they need a place where they can be part of a big. Kent religion. That lifts up an ethic of personal responsibility. And is grounded. In sacrificial. Love. Des. 21st century unitarian universalist. Welcome home.

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2018-07-15-TheSpiritualityOfFriendship.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast for july 15th 2018. This week's service is the spirituality of friendship. Play reverend tony lorenzo. So this short reading this morning. Is an excerpt from a book. Call donna makara by john o'donohue. In the early celtic church. A person who acted as a teacher companion or spiritual guide. Was called an autumn cara. Stole friend. It originally referred to someone to whom you confessed revealing the hidden intimacies of your life. With the autumn, you could share your innermost self. Your mind and your heart. You were joined in an ancient and eternal way with the friend. Of your soul. So. One of my. Anam cara is one of my soul friends is indeed your minister reverend joanna. I've known reverend johanna for maybe ten years now. Mccamey texas in 2008. We became friends i think initially because we're both interested in new ways to do and be a church. Make sure to transformational place for people. Where they grew into a better version of themselves they transform the world around them. We called this missional church is she mentioned that weird at all. Missional church. See why we're friends. In this friendship like many just grew and deepened over different things that happened. One of the ways. This friendship grew and deepened is i had a horrible year when he or shortly after i met reverend joanna. My church reduce the ministry to half-time and i had to move on. I got divorced. I was. Feeling about as low as you can possibly feel. And one day i got an email that says you have received a grace bomb. And it was from joanna said what is this. And so it had a link to click and i clicked it and there was. A link to this whole playlist of videos for about 10 of my other friends. With video recorded messages it went on for 351 of them when i'm 10 minutes telling me what a wonderful person i am what a great friend i am and how much they love me. I cried. Pride. Cry. One of those really good cries that you have. When you're sad. But through the sadness you feel the love in the happy have you ever had one of those. It was it was kind of there that i realized wow this person i'd connected to wasn't just. Akali they were my friend. And since then. We have done things where we've been each other's prayer partner when we went on to conferences and did it intent spirituality retreats. We went. It had all kinds of fun together we've been to museums together and art together and music together and. We share all kinds of these things from church to music to movies what we're geeking out over at the moment. We even had to watch a movie last night it was awesome. About friends. One year one of the cool things you did together as friends and colleagues as we went to this conference in in ohio about. Yes missional church. And. Reverend wayne is such a good friend there were so many different dietary concerns and stuff among our group where to find a place we could all have dinner together. So who found that place. On the phone she found everything we needed was at one place while going to meet there. So she was in one rental car and i was driving another rental car and we each had some of our other group with us and we can meet there. And i drove up and i finally found a place and. As i. Drove there you have to understand it was. Raining. So hard. I mean. The way you get. Rainstorms of biblical flood proportions. You know these right. They caused flash flooding there's no place you can go anywhere without the water gushing down the streets. Just stepping out of the car doesn't matter if you have an umbrella or coat you're going to end up soaked 10ft into the building right. This is the kind of rain worth. So i am all excited because i see a parking space on the side of the street. Right in front of the place joanna was having us meet at. And i'm pulling up here i know so there's a car parked kind of next to it wondering if they're going in or out of that space. Place up there for few seconds and like waiting for the car to move. Not moving. Not moving. And i'm like i'm from boston. Right. If there's a parking space like that she know what you doing boston. You just get brayden.. The parking on the street. So me trying to be very ministerial and polite. Allow this car in front of me a lot of extra time. Back into this parking space and they're not moving so i just swoop right in there. Awesome. Car screeches off. So we get in there and we're waiting and waiting and waiting for the rest of our group to come in. And maybe 15-20 minutes later joanna and the rest of the group comes in. French soaking wet like they walked a long way from the car. And i'm going to paraphrase the language use cuz rev joanna is your minister. Where have you guys been some jerk stole my parking space. Oops. Needless to say you know who ended up paying for dinner and drinks that night right that would have been me. The fact that i am now staying at her house this week and have a tour guide and people feeding me all kinds of wonderful text it we're having brisket from franklin. Today by the way. Sounds like you know someone is the friend of your soul. When you can steal their parking space in the pouring rain. And they still love you like this. I was told however that i'd better accept a ride to church because parking could be at a premium care. But these the kind of adventures you can only have. With a friend of your soul. Because without that it just becomes somebody went to a conference with or some jerk who stole your park. Instead of a story. That your grandchildren will tell to their grandchildren about the the time that feud start. Last year i caught this amazing art exhibit at the massachusetts. Contemporary art museum mass moca. Northern western. Was by a photographer and artist from maine called tanya hollander. And it was called are you my friend. And she started this wonderful piece of work. One night years ago. When she would simultaneously writing a letter with pencil and paper to a friend of hers. Who was in the army stationed in afghanistan. While at the same time simultaneously having a facebook chat message. With a friend of hers in indonesia for work. And she started to think. I have. 600 some friends on facebook. Are they all my friend. Are you really my friend. And she decided. That being an artist she was going to travel. The whole world. Whatever her 600 plus facebook friends were. Photograph. And she did. In doing so she made some new friends. And she found out that some of those 626 friends weren't really friends they won't even much acquaintances. And they weren't there when she showed up nor did they want to. And with other she stayed weeks. Enjoying the place where they happen to be living there. And she took portraits of those friends and everyone they lived with. And there was a series of hundreds of portraits hung on the wall. But what fascinated me the most about this exhibit. Art installation was. While visiting everybody she took. Post-it notes. And she had everyone she met with right down on the post-it note. What it means to be a good. And under. Why'd you can see all the post-it notes were stuck on these transparencies that were hung and went down the hall. Of the exhibit hall. All the way down. Thousands upon thousands of them. And what she found out. From these post-it notes is all the many yet similar ways people view what it means to be. A friend of your soul. Here's some of my favorites. And i read every single one of them. And you can go online and find her and read them. Some of my favorite a real friend feels a need you can't. Spleen. A real friend. Connection requires no struggle. Someone. Who is there for you anytime. A real friend is someone you're partially in love with. A real friend is one who can communicate without words. A real friend will put your needs before there's when you really need them to. A real friend has no problem calling you on your stuff. A real friend immediately delete your hard drive when you die. A real friend is someone you can be your best with. And your worst. A real friend wakes you in time for the sunrise. A real friend is somebody you can be ordinary. A real friend is someone who likes art. A real friend is a friend you love for life. A real friend will make you steak even if they are a vegetarian. A true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin. Okay that was from proverbs. In my post it red. And this was my post it. A real friend doesn't disown you for stealing their parking space. That was my post-it i left when i was there. So as you can imagine when i saw this exhibit i started as ministers and other folks of certain persuasions might do really pondering. And reflecting deeply on my friends. And all the sudden anything coming around about friendship caught my eye. And i caught the work of british anthropologist robin dunbar. Who did some really cool work and. Says that an animal social group is related to its brain size. And the larger the brain the larger that animals social group will be. And the human brain has the capacity to have up to about 150 people in a social group. Which is why it's really hard for churches to grow past about 100. A people. Cuz you don't know everybody any. But we only know 5 or so people at the very most intimate level of social relationship. There are about 15 he said. With whom we are very good friend. 50 about the number of friends we know well and 150 about the number of people we can claim as our social group. They did research. And they look at phone data from all over the european union. And what numbers each of these phones called over certain amount of time. And what they found was that phone calls on any given phone happened in layers of for 11:30 and 129. That they were four numbers on each phone that seemed to get the highest amount of phone calls from that phone. And these would-be numbers of other individuals they did not count calls to businesses to work. So. They did some research to see if there. Observations another study played out to these groups of 5:15. 5150. Thousands and thousands of phone message. Analyze. Think it reinforces that. As we go deeper into levels of being connected to our soul from 150 252 4:45. We find that more and more serious. Intimate. Important artistic emotional connection happens. As we get into those different layers to our innermost layers are. Emerson wrote friendship demands a religious treatment. We talked of choosing our friends but friends are self-selected. Reverence is a great part of it. Should not the society of my friend b2me poetic. Pure. Universal. And great as nature itself. Innocence. What emerson describes is also what john o'donohue talks about the autumn cara the friend of your soul. Who knows you intimately. Who discusses all matter of life which one you can't cause a separation with the worst of your stuff. Because it's all part of the love that underlies the relation. Robert wicks is a catholic. Pastoral. Counselor. His work. Centers on two things. Psychology and recovery of people have gone through trauma. He's worked with survivors of the khmer rouge killing. Cambodia. People after 9/11 serious trauma stuff. But his. Other area of study and work is on friendship. He's the person who suggested that there are four roles. Difference play in our lives spiritually the harasser. The someone who keeps after you in nags from bugs you to do the right thing. The cheerleader the someone who affirmed you wouldn't carriages you. The prophet the someone who puts the justice in front of you. Who's able to tell you the things you need to hear but. Might not want to hear. And the spiritual guide the person you talk to about though. Big question. The big values the deepest emotions the art. And his fear is that. We all have these friends i found it fascinating that if 45 people is are. Intimate most social circle according to dunbar in the anthropologist he's picked out for. I don't know if that's related or not but i find that fascinating. And that i wonder if. Many of us have among our four closest friends either a person each of those roles. Or for people who cover most of those rules. Each of them in themselves. I have a great cheerleader in my. His name is hank joanne and. Reverend johanna. I have known hank literally all my life our moms were friends when we were born. Guess 6 months older than me. He had become a unitarian minister a little before me we both grew up. The unitarian minister. He is the world's biggest cheerleader. He will be everybody's cheerleader he was voted most likely to cheer in every yearbook he's ever been associated. Knows everybody. Will call you up he'll be that friend he'll call you up cuz you casually mentioned something difficult happened and to let it go in a conversation in front of seven other people and the next day you'll get a phone call hey what's going on with that. You're going to be fine you're going to be okay. Cheerleader. Cheerleader of the utmost. We have examples of cheerleaders in our own lives in our culture and our art is full of these examples of spirituality and friendship to. One of our most famous. Cheerleaders that most people know from popular culture. Is sam gamgee. It may be easy to think of. Friendship as something light. Not-d. Even these terms harasser cheerleader. Prophet spiritual guide they can seem. Less heavy than they might really be. Yes cheerleaders are somebody who say you can do it we love you. But the real cheerleading happens in moments of pain and distress. When there's no way you can go on. My mom going up had a best friend named margaret. And after my mom got divorced being the parent of two small boys age 10 and six at the time of which i was the 10-year old. I learned later that margaret would call her every single morning. Get her out. Cuz she was sold. And for three months kept my mom going. Didn't know that till i was older my. That's a cheerleader. Later in the story if you know this story. Sam literally carries frodo on his back. We can't walk in. That's it. These can be light but they're deep.. It can be interesting to say that a prophet will tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear but this is not an easy thing to do even with the people we love most. Sometimes it's difficult most difficult to do with the people we love them. One of my favorite examples of this and this isn't just cuz i'm from boston. It's from good will hunting anybody familiar with that movie good will hunting. Of the math genius from southie. Pool it's kind of anal 21 away is time getting drunk with his buddies. And he's trying to be recruited to do math for the national security and all this stuff. There's a scene near the end where chuckie sullivan. Ben affleck's character. Goes through being a prophet with him. One of these. I wouldn't tell you this if i wasn't your friend moments. That somebody really needed to hear. And will hunting is just turned down you know a job doing math for some high-powered thing where he get lots of money in. Become incredibly rich have top-secret security clearance and all this. And will tell chucky turned it down and chucky says w crazy over and make some nice bank if nothing else you can get really rich doing that math. It's a way out of here. And will says what i want to get out of here for notice i'm not affecting the accent. The rest of my life want to be a next door neighbor only take out kids so little league down foley field together. Chucky says look. Don't take this the wrong way. But if you're still living here in 20 years coming over my house watch patriots game on sunday doesn't kill you. I'm going to blank and blank and blank and kill you. That's not a threat to kill you. And we'll ask. Chucky what's he talking about. And chucky says to will you got something none of us have and will cut them off don't give me this i owe it to myself. Bologna. And chucky says from you don't owe it to yourself you owe it to me. Cuz tomorrow i'm going to wake up i'm going to be 50 i'm going to still be doing this bs construction work for a living. That's alright cuz i make a run out of that's who i am but you. You're sitting on a winning lottery. You're too much of a leap leap leap coward. To cash it in. I don't know much but i know that. She says not the best time of my day is a 10 seconds before i park the car and walk up to your house when i pick you up in the morning cuz i hope when i get there i'll knock and you'll be gone you won't be there. You just be operative taken off. Since i know that's like if you are here in 20 years. It's an insult to me and the rest of us you're wasting. That's a profit. The hardest. You don't want. Emerson says better be a metal in the side of your friend than his. Buddhist tradition has the tradition of the column anitra or noble friend. The kalyani mitra will not accept pretension but will gently and firmly confront you with your own blindness. And chuckie sullivan would drink to that at the l street. Bees. Are the people we hold in our lives. These are the people where we can feel spirit be touched within us pulled out an exercise. Friendship is no light thing it is a spiritual and deepest of things. It may seem like a light topic for summer sunday service. But know this we are faced on all fronts. We see the news daily right now. Where are very own government. Will be doing something saying something to promoting something that quite literally goes against everything we believe in value. What can we do. Being a friend may seem like a small thing. But a real friend. The autumn cara prophet harasser a cheerleader. A spiritual guide. Is a way to resist. It is a way to keep each other going. Doing what is right in being the love and change we want to see in the world. It is the greatest. Act of love in right now of resistance. To have. A friend and b. A friend. Of the soul.

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2018-11-04-InvestingInHealthyRelationships.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For november 4th. 2018. The sweet service is. Investing in healthy relationship. Play reverend joanne punting crawford. Are reading this morning comes from unitarian ralph waldo emerson this is. An excerpt from an essay he wrote on friendship in 1841. I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends the old and the new. Shall i not call god the beautiful who daily show with himself sodamy in his gifts. I tried society i embraced solitude and yet i am not so ungrateful as to not see the wise the lovely and the noble-minded. Has from time to time they enter my game. I ought to be equal to every relation it makes no difference how many friends i have. What content i can find in conversing with each. If there be one to whom i am not. If i have shrunk unequal from one contest the joy find an all the rest becomes mean and cowardly. I should hate myself if then i made my other friends my asylum. Friendship requires that rare meme betwixt likeness and unlike me. That peaks each with the presence of power. And of consent in the other party. Let me be alone to the end of the world rather than that my friend should overstep by a word or a look his real sympathy. I am equally balked by antagonism and by compliance. Let him not cease an insta. To be himself. What is so great as friendship let us carry with white grandeur of spirit we can. Let us be silent. So that we can hear the whisper of the gods. But it's not interfere. Who set you to cast about what you should say to the select souls or how to say anything to such. No matter how ingenious no matter how graceful and bland. Wait. And i heart shall speak. Wait until the necessary and everlasting overpowers you until day and night availed themselves of your lips. The only reward of virtue. Is virtue. And the only way to have a free. I know the exact moment. When i realized. That making friends. Was not just something that i could leave to chance. As a kid you often can. Leave it. 2chance right you have the proximity you're seeing the same people day after day. And. Kids have the ability to find meaningful similarities. With between themselves and others. And for them now i will say. Don't the what is of meaning maybe a little different than it is. To we adults maybe we should probably take a a page from their book right i can do as a kid it's like. I. Hate broccoli. I hate broccoli. But i love. Pepperoni pizza. I love pepperoni pizza oh my god like we both hate broccoli and we love pepperoni pizza we are twins we are twins best friends forever. If you're somewhat outgoing as a child as i was. It's pretty easy for friendship to just. Happen. And then i became an adult. Nor. Barely an adult i was about 23. And i had checked off the things on the check list of what you did or at least at that time. Garden education jack. Married. Jack got a job. Check. I was sitting at my job one day. And i got a phone call from my husband saying that. He was in jail and could i bring him the bail money. So i. Do i need to explain that part. It's actually a pretty boring story although it was so dramatic to us at the time this was the early nineties and the austin pd had their computer system had not quite cut up kept up with the times. At some point he had been pulled over for expired tags. And he'd gone in and you know prove that he had good tags and paid the fine like you do got the receipt. Yeah but the receipt somehow that didn't quite make it into the computer system until like a couple of years later he gets pulled over for going over the speed limit and there's a warrant for his arrest. And the police officer did not care about receipts. And so the next thing that happens i mean. He's white so like it's it felt traumatic to us at the time but. Probably not actually that traumatic. But. Next thing i know i'm getting a phone call and and he's going on and on about something and like finally i say honey where are you and he says i'm at the downtown austin jail. Oh okay. This was the early 90s bike there was no world wide web you couldn't google what do you do when your husband has just been arrested and thrown in jail. Then and now. What do you do whenever there's a crisis. Call your friend. And all the sudden i realized i. I didn't have anyone to call. Now if you had asked me the day before do you have friends. I would have said. Sure i do. But somehow i'm not check list of things of you know get a job get married getting education to hold get friends hoops. Kind of forgot. I worked with people. They were work friends. Thought they were friends. And work friends. Can become. Real friends. But. It doesn't happen necessarily. You want to know. A great way to find really quickly whether your work friends are real friends. My husband is in jail and i need bail money and would someone go with me and. No. We weren't actually that kind of friend. My boss bless her heart did take me to an atm and loan me money for bail but. That was all. I was on my own. So. Obviously we managed to do whatever it is that you need to do and. He was out of jail the next day. Turns out you can actually sue the state for computer error. Handy. But what it left. Me with. Was that knowledge that there was something missing in my life. Now i realize that this this is a selfish story right this was coming out of my knee. But often that when we have a crisis that makes us realize that we meet need to make changes in our lives. It is because of that it is because of something happening to us and some sort of unmet need in our lives. And friendship. Healthy relationships. R a m. They are not a want. They are a need. In 1938. Harvard started what would become one of the longest-running longitude. Vong at studies lifetime of of a group of people they had 268. Incoming sophomore. Now this was the 1930s and so the idea of getting a representative cross-section of society they weren't quite there yet like this this was you know it was all men because women weren't allowed in harvard yet i'm pretty sure all white. In the 1970s they did. Try to deal with some of this they added in a group of 456 people from inner-city philadelphia so that they could see are some of their conclusions from this one group mirrored in this other group and there were many many things that did. This this study was for and is. For the lifetime of those original sophomores. In as of 2017 there were only 19 people left and they were all in their 90's. They discovered. When you when you're able to do this when you're able to follow a group of people for their entire lives. And analyze the data and they were doing all kinds of of testing they were of course wanting to know what was happening in each person's live their professional success what was happening in their relationship. But they were also taking measurable things they were testing their blood as the hazard technology improved they added that into the study they started taking mris of the individual. Giving bone density test. And from this wealth of data. They were able to come up with some findings. And the one that surprised them the most. Was that there was one factor that if you wanted to be able. To predict. If a person was going to have. A. Satisfying a filled. Happy life. And if they were going to be physically healthy. That there was one element. That rose above them all. And. The lead director for 40 years of the study is a guy named george. He ended or passed the reins to someone else in 2004. And he said you can sum up. This finding this overwhelming finding. With one word. It's a word we use fairly often here and most of the time we even mean it. What do you think that word might be. Love. Love his exact words his exact quote is. Love. .. Did it makes that much of a difference. And this has been repeated in other studies to. They've been able to take some of this information and go in and try and find the different correlation. Add in fact one of the researchers. Said that. If you want to look at a fifty-year-old. And be able to predict what their health will be like when they are 80. That don't don't look at their cholesterol level. There is a far there's far more information found. And finding out if that fifty-year-old. Is in what they would describe as a satisfying relationship. That's how you can tell what their their future health. Is going to be like. Amazing. Amazing but it's it's not i think that we probably you know stuff like. Being fulfilled being happy like it's not out of the realm of understanding to go oh that's connected. 22 good relationships but even our physical health. The back degree. And unitarian universalist theology. Our soteriology which is our theory of salvation. Is a communal one. It is our understanding that salvation happens. Incommunity it happens in relationships. As modern uu theologians hyundai akkus says. Salvation is not. Asolo. Salvation is not. A solo. We very literally. Save. Each other. And are saved by. Each other. So. We get this right. But it is important to have relationships but as we talked about with making friends. It's hard. As you get older as you become an adult it just seems to get harder and harder there's not enough time and it feels awkward like if you moved to a new place like where do you even begin. I think sometimes it's easier to date. Then it is to go up and say. You know i think that we have some things in common which you be my friends. I dare you to do that. So how do we do this. Others actually some scientific answers to this. The atlantic had a story called making friends the scientific way i'll post a link up on our church facebook page where they looked at a whole bunch of different studies and one of the studies actually took it down to number. University of kansas dentist study. I'm going to need especially my young folks i need you to remember three numbers so you can help me out with this okay the numbers are 5090 and 200 so let's try 250 9200. Okay. So. They found that it takes 50 hours. To move from being an acquaintance. To a casual friend. 50 hours. They found that to move from being from the very beginning that that number tubing. A friend takes what's the second number. 90 hours. And not to move again from the beginning. To being a close friend. Cakes. 2:00. There we go. 5090. 200. Wow like. If there was just a place where you could go to. Right where where you would see like people who hopefully had similar values two years you know so that you had some similarities where you'd see him on a regular basis. Where there might be opportunities to engage and get into what o.g. where could that be. And i think that for a lot of us like that's why we started that made them one of the reasons why we started coming to charge her for tata it was we had moved to houston and some things have gone on in our lives and we kind of looked up and we were like we do not have a community we need a community. We need friends if you come to this church. Not knowing anyone and keep coming in less than a year you will already have a set of casual friends. But see we are all over achievers and so we can kind of speed that up because then if you do things like you know get in one of our book groups or serve on a team or join one of our small groups that coming in january or join the choir. Then you start adding more and more hours into that and so you can make it happen a lot faster. Now of course it's not just about. The time. It's what you do with the time. And the number one thing in in all of these studies. The thing that. All of the studies seem to come back to. Is the issue of reciprocity. That what makes a friendship a friendship what makes it a healthy relationship. Is when you have. Both sides giving and both sides taking. It won't be all at the same time. Or in the same way. But that issue of reciprocal care. Is really what defines a healthy relationship. And a friendship. I grew up around people who. Did not have respect for therapy. I'm talking about this with my therapist now. And something that i used to to hear it was phrased in different ways but the main message was that that therapy is for people who don't have friends. Has anyone ever heard any message like that right the therapist over here is tracing his face. Right. So. You know who is the one group. A people the one type of patients. Dot-dot therapist absolutely will not see. Friends. Friends. Therapist don't see their friends because they understand. That the role of a friend. And the role of a therapist that both of these roles. Are so important. You don't have you don't cross them up. You don't have dual relationships. It is not good obviously it's not and i think obvious it's not good for a therapist to also be in that close. Friend category. But it is also not good. For the friend. Tubi. The therapist. Either officially or unofficially. If you this is that issue of. Reciprocal care. If you find that you are in a friendship. Where it feels like your person your friend is your therapist because they're always listening to you and advising you. But maybe you're not doing. so much for them. You want to go back and look at that. Because not only is it not fair to them. It's also not fair to you. Because it's cheating you out of. A genuine. Friendship. Ingenuine friendships. Those kind of close friendships that the research talks about. You move beyond the ordinary things. I've just what's going on in your lives and you get into the issues of deeper meaning. A stephanie said when we were talking during the big idea you allow yourself. To be vulnerable. That's one of the best ways. To to start moving a casual friendship into a real life sustaining friendship is when you allow yourself. To be vulnerable when you open yourself. And when the other person listens. And listens.. Not doing that thing that some of us extroverts do we're we're like you're listening but what you're really doing is formulating your head what you're going to say next. But actually. Laying that aside. Laying your cell phone aside. And deeply listening. And. Having it go. Both ways. You bring soup for your friends. And they bring soup for you. You find the different ways that you can connect and your ways may not be the same. So often. We prioritize things over r4. Right. Rjabs. Our busyness. I think often one of the most needless ones as we prioritize our preferences. Over our friends needs. My best friend katie. Loves to talk on the phone like just chat. Now for me i i like the phone in terms of like my job like if you need to talk to me i am on the phone as long as you need if there is a purpose like i am fine with the phone but the just just calling me up like just to chat maybe it's because i came of age when like the phone calls like you were charged by the minute but there's just something to me i'm like yeah what do you want what's the purpose of this call. But for katie that is how we stay in touch and we know this about each other and she teases me and i tease her but you know what. I make sure that. If she calls and i can take her call. I do take. Call. And here's the other thing. Our preferences. Do not necessarily reflect any sort of objective value it's really easy to get. Caught up in our preferences and think that they have they are some sort of statement of fact. Because katie likes to talk on the phone with me. We are staying in each other's lives. We live in separate cities. We never have to catch up on our lives. Because she make sure that we are staying in each other's. And that works. For us and that relationship i have other equally deep relationship. Where we do do the catching up. But we have our own sort of things that we figure out and. We don't take our preferences. Too seriously. Preferences are not guiding prince. So there's all these things. That work take to make. Friendship hard and yet. We need it. We're too busy. We feel too awkward. We feel anxious. We fear rejection. But. We need it in order to survive. As emerson said. The only way. Have a friend. Is to be one. Be a friend. Your life. And the other person's life. Literally depend on.

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2018-08-05_MindfulnessIntentAndYou.mp3

You're listening to podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. The more information about our church please visit our website at live oak uu. org. Today sermon mindfulness and 10th avenue. Is given by remember brian pickleman. August 5th. 2018. I have been driving for over 30 years. Three decades of putting my life in the hands of complete strangers. Most of them appear to be incompetent and untrustworthy at best. And malevolent and in vindictive at their worst. I have been stressed. Pence. Apprehensive. Occasionally vengeful myself. Driving defensively was the watchword. Look out for the other guy before he gets you. It took me over 25 years of that before i learned how to drive. Properly. To get there was a journey of introspection. And it started. With a series of questions. What exactly am i afraid of. Well for one thing i know my reaction time even home don decades video game. Is not as great as i would like. For another i'm worried about those last-minute actions of others that might cause great harm to me or my passengers if i don't react fast enough. What are my goals in driving. Ulta. To get where i'm going as fast as possible. Hey. Fast. Really. The risk reducer in my head saw the fallacy there. The faster you go the worst everything else is in driving. Reaction time has to decrease. Damage from collisions is going to increase. The handling of your car has to be top-notch. Your gas mileage gets worse. So my real goal then. Apparently it's just to get there in one piece. But if that's the primary goal. Maybe i better just walk. And preferably is far from the road is possible. Somewhere in the middle of these extremes i found my truth the goal of driving is to get where i need to be for the least. Total cost. In risk. Fuel time distance. And for me most importantly. Stress level. This does not solve a major driving problem however. Dealing with traffic. That unstoppable force and immovable object all wrapped up into one. The thing i have no control over. Tom vanderbilt wrote an interesting little book called traffic. Why we drive the way we do. And what it says about us. The book was not quite as good as i had hoped to be honest with you but it did have several little gems in it. One of which was an interesting paradox about humans and traffic. Humans do seem to love to complain about traffic. But traffic only exists because we choose to drive in it. We take on something daily that is only there because we chose to take it on. And that really got me. Do you you inside of me started peeping out from his comfy pajamas. The interdependent web of life has extra meaning when you're trapped on a strip of concrete with thousands of other human animals who are probably just as stressed and irritated as i am all while traveling it either 85 miles an hour or dead stopped in a constant circus of change. And change is not something that youmans deal with well even in the best of time. So what can i do. This willing unwilling participant in the daily slog of getting to a destination and back again without dying or killing anyone. And that led me to my answer. It's not about driving defensively. It's about driving compassionately. It's about letting in the stranger even if they cut you off half a mile back. It's looking at a green light not as a go signal but is a check both ways in case some poor sod missed it and is about to run a red. It's allowing enough distance in front of you not just to satisfy the implacable facts of momentum. But to let into three cars you see needing to merge just ahead without anyone having to run up on anybody's bumper. It's asking the question. How can i make this commute easier for others. And then doing exactly that. In a matter of weeks i had turned my daily commute away from a battle of wits to survive and into a cooperative team sport. I don't just drive through greenlight's assuming it's safe i make sure it's safe for both me. And the cross traffic. I let people into my lane or out of a driveway as often as feasible. I leave more distance between me and cars in front of me on the freeway. Leaving extra face reduces the amount of time cars behind me are going to have to stop and start and stop and start. Once traffic starts getting fixed and this extra distance also helps accommodate my flagging reaction. To be able to do all these things. I have to stay focused. I don't listen to podcast or the news or music. As i tell my passengers. You get at most 30% of my attention. Plan accordingly. This is how i applied mindfulness to one specific aspect at my life which provided the direct benefits. Of reducing my stress. And improving my driving. Mindfulness is about being actively aware. Constantly processing what's going on around you and what's within you. This can be tricky. As many of our day-to-day decisions are made so instinctively we don't consciously know about them until after the decision has been made. And then as humans we have a tendency to develop a retroactive and potentially fictitious justification. For our choices. Mindfulness pokes at that. It's about trying to understand your actual motivation. Not just what you wish for your. So my sermon title also mentions intent. Intent is the channeling of what you want to happen into actions that will make it happen. It's the acting on of your decisions to accomplish your objective. To maximum effect. Turning the items on your to-do list your ideas list and your raw hunger. Into measurable effects upon the universe. That bring your goals to fruition. These concepts go hand-in-hand. Being mindful but doing nothing. Is a waste of your concentration. Having intent. But not using it mindfully. Is a waste of your energy. Mindfulness. Has. Become a buzzword with an assumed meaning that i think the tracks from what it really is. I was dismayed to see in the span of three weeks two different magazine covers running articles on mindfulness. Featuring a scene of someone blissfully sitting in the lotus position in the middle of the woods eyes closed a look of complete and fake and peace on their face. Being mindful when nothing is happening is easy. And i would argue pointless. Mindfulness is a constant and continuous process that requires attention regardless. Of what's going on around you. Human spend a lot of time not being mindful. It's a very hard thing to get good at. Starting in the lotus position in the woods might be okay but the end goal of mindfulness would better have been represented on that magazine cover. Buy an open and undaunted look on the face of someone. Surrounded by pure chaos. Mindfulness is a process. It is not a destination. You don't just decide one day to be mindful and then as if by magic all your problems evaporate. In fact if you're doing it right all your problems are now magnified and in your constant view. Until you determine how best to process and work through them. Instead of just ignoring them. When i speak of mindfulness i am speaking of total awareness of what you are doing. And most importantly. Why you are doing it. Those of you who just shifted in your seat within the past 5 minutes. Why did you do that. Is your leg going to sleep. Perhaps you were uncomfortable. Were you really uncomfortable or just afraid of becoming uncomfortable. Why is being comfortable so important to you right now. Would you still have come to this church if you had to sit on the floor instead of a chair. Perhaps instead you just have nervous energy and need to fix it. Did you choose to fidget. Or did your body do it for you. Could you not have fidget it if you had to. If you thought others around you might be distracted by your fidgeting with you stop fidgeting or are you or needs to move more important than their needs for you. Maybe you were just bored and are trying to stay awake. Why then are you doing something you find boar. So long. Mindfulness helps avoid falling into these kinds of rats in life. What's a very very easy to find yourself and if you aren't paying attention. And sometimes you don't even recognize. As a rut to begin with. Take for example the sound of a sneeze. Often in this country we think of it as two. The sound actually varies around the world. The natural sneeze does not need vocal coach. Humans tend to mimic the sound of a sneeze coming in their part of the world and this mimicry propagate. From generation. Degeneration. Meanwhile those born deaf. Sneeze comparatively silently. Dogs have vocal cords and yet when they sneeze all we hear is some intense breathing. I've personally found it very hard to sneeze quietly after spending my entire life not doing so. It's a good exercise though. I recommend you try it next time. I'm more personal example of invisible ruts. Some years ago i played the world of warcraft to the point of distraction. Warcraft is what is known as a massive multiplayer online role-playing game. In which you and 40,000 complete strangers either cooperate or get in each other's way to do things ranging from fishing. To making leather boots. The killing dragons the killing each other in the spirit of. Competitive fun. The particular thing i was into at the time is called rating. Where is suave up to 40 people whom you've probably never met. Assemble at the same time two to three nights a week and slog their way through a completely scripted encounter that despite its relative predictability still has random curveballs that upsets your careful planning. And does require on your feet thinking. The reward for these encounters is getting a chance at finding a new pair of boots. Or a pretty hat. Whose sole in-game mechanical value is to make beating that same encounter ever so slightly easier next time. Once most of your team has all the boots and hats it's time to move on to the next big nasty thing. Maybe for some pants this. I did this for 3 years. Every week. Multiple different rate events. Thanks to a few nudges from my lovely wife. I realize that i had taken this fun game a game that i am paying money by the way to use as a leisure activity and turned it into another job. With action items and to-do list. And schedules. The fun had long since evaporated and i was their only out of a sense of obligation to others. I did not notice this pit i'd fallen into until it was pointed out to me. Because i was not being mindful. Looking back now. Why was i playing so much world of warcraft. Several reason. It was insanely cheap as far as entertained. It's filled the hours. I understood all the mechanics in like learning how to exploit them i like the thrill of killing a new big boss monster for the first time. I like the russian gambler feels when their number comes up. Their turn to win that pair of boots. The thing is though that second reason in the list is the most damning. It's filled the hours. Life is a one-way ticket to death. We only get. So many hours. How many of those hours exactly do you want to just spend. Billing. Regardless of your conception of the afterlife if any. You still only have this one trip to experience. And i found that i had retreated all too far from the very interesting roads over there. To just follow this one exceptionally smooth and well groove payment. Over here. I might be getting better at pretending to be a wizard. But i was not getting better at nearly 11,000 other things it might prove more interesting if i gave them a chance. I still play the world of warcraft. But i do it differently now. I explore new landscapes i try out new quests i fiddled with different roles and character types i chased down rare pets to collect or participate in fun in-game events. And then i put it down. I'm something else. And i don't rate anymore at all. In short i play warcraft mindfully now. If i'm in there i'm actively choosing to be in there. Because at that moment it is what i want to do. The moment it becomes unfun. I'm out. So leisure activities that aren't sufficiently fun of. Full of fun and play should be stopped. Here's the singer. That model applies to everything in your life. Keep the fun in the fun. Keep the work. In the work. Everything you do. All the time. Should be because you have a reason. And you should be committed to that reason. Until the item is done. Do not just be habituated to the motion of doing it. Do not avoid the real reason to do something so you can instead pout about having to do it. If someone pleasant task has to be done. Many people focus on the unpleasantness of it. And feel grumpy. Instead of focusing on why the task has to be done bringing their intent to bear. And getting it done. Recent example in my life. Dammit. I have to go to the store for toilet paper. Applying this new principal leads me to i have chosen to go to the store for toilet paper because i value cleanliness and hygiene. If something like this should happen to you in the future. When you were at the store focus on actually getting the toilet paper. Don't get distracted by ads and coupons and samples for 40 other products you aren't there for that noise. You came for toilet paper because you need it. There were other things you wanted to do today. Save your energy for those. Get the toilet paper get out. Do not blame the store for being too far away don't whine about the lack of automatic toilet paper creations systems in our houses. Don't be grumpy about the errand you chose to go embrace the going and get it done. And while you're there don't let. Don't forget about being mindful. Even the most tedious aaron has opportunities for life experiences. If you stay in the moment. Pay attention. You might get to make a kid smile in the checkout line. You might help another customer who is frantically looking for lentils. On one trip someone hit my car in the parking lot. And they waited for 45 minutes dreading my eventual arrival to discuss it with me. If they had no insurance. And we're hoping to reach other arrangements. The damage was superficial. And i really. Honestly. Did not care about a new scratch on my ten-year-old car. That had never been washed since it came off the lot. How do i put on my grumpy face of man i hate going to the grocery store i might well if pain rage or hurt that the indignity of now having my car damaged all because of this accursed need for yet more toilet paper. Stacks of negative results buildup on one negative emotion that was created out of nothing. For no reason. The start on the path. Being more mindful. Find somewhere quiet. Close your eyes. Infocus. On your breathing. In. In. Let your stomach expand with the inhales. Breathe into your abdomen. Then let the air back out. Ignore everything else. Think about. Nothing. Do this for 10. Whole. Would you probably won't get to the first time without something else creeping into your mind. My foot hurts. The dog has to go out look at me i'm not thinking that was a thought. That's okay keep trying. You do not need to sit for this. You do not need music. You do not need gently chiming bells or some word of power you recite over and over. Yes those things can have value but they are the flavor not the foundation. You are breathing all the time. And that is all you need to start. The basic level of meditation. Overtime when 10 seconds becomes easy am 415. Been 25. 1040. A minute. 5 minutes. Longer. If you like. Your goal here is to train your mind to shut up. Once the mind can be spilled and controlled. Then you train it to act according to your will. To focus. To observe. To prioritize. To think only on what you want to think on. When you want to think on it. You are not your mind. You are you. Your mind is a tool. Trained. Sharpened. Kept ready. Getting to the point where this process is easy. Will take years. I recommend you start today. Perhaps while standing in the coffee line. So mindfulness never stops. And is never easy and frankly sounds like a pretty daunting thing to go for. What good is it. Mindfulness sets the stage for being efficient. With your life. It may not feel that way at first with all the thinking going on. But i would argue you will end up doing the important things more often. And the time fillers. Less often. I would suggest as a useful exercise to take stock of what you do for the week. Just one week. Keep a notebook with you and write down everything you do as you do it. At the end of the day look at the total amount of time you spent doing things you actually wanted or needed to do. And the time you spent just doing stuff to fill up hours in which you couldn't think of anything better to do. The good reverend joe recently gave me a similar assignment to help me with some other issues i was having in my life. But there was an added bonus. David becoming a mindfulness exercise. I realized midway through that i didn't want to write down the time i spent trawling the internet or constantly checking facebook i'd rather write down time i spent practicing german or teaching esl or creating music or hanging out with my wife. Just the simple act of having to be accountable to myself. Help me spot places i've gotten lazy in my existence. At the end of the week look at your totals. And i would wager you already start thinking of ways to bring those numbers more in line with what you'd like to see. At the end of the next week. Truly knowing what you want to do or what you want to become. Lets you start the long process. Figuring out how to get there. Mindfulness increases your self-awareness. Knowing your strengths shows you where you've got a head start on your goals. Knowing your weaknesses. Helps you focus your time and are in energy and areas you. To improve. If on the other hand you just drift along giving cursory thought to things. You may well end up with a rich. Been fulfilling life. Once we know ourselves and our motivation. We can channel ourselves in the direction of our own choosing. And then help ourselves. Stay on course. By continuing to pay attention to our progress. No ship gets to port without a rudder no car survives traffic without a steering wheel. The responsibilities of guidance in your life. Fall slowly. And all this focusing in on yourself. Paying attention to things this introspection and observations. Doing that consistently and effectively. Text intent. You have to want to do it bad enough. That you actually do it. Which means while you are practicing mindfulness. You are also improving your intent. And once you have your corset. You can use your intent. The propeller ship. You need that intent to be your constant companion. Keep pushing and pulling you along in your self-determined right direction. To sum up. Do nothing half-ass. Doing so means you are likely wasting your time and you are certainly missing opportunities. Intent is how you manifest your will in the universe. Mindfulness let you figure out what your will actually is. And then gives you the information you need. To steer your intent in the right direction. To help ensure you actually get where you actually wanted to go. Instead of just where the winds.

