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2011Oct23Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. I must say i am impressed by the. Lead into my. Talk this morning. It is all been so so appropriate. My talk this morning is one woman's story. This is my story. If i get a little over emotional every so often. Please bear with me. I try not to brag. Too much. I was born in 1942. In los angeles. A few hours after new year's day. Just at the start of world war i. I spent most of my young life and albany oregon. The heart of the willamette family. Who's a nice friendly small-town. Pretty typical of the 1950s. One of my early memories. Eat24. Is that i was not who i seemed to be. As a child before i could not be more specific. I just knew something wasn't right. I finally went to school. I have been held back a year because i was. Boring a little too late. I had a clear picture of what was wrong. There was these creatures called girls. And i found that i had a lot in common with them. I enjoyed playing with him far more than i enjoyed playing with the boys. When i get my first brick wall. I wanted to grow my hair longer. But it was not allowed. Because i was a boy. And boys. Just didn't do that. I wanted to wear a dress. But that was not even to be mentioned. Because boy really didn't do that. And i was a boy. Actually i was confused. But my mother was quick to point out on every possible occasion. I was a b o y. Message ronald i have been regularly sent to sunday school at two different churches. Showing you all about saying prayers before bed. I had one unchanging prayer for years. Thought i would somehow. Wake up a girl. You're my childish mind. I think you took that was such a simple task it would be easy for an omnipotent omnipresent on missions guide. When nothing happened after several years of very fervent praying. I consigned god does the same category as santa claus and the tooth fairy. And moved on. Throughout my grade school years i had balance and eyesight problems. I was always the last person selected for any schoolyard games. I didn't enjoy the games anyway so. Much matter. I would prefer to sit and read or engage in some other individual activity. I just wasn't comfortable playing with the other boys. Or even associating with them. We had nothing in common. No i have the same balance and eyesight problems today so if i seem a little wobbly on my feet. It is unfortunately not because i have over imbibed. I had often been attracted to my mother's jewelry. And sneaked a couple of pieces of costume jewelry. Did i found specially pretty out of her jewelry box. I had never seen her wearing them. And she did not discover that they were missing. By the age of 12 i had cobbled together a play dress out of an old bed sheet. But i was constantly in fear of my mother finding the dress so i ended up throwing it out. She didn't miss the sheet either. As i passed through puberty. The difference i felt seems so out of place became so incongruous. Can i refuse to accept it. Every time i got out of the shower and looked in the mirror i could see very clearly the reason for my problem. I stopped looking in mirrors. I completely denied my internal feelings. And set out to be the best meal. I could be. In high school i associated with a beat crowd. Members of peach the 50s. And a german foreign exchange student. We spend our school hours playing scott. And our evenings in a coffeehouse. Drinking espresso and listening the bad poetry. When i graduated from high school i applied to several colleges. I was accepted by massachusetts institute of technology. And the university of southern california. I thought briefly about the snow and the sun and quickly chose usc. By that time the cuban missile crisis was heating up. The craft was an ever-present threat. Not wanting to end up in the army crawling through the mud. Air force rotc in college. It was also just another way to show that i was really a man. At my apartment. I had my own female wardrobe weekends. Which i never dared we're outside. Also why don't you will see i bought a little sports car. I drove it far too fast most of the time. The only freeways were not nearly so cluttered back in those days. Hyster had absolutely no idea what was wrong with me. And i had been very carefully taught. That one simply did not talk. About such things. When i graduated from usc the air force sent me to europe them. Well where i did the ultimate male thing. I married a wonderful woman. Another air force officer who worked in air force communications. We actually had many of the same security restrictions. Which we tended to ignore when it suited our purposes. I was still trying to be a good male. I never mentioned anything about my little problem. Authority. When i eventually left for vietnam she was pregnant with our first child. We bought a house in howey-in-the-hills. So she could be near her father. Our daughter was born in 1970. While i was overseas. Dorothy wanted another child so in 1973 we managed to have a boy. We return to florida in 1976 from i left the air force. And raise two kids and two dogs in our little florida house. Both of the kids turned out to be fine compassionate adults. Bragging. In the 1950s i had heard about christine jorgensen. But i was still far too young to understand what she had done and how it applied to me. In the 1970s i found a couple of books by dr. john money if johns hopkins. The talk clinically. About the transgender and intersex problems. They were interesting. Pictures. Horrible. But i still could not apply them to my situation. Actually i was probably still very very deep. State of denial. My wife died in 1999 after 33 years of wonderful marriage. And after seeing both kids married. She been sick for several years or death was neither sudden or unexpected. It did however leave a big hole in my life. Shortly after her death i retired from some 30 years of government service. Once i was on my own. I bought several articles of women's clothing. I still did not dare wear them outside the house. And that was really very satisfactory. Georgia. Threw them all out. Then. In the famous words of hayley mills in the trouble with angels. I had a really brilliant idea. I bought selected items with women's apparel. But appeared to be completely androgynous. I could wear them outside the house. And no one would ever know. But me. I build a complete wardrobe that consisted of shorts blouses underwear and shoes. Play that time i had also acquired. A pig. Pushy. Beard. And a very bald pate. So i had little fear that anyone would think that i was anything but a man. I retained a couple of my male outfits for you when i absolutely had to appear male. It was a good compromise. But it was not fulfilling. I struggle alone until 2007. Still trying to be the man that i thought i was. And i knew i was failing. I was very depressed. I was getting more and more desperate. Finally in march 2007. I found myself sitting at home. With a load in 45. Seriously debating. Was there or not. I should simply in. I had the gun in my hand ready to use. When somehow. I found the courage to put it down. A result been in there that's the course i have been following all my life. I'd like to nothing but stress and pain. So it was time to chart a new course. Can you imagine just how hard it is. To discourage your entire life. Everything. You have lived with for 65 years. Start fresh. Why you made a tentative diagnosis with my problem. Facebook so i had ridden internet sites i had visited. I believed i was a transexual. So on that basis i started working on my problem. Turn down with cheese. I mean i made an appointment. With an electrologist. To remove my beard. Step number one. She took one look at me. During our initial consultation and said. You're a transexual aren't you. I said yes i am. So she told me to lie back. She started working. She became my first therapist. Teacher and staunch supporter. Next i just added my family doctor to ask for hormones. To my utter surprise he agreed immediately. I sometimes wonder. What is c. The first prescriptions he wrote out. Referral fairy limited dosage. A few weeks later we had a meeting of the minds concerning the proper dosage. Third i went looking for an actual therapist. Who's experienced in working with gender dysphoria. I found an excellent rogerian in orlando and we started a course of visits. Then i had to tell the kids. I invited them to a pizza party. We want my pizza. But they themselves had always suggested the previous pizza party. Since i had never suggested such a thing myself. Renewing advance. Something was up. Actor playing with pizza and wine. I laid it all out cold. I told him that i was a transexual. But i was going to change my gender. And that the father they had known. Was about to disappear. Their lives. Forever. Do their credit lead said. Okay so what else is new. Apparently i really had raised him well. They have to this date remain steadfastly supportive of. Breaking lemore here. In june. I was officially diagnosed with gender dysphoria. And had a confirmed course of treatment but part of me. 1960s dr. harry benjamin study gender dysphoria and created a course of treatment for it. That standard was codified in the fourth edition of the american motorcycle association diagnostic and statistical manual. It was later adopted by the world professional association for transgender health. And has recently been upgraded based on your current research. I suddenly became very busy. I had to build a completely new wardrobe. Change my name and prepare for my real life. Experience. A year of living full-time. 24/7. As a woman. On august 24th 2007. Robin when kelly was born. On september 1st. Robin lynn made her first public debut. In front of the walmart in the villages. Collecting money. For muscular dystrophy. Once before i had promised my tall cedars forest. But i would help them. On that weekend. And i saw no reason not to honor. Promise. When i came out as robin. My wife became an absolute shambles. Of all the hundreds of friends and acquaintances. But i had amassed over the years. Less than 25 people. We're still speaking to me. The rest. We're speaking about me. My christmas card list immediately dwindled to a total of 9 people. It was my therapist. Who suggested that i feel the obvious void in my life. Unitarian universalist church. Good for me. So far he's been right. I'm now an active member zuu congregation of lake county. I have never been an activist. Loudmouth yes. But not an activist. Knowing being drawn into the local transgender community and its problems. I have several friends both locally and online that are more transgender. I feel rightly or wrongly. But the more people who know what gender dysphoria is all about. The better life will be for all of us. Most transgender people lead a very closeted life. It is generally said that they live in stealth mode. They desperately attempt to protect their actual condition. Out of fear of being mistreated should they be discovered. Look at you with facts. Concerning transgender individuals. The term transgenders used today as an umbrella term. To encompass crossdressers transsexuals in the intersex. We still don't know exactly how many transexuals there are. The commonly accepted estimate is one in 1,000 births. We don't know because the tistic. We're never collected. Passed the 1960s. There is no source. Current date. I recently. Survey was sent out. Trying to reach as much as a transgender community as possible by. National center for transgender equality. And the received about 6,500 responses. Random sample that was pretty good. One does not choose. To be a transsexual. Transsexuals like homosexuals are born and not made by genetics or environment. Gender dysphoria is not catching. An imbalance in hormones in the mother's body sometime around the 12th week of pregnancy. And cause the child to be born a transexual. If the imbalance occurs around the 16th week of pregnancy the child may be born a homosexual. A person is not officially transexual. Until he or she has been diagnosed as such by drop properly trained and experienced personnel. The most recent standards of care have eliminated the long-standing requirement for a psychological evaluation. But therapy was a trained professional still recommended. To ensure that the individual knows what he or she is doing. And is aware of the permanence. Completing the treatment. What's the transsexual is ready. Your she will begin a course of hormones prescribed by an endocrinologist or other knowledgeable physician. Androgen and aldactone for the male-to-female. Pinterest ostrom for the female to male. The year of living in the desired gender. Is no longer required. O'shucks. Whatever the transsexual can afford it here she may apply for genital reassignment surgery the final step in the treatment program. The biggest turtle that's a transsexual has to face is his or her appearance. Knowing inwardly that you are one gender while appearing outwardly as the other. Gimpy a problem. Younger male-to-female transsexual who can afford it may also include facial feminization breast augmentation and voice training. Fools of us who are past our prime. Just make two. The transsexual. Is often not accepted. Even by members of his or her own family. Family members have been known to completely reject a transsexual child apparent. Not to mention the horrible strain such condition places on a marriage. No wonder the transsexual chooses to live a stop life. Hiding from everyone. And dealing with the desperation and stress in private agony and isolation. In such cases online and local support groups where the transsexual can meet and talk with others facing the same challenges. Without fear of injury or ostracism. Or invaluable. What types of discrimination can a transexual face. Well. Total ostracism by many different religions. No that one was coming. Termination from refusal employment and housing we're struggling to get laws in place that will prevent that but we have only succeeded in a few states. Refusal by ems remt personnel to treat or transport and yes that is real. A friend of mine called for emergency transportation to the hospital. Ems flight suit know they weren't coming. Refusal of police to respond to a known transexual. Some police officers have been known to refuse to backup a fellow transexual officer who is known to be in harm's way and that actually happened. Do transsexual i know. She was in a hazardous situation called for backup. And all the officers who knew her condition refuse to respond. Luckily she managed to work her way out of the situation. But. It wasn't pleasant. Desertion and rejection by family and friends. Arrest by police for trulia trivial offenses and assignment to the general population of jails. Use your imagination. When a transexual is assigned to the general population of a jail. It is not. In fact. Another story. Yeah i got time squeak again. Miss florida. Was passing through. Southern florida community with shall go unnamed. And she was pulled over by a police officer for perhaps exceeding the speed limit a little bit. Officer came up to the car chatted with her very polite very friendly. After chatting for a few minutes he said well let me run your license. And if you have no other problems. You're on your way just a little. Verbal warning. He went back grandma license. Came back to the car in a few minutes. Chadwell mister. You see in florida and probably elsewhere driver's licenses are kept on file and available to police officers for 7 to 10 years. He saw an old license. When he left her she was an absolute tears. And holding ticket. For the maximum amount. He could have signed for speeding. Police are not. Mediterranean the audience. My apologies to you but still. Overall learn.org. There are far more suicides among transexuals than in the general population. But ncte study that i mentioned earlier ask that particular question. 47% of the respondents reported having attempted suicide at least once. Attempted suicide rate in the general population is 1 and 1/2. Awesome. They're subject to taunting and attacks especially while in the real life experience. From others while out in public. Of course of treatment. For this condition does not come cheaply. It cost him $60,000 for the male-to-female. And well over $100,000 for the female to male. The hyksos often prevents the average transsexual from attaining the final step. Even hormone treatment and therapy sessions. Are beyond the ability of some to afford. And hormone replacement therapy especially for the male-to-female will be required for life. I had my genital reassignment surgery in october 2008 by dr. marci bowers. In trinidad colorado. I am now on my last leg of the journey through life. I feel happier and more peace now than at any other time in my life. Is always worth it. Oh yes. I only wish i had been able to start. 50 years sooner. Thank you all.

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2010Jun06sermon128.mp3

This sermon contains interlocking words on values plus him and the reading so i'm going to ask you to remain seated for these hymns until i say is right. Delight yes the truth yes to love the essence of a good life well-lived. Laughing and crying and sharing and questioning that leads me to value number to seek out new ideas and new learning opportunities frequently as you attempt to broaden your outlook on life how often have you seen not seeing his sorrow ever lost touch. I really resume with that last line work every door is open wide or all who choose to step inside. along with me now rather than words at home and workplace in the community they're the wind. It comes that time to extinguish the chalice light the words are in your order of service as well as on the screen repeat with me please the chalice light is going out for this day but we carry a life this day we let our light shine so others may see they are like never go out and closing from the writings of john ruskin the most important question to keep before ourselves at all times is this do we do the right thing during this short. of time.

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2010Jun27sermon32.mp3

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2013Feb24Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. What a beautiful day to be in florida this morning after that refreshing and surprising rain last night. The all the world is for fresh this morning i hope you are too. Welcome. Unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida. We are so pleased you have chosen to be with us this morning. We are occurring gation standing on the side of love. Seeking always to become our best selves even as we work. To make for a better world. Please know you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight. Black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What's your feeling on top of the world down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We welcome you this morning and all of your particularity in need. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. You will find something here at least a nugget. Thrasher spirit and feed your soul and give you a new energy and joy for the living of life's adventure. In the days and weeks ahead. Welcome to this. Our spiritual home. We gather within the four walls each week to celebrate life and give snacks. For the miracle of human being. We gather within these four walls each week. To seriously reflect our lives. And strive to become the best possible person. We gather within these four walls each week to share with our children or highest values. And teach them the ways of gentleness compassion. Justice and respect. We gather within these four walls each week to remember. And our responsibility to all persons. Most especially those who are in need. Or despair. We gather within these four walls each week to calm our spirits. Enliven our minds. Open our hearts. Empower our hands. Our lives glad and our world a better place. It is good. To be together. We spend our lives in relationships. Ourtime in relationships begins at or maybe even before the moment of birth. First we are in relation with our primary caregiver usually our mother. Discover father. Siblings other family members. Before long we have playmates neighbors when we enter school there are teachers and classmates. We begin to play sports and their teammates. We go to work and we discover co-workers in bosses and maybe subordinates. We are in relation with lovers husband's partners. In college or elsewhere maybe we have roommates. We interact with authority figures like government officials and police officers social workers. Maybe we have children. And later grandchildren even great-grandchildren. Hearing this congregation. You interact with one another. As fellow members. Intellectual parts on the individual. Oftentimes the rights and interests of the individual or place before those of the community. Each one individually. You can easily think of examples in which the interests of the individual. Come into conflict with those of the community. Affirmative action is 1. One where there's been a good deal of public attention in recent years. You're right to be concerned about the interests and rights of every individual. But the fact is that we are in relationships first. And we function as individuals only secondarily. Relationships are very. Very important to us. And the way we live. It turns out relationships are not always easy to live in a managed care for. Living in relationships calls us to give up some of our own rights. For the sake of the other person or persons in the relationship and maybe even for the sake of the relationship itself. This is not easy to do. Open because we simply don't know how to do it. We're concerned about relationships and how we conduct ourselves in them. The proof of this is that there's a constant flow of books and other materials about relationships and improve them fail by john gottman. Now there are several levels on which we can deal with our role in relationships. Closest to the surface is the kind of self-help books and information that we're all familiar with. Go to barnes & noble or borders or amazon.com or wherever it is you go for books and you'll find stacks of self-help books. Get along with the opposite sex. How to get along with your spouse. How to get along with your boss. How to get along with your children. How to get along with your neighbors. These books will give you specific advice about relationship relationship. How do i do this specific thing. Happens in my relationship. What do i do this or that relationship circumstance. Example everywhere i found this one from. Certainly on the internet. Particular case is case from the workplace. Question. There's an employee in my department except. No matter what happens it is always someone else's fault. How should i deal with him. Answer. One way to deal with him is to try to focus more on the concept of coaching and less on the concept of blame. The next time he makes a mistake. Give him feedback as soon as possible and base it on specific performance data. Be sure that he clearly understands what he did and how his inaction or action led to the issue at hand. If the problem was truly the fault of others. Ask him how he might have prevented it from occurring in the first place. Indicate you are less concerned with pointing a finger at anyone and more concerned with preventing this from happening again. Demonstrate the kinds of actions that would have worked more effectively in that particular situation. And ask him what he's going to do to help prevent this problem in the future. Well that's pretty good advice. That's pretty good advice and newspaper columns and radio and tv talk shows were plenty of such. You know all about them. Certainly there are a lot of learnable technique which we can use to ease our dealings with others with whom we are in relationship. Here's some samples you probably heard all these bits of advice. Before. Use my statements. Which refer to yourself rather than to the other person. Tell about your own feelings rather than the other person's actions or worse yet motive. Refer only to the immediate situation rather than bringing up. Past behavior and past grievances. I was worried when you didn't come home until after midnight. It's much less likely to start an argument then. You stayed out after midnight. Avoid criticizing the other person. When you're reacting to that person's behavior. If you find yourself using the words always or never. You're probably criticizing. You always leave the window open. It's much more full of blame and criticism than saying. How someone left the window open and it rained in. You never take me out to dinner. It's probably not going to get you taken out to dinner nearly as likely as something like. I was hoping we could go out to dinner tonight. Words of contempt. Are sure to stoke up anger and keep it stoked up if you weren't such a failure we can afford to go on vacation. That's a sure way to start a fight and keep it going. What about shane. You suppose there's a way we could afford a vacation this year. How about this. You left your dirty dishes in the sink again. You always leave your dirty dishes in the sink you never clean up after yourself. I guess it's all i can expect from you. You learned how to keep house from your mother. Bringing up a person's family of origin particularly the mother. Is a sure way to stoke up anger. It's very inflammatory. When does be better what if a person's head. When dirty dishes are left in the sink. I worried that we might get ants in the kitchen. It's hard to argue with that it's an objective statement has a rational reason and it doesn't refer at all. To the offender. Who left the dirty dishes in the sea. Richard advice like this winter so readily available can in fact help us with our relationships. They represent the surface-level on which we can begin to deal with those relationships in which we live. But there are deeper levels on which we can examine and begin to understand our relationships. And our behavior in those relationship. The ways in which we respond to human interactions are deeply programmed into us from very early childhood. Without intending to or even knowing it. Remodel our behavior after the relationships that we saw and lived in. At the very earliest age. That is why behavior is learned in the family repeat. From one generation to the next. There is statistical evidence to support the idea that a person who comes from a home where there was physical abuse. Is more likely to commit physical abuse in his own home. As an adult. A person who grew up in a home where alcohol was a problem is more likely to have a problem with alcohol himself. We know this is true for seriously dysfunctional behavior such as domestic violence and severe alcoholism because these matters come to the attention of caregivers and even to the attention of the legal system and so can be gathered about them. But our common sense and our experience tell us it is also true of less destructive behavior. Little ways in which we respond to authority. Criticism. Counseling. The advice given in a newspaper column about the worker who could never accept blame for his mistakes. To try what was in that advice. What kind of deeper level. We paused wonder what brought about that employees behavior in the first place. What do you suppose it was like. For him to make a mistake. As a child. And his family of origin. Do you suppose his father punished him. Whenever he made a mistake. You suppose his mother withheld her affection. Whatever may have been there specific techniques they taught him that it is not okay. To make a mistake. And the result is that for him. The opportunity of growth and wisdom which comes from making a mistake. Recognizing it. And learning from it. Is not available to him. Instead he works at trying to blame someone else. Changing behavior such as this. Which she probably does not even recognize. Is very hard work indeed. The behavior needs to be recognized. Named and understood. And then we have to work hard to substitute some other more desirable behavior. Whenever that same situation occurs. There are many theories about the behaviors that we learn in our early years. The child psychologist john bowlby describes patterns of what he calls. Attachment behavior. Attachment behavior. Interpreters secure attachment the individual is confident or frightening situation. This pattern of attachment leads to boldness in exploration of the world. In a pattern of anxious resistant attachment. The individual is uncertain. Whether the parent will be available when needed. This child is prone to separation anxiety and cleaning behavior. And is anxious about exploring the world going out into the world. This anxiety is caused by the parents sometimes not being available. Or by threats of abandonment used as control. In a pattern of anxious avoidant attachment. The individual has no confidence that he will be responded to helpful and even expects to be rebuffed. When this individual attempts to live his life without the support and love of others. He tries to become emotionally self-sufficient any may be diagnosed as narcissistic. It is interesting that the child who learns this pattern. Anxious avoidant attachment where he doesn't expect. To receive any kind of support. This child is very likely to grow up to be a bully. Or the victim of a bully. It is not so much the specific behavior as the whole dynamics of the relationship. That the child learns. And then as an adult. That person is likely to assume one of the rolls. From that relationship. You probably know the various theories about the effects of where you are in the birth order lineup. You want a powerful effect it has on your development. In classic birth order theory the eldest child is a high fever. This child was surrounded by adults from the very beginning of life. And work to act like them and to live up to their standards. The youngest child on the other hand can't possibly live up to the standards of his older siblings. The result is he doesn't even try. Instead the youngest child is awesome a free spirit who follows her own path in life without much regard for other people's expectations. This child may have been pampered and baby because she was the baby of the family. Youngest children are often very creative. The middle child. Existing in between these two extremes often takes on the role of communicator. Negotiator. Peacemaker. Apologist. Myself. And that's a pretty fair description of me. My two daughters are also well described by the classic birth order theory descriptions of the elder. And the younger. Jesus. Understood all of this very well. He didn't have the benefit of modern clearly understood interpersonal psychology. He understood it and thought it better than the other major prophets to whom we look for wisdom. Each of those prophets has his own gifts. Buddha taught more deeply than jesus the interior practices of thought. The ways of sitting and breathing to make them effective. The means of controlling our thoughts and even our drives and directing them in the way that we wish them. To go. Taught about the contradictions and ambiguity in everyday life with his simple little aphorisms. Like. Yield and overcome. Bend and be straight. Have little. And be rich. But it was jesus who understood and taught about the depth of everyday human relations. That's why i chose the parable of the prodigal son and his older brother. As one of our reading of the name of it it's very important. It's not just the prodigal son it's. The prodigal son and his older brother and you will find at least in some bibles where they list out the various elements it will be that's the way it'll be described the prodigal son and his older brother. That's very important because the elder brother is an important part of the story about a family. Family have jealousy. Sibling rivalry and suspicion of favoritism. The brothers just play classic. The elder conforms to the expectations of his father and does the work. The younger goes his own way and doesn't conform at all. In terms of attachment theory. The younger son clearly displays a pattern of secure attachments. He's not afraid to go out into the world. Nor is he afraid to come back. So this tells us a good deal about his childhood. This level of understanding ourselves and relationships is much deeper. And more profound than the simple. How to level. Of the self-help books. But there is a deeper level yet. To which we can turn. The deepest level on which we can examine our own behavior in relationships. Is the one in which we examine our own relationship with the holy. With that. Essence of the universe which surrounds and transcends us. And with some people know as god. How we understand ourselves in relationship to god. Very likely only at a subconscious level. Colors how we respond and all kinds of situations. Relationship. Forest church. Who died just a couple of years ago after a long illness he had for many years have been minister of the unitarian church of all souls in manhattan. And forestry dozens of books. In one of his books. He tells of the conversation that he sometimes has with a person who says to him. I don't believe in god. Tell me about the god you don't believe in. Forest invites. Off and then he says he will hear of a god. Who punishes us. Who berates us. Who expect more than we can deliver. Who ignores. What about. Forest in suggest. What about the god who walks with us. The god who inclines an ear to us when we cry out. The god who will not suffer us to dash our foot against a stone. The god who protects and hides us. In the shadow of his wing. One of these two very different ideas of the transcendence. I've been programmed into each one of us. From the very earliest days of our lives. How much do you have two pictures. Are like the very behaviors we might have encountered. Premier apparel. I invite you to think about your own very earliest relationships. As a way of understanding your relationship behavior. So how shall we get along with one another from day-to-day how should we understand and regulate our own behavior and their relationships which are so important to us. As you struggle and work to maintain and enhance your relationships. May you find plenty of surface how to advice from dear carolina dr. phil or your favorite book store or wherever you like to go on the internet whatever source it feels to you. May the teachings of modern psychology illuminate your understanding of your relationships. And your behavior in them and help you to make them grow and mature. And become better and for. And may your understanding of a holy. Also begin to become clear to you. So that you may consciously make your relationships with others. A mirror of your relationship with all that is good. In the universe. May it be so for each. Call may the blessing of truth be upon us. The power of love direct us and sustain us. And may the peace of this community preserve are going out and are coming in. From this time forth. Until we meet again. Go in peace.