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2019-12-29-SongsAndStories.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist. For december 29th. 2010. This week's service is. Songs and stories. Pattaya hart. What are my favorite things about being unitarian-universalist is that we are not. Limited. To behaving in the ways that our tradition like somebody said you know. Tradition is. Peer pressure from dead people. And if unitarian-universalist we are not we are not constrained that way we can change our minds. And we're able to reinvigorate things that might seem boring to us. That's the one of the cool things and so i like to prove whatever i say up here so i thought we would play a game it's called the uu game show. And the way you play is. You say a nursery rhyme or something that everybody in the room will probably know the words to. And a style of music. A girl with one guitar can do. Any style of music common. Commonly played in america. And i will make some. With those words in that style. Want to play. Okay you got one. Broke. Mary had a little lamb feast was white as snow. America. Hillbilly. Is that a style music. Okay. Are you reflecting on my origins okay well. Rub-a-dub-dub three men in a tub is there more lyrics to that that i don't know. I don't work. No problem. Wherever there are three men in the tub rub-a-dub-dub three men in a tub. That was a tough one. Alright anybody else want to go. Yes ma'am. Jack and jill okay and what style music would you like. Rap ok google shares. Jack and jill is jesse's that right. I just changed the string so we might have to attend. Jack and jill. Can tumbling after. Yeah. One more. Humpty dumpty yes ma'am what and what kind of music do you like. You want to beatbox. You know how to do it. Want to come do it. You know how to do it yeah. You make drum sounds with your mouth right so dumpty sat on the wall humpty dumpty had a great fall all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put humpty together again word. Thank you for playing my game. And. Don't like something don't complain change it. Okay. A reading this morning is a poem by joy harjo. Haha who is the poet laureate. Of the united states and a member of the muscogee nation. Her poem is called eagle poem. To pray you open your whole self to sky to earth. To sun to moon. The one whole voice that is you. I know there's more. That you can't see. Can't hear. Can't know except in moments steadily growing and in languages that aren't always sound but other. Circles of motion. Like eagle that sunday morning over salt river circling in the blue sky and wind. Sweater hearts clean with sacred wings. We see you see ourselves and know that we must take the utmost care and kindness and all things. Breathe in knowing we are made of. All this. And breathe. Knowing we are truly blessed. And because we were born and die soon. Within a true circle of moshe. Like eagle. Rounding out the morning inside us. We pray that it will be done. In beauty. And beauty. So this money i'm talking about art. Art as prayer and art as a spiritual practice. And there are probably since most unitarian-universalist archon oppositional defiant. Are bunch of people going. But i'm going to prove my point i think artist prayer making art whether you're writing or drawing or painting or dancing or composing or playing music. Or doing tai chi or whatever you're doing it can be a spiritual practice. Not just a traditional praying and meditating. You can do more. You can do more than one. Spirituality. What is that. In simple terms spirituality is a worldview and a way of life based on the belief that there is more to life than what meets the senses. More to the universe than just. Purposeless mechanics. More to consciousness then electrical impulses in the brain. And more to our systems than the body and its needs. Spirituality usually involves a belief in a higher form of intelligence or consciousness. Running the universe as well as life after death but it doesn't have to be just that. You can just believe in humanity. Or believe in your own breathing in and out. And still have a spiritual practice. Spiritual practices exist in all religions in almost every philosophy. The spiritual science research foundation. Define spiritual practices honest and sincere effort. Done consistently on a daily basis. Develop divine qualities and achieve everlasting happiness or blue. Another way of defining spiritual practice in our own personal journey. Going inward. The art can be that. The kind of our time talking about today is not the kind. That. A practice most of my life which is the music business. Van morrison said music is spiritual. The music business is not. You know many people practice more conventional forms of spiritual practice. Darcy and i are both songwriters in there playing and singing our own music today i brought a brand new song. I challenged myself about two months ago to write you a song for this service. So we're going to try it out on you today. And there's paper in the back. Could somebody get the paper and handed out. If you would like to try visual art. You know you can grab a hymnal. Two drawn and we have a blank paper for you but how many people here have ever done contour drawing. Contour drawing is when you. Do it from your eye and you don't look at the paper. And so. What happened to his overtime if you practice this as your as a practice. You're going to get better at seeing what's actually in front of your face. And you'll probably draw better too. How many people. Learned as a kid how to draw a horse or draw christmas tree and you drew it like this. Right i need your christmas present like this. That's not really what they look like. So here's an opportunity for you if why you're listening to the experiencing the service. If you'd like to try some contour drawing you can draw the piano you can draw whatever you see in front of your the back of the people in front of use heads. It's cool but what you do is you take whatever your drawing with crayon or or a pin or a pencil. There where you could make your offering. Annually put it on a piece of paper and you look at what your drawing and draw and don't pick up the whatever you're drawing with. I don't worry about it don't look at your paper. Use your eyes and connect your hand. With your eyes. It's a very cool spiritual practice. You don't have to be good at it. This is a serious point i want to make today. Now mostly. Because we're both right songwriters you know i'm going to talk more about writing and songwriting because that's my spiritual practice i've been practicing since i was in elementary school. Evangelical about this those are y'all have seen the orchestra know this. Some people use journaling as a way to get in touch with her own mind. Steven pressfield who's one of my favorite writer she wrote a book called the war of art. He says our job. In this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be. But to find out who we really are and become it. Art is a great way to do this. Julia cameron in her book the artist way. She suggests that we write three pages in longhand everyday. Now if you're not very ambitious or this scares you get yourself a tiny. Tiny notebook. You don't write anymore. Or any less than three pages. And in a lot of the writing we'll start out like this. I have no idea what to say i can't believe i agreed to do this. It feels like such a burden. Lalalalala so-and-so said this i had this for breakfast and you keep writing. And what'll happen over time you don't read it over you just write you write your three pages. everyday. Can't do it everyday do it every other day. Do it once a week. But what will happen is. Your heart and your brain. We'll connect. With your hand. And suddenly you'll surprise yourself you'll start finding out you'll start speak the truth about your life. It's a great practice. And it works and it's cheap it's much cheaper than therapy. Also it makes you better at telling stories. Which is an art. True. To me what makes a spiritual practice a spiritual practice. Is your devotion to it. Are you going to do it when you feel bad. Are you going to do it when you feel good. Are you going to do when people praise you. Are you doing it when people say oh your work is terrible. Having experienced both those things i can tell you that. The practice of it. Helps. When people are. Down on what you did and also. Makes you feel strong and the world in a craftsman kind of way like anything anything that you know how to do well it took a long time to learn right. 10000 hours like malcolm gladwell. You know. This guy. another great book called art and fear. Observations on the perils and rewards of art-making. By david bayles. Assess. Art is a high calling. Fears are consequence and dental. Coincidental sneaky disruptive we might add. Disguising themselves fiercely as laziness resistive to deadlines. Irritation with materials or surroundings distractions over the achievements of others. Indeed is anything that keeps you from giving your work your best shot. What separates artist from x artist is that those who challenge their fears. Continued. Those who don't quit. Right. So what is that judgment thing. In our culture perfectionism is really a heavyweight. And we all know we all know what the standard is so if i was a great artist i would write like mozart. What what people don't talk about is that mozart start when he was 4. His father was one of the best music teachers in the world they still use. His book to teach people to play the violin. And he wrote in the 1700. Think about that. To like tiger woods dad. Mozart's dad was a great music teacher. And he started on his son really young. Nobody plays anything mozart compose before he was 21. So if you start when you're four and you keep working till you're 21 at just learning your craft. Then you're going to start writing some really great stuff. If he wasn't born a genius. That's a myth. It's not true. Most of the people that we go over there so talented. They were able to take lessons at a really young age they had came from money or they somebody saw them and help them out. You know that myth that you're not able to do something that you really love doing like singing. The day you don't go join the choir because i can't read music. They'll know i can't remove 600 i don't want to be in the choir. That's mistake. For your life because you've given given a voice. And you have no idea what it could do. Or what you're singing could mean to other people. That's the thing. About all this. Is that we're taught that making art and doing this kind of stuff is selfish somehow. But actually if you have the desire coming out of your heart. And you invest in the things that speak to you and matter to you and your life your life is going to be richer. And the people around you are going to have a richer life and you have no idea. What's going to happen. Or how it's going to affect other people. How i know all this. Yeah yeah kaya. You're up there your minster now used to be musician. Not true i'm still musician. Also what you may not know. If i failed so badly. Every young person. Big time failure. Got a record deal. What are star records in the 80s. Oh it was a it was an accident i wasn't trying to get ever lived in kentucky i played in a bar i was in a band called radio cafe. So i kind of did with the game show jess i wrote songs that sounded like the radio in every style of music possible. And i played in a bar that where people could dance on on saturday night. And it was called radio cafe. And the reason why they let us play in the bar is because i didn't want to pay ask a bmi. Play things off the radio. They would have had to pay money for that. But it was great training for me so i started really young and i got a lot of practice writing songs. And someone heard it. Just the right moment. But how it happened really was. I got out of college and. Another early 80s and. Put out a cassette. Just two people in my neighborhood. And i sent it off to some record companies cuz that's what people do. I got a couple of nice letters back saying it has nice but it's too foki. See you later. Which i didn't even realize was a great thing that they actually bothered to write me back. 2 years later. I played sxsw there were 17 labels interested. I got signed to arister records. I was on mtv. I got the tour i got the open in arenas are played farm aid okay with me. Alright by some miracle. The coolest thing is nobody from my town had ever been signed extinct accept exile. I live in lexington kentucky where the university of kentucky is. And. I got heard myself on the radio one day. And they were playing. The song i wrote. I was the lead singer in the band. And the only songwriter. So what all the songs. So they're playing a song i wrote on the radio and they said and now the pride of the bluegrass and i played. So. About two years into that. We're supposed to have it to record deal. So christmas poems. And i get a phone call from clive davis yes. Clive davis. Hit there's a book about him called hitman. If you want. No. He a ran columbia records he signed. Janis joplin he sign. Bruce springsteen. Because we have any says kyle we're going to drop you we need a tax write-off for whitney houston. I'm serious. So we had told 100,000 albums but he wanted us to sell 600,000. So he dropped us it's all he said oh and i'm dropping you because you have an image problem. You're gay and you're too fat. Yeah i was 26. So i cried for about it. 24-hours straight and then i had to go tell the people who work for me. That we had been dropped because i was too fat. So. We got through that we moved to oklahoma we got signed to another smaller label we kept going. But i got sued by my former manager for $50,000. Got sued. Had to go bankrupt to get out of my contract because what happens they don't tell you is. That if i drop you or they suspend your contract they can hold you for that many years and keep you from making recordings. So basically lots of people like one in a million people get a record deal and only 1% of them are still musicians after 5 years. That's the truth. Nobody talks about it because it's such a personal loss. And personal failure that it's it's hard for me to talk to you about it. Let alone. Other people. You know that's not the way success is supposed to go with. It doesn't. Necessarily. So. I got my car repossessed and the next morning i woke up. And i realized something that saved my life and here it is. I can write more songs. In the bankruptcy i lost every song i've written since i was 10 years old. They take your assets that was my ass. So we took 300 songs away from me. So i couldn't make any money. I'm living in a. Basically. A trailer in oklahoma. And my band moved to oklahoma and we kept we just started playing live all the time but the thing that saved my life was i can write more songs. And i got up and started writing and i'm still writing to this day i'll be riding till i die i hope. So that's where it why i can speak about this with such fervor because it's saved my life. Cuz it's not about being famous. I can tell you i'm on the greatest things about having been through that terrible experience. Is standing in the stage at farm aid for playing for 90,000 people does not i do not feel any different than when i'm standing here playing for you. That's not what artists about. Art is about learning who you are and expressing who you are. In the world. I'm learning things cuz you're always learning and you're always getting better. Perfection is not. Real. Talent is a is a concept that's not actually. If you have a desire to sing or play an instrument or write or draw. Do it. Because here's a great quote that. The julie cameron said about that. She says. But do you know how old i will be by the time i learn to really play the piano. Act. Paint. Write a decent play. Yes. The same age you will be if you don't. I hope this is inspiration. She also says. She's really a great teacher julia cameron she says perfectionism doesn't believe and practice shots. It doesn't believe an improvement perfectionism has never heard anything worth doing is worth doing badly. And that if we allow ourselves to do something badly we might in time become quite good at it. Like being a minister. Perfectionism is not possible in this job. I look forward to the next mistake i make in front of you. Perfectionism measures are beginners work against the finished work of masters. Perfectionism thrives on comparison and competition it doesn't know how to say good try job well done the critic does not believe in creative glee or any glee at all. For that matter. No perfectionism is a serious matter. So. I hope that this this is helpful regardless of if you choose art as a spiritual practice. Or you just play at it. When you were a kid you played at everything. Right. There was there was no shame in being. Picked last on the basketball team you know it's kind of like i wish i could i wish i could be better but you probably shot some free throws after that. Right. Everything is like that and it's never too late. Another person i really love is natalie goldberg she was studying zen meditation. And her since i figured out that she wrote and coffeeshops everyday she was a writer. Lived up in minnesota she wrote a book called writing down the bones that kind of tells the story of how she came to finding writing as hers in practice. And she's been teaching for like 30 years she's one of the best-known writing teachers in the world. And i will leave you with what something that she says. I write because i am alone and move through the world alone. No one will know what has passed through me i write because there are stories that people have forgotten to tell. Because i am a woman trying to stand up in my life. I write out of hurt and how to make hurt okay and how to make myself strong and come home and it may be the only real home i'll ever have. Trust in what you love. Continue to do it. And it will take you where you need to go.

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2018-03-04_LetsGoToTheWell.mp3

You listen to podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. For more information about our church please visit our website at live oak uu. org. Therese sermon let's go to the well is given by our own rev johanna ponton crawford. On march 4th 2018. Have to readings this morning and the first one is from my colleague the reverend david pile this is an excerpt from a blog post he wrote on time management. Versus energy management. Our society is trained to time management. There are whole library sections dedicated to time management in business and school in life and families. Even in ministry. I read more than a few of those time management books over the years along with countless articles in a few seminars. They usually cover topics such as prioritization organization attention to detail and most importantly. Discipline. I have moved away. From thinking about time management. And i'm now focused on developing for myself. Good patterns. Energy man. There's a far more complex project. The management of energy. Because energy is far more complex than time. It is far more complex than adding to my time management time for rest. Sometimes rest itself can be an energy drain. Reflection i often have when someone comes back from a wonderful vacation trip. I get tired just hearing about all the things they have done in places they went on their vacation. I'm discovering how to be intentional about managing my spiritual emotional mental and physical energy and it is a learning process. The patterns of it go in contrary directions to much of what i have learned are good practices in time management. Another complicating factor in energy management is that rest is not the only source of energy renewal. And for me perhaps not the most important one. Wildtime continues on. An hour block of time is an hour block of time. Different tasks and activities have different energy results. Some activities might not take that much time at all but can have a huge cost in energy. A contentious meeting might only take 2 hours of time but might stop up a massive amount of mental and emotional energy. An hour-long appointment with one person might be a significant drain of spiritual energy while an hour-long appointment with another person might lift my spirits and be an actual net energy gained not lost. And just as content and and just as a contentious meeting mike's app away a lot of energy. Other meetings of the same team might leave me energized. And ready to take on the way. Our second reading. Is poem. The peace of wild things by wendell berry. When despair for the world grows in me. And i wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives maybe. I go and lie down. Where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water. And the great heron feet. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their leaves their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of stillwater. And i feel above me the day blind stars waiting with their light. For a time. I rest in the grace. Of the world. And am free. We can make it i know we can. Only time will tell. Let's take a walk down to the water. Let's go hear that low humming underground. Skyline wide world is singing let's go to the. Stories we tell for the wild is the wasted years on this island with it so we can make it i know we can let me fall. Week make it a no weekend. Let's go to the. Where is your will. Where is. The place. What is the activity. Who are the people. Cool replenish. Where is it that you can go. To refill your reserves of energy. And. Doseum. When was it. That you last had that feeling. Of being.. To that creativity and ideas and optimism. Could just flow from you. What was it that happened. Right before that. To make you in that zone. And to make you feel that way. Imagine all of us have that experience of the opposite. In fact maybe some of you are feeling it right now that feeling where you are just. Depleted there's just nothing left. Nothing for you to give nothing for you to. Draw from. Where you are so exhausted. You are crispy. Some of us use that term crispy it's like you're so tired and there's just so nothing left there it is as if your brain has been deep-fried. You just can't think. I have to confess last june. That's where i was. We had done some amazing things last year. Really questioning what it meant to be a fully intergenerational community going to two services making the decision to hire a full-time religious educator. Great stuff. And i. Was crispy. So much so that i looked at one of you whom i know very well and i'm very fond of. And just could not. Bring their name to my lips. I remember actually saying to someone here. I got to go on vacation now because i love y'all but i can't remember any of your names. Crispy. Anyone else been. What we've been talking about this year are seen for this year has been find your purpose. But this element find your well is an integral part of that. Because if you can't find what will replenish you. You are not going to be able to truly fulfill. What it is that you are called to do your. Purpose. You are not going to walk away from this sermon. With any answers. At least not any answers from me. Because what replenishes you. Is a very individual personal thing and what replenishes me quite possibly. Will do the exact opposite for you. What you are going to walk away with is some homework. Should you choose to accept it. Some things. 2 question about yourself it's time to sharpen the axe anyone heard that metaphor before what it means is like you come across someone who is trying to to chop down a tree and you stand and watch them cuz it seems to be taking a long time and then you realize they're doing this with a dull tax and so you say to them. I think you may want to consider sharpening your ex. And they say. I can't i don't have time to do that. It's time to take the time. To sharpen your axe. I think the first step of this. It's just start doing the work of analyzing. What gives you energy and what takes away. Energy from you. This one summer my. Kids and i did this now it was it was them focusing on mom's energy they were little at the time. And i set out to mugs. And one was full of dry red beans. And i explained that this was mom's energy. And throughout the day whenever they did things like. How to fight wind ask me to do something they could have done for themselves where unpleasant i would take beans out of that mug and put it in the other one and then i took that first mug and i said if at the end of the day you know this this evening if this mug is completely empty. Mom will not have the energy to do with you some of the fun things that you would like to do. So this is your homework. You can either literally some of us like it actually helps to to take a literal mug and some literal beans or you can metaphorically in your mind maybe even put at your workplace but a little piece of paper up with a little drawing of like mug and beans. And start tracking. What gives you energy. And what takes away energy. Want to be clear. Energy. Is not necessary not a bad or a good thing there can be things that you really love to do if you're an introvert there maybe a particular meeting that you have at work with a bunch of other extroverts and you love going to that meeting but after it like your energy has been sucked away you don't have more energy you have less. It's not about. Trying to end the day with a full up mug of beans we got things to do and we need energy to do it. It's to become aware. Of what takes away energy from you and what gives you energy. So that you can begin to manage that so that you can begin to do some planning. Kind of like david talked about. Not about time management about energy me. Looking at your day or your weekend going okay. Here are the places where i'm going to lose energy. What can i do. To refill that. So once you have started. Figuring this out i would i would say like little and and start writing these things down like take a couple of weeks to do this exercise. Once you start getting an idea. Of what it means to manage your energy just with the day-to-day kind of regular things. Then it's time to look at. The big picture of on a yearly basis. Where do you go. To replay. Because even if we have learned pretty well how to manage our energy on the day-to-day. We still need that time. To get away from the regular routine. I do something different so that we can get some deep. Nourishment. And replenishments. But what does that look like for you. I think that actually a whole lot of us. Are not really good. At doing vacation. Because we have some ideas of what vacation is supposed to be right we're told it all the time like the beach or disney world or this or that or visiting family and we have so much stuff that we want to do on our very limited amount of free time. And we haven't taken the time to say. Yes but. What. Punish me. So that when i am done with my vacation when i go back to my normal life. I have been filled up. Again. I until very recently. Absolutely fail. At vacation. I think the problem was no i know the problem was i confused efficiency. With effective. And i didn't know what the real goal was right to me the real goal was i have this limited amount of free time i have all these things i need to do. How am i going to cram all in there. Some of you saw me do that saw me flame out a few years ago because i had i i like to be honest until i was forced to make this a priority i just kept going with what i had been doing which is what we often do. This one summer few years ago. I was so efficient. I was going to take some of my weeks of work where i had to travel and mix them in with some vacation weeks. 5 states in 5 weeks. Great. Headed off to work at general assembly in oregon state won. Came back here because it was when we got the supreme court ruling and so we were having the festival of weddings which was awesome so back to texas. Then actual vacation drove to my brother's house in colorado to be around family then after that another week of vacation drove to my parents house in new mexico to be around family and then i had a week of work at ruu summer institute over and oklahoma no problem drive from new mexico to oklahoma. Came back home and in short order came down with hospital necessary bronchitis which meant that i was working at about half capacity for a couple of months. Why did crazy coincidence how did that happen. And so that made me realize. But it wasn't just about. Pleasure. And enjoyment. But that vacation. Was actually a necessity. And i had to figure out and i had to figure out fast what it would take to replenish myself or i couldn't do what i do. And i don't think that like this is special just for ministers i think this is actually the case for just about. Every. Person. So start keeping a list. Your journal. Your computer. Wherever. An ongoing list. That will hopefully span years. Where you start figuring out. What it is. Yearly basis that actually. Replenishes she. This is going to do it i would say maybe even password protect us because this needs to be something really personal for you. Family. We love being around in our family. But family being around them. May not actually replenish. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it just be very clear in your head. What is time off. Versus what is vacation because they are not. Necessarily the same thing. Right. Again this is something very personal for me what i started realizing is that. A big thing that replenishes me is having unstructured time. Another thing that i really need to just feel like my soul has been refilled. Is water out in nature. Nothing real complicated whether it's a river or the ocean or a lake i need to just sit. And stare at the water and that does something. For me. I need some time to read. I need sometimes i do need some structure time some some fun things to go and do. As i have experiment with this over the last couple of years i've gone in and change something. For instance i thought that i really needed to leave my house get away from my home. The last summer i had another experience. My friend tony came and spent a week. With me. Number one tony is one of those. Really wonderful low maintenance people which to me that's also a crucial part of. Vacation is is not having to you know take care of someone all week i realized. Parents with small children you're going to have to figure out how to weave that in. It's not forever i promise you. And so i found out that actually staying at home. When i was able to have some deep conversations when i was able to go and see live music. That was vacation for me so on my list i put music flash art. This is also what will. Replenish. There's all this stuff out there. About no don't do this or yes to do this to have a good vacation. They don't know you the riders izzo's articles. And it may not fit. A really common thing that you'll hear is that to truly have a vacation you need to be able to go and not even think about work. Is writer carey nieuwhof says. If you hate your job that's probably great advice. But what about those of us who love our jobs and feel lucky to have them. For me i do try to when i'm on vacation like i'm not even checking email or anything like that. What a pile of the books that i take. I can include some things about theology and how to do church better because that replenishes me. The goal is to find. What works for you. This is kind of what i'm starting to figure out what works for me but i will tell you like my brother dan this would not work for him at all until recently when he retired he was a you know high-powered executive type really good with telling other people what to do you know what his vacation for him. Cooking. For his friends and his family. Dan here let us that you're doing all this work let us take a meal no no i got it. .. Refills him. For me i got to have some time just like lazing around just not even using my brain not going anywhere. My mother-in-law mary she's just one of these super active people and that would drive her nuts that would not be a vacation at all in fact there sometimes when we tried to ask her to do that staying at our house and like i go home and all of the laundry in the house has been done and folded no you can't rent her. Each. Person. Has to figure out. What vacation. And replenishment works. For them. And then. Most of us. Have to figure out how that works with those around us. With partners with children with extended family because we do have limited amounts of time. And we do have family members. And other obligations. But i think a key is being really clear in your mind. What is vacation. What is time off. What is family obligation. They each have their role i think the problem. Restart. So after you have figured this out after you have done the analysis both a kind of your day today energy management and what you need on a yearly basis for spiritual soul renewal. Then it's time to apply that. And start creating a plan. Because you can have all the great ideas in the world right but unless you have a strategy nothing is going to come from. And i would say look at things on a daily weekly and yearly. Basis. So daily. How can you get more energy more replenishment into your life on a daily basis realizing that like. Some days it's not going to happen. But having a rough plan maybe for you it's meditation. Or jogging or reading a book that is pleasurable or reading a story to your kids at night what is something that is going to help refill you so that you're not saving it all up. For that once-a-year time. And then weekly. What can you do to. Pause. Your normal life. And get. Spiritually emotionally refilled oh if there was just i don't know someplace you could go to where you would be around people who had similar spiritual you know ideas people that you enjoy being around maybe some good music boy if only something like that existed. Now that may do it not do it for you sunday may not really be your sabbath. So saturday or other times how can you figure out. What it is that will refill you. On a weekly basis. And then those ideas that you have for your vacation. Use them yes. To make those plans for vacation. Also start asking this. Are there elements in vacation. That you can bring into your life. On a more regular basis. This past week for me. Was. Crazy. I was having a meeting on my day off i had to go out of town and do some intensive work and i knew this that they was going to be like this at the start of the week. I'm so monday afternoon because remember one of my things is water. I managed to sneak away it was a beautiful day last monday they're going to come back. I went down to brushy creek. And i sat on a bench. And stared. At the water. And you know what. It works. It gave me some reserves. So that i could deal with what was going to happen. Over the next week in the reserves the issue of reserves is very important know at the end of the day you don't want to have a full mug where you've not really done anything. But you don't want your mud to be completely empty. Either you need to keep some energy in reserve because things are going to happen like your flight from charlotte to austin is going to get canceled or a family member is going to get sick or even good things a friend is going to come into town unexpectedly. And you're going to need to have those reserves of energy that you have carefully. Cultivate. The song. That we heard and thank you very much for that. Amazing gif. The song is called the well. And it's written by jennifer warnes. You may know her from the song up where we belong. Or all of her collaborative work that she did with leonard cohen. Or of course. Time of my life from dirty dancing. And that song. She wrote very. Close to here. She wrote it after visiting jacob's well. In wimberley. It refilled. At a time she needed refilling. And she says that she says when i'm in natural settings. My heart. Open. I didn't any condition where the heart opens. There's hope more opportunity. Forgetting. Find the place. Where your heart. Where love. And energy and inspiration and truth. Can all come flowing in. Find your well. Visit it off.

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2018-07-22-CompanionsOnTheJourney.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast for july 22nd 2018. This week's service is companions on the journey. Mcgregor tony lorenzo. The reading this morning. Is an excerpt from the forgotten ways by alan hirsch. Communitas. Is a community formed in the face of an ordeal. A challenge. Attask. A mission. That requires each player to find each other in a new and significant way in order to get the job done. Friends. Become comrades. Team players. And they rely on and interact with each other in new ways. The ideas of liminality and communitas describe the dynamics of the church community. Inspired to overcome their instinct to huddle and cuddle. Into instead for themselves around a common mission that calls them onto a dangerous journey to unknown places. A mission that calls the church to shake off its collective security. And plunge into the world of action. Where its members will experience disorientation. And marginalization. But also where they encounter god. And one another in the new and powerful way. Allenhurst picks up this idea of communitas from a british anthropologist i'm into british anthropologist you noticed that from last week i had one for last week i got one for this week. Victor turner he did a lot of work on symbols and rituals and rites of passage ceremonies in various cultures around the world. Today we might think of him as a bit more racist in his approach because he went to cultures in southeast asia and africa and didn't study so much you know cultures in france. But he did find some really interesting things. He said that a lot of important rights of passage involve people relying on each other to go through a type of ritualistic journey. Where they're all put through. Some tasks they have to endure together. A glass they have to endure together experiences they have to endure together in order to become men or women or to be ready to be married and that sort of thing. And he found that during those times. Relationships among the people going through the rite of passage changed. Because they had to rely on each other. To get through. And these rites of passage what kind of design so that when people became adults are they became. People ready to be married they were ready to go into those roles. Trusting a little more the people around them forming good relationships friendships maybe of spiritual guide and harasser and cheerleader with the people they would need to then rely on for real life. This is what our friendships can help us do. Navigate the risky journey which is what we need to go on in order to end up anywhere really important. Hurst says it's what we need to go through as a church. To achieve important things in achieving our mission. I'm pretty sure i saw a mission posted on a wall here somewhere. What is it. So you see what her she was talking about. Is if you pick some risky journeys to go on together. You get more into that mission and you form it as you go through and this group this congregation has been through some risky journeys probably on one now. What are some risky journeys this congregation is has undertaken. Surviving a fire. Movie now i heard that story this morning like there was a piece of land sold and bought this right. That's risky adventure. You went through two services that's always fun to do in a congregation. That can be full of all kinds of stuff yeah. Multi-generational. Wow you're in the capital campaign right now right that's a risky journey will we raise enough money how will we get there what's going to happen what monsters will be realized right. You've been through some of these i remember i'm how many rainbow flag did y'all put up here. 4861 what was it. Right you have been through some risky journeys already. And i think wife and our times it's going to require some risky journey in of a still. Deform not just community where we get together with like-minded people. But what hirsch calls communitas. A special kind of community where people become deeply bonded and more intimate. Baby come. More spiritual. In true friends. We pick up people. Through the process of the risky journey that can play the role of cheerleader and spiritual guide and harasser. And this risky missional journey where group goes on a journey together to accomplish a task. But they don't know they're going to succeed at. Makes them friends. And a group. In very different and powerful ways. Our culture is full of these stories. So these folks. They're starting out on a risky journey together they have to go to the dark land of mordor and destroy like the king of evil right. And at the beginning they don't even like each other. The dwarf in the elephant ready to kill each other when they start out. I don't know who the real enemy is haven't figured it out yet. But by the end of the journey. They have become. Powerfully close friends. Who's familiar with this group of nine friends. Alright so who's the cheerleader. Sam who else is a cheerleader in here. Pippin. Who's the spiritual guide. B & l. Who's the prophet. Frodo. Aragorn. So you see how those roles get formed and people take them on when you have a risky journey to go on together. Porsches you. To get to know each other better to trust each other more deeply to depend on each other in ways you didn't before. Deform the kinds of friendships that grow your spirit and sustain it. So. The muppets go on a risky journey to hollywood. To become stars. If they had an undertaking that risky journey. You would not have the muppet show and the muppet movie in the great muppet caper in the muppet christmas carol. In the muppets take manhattan. Widely recognized as the height of the muppet filmmaking. But when they started they were bunch of crazy creatures in a car together. Getting to know each other. Becoming friends. Who is the spiritual guide. Kermit. Who's the cheerleader. Who's the. Prophet. They developed these rules as they go along. To achieve their mission. They have to get to know each other in new and more powerful ways they start to take on roles for each other. The deep in their friendships. So for all the old people in the room who remember this movie. If it's anybody doesn't know this story. So there's there's he's characters and their putting saturday detention together because i got in trouble at school they don't know each other. Parent agonistic to each other they test each other by the end of the saturday. Their assignment was to write an essay telling the principal who they think they are they wrote one as a group. Saying how you see us as you want to see us but we're all all of these. And through the ordeal of being in the detention together. They grew into different roles. They supported each other they got through the day in a way they wouldn't have if they hadn't. Been in those relationships in developed. A communitas among them. Spiritual guide. Prophet. The basket case. Ally sheedy's character. Cheerleader. No. There wasn't an actual cheerleader but they were cheerleaders. Yeah. Believe it or not i was not the michael anthony hall character when i was in high. I was bender. It's really fun to run into people haven't seen me since high school now you're what. There's hope for everyone. They don't know each other at the beginning of the journey. It's the journey to oz that develops their relationship. Deepens now. And they become people who play important roles for each other sustaining each other. Who's the prophet. The scarecrow. Who's the spiritual guide. Who's the cheerleader. So. The different roles friends can plan our lives become very important. And one of the ways we develop. Into this friendship rules for each other is we decide to accomplish something together. Something maybe that's a little risky. That we can't guarantee is going to be successful when we start out. And as we develop these relationships they help us maintain the fire we need inside us. To accomplish great things. To be there for each other to change the world around us. To create lives. Andy church that is on fire. For doing good in the world. And being good. You will continue to go on a journey together. Take some risk. Take some more chances. The world asks a lot of us right now. We need to play these roles of friends for each other. And we need to do it on a journey. That's important. Because there's no guarantee we're going to succeed. You may be called to become a sanctuary. You may be called to do voter. You may be called to engage in anti-racism work in the community you may be called to do all kinds of stuff you may decide to do it together. And they'll be nobody who can guarantee you're going to succeed at. But the journey and threw it together will deepen your relationships and your friendship. And keep your heart on.

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2019-04-07-ArtAsSpiritualPractice.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For april 7th 2019. This week's service is. Art as spiritual practice. By reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning comes from an article from psychology today this is spirituality and art. By larry culliford. The foremost reason that artists create in the rest of us value their art is because art forms a priceless living bridge. Between the everyday psychology of our minds and the universal spirit of humanity. It's important to make a clear distinction between art and merchandise. The emphasize the wisdom of avoiding materialist contamination of true art. Buy true art. I mean artistic creations that reflect spiritual principles and values. Like beauty creativity. Honesty generosity discernment patience and perseverance. The scituate art in the marketplace. Can easily result in spiritually impoverished ephemera the production of which is governed by worldly priorities like prophets success. Power status and fame. This is the thing. Art comes from the heart and likewise speaks to the heart. But this ask something of the witness to a kind of emotional and spiritual sensitivity with which to receive the generous gift of the artist. I remember several years ago. Standing transfixed before a self-portrait of an older rembrandt in an exhibition in london. It was hot and crowded in that dark airless space. I was aware of people coming and going beside me but i stood there and a kind of timeless personal bubble. Filled with fascination and wonder. I also recall a similar experience when i was a teenager on a family holiday in spain i heard on the radio for the first time the music of rodrigo. I was in trance the lighted an ostrich for the entire duration of the peace. I did not want it to end. These were not simply aesthetic. Experience. Moments of pleasure. They were i would say. Spiritual. Experiences. Because they were in some small way transformative. I was not entirely the same person afterwards. I was somehow better connected through the art and the artist to the entirety of humanity and the cosmic whole. And the proof. Is that the most vivid memory of these and other similar experiences. Has stayed with. Ever since. You are. An artist. But there's a very good chance that it's sometime in your life. Someone has given you the message. That you were not. One of the illnesses of our culture. Is that if there is a thing that can be done. And someone. Can make money doing that thing. Then if you do not make money. Doing that thing. Can you get the message. What's the point. Or you get the message that what you're doing is not real or significant or you get the message. That you're. Identity. And how it is affected by doing this thing. Is it really real. If you can paint. A painting. And someone will pay you money for it. Then. We call you an artist. If you create music. Can you play music. And someone is willing to pay money for a ticket. Or for a recording. Then. We call you an artist. If you write poetry or essays or stories. And someone publishes those and then people are willing to buy it. Then. We call you. An artist. Brawl of the rest of us. At best. We may say that you are a hobbyist. Or you're dabbling. But we don't treat you as the artist that you are. The history. Of the world. Does not back this up. Some of those who we now consider to be the greatest artist. Vincent van gogh. Townes van zandt. We have these. Artist. And we are the artists but when we allow commerce. To define. What. Art. An artist. Ar. Then we lose some part of ourselves. And it starts at a really early age. Starting in preschool or elementary school. Quickly the children who. Are just born with some sort of innate untrained talent. Where would they. Draw a picture of a horse. It pretty much looks like a horse. Or the untrained voice where they can sing an end they sing on key. Automatically. Those are the ones that we say ah. They have a potential to be a real artist. For the rest. Jen at beth. We may treated swift sort of loving condescension. Oh isn't that cute so isn't that sweet well she tries. But i imagine almost everyone in here. Got a message that was even harsher. And that was at some point. Someone said to you. You can't draw. Or you can't sing. Or you can't write. You can't. Do the thing and what they told you was. You are not special. Only special people get to be artists. And i believe that. Even the messages about what art is. Those aren't something that that come to us instinctively that's a message that we are taught. Art is a painting that you can put up on the wall. Or it has a record that someone can add to their collection it is a book that someone can put on their bookcase art is a product. I think the kids. Instinctively know. That art. Is. An experience. And what they instinctively know. We often as adults have to go back and relearn the child. Who is drawing the chalk. Picture outside where later it's going to rain and it's going to disappear that child. Already knows and accepts. A reality of art. That. Is a spiritual lesson. That's the same lesson but these tibetan monks when they create a sand mandala. Are trying to convey. That art and life itself. Is temporary. It's not going to be there forever. And it is value is no less. For its lack of permanency. Art. Is. An experience. And it is a spiritual experience whether we are creating the art. Or whether we are absorbing it. As an audience to the art. When we create art. We use all of the senses that we have been given we are feeling the paint we are smelling them or smelling the graphite. We are playing guitar and we are feeling an often making calluses on our fingers from the strings. Art is an experience even if no one else is around. When we are making it. But art is also. An experience. When we are. Absorbing it. When we are standing in front of it or listening to it. In fact it is i think one of the most spiritual and countercultural things that we can do. To come up. To art. And to put. Aside our preferences. To set aside that sort of self-imposed responsibility that we feel we have to judge the art to be a critic. Of the art. Our preferences. Are a barrier. To art being a spiritual experience when we interpret art as a spiritual experience as the writer did as something in which transformation of self. Can happen. Those those preferences about what we like. And what we don't like. Are a barrier and they get in the way. Because. Preferences mean that working a stick. With what we like. And what is comfortable. And much of the time growth. Comes through. Discomfort. Through encountering something that we're not that familiar with. And engaging with it. Having communion with. Not just deciding do i like this or do i not. I'm so art. Is not the thing. Artist the experience. When we come and we create it. Or we absorb it. An art when it is a spiritual practice. And what i mean by spiritual practice is we are deliberate about it and we are making a choice we are saying i am going to make this a priority in my life. I am going to give some of my precious limited time. Toward this. We can approach it then as we do meditation or divination or any of the other spiritual practices we've talked about in that we can be either deliberately mindful or deliberately mind less. We are deliberately mindful. When we are hyperfocusing. On the art whether it's looking at it or creating it. When we are choosing okay i'm going to use the black thread for this i am going to use the red thread for this. There's a pattern there's a picture we're trying to achieve something. I'm done the last we are entering in and experiencing this when we are learning a new piece of music. Note by note or a new strum pattern. This is mindful. Art practice. Not unlike. The things went with divination or with religious study. We're we're focusing hyperfocusing on something. And tuning out all of the other noise. The grocery list the toudouze the emails we need to answer and instead of focusing right on.. Focus. Mindlessness deliberate mindlessness. Is another way that we can. Practice. Art. This is one type of example this is what's called zentangling which is a clever word for. Doodling with purpose. And and zentangling is about this deliberate mindlessness. Where you're making these marks. And you're not really sure where it's going to go. And part of the idea is that you're engaging sort of a repetitive part of your brain. So that other parts of your brain can be more open. As in meditation when you are focusing on something like. Breathing. With this with the sort of mindless sort of. Practice. We bring in our muscle memory. So knitting but specifically. When you're not following a pattern. Not trying to count the stitches. You're just automatically knitting so that one part of your brain. Kind of quiet down with that pattern. So that another part of your brain can be more open. And expansive. Or music. When we're not trying to learn a specific piece when we don't have an attachment to the outcome. But we're just. Jami. We're just improvising we're just seeing where the music itself. Is going to. Take us. This is how we make art. As a spiritual. Practice. When we engage in art. In this way. The number one. Religious element. That comes to play is one that we find throughout. The different religions. Anat is the whole concept of. Surrender. We see this like in christianity die will be done right the idea of letting go of surrendering of allowing something else to be at work but the religion where you see this the most. Is in islam. If you had to narrow down the entire religion into one word. This would be that word. Surrender. Surrender to allah. Surrender to the holy spirit. And however it is everyone use your own theological translator however it is that you define spirits. This is the gift. That art. Can give to us. Because we surrender. And we allow. Something else. To take control. We set down our preferences and our preconceived ideas and whether we are experiencing art through looking at it or creating it or playing it. We relax. Intuit. And allow a spirit. To flow. Art is. A doorway. If you consider spirit however you define it. As something that is not necessarily right in you all the time. And for you. Maybe it's that you need to stop with the to-do list. Are you need to devote time you need to somehow open yourself up to potential transformation. Art. Can be that doorway. So that spirit. Flo's. Into. And through you. How many artists will often talk about that about having that moment when they have been hard at work at something. And they've just been flow is often the word that they use they've just been in the flow. And at a certain point they realize that they finished. And they step back and they go. Wow. Where did that come from. And often what is articulated is this idea that this creation. Came through me. But not from me. An example of that. Is a song by noel paul stookey. A peter paul and mary. Those of us of a certain age or familiar with a song called the wedding song. We had it in our wedding. And. He wrote this song and he stepped back. And he so passionately felt that this song came through him not from him that he would not take any of the profit. Of the song and instead he set up a foundation foundation for creative change and all of the profits to this day go there and are distributed to good causes. Art is what opens us up. For flow. And for spirit. You are an artist. And i realize you have probably received messages that. Contradicts.. But the whole thing about right-brain and left-brain right. Left brain is the analytical the engineering until maybe you are one of those types and you say well that's who i am i'm an accountant i am not an artist. I'm pretty sure that there is no one in here. Who is walking around with one really strong part of their brain and like the other part of their skull is just empty like there's nothing there. Everyone here is an artist. Because there is something in you. That can connect. With what what is larger art is that doorway. And through it we connect. With what is spiritual. We connect with truth. We connect with beauty. We connect with meaning itself. Art center's us. In wonder. And awe. And mystery. You are. An artist.