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2014May18Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased you've decided to begin this beautiful sunday with us here. We are caragacianu open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual cell. Even this together we worked to make this world a better place. And please know as i say every sunday you are welcome precisely as you come to us. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you have a ged or a phd. Whether you are a visitor here this morning or have been coming for decades. Whether you were feeling on top of the world. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between we welcome. Just as you come. We hope you will find our service this morning. Meaningful enriching at you'll find something here. That nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose for the living of life in the days ahead. Almost 40 years i hand type this on my hermes portable typewriter in houlton maine. Colleague named john curotto had written it. When i showed it to him yesterday he didn't recognize it. These are opening words for this morning written by my friend. This is our special place we make it so by our presence. For our church is not a building. It is not mortar or stained glass. It is not an institution or a doctrine even. It is a people. Our time here is special to not because of decree or creed. But because we choose to lend our presence at this time. We are here to lend our presents. To share moments of ourselves. To live questions. Which seek answers which two will be live. We are here because we can grow in humanity. By keeping in touch with ourselves. With one another and with the history and flow. Of our free religion. We are here because we can better remember who we are. And that we are important. Everyone. Are goodness and importance. And remembering is affirmed when we think. And cher. And laugh and are together. In this chosen place and time. Welcome. To our church. Well good morning again. And first i want to thanks god and all of you for inviting me back i. Certainly enjoy being here and you're receptive and open faces. Make me a better preacher than i am so i love it. And i do want to say one thing about the music before i. Ligaments meditation. We all have our different ways of focusing shattering meditating whatever you want to call it. And one of the ways that i do it most intensely is i. Go to the piano in the morning. And. Without preconceived and something i will. Pick a song an old song something that i've heard before not knowing even sometimes what key i'm going to play it in. And consider it a love letter from the past. And a love letter sent as a bunch of notes in a wet a bunch of notes that are started in this web of sound. And i get in that web. And then i kind of explorer not knowing always where i'm going to go with it or even if i'm going to stay in the same key. And in that way i'm just so focused i do it my music teacher told me to do years ago and i never did then which is concentrate concentrate concentrate. And be right in the moment to tell you what you heard in case you never heard the melody or if you heard it didn't understand it. Olive detering you played how deep is the ocean so i played that it's an old irving berlin tune and then i played the song that adam probably son to eat if you were the only girl in the world and to take you out this morning at the end i will probably but i'm not sure play an old song some of you will remember called wrap your troubles in dreams. But now. These words autumn take it wherever they need to. Good god we are a queer lot. So unique so different so odd. Each of us all of us every. Brother and sister creation. It's as if each and all of us where some part of some grand fairy tale told by a master spinner of tales and maker of stories. That's exactly who we are. We are children of something that loves stories. Who loves each and every story and loves them with almost a foolish passion. Yet despite how i'd the different we are. To the eye that beholds it all we are one covering the earth. Even the snowflakes eat unique each oddly beautiful. Form one blanket. So help us all of us see how we are all so preciously queer. And feel hot we are all passionately loved. And know that in the eyes of eternity. We are one. Amen. I have been told and i found this to be true that. When you talkin to a liberal congregation. And you have any. Biblical references. But you better check them out a little bit to see if they know stuff so. I'd like to start with little association test here and help me out. I just fill in the blank adam and. Hey pretty good huh this one even has a couple answers david and. Hey that's good. Noah's. Oh you're fine you know some people get that confused with the. Joan of arc. His wife but at any rate of but there's a difference you see because noah's ark. Is made of wood. And joan of arc was made of oregon's so they aren't the same thing by. Oh there's one more then. This is real test. The shortest. Man in the bible. Who's that. Matthew well that's one answer but i always thought it was build that because he was a shuhite. That's enough of that isn't it. Well actually this is seriously. I did ask once if. You know people knew about the biblical people and i said how many of you have heard of and how many of you've never heard of. And how many of you have never heard of adam and eve and seriously there was some hands that went up so i learned that you'd better check it out. Garmin start today with a. A biblical myth. And the myth is a story that tells an important truth on many different levels. And this myth deals with modern communication or lack of it and it's found in the 11th. The 11th chapter the book of genesis so if you have your bibles you can open them up there if you want. The story goes like this. Now the whole earth had one language and few words. And his men migrated from the east they found a plain in the land of shinar and settled there. And then they said come let us build ourselves a city. At a tower with it stop to the heavens. And then let us make a name for ourselves lest we be scattered abroad on the face of the earth. And the lord came down to see. The city and the tower with some of the men that built. And the lord said behold they are one people and they shall have one language. This is only the beginning of what they will do. Let us go down and there confuse their language that they may not understand one another speech. So the lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the earth and left off the building of the city. Therefore its name was called babel because they're the lord confuse the language of all the earth. And from there the lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. So the folks got bad and they were ground that's the essence of that story i guess. And i must wander. What are the longings of the questions or the needs. The delta smith the story maybe it grew out of the. Fact people wanted to understand why there were so many different languages in the world i don't know. But i do know that we have a different language problem today which i want to talk about a few minutes. Because the tower of babel today it's about spelled differently babble it's built out of words. Words that give us several removes from rounding and being grounded. Several removes from earthiness from reality from. The directness of our experience. And just as this mythical. Tower of babel. Grew to be perilously removed. From the earth. Our babel removes us perilously. The back to the element for just a minute. So god is the bad guy right he's rounding the people and he's punishing them. Well. The. Most problems. Unitarian theologian of the 20th century. James luther adams didn't think so this is what he wrote. Diversity of place and perspective and language is appropriate for creatures who come into the world scattered individual incomplete. So the ancient. Method bible tells it's the way it is our differentness is there and it's expressed in many ways because we are born individually we are born in different places two different times with different gifts under different circumstances. And do we have a common humanity each of us brings something new something. Potentially different subdue understanding. You know what does it mean to be you we can be in the same church the same time. What does it mean to be you and what do you see the same thing as apple music that's as close to a common languages we have. And yet. We are. West by the diversity of a bach of a beethoven of a brubeck of a of a basically of a bob wills and the texas playboys thank god. Of all of those. It seems to me that this god of babel is is really an appreciative. Wonderful god. Who affirmed this diversity. So that when people express the beauty of the human body it could be mikelangelo it could be should gall it could be leonardo it could be picasso it could be seeing people and expressing that beautifully in a different way. And with tragedy we go from what. Jobe's oedipus to. The king lear to willy loman we are not of one time even though we express some of the same things. We are not of one huh. But here we go again. Babel. Well we're trying somehow to. To squeeze us together as if we were some kind of pimento that you're sticking and outer. In modern babel we try to follow up god's curriculum. Remove from concrete instances and differences toward abstract blandness we remove ourselves from our experience what it means to be us and we create a world of uncensored let me illustrate. I'm sure many of you here are familiar with george carlin the comedian and social critic. And one of the things he wants said he was talking about words and syllables in concreteness. I wanted examples is particularly. Are profound it personal to me. He takes the phrase shell shocked. Two words. Very vivid you know what they mean. What a my grandfather's onofre was a veteran in the world war. One where he was disabled. He was gassing shot the machine gun. And when he came home in a robbery he was shot again. Johanna shellshock. You know what that was july 4th he wasn't out there with the firecrackers he was in bed staying away in the middle of the house but we have gone as carlin points out from shellshock. Two syllables. Wwii battle fatigue four syllables and now seven syllables post-traumatic sets that stress syndrome. All of them removed from that which you know and you hear. I don't know where common level. You can't buy a used car two syllables you have to buy a car this previously owned. Okay. And is that truthful. Previously owned could mean i bought it and i kept it on the lot and i never stepped into it. But use the something different remove from concrete experience i don't buy ink anymore it's. Writing fluid. You know that. And maybe you can notice how in this age of babble words get puffed up things get puffed up. The word event helps you knows how much is vent is used you don't go to assail you go to a sale event. I thought the sale was an event. Nothing's worse than redundancy how true how true. And churches puff things up. We don't go to church we have now religious communities. You know everything to make it sound important. And i was talking to scott about this the other day about. Some ministers will come into the church and say. I wanted in my contract that i have sabbath time. Now you and i would call that a day off okay. And in reality what the church grants administer is a day off and whether he or she wants to use it the sabbath time to get on their knees or if they want to buy a fishing license or see their allstate agent you know you don't care but that's their business but the puff it up and sort of a. Here i am i'm going to be having sabbath time. More importantly sometimes we use words that equivocate. Or even deceive. Love is cartoon the wizard of oz. And there is the wizard there's the king on on end of his belvedere saying to the people he says you are no longer vassals. If you are now so see it's i know why i can't get any help in the store anymore. There are no more clerks there are no more salespeople or cashier's they're only associate's now. And i don't think that gets them any more pay. And i am no longer a customer. I'm a guest. And i wonder if i'm a guess why don't they say why you come in and have a seat maybe a little drinking and notch. I mean if i'm a guest. I might have a customer. I'm just going through these things because there are so many ways in which we get away from concrete reality. We use words to soften things up and be. Politically correct that's a whole other sermon and by the way. Do you know where the word political correctness comes from. That comes from the soviet era. Totalitarian russia. To be politically correct and now the people who say well we're more sensitive and liberal are the people who are being politically correct to watch out for that stuff. Anyway. Under the nixon administration. We stopped having poor people are there were bureaucrats who were not allowed to use the word poor they had to say economically disadvantaged. Today schoolspeak of exceptional children. And when they say that i swear i don't know exactly how the children are exceptional. It used to be that an exceptional child with someone who got a plus. And now it may mean they have some kind of disability. So i don't know but they won't say the real word what's really happening what does it mean to be that child what does it mean to be you what does it mean to use language that doesn't. Tell what's really happening. Mentally ill. I was on the board of a mental hospital. I'm not in it by the way but on the board of it. And mentally ill people weren't weren't the old and anyway they didn't have any particular diagnosis they had a. Functional deficit. And they were a target for service strategies. And i swear that i get in that boarding with say what the hell does that mean. And sometimes i couldn't tell me that's what really made it awful. You know he even not here. Even masturbation has lost its earthiness it's now. Self-pleasuring. Which to me might also mean getting an ice cream soda or reading a good book. I. Brody himself you may be familiar with its in the hymn book voice still and small. And it got politically correct it. Because it's it in manual cd edition in storm and rain which is redundant. It was supposed to be in dark and rain. But dark was deemed. Tubi. Racist. + -. It's a negative image. So i asked these people we arguing about this later and i said you mean like dancing in the dark. You mean like dark eyes these are negative things. It it gets really really very strange. Then of course. In battle there are words and phrases that make absolutely no sense. Go to the airport and they say now we are pre-boarding. How can you pre-board. Did you pre hear what i was going to say. But the trouble is besides being amusing and annoying sometimes these things high terrible realities. I guess it's a nation we should be proud that we don't torture people anymore we use enhanced interrogation techniques. Instead of two syllables that tell you what's happening we use 9 to make it sound better. And people who are accidentally killed in war are collateral damage. I suppose they are acceptable. Casualties during a preemptive strike. The trouble is that modern babel. Distance is us from reality that sometimes we would rather not face and we ought to call it every time we hear it. But it isn't just about words it's sometimes about controlling the words that people use. One example now if if i use examples about unitarian universalist it's because that's the group i know most so don't not that i'm picking on anybody it's just that i know them and i'm sure it goes on other places. An important thing of course is is to talk about things like diversity multiculturalism. And racism. And there's a program where one of the few logical school says and will show you how to hold a conversation. Isn't that something you know faith of the free. You know my thoughts are free but you're going to show me how to talk i mean you're free to ask anything you want. But. Once again that's let's make you pimentos and we'll put you in the olives. Another example of this that i've seen use is the fabulous i-statement do anybody know what i statements are. No try to avoid blaming and saying you know you're a such-and-such. It's supposed to be there's a there's a fine and i feel. That when you do this. Because. I've always had trouble with. I feel hurt when you drop a hammer on my toe because it hurts i mean it doesn't. The intent is good. And i think it's a good tool sometime but unfortunately more often than not in my experience people who use this when cyst that you. Talk this way i'm more interested in controlling the conversation than hearing what does it mean to be you. What does it mean to have your experience communicated to me they want you to do it in their way. I think it's a free person you have the right to say i prefer to speak in my own voice thank you and in my own way. Because the real question in real conversation is. What does it mean to be you. Babel formulations don't like that. Besides which they get in the way of good clean communication. Example. In one of the churches i serve the. President devore name susan. I had a couple of teenagers. Apple eyes and she was. They were doing the chores the way she liked to so she started with this formulation of i owe when you i feel because in one of the kids stopped right away it's it's mom if you wanted to do the dishes just ask. Given our uniqueness or individual uniqueness you know the trouble is we've shown an incredible tendency. Speaking ways which deny the depths and the breadth of our gifts of our. Experiences of our perceptions. And when we lapse into battle we not only deny the preciousness in the uniqueness of each individual even though we say we believe in the worth and value of each. We promote confusion and obscurity rather than understanding and clarity. We confuse intellectualization more syllables more important with intelligence. And abstraction with depth. And we put ourselves worst of all in a remove from the world that were participating in. We remove ourselves babel. Not shell-shocked but i've got. We diminish our ability therefore not only to communicate. And to listen but to help to bring some healing to a world that is. Continually hurting. Consider good direct auto. Consider this suppose that. Martin luther king jr.. Addressing those tens of thousands of people. Gathered in front of the mall. Front of the lincoln memorial on. August 28th 1963 had said. In the best most lernard lingo of the day. At the end of the day after giving 110 per cent. To a robust complex and factor sets. I have a conceptualization i like the surface and sharon process with you. About the actualization of a more holistic and richly blended transacting again transracial lifestyle. I thank the god of babel. And the parting of the red sea and a daniel liberated from the lion's den and all liberating deities that he did not he said simply i have a dream. Direct you know what a dream is we know what half is. We know what i was. In the beginning was the word. In the beginning is the word. And we can choose to use language which speaks of our gifts language which brings clarity rather than confusion. It brings peace rather than war. We can show that we will use our intelligence and our schooling and a way which will neither hurt. Nor deceive. We can choose our words. Perhaps we can even help the language we can help shape the language in the world that we. Encounter every day and that's what we must do whether it's at home. At school is a volunteer in government and business in the professions. In human service agencies we can help. By just cutting through. And getting right to it. In the beginning was the word. And the beginning is the word. We can work in the babylon our lives we can challenge it we can question it. We can do our damnedest to refuse to be imprisoned by it. Well i began with a passage from the bible so i'll end with one this is much more obscure. It is something that reiterates a mythological form what we can do and what we must do about babel. It concerns hezekiah when he was king of israel. And in his time people worshipped an idol it was made of brass and it was in the form of a snake. Now what they have done if they had invested in this object a lot of religious significance. Hezekiah song. Pawtucket. He broken. And he said. This is the hoschton. This is the hoschton which means this is just a snake made of brass. That's what it is. This is no god. He called a snake a snake. We must call a spade a spade an aardvark and aardvark a strawberry strawberry award reward torture. Torture. There's too much distance and harm in the world. That's hidden behind battle. We hearers of the word. And doers of the word must also be choosers of the word and shapers of the word. Because we have the power to help shape. Not only our lives the lives of others lives of humanity. So let's use it well. Amen. The most necessary of all faiths george bush compromise us. Is faith in ourselves. Not faith that we will always be wise when we are awesome foolish. But faith that our best we are capable of wisdom and that we can be taught to be wiser than we are. North face it will always be good. For we are sometimes wiccan. But faith that we can be inspired to greater goodness. And greater compassion. Nothing. We will always be strong and brave. For the best of us is often week. What states that we are capable of strength. And that through faith our potentiality is in our potentiality. Comes greater firmness. Nothing. The we are always wise. Or good. Or brave or strong. But that we are capable. I'll becoming wise enough. Good enough. Brave enough and strong enough. To make a habitable world. You are the light of the world. See the light. Be the light. There's a light. Share the light. And be blessed and a blessing. Amen.

uufvb_org

2011Oct02Sermon128.mp3

Morning i begin my year-long sermon series on 12 gates to the city i don't want you to read it now but i put this into your orders of service it's going to run all year long. And as you can see from this description. The central affirmation of my series which i passionately believe in. Is it we human beings were made intended if you will. To experience divine traffic. That's my phrase divine traffic between ourselves and all that is sacred and worthy and beautiful and fun. In our creation we were made if you will for deep. And holy interchange. For life-sustaining relationships in this rich and amazing world of ours. And how. We bring ourselves to life can make all of the. How we allowed vine traffic. Is a saving. And i'll be returning to this theme. All year long. But i want to begin this morning by talking about one of the most important. Spiritual qualities i think any human being can possess namely enthusiasm. For enthusiasm is one of those things that allows for that divine traffic. Between ourselves. And the world we live in. The simple truth dear friend is it pure and simple enthusiasm for life is something we are all born with. But often lose along the way to prove my point about this natural enthusiasm which is our human birthright. I want you to watch another brief video clip some of you have seen this it's been making the rounds on the internet. Of too enthusiastic twin brothers. Who are having a conversation in their family kitchen. Notice that diapers pea play a role in both of the videos that i was the one common thing we've got going for a cell. I realize that video is hopelessly cute. But it makes a serious point about enthusiasm we avoid we disregard at our peril. Human beings are all more or less born into this world with nearly unbridled enthusiasm for this thing called life etonian. Enjoy watching. Young kids at the mall and stuff. All the energy and eagerness for life were born with witch. Under the pressing problems of life we all too often lose. What i'm going to suggest you this morning is it if we are to lead lives of fullness and joy in this creation we must as we get older and. Life loses some of its luster and he's. Which it always does. We must learn how to cultivate and keep. Are enthusiastic for the mirror gift. Human being. For the gift of life itself. Regardless of how complicated. And difficult life does beaker. When i was preparing the sermon immediately thought about an old friend of mine. The reverend david boynton park. A ministerial colleague of mine who has never lost his enthusiasm for life. I went online and it's the only picture of him i could fine. He doesn't look very cheerful. But what he is in this picture is very serious and intellectual and intent. All of which i remind you was a certain form of enthusiasm for life. David who is now 81 years old. And a colleague of mine has a nearly boundless and i might add infectious enthusiasm for life. And ideas and persons around him. When dna was passed out my friend david got the zest gene pure and simple there's nothing mild about the salsa. The flows in this guy's vein. Whenever i whenever he greets me as he did when i called him out of the blue last levels of the blue for me i knew i was going to preach the sermon about him i didn't tell him i just wanted to call him and chat with him. He said. As he always does. Quick to hear from you. He approaches everything in life. With an open and eager spirit. His favorite expression whether we are talking about the first. Touchdown of the monday night football game. Or some new book project here are undertaking. Or the alfredo sauce that his wife has just made. Or. What he did with one of his six grown children on vacation. His favorite expression is always. Everything is. With david. It's kind of a uu ministerial version of tony the tiger. I have many wonderful memories of time spent with this effervescent soul but one particular moment i'll never forget was a summer morning and extreme northern maine work collins and i. On the cottage david and his wife at the time marta. We're visiting us at this little wilderness lake cottage we had. It was a beautiful and language july morning on the lake. The gentle son. Peeking above the hills to the east. Loons off of the distance mystically chortling to the dawn. Steam rising from the still lake waters in response to the warming are david's wife and i david and she marta had been my intern and was a good friend. In the ministry at that time. We were down at the dock feet dangling she and i in the cooling waters with a hot cup of coffee each of us. Talking quietly about i don't know some aspect. The business. When suddenly david. Bony knees sticking out from beneath his bright blue nike shirt. With his hair all askew from the night on the pillow. Still lacking the dentures which he had taken out night before put in a glass. Next to his bed stand. He bounced out on the porch looking like this bowlegs no no teeth anyway. Morning. And i did it again for good measure. Morning. All that marta and i could do was laugh. Out loud it was absolutely hilarious here's his brilliant man with all of these complexities and challenges in his life. Fully aware. Of how difficult and tragic life. Terry was almost like a child. Mid-70s. Elderly unable to contain his enthusiasm simply. The gift. Of what was in fact. Stunning. He had an absolutely right. It was. Stunningly. Contrast my friend david's enthusiasm with that of another character from children's literature namely eeyore. From aa milne famous book. Winnie-the-pooh. Eeyore is you'll all remember from your winnie the pooh days is a listless laconic. Down at the mouth monkey who spends his whole life. Barely managing to even mope his way through his daisy or. As a character notice a little cloud above him. Is defined i think by a total lack of enthusiasm. He's almost dead to the world he is in. Barely aware of creations energy hardly contributing. To the energy pool around him. Now he or maybe endearing and non-threatening the kids when i went online looking for the right picture of eeyore. There were all kinds of pictures of kids hugging eeyore characters and stuff. Dolls. But the results so i think something profoundly sad about yours. Total lack of enthusiasm. He is i think by any measure kind of a tragic figure. Until contrasting my friend david's an energized enthusiasm with eeyore's total lack of it leads me to conclude that enthusiasm. Is without doubt one of those crucial qualities of human being a key possession of the human heart and soul. Which is a precious. Gateway. If you will. Full living. The etymology origins of the word enthusiasm any of you know at the tells you where i'm going spiritually. It's origins come from two greek words. Theo's which means god. And m which means in put together you get nco scism and it literally means. To be filled with god or to have the god. Within. Enthusiasm down in the original greek meaning. Is much more than simply getting really excited about something. Like a miami dolphins game or new york times sunday crossword puzzle why anybody finds those interest. Susie astic. That's my own prejudice. Enthusiasm it seems to me. Is a deeper longer-lasting quality of being filled in your life. With the spirit. The great spirit real. Enthusiasm is having within you the highest most sustaining energy of the universe. And this is the crucial piece of the equation it means. That you are able to vibrantly live. Your life out of that energy. Did you have energy. To contribute to the world. Having enthusiasm then in the deepest spiritual says. And now i'm talking to those of you who are comfortable with god language and for those of you who prefer not to use that line. Having enthusiasm is to have within you because you have allowed it in. An abundance of the life-sustaining and life-enhancing energy of the universe is out there. And it's available. To you. And to naturally then share that. Reggie with life and. Persons around you. Enthusiasm is being open to the divine energy traffic. Between you and the universe it is seeking. To come in and seeking. To go out but you have to be open. To it you have to open. The gate. To let that energy. I'm in. And to let that energy. My friend. David when he was on the dock going brahaha morning. Was answering the holy city of his own life. By allowing that divine traffic. The flow. From deep within. Unbridled. Let me put all this in one. I hope clear sentence. We have life-saving enthusiasm. When we open ourselves. To life's abundance divine traffic. And that's become one with the highest. And most energizing. Enthusiasm. Taking life energy in and letting it back out allows us to be fully engage participants. The precious life. Whether its enthusiasm. Quietly done through your eyes. For a beautiful sunrise. Or walk. The quiet woods. Or hog shared. What's a grandchild. Or a moment spent with a wonderful new idea discovered in a book. Enthusiasm. Is a spiritual quality that ally allows us to fully live. In the days which. We possess. But may not. Bully. But enthusiastic. As you all know is not always easy to have or to find. I have an old friend right now. Who's going through a really hard spiritual and emotional time. He recently lost one of his beloved grown children. To cancer. And is having a hard time he. Bouncing back from his grief and sorrow. Filled his soul. During his son's long struggle. 4life. This friend is usually a pretty enthusiastic and upbeat person but he reports to me that for the last few months. He just hasn't been able to find his characteristic enthusiasm. 4life. As he moves through his daily rounds. He often. He says i feel lethargic and empty. Things. That used to bring. My pleasure he said just don't right now. And i just can't find the energy and zest with which i'm used to living my life. This often happens to us of course. As human beings. When difficulties or tragedy occurs it's like a. Cloudberry. But just simply or a fogbank that just simply comes in and. Envelops us so we can't see the things in. No the thing. That we've known. In order. X. There are inevitably such hard times in all of our lives when we're not again. We're not able to feel that divine traffic. Flowing naturally between us and the world of course we're not always. Cheerful that would be. Grimm. I have encouraged my friend to be patient. With this largely listless time that he's in. I trust this is grief and sorrow. Fade and change. Energy and enthusiasm will return. But one cannot expect. Course that one's life on cue. Will be able. To be enthusiastic. One must be patient. When different seasons of the soul break over. And not all those c. Suzy azzam is sometimes terribly elusive yet. I'm spiritually convinced and i take this as a matter of personal faith about the life that i find myself. That despite these times when we do not feel filled. With god. Are filled with the great spirit. That we were made. We were made none the less for this divine. Traffic. We were not put on earth to drag our sorry lackluster selves and rear ends. From one day to the next cut off like eeyore. From the amazing energy of creation we are not made for the. We were made rather. Alright. So this all may be well and good. But the question quickly and importantly becomes. How do we create and cultivate. Enthusiasm in our own lives rather than just trust it as something innate or given. Which some lucky and optimistic people are simply. Warren would let me just talk for a moment about the genetic part. Enthusiasm in my experience. Some people like my friend david. Are just simply born. With enthusiastic personalities. My friend david couldn't move through his life if he wanted to. And neither frankly can i. I have often been described as better or for worse. As a rather enthusiastic person and i would not deny that. Zest an energy and many times in my about many things in my life just come naturally for. In my case this quality came to me i think both by nature and by nurture. First i come from incredibly enthusiastic scottish stock. My extended family there is no other way to put it is a pretty enthusiastic tribe. When collins my partner first met my raucous and loud family he didn't know what to do with the energy. When my ewing alexander clan gets together it's not. A calm thing we play bagpipes we do scottish sword dancing we sing we storytel we exercise we eat. And yes we drank beer. It all comes naturally to us. I was born. With possessed jean. But i also think that this is a learned thing at least in my case my dad was a. Very energetic playful engaged person with a great sense of humor. But my mother is specially wasn't enthusiastic. Spirit. She did just about everything in her life. Pluck. Passion and purpose in panache. She knew how to take in my mother the abundant energy that life. Was seeking. To send her and she surely knew. How to put it back out. My mother was not somebody you would ever. Miss. I think i learned. To be enthusiastic. And those we arrive at a very important thing i think about in susie. Enthusiasm whenever we encounter it in another person especially those clothes. Closest to us. Is an infectious thing. When someone near you is filled with enthusiasm be at for a sunrise on a maine lake. Or a down-to-the-wire ball game or an intricate intimate conversation or even a passionate kiss when someone is enthusiastic around you. You get swept up in that positive end. Each of us i think is variously born. With a certain measure of enthusiasm. And i would have each of you pause now to ask. How much enthusiasm were you born with. In addition how much did you learn. From. Your other. Folks. A quick importance side here. If as you think about yourself in this regard how enthusiastic you are. Has little to do with where you fall upon the introversion and extraversion continuum that myers-briggs and other tests of personality inventory. Say. That. Yes extroverts who tend to be louder can be enthusiastic but introverts. Can be enthusiastic too it's just a different form of. So we're all born. With some measure of enthusiasm. No matter where we fall in the introversion extraversion scale. But i think it's also true. That we pick up enthusiasm from others around us it really is an infectious. Quality. But that information aside the last important question for this morning i think remain. Is enthusiasm dispositive spiritual quality of human being that opens us to the divine traffic. Is this something we ourselves independent of the influences of birth. And the energy of others is this something we are free to create. Or cultivate within our lives and i have to answer. I believe that each of us can make choices everyday spiritual and emotional choices in our lives which open us more deeply. To the energy. And the grace and the spirit and the charm of creation we have decisions to make. We can each of us by heart choice. Iheart. Choice increase. The divine traffic in and out of our lives. Not engaging with our world and working to enhance our relationships with nature with others with self with books. We have this capacity. To increase. The dab. Of our relations. I take it on faith that each one of you no matter. What sort of a personality you have. Can intentionally open yourself. More freely to the richness of the world we have around us and as a result have more enthusiasm to share with others. For the last number of years dr. marten the seagullmen. And his colleagues at the positive psychological. A psychology center. At the university of pennsylvania. Have interviewed thousands of individuals and if found. That the key to happiness. Appears. Not to lie. In external events you know that the facts on the ground about your life do you have cancer and having trouble walking your kids are your kids miserable lousy. None of that. A good health economic wealth. None of that matters. But in the cultivation. Of character qualities they call at the psychology center heartstrings. Like happiness lies. With cultivating gratitude. Hope sas. Forgiveness. And the ability. To love and to. And the good news is that the scientists have found that people who identify these heart strength. In their own lives and then use them in new ways and their everyday lives report themselves report themselves as much happy. And much more satisfied than. And those who don't cultivate those skills. They've also found that more people engage themselves in the flow of their own lies the more they engage themselves in the flow of their own luck. The happier they feel. What i think these studies suggest is that we human beings regardless of how much of the zest gene we were given at birth. And regardless of how much enthusiasm we may or may not have picked up from our parents and other caregivers. We are all free each of us to live our lives. S'mores aston energy. To create an open ourselves mortar. Perhaps it is a sign of arsenical times. That there's a popular tv sitcom now in eternal reruns called curb your enthusiasm how many of your fans. I honestly say i have never seen the program and frankly i don't intend to because as you know from the sermon i don't believe in curbing. Your enthusiasm. I'm here this morning in fact to tell you not to curb. But the cultivate. Your enthusiasm. Wake up. To the fascinating beckoning flow of life that is yours open yourself up for god's sake. The divine traffic that seeks to come in and wants you to put out. Deepen your relationships with life and persons around you by choosing to live for. The heart. And not to truncate yourself like annie or of the soul. And don't be afraid of a little zest now and then. Enthusiasm simple common everyday enthusiasm in your daily rounds is a gateway. That leads to the city of your holy your own holy life. The holy city of your own life that's already there and please don't forget. Tomorrow morning will be another crisp a tunnel day here and you can. Step outside of your condo or your house on the patio and your nightshirt and you can go. I'm in.