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2019-11-24-TheLoavesOfOurHeritage.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For november 24th 2019. This week's service is the lows of our heritage. The reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Entire hardwood. Are reading this morning comes from robin whilst book braiding sweetgrass indigenous wisdom scientific knowledge. And the teachings. Plants. From time beyond memory mohawk people inhabited this river valley. But now bears their name. Back then the river was full of fish and it's springflex but silt to fertilize their cornfields. Sweetgrass. Called when soraken ashante in mohawk. Flourished on the banks. That language has not been heard here for centuries. Replace by waves of immigrants. The mohawk people were pushed from this generous valley. In upstate new york to the very margins of the country. Mohawk language and culture didn't disappear on their own. Forced assimilation. The government's policy to deal with the so-called indian problem. Shipt mohawk children to the barracks at carlisle pennsylvania. Braids were cut off and native language is forbidden. The scent of sweetgrass was replaced by the soap smells of the barracks laundry. The government's goal of breaking the link between land language and native people was nearly a success. But the mohawk call themselves the cannon chaos. People of the flint in flint does not melt easily into the great american melting pot. Despite carlisle despite exile to despite a siege 400 years long. There is something some heart of livingstone that will not surrender. I don't know just what sustained the people but i believe it was carried in words. Pockets of the language survived among those who stayed rooted in place. Among those remaining the thanksgiving address was spoken to greet the day. Let us put our minds together as one. And send greetings and thanks to our mother earth. Who sustains our lives with her many gifts. Grateful's reciprocity with the world as solid as a stone. Sustain them when all else was stripped away. So today i brought for my contribution cornbread which i'm pretty sure is what i bring every single year cuz it's one of our family. Traditions. And i've shared before about the arguments that my dad and i used to have about whether to put sugar in cornbread. Even though he died a few years ago we are still having this argument every time i make the cornbread. Those of you who have lost a loved one but continue to have conversations and arguments with them know what i'm talking about. And he would say no now we are at we are southerners and it's it's the southern way you don't put sugar into cornbread. And. So this is how i was raised this is how many of us were raised you put your sugar and tea you don't put your sugar in cornbread. But not everyone. There's a hole. Very interesting field of history called culinary history. And it's the people who look back at why did people start making cornbread or anything else where was it first made and what were the circumstances of why it was made how did it travel down from family to family. Because. Food is in one way ordinary but it is also the holder of a lot of our memories and a lot of our history. And there are often stories behind why we eat what we eat. And cornbread is definitely one of those stair was a symposium a few years ago that was specifically on the topic of the history of southern food and one of the if not the greatest expert. On african-american southern food. Is a man named michael twitty. And he was up on stage and he was posed with the question name something that southerners do not put in cornbread. And he said okay. Would you like the white answer or the black answer. And everyone who was there because they are all helen airy historian today all laugh they knew what he was talking about. So speaking in very broad generalizations which is what we need to do if we're going to be able to identify patterns. The african-american community if you were to pick a an example of sort of the the des disses the cornbread that represents. What most people in this community eat. It is lighter. And it is sweet it is often more like cake or like a muffin. If you look at the white southern community. It is usually a little heavier. And it is not sweet at all there is no sugar that is put into it. So this historian michael twitty wanted to to dig in and go okay well. Why is that. And there were different theories piano port around and he actually found that before the emancipation cornbread was pretty much the same no matter what community it was for. It was called corn what we would now call cornbread was called corn pone then how'd it was not sweet. Where the change started to happen. Was with industrial changes. Before corn was milled and it was what was called water mill. And so they would often use the sweet. White. Once they started using the steel mills. do they could use the yellow corn which was picked before it was right. And so it was not sweet. And they would grind it down they would take the germ out of it. Which would mean that it could be stored for longer but it also meant that it lost some of that corn taste. And so. Dd yellow cornmeal. Was much cheaper than the white cornmeal. And because of the economic discrepancies. You had the white southerners who would often use the white cornmeal and so they could just make it as they always had. For black southerners they would need to add some sugar to make it taste good and a little bit of wheat flour so that it would rise. So that's actually where this change started happen. And as we know for good or for bad we define normal as whatever we grew up with. Right. And so i am eating the same cornbread or the same type of cornbread that probably my great-grandmother was making. And someone who is african-american is going to be eating the same that that their great-grandmother made. And so that has affected these different views of. What is. Cornbread. Now. How we define what is southern cornbread no michael twitty points out so often what is southern. How is southern why is southern has been determined by southern. White p. It is part of the larger discussion of whether or not you see southern culture from the perspective of the big house. Or the slave quarters. We're still having this argument 100 years later but were using different vehicles to have it. Including cornbread. We have this tradition every year at this church and in mini unitarian universalist congregation. And it's a way of celebrating the differences between us. The different heritages that have shaped who we each are. And then we can we can all learn from each other and this is a celebration of. Some of us know our the stories of our heritage because the stories. And the recipes have been passed down from one generation to another. In other families. Maybe the stories haven't really been passed down that much. But. The internet has been invented. I heard. And the internet can be used for some really terrible things as we see all the time. But it can also we have this amazing vehicle for research. That is right there for us. And so now course you can even take a dna test and find out okay who are my people and where did they come from. I'm or if you can get online to one of these genealogical site. And and trace things back or even with your name. You can pat you can see okay where did this name come from. So what i would encourage everyone to do before we meet again next year and do this if you haven't already. Find one of those ways to get in touch with your own heritage. And find out. What was the food that these people used to eat. And why did they. Was it a geographic thing was it a wealthy. And their neighbors. What was it that their neighbors were eating and how did all of this help make up a culture. Food scenes in some ways like it's very simple. But there are stories behind all of this. And it is something that we can do so that we can go back and we can do this research. And we can have the humility of realizing that just because people who look like us. Define to certain thing like. Southern. That actually there were a lot more people that were a part of that.

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2017-10-01-OneSmallVoice.mp3

You're listening to podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas. The warren commission about our church loses our website at live oak uu. org. Trey sermon. One small voice is going to be around reverend joanna fontaine crawford. On october 1st 2017. Are reading this morning is written by the rev lynn ungar. And this is titled the. Life. The saying goes. Is a journey. And who could argue with that. We've all experienced the surprising turns. The nearly impossible swamp the meadow of flowers that turned out not to be quite. So blissful and benign. Thought. The crest of the hill where the road. Smoothed out. And slopes toward home. Our job we say is to remain faithful to the path before us which is an assumption as common as it is absurd. We really. Look ahead what do you see. If there is a. Mark out in front of you it was almost certainly laid down for someone else. The path only unfolds behind us. Are steps themselves laying down the road. You can look back. And see the signpost. The ones you followed in the ones you missed. But there are no markers. For what lies ahead. You can tell the story of how you forwarded the streamer got lost on the shortcut that wasn't. How you tracked your way to courage. Or to a heart. But all of that comes after the fact. There is no road ahead there is only the walking the tales we weave our adventures. And the songs that we sing. To call our companions. You can tell it on the mountain in the valley far below what you need until the craftsman what they already know from the author add her keyboard to the wooden ride at his laid every creation is an act of fences with the ground in this world. You are. And amazing. Story. You are a book. And plot. And. The pages. To come. Are all blank. But the pages that have already passed. Are full of descriptive narrative. And conversation. And rich. Detail. And many of these.. You have already for. But. They are a part of. And they're just waiting. To come out. When you least expect them like when you open up. A box of new crayons. And you smell them and all of a sudden you're back in your second grade. Classroom and you can see the map. Up on the wall. And the faces of. Your three best. The pages to come are blank. But if you look back. At those previous pages. You'll find in them. Hence. And. Lose. And foreshadowing. Of what is to come. You have talents. And skills. And some of these you gained very. Deliberately you made a plan and took steps to acquire. This education. These skills. But others. Came to you just. By circumstance. They just kind of happened whether you chose them or not. It's kind of like. You didn't choose them so much as they. Chose you. And those skills. Can be no less important. Then the ones that you mindfully chose. Even the most. Ordinary talent. Can become extraordinary. When used in service. Natalia. Demetra. Was born. In ukraine. Back at the time that it was the soviet. And she was from birth. A coda. Don't know we have one member in our congregation maybe two maybe her husband who knows what coda means but i imagine the majority of us don't. I'm not talkin about the musical term. Cota stands for. Child. Of daffodil. And natalia was born. A deaf mother and a deaf. Father. Her first words came where and she was a 20 month year old. Toddler. By then she had a sibling. Who was crying. And so natalia went to her mother. And 1st. Mime. Rocking a baby and then trace a tear down her. And her mother would tell her later though. Those were her first one. So. She acquired the skill of. Sign language. Just. In the same way most of us acquire the language. Of our mother. And father are pear. And she was also growing up. A time item altruist time. She saw the cold war. From the perspective of the soviet. Then in 1991 she saw the soviet union break apart and ukraine became an independent state. Not that that meant it was peaceful. There were still factions fighting for power. She became a professional sign language interpreter. She had children. 2004. She she had two children in one. Was a teenager. And the other was 20. And they were going out and they were hearing. Speeches. People who were concerned that ukraine was getting way too authoritarian. And she said that she would go and she would hear the speeches she would go to these rallies. And. Be filled with such hope. The job. That she had taken. Was as sign language interpreter for ut1. Which was ukraine state-controlled. Television. I'm so she would go everyday and she would sign the language that the government. Had given to them. And. This became increasingly difficult for her to go out on the streets and here one set of news. And then come in. I'm have to give the state version of the new she said that she felt. Dirty she would go home. And feel like she needed. To wash her hands. During this election. Bad things were happening there were all sorts of rumours about corruption. And at the time the prime minister. Who is not this person. It was viktor yanukovych. Was bat. By the powers in russia. This person viktor yushchenko. Was running against him. And overnight. He went through a dramatic physical transformation. As you see in the picture. And it was later determined that he had been. Poisoned with. Dioxin. No one ever stood trial for this but it was widely suspicions. That the kremlin was behind. So november 21st the election day november 21st 2004 arrived. And. Out on the streets. Everyone was talking about what they were hearing there were widespread reports of voter suppression voter intimidation and election fraud. And still natalia would have to get up. And go into work. And sign the news. That the government had given. Out in the streets people were fighting back they were wearing orange that was the the color of their of the opposition movement. November. 24th. Natalia woke up. And she put on a long-sleeve silk blouse. And she tied around her wrist. An orange ribbon. Because she knew that when she raised her hand to begin signing. The people would be able to see it. At first she was just signing along with the television journalist with the report that the government had given them the report. That was saying that you shanko had lost. And then she dropped her hands. Achieve begin signing something different. She began signing to all the deaf people in ukraine. Do not believe these lies. U-shaped viktor yushchenko is our president. I am so ashamed. Of the lies that i have been telling you. Perhaps i will see you. When she did that she didn't know what the. She left. She went over to her boss there in the studio and she told him what she had just done. He hugged her. And told her. That he was proud. Within a short time 250 of her colleagues there in the newsroom had organized a stop-work meeting they all gathered they began yelling at the station owner. No more lies no more lies. By the end of the day the station had agreed. To start giving more balanced news. Meanwhile. All of the deaf people who had seen her reports began talking to all of their hearing friends and passing that news on to them people were literally pouring into the streets streets demanding a recount. Shortly after that. The ukrainian supreme court ruled that there must be a new election. And about. A month later. There was. And this time with international election watchers. Ushanka one. About a year after that. Natalia was in washington dc. At the kennedy. Accepting an award. So. What can you do. To prepare for what maybe. Spontaneous. Hero moment. How do you prepare not even knowing what it might look like. Well there's two big places to start the first. Is to begin assessing. What your skills and talents are. You have so many things that you already know how to do even our children. Y'all have skills and talents. And there's no telling how the universe may choose to use them. This is what has happened in our history. People with talents have stepped forward at opportune times and made a difference. Hans deutsch was an artist. And when the unitarian service committee. Went into europe to try and rescue people from the nazis they went to han storage and they said we need a symbol we need a logo. And he created the flaming chalice. That we still used today. Holly near. Is a musician. And when george moscone and harvey milk or assassinated she sat down and she wrote that song that we sang earlier we are a gentle angry people. Which the people saying at the vigil that night. More recently you probably know. About bree newsome. When she climbed up the flagpole and ripped. Down the confederate flag. Here's the thing though. Our talents and our skills. We don't do this work. Alone. We are not all on our own and your skills and your talents may be used to help someone else. Hobbit hero moments. You know bree newsome. But you may not know the person next to her. Jimmy tyson. Jimmy tyson talent. With climbing trees. Climbing trees you worked for greenpeace you was an activist for greenpeace and so he had a lot of experience climbing trees until for 2 days. He worked with bree newsome. Training her taking her out first two trees then to a telephone pole. Training her how to do that and on that morning when she got up and climbed. The flagpole he was at the bottom. Being her safety. We just cannot tell. How are skills. May be used in the future. For jimmy. This thing from his backstory. Became part of breeze. Future store. One of my favorite. Quotes is. From doctor who. Big surprise i know. The doctor says. We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one.

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2018-04-22-NecessaryEndings.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For april 22nd 2018. This week's service is necessary endings. A reverend joanna fontaine crawford. It is not an unusual event as some of you teased me about that if you visit me for more than 2 minutes in my study here at the church. Chances are good that you were going to walk away with a sticky note and the title of some books crawled on it some really just you you should read this you would i really think you'd like this. I i mean can we pause for a moment just in this day of like the internet where information is so close to our fingers can we can we give a little word of praise for books i think we sometimes forget how amazing books are i mean a well-researched using scholarly methods of well research well-written book. Yeah you know there aren't there is some knowledge some wisdom that you can only learn from experience but a great book like a lesson that might take you 40 years of experience to to get like you can learn it in a few hours there like concentrated wisdom pills for your brain books. Are amazing. And over the last few years of all the books that i have recommended to people. The one we're consistently. So many people. How come back to me and said oh thank you for telling me about that book. It was exactly what i needed. Is this bug. Necessary endings by dr. henry cloud. And after today this will be in our library. If you want to check it out. Part of the mission of this church is that here we empower dreams. We all want to work and support each other and we want to help each other in making our dreams come true. That's that's. Why this year we have had one theme all year long. Find your purpose. Find your purpose find the little purposes that make up everyday and that reveal your character and what is most important to you. And find your purpose find a great big huge life-changing purpose. The one of which frederick buechner says is where. Your deep gladness and the world's. Deep hunger. So today. I've been doing this since september. Today my question is. In your life. What needs to end. So that something better. Can begin. What needs to end. So that you may move. Closer. To your perp. We don't like buying and large. Endings. We don't. We are evolutionarily programmed to resist. Pain. Because change is so changing and what we like is stability with change with endings. It is not guaranteed. What happens next it is unpredictable. We like. Predictability. Predictability is so very. Predictable. We know what's going to happen next or yes i recognize that tree i have been here before even when things are not great. When things are boring. Or even when things are. Downright painful. We often will resist. Having an ending. Because what comes next. Can't necessarily be pretty. In the book a woman says to doctor cloud i know i'm living in hell. But i know all of the street names here. We don't like. Dr. cloud suggest. That. Our lives can be better. If we begin to normalize endings. If we develop an understanding that endings are simply part of the normal flow of life. The everything in our life goes through seasons. We have spring. Where we plant a seed. That moves into summer where we we water it we watch the plant grow. In autumn. It's time for the harvest. Anna wintour. It's time to let it in. It's time to let something die. So that something can be reborn. Or so that we can plant something. Completely new. It's just part of the cycle everything goes through. Cycle. And when we clutch too hard because we're afraid of that ending. We're keeping ourselves from whatever that something better. Maybe. So doctor cloud. Recommends that we actually look at the different things in our lives. And ask the question. What season. Is this in. Is this in a middle time is this a time to be watering and cultivating. Is it time to reap the harvest. Or is it time to let this end. So that something new. And not everything. Happens. As the whole there are certain long-term containers. Like a long marriage. Or working at the same company for 40 years. Even within those containers though. You have this season. Have some of you know some of you were there i officiated at a wedding. Last weekend. And with every wedding did i do i try to make sure that the the ceremony is unique. To that couple but there is one element that i always try to include. I try to remind them. But if you have a marriage of any. Lynx. Then you're probably going to look back. And see that within your long marriage you actually had several. Marriage. I imagine some of our long-married in the congregation cannot i know tom and i can the marriage that you have. As newlyweds. Where you're still hearing stories for the first time you're still learning about things you're still. Trying to cut a compromise and figure out you know which way are you going to go on certain things. That is a very different marriage. And when you're coming up on your 50th wedding anniversary. And you heard just about all of the stories and facts you've heard them so much that you will argue with the other person that they're not telling the memory right even if you weren't there to begin with you've just heard it so many times you know how this story is supposed to go. So even within something long. We still have seasons. My colleague the reverend steve crump has been serving as senior minister in baton rouge for 36 years. Every 5 years. Pauses he takes his sabbatical. And he thinks about. What is the kind of minister. That this church needs now. And then he sets to work. To become a minister. He sees everything. As being seasons and he sees his work there. As being a cycle. Of endings and. As you're doing the work. I've looking at different elements in your life. I'm trying to figure out trying to discern. What season. Something is in. Cloud says that there is a. There's a little. Track a little bit of help. And it's dis. To look for. As he describes it. The life-saving virtue. Of hopeless. Hopelessness. Where the religion of hope. We've been singing i'll bring you hope when hope is hard to find hold on there cowboy. That maybe. Not. What someone needs. Because there is bad hope and there is good hope. And there is bad hopelessness. And there is good. The element. That makes. The. That determines what. These hopes and hopelessness is our. Is reality. You have to. Face reality. Ralph and not big fans of doing that. But if you're undertaking this personal growth at something we we all have to do. Look at the thing that you have. Hope. You you hope that it will change. Do you have evidence. To support. Did it will change. Or is it simply a wish. Go through. Analytically. Analyze this. Do you have an addict. And your life. And you are really hoping. But that person will change. Well. If they're going to rehab. Or if they are now going to 12-step meeting. If they have some sort of plan for their recovery. And that's good hope. You got you got a reason you've got evidence to support that hope. If you hope. Things are going to change. That they are going to recover. But there are no plans being made. And in fact they're not even acknowledging. But there's a problem. Then for you. That may be bad hope. Because that hope. Maybe what is keeping you from making. Some hard to see. Hopelessness. There is bad hopelessness if it's not based in reality if you are at a point. Where you are hopeless. That your life will ever get better. Hear me. That is not based in reality. And come and talk to me. Please come and talk to me. That is. Bad. But there's also good hope. When you look at reality. And you say you know what. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting things to change. Is just not going to work. As has been said that's the definition of insanity. That's good hopefully. Because it can lead us to make some necessary changes in whatever is going on in our life. And when we stopped fearing hopelessness when we learn to see it as being a tool see it as being a life-saving virtue. As they say if your car. It's starting to skid what do they always tell you to do. Steer into the skid. Peer into. The hopelessness. See it for what it is. So that you can make the steps. Fred necessary ending. That will get you where you need to be. On facebook this week. I asked people if they could. Tell me about a time when they have had an ending. That was necessary for them to have. Something better. And like as soon as i i post that you know sometimes i post these things and i wonder. Anyone going to respond i mean like within 5 minutes. Right probably if we just stopped right now and started discussing it probably everyone. Has some example even our youngest ones right you in kindergarten so you can go on to first grade yet end crawling so you can go on to walking. People had these great stories. About. Leaving addictions behind and having a better life. Leaving bad relationships behind leaving unfulfilling careers behind. Having those endings. And then moving forward. And it's hard at the time because again. The outcome is not. Assured. But i imagine most of us have a story where we say yeah i did this ending and it was scary and i didn't know what was going to happen next. But i can look back now and go. Thank goodness i took that step. I don't. Believe. But everything happens for a reason. And yet. And yet. So many things i look back at over my life and say wow. I had to go through that discomfort or that pain. In order to get where i am. The most of these stories that people shared with me. We're stories of that had something bad behind them and that was what propelled them. To make the change. And that often happens. Right we we don't want change but if there is something bad enough we will make a change if right now i said to y'all. You know what it's a beautiful day let's go out to the labyrinth. There would probably be some of you that would be like. I'm i'm actually kind of comfortable right now no thanks. But if i said. Huh. The grand piano just burst into flames and our building is on fire i bet y'all would not have a problem with moving and getting out of your comfortable seat right. Good stuff. Can propel us. 2. If i said. Huh. There's a guy out there and he's giving away free breakfast tacos from his truck. Is there a whole lot more empty seats in here right now. Both bad and good. Can help. Propel us forward but oftentimes. It's not. That clear. And so we have to do that assessment. I've of moving forward. And what about this. How do you move forward. When things are good. This is where we can learn by looking at business. Truly successful business leaders. Are the ones who have learned that even when it's good. Even when they're at the top of their game their business is going gangbusters. They need to. Speak out. The hopelessness. Of their reality. They need to look for the. Future. And look at it in such a way that they can go yeah things are great now. But if i keep doing exactly what i'm doing. The world isn't going to stay the same. And i should be hopeless. Did i can continue being successful that this business can continue being successful. There's a whole graveyard. I've businesses that didn't learn this lesson especially now as fast as technology is changing things. Kodak. Borders books. Blockbuster video. Things were good. And they didn't embrace. The life-giving hopelessness. But it would not stay that way. But there's also examples. A company's who made. Heart of their church. Culture this whole issue of endings and new beginnings. One of them. Is ibm. In 1911. Ibm began it wasn't called ibm then it was. Cpr which was computing transcribing recording. They did things like they created punch card machines and they created recording devices translation devices one of their devices was used at the nuremberg trials. But they also were always looking forward. And being helpless. That this would continue to work in the future. And if you look at the history of the company. They very clearly have times when they ended something that used to be used to make typewriters great. Personal typewriter. At a certain point they said. Yeah we're going to be hopeless at this is the wife of the future. They went into computers. They would end something and then move into something else. And they did go into personal computers for a while. Made some mistakes there because that's part of experimenting. And we're hopeless about the future. And so. They sold off. The rest of their personal computer business to lenovo. And now they make tens of billions of dollars. In services. Two other businesses. Completely different from what they used to be. Because they made ending. A simple normal. Part. Of their church. What would it be like. For you. To look at the different things in your life your relationships your job project you're working on things we do at the church. And say what season. Is this skin. You have some amazing gifts. And you have a unique. Purpose. That only you can bring to the world. Learn to normalize endings. Seek out the life-giving. Hopelessness. I'm be a visionary and looking squarely at the reality of the. An ending. Can be the necessary step. And going towards the beginning. That you dream about.

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2019-07-21-TheReformationEvolution.mp3

Welcome to the life of unitarian universalist church podcast. July 21st. 2019. This week's service is. Reformation definition. Play mike schultz. Hello. This is marshall. I want to take a moment. To confess that this is a recording of the service that was on july the. I am re-recording it because i'm just stubborn and refuse to let whatever gremlin has set itself up into our. Cyborg computer. Twin. So. I'm going to be. I'm also going to include the big idea. Normally i don't include this but. I decided to. Tell the kids about something that weighs. I thought was sort of. Significant. And perhaps most of the adults. Would already know about the eucharist. But you know. I really kind of felt like it was. Something that was being. Assumed. That everyone knew about it. But i just kind of thought maybe the kids didn't. And maybe there might be some adults that didn't either. So i'm including that to although you won't be able to love. Course here they're adorable. Monsters 2. Everything. But anyway so there it is. And linda so. Without any further ado. Here is the reformation. Evolution. Hello everyone. Didn't want to talk to you. About a catholic ceremony called the eucharist. Is any money for her. I think. Before we can talk about the uk. I think we have to talk. About jesus. Everyone knows who jesus is. Who do you think christ. So christ is not. Jesus's last name. I don't what i was growing up my father we always say jesus christ. Christ is really a title. Jesus. I don't want to go into too deep about what the title. But. I will be using it. I'm talking about you personally. Interchangeably with jesus. And so i think it's just important for me. To explain that. Before we can intuit. So the eucharist is a sacrament of the catholic church. Sacrament is a ceremony. Heading parts divine grace. Anyway. Also the christ. The catholic church has minions the ceremony. And the eucharist celebrates the last supper. You all know what the last supper is. The last supper. Was the last bill. The jesus shared with his disciples. Before he was arrested and eventually killed. At the last supper. Jesus ate bread and wine. And encouraged his disciples to do the same in memory of him. So the eucharist is a way for modern christians to remember and celebrate the life of pi. So what is the ceremony look like. Well there are wafers that are the bread at the last supper. In this great juice will be our wine. Although they probably use real wine. In the catholic sermon. Now is a ceremony. People don't just grab a handful of wafers and a couple wine and go sit in the fellowship hall to eat. The point is to help people feel closer to jesus. And so there's a ritual to that. When people receive the sacrament. They line up before the trees. And one by one. The priest gives him a wafer. Which they eat. And then they could take a sip of wine from a goblet. When the priest gives them the wafer. People either open their mouth and stick out their tongue so the fees makes the wafer on it. Are they place one hand on top of the other. Antifreeze. Places the wafer in the top. Is important to understand that people are receiving zuckerman. Not taking it. So let's practice holding our hands. Like that in order to receive the sacrament. No there's one more parts of this ceremony. Is a person approaches. The priest holds up the way francaise. The body of christ. And the person says amen. Amen here means truly. Yes. Indeed. I believe. Because in the eucharist. The bread represents the body of christ. And the wine represents the blood of christ. As a person receives the sacrament. The priest converse the bread and the wine. Into the body and the blood. Price. The people have to believe this. He's not a matter of pretending. So yes i know this is kind of a weird thing to do that my first reaction was. What. So what do you think about the idea of this way for being christ by. What about the wine being his blood. Well 500 years ago. There were people in the catholic church. That had trouble with this idea to. We're going to talk about what again today. So do you still want a wafering some grape juice. I'm not a priest. So i can guarantee you. I will not be converting them. Into the body and blood of christ. On october 31st 1517. Reverend martin luther posted 95 theses. On the church door. In wittenberg germany. It begins. Out of love for the truth. And from desire to elucidated. The reverend martin luther. Master of arts in sacred theology. An ordinary lecture. Where are in. At wittenberg. Intensive defend the following. Into dispute them in that place. Therefore he asked that those who cannot be present. A dispute with him orally. He'll do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our lord jesus christ. Amen. River martin luther. Ruthie species as a protest against the selling of indulgences. The practice of buying a person's way out of purgatory after their death. The church was pushing the sale of these indulgences. As a way of financing st. peters cathedral. I'm not going to attempt to read all of the feces here. Consider these. Number 36. Every christian. Who feels sincere repentance. And woe on account interest of their sins. Has perfect remission. A pain and guilt. Even without letters of indulgence. Number 37. And every true christian. Be they still alive or already dead. Partakers. All benefits of christ. Out of the church. Given him by god. Even without. Letters of indulgence. M41. The pope's indulgence. All to be proclaimed with all precaution. Less people should mistakenly believe it. Abor value. That all other works of charity. Number 43. Christian. Should be taught. That those who give to the poor. And lynn to the 20-person. Does better than buying in tulsa. And number 44. 4. By the exercise of charity. Charity increases. A person grows better. Wild by means of indulgences. They do not become better. Only free her from punisher. The sad inspiring story of nsq. Sent the middle of the 16th century. During the raiders in reading. Reformation was in full swing. An an. Apparently willingly. Sacrificed yourself to the reformation. The first time i heard of an story. It was tweaked everything. And instead of doing all the things i wanted to be doing to get ready for christmas. I was sitting in my living room. Listen to my wife. Diane. Binger way through david crothers. The history of england podcast. To the uninitiated. Podcast is audio program. That is downloaded to your computer or phone. Podcasts like a radio program. Except without the radio. Podcaster created by professionals. Akademiks. And amateurs. David's podcast. Definitely fall into the category of amateur historian. He describes himself as a history graduate. But not a professional academic astoria. I'm essentially upload. In the shed. And he's not kidding about the shed part. As you can sometimes hear birds singing in the background. Airplanes flying overhead. However that does not diminish the quality of david's work. Each episode is well-researched. And entertaining to listen to to poop. He produces about what a week. And has produced over 200. And diane was making a serious effort. To listen to all of them. I'll admit that i was not feeling very well. So i was happy to let the history of england podcast. Wash over me. Until we got to an story. Being rather ignorant of the english history in general. And the reformation is specific. I had no idea what was about to happen to an. It sounded to me. Like a situation. The am too easily have gotten herself out of. And she seemed to be willingly getting yourself deeper and deeper. Trouble. But i'm getting ahead of myself. Let's back up a bit in the story. Korda podcast. Quote. And has been relatively well-educated. It certainly read. And so she ran. And she read the bible. It was she read there. Turner mine to the teachings of the evangelical. And she was not inclined to keep her views to herself. She talked about them to her husband. She talked about them to her relatives. She talked about them to her neighbors. I guess this is evangelical park. However none of them were interested in her evangelical ideas. So she went to her local cathedral and began to read the bible. In public. The problem with that is that according to the act in advancement of relation. Women could only read the bible in private. Finally what are the trees attempted to have a religious debate with them. Which according to am. He lost. Finally her husband had enough of hurted then july z. And kicked her out of the house. She responded by demanding a divorce. No one in the local catholic church. What's going to granite divorce. So she went to london where she proceeded to practice a religion. If you soft. Even there. She was not completely safe. As she was brought before the bishop of london. We demanded that she signed a confession of faith. What she eventually did. But not before annotating it with. I had asked you. Do believe it all matter of things contained in the faith of the catholic church. Wishing doxies the bishop. But he let her go anywhere. Later she was arraigned before a jury. For denying that the brunt of the soccer match. Was the body of christ. Another witness came forward and then she released her as well. Unfortunately for an. Activities came to the attention of the conservatives of the king's privy council. Not the regular king's council. But a smaller private. You see the conservatives on the council. Leave the queen catherine. Evangelical readings. As she was trying to persuade the king. Around to her way of thinking. Which was true. And sister had a connection to the queen's household. And it was thought that and might turn the queen. If enough pressure was placed on her. And so for two days. We interrogated. And she answered and parried and sometimes just refuse to answer. Again courting the podcast. Quote. This time. And cannot be allowed to go free. With bacon. you assurances. Listen to this time. She was obstinate and heading in the reasoning. Of matters of religion. Therein she showed herself to be of naughty opinion. Info. Recorder of the sessions included warily that. Quote. Sing no persuasion of good reason could take place. She was such a new gate. To remain there to answer to the law. Info. 9 days later. She was arraigned for heresy. She had a choice at this point to agree that the bread of the sacrament was the body of christ. I'll be burned at the stake. She refused. According to podcast. Quote. So an had made her choice. Better choice was death. And desperate a particularly grisly road. She would not save herself. Implicating someone else. She will not retract any for police. She was duly condemned by the court. She was sent back to prison. To wait the date of her exit. The privy council were not done with an. Back to the podcast. Quote. Their desperation had only grown. And also their determination to break in. To get the information they need it. The bring down the queen and secure england's future for traditional religion. And so. She was taken to the tower of london. And tortured on the rack. Instill. Amber not break. Still. She would not implicate anyone. Or torture was so intense that. At a restitution. She was burned at the stake. Tied to a chair. You can.. So i must admit. I had not expected the podcast to turn into an episode. Of game of thrones. Of course. Game of thrones is full of events. That were inspired by this time in english history. People at this point in history. Did not treat each other very well. And i must admit. To her death made no sense to me. The privy council. We're up since of leave christians. Jesus. Was killed in the sibley brutal fashion. It is said that jesus died for christian sins. Always thought. That was an explanation. For why god didn't save him. It wasn't the reasoning of the people who executed. They did it because jesus was speaking truth to power. Demanding change. It was kill the silence. The cross became a symbol of christianity in order to memorialize his death. How are the people who claim to be followers of jesus. Or killing people. In a similar gruesome fashion. But i also didn't understand what had was doing this well. Podcast david crowther. Described her as a religious zealot. And possibly she chose to be a martyr. The heights of her journey. To meet her maker. It was sort of death by privy council. That explanation seems like the easy way out. Too big for sensitive. I think we need to back up and look at the beginning of christianity. After jesus's death. Disciples kept as message alive. I have heard early christianity. Described as a jewish sect. That followed the teachings of the single jewish rabbi. Choose. Worship.. Not rabbis. And there was little interest. In the jewish people in following jesus. What is message did appeal to the common people. And many flock to his messages. The most powerful of which. What's this idea of heaven. That after one's death. One went to a happier place. Beckett people hope. It made their life more bearable. Fast forward 300 years. And the popularity of christianity had grown. So much. Did emperor constantine the first. Call the council in the city of nicea. Detroit bring some order to christianity. Especially since. They were people advocating that christ was not divine. But a living being. Like everyone else. Fast forward another thousand years. Hope claimed that the church has power and possessions. Rested in on god's delegation of power. To those who are in the state of grace. Namely the pope. Priest. And the church. And since they were in a state of grace. They were the ultimate source of all authority. And that meant they have the authority to. Bestow. Authority on others. Such as kings. They have the authority to take it away. However john wickliffe of oxford. Let the church had become corrupt through his pursuit of wealth. And those. Was no longer in a state of grace. In fact he wrote that the crown has given lands of the church. The carry out its spiritual work. And since the church has shown himself unworthy. The crown could. And should. Take the lands back. Brandywood cliff believe that rather than relying on the church for salvation. People should consult the ultimate source of the word of god. The bible. At this time the only format the bible was available in was latin. But by anne's time to abuse later. It was available in english. The people were reading it for themselves. But overtube of with this theory that the church. Did not deserve its wealth and power. Was his views on transubstantiation. Transformation of the bread and wine at. At mass. Into the body and blood of christ. This piece of mysticism was a recent addition to the church's canon. Haven't been introduced. Just 165 years before. It was controversial and its introduction and wickliffe tried to explain the process. But instead. Ending up challenging central act of the priest in the mass. He was asking people to consider that the priest was just an ordinary person. With those special connection to god. Fast forward again to anne's time. And we have many many people. Believing that their soul was in danger of damnation. If they followed the police. Is important to realize that neither wickliffe. Noran. We're trying to create. A new religion. They were trying to reform christianity from within. Hence the term. Reformation. But the church's reaction was tried to exterminate the dissenters. Although it should be pointed out that when the reformers came to power. There's first reaction. Who's the try to exterminate the conservative. To me when i called back and take the long view of the story. I find myself wondering if the human race. It's evolving. And the reason that the evangelicals refused to submit to. To traditional religion. Was because they had outgrown it. And so on. To go longer recant and pretend to believe in the official church. Any more than the previous council could understand. Why they could not break her. Their religion no longer for filter free spiritual needs. And her religion. Something they could not. Reformation is said to have started in 1517. When martin luther publish his 95 theses. Calling for the reformation of the church. Although dissatisfaction with the church. Started long before that. And depending on who you ask. The reformation xinh. Is either in 1555. With the peace of augsburg. Which allowed for the coexistence of catholicism and lutheranism. In germany. Or in 1648. With the treaty of westphalia. Which ended the thirty years war. Whatever it ended. It marked the schism in christianity. Splitting it into the catholic and protestant religions. What did it really end. Sally appears that conservatives are still with us today. Destroying things they can't control. But it seems to me that people are no longer willing to wait until death. For their reward in heaven. This concept of heaven. Innovation of christianity. Is no longer an abstract idea. Instead of suffering with problems. People are asking for them to be fixed. In the last 500 years. Progressive people have continuously improved our quality of life. And are demanding that improvement be shared with everyone. So i asked. Is the reformation. Really over.

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2019-04-28-OldWaysToNewWorlds.mp3

Welcome to the life oak unitarian universalist church podcast. April 28th 2019. This week's service is old ways to new worlds. Micaiah hartford. This morning's reading is from carl sagan. Look again at that.. That's here. That's home. That's us. Wanted everyone you love everyone you know everyone you've ever heard of every human being who ever was lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering. Thousands of competent religions ideologies economic doctrine. Every hunter and forager every hero and coward. Every creator and destroyer. Of civilization. Every king and peasant every young couple in love every mother and father hopeful child inventor and explore every teacher of morals every corrupt politician. Every superstar. Every supreme leader every saint and sinner in the history of our species live there. Automotive dust. Suspended in a sunbeam. This morning. I'm going to talk to you about. About ethics but. Also. About maybe looking at the world in different way it seems that for 2,000 years. Dominant paradigm has been that the earth is less than heaven and that we are supposed to be focused. In our lives i'm getting to heaven as fast as possible. And using as much of the earth as we pass. I'm getting as much wealth and stuff. As we possibly. What happens to your free don't really care that much about because we're going to heaven. And that heathens can keep it sorted out. Right. Something like that. 3:30 postulates. For this talk and i feel like i'm in good i'm preaching to the choir everybody here believe in climate change. Excellent okay that is one of my postulate. The eco in ecology economy and ecology come from the greek okose or home. This is our home i'll life finds its home here on earth and perhaps the greater universe. The second postulate i have is that the earth is a complex web of living systems that are finite. And could theoretically. Be used up. Or pushed to a point where they could not be sustainable. And i think our goal. Is to give the earth. As we pass on to our children is good shape if not better shape than we found it. And the same thing for the net generations to come. So that's what i mean by sustainable. Everybody know what sustainable means. Right on. Anybody got a better definition they want to share. Okay. Yeah and what i was saying this is just a more succinct way of saying what i already said. The dominant culture both spiritually and economically is based on using and extracting resources. For wealth and power to head us toward the ultimate goal of heaven or some goal that treats humans as the most important life form and all others are secondary. Or less. Then and sustainability is not necessary when there will be a rapture. The bias has led to the current psychological crisis. Friends there's no way. And we are all downstream. So what i thought about talking to you today is. Would like to start the process. A thinking about a personal ethics so that you can decide because climate change is really a big problem and it seems too big for one. Girl from kentucky right it's too big for me it's too big for you and perhaps it puts you in a state of not. Acting. Anybody feel overwhelmed by the whole problem. Yeah. Me too. So this is this is my suggestion for how we're going to fix that one we could plant trees like kate sessions. They're really easy to do. And the return is instantaneous. I mean i could spend a whole sermon just telling you all the wonderful things about trees but basically. About. A quarter of the of the all the problem of co2 could be handled by just putting compost on on fields. An agriculture. That's crazy right. If it just changed liquid manure to compost. Then the earth would hold enough co2. To take care of a quarter of our problem with the ozone layer. Think about the. That's intense right. Not to mention that. Healthy soil will hold more water than not healthy solo. Which means that when it's flooding and it's raining in 05 in at one time and all that water is running off with all the topsoil. That won't happen if the soul is so healthy. Cut the grass is holding that water. Just think about little things like that there's a lot we can do in fact an eighth-grader invented a way to recycle styrofoam. I read it on facebook. But it's true actually what he did was he invented a way to turn the styrofoam into a carbon filter. So that water like water purifiers use when you go backpacking use a little carbon filter. That's what they can do with styrofoam now that can turn it into those filter. Eighth grade. Pretty good huh. So i'm just saying there's hope and there's things we can do we just need to use our creativity i need to move on. Show. I wanted to give you some ideas of i called the sermon old ways to new worlds. An old ways i'm talking about our philosophies and religious practices that don't work the same way that the abrahamic. Religions work. And that they think of of people as in a web of existence. Not better than. Equal to. All the other things in the web of exo. It's kind of a radical concept. For our culture. But it's not a radical concept almost any indigenous. Group in the world. So. For example shinto. Which is the indigenous religion of japan. It's ancestor worship and stuff but it's also elemental worship and. They believe that just spirit called a commie that's in everything. And that you have to be respectful of those things and you have to show respect. Offerings you have to be integrated with that. And there were thousands of shrines all over japan for that. A lot of shinto was used incorrectly in wwii. But i highly recommend looking into it there's a website called green shinto by a guy named john dougall. And. They're basically moving the premises of of shinto and from japan to the world. Check it out it's really cool. How many people are familiar with the h mm. Taoism is definitely a great place to look for inspiration it's sustainable. The vedas have a lot of hinduism the vedas have a lot of of agriculture that sustainable principles. They talked about that you have to protect. And people before wwii. And their agricultural practices. Spent a lot of more time. Taking care of their soul. And not expecting that you could just add chemicals. And everything would get better. So there's a lot of a lot of places to look for inspiration. In christianity i would recommend looking at matthew fox. 41 hero typical original blessing that's a great book. He said. The system is not working. That is how a paradigm shift begins the established way of seeing the world no longer. Functions. He's right. One of his cohorts who also taught at the school that i'm going to at one time is named joanna macy. She's in her 80s. Any of her books. Joanna macy's amazing rider. I think you would enjoy it. Elsa as a dallas with an abiding respect for nature a love of harmony and balance i find a creative opportunities inherent. And living a life of compassion frugality and humility. Taoism three treasures. More engaging than the notion of exporting our destructive species centric culture to yet another floating rock. Pretty cool. So in any indigenous traditional there are still some really good writing sitting bull blackout. A lot of good books in the library here on native american spirituality. Here's an example sitting bull said. Every seat is awakened and so is all animal life. It is through this mysterious power that we too have our being and we therefore yield to our animal neighbors the same rights as ourself. To inhabit the land. That's a problem right when anglo settlers. Showed up. In america. Or north america. Should say. And they they show up in there like. You heathen people not only are you not christian we should just. Exterminate you. But you don't take care of the earth right you don't use use thinks i didn't see. That the natives were jesting thanks and planting things. In a sustainable way it was just so boring. To their view of the world they felt that it was a sin that they weren't you the lysing the earth. It was all that empty space at all those trees and we should cut them down. Is a different thinking we have to change our think. So. I also want to talk about. Pagan traditions and neo-pagan traditions how many people have ever heard of starhawk. Starhawk is a witch. And the reclaiming tradition and the short version of the reclaiming tradition is to tell you. That. That just talkin or just. Praying or just doing a ritual is not enough. It have to be active. And i think there's a demotion and unitarian universalism. Just exactly the same we can talk all day about theology and ethics. And science. But if we don't. Do anyting. Our words are empty grains of sand. So what can we do well. The great thing about starhawk is she writes books and she also writes fiction. She wrote a book called the fifth sacred thing where she imagine what the world would be like if there was a place. A world that was run sustainably. It was of course oregon but that's okay. Anyway it's a good book and she's been thinking about the stuff for years and years and years. And so she taught ritual she taught witchcraft there's which camps here in texas. Service camps all over the world and she's a big. But a few years ago she got interested in the subject that i'm going to talk about now which is permaculture anybody ever heard of permaculture. What is permaculture. Well the short definition is. You know how people think about an and biology you would study ecosystems. You're in the ecosystem. Your personal houses. Your job is in the. How you relate to your family and what your dreams are is in the ecosystem. What if you designed your life so that it would work in the most sustainable way possible. For the betterment of your life and ease of your life. So you fought learn to follow natural patterns. So instead of. So instead of digging all day double digging your garden bed anybody ever double doug a bed. Yeah it's not for sissies. Okay. What it what instead of that you just put some cardboard down. And then some compost and then some mulch and then planted some transplant. Much easier i'm telling here to tell you it's much easier and that isn't very permaculture way of doing things. Increasing the amount of water that stays in your land. Planting as many trees as possible cuz trees create microclimates and they drop a temperature. So it's too hot in texas. Let's plant some trees. And the trees literally make a web in the in the air. As well as underground they're talking to each other by the way. I don't know if you know that. Trees or talk to each other all time. They have a hole. Kind of internet system. Under the ground. They talk to each other so like say you burnt this tree over here. It's connected to a tree way over there who is now reacting to the fact that you might burn it. And protecting itself. Crazy. Ted talks. I'm telling you. So look this up on ted it's it's really interesting okay so. Starbucks watching all this happen and she goes. Wait a minute the earth is really in trouble i'm going to stop doing what i'm doing now. And i'ma start people. Learning about permaculture permaculture training. 3 weeks. 10-day. Classes to teach you how to make those designs and design your place. So that it works together. And there's a system so they they plant a lot of. They're like. Food forest. So instead of planting a garden you might have fruit trees on top and then underneath with a shade as you've got the lettuce going and you got other things going so you basically walk around your yard in. Get food. Without having to mow. That's the short happy not happy story of it. It sounds crazy but it's not crazy check it out. So the reclaiming witches are doing permaculture training and now they've just started a thing where they're doing. Earth activist trainings. So you have to do permaculture training and then they're moving on and they're moving on to things that are really exciting. Because i don't take any money. Like. So so you've got a filled-in at in a city somewhere. And it's. It's full of lead paint from the 70s. You want to grow food there. How do you get the lead paint out. Well they're actually mushrooms that you can use to help that. And it's really affect. And doesn't cost a lot of money. And there are there so they're teaching courses and how to use natural systems. To clean the environment. And so that you can grow plants there again. Anyway all kinds of exciting things i'm a nerd i'm excited i hope you're excited too. There was a man named martin buber. Then he was a jewish theologian. And he wrote a very famous. Premise. Hi val. And he was talking about relationships between people that you either were in a relationship that was an eval relationship or an i it relationship. Have you anybody heard of this before. Okay that's a good place to start for what we have to do now we need to have an iv our relationship with every other living thing on the planet. The other fact you need to know is. Human beings have not been able to build a biosphere yet. In other words we don't understand how the earth works. Not well enough to replicate it. And so until we have a better understanding we need to not be. Destroying anything even fire ants. I know it's hard. Hard to imagine. But. Everything on the planet may be necessary. And we need to understand how they all interrelated. And that that's a focus that needs to happen. In the next 25 years. So those of y'all hurt interested in science. Kids if you're interested in biology you like plants you like animals you want to know how the world works. This is a good subject they don't really know. If you go visit the biosphere it didn't work. That's that's scary don't you think that's a little scary. People are deciding they're like making bt corn and stuff. Monsanto. Any of this ringing a bell with anybody. Okay like monsanto made a corn that had the the insecticide in it. And they planted it out in the world where it could breed with weeds who were related to the plant. We could have ended up with a whole planet with this bt stuff and it happened start killing monarch butterfly so they took it off the market. But that's the kind of problems that we have because people are arrogant and think they know we don't know. We don't know. But we need to know. So i encourage you to start working on your ethics. Or how you think that the world should be. I use this quote. Anybody ever hear of deep ecology or the gaia principle. If if your scientists person or your atheist person in your bet that way. I encourage you to read anything about deep ecology. It was a movement that started in the seventies the movement said a movement of or a body of concepts that considers humans. No more important. Then other species and the advocates of corresponding radical readjustment of the relationships between human and nature. That's what we got to do. Anybody ever heard of a botana and and their happiness quotient. Like. How are we evaluating what's important what happens. We need a sustainability quotient. We need to think about okay. I want to do this thing but what's how is it going to impact. The entire environment. The water table. Fracking for exam. It's not good. I don't care. What how much money it makes people. It's not good it's causing earthquakes. And. There are lots of other things like that. So deep ecology is is an example you can read about the. Proclaiming witches if you search them online you'll find more stuff about them. Hildegard of bingen. Also wrote stuff that's good like this where it's got a more earth. Earth-based. I have a link if you look on youtube if you're interested in planting trees. Or how start them from seed are youtube videos it doesn't cost anything you go out in front of. Under an oak tree look for baby oak tree pick it out cut it. Take it out of the earth and go plant it. Not any harder than that. Didn't cost anything. One tree. Makes enough air for four of us. Pretty intense. So aldo leopold wrote this and i think that this is a. The beginning of my. Ethics around this. A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. That's pretty easy right. Let's have a nyvoll relationship. With all the beings and our home planet. And see if we can find small ways to make small changes. And improve our situation. I'm going to close with a quote. From black. Black outside. The holy land. Is everywhere. Thank you.

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2018-01-28-Sermon-WhatMakesACommunityReligious.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. The january 28th 2018. Today surface is. What makes a community religious. By visiting minister reverend brian ferguson. The story. Come to the church tradition and. I need hannibal classroom this is the worst behaved class and won't come forward and listen to the teacher. And it's just it's just an absolute mess. And he's jewish boy goes to his rabbi who is like the. The picture of the minister denied jewish congregation i know you got jewish congregation if you share space with you. It won't listen to me that just threw paper airplanes at me. Know that i ever did that when i was a child. Throw things at me. If the rabbi said i'll do your job for the day. Rabbi that's an easy job you only work one day a week. I'm so excited. It goes into the class and the rabbi in the world season 2. It's all over the place no one's listening. no one sitting in the seat of sitting in the day. Don't really misbehaving and up picking each other very well the same really mean things to each other. To the right by petco ka lunchtime you close them all together and say. I just want to let you know. One of you is a very very special person. When it dries language the messiah which means the anointed one of you is a very special person. Nope to listen to that.. Started looking around. Philippians 10. No extenze really rude and mean maybe it's mary. Now i m not very smart. Piketty p. Ricardo. No the caucus cutest sports not that special one. Popeye maria. Homodeus. She's very quiet she can't really be the special one. Before they start doing as he stopped talking to each other and listening to each other. I just be a little bit nicer to each other. Offender right by comes back you need to stop listening to him then teach me. Until the next day the teacher comes back and say so what did you learn from the rabbi. We just land one of us is special. Nikki japan ally. Okay. And then you started teaching and you realize that people do. Teaching travel the world listening. It's really surprising. You went to the right by knowing the friday night. Evening worship and said you don't have a great last week. What did you teach some i said i just told them that one of them is special. And he said well yes. That's only the first population. Nefertiti to put your things taken part of the listener. All of them. Special. Percentage two types of people that come to religious community who come pick you up. One group like to come to church. Vanilla chocolate to leave. I want people in my congregation i might enjoy knowing what people and host who like both. They want people to come to church and get naughty and get filled and get the connections with each other. Are they going to want to take that celebration they want to take that energy into the water with as well. I want people who both like to come. And what like to leave. Because trust has no end within these walls and even though we talked of religious community. I think most of our religious communities exactly the most healthy and vibrant of a community. Extend beyond the walls of the church. The top i mean i texted getting here for service this morning was a challenge for me. I'm used to starting at 11:50. But there's also the story of a. That's my luck wasn't her son to go to church. Text connie painter goforth go to church. Time to go to church you have to go to church i don't want to go to church every two reasons. Movies in seaside. I don't like any of the people and they don't like me. And his mother paid i'll give you two reasons why you have to. I'm your mother. And you're the minister. I know you didn't that problem here while i know y'all love you i love you i know. I think it's hot i mean we have too many commitments and a life with so much to do it's really hard to connect on a sunday morning. No we all can have to go out for a walk during the week i'll get children to school until you don't pay until getting up here in the sunday so i really appreciate people who come and make the commitment to religious community. What when will explore mean. But community being religious. We were probably used to tell me about probably used to tell me that even if just attend this mike what do we mean by community. Being religious. Mountain dew do the jewish center. And think of sex this. The real essence of community is to be finding the fact that has a saint. The real beginning of a community's when its members have a common relation to the center. Overriding all the other relation. Suckle is described by the radii. Not the points in the circumference. So if you're considering each of us has points in a circumference what connection. When you let me connect to the next point to the person sitting next to you maybe click connect to the people who are really close to your family members. Really what brings a religious community together. Is that relationship to the santa. Translate you need to take a moment right now in silence reflected what do you think the center. Of life oak unitarian universalist church. What do you think connects you all beyond even to the people you make the donut talk to in this community. What is it that connects your teacher clothes. Biggest puppies. Don't talk about higher purpose. In religious towns and sometimes we think of that is a hypo and put some of those that might be meaningful. I think for most unitarian-universalist it's more about the highest purpose. Attitude as a community. I think we need to remember that one of the things that gripe unitarian-universalism something that you should be really proud of its a history of inclusion. Quickly. We have this. Focus on the. Religious freedom. I think we went to explore that religious freedom because freedom is not a purpose in his tail. What's that freedom for. I'm too much of a religious freedoms have i bought me a free from we're free from dogma be free from peter religion the fieldpiece from. Literal interpretations of the bible and that's valid but eventually we need to get to the point with what is that freedom for. I think what that freedom gives up is that ability to be inclusive. Don't tell your story was very important to me. If anything i think religion is a bad sport two-wheel of. And inspires doesn't get to tolkien foot. Pics of hawk. And drives us. To transform the water witch because ultimate in relation to background for confirming ourselves to attach the meaning and transforming the world to locks of love. Many years ago. When i was much younger and thinner. I was at the san francisco church this is a bike 2002 san francisco unitarian universalist church. A nice young twenty-five-year-old. Meineke. I thought you're talking to them and. Reconnected and i hope he enjoy the sabbath a very nice connection a really good energy. The themis nathan system. I must have been in my base behaviour could you can back the next week here tomorrow which is often a worry that many of us have me talk to visit next weekend he became very involved in the community. I really grew to love nathan. And over the time in conversation to find out that he was a transgender man. And his parents had rejected them. When he went through. Transition. Not an uncommon experience and very painful one. I hate being rejected by many religious communities facetime to kuwait home unitarian universalist church in san francisco. And then i was at worship associate at the time. Might beginning to get into the path of ministry of course. I was a young cuz i was fourteen at the time and i was in youngest worship associate we have. And so we will talk about it when we get nathan to be a worship associate. To approach nathan. Associate. Honey look to me. I need to give me a kiss schedule looking. Are you asking me. Because i'm transgender. Actually. I was asking you. Because she was smart. Funny. An engagement. And that we stayed up being the youngest worship associate. I need laugh. And they started to cry. I know it's really possible. That you sit on. What's up nathan. You said oh. Sometimes i'm so obsessed about my transgender identity. I forget about my throat humanity. That's what i love about this chart i'm reminded of my fool humanity. That's really rich could many people come here counting budden's from their family from other religions from there. Crystal ice. Especially those in the module anything today. Burying gate with them. With beautiful humanity know that we are erasing people's identity people's identities are important to universalizing generalize everyone's identity. Public trying to do. Acknowledge the identity and humanity is not an either-or. Nathan became a worship associate san francisco charge. Recruit to louisville. And i'll find out in conversation that you was kind his playing like his mother. I freaking styled with them. And then a week and a half later sitting office i got phone call from the minnesota church. Nathan if he killed in a car wreck. That was no drugs no alcohol someone going the wrong way on the freeway hit that driver was fined nathan died. Unattractive heartbroken he was a really important part of who we will. And you supposed to be giving the reflection. At the next worship service. And the minister since i was a friend of nathan's who died be willing to. We just reflection. We came along that sunday sent me nathan's reflection and he was talking about. We hear the great sense of humor seattle-based update but keeping he described himself in the reflection remember these words. I'm a cross-eyed transgender.. And i know god loves me. I'm heading to skype with you. I never think he knew god love them. Because of the reception and he told me that. What's the reception that you got. At this time francisco can you religious community he came in hot and broken. Animals love. Back into wholeness. And you like. I'm we have the power to do that. And religious community quit inclusive. Remember to go beyond your comfort zone. To embrace those at me maybe. We can come across another everyday life. I think that's one of the great things about religious music that's what makes community religious when we go beyond the computer when we speak to make our soccer inclusion wider and wider. And i was transformed. That sunday. Timex being irate. Nathan forsythe jeanette with. Beautifully to connect to poignancy because. Hope it's passing. Many people came to chop that was a lofty us because it would we love them we had lost. An important part of the community a much-loved part of the community. But anyone home not day. Somebody save me. Nathan's a big tree. Action pack. Confident. Yes this is important. I know right. Nathan's a big tree. And i read through it and it talked about. And eventually at the end. It said. The cardinal identified nathan as a woman. And i was so angry. He was denied in this day his identity. Angry at the newspaper report outside angry the cardinals aren't so many people. That was not fair that was denying who he wanted to be another religious community embraced him for who he wants to be and he was denied and the staff. Anatomy the promise to myself at that time. That wasn't enough for me to be taller. About us it wasn't enough. For me to be simply embracing about us who hasn't pooped. I need to be an advocate. For those. Do i care about you a part of my community who i am connected with people who apart of that stuff who are coming back. I don't need to always be advocating to push that circle wider and wider and wider. Because it's too much inclusion and living senior over the last year. In this country about the circle becoming smaller and smaller and smaller trying to push before i b b and migrants be at the lgbtq community. We need to. Brace and push that took away. we need to be advocates. Technicon. Facebook. Papa spiritual life. It's to awaken i would illusion of separateness. And i think of that story of the messiah is amongst you that i told to the big idea of the problems with people would not connect to do with the sacredness there. And it's too easy in our culture to become separate from alice. If you look at the mediator in the news you want to withdraw. I know i do. I dread every facebook post i read. Like fort opponent things been saved by a political leadership knife. And yet we can't stay there we need to expand as people of faith of religious people at the religious community we need to push beyond our comfort zone. And embrace that because. Play 50's not just a nice idea to diversity is in which temperature. Increases archinect. Connectedness. I was opened up. By the death of nathan. Nathan buy a new advocacy. I didn't have before. They were talking about him in the walking dead before cuz i wasn't connected and i think if you look at the work we have done in the lesbian gay bisexual transgender community one of the reasons unitarian universalist abbyspace dog because we are connected. What time. One of the reasons i think the struggling arrange the races and we haven't got the same strength of connection. To those communities. I think things will be in for those communities coming here and i don't think that's right i think we need to push that so cool. I connect with them in the community connect we are vr. I don't expect all of them to come in here we have some diversity. But ultimately we need to connect with me. Communities in the neighborhood. Somebody might be a weird noise i want signed liable you gave us a huge collection. During the hurricane harvey. Wild play with chuck. We have this restoration center located at wildflower church. Examples of what we've been doing. Turn down tv shows women partnering with groups. People of color other historically marginalized groups in the community with trying to push that so cool. We were asked. Black female late organization cooktop islands drop off for the hurricane harvey refugees. We said we were the only child that responded to the mistake yes. And that broke off so i don't know how many been you can dive into the restoration center it went from a tropical supply to the whole campus was turned into this. Supply saint tobias female dale we had. People be like 500 refugees. Evacuees from a hobby came through their event staying there but we put them in homes and hotels. Being triggered by katrina. I've been very hot by the experience east in shelters they have to be really wanted and only people of color. Black women from. 20 lb with a l solve it. Anemic and what was the prize winners a636 scottish white guy. Willing to take. Leadership problem. And i noticed a difference in me is like. That was not a situation i was used to being in but i was willing to go into that discomfort. I want to see everything went smoothly not all of it. But we are so proud of the work we did and that was because we pushed the boundaries beyond the walls of a church be connected with groups in the neighborhood. But maybe don't look like us maybe not the same. Sexual identity. But we connected with moraine common cause and rebuilt relationship which we still have today. And i think of you take that story the big idea that my tires among such a connecting to individual you can take that to the lodge and labels of connecting to other communities. I think that steak should walk. And i think that is. Holy what. Everyone would need. Everything is. Everything. I remember miracles don't happen still but now i can't keep track everything the musical everything everything everything. What holy water. Fluid filled it with my fingertips. Do i have to hold my breath doesn't swimming in the sea of it used to be having second. Deliver red wing bird. Singing like a screwed-up chuva. I remember when she played out how things have changed since then everything is going out. Quit can't get enough good music. We talked about. Community connect. Easy. To go beyond account. How many do you need. Community. Can you help me with. Mind helping me. What's your name say. Ava and brian. Try everything youtube you look strong. Are you strong. You're probably stronger than me can you break that. Yep. Etsy.com. That's quite easy to break his neck. I guess a bunch of sticks. Oh that's cheating. Thank you yeah talk to make them through so many of the same size but them together. The two most important things in my nest. People wouldn't tell you this but the tissues and scotch tape. That's what it's held together with teeth. Thank you. Really hard to break a bunch of texts in the story from africa. Quia. Mine. Finally. An absolute. Some of you might relate tonight. It's timely as always fighting in the fighting over the field in the fading over. Chores around the house. The mind is a blank. Family video and he's dying. Fighting all the time. Coordinator. Get-together watched. Sweet tight space to them. Please come. Talk to my baby. Always in bed bedridden. Can y'all come up to the. I'm really why did you fight. Can you oh please go. Aspic. Tell comedy bring. Elephant all of us budgeted with all of us. You broke once. I was taking you by wyndham. Hedonist. Call. Anybody together nasty. Family members. Play clothes. Couldn't do it. I know we have a. I know. We fight. Together. Strong if you want. Survive if you were. Ohio. If i'm going. You are going to. I need yankee look at mcclintock. Mule religious community. What religion has its origins. That's what religion. Define ticket. And they often think of that in many traditional religions are fighting together. To worship. What we mean by what. Vanguard. Youtube eccell winning. Who do we. Transformer self store. Transformer sales. Spell guadalupe. Unitarian universal. Put love. All humanity. The saints row 4. It's not love of humanity. Love all human. Which is very important. It's not easy. Se2. Before. I think we hold everyone in love. So me hold further away than others. Cuz it's not easy to love. Is a wonderful quote from. Unitarian universalist minister dagobah. 836 us about religion. He said. Life isn't convenient no diabetic it's messy. It's mystery wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a quandary ownership of a?. There's often more question and answer more tight and faith is defined by contradiction. Paradox. Ambivalence an oxymoron. And that's why human beings invented religion. To figure it all out. That was owed to respected that gilbert who is our unitarian universalist minister for 44 years. I know sure religion. Figuring all. Have answered we might have done it by now if we've had religion to how many thousands of years. I think is to bring all that messy complexity of love those struggling relationships in those joyful relations. Bring me all together. Inter-community and having it witnessed. And a loving. Kidding. Supportive way. And that story of. Get the strength to set natkin. See that message. Being with all those who experience in this neighborhood. Can relate to it. Religious community. Best. Biases. What doesn't give us a cottage.. Easy to get into arguments. The neurons. These little details you something. Lost. Remember the big. Anessa. Funny story about. Unit 18 universe. Deserted island. It's a many years by. I'll be fine. Theorize. Beehives. What's a thought. Doctor chuck. Belong to. Has often said if you have a bunch of unitarian universalist and i'll run your good more opinions and. The difference is canon retro. Ultimatum. Portage. Puppet master. Despacito. Unitarian universalism. This religious. I went through a religious community s4me you can have your own ideas. I think it's to grow our souls to grow avocado. Recipe for love. To grow avocado. I'm rachel naomi. Raymond. Psychology. Ballet. She tells us. Stories from. My grandfather. Young man david who is diagnose. With juvenile diabetes. Responded. Dignity of a cage.. Kindly. Judaism. Why am i. I should not have to deal with this pain. Why is life like this. Are you signed it and you did not care for him. He would not watch his diet. Injections. And his health deteriorated. Are you angry at 9.. Then you was talkin. To cancel a one-time. And she asked him. Closer ties. Image of the buddha. The buddha. And david wasn't religious pay looking california so you recognize. Come over. What you saw this image. And all of a sudden this knife came from over the shoulder. Into the pit of horror. Buddha buddha. Expressions. Slowly and. The buddha. Really noticeable. Hooters hot. Dice. Actually david rick. That the buddha growing in response to. Any bank truly the buddha was shoot still the knife with. Spec. Struggles we. Pappy's you have a losses of loved ones. We have a health goggles we have a relationship. Ultimately. Scroll. Growing. I forgot. Brackenridge hospital. One of my. Mentalist. People come and go walking and i to your trauma. I would job. A spiritual leaders. Construed. Trauma. Stupid. Levon like cleaning out the word. When you get a cut. Do you clean it. Affected. Adventure. Skyfall. Scott phone's off. New slater skin. Eventually it became. Into the mantle area. People with really looking. Chapman's we were doing that for. To talk about. Speed. I'm in family and friends probably help within. Menu skin might be awhile. I think religious. I will win. Steuben's. Open like nathan washington. Transgenderism. Window design bio. The apocrypha. I think religion. Community we want to please repeat. Expose the struggle. The skulls. To buy them. Everyone. Find the fuji mountain. We want them to find volume. Love and kidding we want them to find life-affirming life-enhancing and. Pepsiven lifesaving value. To get them through the. Theater next week. In india. This is saying namaste. Import namaste. Dismayed. Patient. The divine within me. The divine. Do unitarian universalist. Define. Stop that. Blind-spot. Is a vine star. We all can. Religious community. We can connect.. Trivia. Through that squid. With love and inspires us to do great things and. Ann coulter. Kuwait lyrics. Transformers. And the spiritual practice. Individuals and as a community. Opens us. 2 values. Conclusion. Love. Kickstand. Beyond coronavirus. To the light. A religious community. I'm to the lights of the white..

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2017-11-26-AreYouJoking.mp3

Welcomes the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. November 26th. Today's service is. Are you choking. Reverend betty soir. And it's time for the big idea. And do we have any kids that want to come forward or you guys are already forward we have anybody else. Okay. I would sit down but i might not be able to get up again. Now you may know something about the buddha to buddha. You don't know okay. One of the things you may not know is he had a son. And his son was named rahul as far as we know. And. Rahula. When she was about 7 years old came to be. With the buddha to learn to be a monk. At 7. He was learning to be a monk. Mount. Monday. Rahul it did something we don't know what it was was 2,500 years ago and nobody wrote down what rahul it did but he did something. It made his dad mad at him. And. So after while. Then we got together and they were sitting together. Brujula and his father had this conversation. And who is ted. How do i know. When i shouldn't do something or i should do something. How do i know. And his father said. Well you need to ask thank. Think about. Is it going to harm that it's going to harm somebody. Is it going to harm you. If it is don't do it. If it isn't. To it and enjoy yourself. You don't need to feel guilty because you figured out i'm going to hurt you but wait a minute what if it hurts somebody else. That's that. It doesn't hurt anybody great. And the first heard some and if it does hurt somebody are you going to do it. No. And then the third thing you need to think about. Is what. About if it's going to hurt the environment everything that's around you. And if it does hurt. Environment are you going to do it. But if it doesn't hurt the environment. Go to it don't feel guilty and have a great time. What. Magical long and you get in the middle of what you're doing and i need to ask yourself those questions again cuz sometimes when you're doing something this situation changes. To hurt me. Going to hurt. Somebody else. Is it going to hurt the environment and if it does. Are any of them you need to stop don't do that anymore. Finally. When you get to the end. What's the first question to ask. Is it going to hurt. Is it going to hurt. Somebody else. Or is it going to hurt. The environment ortega. And if it didn't. That is absolutely wonderful. Did. Then you have to think about that for a few minutes. And you have to think. Who could i go talk to. Who knows more about this than i do so i can. Tell them about what happened and see if i can avoid having that problem again. Now it may be easy for you guys. You've got. You know you got parents and all that kind little hard for me. Cuz i'm old. And i don't have parents here anymore. My parents are gone. So i have to i have to work hard to find somebody that i had asked for advice. When something doesn't work out right. But. If it doesn't work out right what can you do. Yeah ask somebody. And they'll help you. We're done. Our meeting this morning is a little different from the readings we normally have. I'm going to. Reduce some unitarian universal. Most of these come from the website of the first unitarian church of toronto. And they're unitarians are not unitarian universalist. Okay first one. Why did the unitarians cross the road. Because. They wanted help the tickets find its own path. What is a unitarian universalist. Someone who believes in life before death. The children in a uu church school class 4 drawing pictures. The teacher das one. Why are you drawing a picture of. I'm drawing a picture of god was reply. Nobody knows what god looks like the teacher objective. They will see the child when i get finished. The famous universalist minister hosea ballou. Argued with a methodist colleague over the issue of eternal damnation. The methodist asserted. If i word universalists and feared not the fires of hell i could hit you over the head to steal your horse and saddle and ride away and i'm still go to heaven. Baloo answered. If you were universalist. The idea would never occur to you. An atheist of taking a walk through the woods. Admiring all that the accident of evolution had created. Majestic trees. Powerful rivers. What beautiful animals he said to himself. He was walking along the river. I heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turn to look. 7 ft. Grizzly charging towards in the path. And i don't respond older. I saw the bear was closing in on him. Qdoba shoulder again in the bear was even closer his heart was panting frantically. He tripped. I fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear right on top of them. It was reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him. That instant the atheist cry.. Oh my god. Time stop. The bear froze. Island. As a bright light shone upon demand a voice came out of the sky and my existence for all these years he's others i don't exist and even credit creation to a cosmic event. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament. Am i to count you as a believer. Atheist look directly into the light. It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask. Do to treat me as a christian now. But. Perhaps. You can make the bear a christian. Very well said the boys. The light went out. And the sounds of the florist resumed. Evan the bear dropped his right paw. Brought bowl cost together. And bowed his head and spoke. Lorde. But this food which i am about to receive i am truly thankful. Okay last joke. What do you get when you cross you you with a jehovah's witness. History answers to this when the first one is. Someone knocks on your door for no apparent reason. Second answer. Someone who knocks on your door to learn about your religion. And the third one. Someone who knocks on your door to offer you coffee. Okay that last joke is the one that this whole sermon is about today. What do you think. When you cross a you you with a jehovah's witness. Now if i'm telling this joke. And because you use are terribly politically correct. I have to figure out if i'm doing any harm. Maybe. Somehow it's okay to poke fun at ourselves but what about jehovah's witnesses. For many of us the only contact we have had with them is when they come to our door to tell us about their religion. Going door-to-door is part of their efforts to spread their beliefs a practice which is known as evangelism. We unitarian-universalist i've never been very keen on evangelism. And some of us actually opposed it. We seem to expect people to notice our good works. Come visit us and stay. I did a little reading about jehovah's witnesses to figure out if i was harming them by telling this joke. I discovered. That they pattern their beliefs. After. Those that were held in the early church. Back before the council of nicea they were not trinitarians like both christians are. Their concept of god is actually. A lot like our historical concept of god. Joking about jehovah's witnesses banned alyssum. Causes harm. The harm may not be to them. Our reluctance to evangelize does us more harm than they're practicing goes going door-to-door. The proof is in the numbers. In a 2008 study. Jehovah's witnesses. Was the fastest. Growing religion in canada and the united states. Meanwhile unitarian-universalism is slowly losing members. So. Back to the question. What do you get when you cross. A jehovah's witness with auu. Someone who knocks on your door for no apparent reason. Does the answer implies at unitarian universalist. Don't believe in anything. And yes it is possible. To be a unitarian universalist. And not. To know. What you believe. But we all every last single one of us. Believe something. I really doubt that anybody here has ideas that aren't in. Stark opposition to what. We. Teach and preach here. Because if you would you wouldn't be here. So what do unitarian universalist believe. Our congregations have a covenant with one another a covenant is an agreement something that all of us have said this is what we're going to do if we're going to be unitarian universalist congregation. And that covenant. We the members of the congregation zachry to uphold our 7 principles. These are statements. About what we value and how we will be with one another. We do not believe that anyone booked or set of writings and sacred. Rather. We agree to draw from many sources including the wisdom of the world's religions. Science and the words of prophetic been in women. Most important. We drawn our own experience to guide us in our decision-making process. When i first became a unitarian universalist. Island heavily on humanist teachings. And is chewed anything christian. I was so anti-christian at that time i wouldn't even celebrate christmas. In the thirty years since. I fought with my feelings about christianity. Anna vedanta vinnie buddhist ideas and practices. Ideas and practices i knew nothing about. When i first came to unitarian universalism. As my life changed. So did by police. What i know today is vastly different from what i knew in 1990. My basic beliefs. I've changed to fit my current reality. Religion is not a one-size-fits-all item. It is not carved in stone. It is not delivered by an all-knowing being into the single resource and held us a basis of truth. For everyone for all time. Religion has one purpose. To make life better give me promised more. But that's all i can deliver. In the here and the now. So. That's a question. What do you get when you cross you do with a jehovah's witness. Second answer. Someone who knocks on your door. To learn about. Your religion. How can we know another person. If we don't know. What he or she believes. We live in a world where does easy to isolate ourselves from people or different from us. Unitarian universalist. How long big good at learning about other religions. And sometimes it is difficult to understand the difference. Between what a religion professors and what its people do. But it's something we need to look for. To better understand others. I have been going to the red bench meeting. We had one here hat where any of you at that meeting you were several of you were at that meeting. Is the program biotic which is the interface action of central texas. Once a month they hold meeting somewhere in the city. .. And usually there about 80 people in attendance. Djb people are divided into small discussion groups. And they have a set process where they discuss a particular topic which is usually one word like. Gratitude or. Generosity. It gives you an opportunity to listen to what other people have to say. And i say. What you think about this particular topic. Each time i've gone. I met different people from different religions. I have had discussions now with mormons and jews catholics methodist. Baptist. And a few atheist. Eat small group has been different. And all have been interesting. A couple years ago i attended the parliament of world religions i see joanna went to. Which was an intense interreligious experience. I'm going to go again. Fall this next one's going to be in toronto. There was yoga and aztec dancing. In the main hall there were tibetan monks. Creating a sand dollar huge bonus beautiful. Denver free meals at speakers. Speakers and speakers. My favorite was karen armstrong. Women were dressed and dressed in angel costume. Possessed five lie between the thousands of people that were there. Just get along rail of women. Justin angels costumes that a picture of them someplace. I never did figure out what they were but it was interesting. And there were impromptu dances occurring down in the end the in the lower hall and. All kinds of other things going on at the same time. I don't know if i got any new theological insights from dad. But i did learn one thing. I did get a picture of the immense diversity of beliefs. That exist in the world. I also have learned. That religion that import deptford religion. Is far more than just pomp and pageantry. And that more. Is what is most important. I know for a third answer. What do you get when you cross a unitarian universalist with a jehovah's witness. Someone who knocks on your door to offer you coffee. Every sunday or most sundays unitarian universalist across the continent. Patisserie. Peyton the ritual coffee hour. It is a time when we drink coffee. And greet one another you can drink tea or chocolate or whatever else to but. Mostly we would drink coffee. We welcome lgbtq people. And people color old and young cluster in the same face. I can be a lively party. We cluster with our friends. I miss speaking to the newcomer. Standing by the door we think of making coffee and greeting people is a chore. And not our chance to offer hospitality. Do everyone who comes in our doors. One year. A general assembly that's the meeting where all the unitarian universalist congregation to get together. I want to workshop put on by a group from san francisco called the faithful fools. I was greeted the door by a woman who was dressed up like a clown. And she with great care. Let me inside. Found a place for me to sit. Took her handkerchief. Wipeout the chair. And put me there. It was way over the top. How many how many times is that ever happened anybody. It felt good. enjoyed it and she did it with each person that came to the door she would bring them in. Fixer chair for them. And put them there. It was so nice. Later. I can actually start working to exercise start working in san francisco and i got to know the food better. They're building was at the heart of the tenderloin which is. Probably the very worst part of san francisco it's changing now but that's them. It was definitely the worst part it was where when policeman picked up. Drugs drug addicts and drunks and all those people they just bring it down to the tenderloin and leave them off. That's where they left off homeless people. It was really a rough place. But the mission. Of fools. Was forgive as indira normal experience as they could. To the people. That were in the tenderloin by where they were. Are weekday mornings i have bible study. A weekend evenings they had movies and poetry reading. They display the art created by the people who lived in the area. In all they did. The attitude with one appearing inequality no middle-class charity. For the homeless. Only helping hands when needed. And friendship when desired. They help one another fine but they needed. One example of something that they did frequently was. Many of the people who were there. We're unable to figure out how to get benefits that would have helped them get off the street. So they would actually. Walk with those people over to the social security office. Help them get an appointment. Help them fill out their paperwork. And go back with him and and once more sit there while they had the interview with the social worker. Make sure that they knew how to answer the question. That's the kind of things that the full stiff. And i'm still doing. If we want more people to come here and stay. We need to find ways to be more hospitable. It should be fun. We don't need to dress up as clowns. But we could certainly help me coffee and act as greeters. What readers mean that each one can have more time to talk to more people. We have a nice minister. But you can't greet everyone. When we don't have people say coffee or enough graders. They hand out orders a service. For not being very hospitable. Unitarian universalist have tossed around the term radical hospitality. 4 years. If we at live oak. What would it look like. The first day. I went to a uu church. A woman greeted me and asked me to sit with her. 30 years later she and i are still friends. Maybe you don't want any new friends. Maybe don't care if this is a warm and welcoming place. Maybe you do care. Maybe you do want to make sure. Everyone feels welcome. Welcome enough. To want to.