uufvb_org

2015Aug30Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. My name is. Vero beach. Community. We are. Helping hands. World. You are welcome. Morning. Between. Norris's your spirit. In the days and weeks ahead. Good morning. And well control you brave soldier came out into space of. Written inclement weather. Erica decided to go away. Why opening. Reese's. Unitarian universalist. We embrace. Holy spiritual. We divas not merely tolerable. Speaking of gap. I'm reminded. Index fingers on both hands. Everything. Fingers of humanity and divinity. Bond. In that zone where we stretched. One another. It's precisely where the bulk of our existence has lived universalist. The reading this morning also come from tambo and tolls and his books. Theology ablaze. A entitled the secret. And to quote cheapest in here. One from hubby. The secret is present and available to us. Whenever we look. Willing to find it. If we remain open and expecting. Watching out of the corners of our eyes. Keeping our ears. Another quote from margo adler. The earth tradition say. That all is holy. Right now. In the material world. As well as. You don't have to do to get the good stuff. Which doesn't mean. That other world. Do not. 2 prayers. Get the risen god. Please save my soul. If i haven't. Amen. For the believer. Indian carry with them warm and fuzzy memories. Before most of us. Now on our personal journey and religion. Well here is. Commentary. On the 23rd psalm of the old test. The lord. He's my shepherd. In the days of david and others of that era. And some went to the dinner table. They find ourselves. At the dinner table. To help themself. At this stage in our lives. If you want. Is religion other than christianity. The lord's prayer might make you realize. You want something different. He maketh me. Is it still past. Change. Thank you. Green pastures. Meadowlands. And the like. Very comforting. Easy on the eyes. You might hesitate a little bit over the maketh me to lie down part. Gray's adoringly at shepherd. Being. Elite stillwater. Greenery around it. How many people prefer a babbling brook. We're rushing river even better. Rippling waters makes music to the ear. If you would please. Is it you're being led away from troubled waters. And then do a life more calm and less stress. Coldwater. And you do all the help. Delete yourself. Away. Marshall. Replenished. Serious thing. Of the personality. We might wish to consider those that put this restoreth my soul. A worries. And bringing peace. To your head. He leadeth me. For his namesake. Here. Your setup on the straight path. Wonderful. Yay. Holding fries. At any moment in time. Certainly not something to be taken lightly. For children accidents. And you wonder. But never fear. Because. I will fear no evil. Ar quiz. You learn as a child. Set the lord says. Don't worry about it. I will protect. Even if. The mere fact that you are reaching out. Can put your money in. If you believe that the lord is with you. There's an even better chance. That your newly gained positive. Eventually. Those who. What are the biggest eagles in history. Videos. The evil was not stopped for several years. Leave the individual alone. For air. It leaves you with a puzzle. Go to question. And my staff. They comfort me. Here's another power. Keep them from your door. If you could see it. El preparest a table before me. In the present. But mine enemies. In your face. Ugly your fingers. Where you been david the famous middle finger salute. Shout at you. Boil. My cup. Manitoba. Anointing the head with oil. Pretty heavy-duty stuff. Basically. The person still honored was to be a leader. Run noises. Anointing. Oiling the skin and that arid desert. Well obviously. You had more good then you really need it. Could not want more. If you really want. You'd better remember though. The lord helps those who help. And don't wait on the deity. And mercy. Wonderful. However. Do you know anyone. Hill. Full of disappointment. Oh goodness and mercy. Forever. Show me come to the ultimate gift. Everlasting life. But of course what is. We don't know. No one has. Version. Envision in the bible. And what various profit. Continuous coral group. Sounds good. I got a kick out a mark twain version of heaven. Or he relates about solo flying through space toward heaven. Racing a common along the way. Landing at the wrong nobody knows. Yeah after being treated. The different gates of heaven. For a week or so. We're terribly terribly bored. And wandered off to find the next. We're no longer interested in him. Hopefully. If there is a heaven. Then what the bible. And the prophets. Familiar. Is a really. Beautiful. Simple. Comforting. Another one that you may have learned. Sermon on the mount. Was not want to be comforted from the pulpit. It was designed for the individual to take home and quietly pray. Our father. Our father. This is a supernatural father. Representing. Should be. By the way. Anyway. It does.. You're more interested in the past. Human beings are created. As opposed to the individual within that group. Stores being in heaven. Up there. But there is indeed a heaven. This lord has to. Halloween. Revered. Sacred. Names be honored. However i. Might be a better adjective. To be brought into play here. We're in between. Pitting one against the other. And that continues today. We humans have learned very little from our path. Regards religion. Honoured. Revered. Like. If so. It's not terribly impressive kingdom. Severely. Quite strange. In many corners of the land. And religious. Cheer. This is not the case.. Earth as in heaven. But let us ask what is. Will. In the barren wilderness. Be done on earth. Daily bread. Warm. Comforting words. Especially for those who have no daily bread. Intercept. Goody goody. Give us. That's not teaching the art of sulphur la. Stratifying uses printer. This is forgive trespasses. We're going against the law. Important. It says that what you have done in the past is okay. And we are good to go. As we forgive those. Coolio holy sing. A secret. Honorable thing to do. When you forgive someone. Forgiveness. But you have to admit that most of us are not very good. That just forgiving. As we forgive those. Who trespass against us. And say yes. I forgive you. Never again. Into temptation. Impatient. But deliver us. Show me. This is very similar to the first player i will fear no evil for thou art with me. Remove us from the face of evil. In the face of. You really nice if wherever evil threatens. Think about this. People have been offering exactly the sprayer. Or something like 2,000 plus years now. How much evil has been removed. Remove one evil. Other pops up. Sometimes. Until reveal that. You have to concede. Is the king. If the kingdom. To tell us what to do. How many of us are into the concept of kings. These days. No power to the people. Lori. So here we are no power no glory. Send. My friend. How about the temple children. There should be a. A picture of a child. You got that. Nope. Didn't get that. Asleep. I pray the lord my soul to keep. If i should die before i wake. The truth is little kid. It's the interaction with the reader. It may bring some warm. To your mind. Go ahead pick it up. Number 409. Sleep my child. This is the feeling. Stay seated this will be brief. Play the tunes reminder how it go. Isn't that a lovely song it's really is just a beautiful. It's like a prayer. Praying for someone well-being. Is also something about the essence. It might even help a little. The family psychological. Certainly can't hurt. The bottom line for praying. I will stick with a simple thought of take care of yourself. Those you love and care for. Great. Totally up to you. Which resides in you. And you. And you. And everyone else in the world. Amen. Go in peace.

uufvb_org

2014Oct19Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. It's going to be another absolutely lovely day here in the treasure coast there's an afternoon bike ride in my plans. What's up for you. Welcome. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so glad you've chosen to start this beautiful. Day with us this morning. We are current location is the graphics. I've open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual cell. Even this together we work to make our world. A better and more humane place. And please know that you're welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd. Whether you're a visitor for the first time this morning ever been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling on top of the world or between. We welcome you just as you come this morning. We hope you'll find our services morning meaningful and enriching. I think you'll find something here this morning to take with you to make the days ahead better for you. The sunday were exploring the legacy of. Could we else to besides open the service. With this prayer by him. Oh god has given us the earth and its beauty to be our home. Glad in it. Come to eat today with freshness is mine. And may our sense of wonder never forsake us. Help us also to be grateful for human fellowship. And for the joy of discovering, desperation. And of sharing. Find achievements. Power and outreach of the dark places of fear and ignorance. Imagination and inside. To discover. And create. For courage strengthened by defeat. Springers on to greater efforts. Result of our parts. In the world increasing the common store of good. For all these and all the powers that dial has given us. And give it to novo god that even is the earth without us is our home. So also beauty truth and goodness. Are the home. Of our spirits. At peace with them. Lead us away from all the base. And deplete us of life. Zest. Cleanse our hearts. And lift us. The reverend a paul davies whose story i and marian will tell in greater detail during the sermon in just a couple of minutes. Is widely considered to be the most influential unitarian universalist minister. Of the 20th century. While serving all souls unitarian church in the nation's capital just some 12 blocks up the hill from the white house. In the dramatic years after world war ii. Take me to wise as one biographer put it. A renowned orator and prominent social activist. For civil liberties. Governmental accountability. Civilian control of atomic energy. Family planning. And racial desegregation unquote. Can use this prominent pulpit at that church in in the nation's capital. To remind people of what he believed to be the primary. Human calling. The cultivation and development of character. And action. As eloquently once put it lice. To grow a soul. This morning's reading before the sermon which the reverend which reverend page will present. Is an excerpt from one of his sermons entitled. To church. I come to church. I come to church. Whether i was a preacher or not. Because i full below my own standards. I need to be constantly brought back to them. It is not enough that i should think about the world and its problems at the level of a newspaper report or a magazine discussion. It could soon become too low a level. I must have my consciousness sharpened. Sharpened until engagement to the most. Responsible and thorough thinking of which i am capable. I must feel again. Love ayo my fellow men and women. I must not only. But i must feeling. In church. I do. I need to be reminded that there are things i must do in the world. Unselfish things undertaken at the level of idealism. Work. Or not enough. They were up too soon. I want to experience human nature at its best. And be reminded of his highest possibilities. And this happens to me. In church. It may seem as though the same things could be found in solitude. We meet each other as friends and neighbors anywhere and everywhere. Do so in the consciousness of our souls deepest yearnings. We do. Protect us from all that is intrusive. I'm leaves us knowing we all have the same. Yearning. The same spiritual loneliness. The same need assurance and faith and hope. We are brought together at the highest possible level. We are not merely an audience. We are. Congregation. I don't whether i could stand the thought of the cruelty and misery of the present. World unless i could know. Truman experience. Over and over again heart of life there is a surance. I can hold an ultimate. That all is well. And this happens. In church. Life must have its sacred moment and its holy places. The song. Religious experience. Which is life at its most intense. Life at its best. Is something we cannot do. Chicken history. Which suggests the course of human events is primarily determined. The actions and influences of a few great women and men. I believe that is more the broad cultural and intellectual forces which determine. The evolving shape of human life. These forces i think loom larger and more lasting than those few meteoric persons in our world. Brightly shoot across the human sky achieving. Exceptionalism. Of course great individuals. And often turn events by the sheer magnitude and power of their lives but they do not i think in the end. Drive to core realities. Of human history. But that's what i want to tell the story this morning of a truly great individual. Tremendous. Principal and persuasion intellect and influence. Stature and substance a man who made a profoundly positive difference. In our nation's capital washington dc. In this nation. The united states of america. And indeed as you learn from the story about hiroshima. The entire world. Keychain. People. And institutions. And government. Anime good things happen. In june of 1955 rev outspoken advocate. For racial desegregation and racial equality in america. Received a rare honor. He was awarded an honorary degree by howard university the prestigious at is yuno predominantly black. Washington college. Which in those days seldomly acknowledged or honored non-black leaders. Mordecai. Read vastly. A paul davies. Some 27 years ago you came to america from another country. And took your place among us as a pastor and speaker and writer about the one god. Of all human life. There are many ministers among us. Thought about you from the very beginning there was a marked differential. You spoke and wrote with realistic relevance about the affairs and movements going on. In the present world around us. In the name of god. You called upon us to do things about these affairs and movements. Which involved intense conviction. And courage and risk to do so. As we have been the citation when i moved to do these things. In devotion to the fulfillment of our democratic institutions. We have become aware that something great was taking place. Within ourselves. Our spiritual convictions have been deep. The radius of our ethical life has been expanded to touch the ends of the earth. And there has been rising. A new wellspring of exhilarating. Moral. Energy. Unquote. You might dismiss these glowing. Words of praise as excessive hyperbole brought on. Fire grand. Academic. Occasion. But that would be. The true greatness and breath. Of this humble looking he was a small guy. Physically. Call davies although he was to die suddenly and tragically just two years. In 1957 after receiving. Those glowing that glowing tribute of a pulmonary embolism. He was arguably the greatest minister of the 20th century indeed perhaps. Of our entire. Faith history. Scholars of twentieth-century american religious history of sing. As remarkably wise and courageous and prophetic. And those who knew him like marianne winsol who will join me and just a minute who knew him personally. Will testify about the broad influence for good this man had. Upon his world. Listen to what. The washington post. Said about him. Remember he had only been the minister of all souls 13 years. From 1944 when he came. To the nation's capital at the close of world war ii. 55in 1957. Cheers with posts. Mourning following his death. Scholarly and learning. Earthy and pragmatic. Dr. davies wasn't once the spiritual leader. And golden conscience. To his congregation and to the whole community. Almond. Indeed all men who believe in human dignity and brotherhood. Are the four for the passing of this courageous. Fiery and yet gentle spirit. Convenience and conventions supposed went on never silenced him. He was most certainly the most controversial clergyman. In the nation's capital. By the same token he was among all the members of his calling. The most resolute. An indomitable champion of righteousness. And the brotherhood of man. As he saw it. And then they ended. He was militantly in the forefront of every assault. Upon intolerance. And racial discrimination. And injustice. Even the fbi. While under the l the infamous leadership of j edgar hoover. Took notice him. And was of course suspicious of him. Because of his commitment. Too true. Justice whoops did i say that. They wrote of him the fbi in their secret files the sli. He has a very fast mine. And speaks very fast. He is fluent in a very pleasing orator. Terabyte lost confidence in his ability to speak and answer questions properly. Which makes him an interesting person to listen to. Said the fbi. And his biographer george marshall put it this way. Many persons to listen to him. Because he had the courage to speak out and to speak out honestly. When many others. We're silent. Although gentle and generous in his personal relationships. Steel. And never fell into the sleep of sentimentalism. Davies genius marshall goes on was that you could eloquently capture in a spoken words. The essence of universal concern. Actually of also apply this principle. Indirect action. Eddie was inspiring. He required that people look into themselves and face. What they found there. He compelled others to write action. He could bring people around. He could change attitudes and behavior patterns. He could convert any made believers out of many jaundice people. Lost their faith in democracy. And lost their faith. In the chance to improve. The human lot. Even time magazine. The influential national publication. Took notice of this little man. Instead in 1946. Just two years after davies came to washington quote. In washington dc where many talk but few listen. Profile de paul davies is a man who is heard. Every sunday is congregation at the red brick all souls unitarian overflows from the church auditorium into adjacent halls and recreation room. Every church in every room in the church was full of people thousands came every sunday to hear him. Resume timer. His 35 minutes sermons. Are protein-rich. With whit. Wisdom sincerity and invective. His preaching has made welsh-born davies. One of america's outstanding liberal clergyman. Do i could spend the whole morning quote. People who nearly 60 years after his death. Speak in broad blowing. And broader glowing strokes. The worth of this life must must be told in particular. It was the particularity of his vision that he had in the principles that he had. Particular battles he fought in washington dc. The truly help us to understand his greatness as a person. His was a rich. And complex and frenetic life. His energy and engagement with life were breathtaking. And i can just give you the mirror outlines of the life but i'm going to try. Born in england of welsh descent. In tucson in 1902 was drained. Fitness ministry. He wisely courted and married intelligent young beauty named muriel hannah. And they emigrated to the greener pastures of the united states now muriel davies was in my last church. And one of the last things i did before coming here. Was conduct her more at memorial service. She was 103. When she died. And the week before she died she was sharp as ever an amazing woman in her own right. They served she and her husband struggling little methodist churches in maine. And while he was there he discovered unitarianism. Through his friendship with vincent silliman. The minister of first parish church in portland oregon portland maine. And. Because he found unitarianism a more congenial place than methodism. In 1932 he shifted his affiliation over to us. Being recognized almost immediately by the denominations leaders in boston for his outstanding intellect. And leadership abilities. He was recommended to be the minister of our important congregation in summit new jersey. What you serve for 11 years until he came to all souls when marionette him. His summit years had many notes. But perhaps the greatest of these. Was the leadership position he almost immediately assumed. And helping our denomination the american unitarian association. Move into the next phase of its theological and religious revolution. To make a long story short he was appointed chair of the advanced project. Any help to move unitarianism from quote. Just another protestant sect. Where was kind of languishing is kind of you know weekend down version of methodism and congregationalism. To the modern universal democratic and fast-growing face. Became after world war ii. Challenging the whole movement. To rise to greater spiritual opportunities that are awaited it he wrote. The denomination must make up its mind. As to what unitarianism is. If we are just another protestant denomination. Then we have no distinction. For large-scale advance. But if we are what channing called the universal church. A religion without regard to race nation or creed. From which no one is excluded except by the death of goodness in their own hearts. Then we should begin to build and feed at church. The world he said is waiting for. Davies more than any other unitarian leadership of the leader of the time. Had a clear vision of a democratic. Inclusive free-thinking. Humanity affirming exclude no one. It remains today. The spirit of our free church. His great accomplishment was helping others. See it just when they needed that vision most. As his biographer noted during his entire public career. He saw issues clearly before they were generally recognized. Making him a pioneer spokesperson. All souls in 44th established himself. As a visionary thinker and institutional leader within unitarianism. A role he would continue to play. Until his death and he's responsible there 26 congregations in the washington area. He was really the father of all of them he helped to found eight. New unitarian churches in silver spring. Bethesda on arlington and fairfax. And then they gave birth to more complications. He was the father of unitarianism. It in the washington area in the church i serve for 12 years. Before i came here river road in bethesda was one of his babies his widow after he died she came to river road and she was the organizing layperson. Who got the current location going. It was hit with his arrival in washington the nation's capital. His public ministry really blossomed into its positive forces brought influence. From his pulpit on 16th street there's the church today it's a beautiful beautiful person just about to spend about 12 million dollars. Fixing it up actually. Just a few blocks from the white house is strong confident and principled voice can be heard. Not only in the seat of government. But across the nation and the world as he addressed so many issues. Congressman. Supreme court justices cabinet officials and other government leaders. Manga throng. And persuasive preacher filling the church each sunday with as many as 1,000 to 1500. People. And thousands more reading his sermons. Which were published on page one. Of the washington post austin. On monday morning. I'm pleased to report. But after many years of sad decline during the eighties and nineties when i got to river road. The church had like 60 people sitting in the fuse on a sunday. The church is once against booming under the leadership of the reverend rob hardy's a charismatic. A prophetic ministry very much in the tradition of a paul davies. And i wanted to show you robbed areas on the left young gay man wonderful husband and a child. That is then government gun mayor adrian fenty. The day that they signed the marriage equality act not a city hall butter all souls church because underrot rev hardy's leadership. That current gation play the single largest role in ensuring marriage equality. Has come to washington the church is now blooming again full of people biracial choirs it is the hottest. Church in our. But back to our story. Davey's regularly used his pulpit at all souls. To address the problems of the day with awesome remarkable results for example in 1945. Deeply troubled by the widespread starvation afflicting european. War refugees. Davies preach the sermon about this crime against human decency. Which he believes american affluent americans were allowing the starvation by not helping. In response to his eloquent sermon. Members of all souls and other washingtonians. Immediately collected more than 100 tons of canned food. And many tons of clothing. And after the washington post printed the complete sermon. Newspapers churches schools and other organizations all across america. Began collecting food and clothing for the starving in europe. He was subsequently davies elected president of the board of directors of an organization called. Food for freedom. The major non-governmental salmon agency relief relief agency set up after the war. Exhaust. Through and then through compassionate citizen actions finally go to the truman. Administration. Endo allocating adequate resources. The starvation of so many millions. I would survive. The war. Another example. That's and we we talked about this. In the time for all ages in the story. He was horrified by the destruction of american nuclear weapons that rained down on nagasaki and hiroshima. And he used both his pulpit and is national prestige. To press for civilian control. Of atomic energy and resources take it out of the hands of the military. At the moment it looks like a military might be given the power to do what they. Wished with nuclear weapons davies cried out. Govern our affairs. In the name of order and security. The chief bad man. Claim the title of general admiral senator scientist administrator secretary of state. Even president. Through a series of actions which will lead eventually to the destruction of mankind. After his sermons on the subject received widespread national attention. He took a leadership role in the struggle and was elected chair. Of the national emergency committee. For civilian control of atomic energy. And worked tirelessly for more than a year to ensure that congress. And the truman administration. Finally created what it did. The atomic energy commission. Which was controlled not by military leaders. But by sevilla. Another example of this life. Beginning of 1946 davies regularly used his pulpit to speak out against racial prejudice and segregation. Most particularly in washington dc which was in the deep south. In 1947 after he declared from his pulpit. Station in the unitarian church. Without it ceasing to be really unitarian. The congregation voted for the avalanche devil evolution of all prejudice and discrimination in the nation's capital. In 1953 sensing the things we're not moving quote as rapidly as i had hoped. One sunday with nearly 1,200 people in the fuse. Davey's pledged himself. And invited members of the congregation to join him. In refusing to patronize any restaurant in washington that would not serve flat. Which was about 95%. Of the restaurants. He said from his pulpit. I shall myself. From this time on not knowing we eat a meal and any restaurant in the district of columbia that will not serve meals to negroes. And then he had a list. Of non-segregated eating places. More than 40 copies were distributed to all the churches in washington. And believe it or not soon all the restaurants in washington. Feeling the financial pressure of the boycott. Desegregated. 30. As national publicity about davies campaign. 52nd get the restaurant spread. Soon these organizations popped up all across america. Deforest the desegregation of restaurants. Before the federal government did. Amazing. One more example. Since 1937 the dc police association boys club. Space. In the church in all souls for a quote on quote. Whites only boys program. Under pressure from davies the church informed the police association. But they must desegregate or face eviction. And the church leaders were somewhat shocked when the police association. Refuse. To desegregate. And vacated the premises. By this prejudice. Davies told police association. Astalavista baby. And persuaded the unitarian service committee in boston. To fund and staff an integrated boys club. The columbia heights boys club. Which quickly became. The leading example of integration and racial harmony in washington dc. The club which was open to girls in the early 60s. Today is named the columbia heights youth club. And as long as a shining example. Of human equality fair play and justice. One final example of this man's principled life. Courageous confrontation with joseph. Mccarthy. Senator. Joseph mccoy. Lauren committed to americans america's democratic ideals it surprised no one when dr. davies began speaking out forcefully. From his pulpit when many were cows. Mccarthy's intimidation tactics. Against his excessive. Attacking those infamous senate hearings from the all souls pulpit davies declared of mccarthy. He has not unearthed a single communist or done anything whatever but lower the level of american standards of fair play and decency. The very standards we are fighting to preserve in our struggle with the communist. And then he went on to say. What we need is not merely at communism. But good americanism. With truth and justice as its bedrock principles. Has anyone on we shall not defeat the communists. By rivaling them in fanaticism and big lie methods. These men. Referring to mccarthy. And his minions. These men who live by fear fear and it would destroy us through fear must be vanquished by men of face. He was tough. Mccarthy cell of course. And no small. Parker memorial pressure. Bought a few fearless critics. Among which was a paul davis. These that are just a few of the moving and noteworthy examples. Of this life. And i've asked me to join me over here for just a minute. To talk just a little bit more personally about him. . you knew a paul davies from your years as a young person washing his d.c.. I was 16. Father was the member of the search committee. Who travel to summit new jersey. With great enthusiasm. Blankman. A slight accent. But a fine line. Strong conviction. And endless energy. Well it was 1944. Oh oh. I grew up there. I don't think you mentioned. But also. And i remember waiting on tables. Eleanor roosevelt. So i have some good memories. And then. Of course. Highway 17. In 1945. You have seen the cake. And heard. The sitting there. When he was furious. Such a horrendous. Weapon. Celebrated. That he spent. A grade of time and effort. Seeing that this did not just stay in the arms of the military. Weapon in their arsenal. But make sure that it had. Control. I was sitting there for another interesting. Sermon. Hedgers examples of how we're responding. Two-piece. We did some funny things. Anyway. In the wax navy-marine safe. Gotrax new planes were. Factories. Shannon rose. Remember this movie. Anyway. In all this it wouldn't feeling. Fashion decreed the return of the big skirt. So. Cam's went.. We had these big swishy skirts. That's true of how we turn back. Very private lives. All around the world. She was very aware and we should be a waiter. Of those people living in the devastation. It was left by wwii. And from. That kind of an example of consciousness. For the great outpouring from this country. He and many others. Sending food. And help. For those to rebuild their lives. So one final question about. What inspires use in carrying universalist from this life. What did he what did he give you. Are we going to keep them too long. Okay. What inspired the unitarian. Had unbounded lights. He was very engaged in his time and place. He did not shrink. Controversy. Bespoke. Truth to power. He led a very public. Courageously opposing strong horses. Espousing ideas that he believed to be right. And an introduction to 119:42 he says. The world is not depart wanderer. It is the world we live in. A world which human life will make. And brake. His god was universal. And infinite. And was experienced by. Over all ages. And cultures. He honored. Scholarship recent learning. As well. As words of wisdom from long toe and minivans. He spoke to us. As one. Ones who have within us. Who in our small eyes. Positive effect on our world. He urged. To call out. That power. To use and savor. This miracle. Which is. Being alive. I have one last story about him on the 100th anniversary of his birth. And so i preached about hammond and muriel and i did the same thing about this guy and i asked her. Ahead of time if i could ask her. About. What it was like living with this great guy. And so i did and she said well. She said that 22 congregation is full of. She said well. I have to tell you the truth. A paypal powell was so busy saving the world that he wasn't all that great a father and a husband. And i thought that was in fact one of the daughters still will hardly speak his name because she felt so neglected by him so there. There is tension in a great and a great life. You so busy saving the world he wasn't didn't have all that much time. He has great space in this country. I don't know how. Left and came to the us. Most of our ancestors. Full of energy. And optimism. And. Thinking of freedom. Opportunity and democracy. And hard. Point of this life. Is somebody that we have within us and i know april believe this we all have great resources to follow the true. And the code and the right understand up. When life demands of it this was not a halfway kind of guy. He was full-bore. And in many many ways. In our lives here in vero beach or wherever you end up. You will have the opportunity to stand up and really be among the principal. And really be among those who always. See the wholeness of life. And the need for justice and decency is a paul did. None of us probably will ever have as much influence as this one 20th century. Minister. But never doubt the fact that we all have great power. To do great things. Right here. Right now. Where we live. And i stay on this occasion and me. Very short a paul davies prayer. Which serves us this day as a benediction. Powers. We seldom use. Impossibilities. We are all too ready. To relinquish. Give us to see. How much better we might be. Then we are. Go in peace. And do good work.