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2018-05-13_HaveFunStormingtheCastle.mp3

You're listening to the podcast. Unitarian. For more information about archer. Please visit our website. Live oak uu. org. Today sermon. Have fun storming the castle is given by our own reverend joanne fontaine crawford. May 13th. 2018. Welcome to live oak unitarian universalist church i'm reverend joanna want to take a moment to extend a very warm welcome to everyone who is visiting us for the first time to give you some idea what we're about let me tell you a little bit about our mission. We say that here we embraced joy and rich connections encourage growth and empower dreams and what we mean is that we celebrate the good things whenever we can we provide opportunities to strengthen relationships we want both to grow as individuals and welcome more people into this community and we want to help you in your personal dream to make the world and your life better. So there you go that's live oak in a nutshell and i hope you enjoy the rest of your morning with us. I'd like to welcome any gas we have today if this is your first time here please stop by the visitors table so we can meet you and answer any questions you might have. As part of our mission we want to enhance the connections between each of us and also with the outside world. You can stay connected with everything happening at live oak to our weekly email newsletter there's a link on our homepage. And during this worship service there's no need to put your phone away we encourage you to post on social media things you here today and maybe even an invitation for a friend to join you next week. Please right now either in body or in spirit for a chalice lighting followed by our theme him. As we lighter chalice. Please join me in these words for my living tradition. Love is a spirit the mister. Conservatives prayer. This is our great talent to dwell together in peace. Like to ask my younger friends to come forward for our big idea. So. Got a thing here. Anyone just all you've heard of these things you've heard of these things it is a typewriter and i realized with the story that we have today that i might actually have to explain to some folks what this was yes. What happened i have no idea though they got pushed down that would happen sometimes with typewriters yes dad needs to be oiled says the owner of our big idea our story this morning which is click clack moo cows that type by doreen cronin pictures by betsy lewin and for the adults who apparently are not as familiar with this story as some of my other friends you get to an amazon negative review it had one star and it said this is not a good story this is not appropriate for children it does not teach them how to be good daughters and sons this is a story about community organizing and if you want to raise your child to be a socialist get them this and i said being. Farmer brown has a problem his cows like to type. All day long he hears. Click clack click clack moo clickety clack. At first he couldn't believe his ears cows that type and possible impossible click clack click clack clickety clack we'd like some electric blankets sincerely the cows. Sorry we're closed no milk today. No milk today cried farmer brown in the background he heard the cows busy at work. Click clack click clack moo clickety clack moo. He got another note. Dear farmer brown. The hens are called to david like electric blankets sincerely the cows. The cows were growing impatient with the farmer they left a new note on the barn door. Close no milk no eggs no eggs cried farmer brown in the background he heard them click clack click clack moo clickety clack moo. Cows that type. Kim's on strike for ever heard of such a thing how can i run a farm with no milk and no eggs farmer brown was furious. Farmer brown got his own typewriter. Deer cows and hens there will be no electric blankets you are cows and hens i demand milk and eggs. Shirley farmer brown. Duck. Was a neutral party. So he bought brought the ultimatum to the cows the cows held an emergency meeting all the animals gathered around the barn to snoop but none of them could understand mu. All night long farmerbrown waited for an answer duck knocked on the door early the next morning he handed farmer brown a note. Dear farmer brown we will exchange our typewriter for electric blankets leave them outside the barn door and we will send duck over with the typewriter. Sincerely the cows. Farmerbrown decided this was. A good ideal you left the blankets next to the barn door and waited for duct to come with the typewriter. The next morning he got a note. Dear farmer brown. The pond is quite boring weed like a diving board sincerely the ducks click clack clack click clack clack clickety clack. Are reading this morning. Was written in 1931 this is an excerpt from the book living my life by emma goldman. At the dances i was one of the most untiring and gaius one evening a cousin of sasha a young boy took me aside with a grave face as if you were about to announce the death of a dear comrade he whispered to me that it did not behoove an agitator to dance. Certainly not with such reckless abandon anyway. Was undignified for one who was on the way to become a force in the anarchist anarchist movement. My frivolity would only hurt the cause i grew furious at the impudent interference of the boy i told him to mind his own business. I was tired of having the cause constantly thrown into my face. I did not believe that a cause which stood for a beautiful ideal for release and freedom from convention and prejudice should demand the denial of life and joy. I insisted that our cause could not expect me to become a nun and that the movement would not be turned into a cloister. If it meant that. I did not want it. I want freedom. The right to self-expression everybody's right to beautiful radiant things anarchism meant that to me and i would live it in spite of the whole world. Prisons persecution everything. Yet even in spite of the condemnation of my own closest comrades i would live my beautiful ideal. In the movie. The princess bride. Three heroes. Fezzik the giant inigo montoya and wesley. Go to the cat cottage. Of miracle max. Their purpose they know their mission and what they need to do they need to break into the castle stop the marriage between prince humperdinck and princess buttercup rescue the princess. Get the revenge on the person that count who killed in digos father and escape. They have that's all they have their goals they know what they need to do. One little challenge that they have is that wesley is. Dead. Mostly dead miracle max assures them. I'm so. Miracle max sets to work. Creating a miracle pill to bring wesley back to life. Chocolate coating mexico down easier but you have to wait 15 minutes before potency. Have fun storming the castle. As we come to the end of our yearly theme of find your purpose. It seems to me that there is perhaps no line that better gives us our direction for what happens next then this personally i think all of us should take this as as like a motto a philosophy to live by. Have fun storming the castle. Storm the castle. These purposes that we found a way to live our lives and move through the world take those audacious impossible dangerous risky goals. And do them who stormed the castle. And. Have fun. Doing it. We talked a little bit this year. About having fun and the importance of having fun. Mostly know what we talked about has been escapist fun and i do think that that is very important we need. To take those brakes we need to walk away from what we're doing we need to be able to give our brains and our bodies arrest we need to be able to go to the well and refill. Fun escapist fun is important. Watch the game. Go experience the concert. Lose yourself in a novel or a movie or binge watching parks and rec. Escape is fun is important. But i think. I think it needs to be a reward. I think that we need to learn. The escapist fun. I am afraid. When we embrace. That escapist fun. Without first. Earning it. That we run the risk. Of using escape. And fun. As a way to deny reality. And over the past year-and-a-half. Many of us have probably felt. That urge. To escape the reality the very odd. Disquieting reality that we have found ourselves in. And face it. It's a privilege. To be able to do that. To be able to walk away from reality and binge-watch. Parks and rec. We can't always do that. And for some people they don't have that privilege of just taking a break from the reality that is going on. So i think it's important that we that we do. Take the steps of facing reality. And do our work. An urn. That fun and the thing is. Find that you've earned. It's just so much better isn't it. It's just it's just the funnest fun when you have been working at hands-on housing. Working with other people to help prepare a house for someone who is in need. And you're you're sweaty and hot. And then you notice that down the street. There was a. Some kid selling lemonade. Or ice cream. Until you take a break and you go down there. Get your scoop of ice cream. Man that's just. The best tasting ice cream. Ever. Or when you have been protesting. When you have been marching around the city hall in round rock. Are marching around the capitol in austin. And afterwards you and your friends have been doing that work with you. Go out for a beer. At the best. Beer. Like it microbreweries could capture the taste of that beer that they just knock all the others out of competition. I'm so. This idea of yeah do the work. And then. Make a point of celebrating make a point of going out. And having that fun. It's important. Now those examples that i gave are more kind of physical labor. But it doesn't have to be that in fact i think that right now. Is the work. On ourselves. One of. The good thing. That has come out of this past. Year. Husband that there have been things that have been revealed. That have been there all along. But now they're being revealed to all of us people are capturing videos. We who have never experienced that are seeing that to be black in this country means that you can be having a barbecue at a park or you can be sitting in a starbucks. And someone feels. Uncomfortable. Scared. I'm calls the police. And you have to deal with that. Women have been sharing their stories. And now. People are listening. And there are consequences. This past year it's like our eyes have been opened in a whole new way. And that's not always comfortable is it. And that's where the work comes in because he. The work of growth. Doesn't happen in our comfort zone. And it takes intention. It means reading things. That don't necessarily confirm what we already believe. There's a role in a place for that. Reading things that reinforce things that you believe. That gives you knowledge. Knowledge is important. Knowledge. Does not necessarily equal. Gross. Knowledge is important. But if it's all happening in your comfort zone. If it's merely affirming what you already believe. That's not gross. Gross. It's when we step outside of the comfort zone. We deal with our own discomfort. And we learn some new ideas and we struggle with them and sometimes we're going to disagree with them. And other times were going to say i never thought about it that that way. And we're going to change. And we're going to grow. And today i'm going to give you a really specific. Example of dip i'm giving you homework again today. Some people have already done this. Some others haven't. There is a moment. That is going on right now. That started a week ago. With the drop of a video. I want you to go home. And google these words. This is america. It is a video. That was put out a week ago by donald glover. His music name childish gambino. When you google this this is america you're going to already in just one week's time you're going to see thousands of essays and analysis and think pieces. Don't don't read them yet. Go to the video it's out there you can't miss it. Watch. The video. I give you the warning. It is very disturbing. I give you the warning for some of you it is not your preference it is not the kind of music that you would listen to by the way. Our preferences keep us in the comfort zone. And you're stepping out of the car. Watch. Video. And i want you to be thinking about two questions. One question is what is art. The other question is. What is the reality of america. Right now. If you're not white. Watch the video i would recommend. Watching the second time. Watch it a third time then go back out to google. And find those essays and those think pieces because people really know this stuff are riding good things and there's so much symbolism in this video you're not even going to catch it not even after the third time maybe not even after the 20th time. And there are teachers out there that can lead us through. I'm not going to tell you what to think of it. But i am going to ask that you get out of your comfort zone and watch this because this video is not a little thing. There are pieces in not just rolling stone but new york times washington post mpre atlantic the route. So many pieces of writing and analysis. Around. This. Music video. So there you go. There's your homework. For stepping out of your comfort zone this week. And then after you do it then you can go back to watching the game or binge watching parks and rec or grace and frankie. It's important to step out. And earn those brakes. We've talked. This year about that escapist fun. But we haven't really talked about though. Is this whole idea of have fun storming. The castle. Finding the fun in the work. Itself. Emma goldman not that reading that i did for you. People often paraphrase that reading. As saying. If there's no dancing in the revolution. I'm not coming. And it was a radical idea in 1931 and i think it's still a radical idea now. Our religion and i see this evenin in are good hip liberal unitarian universalism. Bots. Our religious history is puritanism. That's where we came from. And it's still influencing us in the same way that your grandparents in your parents even if you rejected so much of what they've done you still find yourself saying things and going oh my god. Mom where did that come from. And puritanism is. The history part of the history. Of the united states. On one particular thing. That we're still dealing with. Is the deification of suffering. Right. And we liberals can be some of the worst about this right like if you're if you're smiling will you that's cuz you don't know what's going on you know i'm on mad too and there's serious things happen even in our own families right. I'm not going to make you raise a hand but i will confess like you know you go home and it's been a day and you're talking to someone you live with and they're like how was your day and your like up. Suffering one suffering to suffering three suffering for and they're like well me suffering one suffering to suffering three suffering for enough. We see this so much this idea that just because the things that we are dealing with are serious that somehow we have to be serious all the time right that's if you're going to work for justice. You have to walk around like this all the time you can never smile because this is serious things and it's affecting people slide. I think. That fun. Is. A religious value. I believe that fun. Is a spiritual discipline. Of gratitude. I'm saying that even when things are hard. Even when we are having to go storm the castle. That we are still grateful. For this life. And we are grateful that we have those powers and hopefully have friends who are storming the castle with us. And it's fun that is going to feed us. Find that it's going to allow us to come up with more creative solutions and it is fun that will allow us and make it easier for us to recruit other people to join us in our cause of creating beloved community. In one of the think pieces. About. This is america. The rider. Bluetooth lousma rights. We need joy. We need dance. We need all the rich and beautiful things that make our culture so unique to be celebrated. I would even go so far as to say that black liberation without black joy is a pretty hollow victory. This is a lesson that all of us have. That we can pay attention to that liberation must be tied up with fun and with joy. There's a story that i am pretty sure i have told. Every single year. Since i have been here. I problem i'm going to tell it again and i probably will continue telling it there's this old joke about how a new minister starts at a church. And preaches the sermon. And then the next sunday gets up. And preaches exactly the same sermon. Kitsap the third week word-for-word preaches exactly the same sermon finally someone comes up to him and says. You keep preaching the same sermon. He said yes once we've learned it and are living it then i'll move on to another one. So you may continue to hear the story it's. A story that the late great molly ivins. Towel. She's telling the story about joe rowell. And joe was work for social justice he was a lawyer during the mccarthy hearings. He did so much good work and the aclu was about to give him an award. But he was in the hospital. So you designated a friend to accept the award on his behalf. And the friend came to the hospital beforehand. And said so when i. When i accept the award. What do you want me to say. And. Molly ivins writes that joe. Silent for a moment. Thinking of. All the things that he had seen. People whose. Careers. Had been destroyed people's. Whose lives had been ruined. All that hard work. And then he spoke. And he said. Tell him how much fun it was. Tell him how much fun it was. This is our call. To live out our purpose. To go and storm those castles cuz let me tell you there are so many castles that needs storming and my fellow texans. Sorry to give you the alert but next january when the texas legends comes back in session. It's going to be worse than last time. It's going to be worse than last time their leaders right. Now who are looking at things that are happening about reproduction reproductive choice in iowa and they're saying. We want some of that. There are castles that need to be stormed. I'm so let's embrace. The joy. I'm storming them the fun. I've storming them. And i leave you. With a poem. A slam poem. This written by eric darby. Scratch and dent dreams. C'mon inn. Pokemon and i got to stay out on scratch and get dreams whole cases of imperfect ambition stuff the idealist couldn't sell goodnight kisses and stationery stars still flying at the speed of light over there if you did down you'll find a whole crate of second-hand hope. Over there across the freeway you see that purple awning flapping in the breeze so that's mama genuine shop she's older than all of us put together but she still laughs like a house now she only sells tools but not like you know she's got back together and drills that make hole. Mom is a cool legend snowing. She sells duct tape to. Down there the end of the block are two kids crewcuts and pigtails sitting behind a vinyl top. Table showing peanut butter ice cream out of a galvanized pail. And there's no metaphor there it's just good ice cream salt has to be. So here's what you do. Take a look around pick out what reminds you of places you wanted to be but gave up ongoing and jim it all in this big box called now then go across the street to mama genuine ask her how she's been so we're what i gave you she'll know exactly what you need and then go back out into the center of that freeway and get to work making it all fit. You won't have any directions or factory number tabs but don't panic. There's 100 ways to do it right and none to do it wrong cuz you're already starting out with what's already been giving up on you can't do any worse use the tools mama gave ya little while your work. And when you catch yourself sprouting extra thumbs. Take a break. Around the block. Get yourself an ice cream. Smile when they hand it to you to come if you can. When you get back it's all going to make sense. You'll see where it's going to fit perfect and where the duct tape has to go. When you get finished. Take whatever is down the sparks beer pot parts that you got at the bottom of now. And make yourself a little sign that says tomorrow. Hanging on your master p. And then you go back down that block where those two kids are packing up their peanut butter enterprise cuz somebody told them they'd failed and i want you to hand them tomorrow make sure they know how important it is and after they've run off with it all elbows and smiles you come on back here and we'll do it all over again. Now i'm not telling you this here to make a profit that's how so many good ideas go wrong i'm just tired of seeing everyday people streaming through these doors convinced they're going to even their littlest hopes and dreams to fund their 401k says i'm tired of seeing this whole world that ongoing big are giving up only handing out glory the newspaper headlines and storybook endings cuz the truth is. I don't know what the. But i think that we need those swingsets most on the rainy days. I'm happy going to sleep after a goodnight kiss that made me feel something inside. And i believe that beauty can be as simple. Has two kids. Crewcuts and pigtails. Handing me a scoop of peanut butter ice cream that taste so good. You think it was a dream. I invite you now to join me. And holding in our hearts the concerns of this community. Closing your eyes and going inward if you are comfortable doing so. Spirit of life. Hold by many names and no name. Today's some walk with a sorrow so great they ask for the help of this community to carry it. Others woke with a joy so great. It must be shared. Jennifer and stewart hale share that 5 years after hanging up an owl house we finally got a nesting pair of owls and saw two baby just in time for mother's day. Amy and maya thomas share a joy and a concern today is maya's 13th birthday and mother. And. I received an email today. With such a great joy right in time for mother's day. Yesterday seema and francisco martinez welcomed a son into their family max xavier. For the joys and the sorrows that haven't been spoken. But which remain in the silent sanctuary savar hearts. We bear witness. Maybe feel gratitude for our lives and for our beautiful earth. May we find in ourselves the energy in the knowledge to bring care to the world. And may we be aware of the blessing that it is not ours alone to do this work. Live in community work wonders. We buy ourselves could never manage. In this time of silence. Let us form our own prayers out of the concerns of our heart. And for the sounds of children which are the music of the universe. I'm in and blessed. We say in our church that the offering is a sacrament of the free church. What we mean by that is that we believe is a blessing to be able to govern and support our religious community ourselves. Every week we lift up the spiritual value of generosity. By taking an offering for the ministries of this church are plate then as it is passed among us becomes filled with the evidence of that generosity. Our community lies beyond our own walls and so every week we share what is offered with an organization that upholds our unitarian universalist values. This month we are helping to empower the dreams of the out youth organization. They serve the central texas lgbtq youth and their allies with programs and services services. To ensure these promising young people develop into happy healthy successful adults. As the ushers come forward to receive the offering i invite you to stay with me these words. We are building beloved community. With our labor and with our treasure. With gratitude we receive the offering. May i help us to fulfill our mission in the world. Are director of lifespan development carry cross will be back next week the majority of our faith development programming takes place between services at 10 a.m. on sunday mornings and i invite you to join us next week at that time as we encourage spiritual growth and truth-seeking in community actually let me backup know next week we are back at our summer hours so we want it'll be one service, 10 a.m. for the worship service and then at 11 a.m. we will have religious education. For more information on upcoming offerings please see the insert in your order service. Okay congregational meeting at 11 which is always religious education. And now would you please arrive in body or in spirit for the benediction and chalice extinguishing. The late great molly ivins. Said this. So keep fighting for freedom and justice beloved's but don't you forget to have fun doing it lord let your laughter ring 4th be outrageous ridicule the fraidy cats rejoice and all the oddities that freedom can produce and when you get through kicking ass and celebrating the sheer joy of a good fight be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was. Have fun storming the castle. Let us say these words to each other. We explained where's the salad play mariah carey for the vision of this prepaid the freedom remember contested monday perfect in this nation and across speaker. And now as we depart we extend to receive the gift of hospitality of a taking the first five minutes to talk to someone who we don't yet know well maybe i'll know the blessings of friendship and community.

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2018-01-13-RecoveringTheBallAndYourSpirit.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For january 13th. 2019. This week's service is. Recovering the ball. And your spirit. Play reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Are reading this morning. Comes from the book a burst of light and other essays by audre lorde. Sometimes i feel like i am living on a different star from the one i am used to calling home. It has not been a steady progression. I had to examine in my dreams as well as in my immune function test the devastating effects of overextension. Overextending myself is not. Stretching myself. I had to accept how difficult it is to monitor the difference. Necessary for me as cutting down on sugar. Crucial. Physically psychically. Caring for myself. Is not. Self-indulgent. It is self-preservation. And it is an act. Of political warfare. Underlining what is joyful and life-affirming in my living becomes crucial what have i had to leave behind. Old life habits outgrown defenses put aside less they siphon off energies to no useful purpose. One of the hardest things to accept as learning to live within uncertainty. I neither deny it nor hide behind it. Most of all to listen to the messages of uncertainty without allowing them to immobilize me nor keep me from the certainties of those truths. In which i believe. This is my life. Each hour is a possibility not to be bank. These days are not a preparation for living some necessary but essentially extraneous divergence from the main course. Of my living. They are my life. The first time that i remember hearing the word. Resilience. Was when i was 10 years old. I had an older brother who died. And after his funeral i overheard a couple of my aunt's. Speaking to each other they were expressing their concern. For our family. Of course. And they also talked about their hope that is the youngest. I was going to be okay because. Kids are resilient. I didn't know what. Resilient. Mets. Probably if i had known or if i had known what the general understanding of resilience is i would have disagreed i certainly didn't feel resilient. And it began showing and in a few months when my grades suddenly. Plummeted. My parents were smart enough to realize. That i had some issues. That day who they themselves were going through grief that they couldn't help me. I'm so they found a good therapist and got me into therapy. Which was exactly what i needed and this person helped me. Recovery this person help me negotiate through all of the feelings of grief and confusion and everything else. As an adult. That most of my adulthood i still didn't really know what resilient. Mets. Probably because i had heard the most common definition that if if if i gave like a pole right now i can pretty much guarantee at least 75%. Of you would use this phrase because it's what we hear all the time it's a metaphor. That resilient means the capacity to bounce back right exactly. If that's the definition of resilient. I have never in my life. Been resilient. It never felt. Like bouncing back it felt more like you know the prize fighter in the boxing ring who has been going against someone who is bigger and better than they are and somehow just bloody and bruised and broken they managed to somehow stagger up right again. There was no bouncing involved i have to tell you. Neuroscience i think gives us. A better. Understanding of what. Resilience is they don't go for metaphors. Resilience is the ability to adapt. Successfully. To stress and adversity. Ability to adapt. When all of those. Bad cough. Stressful things. Happen. And resilience there now saying resilience is one of the key themes. That all people need. In order to have a happier and more fulfilling life and in order to be able to do the great big things that we are called to do. Children need resilience and adults need. Resilience. And in this world that we are living in. At present. I think we really need resilience. Because we can feel both in our individual lives and in the larger world that we are part of. Doctor hits. Josh. Keep coming. Day after day. I think the. When we think of people who have resilient. I think that it's really easy for us to feel that resilience is something that you're just born with and either you have it. Or you don't. And it's true that there are certain things that we can be born with that can make resilience easier for instance if you are one of those people that is just kind of naturally optimistic. That is a real tool to help you with your resilience. But resilience. Is. A set of skills. A set of practices. That anyone can learn. We can all become. More resilient. Resilience. Requires. Recovery. This is a big thing. Resilience. Requires. Recovery. And i think on a physical level. Most of us already we get that we understand. Like if you go to the hospital and you have surgery after the surgery the place where they will your often unconscious body is called. Recovery. That's the name of the room. It's not where you are expected to do your healing you're going to be there for a relatively short. of time. It's where they make sure that you that your body is stable. So that you can then go wherever it is you need to go and begin your healing. The other place where we see this in a physical sense. Is in athletics. Got some athletes here got some runners got so come on i know we have. Yes thank you thank you claim it claim it you're an athlete. With athletes. Recovery is something that you know has to be part of your practice. You go and you do all of the exercise or the running or the game and then you have to have recovery for your body. And for those who make their living at this for professional athletes they actually have like after the big game or after the big race or performance or whatever else they have a designated. Day of recovery. And this is not lying in a hammock somewhere is often highly scripted with things that they need to do so that their bodies can recover its ice baths and massages and going to physical therapy. So i think that we get this on a physical sense. But the thing is all of us. Meade recovery. For our spirits. And for our brains. This is what makes. Resilience. Resilience. Requires. Recovery. Now. Recovery. Is not just rest. I think it when we think about recovery that's where we go to first and it's just kind of instinctive thing right like we had a really rough day or like i cannot wait to get home and get in my easy chair or go to bed or whatever else. And rest is very important. Anna research shows time and time again none of us are getting enough rest not our kids not us we need more rest that's why i like on sunday morning if you fall asleep during the sermon it is not going to hurt my feelings at all. I'm going to feel very proud that i have given you such a restful place just. Try not to snore too loud. We all need more rest but. Recovery is more than just. Physical. Rats. Our brains. Need to recover. From the stress. Or the crises. That we have gone through. And recovery for our brains. Does not is not necessarily just physical ref. And we know this to write like his everything anyone ever had that thing or like you have a really rough day and you still have like problems at work or at school you're trying to figure out. And you go home and you turn on the news and do that just adds to your stress. And then one of the kids needs help with their homework or something's going on in your marriage or you have an adult child that calls with a problem and so all of this stress keeps adding up. And you go to bed. And first thing that happens. You can't sleep right cuz your brain is still going going going trying to solve all of these problems. And then. You get to sleep. And what happens. Your brain doesn't sleep right your brain is still cycling trying to solve all of these problems i call it being chased by bears. Panda bears were chasing me all last night. You wake up in the morning and it's like. I need a do-over cuz i didn't do last night right that it i don't feel. Recovered. Renewed. Eat your boss. Have to find. What it is. That will help. Our brains to recover. And for each person at maybe different things and for each one of us. There's probably not just one thing you're going to need to have several different things that you can do. According to the circumstance that you're in. Nature. Seems to be for many of us what really helps us to recover there's just something about getting out around trees and grass and water. And i just kind of soaking it up. Taking long walks. Meditating for those who have a meditation practice or doing yoga. Exercising for some people putting our physical bodies. Through stress is what helps. Our brains. To recover cuz our brains are kind of like okay the body is doing all the work i can just like chill out for. Whatever it is. You have to find all of these ways. To help your brain. To recover. And nowadays. Our brains are having. An even more difficult. Because. With all of the internet. And media that is available 24 hours a day and smartphones. We are constantly. Feeding our brains and never giving it. A chance. To rest and they actually right about this they they call it. Constance. Over. Stimulation. Of our brain. Anyone ever see a two-year-old. Who has gone to a birthday party. I got the birthday party they had the bouncy house they had the guy with the balloons they had cake cake cake they had kids running around like crazy and then at the end of this really intense birthday party they're driving home and the parents says all i need to stop at the store to get a couple of things for dinner tonight and they take the two-year-old into the store and it's war bright lights and bright colors and things that you want but you can't have and what does the two-year-old do. Losing it right just completely yelling screaming arms flailing. You can't reason with them. And they don't even know why they are acting like this. Imagine that. 2 year old. In your head. We are over-stimulating. Our brain. With the two-year-old you take them home. You put them in a quiet room maybe. Draw down the blinds so it's a little darker in there. Make sure that it's either quieter that you have. Some soothing music on. So that they can. Recover. From all of that. Stimulation. Good stuff. Can be stress. 2. And we have to give. Ourselves. The space and the ways and the time. To recover. No maybe. You are one of those people that is sitting there right now and going. I don't need that. I don't need to worry about like taking the time-space whatever to recover because. I am simply the kind of person that. Powers through i just do what needs to be done. Resilience. Is not. Endurance. And to have this attitude. That i can just do it i can just power through. It's self-indulgence to try and take the time and recover. My friends. That is hubris. Ask me how i know. Well i'm going to tell you. I get these these emails it's like a every morning a little idea to reflect on. And apparently they send these out at midnight. Cuz a few months ago i was up too late because i don't get enough rest either. And yeah i'm like i'm like a five-year-old like you can't make me go to bed. But i got the loan notification of this. Email. And this particular one said. And my first response to that was. What do i have to be resilient about. Oh honey. 5 minutes later. 5 minutes later. I discovered. That i had a project i've been working on. And i had. Screwed. Totally. Miss. A crucial. Deadline. No one's fault but mine. I completely mess. Recovery sometimes looks like that room that they take you to after surgery. And sometimes it looks more like what the athlete needs to do with the massage and ice baths and all of that. And sometimes recovery is more like in football. You have fumbled the ball. Until now recovery is about how you go and try to recapture the ball. Try to not at least make the problem worse try to keep your head in the game. And then monday morning. Watch the tapes. Go over what happened maybe with a coach. And try to figure out how to not make that particular fumble again. This is one of those day-to-day stresses. That we all live with. And that is sometimes. We messed up. Sometimes it's all of our all our fault. And we just totally goof. We know that we're not supposed to be perfect but at the same time we do have responsibilities we do want to get better. After that particular. Messed up. But our next board meeting i told them about what happened. And after the meeting a board member stop by my study. And for those of you who have been around here. This particular statement is one you're familiar with. He said. I love you. And there's nothing you can do about it. And that meant so much to me. This is part of resilience to. Knowing that sometimes we are going to fumble. Sometimes we are going to mess up. But we can recover. And we don't. Recover. Alone. Recovery. Is not about something that you have to go off and do secretly to prove that you are strong. When my parents sent me to that therapist. What they were doing is they were training me they were teaching me how to do. Resilient. Resilience means that you know that you have resources. And you turn to those resources. Resilience isn't. So much. Who we are. Or what we are. Resilience is something that we. How we do not do it alone. Resilience. Requires. Recovery. Return to your resources the nature or other people or long walks. You give yourself the time and the space. To recover. To regain your equilibrium. And then you serve. As a resource.

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2020-03-01-FromThisMomentDespairEndsAndTacticsBegin.mp3

Welcome to the life of. Universalist church. For march 1st. Two thousand and. This week's service is. From this moment. Despair ends and tactics begin. Play reverend joanna fontaine crawford. Ar reading. Today. Comes from someone that you will hear quite a bit about in this church. James luther adams. Who many consider to be the most influential uucl legend of the 20th. And this is from on being human religious. Liberalism holes. That the resources divine and human. That are available for the achievement of meaningful change justify an attitude of ultimate. Optimism. This view does not necessarily involve immediate optimism. In our century we have seen the rebarber ization of the mass man we have witnessed a widespread dissolution of values and we have viewed the appearance of great collective. Demon rays. Progress is now seem not to take place through inheritance each generation must a new when insight into the ambiguous nature of human existence. I must give new relevance to moral and spiritual values. There is something in the genuine liberal perspective that while recognizing this tragic nature of the human condition. Continues to live with a dynamic. With the optative mood as one of its voices. The affirmative answer of prophetic religion. Which may be heard in the very midst of the doom that threatens like thunder is that history is a struggle in dead earnest between justice and injustice. Looking towards the ultimate victory in the promise and fulfillment. Great. Anyone who does not enter into that struggle. With the affirmation of love and beauty. Misses the mark. And sports creation. As well as self creed. Strange days indeed right. Do you remember did we use the word despair. Before 2016. I mean i'm sure that we did individually. You know if you've lived any amount of time you've. Had heartbreak. In your life. You probably known that feeling. Of hopelessness in. Spare. But collectively i don't remember us using that particular. Words. As often. As i hear it now. So i was curious so the internet has been invented so i went on the internet to see was there some way that being able to ascertain this i couldn't find anything that was specifically about social media but they did have a tool for reddit for all of the forums on reddit you could search and find out what were the words. That had been used in and graph them. According to time. So this is the word. Despair. And you see that peak way up there. That's the end of 2016. So probably november. December of 2016 is where we had. That spike. And i know that i have heard. Especially this year. Just just since january i've heard so many people. Using. That word and this week. So much. What's happening. India and coronavirus. And our our election safe. And. Everything. So. There is reason. To despair. But our religion. Says that we can't stay there. Unitarian universalism says that we do not have the luxury of stopping in despair because it is us that are supposed to put ourselves out there and try and change things. That reading today from from james luther adams about optimism that didn't come because he was innocent or naive he actually had been in germany and saw the rise of hitler and had a couple of narrow misses himself. And what that dude is that shaped him to number one to believe that one of the weaknesses of liberal religion is that we don't give proper attention to the fact that evil is a reality. We don't want to think about that right that doesn't go along with our happy theology that we have. And he said but we have to. We have to address that and at the same. Time. When it came time for him to lay out what are called the five smooth stones of liberal religion in other words the five core values of our faith. The last one that he. Put out there was this one of optimist. Are reading today where he said religious liberalism holds that the resources divine and human that are available for the achievement of meaningful change. Justify. An attitude of ultimate optimus. This wasn't just hopeful thinking for him those near misses that he had in germany. That was because there were people who put themselves at risk. In order to save him. So about a year ago. April of 2019 in london you probably saw this on the news. There were all of these. Protest. By climate activist. They were they went on for about 2 weeks many of them had brought. Kent's. That they lay that they were just going and sleeping there every night and then getting up the next day they were protesting they were engaging in nonviolent action. This was a from a movement called extinction rebellion that is based in being climate activist. And also nonviolent. And so they will go and you know take over roads blocked things at cetera. They had gotten to sort of the the end of their time of doing this. And they'd all gone to a central square for kind of in a white closing ceremony. In that area where so many of them had been camping. Was this. Y'all know banksy. Bebe. Anonymous artist banksy had left. Desk. For them. Had it was very clearly meant for them because you see that that kind of logo thing that she's holding that looks like an hourglass that's their logo and it it does look like an hourglass because that's their symbol for we are running out of time. That. Praise. From this moment despair ends and tactics begin. Come from a book written in 1967 by raul varnish m called the revolutions of ordinary life. And. Banksy memphis to apply. To climate activism. But with everything that is going on right now i think that it applies. To all of the despair that we've been feeling and the need to do something about it. And there is so much. Between. The climate. Issues climate depredation. And the global bringing down of democracy. Now pandemic. Racism. The growing financial disparity. And all of those things are all knotted up together. I'm so if there is one of those where you say i'm going to put all of my attention on that that's fine because they are all knotted up together and if you start working on that one thing it will impact. The rest of them. We're hearing a message right now that now is the time to do something anyone else been hearing that. I have been having in my house like practically every evening i have. Have been having i guess you could call it. A disagreement. With someone. Every evening. This person is saying to me. Here is what has happened the past week. The alarm bells are ringing it is time to do something it is no longer time to wait. And i say rachel i completely agree. Rachel maddow not rachel sartin our beloved president. Who is also smart and drives us to action. And i'm waiting there like like i got my legal pad out and my pin i am like just tell me what to do rachel and i will do it i am it does ruth bader ginsburg need one of my kidneys i'm good with that just tell me what to do. And she goes to commercial break. Okay she likes to build up that you know excitement i know how she is so i'm waiting there and she comes back. She interview someone. Both of them agree that now is the time to do something. I never get my list. Tefillin. No one is doing that. I think it's going to be up to us. I think we're going to have to start coming up with some plans. And now is the time for tactics. To begin. We're going to have to be really specific. In those plans. Cuz right now so many people including including me including us. Are talking in generalities even when we don't think that we are talking. In generalities. I have said and i know some of you have said it to. We should be taking to the streets. You don't have to raise your hand and confess that i. Start but many of us have been saying that right we should be taking to the streets. That sounds specific but it isn't actually like what does that actually mean. In an hour. Contest. We should take to the streets okay like when. Now. Where. I can go out on el cielito but i think that would just confuse people. What is our purpose what is our goal. Is it just to show up because i think we have to do more than that now. I don't know about you but for the past three years i have been showing up at the capitol and at courthouses and doing rally. And i do think that that's important. But it seems like everything is at a new level. So what do we do. What do we do that's going to be effective. In terms of tactics. I think there's three things i'm sure there are more. But today i'm going to share with you three things. I think are really important. As we do our plane. So the first. Is to research and plan. And i deliberately made these one statement rather than two because i think that's so often we we we forget one or the other like we're really good at researching and studying and we kind of forget that we need to be doing that for a purpose. Or we get so fired up we start creating a plan and we haven't done the due diligence to find out okay. Have other people done this before what is our contacts what is their contact. But there's just lots of information out there. We can learn from others who have been in situations like this in the library i'm going to have to cover up three copies when our intern minister is done with her copy and it's called on tyranny this came out 3 years ago. And timothy snyder pulls a lot from this book the origins of totalitarianism but here i've been reading both so i'll give you a choice. You can read this one. Or. You can read this one that is pretty much you know you could be done with it in an hour. So those are two good ways to do some research. Part of our research has to include. Trying to figure out who are the experts i think that's kind of the step one. A research because right now again the internet has been invented and it's great but. There's a lot of really wrong information out there have you seen this. And by the way coronavirus like there's only more coming i thought on some not anyone here but like that you know a high school friend had a post up and it was supposedly written by a doctor and it was saying stuff that like i'm not even a doctor and i was going. I'm pretty sure that's not true so we have to find out who are the actual experts. And learn from them. And. Experts. Most often. Are the people who have in addition to studying things. They have lived. Experience. I told if you want to learn more about racism don't like read something that i have written. Read something by tanahashi coates or ibrahim x kendi. Look for the people who have both the scholarly knowledge and it has affected. Dim. And so right now in terms of the destructions that we are seeing globally with democracy. And i'll say it rising. Clues of dictatorship. What's actually figure out okay. Where are the countries. That have dealt with something like this before. Were they had to deal not with an outside enemy but with issues within their own government that they found alarming. And there is lots of good information out there because. That isn't something that happened long ago. This has been happening every single year. The atlantic had this was from the arab spring. When so many people were fighting for more democracy in their in their countries. And so they have. Little bits of the pamphlet. That was handed out person-to-person. With. Very specific. Things about what to do. And i will tell you when you find something like this when we talked about. Taking to the streets. It makes it really. Clear. That in these countries where when they finally were pushed to they had to take dramatic action. It wasn't josh. Showing up at a place where they had all of the the permit. It's great that they have things like what should you wear what is your goal how do you do the things that you are going to do. So again. Number one. Research. But then move on to the second part which is. Create a plan. Be thinking right now about what will you do. I mean we're already doing that for the church about coronavirus. I don't think any of us expect it to be as apocalyptic as some people are thinking that it will be. But there's nothing wrong with making some plans. We already know if we all wind up under quarantine we already know what we're going to do. We know how we're going to do worship. It'll be in a zoom group we know that we're going to have geographic circles that all of us are in so that if there is someone who perhaps lives alone we can check on them make sure they're doing okay. Come up with plans. For eventualities. That may seem a little dramatic. And yet right now. Strange days indeed. They seem like they could happen. Tactic to. Is. We cannot. Pause. Our own internal. Work. Of becoming more. Mature. A growing ourselves up. This is not navel-gazing. This is not something that can wait until all of these other events have been taken care of. If we are going to be most effective. We have to attend to this internal work. I've being self-aware and knowing when we're feeling anxiety and knowing how that is guiding what we do. There's a little phrase. That i use frequently a little hyphenated. Phrase i have even been accused of mumbling it in my sleep. I was not accused of that by the way by the person who actually sleeps with me. Although to be fair he takes his hearing aids out at night so he really wouldn't know. He gave me permission to share that. Yes. Self differentiate. Here's why this is so important now why this is not just some sort of new age or psychology mumbo-jumbo sort of thing. We're seeing the problems with not self differentiating. Play out right now. The self differentiate means that you are really clear where you end and the next person begins. And you understand that each person has the right. To make their own decisions doesn't mean you have to support them in what they believe. It's simply an acknowledgement of fat. You can't actually control what another person thinks. And. Self differentiation when it comes to people who are really different than we are. That's where it's easy. That person who was wearing when you just say it the red hats. And votes are really different way than you do. Life for most of us it there was all the way across the room it is not hard to self differentiate from den. The irony is. The closer in values we are to someone. The harder it is. We just saw this play out on the debate stage. Who were the two people who were fighting the most. Amy. And peach. The two people who are most alike in their plans. And they were the ones that we're going. Like death. And it's hard. Because you have this person you care for and you believe that you have the same values and then they believe something different than than you do or they have a different priority then you do. We have to be able to self. Differentiate. To know that this person may say. We have to focus on the climate if the earth is gone than none of this will matter and the other person may say we have to focus on democracy because if we can't fix that then we can't fix these other things. And each person is allowed to have. They're different priorities. When a society is in regression. The instinct is to move toward what is called. Herding herd. Hurting. And that that is where we try to get everyone to believe exactly the way we do everyone to do exactly what we do within a group and this can happen in a country can happen in a political party that can happen in a church it can happen in a literal family and we have to resist that urge. And again. Focus on. What are my core values. And how do i add. Out of those. Now the third tactic i am. I'm a little nervous about sharing it with you because i'm afraid that it will be seen as some sort of a a fluffy unicorns and rainbows kind of thing. I absolutely believe. That practically. This is something that we need to commit to. And that is to be relentlessly. Don't mean relentlessly positive. I have a problem with optimism that is based in ignoring reality. We can't do that. But we have to always hold onto the face. That yes. We can change things things can get better and we have to be able to share that with others it's a very attractive thing. I hear hope. From other people. It makes us feel that maybe there are possibilities. When often we feel that we have exhausted all of them. That's why i think that time and time again as a discipline we have to go back. To this commitment. Of being relentlessly. Hopeful. It's always putting this sermon together. That word despair i remembered. That there was. A context in which i would use that word over and over. Again. There was a universalist by the name of alfred s cole and he was also a seminary professor. And so he would teach his students about the person we've called the american father of universalism john murray. It provides our only miracle story if you haven't heard it someone grabbed me after the service and i'll tell it to you it's a it's a great one. But he was. Trying to think about what would marie have said at that time being in a country where he'll was the dominant message that people were hearing. And he imagined him saying this. Go out into the highways and byways of america your new country you may possess only a small light. But uncover it. Let it shine use it in order to bring more light and understanding to the hearts and minds of the people. Give them not hell. But hope and courage. Do not push them deeper into despair. But preach kindness. An everlasting. Love. This. Is our religious. May it be so.

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2017-12-31-FireCommunion.mp3

You're listening to the podcast of a live oak unitarian universalist church service in austin texas for more information about our church please visit our website at live oak uu. org today sermon fire cumean is given by lila go on december 31st 2017.

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2020-03-15-InterdependenceInTheTimeOfCovid-19.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast for march 15th. 2020. This week's service is. Interdependence in the time of covid-19. Reverend joanna fontaine crawford. So our big idea today is one of my favorite stories and if you have been coming here for a while you have heard it before but as our amazing religious educator always reminds me faith development does not happen through uniqueness faith development happens through repetition. And this particular story is one that i know i needed to hear this week and i hope. But it's the same for you. So there was a man who was very. Troubles in his soul and he went to see a sage. And he talked to the sage he talked about the the trouble that he had been having in his heart and in his mind he said i want to know about heaven and hell. What are they actually like. And the sage said to him. Enter with me. Into meditation. And i will be able to show you. What it actually looks like both heaven and hell. And so they sat together and close their eyes and did all of the things that we do. And then the man realize that he was able to see down a long hallway in the sage was next to him and they walked down the hallway and there were two doors. And so the sage said let's go in this first store. This is hell. I opened the door and the man saw a long table and on it was like a long trough like a long bowl. And the most wonderful smell. Was coming from that bowl that was a stupid like the most delicious. Do you could ever even imagine. And then he looked at the people who were sitting around the table. Their arms had been splinted. To where they couldn't bend them at the elbows and they were all holding these long-handled spoon. And sookie would trip see them. Dip their spoon into the stew. There was no way they could bring the stew to their mouths. Honey said to the sage. Yes. Yes i see why this is hell to have that. Those delicious smells to be altogether and to not be able to get the stew into your mouth. Yes. This is how. Sage said would you like to see heaven yes yes please give me give me some relief give me some hope show me what heaven looks like so they left hell. And they open the door and went into the next room and it first the man. Was confused because what he saw looked so much like what was happening in the next room the longtable the trough the delicious smelling stew it was all exactly the same. You looked around at the people their arms. We're splinted. Just like. In the hell room. They all held long-handled spoons. But these people where is the people in hell had been. And sickly looking and miserable. These people were plump. And laughing and talking and having a wonderful time and then he realized. They were dipping their spoons into the stew. Hand feeding each other. And that is the difference. Between heaven. As unitarian universalist when it's is time for the reading we can pull from many sources for many ancient tech. I'm all sorts of holy words. The text that i draw from today. Came from a facebook post. This is written by someone named laura lentz and she posted this. On march 3rd. I was told to cancel my trip to italy. Because of the killer flu. It was the 1980s. Hundreds have died don't ask me what year it was i'm terrible with time. Was i healthy. I was drinking a lot of alcohol eating fried foods and had no idea what my body needed. I got on the airplane just like i did after the us bombed libya and all the flights were empty. I was young and fearless landed in rome went to my hotel and when my fever started it quickly spiked and i called down to the lobby for more blankets. The man who brought them up admonished me for being a drug addict thinking i didn't know enough italian to know that he was shaming me. I must have looks like someone who needed a fix. I grab the blankets and shut the door. When my boyfriend arrived he carried my limp shivering body to his car. It was winter in rome cold. He carried me to his apartment in an elevator that smelled like garlic and onions and tomatoes and handed me to his mother who was about 4:11. The size of my grandmother. I don't remember much of the days that followed. They came in short dreamlike segments i was hallucinating a bunch of angels who only spoke italian swirling around me. Rosaries brushing against my arm buckets and buckets of water and towels. Three days later it's as if as if i awoke from a coma. The dinner table was set. I had on clean clothes that was red wine and small non wine glasses in a carafe for refills in italian music softly playing. There were marinated string beans and pasta and water with lemon and i could hear the washing machine humming. Someone had brought. My oily hair. And my boyfriend was by the cod as i lifted myself up on one elbow the caught that they set up in the living room. He was crying and got gratitude that i was back and i asked him how many days. Past. A lot of old italian women had created a circle and prayed for me put water to my lips. Stripped me naked and put cool towels on me their rosaries brushing against my young skin. Taking my cotton underwear off and washing it than theophylline. Now here we all are. In the era and the fear. Of the coronavirus. I'm hearing a lot of panic around me. All the wadis in life follow us around like a paranoid conspiracy theory shadow. They are the kaleidoscope of the future where all of our fears overlap every new fear brings up every old fear until we are frozen. Maybe we spend so much time worrying. We stopped doing the things we love. That we still can do. Because the worry has taken up all of the space. Taking all of the air out of the room. Yesterday i was walking behind common grounds to see the dam flowing. I came to it through the smith road and passed on the no trespassing signs and my dog is going to kill you signs when a horse in a pasture came bounding toward me. After i left the horse after i looked in the jupiter of his eyes and stroke the side of his face. I noticed how quiet it was. Hardly a person walking. Hardly any bird song. Birds are losing their song. On kauai. Going extinct. Along with the 2.5 million bird songs that have been silenced around the world. And if the birdsong is silenced how will our song survive. Isn't it all interconnected. My smallest and biggest memory of those italian women was their prayer and their songs. They sing me italian lullabies i couldn't tell you one word just that i was floating. On the ancient loving notes. Song as if on a magic carpet. In a foreign land. Perhaps this is the secret. We need to sting away the fears to protect all the songs not just ours but the birds and the whales and the dolphins. Ancestors. To protect the interconnectedness of all beings. Have you seen the air over china. Through the satellite images. I bet they can finally see the sun. I encourage all of you. To free yourselves from fear. Things are changing. Changes what we can count on. There might be sacrificed. There will be sacrifice. There will be grief. But we always have prayer. And we always have song. Most important we have each other. I remember my first sip of wine after i got up off the small bed and sat at the dinner table a whole family i didn't know before i got sick greeting me as if i was finally home the water the laughter the olive oil and i expressed my gratitude in broken italian and bad english. Yep. Everyone. That's our superpower. Are elixir. Each other. It's all going to be okay. So. This year. Which already was seeming like a really. Not normal year remember that and yet now in one week doesn't it seem like that was what was normal. But this year we here at live oak i've been talkin about the seven principles of unitarian universalist. And this month march we have made our way to the 7th. Principal. We plan our liturgical years like a year in advance. And yet often it just so happens that the theme of what we were going to address so. With what's going on did even if it hadn't already been scheduled we would have had to schedule that. And such is certainly the case. With this if we weren't already going to be talking about the seventh principle of unitarian universalism. We would have to. Because he the seventh principle. One of those principles that we as a congregation a set of a sacred to-do list a set of promises that we as a congregation have made to all of the other uu churches. Seventh principle. Is that weed. Affirm. And promote. Respect. For the interdependent web of all exist. Of which we are apart. I'm feeling that when this week any one else. Talk about interdependence i mean they think that like like at a bat. In china. Develops a virus that then human scott in china. And then it spread. To europe and the middle east and sub-saharan africa and south america. And north america. Just since december. We are apart. Of an interdependent web of existence. And we cannot say oh that's just their problem. Because what is their problem will become. Sooner or later. Our problem. And so here we are. I assume that you have all received. The letter that said after this sunday. Don't come up to the church building that this would be the last service for awhile that we do in this room. Next sunday we will go to all. Internet. Services. We're not the only ones doing this practically every church i know of. Concerts. Are being canceled they're telling all of us who can work from home. To do selen to effectively. Self-quarantine. Even if we are not sick. This is how it will be so that we can protect. All of us. I have been reading probably many of the same articles that y'all had been. The science journals the news articles trying to understand all of this but i will tell you. What really got me. To understand this. Was. An old. Math. Riddle. So the math riddle goes like this. You have a pond. Rondae 1. One lily pad appear. Monday 2. To lily pads. On day 3. For lily pads appear. Because the lily pads double. Every single day. Hyundai 48. The pond will be completely covered. With lily pad. Hyundai 48 pond will be completely covered. With lily pads. On what day. Is the pond. Covered halfway. With a leappad. Day 47. If the lily pads double. Everyday. Adonde 48. The pond will be 100% covered. The knot means on day 47 it'll only be half cup. I'm back on day 40. No one walking by the pond. Has even really realized. That anything is happening. And this. Is what the reports are saying. Is happening with this very scary. Virus. But it multiplies exponentially. And. Right now we are. In a race. To slow things down. Because the way that this works is there are most of us if we get covid-19 and most of us they say probably will. Most of us it's going to be. Like the flu and will treat it with rest and water and after that we'll be okay. But there are some people. The most vulnerable people. People require. Hospitalization. I'm gentle later. In order to survive. So. Imagine that this is the line and this this line is how many hospital beds and ventilators we have. In. The whole united states. This is how many cases. Of covid-19 requiring hospitalization we have. If we can keep it. Equal to or below. Yes. Then more people will survive. I thought that is why we are taking all of these drastic measures. Yes it is predicted that most of us will get this. But if we can have more of us get it. Spread out over a long. of time. Then our doctors and our nurses will be able to keep up with. So that is why we are doing all of these things. I've heard. A saying you probably heard this the right now the recommendation they use the phrase. Social distancing. That we should be engaging in social distancing anyone else. Heard that this is not a rhetorical question those you right. And it means. That we limit. Any large gatherings. Don't go to the bar don't go to the restaurants don't go to sxsw which was cancelled because of this. Try to limit. All of that. Social distancing even when we are here together like. Stay at least 6 ft apart. I heard some people this week though. Use a different phrase that i like a whole lot better. They said it should be physical distancing. And social connection. Those are two different. We need. Physical distancing. But social connection. Because yes we are. Trying so hard. To take care of the physical health of all of us. But we've also got mental health. An emotional health. And spiritual health. That we also need to give concern to. And the key for all of that. Is connection. So i will tell you i have and some of you i have already been like pulling aside and saying pull out your phone. I have one thing that i am asking everyone to do and i am going to be completely relentless about this. Until everyone has done it and that is. To get. On a program called zoom. Now zoom you can get it on your computer. You have a fairly new computer with a microphone and with a video camera. If you have a tablet you can do zoom on your tablet. If you have neither one of those but you have a phone a smartphone you can get it on your phone. And it's actually really simple tim buckley in our church he and i made a a video that some have referred to as cute but useful thank you. It is actually. Pun. Unavoidable kind of gone viral like other churches have been sharing this this video showing you how incredibly easy it is to get on zoom literally if you have the equipment and practically everyone has at least a smartphone you can get on this. I'm so if you're at home on your computer you go to zoom.us and we will be sending all of this information again around to everyone and you click on sign up it's free you know how to do that and it'll lead you through the things where you give it your name and your email address you don't have to give it any money. You can sign up that way. If you are on an iphone then you go to the app store you type in the word zoom that little cloud looking thing you click on that and it downloads it to your phone and it'll lead you doing some things setting up an account. If you have an android phone. You go to the what's it called the google play store. Yeah and you type in zoom and this will come up and click install. Go through the steps. Check your email at some point because zoom is going to send you an email saying hey we want to confirm that you really want to do that and you can go through and get it all set up it will download again either onto your phone or your tablet or your computer when it says is it okay to download say yes that's that's the whole point. I'm so then once you have it. The lacs. We'll take it from there. Do check your email occasionally. And our facebook page. An our webpage. The newsletter really is important now. And so we're going to be doing things and we will send a link and so you'll get an email that looks kind of like this and it'll say join zoom meeting. You click on that. And you will find yourself in a virtual room with other people from the church. We're going to be doing that for worship. We're also going to be doing it for our church meetings. Because we got to keep the business of the church going so that we can have a church to come back to write at the end of this. We're also going to do it for fun things like you know sack lunch with the minister that i do we're going to do sack lunch with the minister it's just that we'll all be on zoom. Please mute yourself when you're eating doritos. We're going to have chalice circles. We're talking about what are other fun things that we could do and carrie and i are going to want to know from you what would be helpful. Would a bedtime story at night be helpful or something right at as parents are trying to do dinner time. We're going to make some time for the hard stuff to we're going to have some little gatherings where when you just. Have had enough. You can come and be. With other members of your community. And we can do a deep check in. And we can see each other's faces. We can talk about what's going on in our lives. There are some people right now. Surely no one from the. But there are some people who are pushing back on this whole thing of physical distancing and no i you can't you're not the boss of me i'm going to go to restaurants i'm going to go to bars. I'm not afraid of getting sick and of course what we are trying to tell those people is. It's not about you. Right. This is about all of us taking care of all of us. So if there is anyone who is sitting here or anyone at home. Who is going. I'm not going to get on zoom because i'm just fine i don't need to be connecting with people isolation is not a problem for me. I would say to you. This isn't about you. It is about you but it's also not about you. It's not just about what you need because see the thing is. We need you. 2. I'm not going to play that song that makes us all cry but the truth is. We need you. To survive. And we need you to be there so that we. Can survive. On a regular sunday when you don't show up to church. There's someone who misses you. And that's not going to change. And so you may be exactly the person that someone needs to hear from and see your face. So that they can take a deep breath. And get the hope of. It's going to be okay. We're all still going to stay connected. And we're going to make it through this. So i am absolutely until i know that every single member of live oak. That candy is on zoom i am going to like him giving you the warning right now i am going to be relentless. I'd also like to say. Think of what your life is going to be like during this.. I mean. Most of us like if we're doing this right we're effectively going to be under house arrest. And that's going to look differently for different people. For someone who lives alone. There is an isolating faction that make kick in. For those with small children toddlers. There's going to be some need for extra patience. Right. I think we need to remind ourselves though. But life is still going on. And even whatever we're doing within our confinement. Is still living. And we ourselves if we are not showing any symptoms. We're not sick like come on has anyone else this week had to kind of do that mental reminder to themselves of wait why are you acting like like your said you're not sick you're okay you can still move around you can even go outside stay with stay far apart from other people and don't touch anything but please do get outside they have proven that five minutes just walking around the block does so much for your mental health. That's why i started thinking about you know what maybe we can have some kind of a checklist. As we go through this something that for each of us a spiritual discipline. What are some things we can do so that we remember. To keep living. And keep finding things that. Make us happy okay well that could be that could be one of the things on the checklist. Look at something beautiful. Has anyone gone outside. Everything's blooming. Did that surprise you cuz it shocked the heck out of me i will wait. Bluebonnets don't get coronavirus who knew. Go outside see something beautiful do something. That. Makes you happy. Connect with each other. Once a day connect with someone outside of your household whether it's by phone or by zoom however connect. With someone. We probably should do something with our brains cuz i don't know about you but i'm a little you know bean stir crazy like my brain may start turning to oatmeal when i'm doing nothing but binge-watching shows. So do something about that. I think about what life is going to be like after this. This may be the thing that motivates us. Can make some plans those things we've always talked about doing this is a reminder that life can be so short so after this are there trips that you want to take are there things that you've always wanted to do cuz some of them you can do now you always wanted to play banjo. Okay that's just me. I can get on youtube and i can take a lesson i can do that right now and as i was coming up. With this checklist. Buy quite like hand hand to god. I suddenly went. Oh. You know what you're describing joanna. The mission of live oak. It's the mission for our church. But i propose that everyone embrace it. As a daily. Spiritual discipline. A checklist. Everyday say have i embrace joy. Who let me go do that. Have ian rich connections have i reached out to someone. Encourage growth if i done something to use my brain and by the way our magnificent director of lifespan faith development kari krauss is already coming up with ways that we can continue growing and thinking and developing our faith during all of these. It'll mostly happen through xoom. An empowered dream. What's the biggest straight let's. What's the biggest dream right now. Is that everyone in this community survive this. I'm hoping that that will happen and i think that we are doing everything we can to make that happen. But we have other dreams 2. Now will be a great. Time. To do some daydreaming. And some planning. Do a little bit of that. Every single day. I'm scared. Of course i'm scared. How could you not be scared if you're not scared it's cuz you're not paying attention you're not reading. The things that the good sources. But i also and i tell you this the truth. Ion one level have more hope today as i stand here today. Then i have ever had. Because i'm generally pretty optimistic but in terms of the world but especially this country. I had just. Accepted. The fact. That in this country the number one value was financial profit. Number one. Over over life itself and boy like there were plenty of there's plenty of evidence of that right the pinto and other other horrible decisions that have been made. This week. I've had to go back. And change. And reconsider things. Because what we have seen this week. Is businesses and individuals making decisions that are going to cost them financially so much the nba broadway. Other businesses. And they have said no. The number one thing of value in this world. Is human life. And so whatever we can do to protect that. We are going to. I've seen other things too. Has anyone cried yet. Several hands are being raised. I cried twice yesterday. Anything about crying is often it is things that you don't expect right it's written can even be really stupid things that somehow managed to get past your defenses. Two things one thing. Pokemon go. Stupid. I was looking at some of the news that was coming over my feed and there was an article. The company that makes pokemon go the way pokemon go works is usually can't play it at home cuz the whole goal is to get you out in the community and connecting with other people and walking around going to the mall all the things that we shouldn't be doing now. And so the programmers of pokemon go. Change the program and release this thing saying. Yeah we've done some different things you're going to be able to play it at home now. It was just something about that the idea. .. These programmers. And business leaders were thinking about all of these kids. Kids stuck at home. And they said we want to do we want to do something to make it a little bit easier. And they did that. And i got pretty tier. And then yesterday evening. I was on facebook. And there was this older couple they're friends of live oak they're members of a close congregation san gabriel. And. The wife plays piano they're both musicians the wife plays piano. And the husband plays. I don't know one of those blowing things like i don't know i don't know instruments. But they're really really good at what they do. And i have a feeling that they are not people who. Would call themselves the most tech-savvy. But they set up their phone. And they. Set it to record. And they sat down and the two of them. Play this amazing rendition. Of the ave maria. I didn't broke me into a million pieces. And frankly i needed to be broken into a million pieces. This is how we're going to survive. Bye everyone doing whatever it is that they can do whether it's programming a game. Or. Cancelling concerts. Or making poetry. Or music. Beauty. For all of us. Knowing that we are all in this. Together. It gives me so much hope. What we are seeing now. It is as if the entire world. All woke up. At the same time. And had the realization. I made the commitment. But yes. We can love the hell. Out-of-this-world. And all of us. Can do whatever is within our power. To make that happen. No storm can shake. My inmost calm. While to that rock i'm clinging. Since love is lord. Of heaven and earth. How can i keep. From singing. I love you. There's nothing you can do about it. Epilogue. As stated by reverend crawford in her sermon. Live oak will be holding services online for the duration of the covid-19 crisis. We will be suspending this audio podcast until lifeservices return. Until then. Please see the life of website. For access to the recorded online service.

www_liveoakuu_org

2018-09-09-WaterHealMySoul.mp3

Welcome to the live oak unitarian universalist church podcast. For september 9th. 2018. This week's service is water heal my soul. I rev johanna ponton crawford. This is the covenant of our church. Unitarian universalism is a covenant elysian. We are not gathered because we all believe the same thing. I assure you we don't. We are gathered because we make promises together. About supporting each other's spiritual journeys and how we're going to be together. Each unitarian universalist congregation. Makes a set of promises to all the other uu congregation. How we call these are seven principles. And then each. Unitarian universalist congregation. Has the responsibility to create their own covenant just. For that congregation. Another set of promises. About how we will be together as a community. I'm not as our covenant. Whenever we give our exploring membership class to people who are interested in becoming members of live oak. One of the big things that we emphasize. Is that when you sign the book. To become a member you are not signing on to a set of shared beliefs. You are not even signing on to those seven principles. The seven principles are promises between congregations as a whole. But you are. Metaphorically effectively signing on to.. At covenant. I'm later this morning. Everyone all members and anyone who feels that they are in agreement with this that this fits. Your values will be invited to literally sign our covenant. So that we also have a recombinant team today. Underneath our cabinet underneath these brave promises that we are making. Is a vision and i think the vision underneath it is not just at liveoak i imagine it is for most if not all you churches. Enat is. A hope. That everyone who comes here. Can bring their authentic. Fully express. Cell. And. Withstand. All the other members of the community bringing their authentic. Fully express. Self. There's actually a term for this. If you hang around live oak for any length of time you will hear it. Self. Differentiation. Self-differentiation understanding that what is in my space what is in your space here is where i end here's where you begin. Boy free. If we just had like. Like a good metaphor. For this wouldn't be helpful to have a. A good metaphor for that. Anyone ever see the movie dirty dancing. Spaghettios. This is my dance space your dance bass i don't go into yours you don't go into mind you gotta hold the fray. What's what's up watch that same one more times it goes by fast. This is my dance space your dance bass i don't go into yours you don't go into mine you gotta hold the fray. Right there that's it that is self differentiation. Break down those 15 seconds cuz professor johnny castle castle. Castle. I was distracted. He's not just teaching dancing here. He's teaching self-differentiation. This is my dance space this is your dance space i don't go into your dance space you don't go into my dance space. And you gotta hold the frame. You got a hold the frame that's our boundaries. I am responsible for holding my boundaries but i am also responsible. For honoring your. Boundaries. This isn't easy. Salat harder than whatever dance you know he's he's teaching her to do. And we're clumsy at it and we make mistakes and as a community like it is such a crazy ridiculous thing that we do that we say okay we are going to take all of these different individuals with all of our different experiences and we're all going to come together. And become a loving community. We all come in with our rough. Edges. Right. And we bump up against each other. Sometimes we bump up against each other. Unhealed wounds. We talked about that the metaphor that we use in this congregation. Is the idea. If you have no womb man like you can slam up against me and it's really not going to hurt me to. But if i have even just a sliver of glass in there. Something i haven't dealt with you can barely brush against it. And i'm going to react. I'm so here we come in barreling again. Each other with all of our rough edges i've heard a metaphor before about that. About how church is like those. Does rock tumblers any of you ever have one of those when you were a kid or wanted to but mom wouldn't let you yeah. And it's the idea that we you take all of these rough rocks you put them all together and they spin around and we knock. Those rough edges off of each other. I can understand the metaphor but. What's up some kind of vile. Doesn't it. And sometimes that is how it. Right sometimes that is how. But i prefer the metaphor that the guys were singing about. Because this is a community that has as our guiding principle love love is the water that wears down the rock and frankly. That's what i've seen happen. Most often not the rocks knocking against each other. But people. Over and over again. Being subjected to a loving community. And in spite of ourselves. We look up and we realized that some of our rough edges. Have been worn away. Something that we say in this. Congregation fairly often. Is i love you and. Don't worry we're not going to hug you if you don't want to be hugged. That's your dance space. But. Having love in our heart. That's what we we get to do. That's in our. Space. When were having problems with someone. And they are hitting our wounds or are rough edges or whatever and it's some point we say you know we probably should sit down and talk about this. Up because we are making the choice in our hearts of yes this is hard work. But i love you. And i am going to love you. And you don't have a say in the matter. Because this. This is what i get to control. This is a community. That makes love our guiding principle. I'm with.. We can create miracles. In. Each other. And in this community. And then.

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20150510_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

He's a brooding presence in the little drop in bible study group. Like many people in the circle his life has been pared down to harsh basics he's living with very little income in a monthly hotel room with no place to cook in a shared bath. This particular day he mostly sits in the corner without speaking. He chooses not to read aloud the passage that were studying today when it comes his turn. And he listens to the freewheeling very liberally oriented comments and interpretations with an impatience that i can feel. Finally he jumps in to say look. What i need to know is do you take this seriously or not. I mean just look at the ten commandments. Honor your father and your mother. I can't do that. I don't honor my parents. They were terrible. They didn't deserve honor. So now i'm being punished right. All the bad stuff in my life now is all my own fault because i never honored my terrible father and mother isn't that right. And that's crap. You can hear. The frustration. The sense of injustice in his voice as far as he is concerned this rule is not negotiable. And yet he cannot obey it. Without violating his own sense of justice. And so he is stuck. He believes with every fiber of his being that if he takes his faith seriously there is no hope of redemption for him. He is trapped. In a gospel of rejection. And retribution. You know the basic narrative of that story. Human beings are fundamentally flawed creatures. Left to our own devices were prone to doing harm we're unable to improve ourselves the only way to control our sinful nature is a divinely authored moral code and the only motivation that will keep us on that moral path. Is the absolute certainty that our failures will be punished. And when we inevitably fall short. The only redemption. Is retribution. You are not. Good enough. Is the message of this worldview. You are never. Good enough. You are beset with dangers on every side others are no better than you and maybe even worse they are a threat. When suffering comes your way it is most likely because of something you have done wrong when others transgress justice demands harsh consequences we are redeemed from our wrongs by suffering. Either our own suffering the suffering of someone else who deserves it. Or the suffering of an innocent sacrificial victim. Who chooses to accept our punishment for us. This gospel. May sound familiar. But it is not limited to any particular religion. The forum i am especially sensitive to as a minister happens to have been articulated within christianity but it can be found in every faith of the world including faith in atheism. It can be found in political ideologies of every kind. It can be found in ethnic and national and cultural identifications it is all around us. It can affect us on the most intimate scale. And on the largest scale possible. Perhaps you like that speaker in the bible study. Have also heard the shame whispering in your own heart. Unworthy. Unlovable. Perhaps you've attacked yourself with the razor tongue of self-criticism self rejection. Maybe you've turned them on someone else. Someone you're in conflict with or someone even someone you loved. Do you know what i mean. I know too well. How easy it is to fall into the trap. Because it is all around us. You can hear this voice of rejection and exclusion in religious freedom was that seek to re-establish the moral framework for public discrimination that was dismantled in the civil rights era. You can hear it invoices that demonize women trying to control their own reproductive health in life you can hear it in those who would blame the world's 1.6 billion muslims the vast majority of whom are faithfully living everyday lives in peace for the actions of the relative few trying to forcibly impose their medieval vision of that faith on the world. And yes. You can hear it in those who blame the world's 2.2 billion christians the vast majority of whom are faithfully living everyday lives in peace. For the actions of the relative few trying to forcibly impose their medieval vision of that face on the world. You can see the gospel of retribution punishment bass division in the criminal justice system that all too often dehumanizes the people under its control you can see it in a war on drugs that can turn minor offensives into catastrophic life-destroying events you can see it in an immigration policy that treats the desire to make a better life or to be reunited with a distant family member as if they were somehow threats to national security. You can see the gospel of rejection suspicion and mistrust of humanity in the way our political system operates. I don't know about you. But my mailbox contains at least two new circulars from a candidate everyday telling me absolutely nothing about that candidates policy positions and views and everything about why the candidates opponent is unscrupulous greedy dangerous and vile. We are on the verge of a presidential campaign some say we've already crossed the verge and which the one sure thing is that most messages will not tell us why we should vote for a candidate but why we should use our vote to punish someone else. Because they are wrong. Because they are bad. The gospel of rejection and retribution is acted out on the global stage in warfare in ethnic and cultural conflict and racism and xenophobia. Too much of the world. Is being led by what howard thurman called the logic of bitterness in our meditation the parable divisiveness of hate. The demonic triumph of the conquest of others. I was visiting that bible study class last year. Impart. To challenge myself. By asking what unitarian-universalism has to offer. As a religion not as a motivator for public service as a religion. For people living in circumstances like the man who talked about his parents. And in that moment. Hearing how trapped and doomed his faith was making him feel. I saw it. What people caught up in the gospel of rejection and retribution need. Is a better. Gospel. He needed it. We needed people everywhere needed the world needs it. And you know. We just might have it. There's a poster on barb graves door. It says. Nothing you have done is unredeemable. Nothing you are. Is unforgivable. Nothing you have done is unredeemable. Nothing you are. Is unforgivable. It's a message from a small group of unitarian universalist to call themselves love for who you are. org. Yes that's the address and yes you should go visit it's a beautiful sight. Everybody should take a look at it. What they're doing there is articulating some of the most important and i think some of the most desperately needed items ideas from within the heart of our faith what we have to offer a world caught up in the gospel of rejection and retribution the star that we can choose to stay our minds on is a gospel of acceptance and restoration. It has a very different basic narrative it says human beings are inherently worthy of love. Left to our own devices we have extraordinary possibilities the way to guide us toward our best nature is with compassion and responsible freedom. Our motivation for moral living is to be found in our relationships. And when we inevitably fall short our redemption is through restoration. Now that last part may have caught you a little off guard. When we inevitably fall short. Umi. Maybe you're wondering why the idea of redemption should be necessary at all. But you know there's nothing in our faith heritage that tells us to expect moral perfection from human beings including ourselves. If we're not naive or purposefully blinded we know that the seeds of goodness and compassion are not the only ones which can take root in our hearts and minds. As howard thurman points out any of us can fall prey to fear unkindness to anger we can forget that others are not the means to my ends. This too is woven into our beings right alongside that capacity for creativity and compassion. We are prone to monkey mind as buddhist teachers sometimes call our tendency to be distracted from our best self. I think that phrase is a lovely echo of the teachings of evolutionary psychology. Which tell us that the oldest and most primitive part of our brain the one right there. The one that belongs to the alligators before it belong to the monkeys that one. Can be triggered by stress and override our most firmly held beliefs. And lead us to do harm. Inevitably. We will fall short of our best. We will transgress we may hurt others and ourselves. What makes our gospel different. What makes it so powerful and important. Is what happens next. You are good enough. Just as you are. It's the message of this world for you. Yes there are dangers and wrongs in the world and in you you will sometimes do wrong yourself and others may bring you harm and when this happens the most powerful remedy the way toward redemption. Is love. When people do harm when people hate they are living in a hell of their own creation. You are right to protect yourself. But evil cannot be defeated by vengeance and anger. Evil can only be healed. Evil cannot be defeated. It can only. Be healed. We are redeemed from our wrongs by restoring relationship. No one. Should have to live in hell. I think of the bible class speaker. Still locked in combat with his abusive parents many years after they have ceased to be a living presence in his life trap in believing that his inability to honor them in some preconceived way as an abused child justifies his present day suffering he is living in hell. What made it mean for him to learn slowly that he can honor his father and mother by accepting them for what they were. Human beings who fell short and did harm. Letting them go. What might it mean for him to understand that his pain and shame and anger as a child. In an impossible situation do not mean that he deserves to suffer now. What if his relationship with his own wounded self. Could be restored. That's what we have to offer him. That's what we have to offer the world. And it does him and us no good. To turn aside and say well he's interested in the bible and i just can't help. We can do better than that. Nothing you have done is unredeemable nothing you are as unforgivable. The unitarian universalist who call themselves loved for who you are say that there are three basic commitments our love without exception. The power of hope not hell. And justice over judgement. Imagine how different the world might look. If a gospel of acceptance and restoration was guiding more choices than the gospel of rejection and retribution think about what it mean in our own what it might mean in our own lives and whatever struggle or heartache might come your way to offer yourself and others love without exceptions. Imagine not a criminal justice system but a justice system. Based on restoration. Not some shallow pretense that no one ever really does any harm but the long hard real work of telling the truth accepting responsibility. Making amends in order to restore the torn fabric of community. That's justice over judgement. Imagine and immigration policy and economic policy and international policy a political system whose primary purpose is to improve human life. Not to protect borders. Not to enrich some individuals over others not to guard the interests of the biggest political donors. The power of hope. Not help. This is a profoundly countercultural message. And even here amongst ourselves it is all too easy to fall into the old scripts they are woven deeply to treat others in our own community with suspicion and judgment especially those who are different from us or trigger some old unspoken or even unacknowledged fears. And so our congregations themselves are learning laboratories where we get things wrong and try again for a new way of being. Which is why it is so important that we create tools to guide us like the covenant of right relationship. We will get it wrong. We will try again. We are the heirs. A religious ancestors. Who looked at that same bible we were studying that day last year. And found in it a loving god not an angry abusive parent. They found a message of hope for humankind not eternal punishment they found evidence therefore human worth and dignity not for sinfulness and shame and they were not shy about sharing what they found. They proclaimed their new gospel of love and hope and universal restoration everywhere they went and sometimes it cost them. They're puppets. Their freedom their friendships their property even on some occasions their lives. But they knew. They knew how important it is to choose the gospel that blesses this world and honors human life nothing could matter more. It matters what we believe. Choose your gospel. And don't be too shy to share it. Someone. Needs. To hear it. Show me happy.