uufvb_org

2012Mar25Sermon128.mp3

We're celebrating all religions and i'm sure there are others here at the rapport princeton so what's your religion. Unitarian. Also you're a christian too. I incorporate. Christian values. As well as aspects of any other religious traditions. In my belief in god and i don't mean to imply that i. I think god exists or doesn't exist. Or or that even matters to hammer it or whoever. Celebrate christmas or hanukkah. I love that clip. I got the idea to write this sermon when i first saw that video clip several years ago. How many of you think you are like bobby. At least a little bit. How many of you think you are a lot like bobby. Or have been. I cringed when i saw that clip because i knew i was like bobby. A lot like bobby. Try that again. Call that clip. I got the idea to write this sermon about you you. Elevators. How do you answer the question. What do unitarian universalist. Believe. Does everyone know what an elevator. Which is. They're known by a few things elevator speech elevator pitch elevator statement. Basically it's a very brief usually just a minute or two. A chance to explain something. To someone else. The scenario often used is that you get on an elevator with someone and you have as much time as it takes till you or the other person gets off the elevator. To explain and idea or a. Question. Usually in response to a direct question and you give them a short summary to quickly and simply to find something. Which in our case would be unitarian-universalism. Vuu magazine did a story about uu elevator speech has several years ago do any of you remember that. I did a story about how important it is to have a uu elevator speech. Bill sinkford wrote it he was our denominations president back then he encouraged all of us to write our own elevator speeches. And in subsequent issues they followed up on the idea. Printing some of the submissions they had received. We're going to go through a few of them up on the screen now we'll start off with the one from bill sing for. This was his idea. The unitarian side tells us that there is only one god. One spirit of life. 1 power of love. The universal is side. Tells us that god is a loving god. Condemning none of us. Valuing the spark of divinity that is in every human being. So my version of what unitarian-universalism stands for is. One god. No one left behind. It's a nice elevator speech it actually got a lot of flak as you might imagine from the humanist. In our denomination that are atheist. Especially are pagans. Reverend warren killoran who serves gyros. Minister. She wrote this we believe that every individual has both the right and the responsibility to live out his or her ongoing decisions. On matters of religion. And we believe that this is best done. In the context of a nurturing and challenging community. Doug mueller is a yuyu blogger. He didn't really like the idea of you you elevator speeches he says there's too much to say about unitarian universalism. On an elevator in any building shorter than the empire state. So unless my listener wants to get a cup of coffee at the observatory. I guess i boil it down to this. Evolving nox. Reveal. This life. Not. The afterlife. Actions and experiences. Not. Believe. Democracy not. Hierarchy. And don't choose between goodness and happiness. Insist. On both. It's bubbly especially coming from someone who's against the idea of uu elevator. The reverend chris schreiner from you congregation in fremont california. He writes arjun domination is unique because every you you has the right to develop a personal philosophy of life. Without being told what to believe. We can learn from all philosophies and religions and also from science and the arts. We explore important life issues in a caring community. United by shared values rather than my share the theological opinion. And no matter what we do believe about theology or philosophy. We try to live a good life and leave the world. Better. Found it. Buu minister just leave men who is also uu blogger. He writes. Unitarian universalism is a religion promoting the use of. Courage and reason in the pursuit of universal love. For me that's it. All the rest can wait. Oliver principles and source. Are covered. You can google it make you want. If you want to look them up. There are others on youtube so you can watch videos of people giving their elevator sermons elevator speeches. Many of them are beautiful. Many of them to me though sounded. Toucan. To academic maybe they read fine but they didn't i couldn't imagine maybe saying those words for someone else if they ask me about unitarian universalism. Ensure they didn't fit. Me. Although they were all true and i believed every one of them. Choice lady sent me a quote the mission statement of the uu congregation in eugene oregon. Which actually makes for a wonderful elevator speech. Unitarian universalism is a compassionate welcoming religion. That promote spiritual growth. Ethical living and social justice in our church and the world. I also happen to like reverend gail gail carson funeral for former minister here. Purses very short unitarian universalist. Are descendants of the protestant tradition. Still protesting. I thought you guys have like that one too. Yes it does. I feel everyone has to write their own. To make it real. To make it meaningful. Our elevator speech is need to come from our minds. And our hearts. What is it about unitarian universalism that brought you here. Why. Do you say. It's important for us to focus on the positive nature of our faith. Telling others what our faith is. Not. What it is not. Often we find ourselves telling others what unitarian-universalism is. There is no creed. No mandatory prayers. And all jokes about our coffee pot aside. No mandatory rituals. Why are you i unitarian universalist. Why did you come here. Why. Do you stay. Drew westen the author of the book the political brain. Tells us we must put forth a coherent story about what we believe. In an emotionally compelling way. There are three parts to that. We must tell our story. We must tell our story. Coherently. And we must tell our story in an emotionally compelling way. Watching bobby's answer to stephen colbert was hilarious. But disturbing to. It was in no way a coherent message. And we need to be coherent. So that whoever we are talkin to understand what we are saying. You will want to present your message in a way that makes them want to know more not make them wish they had never. You want them you want to get their attention and pull them in you want them to be interested. You want unitarian-universalism to look well. Legitimate. Not flaky or rockies like bobby makes it sound. As the reverend iommi king tells us in our opening words. Sharing our message with others is a spiritual practice. Struggling to hone your elevator speech is a spiritual practice. Itself. And sharing your message with others is. A courageous act. At the very least and you short opportunities we have with others. On the elevator at the dry cleaners in the checkout line at publix are in the. Carpool went line. We want to be understood. We don't want to come off as flaky and confused. If we are confused they will do one of two things. More than likely. They will probably either totally disregard what we are talkin about. Or they will attempt. To make order of the chaos of words that have just come out of our mouths. Which may be worse than silence. Drew westen tells us that silence is the smartest way to let the other side. Shape their shape and activate their associations of choice. A jumbled. Mess with words like bobby's is not much better. I may be even worse. If we don't understand what we believe. How can they. And why. Should they. Hair. The other part of weston's advice is that we must make our message emotionally compelling. It's time to have the passion in it the emotion. If you are passion for unitarian-universalism your love of our faith. Does not come out in your response. For this reason to. Why should they. Care. What feeds you here. Why do you stay. Why are you. Are unitarian universalist. You need to be able to explain our face. Succinctly and understandably but you need your passion for our face to go along with that message. Or why was the person listening to you. Want to bother to learn any more about us. Take the time to look us up on the web. Want to come visit us. Want to join us and become our unitarian universalist. And that's what you what elevator speeches are all about. Well that's partly what they're about. Probably they're important so that more people will know about us and understand us and that is a great. Thing in and of itself. Greater knowledge of unitarian universalism is a good thing. It helps to legitimize us as a denomination as a religious choice. And let's face it people have a wide variety of religious homes to choose from. Ruu elevator speech is matter. Because many people hear about us through word-of-mouth. Especially in these tough economic times when we lack the advertising dollars. Promote our faith in the large-scale way. How many of you are here because someone invited you. When we are talking to her friends. Our neighbors our colleagues and they asked us. What do unitarian universalist. Believe. It would help if we could give them a comprehensible answer. Part of the idea of having great elevator speeches is to grow our faith. And we can't do that unless we can first tell non unitarian universalist about us. Give them your answer to why you are a unitarian universalist or what. Do unitarian universalist. Believe. I love unitarian-universalism. And want to grow our faith. Why do i want to grow unitarian-universalism. Because i think the world would be a better place with more unitarian universalist. And it. How many of you were raised unitarian universalist. I see about four hands i think five hands. Accounting denjiman right 6 months old. Okay how many of you were raised in something other than unitarian-universalism. Weren't you excited when you found unitarian-universalism. I know i was. When i heard about unitarian universalism as a young college freshman. I was like what i have been that my whole life and just didn't know it. So why wouldn't you want others to know about unitarian universalism. Granted it's not a face for everyone. Are unitarian nature specifically that build your own theology part. A lot of people would not be a good fit with that. They need more structure more solid ground beneath their feet. But for people like me who have been a unitarian universalist her whole life and just didn't know it. Don't you think the folks like that would love to know about it. And don't you think we ought to tell them. Self-described uu evangelist. Peter bowden writes this. True mayuyu work and ministry i have a simple. And make sure everyone on earth who would be. A unitarian universalist. If they knew we existed. Is told we exist. Accurately told who we are and what we are about. And is invited to join a community of like-minded people. A short assigned here about the difference between sharing the message of our faith in proselytizing. Many of us myself included. Are uncomfortable with the idea of our denomination proselytizing unitarian universalism and feel strongly that we should not be looking to convert. Others to her face. Nor trying to actively recruit others. But most of us would agree. That we need to get our message out there for people who are. We need to have a public relations policy based on at least attraction. If not. Promotion. Meaning that while many of us are not about to bring up the unitarian-universalism question we must admit we need to be ready to answer that question if they. Bring it up. Because maybe like me and some of you maybe they've been unitarian universalist. Their whole life and they just didn't know it yet. So this little light of mine i need to let it shine. And so do you. You need to have a few sentences ready to answer that question when you get it. Because the person asking it might just be a unitarian universalist also. Are you you who just. Doesn't know it. And we don't want to be like bobby. We want to get it right we need to get it right we don't get a second chance to make. The first. We want them to want to learn more about unitarian-universalism we want them to ask us more questions we want them to check us out on the web. We want them to come visit. To come worship. Come stay. My own uu elevator speech. You know i have one right. Unitarian universalism. Interfaith of the mind and of the heart. The mind part unitarianism is the mine part 2 survival part. It's the part that tells me i must use reason and conscience when considering matters of faith. It's the part that tells me that no other person. Clergy or bible can tell me what to believe. It's the part that tells me. Even commands of me. That i build my own personal theology. The universalism part of my faith is the love part. It's the part that tells me that everyone has inherent worth. And we are all connected. To each other and to the earth. It's the part that spurs me to take action in a hurting world try to make the world a better. Kinder more just and loving place it's the part that tells me to stand on the side of love. As a unitarian universalist i must admit. I do not know whether i'm here by accident or by design. But i am here and because i am here i need to do my part. To try to make the world. A better place. It will help you to create your own uu elevator speech to consider what you are passionate about what brought you. Unitarian universalism. What keeps you here. What engages you about our faith what are you involved with. In our congregation and dennard denomination. This will help you formulate your answer. To what do unitarian universalist. Wii u use our hardcore heretics. Freethinkers. We want to make up our own minds about religious matters. I am. A religious. Eclectic. And truly part of why i am a you you is that i could not properly fit. To any other religion. That fits with the unitarian side that three report. But demands i build my own personal theology. Wii u use were and still are at the forefront of social justice movements. Civil rights. Abolition the women's movement. Environmental issues gay-rights immigration rights. My passion for the environment for gay rights for women's issues and other social justice issues fits with that universal aside of me. That love part of me that part. That wants to make the world a better place. I'd love for folks who already have in mind they already know their elevator speech. To come forward to the center microphone you might have been wondering why it was there that's why it's here. If you already have in mind. The short statement you tell others when you get the what do unitarian universalist believe question i invite you to come share those thoughts. With our fellow you use. We do need to be mindful of the time we have time for just a few i think. Try to keep your. Statement very short. I don't want to have to cut you off but i will if i need to and if we get more than a few people i have to cut off the line too but we can continue it later at coffee hour. Some of you know i work in a car center most myteam workers are fundamentalist. Wife of frank. Av. Audio. When when the girls asked me and they have to do what. Do i believe in where do i go do i have a church. I say that i truly believe in diversity i have a. Poster with a central prayer on it about diversity at work i look at it everyday sometimes i read it. When i say it to the people i say okay everybody in this room we have a whole spectrum of religious backgrounds. But we are all welcoming. We are loving. It gives us a chance to take us where we are now. And grow the way we are. And. Share our gifts like i like to share my music. And when i first came into the church and saw that grand piano on and i said okay i'm home. Unitarian universalism for me. Is the conviction that different individuals from all walks of life and all backgrounds can come together and share with one another. That each of us has value and dignity and things to share. And that we have an obligation and a calling. To treat each other the best that we can treat each other and to leave the world better than we find. I was jake kessler. He was my ringer in case no one came forward.. Grayson as a recovering religious republican catholic agnostic buddhist american african. Unitarian universalist it's the only denomination that i haven't found any hate. I tell people that ask me to join them join their denominations when i'm painting. When they. L'oreal for everybody are there brothers sisters and keepers like they are for themselves. You know cuz they're bad for everyone else and i consider joining them but until then. Prefer to. To be here. Doing good for no bad reasons by q. Neon standard and colleen i do have it down to one sentence. We are one race regardless. Of color or sex or nationality and how we treat one another is one hell of a lot more important than the details of our individual dogma. Frank roberts. Unitarian universalist belief that the. That our lives and the world we live in or important. Danny chaves has the chance to develop a set of beliefs. That will let us in our all the way. Take care of each other. Pete kersey. To me it's pretty well wrapped up in the word namaste. A namaste is simply. I recognize. And celebrate. The spirit of the divine that resides in you. And you. And you. And me and everyone else in the world. And we would all simply recognize that spirit. Of the divine regardless of what you believe. About a god or not. Will it be a better place. This is the irish version. I bill murphy. I believe in the horse and dignity of every human being. And that we should all live. At the golden rule. Have a round of applause for everyone brave enough to come forward this morning. Not quite done but almost. Many of you will remember we used to do anything with the kids. For many years. Some people called that the uu macarena. Remember when me the story for all ages finished and the kids were going to leave for their classroom. They would come up here and stand in front of us and do the children's affirmation a child's version of our. Are denominations affirmation. If you were here then and remember it with me now i think. We are unitarian universalist. A people of open mind. Loving hearts. And welcoming hands. It's not actually a bad. Start 2uu elevator speech is it. Granted it is a simplistic child's version. But there's a core there that you can work with and it's not all that dissimilar to my own. Create. Create your own elevator speech. Consider what you are passionate about. What brought you to unitarian universalism. What keeps you here. What engages you about our faith. What are you involved with in our congregation and in our denomination. Write down those passions and craft them into your own uu elevator speech. Share your statement with others. Here at coffee hour let's practice them with each other till we get it right so when we go out into the real world we don't sound like bobby. Remember our opening words from reverend naomi king from river of grass. Talking about our face. Is an ongoing spiritual practice and it requires courage. And discipline. Sharing our message. Our elevator speech is a spiritual practice. Hazard denominations president peter morales reminds us in the current uu world magazine. Our elevator speeches are just. The beginning. Greeting the visitor. Is a spiritual practice. Morales advises us to make paying attention to the newcomer a spiritual practice. Morales tells us that thousands of people will visit our congregations this year. They are looking for a religious home. Smile. Say good morning. Start. A conversation. You are about to meet. Some wonderful people. Let's get started this morning.

uufvb_org

2011Jul10Sermon32.mp3

Many of you probably think of me as the inveterate cycling parsons where i'm everyday on my bicycle around this town as many of you know i actually come. From a family of inveterate and enthusiastic walkers. Whenever the alexander's are together regardless of the nature of the family occasional in the favorite. Frequently asked questions regardless of external weather time of day or season is. Who's up for a walk. In our house. Some of my fondest memories are in fact of simple walks that i have taken. Some unforgettable salutary john tall by myself the most memorable dear family and friends. I recall walk. Through some deviled suburban neighborhoods walks along sunbathe or moonlit beaches. Walkthrough winter woods at sunset walkthrough. Cemeteries golf courses we live. Next. Golf course. Walk. Along the ocean just before done my family walk. Summer downpours. Into the teeth of 20 below zero weather. And even when the weather is pleasant. Spring walk winter walks autumn season never matters. Each time of the year is perfect for walking even here in the traffic. Just slow down a little bit in the tropics. Walk. Taking morning-noon-and-night and every time in between it's never too early. Too late. For a walk. Some walks with loved ones that i've had have been. Silly. Light-hearted playful affairs. Others have been brisk. Largely silent watch when. Words would have only distracted from simply sharing the panorama of nature. That goes by you when you. Everything. Changes. Step forward. Notice. Still other walk. My family have taken. I've been waiting sirius. Tearful. Spend together after death. Or with a family member dying. Seth hardware. The simple act of walking in the wide-open outdoors with. People close to me. His playdate. Difficult and treasured role. In my life. And i pray for them as long as i live i will be able to engage in the holy simplicity. Of walking. And yes. Of being with other. Indeed it was a major loss and upset in my life before i had darlene my knee replaced about a year and two months ago. It was a profound. Upset to me when. I found my ability to walk. Profoundly. Curtailed by the severe pain and limping. Caused by my totally worn out neon. Never run all those. The ability to walk. Which many of us foolishly takeforgrantd is one of life's. Simplest. The most precious gift. And let me offer at this juncture. Simple but important reassurance. Caveat right off the bat. Although i am going to be spending a significant portion. The sermon talking about the joy and liberty of walking. And the somewhat. More intentional practice of sauntering. Those of you for walking. Is difficult. Painful or now impossible. And that applies to any number of. Be assured you will not be left out. This message. For sauntering. More than walking. Hang in there with me. Will get to everyone regardless of. But back to the gift. The habit of walking. For me walking is all about having a healthy relationship first. With my body. Which always enjoys the benefits of exercise. Today invigorating good wok ring. Second my relationship with my natural world. The intricate web. Of nature that. Claudia talked about. Which walking allows me to notice. At a pace. Can take it all in. In a written driving through a forest. Or on the jungle trail in a car. Varied if. Then walking. And finally. Walking enables me to nurture my relationships. People close to me. When you think about it. Walking as such. And everyday simple miracle. It's one of the first most fundamental skills we learn as infants and how thrilled parents are everyone when their toddlers. Take those first. Tentative steps. And whenever you see a chart picture of a child has just learned to walk that. Total joy on their face when they realize he i can get around this place fast. Ditch my parents. Stuff like that. And on the satyr side of this anyone unfortunate enough to lose the ability to walk later in life as. Many of us for any number of reasons lose. It will tell you we must never take. Simple. Physical ability for granted. But that. Precisely. When was the last time you spiritually stopped in your tracks. Thank you. Just. For the gift of. That work. Can we put one in. Of the other. Theologian matthew fox tells a personal story just. I called him. Gratitude he writes. Changes our lives it fills us with energy and vitality when i was 12 years old. I had polio. And could not walk for six months the doctors could not reassure me i would ever walk again. As it turned out fox goes on i did get my legs back. But i learned a lesson in the process that i have never forgotten. Take for granted. I had taken my legs for granted. Because i'm. Legs that work legs that run and play ball. Legs that take me exactly where i want to go when my legs return to me. I was filled with gratitude not gratitude for having. The miracle of my legs being healed. But gratitude for having legs in the first place. Legs that work. I was filled with energy. Conclusion. Promised myself i would never waste. My leg. For as long as i. Walking the ability to simply put one foot in front of the other. Is almost. Two basic. Two wildly approve. But that. What. And it turns out that i'm not the only one to think so. Body year-and-a-half ago before i left washington dc. The washington post one of the most prestigious and wonderful newspapers in the world. Devoted an entire section 1 saturday 10 full pages. Walking. Devoted to the importance of the wisdom in the glory of walking. The lead article. Written by sue redfern i quote. If a pill. Would be discovered that could significantly lower the risk of heart attack. Diabetes. High blood pressure stroke osteoporosis and breast and colon cancer while reducing your weight. Cholesterol levels constipation depression impotence and the likelihood of age rated dementia. And also increase muscle mass fat-burning metabolism mental acuity improve your circulation and digestion flatten your belly reshape your thighs elevate your mood and sense of well-being in the world and even make you look better and have no negative side effects there would be panic in the streets. There is a course she right no such pill. But a large and growing body of credible research demonstrates that taking a good walk. Most. Bidets. The week. Delivers all these health benefits. And more although we admit the better-looking part is hard to prove. And then she goes on. For the vast majority of americans who are not faced with prohibitive disability. Walking is the best. Choice for the regular form of physical activity and exercise. For long-term. And then folding susan johnson. An expert on physical fitness. Accepting that an activity as basic. Waka. Can have powerful benefits. May require updating your thinking about ex. We used to think that exercise had to hurt. You know no pain no game. And you had to bleed or throat and throw up to accomplish anything. But then she concludes put a gentle. Non-stressful walk is all you need to work. So many miracles. Your mind. So the scientific. The discipline of regular simple everyday walking does you a world of good. And so even though i am a physical fitness not i'm going to tell you remind you get out there folks. Strut your stuff. The weather like. All that humidity. Lower the traffic urge you. Slow it down. So you don't become. Big puddle of sweat. Walking regular. Clearly one of the best. Simplest ways to. If your body fit. And your mind. As you may have noticed this is not a physical science lecture. This is a religious. Thanks. So i'm not going to give you a vic tanny. Rendition here for the rest of the morning. Our primary focus here of course is on the spiritual dimensions. So i want to go somewhat deeper. With the topic of walking rather than enumerating it's obvious. Multitudinous benefit. Physical. And. Emotional. You will notice that my sermon title this morning is sauntering. Toward salvation and it is taunting. A certain kind of walk. A certain way. That i really want to talk to you about. Sauntering. Is walking. Spiritual practice. As a practice. Of mine. A practice of being fully awake too and fully engaged with. Your world. Now this is not the first thing. The comes to most people's minds when they hear the word. Saunter. In fact have a big big massive webster merriam-webster's dictionary in my office. And the first definition of saunter in my office dictionary is. To walk about idly. In a leisurely manner. Not knowing where to go or what to do. Tucson her is to travel around aimlessly. My dictionary says. From place to place that adds insult to injury to starter is to dawdle. This definition of sauntering treated as a kind of pointless. Moping around with your feet at a slow pace. Which is something far different than its original spiritual meaning. As far as i know from my research it was the unitarian transcendental. Our forebears in the 19th century in nineteenth-century new england. Emerson. Channing. Alcott thoreau to name a few. Who both defined and practiced sauntering 200 years ago. God is walking in a lazy in different manner. Not an integer. But rather as an intentional. Spiritual practice that puts our feet on a path. For greater mindfulness in our living. As thoreau put it in his classic walden pond. We must live in the present. Launch ourselves on every wave. Find our eternity in every moment. Only that day dawns. To which we are awake. We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake and sauntering. You see thoreau in the background of this artist rendition. Walking. The edge. Walden pond. Sauntering. What's the term he gave to walking as a spiritual discipline of mindful. Again i quotes toro. I think that i cannot preserve my health. Spirits unless. Spell. Or. Hours. Soldering through the woods. And over the field absolutely free from all worldly engagements. The walking of which i speak. Has nothing in it akin to taking exercise. What is itself. Thoreau write. The enterprise and adventure of the day. William ellery channing another great unitarian writer and leader of that day. Similarly define sauntering in spiritual terms. Paving. Here. No wealth. Can buy the requisite leisure. Freedom and independence. Which are the capital in this prefer. It comes only from the grace of god. It requires direct dispensation from heaven to become a walker. You may be interested to know that. Some of these transcendentalist. Thrive deterrence entourage. From the vagabond. Who roamed the medieval english countryside. And beg for money. Is santa real. They beg for money on the pre. On the pretext. I'm going to the holy land. I never did that. Why do rats like the money. Again 40. I have met with one or two persons in the course of my life. Who understand the art of walking. That is of taking walks. Who had a genius. For soldering. Which word is beautifully derive from idol people. Who rolled around the country in the middle ages and ask charity. Under pretense of going to the holy land. And then sorrell right. They who never go to the holy land in their walks. They pretend are indeed mirror idlers. Vagabond. But they who go to the holy land. Are saunterer. For every walk. Sort of. Crusade. Breeches. Preached by some. Peter the hermit. To go forth. Andre conquer. Reconquer. Ar. So. For thoreau and the other early transcendentalist. Clearly the forebears. Virtual forebears of archer. Sauntering. Practice. Through the world in a relaxed. Mckinley mindful. Tempest way. A spiritual way than able. Them. To arrive the sacred depths of life. Of the road. Of a holy land of the rhone exist. In the gospel. According to thomas. Fascinating ancient book about. It's just like the other one. Which was not included in the canon. Not included. According quote. New tesla. For god knows what reason. In the gospel according to thomas. It is reported that jesus was asked by his followers. Jesus. When will the kingdom of god come. And jesus. Said. It will not come by watching. It will not be said look here it is or look there it is. Route of the kingdom of god. Spread out upon the earth. And people do not see. Rather the. I hope. Susan fax something. Saturn will never know if. Aldi's. Narrative. Oral. Who knows what. But if jesus did in fact say this. Calling us spiritually. To everyday mindful. As a route. Giselle weber. As a route. The holy. As a route. Calling us to notice. Truly notice. What is spread out. Nothing other than the king. During which was again promoted by our transcendentalist forebears. Is a spiritual tradition that continues. Today for example the famous vietnamese food. Teacher tick not han. Teachers the special kind of walking. Today. He hasn't even as a center one of our churches. Virginia. Fairfax. Listen. 2. Tickle hands. A words. Classic books. Peace is every step. I want i like to walk alone on country pads. The plants at wildgrass is on both side. Putting each foot down on the earth. In mindfulness. Knowing that i walk on the wondrous earth. In such moments existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality. Is any rights people usually consider walking on water. Orsten are a miracle. But i think the real miracle. Is not to walk on water. Or insane air. But to walk. Simply on earth. Every day he goes on we are engaged in a miracle which we don't. Even recognize. A blue sky. White clouds. Green. Leaves. The black. Curious eyes of a child. Indeed our own two eyes. And then take donna on describes how one can make. Simple act of walking. We walk slowly. Alone. Or with friends. If possible in some beautiful place. Walking meditation is really to enjoy the walking. Walking not in order to arrive some. But walking just to walk. Purpose he writes. Present. In the morning. Underwear. Breathing. I'm walking. To enjoy every. Not thinking of. Future. Pass. But enjoying the pro. In a similar spiritual van my colleague. In his book entitled sauntering. Write this. The sorcerer is one who strolls in a measured manner. With one eye on nature and the other unsoul. Treating the land and all therein is holy. The sorcerer. He writes is on a sacred quest. Not exercise. But exploration not recreation but. Recreation. Sauntering is a mystical adventure. True sorcerers. Stride in stride and reverence appreciative gate. Treating the land every piece of it as hallowed. Touching the earth. With deft hands and. He arrives. The point about mindful. The point of life. Is primarily. To show up. To take our seats. And pay attention. And then he concludes. The fundamental religious. So. I hope all of you can see how regularly soldering. Which again is the art of walking in a mindful way would benefit our bodies. Washington. But also our soul. Teachers. Open our lives. Roolee. Dialogue. The world can float. Owasso out of us. Truly opening the windows and the doors of our. I can see the holiness. And here is the universal good news. For everyone in the room regardless of how. Able you are to walk. How restricted you. You don't actually have to walk. To be a successful saunterer. Steering is a simple yet purposeful act. Intentionally showing up wherever you are. Slowing yourself down and taking in the world wherever you are. So you can sorter. Through your world while you are stationary in a wheelchair. On your back patio. You can saunter while seated in a familiar old chair in your kitchen. You can saunter while reclining even on a sofa near a living room window. You can start or even from the passenger seat. Speeding automobile. Or even. In a hospital. All that is required for saint therese. Is a mind and a heart feeling. Pay full attention. To notice. To become awake. To what is right. But like most things in life. This one has a hit. You know. I hear some of you saying come on. I understand how thoreau. Spend 4 hours a day walking around. Walden pond. Becoming so deep. Spiritual give me a break that's a. Three-finger one. You know i've got to pick my grandkids up i got to go up 95 to orlando airport. Shopping app. 60th. Busy. Husband needs this. How am i going to find. Really slow down. Really take it in. I mean what is soldering have to do with getting. Play through my list. Groceries. At the public. It's all jammed. In the winter. There is no way i hear some of you say. I can really take the time. Massager. Look i'm a practical man and i realized. We live in a fast. Modern. Few of us. Go to walden pond. Spend 4 hours. But sauntering. In the broadest. Spiritual sense. Which again transcends actual walking and applies to all of us no matter where we find ourselves and how able we are to move. Sauntering is about choosing. To control life many distractions. Our american life. Spires. So many ways. To distract us. We live in. Distracting. Distractive. To move. Through your world in common measured focus. Requires you. Bear some disa. So don't no matter where you are. Whether you are driving to work on route 1. Tomorrow morning. Or watching your kids or grandkids play soccer. Or conducting a staff meeting at the office. Or paying. Those bills in front of your. Home. Computer. For preparing dinner. Or helping pull weeds. In the condo,. Some other neighbors. No matter where you are. You are always free. In the midst. Of these activities. Put yourself. Soldering. To open yourself. A move. Sauntering. Focus. Bully on the prowl. Steve. Truly astounding people. Things. Literally. Right. In your path. We are such. Freaky. Jesus. The kingdom of god. Is spread out upon the earth. People do not see.