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050918sermon.mp3

Well that's why our way of saying amen. Well if you heard from john carroll. There's really something very strange and upsetting going on in american society. Following the second world war the political leaders. Watch a cold war against them. And it's evolved not only a massive buildup in nuclear and conventional armaments eventually wars in korea and vietnam. Trying to ensure that the divine was going to be on our side. One of the ways. Let our government attempted by putting god into the pledge of allegiance. Which up until then. Said nothing about the divine. God has been specifically excluded from the play. Even though it was written by a protestant minister francis bellamy. But after the cold war began. Many felt that we couldn't win the struggle against godless communism. Star country was under god. And today even though the cold war is over. A belief in the creator is newt gingrich puts. Being an american. Another thing that we did after the soviets began to build up their arsenal of nuclear weapons and watch their butnick up into space was. Place new emphasis on science in the curriculum of our school. Going to win the cold war most people believe that wasn't enough just to have god on our side. We were going to have to science. Now that the cold war is over. Attitude. Well those in control of our federal government wants to be sure that we continue to function as though ours were a nation under god they no longer seem to give a hoot about science. A president not only like to talk about. alot. He wants typical creationism. Under the guise of an unsupported theory called intelligent design. Be presented to students as a reasonable and probably preferable alternative. I need to know how life got to be the way it is. The notion of evolution. Isn't this. Siri. What it is. Of what we know about how life came to be. And that bothers fundamentalist. Because. That doesn't require a god. Provider. Particularly. The way it says. In the bible. No matter what the bible says. Geology and fossil record. Astronomical observations as well as the study of. Plants and animals as they now change. Clearly shows that. Thousand years ago. Call lonnie. 4004 before the christian era. God did not make adam and eve out of clay. Tyger river. Work make adam's rib as another person. And though they might be willing to stretch out the time of creation of disa for 4004. Is there a god. Everything. Choir choir by a religious myth. Spac. Search richard linsky scientific understanding. Required for facts and theories that can explain those facts. Manor. Send whatsapp. If an organism process like that of natural selection rather than some kind of supernatural. Design. Scientific. Absolutely no other scientific explanation. Although. Sister intelligent design. Life. Miraculous porch like a creator. Kenneth miller. Reconcile evolution. What is space as a christian. Given things like. That's typical story. Well i don't have any problem. I believe that the creation story is poetic. Weather. What is meant to do if the telus think about ourselves. Rather than to say how we came into. Through evolution. Human beings have become. The brightest things on the block. Google most common large mammal. Contraband. We have the possibility to do more. Orchard. Do we have to use our responsibility. Rather than. Take very seriously. Call admonition. Stewards of the earth and he believes that. Terror. And religious side. Then he tries to explain. There are a lot of people. For those who are trying to legitimize christianity. Idea of creationism. Intelligence. Baywater creative. 1. The god of the creationist god. Having cast out of the garden of eden. Decided that what he had in mind. Rather nasty ending. Apocalypse. Exodus raptor. There would be a cataclysmic war that begins in the middle. The war that would be 55. Who decided that what happened. Literally and figuratively. What you think is going to happen. Apparently. It doesn't really matter what happens. Matter. Billions of dollars. Countless lives in aurora. None. Renewable. Secretary of the interior. Spell christ will come back. Heaven. Bill morrison an address shortly before he was forced off public television. Said that with, like these it's clear that. One of the biggest no longer marginal. What's delusional has come in friends. Power. Lawyer says for the first time in history. Ideologies. Overdose. Propositions that can never be proven true. Ideologies.. Geology geology. But are always. Oblivious. What is this. Set in the time of ronald reagan. Buckeye lake. Block was being serious. Warriors says that in this past election. Several billion good and decent citizens went to the polls believing in the rapture index. Another indication. Look at the best-selling. Left behind tim lahaye. Seth meyers latest books are based on a theology that was simply concocted. Star trek rapturing. Apocalypto. Preceded by a rapturing. Do not make sense to most of us. Taken hold in the public's imagination. Google. Boyer's found that it stood just one point below the threshold. Mine. One of these days a lot of cars are going to be screeching out of control at their drivers get raptured up. No. Pretty far-fetched. Believe it or not. An awful lot of serious biblical scholars agree that it is. If there's a biblical scholar at the lutheran seminary in chicago named barbara rossi. Somehow god has laid out in advance of script. The end of the world have to get worse and worse and worse for it to happen. And that this is somehow god will before the world can end in jesus return is absolutely terrible theology. Cuz it's a perversion of the real message of jesus. Wichita's hotel tahoe. Jesus is going to return not to lay waste to the earth or the rescue. Turn in spirit. Able to live apart. Christian rocking believe. God loves the earth. Trouble. 33rd. We can't afford to replace science with miss. We need time to 4 going to be able. Understand that science and religious values are not incompatible. Creationist with their mist of intelligent design. We need are people able to understand. Science courses. Like that of creationism. Viable alternative. Make the tennis miller puts it about as much sense as teaching. Witchcraft in medical school. Problem with intelligent design. Isn't it doesn't even rise to the level of being a scientific hypothesis. Purchase scientific problems. Nothing more than an appeal to a designer with an appeal that isn't testable. So what it does is. Mislead students as to the nature of science. Makeup. Whatever explanation. Leaders like our president say that intelligent design. But we offered in our public schools. It's a viable alternative to the theory of evolution. Justice league. Who believed that god has willed and imminent and the life here on earth as we know it. Desco jesus. Come over. May accept things like that some of our neighbors 2. Call apart of god's design. Or if life as we know it is about to come to an end. Why worry. About what's going on. Bill moyers dark and maybe that's what. Public television. Betty reads about the initiatives to get more oil out of alaska or detained regulation so we can see you out more greenhouse gases or choke ourselves with more pollution and. Send look that took pictures of his granddaughters with. Replace the future looking back at him. And all father. Forgiven. Middle of that. By the thought that. The words of that prayer aren't right. Because. Raduno. Back right there. And what we're doing. The future. Children. What we are allowing to happen. And why. Cuz we in our neighbors don't care. Americans are greedy. Country block. capacity for outrage. Or ethical. We've just gotten lazy. We become blinded by l. Want us to become addicted to eventful. Anti rational and uncaring religion. Is that so. Willing to tell us that yacht true that the news isn't. What's at the news that's not good. Story. Hopeful thing says myers. Is the news. Tell me the truth. On my way to steal but the fight for the kind of future that we want. And the will to fight. Cure for cynicism in the answers to those places that are looking back at me photographs on my desk. We need. The match the science of the mind. What the ancient israelites called the science of the heart. Intelligent design. Scientist says god wants. Judgemental. The science of the heart. Is the capacity. Teal. What are the bonding. An apocalyptic thinking. Classroom artifacts. Martin marty. Another. Edward said. Why doesn't everybody leave everybody else the hell alone. That doesn't mean the people who believe in talking about don't have a right to. What they don't have a right to. It supports their beliefs on the rest of us. The marketplace for religious ideas should not be a public. Classroom. With our neighbor. After lisa has had a chance to preach next week. I'm going to help us look at some of the other religious concept that fundamentalist would like to do our public. And get posted. In our courtroom. Something to say to us. Fundamental.

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20150405_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

We open our hearts. To the stories and messages. That we can take from easter. On his first day in jerusalem jesus did little more than look around in the great temple the holiest place for jesus and his followers. He noticed that there were a number of people carrying all kinds of gear and taking shortcuts by going through the temple while others. We're actually selling things in the temple. The next day when jesus returned to this temple he chased out the people selling things and turned over the tables. By doing so you might imagine he created quite a commotion. A crowd gathered around to see what this stranger. This traveling rabbi or teacher was up to. Once the dust had settled jesus turn to the gathered crowd and quoted from the hebrew scriptures. The book of isaiah. Where god says my temple shall be known as a place of prayer for all nations. Jesus said it was time that the temple be returned to being a place of prayer. And no longer i marketplace. And this upset the people who ran the temple. Over the next few days jesus taught and preached all through jerusalem. He taught people to love their neighbors as themselves. He encouraged people to be genuinely religious. To help those weaker than themselves. To help those poorer than themselves. And to be open and welcoming to those different from themselves. Jesus also got into heated discussions with some of jerusalem's religious leaders. And he was so good at arguing that he made some powerful people look bad. And they did not like them. The romans who governed jerusalem at this time we're worried that perhaps jesus was planning some kind of secret religious rebellion. They were concerned about how many followers he might have. And they wanted to know what he was really up to. Jesus continued his teaching and preaching from sunday until thursday evening. When passover began. Since jesus and his disciples were all observant jews. After sundown on thursday they celebrated at passover seder together. They had wine matzo and bitter herbs. All the things you have at a seder. Not long after the seder jesus was arrested and given trial. And then executed the next day. Because the jewish sabbath started right at sundown. And you wish law of the time did not allow you to bury anyone on the sabbath day. Jesus's friends could not bury him right away. They put his body in a tomb. Which was a sort of cave cut into a hillside. Enrolled a large boulder in front of this tomb. They're his body would be safe. Until they could bury it. On the third day after jesus's death. Three women. Who would follow jesus and his teachings and who had cared for him day in and day out. These three women went to the place where jesus was buried. Bringing spices to anoint his body. On the way they talked about how difficult it would be to roll away the heavy stone in front of the tomb. But when they got there. They found that the stone was rolled away. In jesus's body. Was gone. 4 days after his death. The people who followed jesus were brokenhearted. They struggle to understand why god had allowed their teacher to be killed. Shirley. Someone so connected to god. So overflowing in goodness did not deserve the punishment. Of a rebel. As they gather day after day in each other's homes they began to work all the wonderful experiences they had had with jesus. They told one another of times when jesus was wise. And times when he was kind. The very tone of jesus's voice and the look of his face would come back to them so vividly that it seems sometimes. As though he were right there with them. Some of the people had dreams in which jesus seems so real. The dreamers could not tell whether they had been awake or asleep when they saw him. Some declared positively that they had seen jesus again. He had talked with them. And the rumor spread that jesus had actually come out of his coffin. And that two of his disciples had seen him. And that several of the women who had been with him had talked with him. They would see him for only a few moments. And then he would mysteriously disappear. Finally. Several of them dream they saw jesus rise up from the earth. Higher and higher. Until he disappeared entirely. And they believed he had gone to heaven to be with god. And after that. Their dreams of seeing him and talking with him stop. People who had these experiences believe that jesus was different than uri. Some believe that jesus was so holy and great. That he would come back to earth and save the world. That is one reason christians call jesus. The savior. As the years passed by in the people who knew jesus personally died. And their children and their children's children also died. All waited. But jesus did not come back. It has been over 2000 years. And jesus has still not come back. There are those who still hope he will come back again. This easter story that we celebrate today is one of hope. And rebirth. It is the story of suddenly having all the things you love and understand change. It is the story of facing the unknown. And not wanting to look more closely. Because you were afraid of what you might find. But easter is a time to remember the teachings of jesus. And you know deep in our hearts. That love is stronger than cruelty and death. Easter is a time to ensure that jesus's spirit never dies. That it lives on in his words and deeds and an r words. It is a time to reconnect with hoe. And recommit. To helping build. I'm more just. I just want to say there is some amazing pipe cleaner art out there. I just got a preview we will all be joyful to see it in the patio in just a little while. Alleluia. Let's try that together. Alleluia. It is so amazing to hear our voices lifted together. And what that says is alleluia. We've been waiting. And we're opening our hearts. Then you might wonder what does that word actually mean. When we say it. And if you look back at the history of it. Where it came from. It was a way for the jewish people to praise you jehovah their god. So when we say alleluia or saying more than thank you we're we're saying a word of praise we're giving actually actual literal translation is. Give freeze you people. We found a little edgy like the leader is having to remind people to get phrase and be grateful but none of us ever need do we. We know. We know what phrase is. It's what happens when we've done something good is what we give to others when they've done something we appreciate. It's an accounting of that which has worth. It's an adding up and assessing a reckoning. Alleluia. We say this when we're celebrating. Celebrating something large and that we waited for yearn for. For a long time. We need to remind people that it's good to take time to. 8 ball. And notice what is good. And we say it even when we're a little grumpy. Even when things aren't working out. At all as we had planned. Even when the return of the season of spring. Remind you just who was here. Last spring. And not here this one. Still. Something. In your life. Deserves at allelujah. Alleluia. It's a big cry of thankfulness it says not only thank you but thank you. It doesn't say it lightly. It says it with that strong conviction that says we know what it's like to be in sorrow and deep disappointment and now. We are still showing up in hope. Perhaps in a different way. But still in hope. No i wonder how many of you know what a hot cross bun is right the little confection. That people serve on easter and. For many years now i've tried to always make these on easter morning and i just need to say that vocationally is very challenging. Because hot cross buns even the best recipes take about 3 hours and if you add 3 hours to when i need to be here at work on easter morning it just doesn't the math just doesn't work out. So this year i decided. When i thought about it. That really for me the message of easter isn't so much about the cross. Which was after all an instrument of torture. The message of easter to me is really about that boulder that barb talked about. The one that the people. The women rolled away. Because to show up in hope. When you believe. But all is lost then when you have no reason to believe anything else. To show up in that way. That is the real message of alleluia. That is the real message of hope. So today i got up and i made. Drop biscuits. And because truth be told by glaze is never thick enough to form an actual cross anyway. They were just like totally glazed covered. Boulders. But they were very tasty. So alleluia let's say it again thank you. Let us gather in hope let us remember in this time. As we gather in this world. Where we are seeing so many things that we don't know how to control or how to address. Add route. That is frightening in which today we sit here with mixed emotions should it rain on our egg hunt or not. In a world hallelujah right either way. In a world in which we gather together knowing that all the many screens of our lives bring all the conflicts of the human family right into our heart. We don't know the solutions but we know we must step up to those boulders. And roll them away. For some of us easter is a season. I'm remembering the hope that was offered to the person of jesus of nazareth. And remembering that that hope. Was greater than his life. For some of us. Easter is about how you can have a story of hope. That will rise again. Like the natural. Rising of the spring all around us. So alleluia let's give thanks. For that which we fear is lost. And yet can restored to us. If we step up. To that boulder. Not just eggs and bunnies. Not just candy. But today a day of deep gladness. Alleluia let's say it again alleluia.

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20150614_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

Well i hope he's not going to go on and on and on. William least heat-moon writes the travel. Especially travel alone let's the traveler traveler experience life. Out of context. People we meet when we travel have no history. No preconceived identity to put on us he says. This gives us a special kind of freedom. Maybe you felt it yourself. Sometime. Wandering through an airport far from home. Heading out in the city where you don't know anybody. On a cruise ship. Greyhound. Or even a bart car without a familiar face in sight. No one knows who i am. I could be anybody. Life out of context. With the 2016 presidential elections amir year-and-a-half away. Where. We're already deep into the season of people complaining about their words being taken out of context. Sometimes this happens when a reporter precisely quote something a candidate says. Which reveal something about the candidate that they either would like to think isn't true or would like other people not to know about them. I was taken out of context they accuse. Scrambling to make what they meant somehow different from what they said. Other times. It's a fair complaint. When words are taken out of context their meaning suffers. Context gives our words power connections illusions inference. Context cosworth all of our subtle capacities to express complex realities and emotional truce that just can't. Precisely be pinned down through the rigors of logic. Without context a word or phrase or statement is vulnerable. Confusion or even distortion. Words taken out of context can be turned inside out. And used for purposes completely contrary to their original speakers intention. So what about people. Is leslie pointed out in her call to worship. We live our everyday lives in the context of a vast array of connections. What happens when we're taking. Out of context. I've known that feeling of freedom least heat-moon writes about. I think it's a vulnerable place for us to. Think about how painful it can be when we have to leave. Surroundings the work the people who remind us who we are. Think of how disorienting it can be to have an unexpected state and a hospital. Or we can feel reduced to a collection of symptoms and procedures. Think of how lost people can become. When addiction or illness violence. A legal entanglement of some kind or a financial crisis causes them. To lose the context of home. Of work. Family. A freedom. People taken out of context. Can lose our sense. Have identity. So it seems important to me. That we know there are contexts that never leave us. Even in those seemingly anonymous moments when we when there's nothing and no-one familiar nearby. We need to know what context can never be taken away. Stays waiting for us even if we forget it. Deny it. Walk away from it imagine that it is lost forever. We need to know what will always. Unfailingly tell us who we are. And where we belong. As long as we remember to ask. And sometimes. Even after we can no longer do so. Is leslie said one of the this is one of the reasons religious communities like this one exist. Here we remind ourselves and each other that we are always each of us and all of us. Park. Of a larger. No longer story. And this community has a context of its own as well. Which gives it meaning and purpose. One part of our communal context here is the larger story of unitarian-universalism living tradition. A faith that calls our attention. Did this life. This world. The responsibility of creating a more just and perfect society. A faith that trusts the human capacity to discover the always emerging truth of our meaning and our existence. A faith that urges us to open our minds and our hearts. To the ongoing experience of holiness that is everywhere around us. A religious community. Has a mission. And that context is vital. To our community life. Without it even this community is vulnerable to confusions and accidental diversion. Like mistaking our pleasure at being together. For our purpose in coming together. Like imagining that an unaccountable autonomy is somehow the same thing as freedom. In context. We are guided. Herbalife of expanding vision. Of joyful purpose. Of ever-growing inclusiveness. Of compassion. A commitment. We remind ourselves to hear that we are part of the largest and longest story possible. There are times in our lives when this may be the only context powerful and reliable enough to sustain us. The context that tells us that we are each and everyone of us inextricably. Parks. Of the power that is weaving the fabric of the universe. Right now. We call it many things. Call it the power of love. Creativity. God. Physics. The cosmos. When i really need it. I call it you. You are always there. You animate everything that is. You stretched backward and forward from the unimaginable beginning to the inconceivable end. I emerged from your stars. I am an expression. I love you. This. Is a context. Large enough to embrace the limits of our imagination and more. If we can remember to hold on to it this is a context large enough to reorient us in any circumstance of life even. When we may feel completely lost. We can lose track. Of this context. But we can never. Be taken out of it. But we human beings. We need something a little more. Local. We need a context that's less abstract and mystikal to help give meaning and purpose to our day-to-day living. We need a contacts that won't desert us yes but one we can reach out and touch and feel ourselves held by. We need. Each other. The south african concept of a boon to teaches a person is a person. Through other people. As leslie said so well. We are who we are because of the places and people and experiences which have shaped us. Each person who touches our lives affect us. Changes us. And we touch others shaping their lives in return. Here in this place. Where we celebrate the interweaving of lives. We become part. Avicii others. Larger context. We know ourselves. As part of this community made up of these people who we see and interact and share experiences with. And the more frequent and multifaceted the sharing the richer and more enduring the context. We give each other meaning. We tell each other. Who we are. So each of you. Is part of my contacts. Just as i am part of yours. I know myself in part because of experiences we have shared. Things we have said to one another moments we have lived through together. Let me tell you. That context has been part of my life ever since we met seven years ago. I have known myself as part of this community a particular part. When i was here with you on a sunday morning or talking to one of you in the hospital or at home at a class or a committee meeting. When we were laughing together at one of the terrible jokes of a servu auctioneer. Or carving turkeys in the kitchen on thanksgiving day. Or struggling. For understanding understanding or agreement. Over some thorny question that would not resolve for us. I have known myself as a particular part of this community when i have been doing my best ministry. And when i have not. I have known myself as a particular part of this community when i have been living from my best self. And when i have not. I have known myself as part of this community when i have been walking on the street in san francisco or singing with my monday night acapella choir in oakland or shopping at big lots. You are part of my contacts. You lend me meaning. And i believe in some measure i have done the same for you. And there is one more context. I need to name this morning. Mine is a ministry that has been envisioned and lived. In the context of a partnership with the rev leslie takahashi. Much of who i am as a minister. Is what it is. Because i have learned and created it together with a minister of extraordinary vision. Boundless commitment. Unswerving integrity and inexhaustible generosity of spirit. My strength have been nurtured. Highlighted. My weaknesses have been balanced. And remedy. Because my ministry has been shared. With the most gifted and dedicated minister i have ever. And now i'm departing. So what becomes of our web of connections now. Are we all being taken out of context. In one sense yes. It's a real departure. As i wrote in the message in your insert it's the requirements of our associations guidelines and one that i agree with wholeheartedly. Four ethical ministry. That a departing minister does not make contact in any way with our previous congregations for at least 2 years. The break is sharp. And it will be hard to do when i leave officially on june 30th. Yet it is necessary. In a month. I will be making new connections and forming new relationships in that congregation far from here. And here you will be renewing and reshaping your relationship with leslie. Making new connections of your own with jason cook your assistant minister for next year and with your intern minister run while mommy. We all need to be free to make those connections as quickly and deeply an offensively as we can. And yet. And yet. There is a reading. In hymnal. An excerpt of a marge piercy poem that says. What has once been so interweaving cannot be raffled. Nor the gift. Ungiven. What has been plated. Cannot be unplated. You who have known losses and partings in your life. You know this. But let us call it to mind now in this context. As we acknowledge this parting of our own. We do not. Ever. Truly. Lose one another. My life has been changed by our time together and in some measure at least some of your lives and the congregations life have been changed to. That. Does not. Go away. When i do. Just as those who have been part of this congregation over many years still live with us. Long after their departure or their death. You will go on living in my heart. And in my ministry. And some part of me will stay with you. We do not ever truly lose one another. A person is a person. Through other people. You are part of the context i can never be taken out of. For what we've shared is part of who i am. From now on. And i am thankful beyond measure. That it is so. So let us accept. And embrace the gifts. That cannot be ungiven. Carry them with us. As we parked. In peace. Ingratitude. And in love. So may it be.

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20150628_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

Skin at the beginning. With the very first poem. That is in my books simply to know its name. It's a poem that gives the collection its title. And it's called. Steelheading. Into the storm dark sacramento i waited again and again that winter. Casting spoons on fine line with a willowy rod. Shredding the lures deep among the bottom stones around sunken snags seeking steelhead. Tell the water-ice my way toward legs to stone. And drove me back up the bank. Shivering. Hour upon hour. Daya pandey i fished. And no fish. But when it came it was a locomotive runaway on a downgrade. Black and fast and roaring steam stripping offline against the drag in a high clear singing. The fish was on perhaps five headlong seconds. Rose up and spat the spoon back. Aluminess orange bullet. Coming straight at my nose. The pulsing in my chest the sharp coppery taste in my mouth. Lifted the bone shell of untidily days working the spoon to the bottom among the rocks and roots which is the whole story. You are heading way out and deep down a bright b tipping the thinnest heather. When something big hits. And you feel blessed. Simply. Tendo its name. The feeling that this poem is meant to evoke his off. Now unfortunately the word. Has been diluted by pop culture has endless. And trivializing use of it as in haveabagel they're awesome. The movie was just awesome there's even a christian rock song with a refrain our god is an awesome god which one you think about it makes for a really weird theology. Fortunately i'm a poet not a theologian so i don't have to go there. But what i do is what poets really like to do which is to unpack a word to see what it is carrying what are the stories word of the meetings that are hidden inside of it. You take the word off and you trace it back in both old english that archaic greek. And it describes a very complex emotion. That comprises both terror and surprise. It arises when you walk into the something into the presence of something much bigger than you are. And you confront the realization that this world. This cosmos we are apart of the worst us. All revolves around a recognition of the other. A presences whose existence we recognize but cannot explain and which we certainly do not. And that's why it is when you're in a state of are you feel blessed simply to know its name. Mixes fear with surprise and i. Really went for this this particular. Complexed mixing of emotion. In a poem called timber rattlesnake. Timber rattlesnake scientific name is protalus horridus. Which really gets this even the sound. In latin it means a ringer that stands your hair on end. The poem is set in the appalachian corner of ohio some hill country christian handle poisonous snakes in church. Timber rattlesnake. As slow as dark water. The snake s's across the old trails roots and rocks. I slapped my staff in front to watch it coil. Shutter at its fiercest buzz. This sound makes me a boy again. The catcher who stalks of wedges for garters blacks hognoses. Rattlesnakes swim. Two true believers. Who caught the serpent's to handle in church. A show of faith raised over flesh. And saved from venom. I knew better than to pick rattlers up. Left them where they lay in brown-banded coils on gray limestone that rattle bristling scalp and neck. And goosebump in all my skin ringing out such wild fear so animal. So unsafe. Turn counter off. You don't necessarily have to have a really dramatic event like encountering. A rattlesnake on a hiking trail in hocking hills ohio. We're going steelhead fishing and waiting for the fish to finally hit. A lot of times it really arises simply from paying. Really close attention to everything that is around you. Just something small until it blossoms into something bigger. Poetry is really good at doing this it's really good at going from the specific and the small into the universal and the cosmic. That wonderful quatrain we did from william blake about eternity in an hour and a heaven in a grain of sand. Is. Very much about that where he is able to look at very ordinary objects. And take them all the way out into their cosmic and universal significant. This is a poem and it's not as good as place. Call opening. Which takes place on the other side of ohio. All night the wind pounded tribal drums. Beat against windows and robes. Rose lake erie into dancing ranks of water. When morning arrived. Right. Domesticated. I walk the pier. Found a cobbled with clams tossed up by the thousands. Blue black. Listening. They opened a blades with as they died. Offering slim insight into the soft web within. We're them hung this smell. Unseasoned and raw. The scent of secrets that live under our eyes and noses. Until a wild music. Drosten. This is though. All can arise from following the scent of secrets it's about paying attention to the world as it reveals itself. Inattention. You think about it is actually a form of reverence. And the task of paying attention. Which often falls to the mystics. It's about those folks who pay very close attention. So we're the smallest specific around us open into the mysterious. The cosmic in the universal. I suspect we have all experienced mythical moments and we know. That these particular little brief interludes of mystic of a cosmic time or ineffable. That is that they lie somewhere beyond and below words. Winter pengula kennywood shaman. Who's statement gayle red. Describes where his songs come from. He made this point really really clearly. You said songs are thoughts. Witcher song out with the breath. When people let themselves be moved by great force and ordinary speech. Longer suffice has. Notice that. When you were moved by great force. An ordinary speech no longer work. And we who think of ourselves as small. Feel even smaller. And we will hesitate before using words. But it will happen that the words that we need will come up with themselves. When the words that we need come up with a selves. We have a new song. Appendix song which is the form of poetry. That existed in that preliterate anyway culture he lived in northern canada. He's trying to talk about a mystical experience his songs are translating. An awesome mystic like or pink. Turn to poetry. In order to somehow grasp the spirits they have been through. Pros with us linearity doesn't work very well. You can talk about it but you can't convey it. It is for example no literary accident that if you take a good close look at the old testament. But the books of the psalms. Most of the books of prophet. If any of the books of wisdom. Are we written in poetic form. There was even one poem in the old testament the song of songs which is frankly erotic. Which never even mentions the name of the divine. And it's in there because. Those particular smart scholars who were putting together. The old testament realize they couldn't leave it out. It was too good. That's how powerful poetry can be in conveying that kind of experience. Today's hymns include words from any number of mystics who turned to poetry in order to express their experience. We've had william blake. We've had rooney. And we've had saint francis of assisi. Who is roomies christian counterpart. Princess who is one of my absolute favorite thing. I was raised catholic so that's a that's a statement of no small meaning. He figures into this poem. Snow bunting which takes place on the western shore of hudson bay in northern canada. And the. The snow bunting has another one of those absolutely wonderful latin. Play trophy next nivalis which in latin mean. Feather trickster. Of the snows. From the tall steel of a tundra buggies deck. I spotted two prowling polar bears leave willow reels for the water's edge. Were they chased and roll. Then dropped into a nap. Amid the dark rack reading that icy beach. Through the binoculars i could see their noses flute. Bowed ribs rise with each breath while around them. Neuroscience snow bunting. Hot. Whistled and foraged. Stood in the nostrils turning breeze. Traced the still flanks. Brave even the black curve of steel smashing pause. Play prince without fear of fierce power. Like jester dwarves. In the king's court. Or francis. At play before god. Singing praises of the small. The oil is the area that spirituality and poetry sher. It's the place where francis at play before god sings praises of the small. It's the place where emily dickinson. Can feel turn so cold at the reading of a poem. That she thinks no fire will ever warm her or the top of her head has been. That's exactly what she's talkin a. It's about her piglet to when he says that the words we need come of themselves. We live in a prosaic culture. We think of pet pros as being. The normal. And in fact poetry is a lot older. It reaches way way far back into our origins. It has ancient rocks in music and in ritual. And you can hear that in those poetic form. That use musical rhythm syndrome. I may do that for two fundamental reasons. What is that in a preliterate culture we had to memorize everything. Having words that rhyme. And or had a. Precise m. We're much easier to memorize. In free verse it's really hard to memorize allen ginsberg. It's much easier to memorize william blake. Much much. That's not a trivial distinction. And it has a lot to do with how it functions. But the other thing that's about that is that the. Bashir music holiday. The physicality. Poetry. It's one of those things that helps you create. Body experience in the hearing of a poem. Poetry is not journalism. It doesn't report on some. It creates the experience. It actually evoke sensation through imagistic language. I wrote this poem what breathing means after a boat trip to san ignacio lagoon. In baja california. And this is one of the areas where great whales. Apples mate and. What breeding means. Only midnight so dark it made light seemed a fantasy i stood blind in the anchorage votes bowel and listened. Coyote hunting far-off saying like a gospel choir. One animal lead. Others answered. Call and response crisscrossed the desert. Nearby a great whale surfaced and blue. It exhalation exploded like a thousand stallion snorting as one. Then the whales suck air down. Drew in the windy drone of those horse hundreds filling hot lungs. Another whale blue and breathe. And another. Yet another and one more. The breath beat of a herd aroused immense and wild. Out and in went on and on. Coyotes soprano tube of. While i melted into breath. Into song. You remember how are pangolins said and then it will happen that we who always think of ourselves as small feel even smaller. This to me is a key lesson that all teachers us. It makes us really small. Because. We are part of an extraordinary large and mysterious cosmos that we really don't grasp. And at some point we will sort of old and melt back into. As in that poem i melted into song. Some years ago on a raft trip in the south on the south nahanni river in northern canada. Only about. 400 miles south of the arctic circle. Fighting came across a story about melting. Became this poem. It's entitled. The woman who ran toward heaven. People up here do this they go missing wildly. The way may lafferty did. She took off in the fall on a hunting trip with in-laws in the country were flat river spills into the nahanni. While the others went upriver with their rifles and an eye for moose. May abandon tents and canoes racks of meat smoking over slow fires. The hunters return to cold poles. Coffee waiting to boil and blue enamel pot. Ribs and hams well shy of cure. Being lost circle the camp and called maze name. Beyond their own voices only silence. Native denny trackers let their practice ties to the search. Picked up the trail of clothing. May drop like puzzle pieces of the life she was racing to leave. The farther she went. The more intimate the blazes. The trackers top ridges and crossed streams until they knew she was crashing naked to the infamous spruce. Leaving only bare footprints that grew fewer by the mile. In time and distance. All trace of her faded. This happened decades ago. Yet it's a rafts past the mouth of may creek. I can see her lying still in the open somewhere upstream and upslope. Raindrops between her ribs in spring and all my snibble the fine bones of her hands all summer. Snow fills the pan of her pelvis. Come winter. Even now. The land continues the gentle work. A folding her sudden wildness in. We live it up in a synthetic. Built environment. That's a long long way from the wilderness of northern canada. And. It as a result of that are occasions of all can be few and far between. That creates a situation in which poetry becomes more just. Chicago porter i'm writing. And it also makes it harder and harder for spirituality to flourish. And there is no law and there's no mystery. There's no spirituality and there's no power. So i want to conclude. For the sermon for the reading. With the very last poem. And simply to know its name. It is one dedicated to my son's darren and brian. I wrote it. Oh almost 25 years ago. At a time when i was a schoolboy. And i was particularly concerned about. Be all challenge world they were growing up into. And truth be told i still am. But when i see the young man they have grown into i feel some small face. At this point work. And the poetry can in fact. Turn tides. Home title is. They're gathering. My boys harvest from a mountain stream side. Remembering bones at this hour. Green and wet off by ourselves splashing and laughing. Last season's darkening acorns. Twiggy stix & straw's of grass washed down in spring flood. A small rock shaped. They testify like a lego lost long ago. We consider to a green sided tree frog. Only as big as a thumbnail. Hopping from slickvic to tumbling water. With clear and phibian resolved. Then let it flee into it's rippling piece. At home i know they will set their treasures. In the place of treasures. Alongside the older others. And move as boys do ahead of memory. For the next new light. Still. I pray they will recall. Grown years from now. This moment of endless gathering. There's surrender to water and earth and a small frogs power. Even as their bodies race into manhood. Even as the world of zeros. Orders them. To turn their back. On it all.

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051016_childrens.mp3

Good morning. I'd like to invite all the children to come on up and we're going to be careful of all of this right here. We're going to have a story today. And we have a special treat because one of our youth. Fiona who's in the mac group. Wanted to read the story today. They're all going to sit down here. Principal one we are the children of the world. No matter who we are parents are. Where we live or what we believe. Cheetahs as equals. We deserve the best the world has to give. Principal to. Protect us so that we may grow with freedom and with dignity. Principal. Principal 3. Let us each be given a name. And have a plan to call our own. Principal for. Keep us warm and sheltered give us food to eat a place and a place to play if we are sick. At nurses and comfort us. Principal 5 if we are disabled in body or mind. Treasure us even more and meet our special needs. Principal principal 6. Let us grow up in a family if we cannot be cared for by our own family take us in and love us just the same. Principal 7. She just well that we may lead happy life. And useful lives to. But let's play that we met chichi. Cells. Teach also. Ourselves. Principal 8 in times of trouble help us. Help us among the first. The future of the world depends on us. Principal 9 protect us from cruelty. And from. Those. Use us badly. Principal 10. Raise us with tolerance freedom and love. As we grow up we too. Will promote peace and understanding through the world. Excellent thank you fiona. This story is called a children's chorus and it is the unicef children's declaration of rights. And so in the next couple of weeks we're going to be trick-or-treating for unicef and raising money. It is now the time in our schedule that we ought to go to her classes and invite the children out and if anyone is new you are welcome to follow me out and if the adult could please sing the words as they are in the order service and thank you karen.

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082805_sermon_pt3.mp3

This is from a sand county almanac by aldo leopold. My notes tell me i have seen a thousand pieces fall. Every one of these in the course of their epic journey from the arctic to the gulf has on one occasion or another probably served man in some equivalent of paid entertainment. One flag perhaps has thrill the score of schoolboys. And sent them scurrying home with tales of high adventure. Another passing overhead on a dark night. Has terminated a whole city with goose music. And awakens who-knows-what questioning and memories and hope. 1/3 perhaps has given pause to some farmer and his plow. And brought new thoughts the far lands and journey yang's and people. We're before was only drudgery bearing of any thought at all. I am sure those thousand geese are paying human dividends on a dollar value. Worth in dollars is only an exchange value. Like the sale value of a painting or the copyright of a poem. What about the replacement value. Supposing there were no longer any paint. Or poetry or goose music. It is a black spot to dwell upon but it must be answers. In a dire necessity somebody might write another iliad. Or paint and angela. Sacha neguse. The following is a combination from 1000 mile walk to the gulf. And the mountains of california. Play john muir. The world we are told was made especially for humans. A presumption not supported by all the facts. Why should humanity value itself as more than a small part of the one great units. Appreciation. And what creature of all that the lord has taken the pains to make. It's not expensive to the complete completeness of that unit. The cosmos. The universe would be incomplete without humans. But it would also be incomplete without the smallest trans microscopic creatures that dwells beyond our conceit falize and knowledge. From the dust of the earth from the common elementary fund. The creator has made homo sapiens. From the same material god has made every other creature. However noxious and. Significance. They are earth-born companion. And our fellow mortal. We all travel the milky way together. Trees and people. But it never occurred to me until the storm day while swinging in the wind the trees are travelers. In the ordinary sense. They make many journeys not expensive ones it is true. But our own little journeys away and back again. Are only little more than three waiting. Many of them not so much. When the storm began to a base. I dismounted and saucer down to the calming woods. Storm tone died away. And turning toward the east i beheld the countless host of the forest. Austin triangle. Towering above one another on the slopes of the hills like it's about audience. The setting sun filled them with amber lights. And seemed to say while they listen. My peace i give unto you.