uufvb_org

2012Aug26Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. What better place to wait for the storm than in church huh. We've got a new roof. We're hopefully. So. 9:55 in what the heck. No problem good morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are very pleased you chose to be with us here on this. Stormy sunday on the treasure coast please know that you're welcome. Just as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you were feeling on top of the world this morning. Or down in the dumps or. Somewhere in between. Know that you're welcome just as you come to us this morning and all of your particularity in charm. We hope you'll find our service meaningful and enriching this morning. And then you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and give you renewed energy. The living of life. The days ahead. My reading this morning comes from unitarian universalist minister serving one of our congregations in england. Patrick o'neal i've known him my entire career he's a great big guy. Both in terms of his physical stature and his ideas. This reading. About our religion. He writes a religious spirit is a pilgrim spirit. A spirit in search of a way to live it is authentic and true to itself. Called to some serious engagement. With the world. It is not about standing still. Or the status quo. Religious living is about movement. It's about journey. A religious spirit is by its nature a questing spirit. For most of us a questing. He writes takes on the form of primary questions. Questions of meaning and purpose. Questions of sacred and secular. Questions of destiny and destination. Questions of how and why whence and whither we are to live in. Die. How important these questions are. Playmakers philosophers and dreamers. Poets and singers thinkers mathematicians. Builders and warriors and explorers and i would add. Astronomers. They even make us theologians sometimes. Patrick rights. The questions you ask. Can be very. Knowing many searches as you know the challenge of faith is a fairly passive. Or receptive activity. The beliefs of tradition. Systemically stated an organized overtime by theologians into doctrine or dogma. Are simply handed down to the believers. Who live in accordance with those beliefs. Membership in practice in such churches is largely a matter of conformity. And acceptance to an already defined creed. Button unitarian universalist tradition. We've intentionally chosen a different basis for religious community. Our way is not based. On such fixed body of doctrine or dogma. It has been our common practice he writes going back over four centuries. To the first unitarian communities in europe. Not to adopt. A set of creedal formula or vocabulary is it condition. Of membership. Instead we have. Fashion together. A style of spirituality. That is decidedly not passive. Not the providence province. A professional theologians. And then he ends. Our unitarian universalist tradition. Takes a different approach to religion. It is an approach that values connection. Over conformity. Diversity. / division. Reason ethics overlined doctrine. We simply do not ask those who would join our church do you believe as we do. We know there is a much more important question. For us to engage on our journey. The root question upon which any personal theology. Or church community must be paste. We asked those who would walk with us. What. Do. Here ends. Imagine many of you thought one of two things when you saw my sermon title this morning why not to be a unitarian universalist either at the office staff made a grievous error. And added the word not to my title or. I'm using a rather cheap and obvious rhetorical device. Using reverse psychology in argument to preach a sermon on the wisdom and values are very unique faith. Actually it's not exactly either of these but it could be. First the possibility that there's an error in the order of service. I don't know if you felt seen these list i got them all the time. But church newsletters and bulletins are full of errors and here's one list that was sent to me just some of the bloopers that have been. Printed in church newsletters. Ladies don't forget the rummage sale it's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget to bring your husband's. The sermon title this morning is jesus walks on water. The sermon tonight. Searching for jesus. The associate minister unveiled the church's new stewardship campaign slogan last sunday i have my pledge up yours. And this one don't let worry kill you off. Let the church help. A bean supper will be held on tuesday night and the church hall. Music will follow. And last but not least. The low self-esteem support group will meet thursday at 7 p.m.. Please use the back door. Don't you know. It could have made an error in fact. In my two churches to go and plainfield new jersey i had a born-again christian secretary. And one a sunday the closing hymn was one of my favorites. Number 287 faith of the free. And she had printed its face of the tree. And i was highly amused by that when i spoke to her the next monday morning you know her only contact with unitarian universalism was with an employee she didn't know anything about it he said. Well you veggie crunching unitarians i never know i mean you're always singing praises to the natural world daffodils and meadowlarks will like how was i to know this wasn't the face of the tree. The thing which made her defense all the more humorous was that she was right of course you know since our transcendentalist roots and then 18th and 19th century we have been. A faith tradition. Bound into the natural world love and respect. The beauty of the natural world that this week. I can report to you that are wonderful and careful team that puts the or. Bulletin together in a katrina and and the bonnie they didn't make an error this was my title. I will admit however. That. I'm going to really i do really mean to give you three concrete reasons why you should not. Be a unitarian universalist in this is not simply a rhetorical device because indeed. I also want to affirm. There aren't the free and open religion that we practice here based on the reading that i just shared with you from patrick o'neal. That religion. Is not spiritually right. For everyone in our community. The god knows we never want to turn anyone away from our congregation or our faith denomination for that matter. It's very important to me and the leadership of our congregation that our continued our congregation continues to grow. And grow rapidly as it has the last couple of years we've grown by 35%. In the last 26 months. But when it comes. When it comes to conjugations i think growth is good. And what's more some but not all of you know that i have been known over the most of my career is something of a. Unitarian universalist evangelist in fact i wrote the book on the subject. It's called salted with fire. And it was it's been a best-seller in our movement for a long time is 23 essays about how to share your faith. And grow your congregation and grow our denomination. M4 up about five years after this book came out i was flown all over the country. Assertive is a uu sort of oral roberts. Don't call me oral alexander but that's. In effect. What i. Was. But you know. The bottom line is that are moving really needs to grow some of you may not realize just how small a religious denomination we actually are. So i decided to show you some of the numbers. In the united states of america there are. 71 million roman catholic. 47 million baptist. 13 million. 4 million jews. And. 218. Thousand. Unitarian universal. Now the eros statistic. That is if you just drop it asking american. What religion are you. Random sampling on the street. 900000 say i'm a unitarian universalist. So go figure. One of my colleagues bruce marshall wrote years ago he was once feeling really heavy about all the influence that unitarian. Universal is having this country and in our culture until he read a newspaper article. Indicating that more americans have. Breast. Implantation surgery every year than there are unitarian universalist. There are other statistics. There are more people arrested every year for criminal fraud. There are more filipinos. Living in san diego county california. Then there are unitarian-universalist from maine to california. And there are more americans working at gambling casino tables that's over 175,000. Then there are unitarian. So while it is true that america you use because. We have over the last couple of the american centuries bimbo. Outspoken social activist. Intellectual leaders in many cases. We have had more influence and clout. In our culture. Then our numbers might indicate. The fact is. We are still a religiously. Testiclea very small religion in fact when most. You see most of the religion groups. Allocated usually wear under astrix or not even mentioned at all. But current. Statistics aside. I am passionately convinced that there are nonetheless millions of americans out there. Who would make their spiritual home here. If they only knew we existed. Back in the fifties there was a famous advertising campaign by the layman. Put in major newspapers all over the country. Are you a unitarian without knowing it. And that brought in many many people those ads. I think. Cambro. If we can find ways to help people to know that they are at unitarian universalist in terms of their spiritual. Orientation. Now i want us to grow not because there's any virtue or value in sheer numbers. Balancing the church budget. But because i believe serious. We have a. Spiritual and moral message. That millions in our culture urine for and seek. I would bring them blessing and challenge and. We have a life-affirming. Life-saving message about humanity and life on this planet. The both our nation. And our world need. We are not of course the only good. And noble and life-affirming religion on this planet. There are hundreds. Literally hundreds. A worthy and reasonable faith traditions. Scattered around this globe. Large and small. Eastern and western. Old and new hundreds of new religion. Performed every year in the world did you know that. There are thousands of good religions out there. The symbol of the teach love and. Joy. Sensibility and dignity. Sodas without any. Spiritual superiority or ethical. Hegemony. That i say i want to share my unitarian-universalist face with others. I want our honorable 500 year old religious tradition to grow simply because i believe it. Pasadena. Air force. For much good. In this troubled and tormented world of our. And if you are a visitor or a newcomer with us this morning. Maybe this is the face. Spiritual a psychopath. Did you have looked foreign long for your whole life. If so we want to welcome you. To that journey here. But as i've already acknowledged in my curious sermon title. Clearly you you was in is not a religion for everyone. Here in this congregation. We have a certain outlook. Certain principles and beliefs. A particular way of approaching the religious life. The will not spiritually suit everyone. There are good reasons i think why some good people will not want to become. Unitarian universal. Morning. I want to focus on just three of them. Which yes by reverse logic point i think to the greatest value of our religion i'll admit that alright. My first reason. Why possibly you should not become a unitarian universalist. You should not be a unitarian universalist. If you want a sunday only religion. But you can simply pay lip service to once a week. And then go back to your daily rounds unaffected. Unchanged. An unmoved. This is the methodological. Foundation. Affirmation. That separates us. Majority of religions in this. Here in this religious community. You as a spiritual and moral individual are ultimately responsible. Or shaping and honing and that means sometimes shifting. Evolving and growing. Your face. And you are further responsible for the way you live that face out. In your daily rounds. Yes we have the seven guiding principles that you find printed in your order of service every sunday. And they're they're there for you to take home and notice. We have centuries of unitarian universalist history and tradition. As well as the universal teachings of all the world's great religions. In addition to the facts of science and the wisdom of history in the inspiration of the arts. All these sources of wisdom guide us in our religious quest. But in this liberal tradition you are ultimately responsible. And free to employ your own reason. And your own conscience and your own heart. And the powerful lesson. Of your own direct experience in the world with others. In deciding for yourself what is real and true and right. We. Defer to you. The ultimate responsibility the first informal sources your direct experience in the world. And as you went your way responsibly through this complicated journey of life we expect. Use your reason and your conscience. Chapultepec. Here in this community. We have faith that a trust in you as a spiritual and moral adult. We are not going to treat. We put you in charge of your own spiritual and ethical journey within the constraints of our tradition. And encouraged. Actually. We demand. Did you shave. Your own. Religious. No some people mistake this time dogmatic fluid personal approach to mean that you can simply believe or do anything you want. If you're a unitarian universalist. But in fact nothing could be further from the truth. Being a unitarian universalist means you spend a lifetime. Doing the challenging your joyful work of freaking out for yourself. In the study light of our tradition. Figuring out for yourself in the study light of our tradition. What you must believe. How you must live to honor those beliefs. What all this means. Is it going to religion. Authority for determining. Is real and true and right ultimately. Rest with our long-standing articulated tradition. And your individual heart and mind and soul it's a partnership. Tradition. And your ended. So you should not be a unitarian universalist. If you were unwilling to be an active partner. In your own spiritual and moral development. Engross. Information. No. I have several perfectly wonderful and intelligent cousins. Back in wisconsin where i grew up. Who has become very fundamentalist. Born again chris. And trust. Because i have talked to them about their face. They would make miserable. Unitarian universalist. Because they go to church every sunday not to actively question or struggle bless their hearts. Wayan reconsider spiritual and moral matters is we do. They go to church to once again hear from a higher authority than themselves. Precisely what they must believe. And how they must act. To achieve eternal salvation that is what they want. Well i frankly do not understand totally understand or even fully appreciate this cut-and-dried approach. I do respect. My cousins need. And comfort for it. In a cat is kind of. Cast faith. But here at you uscb. We will not spoon-feed you some final answer. Rather what we will do every sunday you walk in these doors we promise we will do. Is intelligently challenge you and encourage you as you grapple. With what it means for you. Fully and finally human. What it means for you to be a correct moral age. Being a unitarian universalist spending a lifetime growing a soul. And forming of faith and living ethics. Cuz you know you must. Is a lot of work. But the rewards of taking. Time to fully discover what is real and true and right. For you. Are incredible. If this is the kind of open but demanding. Religious journey that appeals to you. You're in the right. No. Here's the second. I think you should not be a unitarian universalist. You should not be a unitarian universalist if you want a sunday only religion. That you can simply pay lip service to once a week and then go back to your daily. Round unaffected unchanged. And i moved. That was the first one. To have all right. Technology has its dangers. You should not be going to turn universalist if you want to send the only relay. Many religions in america promise salvation. To those who simply swear allegiance to a particular set of old and unbending beliefs. Sunday morning television is full of such preaching. Unitarian universalism is different. Ours is a fiercely lifestyle religion. A religion that requires action as much as it does ideas and behavior. Behavior as much as it does. 24/7 from the inside of your life out. I believe it was the famous nineteenth-century unitarian minister theodore parker was said. Be careful how you live. It is the only son sermon you will ever preach. And the early universalist whose primary message was that god is love. Summerly taught that. The human beings find salvation. Not by faith. By character. Salvation by character. Their slogan. When i was growing up in the sixties in my hometown uu church in racine wisconsin. One of my ministers favorite sayings was. Don't tell me what you believe. Show me how you live. And that pretty much summarizes the driving spirit. An ethic of our faith. Here in this congregation. We expect there to be a congruence. Between your core beliefs. What you believe to be real and true and right. And your behavior. How you touch life. And serve. Life in person. If you were unitarian universalist. Your beliefs again those beliefs you home by the light of our tradition in your own experience. Must be actively practiced and embodied in your living. Years ago is my colleague hearing reserve who was served our church our big church in st. paul minnesota. Who put a markeith sermon marquis title up that all of the ministers stole that year. It was his title that sunday was. If being a unitarian universalist were against the law. Would there be enough evidence to convict you. He hoped of course that the answer for most would be yes. As a unitarian universalist you are expecting. To actively live. By the light of your principles and your values. And participate in the positive transformation of human life. Short all that is good and just. I'm kind and key. But this is not mean of course. The unitarian universalist are perfect. Let me tell you firsthand this is not the case. One of the most i have a spouse i've lived with him for 30 years i'm almost irritating things he does with me. Is homer driving and i'm irritated the drivers in front of me and i say something perhaps i shouldn't in the confines of the car. He said well that's not what i heard in church last sunday. God i hate it is there anything worse than to have your own stuff thrown back at you by your spouse it's it's just a nightmare. Being a unitarian universalist. Doesn't mean you practice all this stuff perfectly this blessing light and goodness. Compassion. It means that you're constantly working. I'm using your own head and heart and soul. To bring it into accordance. With your. Cheapest and most passionately. Being you you means that you are willfully and a journey toward a fuller more authentic. Compassionate self. And that you spend a lifetime. And yes that means 7 days a week. Becoming the kind. Spiritual and ethical person. Of which you are capable. In some ways. Being a unitarian universalist is choosing. With full hardin free will. To be on the most demanding religious tyranny of wall. Unlike my cousins who can go to church and rest easy cuz i've heard it again and they all know what it is. We send you out of here go to work. Get back to it. Work on yourself work on the world. And being that you you also means. You can't just do this as an individual active. You have to join with others. And helping to transform our world in accordance. What's what yubel. This is why we have so many community outreach projects here and social justice commitment. Carrot uscb. It's not enough to be a unitarian universalist in some sort of splendid isolation. We have to pool our resources. Combine our efforts. Roll up our sleeves together. To make the kind of world. That we dream of. Alright. And then there is the third. And for my purposes this morning final reason. Why you should not be a unitarian universalist. You should not begin itarian universalist i hope we have it here. If you believe. People are bad and life is sad. Now this little rhyme thing of my number johnnie cochran at the o.j. simpson trial if the glove doesn't fit you must acquit. Well i couldn't get that out of my head so. If you basically believe. People are bad and life is sad. You're not going to work out here. Since its earliest beginnings more than 500 years ago. Our religious tradition both the unitarian side. And the universal aside. Have always been distinctly life-affirming. And humanity of her. It is not of course. That we do not with the rest of humanity occasionally get terribly. Discouraged. Disheartened. Steven despondent. Over life's most difficult situations. And humanities. Inhumanity. We do. To live in this beautiful yet broken creation of ours is of necessity. To experience a measure of sadness and worry and discouragement. But in the broad constellation of american faith group. We have always been theological and spiritual. We are not a doomsday people. But rather of faith. Community. Always ready to work for what is possible and it's the world we live in we are not a religion always looking. To the a better world the next world because this one is so. Messed up we'd rather work on the one. We know. Ever since. Our religious tradition blossom. In 17th and 18th century new england. The positive theological reaction. To the dark and pessimistic doctor. Calvinistic puritas. Which understood humanity you all know he meant the puritan view was it humanity. Depraved. An earthly life. Was to be available tears you simply got through. Could get. Some better world. We have been spiritually uniquely. Think hopefully. About the human future about the prevailing and persistent goodness of. And about humanities and society's potential. For progress. And a nobleman's. And i would add now survival. Cuz humanities. Survival on this play. We have always been optima. Back when both the unitarians and the universalist were liberal christian sects. And we do have distinctly christian roots even though today. We look to all the world's great religions. Trusting that they all have to. Teacher. But back in the early days i religious forebears affirm. That this creation was created. And was eternally animated by a good and loving god. A golden loving god. Who's positive qualities. Where the essential nature of his children on the words god. Light. And love. Reflected. As a religious tradition we've always believed in the basic goodness. And potential of both individuals and society. And we've always assumed both individual character. And societal progress. Are possible. Just one example. To it as illustrative of the difference between our theological optimist. And the theological negativism of others. When a baby is born into many orthodox tradition. Roman catholic. Fundamentalist chris. There is usually a ceremony of baptism. To wash away. The original. Tim. Of the infant. The presumption being the baby is naturally born already. Weakness and simple. But when a baby is born into one archive. We celebrate a ceremony of naming and dedication using water. Not to cleanse away some pre-existing evil. Who can see that in a baby. But rather. To welcome the child. In all of his or her original blessing. It's not that unitarian-universalist don't realize that some babies grow up to be nasty. Or even evil. We do. We begin life however by thinking that the glasses. At least. As opposed to be. Empty. Now as you might expect. Will you use it often been accused by are more orthodox friends of not having quote. A sufficient. Doctrine of sin. The takes fully into account the errors and evils of all society a since they've called us kind of funeral pie optimus about people in society. Not fully ready to face. The tragic. An ugly dimensions of life this we have been accused of. Recently one of my colleagues was very critical of our movement as a whole aisle i won't name him. Does the unitarian universalist and their spiritual relationship with creation. Wheel of bambi. But not the wolf that stalks and kills bambi for food. His point being. The world is a darker place than. Some you use. True enough i suppose as a cheap spiritual shotgun. But the reason that i am staunch ali unitarian universalist. I'm a third-generation. But i continually recommit. To this is my spiritual home. Is because. I want in my face life to begin each day. A+ empowered and purposeful place focusing first on what is right and what is potential. Within myself. And within all of you and within the world rather than what is obviously broken or flawed. Are going to be a hard. Log. Now i grant you. These are not the easiest. X. To be robustly sanguine about the potential. For progress in human life and culture what was so much. Warfare and terrorism in depression than crime in the newspapers every morning. Not even after the unbelievable natural devastation. We've had over the last couple of years with floods. Wildfire. It's a tough time to be. Real optimistic. And real glibly affirming about the. Fatality in grace of our. Natural world. But for me at least. I wish to spiritually arise each and every morning. Not for moaning and cataloging all of the world's problems and sorrows and dangerous real as they are and needing our efforts. Would rather i want to lean gladly and purposefully into the day with. Spiritual energy and hope. What is dawning. As it does every day and grace. And goodness and. Possibility. It is not spiritually naive. I will assert. To believe that despite all of its heartaches and disappointments. Tragedies. Human life. Can be transformed. Into a better and more beautiful thing and. As if you need any scientific support. For this positive spiritual approach to life. Every recent study. Of human happiness. Personal effectiveness. The social psychologist. Heaven writing lease. Points to those who do best in life. Are those. Who tend to see the world in a more positive. And believe that they can be. They lend themselves positive into the world and. Affect. Happy. Satisfy. So newcomers and old-timers alike. If you make this place your spiritual home. Come here expecting not to hear an endless jewelry catalog of what's wrong with the world. Do we do of course name those things. But rather. Come to this place. Expecting to hear how we. As flawed but richly potential person. Can lend our hopes. Our dreams in our talents. To the ongoing human struggle. To transform this planet. Into a much better. Unsurvivable. These are the high holy. Hopes. Which have built this. So there you have it. Three perfectly good reason. Why some people should not should. Stick with more orthodox religions and not become unitarian. But stated positively and that of course is my whole spiritual point this more. These three reasons why you should not be a you you can stay be stated positively. And here they are. To be a unitarian. Abia unitarian universal. Because you want to be an active. And respected partner. In your own spiritual transformation nfl growth. For here you will be both trusted and challenge. Touche. Your own religious faith. Second be a unitarian universalist because you want a seven-day-a-week religion. A 52-week year face. Where you are growing a soul. And creating everyday congruence. Between your core beliefs. And your daily behavior. For here. Expect you. To live. Congruence. With what. Everyday. And 3rd. Unitarian universalist because you want a positive and purpose for religion. That gives you the spiritual energy to do your part. In this complex and broken world of ours. In transforming human life. Tour decency. Tori justice. Toward gentleness and love. To be a unitarian universalist. And i close with these words. Is to spend a lifetime. Being thoughtful irresponsible. And joyfully engaged in your world. To be a unitarian universalist means that you know deep to your heart. But life is good. And that it matters profoundly profoundly admit. That you live lovingly and compassionately in well. And your daily affair. It is not an easy journey. But it is both blessed and challenge you. So whoever you are. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey. Come travel with us. For there is room now only 1000-seat sanctuary is there room. There is room for you. Just as you are. In this house. Of love and hope. We need. The gift. Of your hands. And you are hard. And i say your name. The words of my friend and colleague john curotto. We will keep a place for you. We will keep a place for you. Wherever you may go. Will sustain this home of faith and love. You come to know. Going pee springhope two hearts that urine. We will keep a place for you until you return. Smiles and size of days gone by our blessings we hold dear. Voices. Now a memory. Call softly. To us here. Go in peace. Bring hope to hearts. That urine. We will keep a place for. Until you return. Have a good week.

uufvb_org

2013Jun02Sermon128.mp3

Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach my name is ft kersey my roll this morning is that a pulpit whole day. Robin mcdonald as minister of the address or coast you use society in stuart for our minister trevor and alexander is filling the pool open today. Bob is an ordained united methodist minister who has served our steward congregation with distinction you'll be up here just a little later. Did you circle. Heretic rebel and singing to flout. But love and i had the wit to win. This morning we drove niger circle. Welcome one and all from wherever you may have arrived. In whatever frame of mind you may find yourself. Is reasonable. And others may not believe the singing. Here in the comfortable questioning. We are on congregation to open minds. Loving hearts. Best cell. Even as we work to make a better world. I know you're welcome into our pulpit reverend robert mcdonald. I didn't say thank you for your warm welcome. I would have responded to klaudia. I used to think i knew a lot. And i wondered why you were people didn't ask me anything. You all know that bertrand russell i was a prominent british mathematician philosopher historian social critic. Agnostic atheist pacifist. He writes this dedication. Or preface at the beginning of history volume autobiography. Head. Chauvinistic. But even with that. To me it's deeply. Profound and moving. So i read it on every possible occasion. What i have lived for. By bertrand russell. Three passions simple but overwhelmingly strong. Has governs my life. The longing for love. The search for knowledge. And the unbearable pity. For the suffering of mankind. These passions like gray twins. Have blown me hither and thither. In a wayward course. Android deep ocean of anguish. We changed the very verge of despair. I have so loved. First. Because it brings ecstasy. Ecstasy so great that i would have often sacrificed all the rest of life. For a few hours of this joy. I have sorted next. Because it relieves loneliness. The terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness. Looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sold it finally. Because in the union of love. I have seen in a mystic miniature. The prefiguring vision of the heaven. That saints and poets have imagined. This is what i saw. And though it might seem too good for human life. This is what a blast. I just found. With equal passion i have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I had wish to know why the stars shine. And i have tried to apprehend the pythagorean power. By which number holds sway above the flux. A little bit but not much. I have achieved. Love and knowledge so far as they were possible. Awkward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine. Benjamin's tortured by oppressors. Helpless old people i hated burden to their sons. And the whole world of loneliness. Poverty and pain. Make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate the evil but i cannot. And i too suffer. This is been my life i have found it worth living. And gladly would live it again. It's a chance. We're offered made. I'll let me say in a ps. Bertrand russell. Pet for mrs. russell. And he dedicates this autobiography. To this nurse in his dying time. And he writes his beautiful preface about having known. So much loneliness and his wife. And he answered with having known you. Irest. Fulfilled. Nurses beware. I have a couple of prefaces before my message. I retired down here. In 06 after about forty years as a a methodist minister in new york and connecticut looked around. App for churches. They seem to be pretty much of the. Afterlife fixation. So after a desperate search. In desperation wandered into the union christian stewart and i've been there pretty much ever since they taken anybody and they knew what i was and then they needed a minister. And they taken anybody doing something by a done in several places north. Gathering leaders together to do what i call a brainstorming breakfast just sit around and think out loud how can we improve this place. Several of the people that came to my breakfast meetings had been up here. Maybe some of you knew sullivan who was big and our place for awhile he died a couple years ago. And their workers motherfolk some bowls the olsens bruce and lynn had been up here in pencil others. So as we brought out what can we do to improve you you in stuart. Almost each topic ended with. Will you really need to go up to vero and see how they do this what they do and then we could work on it here this happened a couple of times. So eventually i had to say. Can anyone bring up a possible improvements that we could make here. Without requiring me to go up to bureau. That we hope will find its way to vero. Palm beach. New rabbi came to town about two years ago jeff goldwasser. And he and i got to know each other right away and we got to know that local in mom. And the three of us i've hatched the idea of what we called a bridge to respect. An understanding. And that is gathering together. Members of the mosque. Temple. And are you congregation. And just listening to and respecting each other. No attempts at conversion no discussion of foreign policies of this or any other government. But listening to each other reason for this was to try to overcome the profiling that we knew was going on regarding muslim the program is going really well for two years we have met we've had circles of q&a and presentations about our various religions and it's been a good thing. And now we would like to see that happen here in this area and south of us. Jeff our rabbi knows michael is it burn hold your local rabbi. And your mom knows the doctor who's ahead of the leader of the islamic center here and the melbourne in mom agazian i believe the palestinian has come down to our meeting there is an interest in gathering people together. To just create listening and respect. So we're hoping that that we talked to scott about this to we're hoping that this can happen here and to the south of us. I tell them we've heard about the nuns on the bus but we will be the abrahamic faith on the bus trying to a change the climate particularly regarding islam fears of islam but in our communities so hopefully you'll hear more about that. Don't and faith. Have always had a close relationship for me. I should say they have had a close relationship ever since i began thinking about my faith. That was about h20. Prior to that i was a devotee of billy graham. And youth for christ. A group like that that betted rpi college across the street from where i attempted troy high school. A very able angelical group of engineering students invited. Girls that i was interested in not for religious reasons zverev angelical circle. And i was intent upon going with them. 1. Many people warned me that education and thinking would ruin my simple and simplistic faint. They were right. Once i started searching for reasonable faith. I was doomed to a lifelong journey of this ease. And like that ancient mariner who was condemned to stop everyone he met to tell of his life changing encounter with an albatross. I chose to make a career out of sharing what thinking did to me or how we funded me. Or however put my face back together again a work-in-progress i hope. I should say for my entire career. I've been accused of heresy. But finally i found a church. Were you can't be a heretic. Bird that captures for me the relationship between delta and faith. Is negative. Now when you hear the word negate. What. Do you think of. Well megan may seem to have a negative connotation like a toothache or headache. In our home experience it is usually just a loving reminder as in did you take your whatever. So much of it is for love. The clock and goes down about as lovingly. Has the cod liver oil i was raised on or lowered on. I never knew what function that served. An aging relationship between faith and doubt suggest unsettled. And unsettled on finished is exactly what faith and doubt have always seemed to me. Then it was my good fortune depending on one's point of view. To pull in with a bunch of kid at aryans. Unsettle unfinished you you now it sounds like a terminal condition so we keep stirring our faith and doubt mix in this our religious. Terminal. A lot of wonderful meetings. Like where we are plugged in like port. Where we have stopped on our journey for respite or to change transporter direction. Terminal has another connotation but we aren't going there today. Nagging unsettled and some might say unsettling relationship. Faith and ella i want to talk about. Or where it leads mating. St paul said to the corinthian church we walk by faith. And not by sight. Can you eat we don't go by just what we can see or know with certainty. Not by sight can also mean there is something deeper. Then what appears. We may not know for certain what it is. Or even that it is. But we keep on searching. B. And not by sight. Blind and faith. Also whooping go together. And god knows you may take that literally or metaphorically blind related to faith too often amounts to unthinking and unquestioning. We don't want to go there any day. We have a wednesday morning book discussion that's how i got into it at my church i started a book discussion. Now lynhurst 7th year. I'm offered to write them up print them degrees and ended up they won't let me stop. In that discussion and on sunday mornings. We often talk about faith as if it is primarily a search for truth. The truth of the universe as much as we can do it. And all the differences of our insights are enriching. Jesus said to his followers you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Teamster to say that's. One core belief we all share. Whatever we believe we wanted to approximate. To approach and to honor the truth of our reality. As much as as best as we can know it. Any good part we believe the truth will set us free. I'm often reminded of the words of a tortured marriage. Hey edward albee's who's afraid of virginia woolf. George to martha. With the truth we don't have much hold. But without it. We are damned. I took my young bride to that movie and our first few months of marriage. And i often thought. Probably a mistake. We also went to see hush hush sweet charlotte on our honeymoon. But the fact is the truth is religion is not just the search for truth. Religion is by definition about commitment. The words latin root has to do with choosing what we choose or commit to and it is about passion what we love what we would die for. Note to die for has become pretty diluted in the west. Where all is commercialized. So today i for maybe a haagen-dazs flavor like rum raisin or a perfume. Religion around the world is what people really will die for can be cultivated to die for. So religious passion is pretty scary. But it is part of the definition of religion. No commitment or passion may seem like religion strength and weakness. William salon coral fannin others have said the uncommitted life is not worth living. There is a lot we can do an experience in life. Only by taking the plunge. It's a tired old confirmed bachelor joke why make one woman unhappy by marrying one you can make so many happy by staying unmarried but the issue is surfacing death. I used to enjoy trying to come. The orphan totally uptight moment when a couple was about to take their vows before me. I would say you one right now you feel like you are looking on perfection and he would often say what. It is really what is human and inferred about us that makes us lovable. Perfect people are rare and challenging and often unhappy but human and imperfect people with whom we can laugh and cry and neg but only if we commit. Our lives. Someone might say that's true about relationships for most if not all but you can't say that is true about. The truth of the universe. People can be pretty darn admitted to ally or to outright ignorance. And of course both religion and commitment. Can be totally self-serving. I feel about churches fixed on the afterlife. I don't know how else to say this but it seems to me that religion is in good part. What i want to be true about the universe. And there's a definite relationship between what i believe and what i want to be true that might be cold wishful thinking but i have to hope my wish training has evolved with the input of many. Animoji by trial-and-error. Plenty of error. Actually i like the idea of wishful thinking because that sounds to me like hopeful thinking. I can't prove any of that. But i do know i don't want my living for my thinking to go on without my being committed. To a good amount of wish. Handful. No just i believe. Because i wanted to be true. I definitely want love goodness and truth. To be at the heart of the universe. And celeste. That may sound more like play-doh than christianity. But for me they hurt. Can we say we live in the moral universe. Or must we say we live in a morally neutral universe. And we are surviving for awhile anyway only because our brains develop bigger than the brains of other primates. I have to be committed. Two more then i can know for sure. Well we can go on for some time working each other over with what we think truth is. We have to commit to some truth and maybe even stake our lives and what we want to be true without being able to prove it. Because it won't be true. Unless we act. It is. Are people basically good. Honest. The jewish and christian scripture start out with everything made including people stamped good. But then a whole theology based on badness and send crept in and stay. Are we basically good is that something we can know without being committed to it meaning acting like it is true and if it isn't i don't want to know otherwise. That little gem from mythology called. I think called the ring of diogenes comes back to haunt me. Diogenes is known as the founder of the greek school of cynicism he may have been you you i'm not sure he was around the time of play-doh. Here's an idea who would be honest if you wore a magical ring on your finger and by twisting it you could disappear and nobody could see what you do who would be honest then. Those are morality hinge on surveillance. Bring it up-to-date are those cameras at the intersections making us drive more liberally and considerately. One of my goals and mantris in life is not to be in a hurry. At this point in my life i know where i'm going and i'm not in that darn terminal thing again another way of talkin about the commitment nature of religion is under the heading of purpose one of our books by a recent dawkins book talked about the theme of purpose when did human beings start asking the question why are we here. Why are we here. Presumably when they had some time on their hands and didn't have to hunt and defend themselves. Non-stop. Religion is one way we talked about practice. Purpose in life. Robert browning's words say that a man's. Reach must exceed his grasp. Or what's a heaven for. That seems to me that we are wired or build the way we are wired and built or what we have time and space for an our large brains. Once our physiques are now flooding us with instincts. And need. I heard a wonderful quote of helen keller. Criminal minds plane. You know the plane ride they have a little philosophy is a criminal minds. It's one of the quarry show some tv but i watch it to catch the philosophy at the end. Yeah right like a lot of people i've had to be nice all day so i like a little more at night see you soon i'll order to criminal minds but helen keller was hoping to say. Human happiness is not any gratification or passing feeling but in being dedicated to a purpose. Dedicated to a purpose helen keller was right wasn't she where we want her to be right. Dedication to purpose we want that to be why we were here. You tell me yours. I'll tell you mine. Will be the richer for it. The naked echoes on between my face and my doubt. Reminds me of robert frost epitaph. I had a lover's quarrel with the world. In my brain faith and doubt go after each other. In a relationship of love i can only call negin neither gives the other the last word. And we all know. The last word in a disagreement. The winner. Orphan it only shows who must have it. Purpose and commitment and passion what we love. Maybe the enterprise the faith discussion. A little more complicated and a whole lot more interesting than what we can know or can prove to be true. As long as we have a brain. We have to go for truth. Is it our curse. Isn't our blessing. Is it the hound of heaven. Brothers and sisters go in peace. May your face. Nick your dose. May you were dunks. Your face. And maybe all the strengthen. Find this dialogue in this is unsettling this building. That goes on within its target.