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20150726_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

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readg_sermon_071005.mp3

This is from ambrosia.. By harry frankfurt. One of the most salient so much. Everyone knows this. Each of us contribute to share. But we tend to take the situation for granted. Most people are rather, and to avoid being taken by it. So the phenomenon has not aroused much deliberate concern nor attracted much. Sustain. In consequence we have no clear understanding of what. Bulshit. Sms page. Or what functions it serves. And we lack a conscientiously developed appreciation of what it means to us. In other words we have no siri. I supposed to be understanding. Mainly by providing some tentative. And exploratory philosophical analysis. I should not consider the rhetorical. My aim is simply. To give a rough account. What. Looking on the internet for something is always an interesting enterprise for some reason i'm getting chinese characters at. The top of my google page all the time now. And the other day i put in a google. Usually when you do that you get a little number that tells you how many tickets there are for it and like. Sea slug. That gets. 93300. So. When i looked up this particular word. I found it very interesting. That there were three million 170,000. So it must be pretty popular. Although you don't find it very scholarly sites when you click on. And that's why i was so amazed to find a citation for the word that you heard this morning reading. In fact it's the title of a book by an eminent philosopher published by princeton university press know list which is not usually known for frivolous books. Harry frankfurt is not a frivolous person he's a professor of philosophy at princeton. And he believes our culture as you heard has become so inundated with this particular word. That he had no trouble at all using it as the title for his. But since this is a church and i once got in deep something-or-other for using a similar word. I'm going to be a bit more circumspect than frank where was and i'm going to use that old gimmick of. . indicate some of the letters. Under consideration in this word. It's kind of awkward to use all the. so i'm just going to condense it to 1. I'll shorten the word. And call it. Bull.. Has frank reported in this morning's reading one of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bull. in it. And because of that he believed he had to write a book on the subject based on a lecture he had given at the conference for philosophers. Frankfurt claims there's so much pulled out in our culture infected we take it for granted. Freak man it is though it didn't matter how much there is around us. Claims that the amount of bulldog to which were subjected in fact us matter. In fact it does. A lot more harm than the lies to which were also. Subjected. The word bull. is one of those words that can either be used as a noun or a verb. You can have to do with all that stuff we make up to pretend that we know what we're talkin about. When we really don't. Or it can be used to describe the act of spreading around so much stuff. I'm bulldogging for instance when i'm trying to make it seem as though i know something about what i'm saying when i don't. Bill doran can be a relatively harmless enterprise if my bulldog goes in one ear and out the other isabel that often does. But if i'm a persistent bull daughter. Not only am i consistently away from the truth i'm undermining my own capacity to tell it. What's the most dangerous thing about bulldog according to frankfurt. Goes beyond this. It said it allows people to say whatever they want. Without caring. About whether it's true or not. He says that's worse than outright lying because at least liars know the truth. About which they're lying and they know that the truth matters. But it's the lack of concern with a connection. An indifference to how things really are that frankfurter says is. Essence of.. More carefully. In a review of frankfurt book. Timothy nash criticos the war in iraq. Search that frankfurt's description of bull. is. Really the best way to describe a lot of what's being said by our administration as a justification for the war. You says the talk before the war about all the weapons of mass destruction and chemical weapons was nothing but bull.. Bulldog with no innocents. A lot of the bull.. Good ole uncle joe was so full of bull. we don't expect to hear from you right. Well probably all got a good old uncle tonry. But. It's different when the presence of weapons of mass destruction is used as an excuse for an invasion when in fact. Those planning the invasion didn't care about whether those weapons existed. It has nothing to do with the real reasons for going. To war. But they thought that we would care about it so they used bulldog to cover up the real reasons for going to war because if they told us the truth we might get upset. Using bull. okay but no chance to respond. To the real reasons. It's so tempting government to use bull. like this. Is because. A lot of americans seem to actually prefer it to the truth. Reviewer noah says for instance. Choosing guest to appear on cable news. Broker's will almost always choose a glib ignoramus. Over an expert who doesn't know how to talk in. So it shouldn't be surprising. To hear the republican leader of the senate. Same things that have no relation to the truth. When you talked about the medical reasons for keeping a brain dead woman in florida alive. Calling for federal legislation. To stop this from happening senator first. Frist that is. Making use of his credentials as a position which is in addition to being a politician. Pretended. What he was talking about. When he said there was a chance that terri schiavo could actually recover and kept kept from. Kicking back into a coma if she were to be kept alive. Fact medical autopsy. Performed on schaible proved without any doubt. That not only was she brain dead. She was blind. And unable to perceive anything that was going on around her. She said. In this way for a long time. And it was actually no chance she could ever recover. So what frist said wasn't based on medical knowledge it was bull.. It was something he made up because it was what he wanted us. To believe. Michael kinsley the editor of the online magazine in which. Noah reviewed frankfurt book says that. Politicians like frist have a tendency to resort to bill. whenever they think it's going to be to their advantage. Just why they do it so often. Bill clinton. Was building us when he wanted to conceal what was going on in his personal life perhaps because he felt it. Getting it on with monica lewinsky was important in terms of the other things he was doing he didn't care about. You didn't care about it. Bull. that is. But kinsley believes the current administration is using bulldog to cover up things that are a lot more important whatever. He says. Was a challenge to overcome for clinton. For current president it's simply. Boring. He says that in the bush administration the bull. is often so laughably obvious that you wonder why they bothered until you realize they haven't bothered. Little care. That they're using it. Responding to his editor noah says that the bush administration's indifference to the truth as he sees it is much more troubling than if they were telling deliberate lies. Was that has to do with going to war with iraq. The way prisoners are treated prison. For the kind of reform needed for social security. Cutting off help to those who actually need it. Like frankfort noah believes that such a difference to the truth is more troubling than actual line because it diverts arguments from such policies away from what really needs to get discus. Christmas richard nixon new. We were bombing cambodia when he said we weren't. He was lying. But all i could be challenged with the truth. People could see those bombs falling. And tell us about it. What does george bush care about is arithmetic about social security. Private accounts and the fact that the numbers don't really add up. Noah says. It doesn't matter. If he doesn't care. It doesn't matter. If his real goal is to privatize social security take away the safety. Buda texas away. From the real argument. I know this may sound more like a political or religious issue. I think integrity. Care about. And it pulled doubting destroys the integrity. Do it those who accept. What's a bull daughters have to say. Accepting pool that also means. Deciding not to care about what's true. It means deciding it's not important to make informed decisions even when these decisions can have major impacts on our lives in on the lives of others. To not care means allowing people to do things that are harmful without any challenge. Like wasting elias of tens of thousands of people. Shooting over 1,700 american soldiers until tens of thousands of people including. How many. Araki. Women and children other innocent civilians. It means not caring. It over. How much is it. Text funds. Tax dollars we actually contribute to. The government. Was really being spent to bring down. Saddam hussein and guarantee a right to oil instead of. Trying to install. Maybe we don't care about things. Changes in policies. Increasingly leaving the poor defend for themselves or. The environment to be irreparable damage.. But if we do care about such things challenge bull. when we hear it. And we ought to challenge it no matter where it said even good old uncle joe. We ought to challenge it even. What is there in a conversation about religion. Because a lot of the conversation about. Religion these days quite frankly. Whether we like to use. Crystal stairs. People talk about the bible. Play when it comes to issues like. Homosexuality or sexuality itself. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Sadie's bible-believing christians. Somehow have a thing against being sexual. Sexual in a certain way. The bible says this. Hairston woods really what jesus would say. Exactly the opposite. Of what he has to say. About love and justice and human compassion. Blah blah blah blah blah it's what the bible says they say. Even want to pay attention to. A lot of the other things. So to be honest. To have integrity. Free and responsible search for truth and meaning is our unitarian universalist statement. We need to call people on what frankfort calls their bluff. To do that. Ever. Because. A+. We have to challenge them on there. If they're going to accept. Rather than. Something that distracts us away. From paying attention. To the truth. It is novel dirty story eric ambler has the father of one of his characters. Tell his son. Never tell a lie when you can bull. your way through. What do you means. Yesterday full. ain't rather than telling the truth will do. Why bother with the truth. Especially if telling the truth. Some problems. But it's often exactly these problems that have to be solved. Need to be dealt with. Before they get bigger. Worst problems. No i know it's not always easy to tell the truth or. To have to defend the real reasons for doing. Saying something. And bulldogging may not seem like such a big deal since so many people. And it's not really lying. It often seems so easy. Fact. Frankfort says that telling lies requires a lot more often.. Because to invent a lie. A person at least tested know what's true. So the person can design his falsehood around it. Other hand. A person who chooses bulldog as a lot more freedom he's not constrained by the truth. The truth really isn't of any interest all bets are off. The person doesn't care whether. I think she's saying describes reality accurately or not he just. Pick some up make some up. Whatever is on purpose. Concludes frankfort someone who lies and. Someone who helps with ashley flying on opposite side so to speak of the same game. Each response to the facts as he understands them. Although the responsive one is guided by the authority of the truth while the response of the other device that authority. The bull daughter ignores these demands all together. He does not reject the authority of the truth as a liar does and oppose himself to it pays no attention to it at all. Virtual. Our wise. In a sermon earlier this year i quoted. Sisler park. Book about lying said it's hard for people in a society like ours who are committed. Telling the truth. To be able to get away with that. When we learn from childhood on the power that lies can confer. And how much easier it is to slip into ally effects. Same is true of bulldog. So does it taser if that we and our leaders begin to think is better than telling the truth. Result is. The truth is going to cease. To mater. That we and our leaders are going to become more and more inclined. Resort to bulldogging whenever. Ourselves that people are going to be better off. Bull got them instead of telling. The truth. Tamara says spock it's a short step to the conclusion that. Even if people won't be better off from a particular lie or bull.. The benefit by all the maneuvers to which we subject. Maneuvering around is becoming. So i ask you do you really think there's a benefit from this. Do you really think a world of bulldok is preferable to a world of truth. Even when it hurt. Goodness and truth. That's what are unitarian for berries used to say was their trinity. Rather than father son and. Holy ghost. They didn't say. Her trinity. Goodness. So i hope. The challenge. Whoever is. Bulldogging us. Tell them that their bull. is just that. Bull.. And i hope that when were tempted to pull. ourselves we won't do it. It's not just the word b******* that should never be set in a church. It's the practice of it.

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20150419_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

Good morning good to be here. When i used to preach as an intern it was over in the other building as some of you may know and this was a field this wasn't an uncultivated field. However in the at that time in that year in the middle of that field as a totem pole that was buried and it's still there i understand and it still emanating it's good wishes and strength for all of you in this congregation. Well i was one of 70 people who had the luck in the privilege to be on the people's climate justice training new york city last september. And that experience in the climate justice march with 400,000 plus people. As well as the flood wall street direct action that happened the next day are in fact the backdrop for my sharing this morning and indeed for my life as i move on in my eighth decade as a two-legged on this planet. I want to begin by reading you a poem by uu minister river barber peskin. It is called the reunions. One of the old ones stood up into the morning life and spoke to those who had come back to the river. Now we have come again to this place. My life apart from you. Is not as strong. Yes i have danced and i have told the stories at my own fire and i have sung well to all of the directions but when i am with you my friends. I know better. Who it is in me. That sings. When i am with you my friends when we are with each other. My friends. We know better who it is in us. That sings. So i asked you to listen then to listen to the old ones echoes through time across cultures. Return to the river return to the river of a deeper more natural way of living. So that you may so that we all may know better who it is in us. Let's sings. So to you see the unitarian universalist association the unitarian universalist service committee the uu college of social justice and a contingent of you.you climate justice activist from the uu environmental justice collaboratory including myself as well as another handful of unitarian universalist groups like the ministers association and the ministry for earth and the diverse and revolutionary unitarian universalist multicultural ministries are people of color organization these organizations are all asking unitarian universalist asking you here asking us. To return to the river of the deeper sources of our faith and ethics. The deeper sources of our justice commitments. The river of life and of human energy to who's banks as a faith family we are being summoned. So that we may join together. And answer the call to do the impossible. And that is to stop and reverse the ravages of climate change. Which means that we must fundamentally change the economically socio-political military and cultural systems that are the cause of and the ongoing energies that drive climate change in the first place. Remembering the words of found on toshiba brilliance food and environmental activist and anti-globalization author we must stand together to dismantle the utopia of stupidity. That is driving global capitalism's lust for obscene profit straight into the fury of climate collapse. We must stand together as a community of care and courage. A community that calls us to our best selves our most fearless selves a community that allows us to know better who it is in us. That sings. We must stand together to stop the cascade of destructive environmental events that have driven millions of people into numbness or denial or both. We must stand together so that we can regain our true song. The song of life. The song of a thriving vital planet that we can see with our eyes taste with our tongue touch with our hands and feel with our hearts knowing when we do. That these simple acts are the very earth itself. In us. Become conscious. Do you weigh the usc the college of social justice and the other partnering you you organizations are asking unitarian-universalist across this continent and that means you. And that means me. To join together and commit to respond. Commit to respond to actions that will confront the issues of climate change. Actions that will make a difference in our lives as individuals as congregations. As a national and international community of faith. For many of us the work of climate justice and just transition in body by commit to respond as deeply informed by naomi klein evolving and profound vision. Which is brilliantly articulated in her new book this changes everything capitalism vs the climate. She writes. Climate change. Is in fact. The most powerful weapon to fight for equality and social justice. It is telling us to understand how all our fates are in interconnected. Climate change. Tells us to be bold. To get ambitious to play for keeps because we cannot afford to lose. Cannot afford to lose. I meant to respond as a launching point. For environmental justice going forward now in the unitarian universalist world. It is beginning the national effort to bring climate justice just transition into the center of unitarian universalist justice work in our congregations are districts and regions and in our association beginning back in march 22nd world water day and continuing until through this next week april 22nd earth day of 2015. And beyond. For as long as it takes. Hundreds of unitarian universalist churches are participating in a large-scale program of sermons. Here is one today. Actions of public witness. Workshops political advocacy and nonviolent direct actions in moore. And they are and we are doing so intentionally with humility. Joining with partners particularly frontline communities who know the impact of climate change already even if we are very little experiencing it here in walnut creek. And from the larger community of our human ken where we live and move and have our being it is time. It is time that we assembled by the river to here and affirm the songs that are our heart song. Our hearts songs to one another and to the blessed earth. From which we draw our precious lives. The blessed earth that is in our time under siege. You remember the song. Listen listen listen to my heart song. Listen listen listen to my heart song. I will never forget you i will never forsake you. I will never forget you. I will never forsake you. It is time that we commit even more deeply than ever down into the roots of climate change and economic disparity into the roots of the complexity that we are up against. And i only klein reminds us prophetically. Getting to the root of why we are facing serial crises will lead us to a more habitable climate. Then we now have. And for a farm or just economy then we now have. Getting to the roots. Getting to the root causes. Any comics for instance with the obscene disparity between the poor and the very rich. Obscene. In species extinction which sees an unimaginable number of species going extinct. Everyday. In legal and human rights. With the rise of a shameful prison-industrial complex that generates in laurel prague profits from mass incarceration of people of color in the impunity. With which police are killing men of color across the united states. In the profit-driven genetic modification of plants profit-driven i said not science-driven in the profit-driven genetic modification of plants spurred by the illusion. That we are shrewd enough to avoid the consequences that we cannot even predict. And in government surveillance. That literally tracks thousands upon thousands of phone calls emails and it may even be the postal mail we sent to. Well you know. You know the apparent and represent reprehensible to list as well as i do. Getting to the root of why we are facing. Serial crises will lead us to a more habitable climate. Then the one we are headed for in for a farm or just economy than we have now. It is imperative. It from our encampment at the river that is from within our congregations. From within this congregation. That draw strength from the power of the river and the beauty that we call life. It is imperative that we find the deep commitment to make climate justice and just transition a significant part of our awareness. That we relocated right at the center of our justice work. And that we make a significant shift in our ways of life. It is imperative that we learn to look straight into the storm. With integrity with courage. And with a deepening sense of community. It is imperative that we look straight into the storm nottoway. Intuit. Frederick buechner protestant thinker and author gives us language. To locate the choice point that we can encounter when we seek to look into the storm and then step beyond what a presses into means life in order to build a new way. He said. The place god calls you is where your deep gladness. And the world's deep hunger meat. Place god calls you is where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meat. So those of you who are agnostic atheist questioning still or grounded an earth-centered beliefs. Might say it this way. The place you are called. But what is most sacred within you. Is where your deep gladness. And the world's deep hunger meat. The place you are called by what is most sacred within you. Is where your deep gladness and the world deep hunger me. So this is the deeper story that we come into community to find. The deeper story of our own response to life. How we may enlist in the critical and great work of our times. Adidas. To defend life against the ravages of exploitation oppression marginalization and violence. We also come here to church. To find out how we can truly plumb the depths of our own integrity and thereby open our hearts. To each other and the world. Which in our time. Which in these lives we have been gifted with so desperately needs us. You all. Are needed. It matters not how old or how young you are. We all. Are needed. At its best coming here is. About responding to that unique call. That is ours. Ours alone the paradox is. That while each of us has to find out what our own work is at this point in our life. How are personal gifts can be fully used we can't do it alone. Without community our gifts are useless. Without some form of community the discovery of our gifts will very likely be tragically unrealized or impaired. Following our own path with courage and dedication but doing so in the company of others in service to others and the earth and supported and loved by others we are made fully human. And this is how we are redeemed. This is how we are helped to stand against negativity oppression and violence and declaim our full human na'tee. I understand that the word redemption is a loaded term in the unitarian universalist sanctuary like this. It can be triggering it to be off-putting it can be confusing. But what i want to lay bare from this little cabin of truth-telling cuz that's what this is you know that's what you call ministers to do to speak the truth hear from their heart as best i understand it right here in this place. So what i'm going to lay bare from this little cabin of truth-telling is it one of the meanings of redemptions that we can use a known and fully claim out of the five or more current that are in the language today is one that reveals and understanding of a true path. With hearts. True path with heart. Redemption. And the definition that i want to lift up has to do with fulfillment. With carrying out. With discharging and making good. In this sense redemption has to do with accomplishments achievement honoring satisfying and adhering to what it is truly ours to do. Coming here to this church and staying here and staying here despite all the demands of the places on us all the huge and messy mistakes the others here make. That's a joke despite all the weird struggle with money with judgments with inside-outside dynamics with a damper system so privileged and racism and heterosexism unable to summon all the rest of it despite all of that being here together how's the power to redeem us or put another way being here together empowers us to make good on the gift we were given when we were born as a human being. Being here together. Empowers us to make good on the gift. We were given when we were born as a human being. One more point than before i offer you my closing words. The price that human consciousness that awareness demands of us. Is the responsibility to respond. We see and therefore we are called. We are called to commit. We are called to commit and respond. And that's why this campaign is called commit to respond. It is time for us to do that. As a collective. As a community of saints. We can't look away anymore. We cannot afford to look away. So let me close them has these words of naomi klein. Because he's words bear repeating over and over and over again. Climate change is in fact the most powerful weapon to fight for equality and social justice it is telling us how to understand how all our fates are interconnected. Climate change tells us to be bold. To get ambitious. To play for keeps. Because. We cannot. Afford to lose. Takoyaki smell my relations.

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20150712_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

Have you found god yet. I mean really found god. In that sense of deep down i know what god is and what the meaning for me is. Have you found god yet. I have. It happened in one of those absolute unsuspecting out-of-the-blue out-of-the-ordinary moments. I had during college been a janitor. And it's been much too much of my time between cleaning around sneaking some pages of reading. And so it was that i had read john steinbeck's travels with charley in search of america. In his book steinbeck chronicles his adventures driving around the country with his faithful companion charlie. A french poodle. The year was 1960 steinbeck was 58 years old. And he had outfitted the back of his pickup truck with a cabin like camper unit in which he and charlie spent most of their nights. Find a kid decided that he wanted to finally in a first-hand sense see the land that he had been writing about for so long. He wanted to hear the speech of real america. The smell the grass and the trees to see the colors and the lights. He's were steinbeck's goals as he set out. To rediscover that country which had been writing about. So together with charlie steinbeck drove the us highways and byways in country roads. He dined with truckers encountered beers at yellowstone and old friends in san francisco. Along the way he reflected on the american character racial hostility the particular form of american loneliness he found almost everywhere. And the unexpected kindness of strangers. The book itself is inspirational. And upon reading it i decided that i would leave my job and drive around the country. In hopes of finding what he wrote about. And hopefully finding myself. I didn't have a dog. But i did have a tiny toyota tercel and i filled it to the brim with camping equipment and spaghettios. Enough spaghettios for breakfast lunch and dinner for over a month. You see i was at a bit of a crossroads in my life. And at some level my choice to drive was motivated by a desire to get away from myself. But i was also searching for myself. I was in my early twenties most of my friends were establishing themselves in their careers and i. Well i was certainly lost. I left college early without finishing my degree and i no longer wanted to be the music teacher i have been studying to become. My call to religious work was strong yet i wasn't even old enough to be a youth advisor. Nevermind i minister or religious education director. And i definitely did not feel like i had enough life experience from which to draw resources. So it was that i put my life on pause and drew plans to drive around the northeast quadrant of the united states. Up until that point i hadn't really ever left the small hub of massachusetts rhode island new hampshire and maine. Nothing could have prepared me for what i saw. As i was driving i saw pieces of our country that were awesome and breathtaking and phenomenal. I should mention also that it was october. In the leaves. All the leaves. There were a multitude of oranges and yellows and reds for sure. But the blues and the purples i had never seen anything like it. It was in fact while i was driving from appleton wisconsin to iowa city iowa. Did i discovered a beautiful mountain range. One of those highways were you have just two lanes going in either direction and because it was on a mountain range of fierce crosswind that would buck my car from side to side. So my car and i bucking and waving weren't paying as much attention as perhaps we should have been instead looking out at the reds and yellows oranges purples and greens of the leaves on the trees. It was. Breathtaking. And i got myself lost. Dirty. Verity. Lost. And there is only one major road that goes from appleton wisconsin to iowa city iowa. And i was lost. As i said i had been in search of myself yet i was realizing as i drove that i was searching for something that i was also running away from. And. If you haven't tried it yet you cannot quite run away from yourself. Even in a car. So there i was. Deep in thought contemplating the meaning of life and what i was going to do with mine. All of a sudden i looked up and i had my first. God experience. That's right right there in the southern region regions of wisconsin where i least expected it. I found god. My toyota tercel and i as i looked up four inches from a humongous 18-wheeler truck. On the back of the truck was painted the letters. G. Oh. D. And under that guaranteed overnight delivery as surprising as it sounds in just that instant as i swerve my car and hope we didn't crash. I in fact had found god both in the humerus and in the inspirational sense. I had found that divine moment in my life where there was absolute clarity. Not only did i avoid smacking into the back of the truck. But in that moment i realized. The definition of god mattered a lot less. Then a relationship we have. With god or spirit. Or universe. Or any of the many names we call the holy and divine. I came to believe and to realize it was not just the relationship with that divinity. But also the relationship with each other that is important. Who would have ever thought that such a profound epiphany could come from almost colliding into an 18-wheeler rig. Names of god. The experience for me was transformational. It was the very point in my life where i opened up to the possibility of being inspired. By the most unusual of sources. Which turned out to be a good thing. Once i found myself and relocated myself on the map. I made my way to iowa city a few days later. My head sometime to explore the city before i was to meet up with a friend. And i should say at this point that up until this moment in my life. I had collected. Converse all star sneakers the high-tops they came in all the colors and all the shades and all the designs. I had i think at that point about 47 pair. So some some. Call it an obsession. I like to think of it as a way of expressing myself. But i had been looking for a particular pair for several years. I've been looking for just the right pair. And as i browse around the downtown of the quaint college town of iowa city i saw that pair. It was a fluorescent orange pair of chucks and i knew that they were there waiting for me. And so i entered the store and asked about them. The youth behind the counter replied in a slow midwestern draw. I beg your pardon. I repeated my question inquiring about the shoes and he repeated his. I wasn't sure what to say at this point so i put on my best puzzled look. And i pointed to the sneakers. He stared at me for a moment. Look at what i was pointing at. Look back at me and responded. If you speak more slowly. Maybe i can help you i tilted my head. He said nah i heard your boston accent and figured i'd have a good time with you we had a good laugh. And i walked away with a pair of fluorescent orange chucks. That it sat on his shelf for 8 years. So i had a good feeling about my trip in the people i was bound to meet. And i had a new understanding of the possibilities of the universe. And i can say that while each of my chuck stories is good in an in and of itself. I derived a much deeper meaning and message from my collection of converse chucks. I don't still have the collection but they live in my memory and in the memories of many of my friends. In each pair or memory symbolizes to me that there are many ways to converse to forge relationships with each other and with others. Another place. What time and again i find inspiration. Is through television and movies. I want stumbled upon j michael straczynski babylon 5 series. Which continues to be to me the most inspirational piece of multimedia i have ever found. Take this scene for example. Captain sheridan of earth ask ambassador delenn of minbari one of the other worlds represented on babylon 5 which is a space station 5 miles long designed specifically for peace. The captain asked the ambassador what the lighting of the candle means in her religious services. And she answers by saying. Life. Sheridan asks. Whose life. And the ambassador response. All life. Every life. We are all born of molecules in the hearts of a billion stars. Molecules that do not understand politics or policies or differences. Over a billion years we foolish molecules forget who we are. And where we came from. In desperate acts of ego we give ourselves names fight over lines on maps. And pretend that our light is better than everyone else's. The flame reminds us of the peace of those stars that live on inside of us. The spark. That tells us. You should know better. The flame also reminds us. That life is precious. Each flame is unique and once it goes out. It's gone for forever. There will never be another quite like it. Such high inspiration from a television show. But consider this. In the early 1990s j michael straczynski wrote the babylon 5 series to spin over 5 years. He also wrote the entire storyline from start to finish before trying to sell it to any network. Prosinski wrote the series using the standard literary outline and author would use for writing a novel. If you'd only written the story in book form rather than it's the television series. Perhaps he would have been truly gain the same status for his story that any other form of writing we now use for inspirational father has. But he did not. And as a result. Many people will not have the benefit of hearing his prophetic voice. But perhaps he knew he had a better choice of spreading his work through modern media. Perhaps you believe that if my generation began a new trend of being more television bound than bookbound. We wouldn't be in the universities and religious institutions learning the messages he brings. So he had to use a medium which we would pay attention to. In either case. I don't know i know that i leave just about every episode of his a changed person. Even the episodes i've seen a dozen times. Here is my favorite scene. Dysentery and emperor had never left his homeworld centauri prime. Nor has he really ever made a decision for himself. Use bread for the position of emperor and in every situation he found himself. There was a clear choice to make for the sake of his world. His world which had been at war with another world for almost a century. But now at the end of his life he has realized that many of those choices were perhaps not the moral or ethical ones. He risks his health and endangered his life to travel to the babylon 5 station so that he can stand on neutral territory and apologized to the world in two members of the world had been at war with. In person. For all the things his people had done. And for all the things his family had done. He wanted to say that they were wrong. That the hatred between their pay people would never end until someone who's willing to say i'm sorry. And try to make right. The things that were wrong. To atone for their actions. He said it was the only choice he ever made in his life. And as he lay on his deathbed he feared that even that. Was being taken away from him. And so in a conversation with the station commander the emperor shared this relegation. Revelation. So much has been forgotten. So much pain so much blood. Infor what i wonder. The past paints us. The present confuses us. The future frightens us. And our lives slip away moment-by-moment. Lost in that vast. Terrible in-between. But there is still time to seize that one last fragile moments. To choose something better. To make a difference. Our reading this morning which also comes from babylon 5 reminds us that we are all one and must be kind to one another. The suntory import emperor challenges us to use our lives to make a difference. How can we even begin to fulfill these challenges if we do not build relationships with one another and all that is holy. How can we not do this. If we don't keep ourselves open. To the unexpected inspiration. For all that i have experienced i believe it is in forging and sustaining these relationships and our lives. That we learn the most from. About ourselves. About our friends and family. Our surroundings. And our community. And so i leave you with this reminder. You never know where inspiration is going to come from. Leave yourself open to the possibility that it might arrive out of the least. Expected source. I've heard the universe has a funny way of making you drive right up to it. May it be so.

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050918offertory_poem_design_by_rfrost.mp3

Knicks reddit. What brought. What. White flower. Spiderwick.

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20150802_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

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20150719_mduuc_sermon_only_lo.mp3

So. I called this being open a discussion in several chapters. Chapter 1 the beginning. The roots of my message today come from a couple of different places. The first one was on the saturday of the recent rummage sale. A man came out with a rolling chair and i offered to help him put it in his car. As i was helping him he commented. I can't tell my wife where i got this. And i said. Why she doesn't buy it rummage sales. And he said. Now they're heathens in there. What. Why would you say that. Because they don't believe in god. I took a deep breath i took a deep breath. I asked god to hold my tongue and fix my face that's not true. We are a welcoming community we welcome people of all faiths. He dismissed me they're laughing in there and they're all going to hell. Now that we don't believe i answered. He put the chair in his car and then he pulled his bible out of the glove compartment. You read a quick passage and started to launch into a sermon i stopped him pointing to the sanctuary and i told him i'll get my sermon tomorrow when i'm in there. He drove off mumbling. I prayed he got home safely i was appalled. Sally walked by me and i told her over and sit all have to have to tell you something i have to tell you something i told her we she listened i vented and then i had to laugh because people like him are the reason i worship here. On the other end of the spectrum is the person who tells me that they are appreciative of all the races and the ethnicities but when i come in on a microaggression i have experienced in a social or professional situation my open-minded friend tells me. I don't see race. I don't see difference. I'm not sure which is more challenging talking to someone who does not recognize the misgivings and the false beliefs. All to present in everyday life. Or the one who denies their existence when they're pointed out. At least naive pay may allow for a reachable moment. Some kind of dialogue if the listener is open. The latter has already decided case closed in the opportunity for dialogue is closed with it. Our fourth principle is a free and responsible search. For truth and meaning. Today i wanted to discuss some of the ways to bring that principle into our active our interactive lives. Chapter 2. The definition. Years ago in talking to a friend about being a psychotherapist she commented to me well isn't it your job to tell people what to do to tell them how to fix their lives. I told her that would be incredibly presumptuous and she looked at me quite puzzled. I went on to explain to her that when i work with people i consider myself a guest in their home but in this case this is the home. This psych. As people take me on a tour of their home i look at what they want me to see. They take me to the various rooms filled with the essence of who they are. As we go by the locked rooms i pause. What's in there. Nothing. My husband tells me we passed the door again maybe 23 conversations later. My i look my host says nothing i want to share. Each time we meet and come close to the door i offer that we can go in together slowly when my host is ready. Eventually i noticed the door is ajar. And so we begin. We start to move to the web of anxiety the coldness of fear the mustiness of shame looking at the empty shells of abandonment. Or the overturned spoils a violation we begin to clean house. To define that which has a hold on us and to decide what no longer serves us. And as we let go that thing no longer has a hold on us. Such as it is i believe when we deal with differences. Race. Culture religion. Politics. Age. Youth. Illness. Death. Just to name a few of our dark rooms. David richo describes a process by which we audit our beliefs to examine our internal processes. Where they come from and how they influence who we are. He talks about the importance of recognizing several growth-promoting values. One of those values is to seek the beliefs that keep directing us to reality. Rather than wishful thinking or candy-coated views. I find we are all the same. A sugar-coated value that does not allow me to be all of who i am while it may allow the one saying it just feel open. Sometimes to say we are open means we don't define our opinions or our thoughts. But they're still there. And eventually the narrowness of our thoughts become known. Judgment. Beer. Anger. Limited experience. Vulnerability. Malcolm x once said. Despite my firm convictions. I have been always a man who tries to face facts into accept the reality. Of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand-in-hand. With every form of intelligent search for truth. Chapter 3 release a shins. Generalizations often bring us comfort. We observe something then we incorporated into a broader understanding. Sometimes this works this can help us understand a lot of incoming information we gather we filter we designate the appropriate mental shelf we store it and then we move on. But what if our generalizations don't sit. What if they are inaccurate. We tend to miss the nuances indeed the beauty of the uniqueness that which falls outside what we know. 2 knots erases to miss the richness of our different routes and are different stories. Two nazi ages to undervalue experience. And wisdom. Two nazi use is to miss the freshness of values and ideas. Two nazi dying is to not appreciate the last words of a live. Life. Life is always unfinished business. That thought is it once comforting and frightening. Comforting. That we can keep working on it growing sculpting reshaped reshaping which is an incredible invitation for creativity. Frightening. And that life is not come with mats to take us directly where we want to go. Free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Well we have shared troops along the way that which brings us together in friendship. Love. Family schools. Churches and communities. We also have the pursuit of our individual truce that are a reflection of that from which we came. That means there are times when we will walk a path together. And times when we will walk a different path. The question is. What happens when our paths meet. Can i tell you about my journey. Are you going to listen. Or you going to change my story so it looks like yours and it feels like it fits better and then you can understand it believe it and. Then it makes sense to you. In your haste to dismiss the differences. You will also miss the commonality. Chapter 4. How to listen. Being open is about being able to take in the reality of what is around us and being willing to own our own feelings on it and being willing. To wrangle with that which is outside our own experience. We can agree to disagree. Isaac have azimuth one said your assumptions are windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile or the light won't come in. I have never seen anyone clean house and not get dirty in the process. We discard the old no longer needed that which does not fit we scrub we wash we hose down we repot etcetera those of you who grew up in the era of spring cleaning you get that right. Personal house cleaning. Personal house cleaning. Works pretty much the same way. But somehow when it comes to dealing with the differences among us. We expect to have pristine conversations. Comfortable conversations. Where we will say all the right things or nothing at all. Now having said that i know there's some of some of you who will lean into a spirited conversation i actually shared that story about the gentlemen at the rummage sale with somebody and they said oh what did you tell him this and did you tell him that and i thought no i didn't. I know for many more we don't reveal ourselves and we find it very hard if not impossible. To take in the reality of another. If that reality is not shared. We don't want to get messy. But that's like cleaning house without getting dirty. You dust the surface and it all looks good. Then someone comes along and take something off the shelf exposing the area that hasn't been touched. 4 years. And we get mad and we scramble to put the stuff back in place cover our exposed areas. Think about it one of the reasons this happens is because we recognized. That this is not a part of us that we want showing. In those moments we make a choice. We can choose to put things back. And just make sure they're never moved. Or we can work to clean the house when room at a time. Final chapter. I cannot draw you a map. Because our journey is likely different. Simply because in this life. I'm traveling in this body with this skin and this set of experiences. But i can call your attention to some points of intersection. He is 30 years old and immigrant with two children and a wife. He is not yet documented. He came here for a better life. Hey. Didn't your folks moved across country because there was work here and they wanted to get to a better life. She watches tv and she rarely sees people who look like her or her family. She feels invisible. Can you grow up in a military family traveling all over the place and every time you landed you felt kind of invisible. They grew up in a big house and they never worried about food. Most people see them as spoiled. Hey. Didn't you grow up in in your grandmother's house never missing a meal and didn't kids call you spoiled. Points of intersection can be shame that can be discomfort they can be hard to talk about. They can also bring peals of laughter. Your mom made you eat peas mine too. Did you ever watch a scary movie and wonder why those people walking toward the squeaky door. Did you ever root for the home team even when they weren't winning. Those are commonalities those are commonalities that we missed when we cannot sit down. And talk. If everything has to be. The big conversation. Then the underpinnings of coming together and truly being open. We don't get to touch. We don't get to experience. Because. We're afraid. Of what it's going to look like. And will it be clumsy will it be. Will will will i do it right. I'm going to end. With david rico. I am thankful for the set of values i received in the course of my life. From so many sources. At the same time. I am examining the scaffolding of beliefs. Values. And assumptions. That i inherited from family school religion and society. One by one i seek to dismantle and discard. Those that are not in keeping with mature adult living. And cherish those that are. And i would add that this is not sugarcoating but it is very sweet.

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20090426_mduuc_sermon_lo.mp3

Morning. Flight you to join us. Operation of the colors of the rainbow. Seven principles of. A different one. And to take the time to be grateful for all the effort. Ministry together. Celebration of the red. The heart of love and care. Candle to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity. Every person. Depression. Fragility of human life. As we were reminded this morning in our joys and concerns. Offer informal. And comfort we offer each other as members of a church family. Members of group. Friendship and care. On thursday. Of course the kitchen committee. Deserve to be recognized now because. Memorial committee. Who walked. Aphasia. Humanity. We hope you have been listening. Because now we're going to invite everyone who has been involved in the care and concern. Either this year or in previous years. Please rise in body or in spirit. Thank you. We thank you. For helping our community deep in the heart of service. One of the red stickers. You can put on your name tag. Celebrate orange the fire of commitment. The orange candle reminds offer and kind. Recently. Meal preparation for winter. Marriage equality. Which is the work of the interfaith alliance. Representative group. The long and deep relationship. Mount diablo. Prophetic voice. Ministry. Compassion. And promote justice. Our personal relations committee. So if you have been involved in these ministries that are firm and promote justice equity. Invite you to ride for a moment his body or in spirit. And that you are seated orange sticker when they pass. Inquiring minds reaching out and raised. We like to remind always yearn to learn. What is created. It is made possible. Sounds. Spiritual growth. Sunday morning meditation group. We also have. Of kindred spirits. In group. Also the work of art. It would also have been involved this year or in other's in creating opportunities for growth. Do worship through dialogue to teaching each one another. Thank you. We celebrate green. To grow in this individual and collective. I'm going in lifelong search. Very. Wonderful. Which provides age-appropriate spaces for inquiry and exploration. Education around sexuality. Offering many opportunities for education. Bowel program. Adult religious education could not happen without. Group. If this in your work among us. Please rise in body or spirit. Thank you. We celebrate the deep color of truce. Avoid the blue candle with our pledge to exercise the right of conscience in the democratic process in our congregations and society at large. It reminds treasured. Operation of truth is truly the ministry. And our communication structures. No progress without. Go to help with. Are nominating committee work. If we didn't. Wonderful. Creative resource. Which helps us to be truthful. So if your legs and arms consult. You're part of blue horizon body or spirit. And next we celebrate indigo. The dream of world community. The goal of world community with peace liberty and justice for all is reflected in the indigo. Renewing our pledge to insist. And i'm justice. Unitarian universalist service committee. Remind. Oversaw. And to take. Because apparently modern rainbows. Thank you. Violet. Our connection to our larger hopes of unity. Candle holder except for the interdependent web of all existence. Of which we are apart. Candle on the rainbow. Is the violet one. Which shows that we value. Power interconnection with the web of life. We are. Recycling. Interconnection of firestarter. Our interdependence is also. Tomorrow. Invite the rise in body or spirit. And then to take a violet candle. No matter what color. Rainbow prism is hours. This is the spectrum that creates we share here. Extraordinary. Contemplate all that is done among us in this place. Presence. Important. With all that goes on. It is easy to become too busy to say thanks. Remember. Thank you. And that i celebrate all that we create. Together. This morning. Beautiful. Until we were here. Help. Artistry here. Appreciate. Of the people we were. I wonder how so. Rinsing hard moments together. Small amount of. Small amount of time. I realize that what i remembered. It's how the fabric of a community. We allowed to touch ours. Quality. Definition of america. It's the one by frederic. Springtree this morning. Churches amazing work. To bind themselves together.