uufvb_org

2015Aug16Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. Did any of you notice the golden sunrise over the thunderheads this morning over the ocean unbelievable. 90. Don't tell him it's more pleasant here. Welcome. The unitarian universalist fellowship of zero beach and we're so pleased that you have decided to begin. Warm summer day with us we are congregation is assigned. Loving hearts and helping hands people working to become our best individual together as a religious community. We work to make our world a better place. We welcome you just as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful state of humanity. Whether you are a visitor this morning or even coming for decades weather. Feeling absolutely on top of the world. Struggling with some physical ailments. We are delighted to see you just. Can all of your. Circularity in need. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching our you'll find something here this morning. Take with you. To make the days and the weeks ahead more meaningful more joyous. Amor buda. Are opening words come from poet. Mary austin. I arrive facing east i am asking toward the light. I'm asking that my day she'll be beautiful with light i am asking the place. Where my feet are shelby like. That is far as i can see a right. I am asking for the current. To go forward. Through the shadow. The light. This region goes with a service anyway. Connected. For sure. But it's good to have you here. It's a place feels better than me when he's. Thank you. The world. Is our home. We have no reminder of the hips in hospitality of space. More than. We have no comfort more than summer some may argue that here but. We have no better bad then they warm grass in august. You're better than siri. We have no better proof than the overlay of leaves in the sun. Going along among the roughly in heaven. We have no better food than a wild strawberry. Andrographis. And the raspberry from the bushy clearing. We have no better bass than the ocean. A tub as big as the world. We have no better playground. Sandy beach. We have no better temple than the mountain. No better staple. Frosty feet. We have no car. More than the flower. Thunderbird. We have no grace and power of life more than the cat. Dog. And horse. And the swinging gibbon. We're going to get a picture. That's the most expensive. There's no rest to our eyes more than the dark of night. No recovery and reestablishment the better than sleep. Play preservery cretin or nothing. That may be renewed. World. With no proper proportion more than the stars. With a reminder of distances. End time. There's no companionship more than man and woman. There's no greater joy than a child. Their love is whatever part of paradise we can have. This world is our home. The home that is given us. The only home. We know. Where do you come from. This is one of the first and i suppose most appropriate questions we asked whenever someone new shows up at our door here on sunday morning. At the universal fellowship. This is florida. And almost everyone. Come. From somewhere else. Indeed except for a mere handful of florida natives we have in the sky. Almost all of us moved to vero quote. From somewhere else. And usually the answer we get from first-time visitors when we asked. Where they're from is something like this. I just moved from storrs connecticut or are we just sold our house in wayland mass. We're recent transplant from arlington virginia or. Syracuse new york. Missouri. Or somewhere else up north. Some sort of personal connection. Storrs connecticut. My brother's wife and kids. Syracuse i spend every summer in my child to just a few miles north of. Because this is a largely retirement community. Almost everybody is quote from somewhere else. Cancel this question where do you come from. Gives us a lot to talk about right away and wait. And this question is also a conversation starter in other settings as well. Austin william flying on a plane somewhere seatbelt. May. In the same row will. And even though i have lived all over the united states and canada. Since i graduated from college and left. Wisconsin i have lived in secret. Get this. In berkeley california. Keokuk iowa. Minneapolis minnesota. Memphis tennessee. Vancouver british columbia. Plainfield new jersey. Saskatoon saskatchewan asked me about that one. Salem massachusetts. Bethesda maryland. Washington d.c.. Recently. 0. Buy a stranger where do i come from these days. Because that is where i spend most of my ear and feel. Like i trust most of you love living here in the. Because. Here. We love the beaches in the blue-green ocean the waving palm tree is the warmth. And the vast natural beauty of lagoon. We love the low population density not high rise after. High-rise after palm beach high-rise. We love the high culture. So many opportunities. Education. Theater in music. And here we have found. More than any other place we've ever lived wide circle of friends and acquaintances. You're welcome. And valued in this town. I will confess that sometimes when i fly i answer the question where do you come from sounding a bit like a representative of the chamber. Airplane or anyone else. 0 beaches where i quote on co. Come from. Is of course a bit of necessary sore hands. It was very complicated and in. Quest. A question when you think about. Spiritual. Spiritual. Edibles profound. Geographic. You know if you really. The question of where do you come from has so many possible layers it's boggles. Remind. If you think for example for ashley about this question. Cosmic level. And that's what. Eating. Time for all ages. It might be your answer might be that you come from stardust. And the primordial soup. I went online to look for a graphic of the primordial soup and sound. Our earth being formed eons ago. And of course we all know. Natural sciences kella. Back nearly four billion years. When life began on earth either in the ocean or in a pond. As a result of the combination of chemicals from the atmosphere. And some form of energy to make amino acids. The building block. Protein. Woodson slowly evolved. Into the first. Living. Species on earth. Eventually billions of years. Billions. Adventuresome. Like this. Reptilian. Loli anime. Underwater. Elizabeth hard to get our heads. Evolutionary science. And like it or not. The we human beings all descend from ancient. Preacher's wife. Rave. Green. And the next flight. Scientist sarah's here's one paleontologist. Drawing of. Free of the vertebrae. Which represents the evolutionary flow. From the first part of the legacy protozoa right down there on the bottom. Upper right. Human age. Age of man. And as you all know our human age. Began. Aura. Four and a half billion years ago. Which is just. Liver. In which life has been steadily evolving on earth. It is now understood that our earthly experience. Are earth experienced the evolutionary development of some. 220. Humanoid. Including these bipedal folks. Look very husband-and-wife be don't they. In africa. And predate us modern homo sapien. 1 answer. The question of where do you come from. Is that we come. From billions of years of life. Amazing evolution on earth. What are the more immediate and tangible level. Of course. Uniquely and biologically come from. One mother. And one father simply put our parents. That's a complicated question. Email. Male genetic component in a female. We all come directly from our parents. And from there countless other biological answer. Every last one of them. Of course has to prepare. This world. Unique. It makes us precisely and uniquely who and what we are. Reminds me of the old joke surely must have you heard about the nine-year-old girl 1-day asks her mother mommy. Where did i come from. Nearest mother having one. Difficult birds-and-bees creston. Launches into her anatomically correct. Accurate explanation involving. Female leg in the male sperm and fertilization and fetal development in the woman finally birth. Only to have the daughter. Look at her with a puzzle. I mean where did i come from. Chicago. Where am i from. This old joke. Bring me back to the. Where do. Comfort. Another very practical. Real anime. Let me return to my own for. Secular humanist. The only story. I can really tell its authenticity. Unclarity. I was born. And raised by my parents. My three brothers. In wisconsin. And let me tell you that i left that part of the united states. When i graduated from college at the age of 21 and have not returned their ever to live. Wisconsin will always. Powerfully a mortally be home. Growing up in wisconsin. My heart. With that pastoral part of america. You're wisconsin the red barn little farmhouse. The hills the rolling. Corn. Desire 02. Call. Although i left the state more than 45 years ago whenever i travel there too. Family. I feel instantly at home. With the green rolling countryside the bright red barn the golden cornfield waves in the wind. The black and white dairy cows languidly. Standing. In the field. Christine lake. Streams of the north. And the ever-changing summer sky. I love the smell of the deep green woods. Intensity of the summer thunderstorm. Chicken blow up. And the abundant wildlife. Really roams the woods. Hill. Anyways that i can hardly. I feel deep to my bones and being. And i will ever be. Radically. And whenever i'm lucky to get back there i instantly feel. Babylonians. I feel at home. And i'll bet my bottom dollar. That many of you have similar feelings of bonding and belonging. With the place where you grow up. How many of you have a special place in your heart. For the part of america. I want to hear just a few of those. Whatsapp. Bob. Okay. Marblehead massachusetts. Buffalo new york. Coral gables florida. Bedford mass. Or right on the button. Okay you got the idea. Alright. It's the truth of the matter is it no matter how many places we've lived during our lifetime. And no matter how far we have. From our childhood home. Most of us remain emotionally and spiritually connected. Play some star trees. The woods. Newark new jersey. Well i live in new jersey. But we still sponge. The place where. Experience. And even further. As i do this question of where do you come from. I've discovered that we human beings. Even powerfully connected to places. Where we have never personally been. And again i want to return to my own personal story for a moment. As a clearer way of getting to what i think is a universal truth. Or many if not. Most of us. Extensive and detailed genealogical work. Completed by several members of my extended ewing family. I can trace my family roots on my mother's you inside. Texaco wall peninsula. Underwear. Side. The western edge coast. Central highlands of scotland. You can see the coop went well it's kind of hard to see. It's one of those peninsulas it hangs down. About 40% down the. Map. Since the 12:00 by ewing or mcewen clan lives on. Loch fyne. Which is essentially a fjord. The ancient scottish gaelic word for such bodies. Unlock fjord and there is locked there is loch fyne. Where my family. Lived. 12. I found this on the internet. Beautiful narrow strip of water that leaves out of the scottish highlands. To the atlantic ocean. Mcewen. Occupied. Square miles on the colwell principal. Upper peninsula. And that's the one on the right side. That's the peninsula on the right side. Hazard detailed family history report. What's a small but worthy clan. About. 100 persons. Who could muster about two hundred fighting men in times of war. Even though i have never yet personally been to scotland. Or to the caldwell peninsula. Remind mcewen answer. Live. I've always felt. Spiritual connection. Of the world. I'm proud of my scott. My brother. Play bagpipes. Gathering of the clan every june in the sky. Sooner or later i hope to make a journey there. Myself. The place that gave birth. My family. Earlier this spring. One of my cousins. One of my wisconsin cousin. Viewing a real character. Believe man you'll get some of the sense in the video just a minute. Who grew up and now lives in milwaukee. Was able to make such a pilgrimage to scotland. With his daughter blake and her husband a wonderful. Young filipino guy who was somehow acquired the nickname in the family of wonderboy. What you going to see a steve blake and wonder boy. Internet. Location of mcewen. On the shores of loch fyne. Because my cousin is an advertising media. He took the time and trouble to create a short video about the trip. Ewing's back in in america would not yet made the journey. See where we come from. Vicariously. Furious the thrill of their pilgrimage. The place of art. Family roots. Now i'm going to scare you watching the entire video. I'm just going to play a couple of short excerpt. Which will give you a sense of this genealogical. Adventure. The video begins in just a minute you'll see. With a graphic representation of our ancient macewen clan crest. Which is seriously the stump of an oak tree. Apparently by woodsman. It is. Frozen green again. The green branch is coming. And the clan motor. Clan model revesco witch in gaelic mean. Green and strong again. Even in the face of adversity. Alright. Here's the short video. What's nice is no-no in absolutely it rises uphill and go through rough ground where you should spot cairn on the hilltop in livingston continue in the direction of the cai rn going to the season over rocky outcrop b is 3 tbsp the lost movie of all time. Custody of you but. Beautiful for me. Straight. My particular ancestral history. Again sometimes in your lifetimes have similarly. Been able to journey or at least connect with the places where your ancestor. Journeys to your ancestral roots. Around the world. What are some of those places. Irving. Lithuania. Poland. England wales. Yeah okay. One more. The azores. You know at some point in your life. If you get the opportunity to go visit where you know you came from it. I guarantee you it'll be of deeply. Rewarding experience. The point is it can be deeply satisfying both spiritually and emotionally. To make real connections. To the places from which. Become. Alright. Time is thomas morning for me to wrap things up. What is trying to do this morning is to explore some of the important ways both. Spiritual and geographic. So we can answer the question. Where did you come from. And the equally important question. Where do you feel at home. These questions can rain all the way from the cosmic. Tracing our roots from the beginning of time and creation. To where our parents and ancestors live. To the places where we grew up. Adult our first primal relationships with creation. Here now. The place. Call. All of the very dancers we provide for this question. Where do you come from. Can be important and meaningful. Feels like home to us. Escape our most elemental response. To life. All our lives long. No matter where we're living. I need to ask this one most. Gordon. Fundamental. Where do i come. Where. And i leave you with the words of african-american and floridian writer zora neale hurston. Biography. When she was in her 50s. When did consciousness we know as life season. I know that i still shall be part and parcel of the world. I was parked before the sun rolled into shape and burst forth and the glory of pain. When the earth was hurled out from expiry rim. I shall return with the earth. Two father-son. Still exist in substance. When the sun has lost its fire. And disintegrated into infinity. Become part of the whirling. Rubble. Why fear. Ever-changing ever moving but never one. So what need of denominations and creeds to deny myself the comfort. Of my fellow human being. And need no other.

uufvb_org

2010Oct24sermon32.mp3

uufvb_org

2011Feb20Sermon128.mp3

We are blessed this morning with many special guest. Some of them are on the chancel that's this morning all of them travel to be with us. For the installation service on friday i want to briefly introduce them. And then we'll have an anthem and then we'll begin our cancel dialog. First of course on your left is john curotto he's retired minister from grosse pointe michigan and a friend of mine for almost 40 years. Next to him is dr. james pickett. Who is former president of the unitarian universalist association now-retired his wife helen helped us to open the service and will help us close the service. Next gina's linda lou burciaga who is former president of the uu women's federation longtime active you you married to the scoundrel next to her my dear friend john burciaga. Who is a retired minister they live in newburyport massachusetts and john has been a friend ever since he proceeded me. Is the inter minister river road we became fast friends during that process. Mike magee is a neighbor i also in the washington area arlington unitarian universalist congregation it's been a friend for many many years i've known mike and his wife terry the author for almost 40 years now we don't like to admit that but it's true. Richard speck first minister of settled minister this congregation now the district executive of the largest and healthiest. Are somewhat dependent and 10 our own district executive from florida. So you'll hear from them and just a moment please give them a warm round of applause for being weather. Unitarian. Universalism is a long and noble religious tradition we've been around for almost. 5 / more than 500 years. Yet we are only 1046 congregations. And we're very small in terms of our adult membership our latest directory shows where about 100. And 65,000 adults. Not to give you perspective on just how small a number that is i went online and looked up some other statistics. 165,000 adults. That's fewer this is an accurate fact. The number of americans who believe that it's sometime in their lifetimes they have been abducted by aliens. What you have been abducted yet. Ministry of theater what can i say we have four questions we hope to get through today. And the first question is this a time did they've all received these and had ample time to think about them i hope their responses are reasonable and clever. It is not too much to say that the 1234567 of you have all devoted your lives to unitarian universalism. You've all been long and passionately steeped in our tradition what then and i've got to get the mic so that i can pass it between you what is the one aspect. Of our liberal faith. Which is most precious and important to you. Mike you'll be the first to answer this question. First of all i just want to say what a joy it is to be here this weekend for scotts installation to be with my wonderful colleagues and this incredible congregation and with my good friend scott i told scott that when he invited me to come here if if he was being installed in detroit i would have been happy to go there happy may not be the right word but i might have gone but in vero beach to come to vero beach for his installation is just really really wonderful and i've got to say. Did i think this congregation is the friendliest congregation i have ever seen now just been really impressed with all of you thank you so much for your welcoming spirit. And now to get to the question then i really struggle with this because it there so many things that i love about our movement my wife terry and i joined the tallahassee unitarian church 42 years ago. And it wasn't just a life transforming experience for us of course and then i went into the ministry because of that. But there were many things that drew me to this movement and i but i think number one after really thinking about it. Is that i believe unitarian-universalist have hutzpah. Hutzpah. Really a lot of boldness as scott was talking about last night amoxi as can mention last night. But i but i think unitarian-universalist really have moxie and in three different areas one is in terms of our theology it really takes a lot of hood spa. To leave behind a traditional religious perspective which most of us have done. We've moved away from that religious tradition. That has been a part of our families many times a part of our culture. And it's not easy to do it really kind of puts us out there on the edge of things. And it's a lot of times leaving behind a god that just doesn't work for us and reshaping an entire new theology a new way of thinking a new way of being. And sometimes we forget how hard it is for our new members to do that because for some of us it's been a long time. But that's a difficult struggle and it really takes a lot of courage and lot of hutzpah to do that. And secondly our movement has had a lot of books but in terms of living out our values. In terms of a social justice and peace and especially in human rights. We have been a movement that has struggled for the human rights of people around the world including the human rights of women. Okay people the civil rights in terms of people of color. And end in human rights all across our world. And i'm really proud of us the way that we've done that. And thirdly the way that we have had hutzpah to change our ministry into change our churches. By welcoming first of all women into our ministry which totally transformed us. Welcoming gay people and gay ministers into our churches. Ann and now struggling with multiculturalism. And working hard to welcome people of color. Into our congregation. And i think that takes a lot of hooks. To do all of those. To linda. Well i also want to thank you all for the invitation it is such a pleasure to be here with scott.. Special time in his life and in college life. And i echo your sentiments about the the warmth of this congregation. I wish i could just say and i'm fact i warned him ahead of time that i was told mike that i was just going to say whatever he said i agree with and then i can pass it on and i do agree with everything that he did say. I also wanted to thank you for allowing us to come and leave six and a half feet of snow which we had in massachusetts in the period of one month. And we can maybe going back and we so i understand. I think when it's when i was thinking about this question. One of the things that came to my mind was the image of the big. Tent. And. I think. That that image of the big tent unitarian-universalism welcoming under the auspices of that 10. People of so many different backgrounds and i include the illogical in that. I live in the boston area for almost 20 years. And within a three-block. Radius in boston. Was king's chapel. Arlington street church. First church boston and community church of boston. And included theologically in that perspective was a uu christian church. Amore mainline i'd say uu congregation first church. Beauty church of austin witches. Almost strictly a lecture series every sunday morning. And then arlington street church which is very well known for. It's welcoming of. Gays lesbians bisexual transgender people. In addition to so many other things that it does. So. I grew up roman catholic i went to catholic schools almost all of my life. I even interviewed my sophomore year in college to be a semi-closed or none but i. I did not enter the convent. But that is the heritage from which i came from. And just one other little story to tell you i know that roman catholicism itself has also changed as have many religions. But in the late 60s my. Former husband who is african-american and i went to get married in the catholic church both of us being roman catholic. And we're told it. The priests needed to get. Special permission. From the bishop because we were in an interracial couple. I would hope that something like that would never happen. In any of our congregations today. And i assume that that is that i know that that is the case. But. Again the big ten. Welcoming people of all different the illogic. Perspectives. Lifestyle. Ethnicity. Etc. Where else can we find that but in the unitarian universalist. And richard. There's an advantage and going third. I don't have to be as brilliant. Scott thank you for allowing me to come back and be part of this. Installation service and then this worship service today it's good to see. So many faces that i remember from. The years that i served here. And. Somewhat old home week. No thank you. The thing that i reflected on when i was thinking about this question. Was. For me. That that aspect of. We are unfettered. And where we seek the holy. We're able. To look at ne. Human creation of scripture. To seek out. To question with others in community. What it is that makes us human. To question what is this thing we call life. And who wrestle with the three big questions at all religion. Dodge. Why am i here. Where am i going. And where did i come from. I like for him to say something earlier because that does encapsulated. What i believe is one of the main. Themes for unitarian universalism. To be able. To ask those questions. And there's nothing off-limits. In our pursuit. And i want to briefly answer the question to me the most precious part of unitarian universalism. Is it our faith especially from our universalist side is committed to the idea that no one will be left behind. There's no such thing as. Disposable or unpressured. Human being. Carl sandburg at the very end of his collected poems said it better than i can. There is only one horse in the world of the horse's name is all hooves. There is only one bird in the air and. The bird's name is all wings. There's only one fish in the sea in the fish's name is all fins. There was only one. A man in the world and his name is all men. There is only one woman in the world and her name is all women. There is only one child in the world in that child's name is all children. There was only one maker in the world and that makers children cover the earth. And they are called. All gods. That is the spirit that must animate every. Our second question. Will be antlers scott before you get to the second question i have a i went online to and got some statistics. Match your statistic it was very interesting. American. Religious identity survey 10 years ago. Found that they were 550,000 persons who identified themselves as unitarian universalist right and the most recent one showed that there were six hundred and twenty-seven thousand. Who were who identified themselves as unitarian universalist so we have a long a lot of people to reach. So we can become 1000 member church if there are that many you use out there right now. That i appreciate that gene thank you and now the second question and junior going to answer the second question first. Double billing who deserve it. At this year 2011 is the 50th anniversary of the merger of unitarianism. And universalism. Which created our unitarian universalist association. What significant changes have occurred in our. And that relates back to claudia's used to thinks maybe. What significant changes have taken place over the last 50. My memory not being so good anymore i decided to make a list of things that i thought were. Significant changes in the past 50 years the most important thing for me personally was that when i. Entered the ministry 58 years ago is assistant minister in miami florida. There were three churches in florida. With ministers miami. Orlando in st petersburg. And now they're 22. So that is quite a change also when we. Went to miami 58 years ago. The unitarian church there was the only church that would hold integrated meetings. Which which were illegal at the time. And that black person's could not be on the streets of miami beach after sundown without a permit. Do things have changed their. Some other things that have changed in these past 50 years at 50 years ago. The humanist easiest distinction was still important churches identify themselves as theist. Humanist a calder ministers accordingly. Today that those distinctions have been pretty well blurred we're much more inclusive group both in terms of our churches as well as ministers being able to minister the congregations that include. Humanist as buddhist. A whole range of theological position. The. Another interesting thing that would administer when churches were seeking ministers. 50 years ago one of the things that they put on their survey is being most important. Was. Intellectual stimulation. Today. Intellectual stimulation has dropped about third or fourth place. And that the important thing is spirituality and building community. Sunday services i think we're more simple than it was like caricatured as. Sandwich services. Sherman was sandwiched between two hymns. Today our worship. Worshipping experiences much more. Inclusive broad includes many of the arts and much more involvement of lay persons in in our worship services. And then also at that time i think that the congregations were much more minister. Center. Our church boards were predominantly men. I've been always head of finance committee in the building and grounds can be the women where the caretaker. They were provided the church so services. Church suppers. Today. That is quite different. Laypersons men and women are much more involved in church management. Traditional women's groups have largely faded out. And i've been replaced by. Such groups as women spirit and women in religion. And traditional men's groups. Like lemans lee. Have disappeared. And now. They're forming consciousness-raising groups. Fifth. This fifty years ago there were five theological. Training. Search for r. Training students for our ministry. Today there are only three. Theological schools that identify. With unitarian universalism. And most of our students are being trained. And nan you. Seminary. The credentialing and fellowshipping process has become much more involved. And much more stringent than it was 50 years ago when i was fellowship. 50 years i went to boston met the president and his office. We were living in richmond at the time and we spent most of the time it's. Describing which would be the best route to take. To boston and back to richmond. But that. And also the gender balance has shifted away from an almost. Exclusively male profession. Over 50% of our ministers are women. And ministry is a second career for most of our minister. Today. And. There. 50 years ago there was just about one or two african american. Ministers. Today there are 40. Then at that time most of the people coming into our congregation. Where what we called. Come outer saber coming out of traditional churches. And. Bringing with them. Great deal of understanding of church. Churchman ship. They were coming from the presbyterian the baptist. Interesting lee enough they came from whatever the dominant religion was in miami at that time we had a large segment of persons coming from with jewish background when we got to atlanta most of our members were coming from baptist. Today most of them are called. Come inners. That they are coming. Into our congregation. From an unchurched position they have not had the truck and they do not bring a great deal of the. Know-how of church volunteer work in that into art so it's entirely different scene as far as the. So in these fifty years we have become much more inclusive and pluralistic. In our religious beliefs and in their religious communities. We are the first denomination to have achieved a 50-50 gender balance and are ordained clergy. And we were the first. One of the first i guess to welcome gay and lesbians into our ministry. We elected williams sinkford to be president of the uu a and he was the first african-american to lead and historically white denomination. The changes over the past 50 years. Have been both significant and transformative for eye movement. Thank you so that concludes my list all right. Richard. What else is left well you can just say amen and shut up i could but i'm i'm. I would say. Nothing in my 37 years of being a unitarian universal. Is it universal or someone. We believe. More of what the universalist proclaim. We stand on the side of love not on the start of the side of thinking. We are. Passionate. That has gotten. Better able. To be in touch with the feelings hide. Of what it means to be religious people. So. I would say universalism. And you know because it's setup. Unitarian universalism. Unitarian is the modifier. Universalism is the noun the boston brahmins might disagree. Oh yes i've been in the ministry a long time as well not quite as long as gina have a southern baptist minister first for 10 years and have now been over 50 years apart over 40 years. Unitarian universalist. Yes and i will just mention three changes. Jean when you mentioned that humanism. That we're now more diverse a theologically there was a time when humanism was excluded. Both unitarian and universalist congregation. Where. Or theistic. And liberal christian. And that was a long struggle to finally bring humanism to where it was a justifiable position. And that our clergy could be humanistic humanistic. And over the years we we've sort of. To some degree abandon that. I had hoped that since i entered. Fully and finally fellowship. In 1965 that we would have a chance by now. To have fully articulated a religious humanism. And we did not really get around 2. And i'm missing that. The second thing i would mention is centralization. And there's an upside and a downside to that. We are more centralized now. When i first came in the voices were so diverse. In terms of opinion about who we were. And now we are sort of expected i feel terms of religious culture. Too sore to be on the same page. All the time. So the centralization has a good aspect. And i'm not so good aspect. Although i do feel like it helped us to move forward together. More often than we used to do in the past. And the last thing is causes them. I think we have become not just concerned about certain things we don't become concerned until it is a cause. Which is visible and we can parade. And protest and have our pictures taken. And whatever else. When i was in phoenix which is my last. Saddled ministry. Out there we did some wonderful work because you use were not involved in immigration or on behalf of immigrants. And we establish two wonderful program to write in our church. I wanted was a learning center. I-44. For immigrants and one was to help them with their language skills and also to help them in training to get. Unskilled jobs in the community. And the other was to protect them from consumer fraud and we actually had formally. An office. What was called a satellite office of the state attorney general at our church. For that purpose. Not one single uu clergy. Or congregation. Ever asked what we were doing how could they help. How might they do what we were doing. And then after i left. When. The whole thing out there happened as we all know the last couple of years. Then everybody woke up and got involved but we were really the third out there because of the congregation the presbyterians was the first to do that. So causes them needs to be connected to our spirituality into our religion. So we've been changing we've been evolving as a face and now my third question is 22 ken hurteau first. As you look in the future. Can what changes do you anticipate. This is more prayer than than a prediction. The. Our puritan ancestors had the good sense. To recognize that our faith had to be a journey. And that would held us together was a commitment to find the. The truth in holiness. We have. Too often succumb to creedalism among us. And creating a narrowing of acceptability. In our desires not. To believe false things that is a good thing not to be. False thing. But we have too often become. An alternative to religion. Rather than a religious alternative. My hope in my prayer and what i hear in the conversations among you. Is that we want to discover what it means to be. Humanely. Religious. In this time. The second thing i see happening among us is the recognition. That none of us can go it alone. That my faith development needs to be in constant discernment with you. As a member of the larger community to help me think clearly and feel. Appropriate passion. Play what matters in human living. I see our worship services becoming increasingly. Concerned about. What difference does it make that we were here. Together today. In terms of how you live your life tomorrow. I see is continuing to work on that and then last point here. Is. Our congregations. Are discovering the second part. Congregational polity. For too long we have seen the congregations is isolettes. And we're discovering over and over again.. Healthy. Vital congregations our congregations that have that larger conversation. From one congregation to the next and coming together frequently. For the sharing of its operations and open discussing of problems and working things through and being there for one another. Mike riehl prayer around this is we will go back to the visitation process. Of our puritan ancestors. And routinely go to one another's congregations. And bear witness and say how are you being unitarian universalist. Imagine your board members. Once a year visiting another churches board meeting and witnessing what goes on there. Imagine yourself sending delegations to other congregations to worship with them. Learn from them and likewise having delegation. Come to you and then engaging in. What is our larger ministry how can we. Enrich each other that's my hope. And my prayer and i'm certainly going to act. The universalist teaching. That none of us is ever to be forgotten. Or written off. Are treated shamefully. That we are all saved the extent we love one another. I really do see that evolving. More clearly. Passionately. With greater intellectual go errands. And mike. I think. First of all i i'm hopeful about our future i'm not assured of it but i think if we can keep going in the direction that we're going. And doing a lot of things. We're doing that we we have a good possibility for the. But you know it would really help if we. If we had more buildings like this if you guys could kind of share this with a lot of other churches it would help a lot because we're in the dc area we're certainly running out of room in our church is in parking lots and etcetera. I think one of the biggest challenges for our future is going to be. I really dealing with multicultural is. We've done real well in terms of bringing as i said earlier we've been bowled and we've been i we've had the hood supposed to bring women into our ministry to gay and lesbian transgender people into our ministry and into our churches to welcome them and now we're struggling to welcome people of color and we're finding that to do that we really need to make a lot of changes. And the way we do things especially in the way we worship. We need to reconfigure and what is it that's going to make people. Welcome. Feeling welcome. People of color into our churches but i think even more important than that is to. Welcome young people into our church is because once you bring young people into our churches then you bring a lot of multiculturalism just buy. Just by necessity. But young people is going to that's going to be our true challenge. Because young people don't want to come into a church that's going to be like their parents church. And are they that's just not going to work it has to be different it has to meet their needs not their parents. Are their parents generations names. And that means to bring in young people you have to really change worship. And that's not going to meet their needs. Like having big screens up there like that. I in having more. More enthusiasm and more emotional content in your services are lot of things. And that means that the older folks need to be more patient. Bad and it will be more generous of spirit. And saying well this may not meet all of my needs. But it's meeting the needs of this church in this movement so i'm not going to throw a fit with scott or anybody else.. And linda lou. And will be wrapping up soon. Echoing a lot of what my. Said i would like to add to the mount multiculturalism that we also need to think in terms of economic diversity. I think that is one of our major downfalls. Speaking of youth i had an idea when i was. Think about this question. And that was the suggestion that we might have a group of people that would shadow are used with their permission for a day. And just find out what their life is like. Especially when we think of other social media. Because i think that you are correct that we really do need need to incorporate social media more and more in our services in our in our worship in our committee meetings etc nothing that i was thinking about was the fact that there are a lot of people that cannot attend church for whatever reasons. And it would be wonderful for them to be able to experience this wonderful. Worship service and i know that that you do have it on that people can access it but maybe some live-streaming sometime were people in a nursing home or who are ill at home could even participate live. With your worship service i don't know how that works because that's the last thing i know about. So anyway those are some of the things i was thinking about that for us to keep going we need our young people and we're not going to have our young people or keep our young people if we don't keep up-to-date so maybe somebody can shadow one of your youth someday and see what. What is like for them. And i just want to close by answering the last question myself. As i said at the felon about what about john. I'm so eager to that happens to me a lot and how would you like to be last. Well i'm going to take my two or three or four minutes. And i'm i have to. My gosh everybody said so many things. I should say something different and i will. I am from detroit. So first of all i would appreciate being here and i don't appreciate with michael. No idea. If you seen the ads in the super bowl you know that we are still tested and iron tough. So i'll give you some tough love. If you don't mind. I do appreciate so much of what we've done and i agree we should be proud but pride does cometh before a fall. And so as as john said. I do get concerned about causes mm. As the moderator of the unitarian universalist association which. If you want to think anteka secular terms that's like the. The. Speaker of the house. Has said. People know where activists they don't know where religious. And i think our call then is to do things as we've been doing them. But do them not because they're to the left that is because they're liberal socially. But because they're right. And to do them because they're right and we know they're right religiously and because and and articulate that. And to do the hard work of universalism. Is is canada. Pointed out. That when we say we welcome all that should be it. That's very hard. But that should be it that we welcome all and really mean it. Doesn't need programs doesn't need a lot of articulation. And it means that we welcome people who haven't been mentioned here. Ifrogz a people who believe that we all have guns. Are they not welcome if we welcome everybody. There are a lot of people who aren't well. Because they they cr. Are active isn't without that other very important element. Of all of our religion and our belief and our genuine belief and welcoming off. And in saying that if i might say one thing is certain prayer and refer to our symbol the flaming chalice. That should enlighten us in a way. Deeper and more than we think. I mean we have seen the flame of passion. That shows up and we get again to go back to channel to get burned up about something. We get burned up and show people. And i think it's okay to have that passion but if all you are is burned up all you're going to attract people who are burned up. Or if you are working in a place where you have sort of a smokescreen of words and ideas you'll attract people who have the smokescreen of words and ideas. But what about the flame of warm. The flame of love. The flame that isn't inviting to everybody and shows in the joy that you have. Joyful dude you have in front of their office. The joy you have as some. As peter says one of his epistles be. Prepared at all times. The show the joy that is in you and i think that's what we need the element we need to show. Is the genuine loving this that invites all. And that has that enthusiasm in that joy that may in fact. Work with media. But when you come right down to it. For all the media that we have. For the elderly person dying in the hospital. Or for the young person who's in the hospital sick and hasn't learned anything about prayer. The media isn't going to help. In the. What's inside of them. So it's the what's inside we have. Get. And then we have to turn our insides out. So that we show people that love that's where i think the whole flies got. So. I got to be last but that got me to mouth off thank you i wasn't paying attention to my own script. And just one last word. I was with. 340 colleagues last week cuz i sent the fellowship dinner. Change i expect is. Our urgency. About our work. Continue. We live in a very troubled world. We live in a planet gravely endangered. Ecological change. We still live in a culture that wants to divide and parse. And kill. And we are voice. Universal love. And care for humanity. And there is a new urgency that we're not about childsplay we're not about having a clubhouse here in vero beach where we have nice dinners. What about the ultimate. Salvation of humankind. And and we've got the message. It's been in our bones for 500 years and it did yesterday articulations change. And we're no better than episcopalians or muslims are jews. They share many of the same visions and we have to partner with them. But we are voice one voice. For the salvation of the world and that's the work. Of which. These people have devoted their lives and i hope that we will all devote our.

uufvb_org

2015Apr05Sermon128.mp3

Happy easter you know what garrison keillor says about a congregation of unitarian universalist on easter sunday don't you all dressed up and nowhere to go. But that's that's a joke anyway welcome on this easter sunday to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased you've decided to begin this beautiful. Stay here on the treasure coast with us. We are congregation of open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual cells. Even as together as a congregation we work to make our world a better place. Please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you were young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd whether you're a visitor for the first time this morning or have been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling absolutely on top of the world or down in the dumps or. Somewhere in between. We welcome you just. This morning. We hope you will find this easter morning service meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit. And feed your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose and joy. For the living of life and the days ahead. And what easter service would be complete without these words by e.e. cummings unitarian poet. I thank you god for most this amazing day. For the leaping greenly spirits of trees. And a true blue dream of skiing for everything which is natural which is incident which is yes. I would guide him alive again today and this is the son's birthday this is the birthday of life. And love. And wings. End of the gay great happening. Illimitable earth. How's for tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any lifted from the no of all nothing. Human merely being doubt unimaginably you. Now the ears of my ears awake. And now the eyes of my eyes. Are open. The reading this morning is from the judgment. Of the birds. From a book entitled. In the immense journey. Which of a little glade with one long crooked branch extending across it. I sat down to rest my back against a stump. By accident. I was concealed from the glade. Although i could see into it perfectly. The sun was warm there and the murmurs of forest life. Blurred softly away into my sleep. When i awoke. Dimly aware of some commotion. An outcry in the clearing. The light was slapping down through the pines in such a way. But the glade was live like some baskets seadrill. I could see dust motes. I would pawn in a long shaft of light. And they're on an extended branch. Shot. An enormous raven. With a red and squirming nestling. And it's beak. The sound that awoke me. Was the outrage cries of the nestlings parents. Who flew helplessly in circles about the clearing. The sleek black monster was indifferent to them he gulped he wedded his beak on a dead branch a moment. I'm shot still. Up to that point the little tragedy had followed the usual pattern. Out of all that area of woodland. A soft sound a complaint. Began to rise. I'm into the glade fluttered small birds. Of a dozen varieties. Drawn by the anguish cry. Of the tiny parents. No one dared attack the raven. But they cried there in some instinctive, missouri. The bereaved. Bereaved. The greenfield with airsoft rustling and their cries they slaughtered as though to point their wings at the murderer. There was a dim intangible ethic. But he had violated that they knew. He was a bird. Abdul. And he the murderer the blackbird at the heart of life sat on their glistening in the common light formidable. Unmoving. Unperturbed. Untouchable. The song god. It was then i saw the judgement. It was a judgment of life against death. I will never see it again so forcefully presented i will never hear it again in nose so tragically prolong. For in the midst of that protest. They forgot the violence. They're in that clearing the crystal note of a song sparrow lifted hesitantly into the hush. And finally after painful fluttering another took the song and then another. The song passing from one bird to another job fully at first as though some evil thing we're being slowly forgotten. Like they all took heart and shine from many throat joyously together as birds are known to sing. Facetime because life is sweet and sunlight is beautiful they sang under the brooding shadow of the raven. In simple truth they had forgotten the raven. For they were the singers of life. I'm not. Of death. Well this easter sunday i'm going to let you in on a dirty little secret that ministers have. There are a whole lot of us clergy types who secretly dread it when christmas and easter roll around each year. Now don't get me wrong most ministers just love the best festive music the familiar rituals and the bigger than average crowd. The come with these holidays. All that stuff's great. What we ministers read honestly is having to come up with something new and fresh and original. To say each year i mean think about how many clever fresh and innovative ways are there to approach the old spiritual messages. Of christmas. An easter. If you. Easy i dare you. In any case. Now that you know this dirty little secret about ministers dreading it every time easter rolls around i will tell you this is my 42nd. Easter sunday as an ordained minister my files are full of old easter sermon. Some of them dare i say we're downright freshen inspirational others of them barely above average. And a few i will admit mediocre heaven forbid perhaps if you even worse. Just makes. Perfect sense of course when you think about it because a minister no matter what his or her denomination. Only preaches his or her best easter sermon once all the rest are well something less than that right. So. With all that said let me tell you the story the true story about my first easter sermon as it uu minister. The date i had to go look it up on google. Was april 14th 1974 i was 24 years old and i know some of you seen this picture before this is what i looked like back then. A little warrior. And a lot younger. Just out of seminary totally wet-behind-the-ears the newly settled minister of the first. Church of houlton maine established in 1811 the oldest church north of bangor maine unitarian universalist adorable and brave little congregation when i got there of about. 45 adults and 15 children then the people who ran three mcdonald's restaurant up there they had 12 adopted kids they joined the church and so our sunday school got a lot bigger. Here is o'hara's main and use the red star is where holton is. It was then a town of over eight thousand souls but today has shrunk to a population. About 5,000. You're looking for very. Housing for. Retirement houlton maine is a place you could go. It's where interstate 95 dead-ends. At the canadian border. In that northern part of maine the whole northern part is bigger than connecticut is called aroostook county. There are more moose. Them people. I'm not talkin metaphor. I mean literally. More moose. That people. It is very remote it is very rural and in the winter trust me it is very cold and it is very snowing so. As easter approach that year in the middle of april. As a newly-minted minister i was ready or at least i thought i was ready to preach a barn burning sermon about the return of spring the resurrection of life and the rebirth of hope in the human heart all the things i've been taught on in berkeley california and seminary that would be perfect for easter sunday. But then i looked outside and here is what the church look like that easter week. Actually. There was about four and a half feet of snow on the church lawn the church walk was a tunnel the janitor had been shoveling the snow up so high it was like a turtle it was unbelievable. So. There was much more snow. Indeed that first year of my ministry the snow did not leave the ground until after memorial day i remember that first memorial day barbecuing chicken outside with patches of old hired snow around the fire pit. So. There i was at first spring and eager cheerful minister already for easter but. There wasn't ready for me. About mid-week before that sunday i went into a panic mode. What was i going to do with spring absolutely nowhere in sight i mean what was i going to say for heaven's sake. I mean. Here i had an easter file filled overflowing with poetry and music about spring daffodils and crocuses and bluebirds returning to warm human heart. But our little northern maine town was still firmly gripped. The death grip of winter. It would be several weeks more before the. Hint. Well as i remember it i preached the sermon that lamely went something like i went looking for the old stern i couldn't find it. I think i said don't worry folks i know we're still buried in snow but have faith. Spring will come someday. And your hearts will eventually feel and know the resurrection. I did the best i could for god's sake that first.. So now fast-forward please to easter 2015 here i am 42 years later. Much older and hopefully wiser. But still with an easter problem. And this time however it is for the opposite reason of that firsties. In case you haven't noticed here in vero beach. We live in the tropics. And while we do have a few days of slightly cold or whether it's you're basically the climate here on the treasure coast is. Well it's perpetual summer. Lush. Green life everywhere. So where is in houlton maine where the easter was nowhere to be found here. It dances gleefully around us in april. And october. And even in january. The flowers bloom the bird sing everything is lush and inviting and green. So just doesn't holton where my first easter sermon felt. Totally out of sync with reality so to easter here feels to me strange and anti-climatic. We're winter really never gains the power to shut down the natural world. And lock it in a death grip of ice. No. Trust me. It is as difficult. To write an easter sermon where winter never comes. As it is where winter refuses to leave by contrast by the way my perfect congregation was bethesda maryland where i was before. You know the mid-atlantic get enough winner to remind you that the cherry blossoms are just starting to come out in washington. That was the perfect place to have easter. The point. But the sermon will be a whole lot easier for me if we were all living in the adirondacks. Adirondack bench right anybody else from the adirondacks this morning oh yeah okay and i have a place up there. It would be a whole lot easier if we're in the adirondacks where the rivers now rush with spring melt. And the crocuses and snowdrops are just starting to peep their heads up. Rei. Gray. Rei. But of course and thank god not all easter sermons most especially unitarian universalist one. Our climatic our climate dependent. It seems to me that easter at least in most parts of the world. Comes with a dual and complementary message. The natural message. Is the glorious and faithful rebirth of life that does come to earth. Spring. And the spiritual message. Is the reaper possibility of the rebirth of hope and joy and purpose. That can always come. So. This easter in warm and wonderful. beach was going to be what 83 today. And where i at as i have already observed winter never really takes full. And spring is kind of hard to notice. I want to focus on the spiritual. That is so precious. Important with you live in anchorage alaska. Or austin texas or right here on the treasure. And that timeless and universal message. Isn't even after we experience the hardest of noxon life. Even after we weather the hardest winter storms in our souls even after we experience any sort of. Painful or sorrowful good friday we can still experience. Easter morning. With a 3 birth of hope. Troy. Can always. Follow. And this leads me to what i really want to say to you this morning on this easter of 2015 my 42nd. Easter message. Here in volney florida. My focus is on the idea. Of resilience. Not the resilience of nature after along new england winter though that is wonderful most of you have been up in new england you know how beautiful that can. I want to focus on the resilience. Of the human heart. The all-important second half. Easter message. Resilience in your heart. Or in my heart after we have suffered. A good friday. Soul. Some terrible loss or. Sorrow or dark. Storm. Human being. Resilience. Human resilience. Is what easter sunday is. Play all about to me. The spiritual. Process. A bouncing back. To life. All of its fullness. Here is the interesting definition of resilience i found on dictionary.com. Resilience. The power or ability to return to the original form. Position that cetera after being bent. Compress. Or stretch it is elasticity. Second definition. Ability to recover readily from illness. Depression adverse. Or the like it is buoyancy. Buoyancy. Elasticity. So. As of we have already observed the word resilience certainly applies to mother earth every springtime. As all of nature does faithfully eventually even after a winter like this one again. Bounces back to green and glad and glorious thing. This is the easy and predictable. Message of easter. The natural resurrection of spring that does come. Every winter. But the harder message. The one that is not so reliable or predictable or certain is the spiritual message. The message that is i've already said after every good friday of the heart there can be a rebirth of hope. Enjoy and purpose. Soul. The spiritual message of easter is harder. And less certain than the natural earth. Because when it comes to human beings. Resilience is not assured. We human beings do not always bounce back to life. I'm the man. What i love about the lauren isley piece that i had lee reed. This morning what a beautiful. Beautiful image that is. Is the spiritual resist resilience. Exhibited by those. Little vulnerable songbirds in the glen after the raven of death has. Suddenly they. Heart. And saying from many throats. Joyous. Together as birds are known to sing they sang because even under the brooding shadow of death. Life is sweet. Sunlight is beautiful. Simple truth. Forgotten the raven for. Singers. Life. Not. What resilience a monkey. You have longer memories than birds. Does not always come so naturally. I can say this is true because i have been in the business. Of studying human beings and their behavior. For a very long time now. It seems to me in my work as a minister there is a natural continuum. Along which people instinctively fall given their personalities. And their emotional resources and their inclination. Between resilience on the one end of the spectrum and what i shall call brittleness. On the other there is a natural continuum. In people. Between resilience. And ritalin. In my experience those people who tenten either toward resiliency which is. Those people who are naturally flexible henna roll with life's punches. Bounce back quickly when they have losses are good fridays in their lives. Dawson abling themselves to move ahead in their lives. Not as before but with reconfigured. Meaning and purpose of a pre-configured mean. Or the people who tempt word brittleness. These are the folks who find it difficult to adapt and recover. From hard and unwelcome circumstances. Thereby tending to break. Rather than ban. And then they get trapped. Daybreak. In immobilized fear and anger and depression. One image from the natural world which might be helpful here. Is the way various trees respond during ice storms. Whenever we had massive ice storms in the washington dc area and that was regularly. Plum trees like the weeping willows and young maple sapling. Have flexible and supple branches that that's down slowly. Ice accumulator only to bounce back. As soon as the sun came out in the melting began. But other trees like the mighty oak and the ash trees. With head very rigid branch. That would stand firm until the ice finally became too heavy for them. Causing them to crash to the ground or into rubes with a loud crack. Awesome taking power lines. Down with them. The point here is that people can be like trees. They can be like a. Supple. Willow or rigid oak. They come. Brittle. And they come. And i think there are two factors. The decide where we follow along this continuum of resilience and restless first. The way we are variously wired. Buy personality and predilection. For confronting and coping with life's unwelcome. Surprises. And i think there is a second factor that determines whether or not. We have the ability to bounce back from lice. Different. Isn't that is whether or not when we were young. And learning life's ropes we learn from our parents and other significant adults in our lives. We watch we witnessed other people being resilient themselves. When they were confronted with adversity and hardship. Some of us. I know i did. Have the advantage of having resilience modeled for us by our birth family. But others of us. Head only brittleness. Model. Making a hard i think. To realize that resilience picking yourself up after you've been knocked down by life. Is not only possible but it's in really it's the only way to go it's a life-saving. Spirit saving. Ability. Because these dual treat truths are true. The people are both emotionally wired differently. And that they may or may not have had resilience modeled for them. Is very important i think as we approach the spiritual question this easter. About how to strengthen. Our ability. Define resilience. In our living. And it's also important that we scrupulously avoid. Ever being judgmental or any other way harsh. Toward those who are in the face of life's adversities. Simply unable. Too readily or naturally muster that resilience that. Stirring. Quality. In their lives. Surely the last thing. Would someone who is struggling to come to terms. With a hard and unwelcome blow in life needs. He told they are somehow. Foolishly choosing to live a life. Failed brittleness. Or inflexibility. So the one thing i am not saying. Isn't there some sort of. It is some sort of character or moral failure. If finding resilience in your life is finding springtime in your life. Is an elusive quality as it was in houlton maine on. Spring come. But. With all this carefully insincerely sad. I none the less also believe that we all need as much as we are able. To be open to the possibility of developing in our living. A healthy. Ready stance. Of resilience. An adaptation. So that when good friday come. When we are clobbered. As we all eventually are in life. A tragedy. And loss and sadness you don't even know how to. We are able at some point or another. To consider finding. Brazilian new pathways back. Toward meaning. Contentment. Joy in the life. Continues. The good news i think is that for all of us no matter how we are emotionally predisposed. There is always when life throws us for a cosmic loop there is always a resilient. Possibility. I take it as a matter of faith. When life sends us reeling. All of us are free. To make certain. Supple. Choices. Of the heart. To avoid falling into those permanently brittle places of the mind and body and spirit. The trapezoid. Anger. And isolation. And resentment. We if we are saved by degrees in our living. And i believe we are. Then it matters one whole lot that we strive. To bring my our spiritual attitudes and emotional choices. The greatest possible measure of resilience. Into our lives. Saved i think again. Again. And again in our lives by lose by learning to choose. Stir in our hearts. No matter what time of year. No matter what the weather is. In our personal. Meteorology. Let me see if i can't. The finest quality of resilience just a bit more. Resilience. We've observed physical objects. Positive property of quality of being able. To bounce back. And i've already given you that. Concrete example of the simple tree branches in an ice storm the first band and then bounce back. Another example would be those new and clever soft car bumpers. But most auto manufacturers use these days those old metal bumpers. Minus little bump accidentally caused $3,000 damage. The manufacturers have learned. Make the bumper a little more resilient. Saving. Very much. And what is true for physical objects is i've already observed. Is true for people. Brazilian people when bump. Or when bent. Orland porsche all out of shape. Know how to bounce back. Continue on their journey down the road. With a measure of courage. Home. I have shared before from this pulpit the recent findings of recent studies. On what makes for successful aging. Which i found that those individuals. Who do their best in the later years as their bodies wear out and their life situations. Provide them with more and more challenges. Those who do bad. Those who are happiest and most content. As they age. Or what the authors of the studies call the adapter. Those when confronted with illness and losses and disabilities. I were able and willing to flexibly adapt. And reduce and recruit to their reduced and their reconfigured condition. But they now face. Let me get this one example. A hypothetical woman in her late 70s. Who is a voracious reader. Loves to read both fiction and the daily newspapers. Slowly. Loses forsyth. Now one emotional and spiritual option surely open to her. Is the become riddle. And resentful for this life lost. And allow her then to shrink away from the rich world. The breeding has always brought her. But another emotional and spiritual option open. To this woman actually loses her sight. Is to be flexible. And find other. Fresh pathways. Into the rich and meaningful world that her reading has always open to. Such as listening to. Morning edition on npr and hearing now and all things considered and yes even garrison keillor in the. Prairie home companion. And by ordering both fiction and nonfiction talking books. Those audiotape books that are now available widely. Division. Brazilian people. People who know how to purposely move on and choose easter as they lose thing. Don't deny what has happened to me. They'd rather make room in their psyches for the new realities that have unwelcome least swept into their lives. They make changes in their behavior and their outlook. To proceed with living. With as much joy and engagement. It is as my friend marta flanigan observed. And her sermon on this topic. Resilience. Resilience she rides. Quality of bouncing back. After adversity. Some victims of crime. Some survivors of the holocaust. Some refugees from war-torn corners of the globe. Lose their ability. To trust the world. And some spend the rest of their lives in fear. Bitterness. And suspicions but others find a new way of seeing the world. That does not deny the tragic reality of what happened to them. But also does not compel them to see the world forever then as a treacherous. Place. They adopt she writes a new perspective. Which makes room. For cruelty and suffering. The other firm. There is still goodness. Enjoy for them. In the world. Make room for cruelty and suffering yet affirmed there is still goodness. Enjoy. For them. I like this. Dia. Life-saving resilience in our living requires us to make room. In our understanding of life. For all the good friday's for all those. Insufferable. Experience. If we can make room. For the idea that bad things do happen to good people like us. Then when they occur. We are likely to not get stuck. In that brittle emotional and spiritual place. That's simply gets stuck and railing against the cruelty and the unfairness of it all why me oh lord why me how did you let this happen to me. Rather than looking around. Bouncing back. And finding what is yet possible and. For us. So it seems to me that much of this capacity for resilience. Is in the end a matter of spiritual. An emotional attitude. To proactively cn2 firm. As life closes a door on us. To what other doors. Twerk fulfillment and joy and possibility. Remain. What i am saying here is this. How we choose to perceive the situation we are in. The perspective we choose. To adopt about what has happened. Can make all the difference in the world. When robert murphy a professor of anthropology. Was paralyzed by a tumor on his spine. He reexamine his attitude about the world disable listen to his own words. From his book. The body. Thailand. I was badly damaged. Yep just as alive as ever. And i had to make the best of it with my remaining. Capabilities. It occurred to me that this is the universal human condition. We all have to muddle through life. With our limitation. And while i had certain. Physical handicaps. I retained many of my strength. My brain was the only part of my central cortex. That still work well. But it's also where i made my living. Disability he went on to say isn't amorphous and relativistic term. Some people are unable to do what i do because they lack the mental equipment. But in this says. They are disabled. And i am not. Everybody is disabled. In one way or another. And even though my growing paralysis would one day and my active participation in the affairs of the world. For now. I can sit back. And watch them. This brave and resilient attitude expressed by professor murphy. And one can only hope. That one would be. Resilient. You had his. Reminds me of my favorite quotation from albert camus. I afforded it before because it expresses my most deeply held. Conviction. Camus route. Yes. In this life there are deprivation. There are deprivations which give rise to our worst sarah. What does it truly matter what we have lost when what we have lost. Is not. Yet. Used. What does it truly matter what we have lost. When what we have lost. Is not. Yet. And viktor frankl. The famous psychoanalyst. Auschwitz survivor affirms the same thing. When he reflected on surviving the many terrible months. He spent in the death camp. We who lived in the concentration camps can remember the men and women. Who walks through the huts comforting others giving away their last piece. They may have been few in number. But they were are they offered sufficient proof. That everything can be taken from us but one thing the last of the human freedom the freedom to choose one added one's attitude in any given set of circumstances the freedom to choose one's own way and there were in the death camps. He wrote always. Choices to make. Everyday every hour offered the opportunity to make a decision a decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self your inner freedom. Anyone he concludes can decide what she'll spiritually become of him or herself. And then he hands. It is the spiritual freedom. Which cannot be taken away. And that makes life. Meaningful. A. Brazilian people. Choose. In the face. Applause. To see what they still have. To work with what has not yet been taken from them. And to make the choices in their lives that allow them. To proceed. And there's one last thing i want to say to you about resilience. And resilient. In the end resilience. Is also all. About. Conclude by reaffirming. This morning the most primary tenant of my face. In this earthly existence. In which. We find ourselves. Is an affirmation i often quietly share with people. Who are reeling with some terrible. Blow. Life. Has brought them some terrible good friday when they are struggling to regain their existential footing. And find new bearing a new way to move on. And that is this. I believe that as long as we have access to it. As long as we have breath. Being. And a mine. Heart. And the body with which to engage life. Regardless. How many losses. Have suffered that remains a measure. A meaningful. Significant sufficient measure. A purpose and goodness for us to know. Live. And to serve. I believe bedrock to my heart that human beings were built out of this holy mystery of things. To find meaning and purpose enjoying their lives even. When they face painful diminishment. We are here on earth. To use the freedom. Sunlight. And our days no matter how reduced or contorted from the perfect dreams we once had. We are here to use our freedom to find purpose. Troy in our living. To build. Ever stronger relationships. With life. And to bring the great gift of self. Howsoever limited. Howsoever broken. So ever torment. To the world. Bags. For our touch. And that's we return to the great. Spiritual message. And even after the good friday's that inevitably come our way. Brazilian human hair. Is always free. Experienced a rebirth of hope. Enjoy. We human beings are called. Whatever beckoning. Voice of. To resilience. No matter what we have lost we are being called back to life. Called back to what remained called back to find a new way in the face of every good friday we are called to use the greatest of freedoms. The freedom goes birds used in the glens the freedom to choose life over negation. The freedom to choose action over surrender the freedom to live as fully and finally as your circumstances will allow. This message that comes to our heart every. Easter sunday. Is as simple as it is life. Life. Is not yet done with. For free. Find fresh. Unfolding pants. Of life. So whisper. It is the words of e cummings began our service i leave you with these words of eecummings. If among silence guys bluer than believing little gay earth opening is. All the flowers of our eyes april's day. This if now or this young trembling any into flame twig or limb explodes each living a blaze greenlee thing. Mayhaps,. Love. By yes. Every new bird no bigger than to sing. Leaf is wing and tree is voice. Morley's polly. Then you. Am i. We. Are spring.

uufvb_org

2012Sep09Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. Great day to be on the treasure coast. A florida. United states of america. I've got alexander in the ministry this wonderful caragacianu we welcome you to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. Chosen to spend this hour of worship and praise with us. And know that you are welcome just as you come this morning. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you're republican or a democrat weather. You're struggling with an illness. But you'll miss our feel totally well this morning. Whether you are on top of the world or down in the dumps. Or somewhere in between know that we welcome you just as you come to us. In all of your particularity in charm. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy. For the living of life in the week ahead. All their friends here we are. Quietly and calmly gathered in this peaceful rum. On the sunday following labor day. Ready assumedly. To dive back into the increased pace connectivity of autumn. Summer here on the treasure coast. Willis deliciously slower rhythms and language moods is over. Our summer vacations relaxing as they were both near and far all taken. Local schools have been back in session for what two and a half weeks now. The seasonal snowbirds are starting to dribble back into town and life here on the treasure coast will start to accelerate. In-rhythm in intensity. What a perfect sunday then to explore perhaps on the very oldest parrot spiritual paradoxes or. Balancing act known to humanity that. Simply put the spiritual tension between. Doing. And not doing. Or said differently the spiritual tension between. Doing. And just being. I say this not only because the more hectic doing months of fall season are now breaking over us whether we want them to or not but also because. This congregation particular is made up of people. Who are doors. Come on now admitted you folks are for the most part a happy swarm of doobies. This is the current gation likes to keep busy even those of you who claim to be retired. You like to stay productive engaged active and useful. Indeed circle of you who have. Retired have drove to me that given how busy you are now you wonder how you ever found time to do a job or a career. So given how characteristically busy you folks are. What a perfect sunday to ponder the absolute spiritual importance of knowing how to balance all that incredible doing. With some equal measures of mindful. Life-saving. Non doing. Prime actually persuaded that health. Joy and productivity of life. Depends on you know. Knowing how to balance these two. Let me see if i can make this distinction between doing and being a bit clearer with an everyday example how one spends. One vacation. The most of you know i'm something of an exercise fanatic. Do you know what my personal idea of a great vacation is. As a busy duby action-oriented rather high energetic american male i like. Nothing better than getting my place in the adirondacks. Spending each morning with my old cycling friend bill and sometimes colin. Putting as many hard fast miles as i can in on my bike. Pedaling up and down the hills along the hudson river flying past rivers and lakes. Force fields. In the afternoon after. Norfolk down a quick lunch. I like to go tubing. Down the wild rapids of the schroon river with whatever neighbors and relatives i have in hand riding the tubes with the cresta crashing v of the. Of the rapids of that. Wonderful river. The flows past our house. The truth is i'm happiest on vacation. But i'm pedaling pushing puffing puffing slipping and sliding. Doing and burning calories all day and then after a hearty dinner with maybe a glass of chardonnay. Crashing about 8:30 at night. I don't know about some of my friends who vacation with me. The somerset. You ever stop you're like the energizer bunny. Give it a rest they say. There's an article about americans like me recently in the washington post subscribe. A growing number of hard-charging go-getter executive types both women and men. Who work long hard demanding days running america the article said and then rush off on vacation to beautiful places only to spend it doing extreme sports. Mountain and rock climbing skydiving in waterskiing cycling and swimming handleiding bungee jumping you get the idea. Many americans myself included are almost addicted when they are on vacation. For more doing and more doing and more doing. There is of course another way to spend one's vacation time and find joy and satisfaction. In the universe. And that is just heaven forbid. To relax. Endive. Gently into the natural flow of your life and surroundings. What are the most wonderful restorative days i've ever experienced in my life. And i shall never forget it. Was one july day. Several years ago in compton i spent a beautiful. Language july day floating down the delaware river in pennsylvania. What's two other couples. For dear old friends. Early in the morning the tubing company. That we are put us way up the river. I'm great big and fighting. Inflatable tubes. We were simply to sit in. And spend the entire day floating down the pristine meandering river. We weren't given paddles. Because the whole idea was not the paddle. But to let the current. Of the gentle flow of the river. Carrier. To spend the day. Moving slowly and an absolute harmony. With a gentle unhurried. Anyway are zendaya on the delaware. Was a warm and gracious day of mixed sun and clouds. We packed a delicious lunch of deli sandwich. Cold beverage. We tied a cooler. One of the. One of the tubes. Religiously ate at midday on a smooth rock. In the middle of the river. The waters. Gurgle.. Before getting back into our inner tubes and allowing the current to slowly take us down the gentle river. Edison unhurried pace. All day long we simply went with. The flow. Moving at the rivers. We talked and laughed. Splash. But other times fell into silence. Simply listening. The song birds that were in the high trees on both sides of the delaware. Or the gurgle of. I even remember shutting my eyes i'm falling into the embrace of a sun-dappled nap. All day long we moved in harmony and trust. With the rivers gentle and reliable current. It allowed that day too. Well bye. On holy. Calming paste. Today was not a day of doing. It was a day of. Being. In the river. Emperatriz. This morning i want to talk to you about the taoist principles. Of wu-wei it's not a person. It's a principle. Way. And away is the idea of non doing. Non-action. It is a way. Being watchful. Quietness bringing quietness. Wuwei is a chinese expression. That is hard to directly translate into english. And this is spiritual concept. Is also a challenge for most of our western. Action oriented minds including my own. To get our heads around. Listen to the way american dallas. Ted kardash explains will weigh. Taoism is all about he said. Gaining an awareness of life's essential unity. And learning to cooperate. With its natural flow and order. Does enabling us to obtain a state of being that is both. Fully free and independent and at the same time. Fully connected. To the life. Flow of the universe. That is he writes being at one with the dow. A key principle in realizing our oneness with the dow is that of wu-wei. Or done doing. It is action he writes that is spontaneous and effortless. But this not doing is not considered to be inertia. Laziness or mere passivity. Rather it is the experience of going with the grain of swimming. The current. And then he goes on our contemporary expressing going with the flow. Is a direct expression of this taoist principle. And then kardashians. The principal of wu-wei implies the need to consciously experience ourselves. As a part of the unity of life that is the dow. Right we must be quiet and watchful. Learning to listen to both our own inner voices. Enter the voices of our environment. In a non interfering receptive manner. Plus we need to develop a watchfulness. And the quietness of mind. Changshu refers to this type of being in the world. A slowing. Or more poetically and properly. Provocatively. As purposeful. Wandering. Noel aw deleting american scholar of eastern religious tradition. Describes wuwei similarly. Wu wei he rides. Is not forcing. It is what we mean by going with the grain. Rolling with the punch. Swimming with the current. Trimming the sails to the wind. Taking the tide at its flood. And stooping to conquer. Wuwei. Watch rights is that. The lifestyle of the one who follows the down must be understood primarily as a form of intelligence. Structures and trends. Of human and natural affair sowell. The one uses the least amount of energy. In dealing with. The least amount of an. Going. Hello. Rolling with. And doubtless martin palmer says it just a little differently. Wuwei is the art of being. It is the art of being in harmony with the dow. That everything. Happens. Just. As a truant. Not force. Not swat. Not planned not bought. Not desired it just happens. Let me see if i can restate all this in a way that makes sense to my thoroughly western action-oriented mine. As i understand it. Living. With. From the wuwei. Means you achieve that kind of patience. Mindfulness. As you move through your daily rounds. It's a way of not forcing. As has been said. The lousy to move gracefully with the flow of life just wear touch. The spiritual mom doing or going with the flow does not mean you're passive. Or lazy or not is not examples vegging out for an afternoon on the sofa. what might. But no it doesn't mean vegging out in front of the big screen. Or taking. Even the language nap. In your backyard hammock. Or even meditating quietly alone on a pillow. Just kind of taoist. Not doing has nothing to do with. In action. Wu wei in fact requires that you purposefully pay keen attention. To the river of your life. That you are in. Right where it's at. So do you know and appreciate the life. Been given. Olive. Slow and. Achieving wuwei as i understand it. Is it kind of attentive being as opposed. Too distracted. Doing. Which american. Are great at distracted doing is sitting in front of us. Computer monitor on the web for 6 hours that's. Attracted. Attentive being in the world weigh. Has the power to open you to the depths of beauty of life that are within you and around you all the time. Let me get what i think of you everyday example of applying this principle of wu-wei in our daily. Let's say it's 5:30 p.m.. And you had a long and tiring day of activity or work. You know either as a volunteer at the hospital or working your job. And you're eager to get home and kick off your shoes watch the national news eat dinner and relax a little. The first artist to make a quick store to publix. To pick up a few things that i need in your store because you only have a few items to pick up on the parking lot didn't seem that.. If you'll take your 10 minutes back. If the finder items and check out. You quickly get your items in the basket. And the store doesn't seem all that busy but when you get to the front every line has seven or eight. People. Lined up. To check out now. You really want to get home. It seems to me that insect that mona. Ucd's line. You have a couple spiritual. One approach and trust me this is not the taoist. Is the rush back and forth the lines and try to figure out which one has a few more items to check out and pick the right one so you get out faster first of all whenever you pick align that way it never works with the clerk was just learning her ropes or whatever or somebody's got 17,000 coupons in front of you and then at the last minute. That's not. The zen approach is to just. Is to take the bull by the horns and try to figure out how you're going to solve this problem. Another another. Is. 2. But the way of the roadway is to go with the flow and settling non-judgmentally into the moment. Is ahead. Which is a waiting in line. 28. Inline. Align. And i'll wait. When we are confronted with an unwelcome delay or inconvenience in our lives. We are spiritually free not to run around like a chicken with her head cut off. Slow down take a. Breath. Come to the moment that has presented itself. And start paying attention to what. Hand. The famous. Zen master. Tick not han might say. You sort of ring of billings that i have a moment to wait in line at the grocery store. I can chat with the people next to me i could even text my grandson if as long as i do it in a relaxed way. Or i can think about all of my loved ones as i stand there in line. My loved ones in michigan and. My son-in-law in utah struggling with. You can use that moment. For being mindful. Spiritually relaxing accepting the delay. Waiting your turn. Going with the flow. Just being with what is. I'll find out when you get home. You'll be much more relaxed. Realign. In the waiting. Line. Now as i understand it i applying this principle of wu-wei. Is not strictly not doing. Cuz you are in fact. Doing some. You are spiritually and emotionally choosing to be mindful. Choosing to be patient. Choosing to move. With the reality. That is in front of you. Quiet again quietly beginning. Bringing the principal of whittier daily life is not a passive laziness. Or indifference. It's rather requires a. Cultivation of attentiveness. Keenness of mine. To where you are there's nothing. Lazy. Or passive. This is what american buddhist. Jonathan covid-19 affirms it is wonderful book. Wherever you go. There you are. Bi-rite. Mindfulness. Is an ancient buddhist practice which has profound relevance to our present-day life. It's all about waking up. And living in harmony with oneself and with the world. Mindfulness means paying attention in. Particular way. Paying attention on purpose. In the present moment and always. Non-judgemental. This kind of attentive. And just kind of attention. The bot. Samurai. Nurtures greater awareness. Clarity acceptance of the present moment. I think of mindfulness. He concludes. The art. Of conscious. So when you apply this principle of wu-wei to your daily life you practice a certain kind. A purposeful non doing. Purposeful. Teen mindful. You choose. Be fully present. In the river. Right where. Do all this about non-anxious mindfulness i'm sure as well and good but if. If you're like me this. Spiritually relaxing and going with the flow is easier said than done in american life in the twenty-first century. I don't know about you but. This american this full-blooded action-oriented doobie american you know the guy who thinks that riding 100 miles a day on a bike isn't a good way to relax and slow down. I have trouble. Get an i'm not the only one in this room. I have trouble a hard time getting my head around the taoist idea. A finding greater wholeness and meaning by simply slowing down and going. Fluency. In the river. Our whole frenetic industrious high-speed culture test. Is built around the idea. But it is a virtue. To constantly be doing an engineering shaping and creating what a thief multitaskers right it's not even enough to do one thing at a time. We americans destitute three or four five things. In a time we're not clever enough or not bright enough. We like to swing into action. Take the bull by the horns shape the environment we inhabit. Take charge of our lives. We are a culture of going and doing it. We're not so good at the dollar store. It doesn't come. Hor dualistic. What i want to say to you this morning as we move into the more hectic months. The fall season. Is when everyone seems to be doing more and more. Is. This. If you are to be in we are together to. Call mchale healthy creatures in creation. We must find greater spiritual balance in our lives between doing. We will do. And simply being on the other hand. You know. It's really it's the great american song meister in philosopher frank sinatra. Implied in one of his songs. It's really about. Balancing the doing in the bean you remember. Bedo bedo. I apologize for that i couldn't resist. It was too easy a shot. But schumer and selling us aside. My spiritual point is a serious one. I do believe deep. Look for our spiritual health. We have to know how to balance. Arguing. And all that confident. Effective shaping of our world in environments we know how to do is america. With just. Wisely choosing. The flow of our daily routine. To go with that flow. Be alert. 2 watt surround us and what needs to happen. Things we can't. Using as little force as we. As we moved. I want to speak. A person again just for a moment. Are the quintessential america i am sure i will never become a full. Bodied. Dallas. Fully embracing. The principle of wu-wei. As i increasingly an ever more go-with-the-flow of my life and world it's it's probably not on my spiritual. Horizon. Although i do know the wisdom of regularly setting aside my busy frenetic doing. And trust life if i will allow it will carry me along. In a natural grace and holiness. I'm also sure i will never completely turn that spiritual corner. It's just not the way we do life here in the west of always just. And i've knowing how to do. Be with the flow. But what i can do. Is nurture the principal and practice of wu-wei. In my daily life. What i can do in the midst of my own doing and thriving as a typical american soul is to remind myself. The nun doing. Working mindfully just to be purposefully in the holy river of river of my life. And accept the varied rhythms including waiting on grocery. Learning to go with that. Sweden and save my life. Blessed wayson. You can all learn this to. To live from the woodway. Is to evermore trust. The ebb and flow. Of your life. To be fully present. To your life just where it is. In the river. That always holds you up. To go with the flow. To pay attention. Interconnect mindful. Keenly. With everything. What is happening. Mp. Quietly. Go. The benediction i leave you with. Assembly ancient dallas. Changshu. Who wrote the simple lines. Flow with whatever may happen. And let your mind be free. Stay centered. And accept. Whatever. You are doing. This. Is the altima. Peaceful.

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2011Dec11Sermon128.mp3

As i said in my vero beach newspaper column last week it's pretty much obligatory for all ernest and right-thinking clergy to stand up each year this time of year. And publicly decry. The crass and excessive commercialism of christmas in america so this morning even though i don't like to be predictable i'm going to give you. A couple minutes of that. Of course you know. Like many of you. And like the video and plaid. We're saddened and even a bit depressed. December by the way the true lovely original spirit of christmas. Can get obscured. Beneath the vulgar mounds of material access which the american and australian. People in corporate business center. Sadly the pure sentiments an innocent pleasures and hushed emotions and. Lofty values of the season can get lost. Denise our cultural lost form. There. And as long as i'm complaining about the excessive of commercialism let's talk about santa claus shall we. That pudgy. Careful red-suited mythic children's figure who's been sadly co-opted by shameless commercial interest. Into the portly patron saint of consumerist excess and cultural nonsense. Santa. Who shamelessly grins and ho-hos at us beneath that benign face and beard of his. Perm every catalog and newspaper and tv ad and department store window cheerleading us downward. Into the banality of christmas clutter. Bah humbug. Which brings me to the ethical question which i posed in my sermon title this morning. Santa claus is he a saint. Ora center. Surely in this 21st american century thoughtful and religious people. Who care about and seek life. Deep sustaining places. Must regard. This commercialize co-opted santa is something of a sinner. 1 classic theological understanding of sin. Isn't it is the unnecessary isolating estrangement. That we allow. Into our lives the isolations and estrangement. We allow either consciously or unconsciously. Into our primary relationships. With life another person. And so santa. In these profligate american times of so much materialism. At his worst santa symbolizes. The sin of allowing ourselves to be distracted in this wonderful season or any wonderful. Herbalife holy. Deep and meaningful places often around the family. And from our essential human connection. Family and friends. Nature. Do any of you. I missed all of the commercialism of this season ever feel. More disconnected and distracted. Depressed in your daughter times of the year so. It may at least being part santa's fault. That's sinful co-op. Part of this. Person but. The story. And character of santa claus you may be interested to know. Began far differently. And what we've ended up with. In america today some of you may not realize there was an actual real-life historical and deeply religious human being. Named saint nicholas. Well he was saint nick. Until pope john paul the second demoted him to mere human status in 1979 will get more to that part of the interesting story in a minute. But first the true and i think rather remarkable story of santa santa's spiritual beginnings. Sometime around 280c. A boy named nicholas. Was born to wealthy christian parents in patara. A port city in the province of licea in asian minor which is today modern turkey. Early in his childhood nicholas nicholas is devout devout mother taught him the scriptures the christian scriptures. And presumably. The compassionate justice. Seeking. Ethic of jesus of nazareth. When both his parents suddenly died during an epidemic. Nicholas who was by then a late adolescent. Was left in sole possession of their great wealth. Long concerned about the rightness of his family's rich has four as a youth nicholas had wandered the streets of potara. And it's seen with his own eyes how very many of the people who live there. We're living in terrible poverty and deprivation. He decided. Dedicate his life to god and his family's money. To the needs of others here is a portrait of nicholas. As an adult. A real person. Nicholas obviously took the teachings of jesus and his practice and his gospel of practical generosity seriously. Just read the christian scriptures. It is there again and again for it was jesus who among other things said in describing the good and the righteous. Come. User blast for i was hungry and you. I was thirsty. Gave me drink. I was naked. And you gave me clothing. And he also said. Give to everyone who begs from you. And do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow for. Eddie also said. Take heed. And beware of all covetousness. For a person's life does not consist in the abundance. And he also said. For i say unto you. It is difficult for a rich man. To get into heaven. Is it is for a camel. To be threaded. Of a needle. So nicholas. The serious follower of jesus. Began giving all his money away. So as not to receive public praise for his charitable giving for both in jewish and christian scriptures instructs the gifts. Should be given humbly without drawing attention. To oneself. Nicholas would don disguises. And give small sacks of gold to the poor and the needy but his. Anonymity was not apparently. Absolute. For when it came time for the christian church. In licea. To choose a new bishop to replace the one who had i'd nicholas was chosen some said by divine providence. For the chief elder of the church reported that he was told in a dream. Just select nicholas. In any case. Nicholas. Was apparently a good and popular bishop at many stores stories came to be told about the miraculous feats he was reported to have performed. It was said that he called dangerous mediterranean storms those protecting fishermen and the merchant seaman. And then he brought people back to life. As it was believed to do in the case of three boys. Who are murdered by a wicked innkeeper. And that he was the protector of all the poor and powerless. And that he save people of the people of licea. From famine by miraculously multiplying green. In one family. And that's for the rest of his life. He would don his bishop's robes and go out onto the streets. And dispense give to the poor and to the children. Always. He gave to the. Now give it all these fantastic attributions it's not how hard to understand. How nicholas will apparently died a natural death at a ripe old age. Became the patron saint. A seafarer's. And children and the needy and specific people's all across. Europe adopted him especially the russians and the dutch. He was canonized into official sainthood. By the by the roman catholic church in the ninth century. No curiously though fully 11. Since i'll never understand. 11 centuries later. In 1979 as i've already mentioned pope john the second having determined by whatever means the vatican determine such thing. The march of the mythology that have grown up around nicholas. Was literally too good to be true. And so the pope stripped him. Of his sainthood and spiritually downsized him to mere mortal status now i may not be in a position to offer the vatican public relations advice. But this. This decision doesn't seem to have been well thought through. I mean busting the patron saint to every last child in the world ceases. But regardless of what the spiritual bureaucrats in the vatican think about the worldwide popularity and prestige of the real saint nicholas. He is. Popularity. Remains undiminished. Over the centuries countless human beings around the globe have held him. Close to their heart as their patron saint. And as i've observed as you all know children all around the world he will always be the most. Loving and wonderous personality who comes into their lives at this time every year with a simple message. That no matter how naughty or nice they have been they're going to get something. They are loved in. The irony of ironies about the real saint nick. Even more than what he did. Was what he looked. Trudeau are popular image of saint nick he according to all popular all historical reports had that full. A robust beard but there the similarity stops for you see. Bishop nicholas was as skinny as a rail. Here is another. Image of him he was skin and bones. The original saint nicholas was not pork lee was not puffed up was not like a pillow. He was rather a goth aesthetic. In fact church historians report that nicholas. Fasted as a spiritual practice much of the week taking food only two or three times. Every seven days because he believed as a practicing christian. The preoccupation with his own physical needs would distract him. The pure. Spirit of jesus. Pure. Spirit. Seattle. To selflessly give. But today in america. When you conjure up good old saint nick in your mind's eye the last thing you see is a thin gaunt self-denying ascetic fasting so that he can pay attention. The poor. Santa in our culture has become. the exact opposite. Physical image of the real man who gave his. Two children. Support instead of a synesthetic. Santa has become how can i say this nicely. A rather full figured fellow. The physical evolution. Of the patron saint of christmas was gradual. Early dutch settlers in america brought the tradition of saint nicholas to the new world as well as the tradition of having the children put out their wooden shoes. To be filled with candies fruit and other goodies not on december. 25th. Jeanette weber knows but on. December 6th. Because december 6th. The actual anniversary of saint nick. Steph. As hot as this holiday tradition spread too early american santa claus as we know him today and his. Rotunda began to take shape. Shall we say. It wasn't until the middle of the nineteenth century the santa became the pudgy jolly red-suited secular sweetheart. We all love and no today. Now the person who was most responsible for transforming saint nicholas from the goth aesthetic. Who lived in turkey. To this well-fed fellow. Was clement moore who in 1823 wrote the wonderful holiday children's classic evict visit. From saint nicholas which is now more commonly known as. Twas the night before christmas. And you all know the description of santa. In that book. His eyes. How they twinkle. His dimples how merry his cheeks were like. Roses his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth. Was drawn up like a bow in his beard on his chin as white as snow. He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of. Right. It was thomas nast. The famous american illustrator from harper's illustrated who drew this particular image of santa. Can 1863. For the magazine. Which clearly. Looks like the rotund gentleman clement moore described. In twas the night. For christmas now believe me i don't want to get overly fixated. On the physical transformation. Of santa. Of saint nick over the century. It really isn't of itself is not important. But for its direct connection to the spiritual transformation. That has also occur. Originally with saint nicholas. Doterra. We had a truly good and self-sacrificing human being. A deeply spiritual and truly christian. Person if. Who took the compassionate social gospel. Justice gospel of jesus. Heart. And lived his life in a radica. Accordance. With that far-seeing ethic of human responsibility. And connection. But this image in arthur liman realistic time has been replaced or co-opted. By the full sum santa of today. Cool ears out through shopping malls and mail. Order catalogs offering us. The seductive illusions. The human happiness. And human hold. And human fulfillment. Lies somewhere. Possessing. More. More stuff. What you all know to your heart is. In the end. Utterly. Empty promise every surveyor. Says it is. Material well. All the scientist. From material. For many. If indeed sadly not most. American. The true challenging. Self-sacrificing spirit of christmas with saint nicholas of patera so nobly live. Has been replaced. Has been replaced. With a self-absorbed ethic of finding more and more ingenious. An insidious ways. Consume. To have. Take. The true original spirit of christmas. Which began. In. In ancient turkey. Is the spirit we must all work. Keep alive in the season not just in the holiday season. When people. Express temporary generosity by throwing a turkey at the poor or something. What year round. As we strive to live our lives compassionately. In communities. Around. But. To say all this at christmas. To remind ourselves about the true sacrifice sacrificial selfless spirit of jesus of nazareth. And saint nicholas of patera. Is not i think in the end to say enough. For we also need in this season. In the season which can be so wonderful and enchanting even in australia as the video showed. With hot tubs and a little bit of white wine. It's also to remember. But it's okay to celebrate. And enjoy and savor the modern incarnation. Of saint nicholas. This guy. What i am about to do this morning is to. Intentionally. Cast you into a spiritual paradox now when i was in seminary in 19 in the early 1970s i had a. Homiletics professor named dr. joseph barr. And he'd have throat cancer so his voice was very raspbian. One preaching classy said. To us. Kids. Never and the sermon in a paradox 3/4 them will never get it. But you're all very clever. Here in vero beach you're all extremely well-educated i think you can handle a paradox this morning. It seems to me. Christmas is not an either-or spiritual choice of either. Sacrificially giving away most of what we have to the poor and needy like that. Almost too-good-to-be-true saint nicholas from pitera. Or going vapidly whole-hog at christmas buying excessive an opulent things alexis in the driveway for your spouse i'm so sick of that ad on television. For example. It's not a choice between being an idiot and being a sacrificial saint. It's not a choice between being a saint or a sinner. It seems to me christmas both spiritually and emotionally is not an either-or it's a both in and. It's a time for us each year to be especially charitable. Especially attentive and compassionate toward our human being our fellow human beings as claudia story so beautifully said this morning it's a time for. And for the pigs in the turkey. Also. Still an unashamed time to. Participate in some of the private. Materialistic joys and pleasures of the seas. So what i'm saying is. It's right and good that we remember the original saint nicholas and the original christian meaning. Care for one another and belonging to one another. Also writing good to go ahead and enjoy buying your spouse that. Beautiful piece of jewelry that you know he or she secretly covet. Or splurging and spying your kid that fancy computer or scooter or bike you know they want so badly. Or even secretly by yourself that special unnecessary something you've always wanted when you're you know it at the store for buying for somebody else you could you could pick up one thing. Both the true christian spirit of the holiday and the consumer is trappings of the season. Are okay they're even okay for us as unitarian. You can cut yourself. Think a little slack. Surely it isn't my colleague the reverend earl holt put it one holiday season to his folks in st louis. He said. What is most missing in our time. Is wholeheartedness. If you're going to spend a little more than you should. Accept it and enjoy it you'll suffer in february anyhow when the bills come in so you might as well enjoy your prosecco see now. I say if you're going to do something do it wholeheartedly. Let's be honest with ourselves in this season. Take pleasure in what gives us pleasure and enjoy. What gives us joy. And of course. I don't know about you but i love the process. Shopping. For somebody that i love. Going to the store and spending a little. Time doing that and then. Getting that. Packing paper from cvs in wrapping things up badly and. In a bow on it. Putting out the writing a little note on it i love that process. Even though i. Decry commercialism and consumerism. I love that process. Everything our little rational religious heads heads tell us about the ultimate. Meaninglessness of materialistic gifts is right and yet we oughta go do this we got to go do it wholeheartedly. Things at christmastime are more than just things. The physical presence revive one another the wonderful meals we cook 41. Pastries we make for. Friends and family. Our precious vehicles of our clumsy love. They're living embodiments of our care and connection for those dearest to us. They are meaningful messengers of our love and devotion and care. So. That motorized tie rack that you found waiting for you under the christmas tree last year. With your name on it that maybe the most worthless piece of mechanical junk you've ever seen. Is precious because it was bought at kmart by your eight-year-old grandson and you better damn well appreciate that tie rack. It's loaded even as it goes. It's loaded with loveliness and value in love and god help you if you don't receive it on christmas morning. What's up big. Rodger that's exactly what i wanted. And so. I say the modern-day santa. Silly excesses and shallow materialism and all. He's really no center. He's really no center. All those forced holiday ho ho hoes are irritating. But. When you think about it santa is most true universalist ever born in our face. He is a pure universalist. Whether you're naughty or nice he comes to your house. He's a pure expression of our universal. So you have permission from this unitarian universalist. To be a little bit torn this holiday season between that pure image of sacrifice and service and love and care for the world and for others that must animate our hearts every holiday season and for the rest of the year. And. At the same time. Let us gladly hear the voice of santa claus. On the night wind. Cheerfully calling out directions. To his eight tiny reindeer. What if unashamedly enjoy giving rightly rap. Gifts to people near us. We love and care about. Let us recklessly enter the reciprocal. Harmless pleasures. Of giving and receiving. Sing. I've been drawing. White wine. In the sun. With family. Entrance. Without guilt. Without sin. Without anybody humbugs or grinch instinct. And for god's sake let us do it. With wholeheartedly. Let us come fully to christmas this year. Both in our giving to those who are in need. In terms of our reckless enjoying of the seas. We can do both. So i simply end by saying. To each and all of you. Merry christmas. Merry chris.

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2014Mar16Sermon128.mp3

Good morning everyone welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we're so glad that you have chosen to be with us this morning we are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. People seeking to become our best selves even as we work to make our community and our world a better place in which to live please know that you're welcome and all your particular. In any way you are. We hope that you'll find this service meaningful and enriching we hope that you will find this service meaningful and feed your soul and gives you some renewed energy. We humans seem to daughter through our days as if they were our surest belongings. No day belongs to us each day is a gift. Tragically is often only would were about to lose a thing. Let the scales fall from your eyes but it is usually too late on its way toward us destiny travels silently until it arrives. Then something we had never experienced becomes cloudy. Around us. Time is wearing eternity on the pools. The contemplative tradition has always recognized the morning. Has the time to recognize the new day with a sense of creative expectation and open hardness unquote so let us be open this morning. And perhaps pure around the corner of time to see what might be coming. Our way. The reading this morning is from. A professor at duke university allen buchanan. He claims that this is a somewhat edited version of an actual dialogue. That he heard between two of his students. Buchanan talking consider the case of michelle. A bright ambitious junior and an leus university. To study more efficiently michelle takes ritalin. A drug prescribed for add though she doesn't have. Ritalin is only one of several drugs developed to treat disorders including. Add alzheimer's dementia narcolepsy. That have been shown to improve thinking and people who aren't cognitively. Impaired. Michelle's boyfriend carlos tells her that she shouldn't take ritalin. He says it's cheating. And besides it might be dangerous. Michelle replies. Calm down it's just a cognitive enhancement drug. A chemical that helps me think better. It's not cocaine don't be hypocritical. You take a cognitive enhancement drug to probably in dangerously high doses. Namely caffeine. And don't think you're fooling me when you say you say you quit but i know you sneak a cigarette every now and then when you're up late studying i can smell it in your hair. Look caffeine and nicotine help you stay alert and think more clearly that's why so many people use them. So if i'm cheating so are you in a lot of other people. Besides if you're worried about unfair advantages why pick on cognitive enhancement drugs. Just being at this university gives us a huge unfair advantage. What do you think education is its cognitive enhancement. Or what about the fact that both of your parents are really smart and have phds. That's certainly an advantage to and you didn't learn it. If i ever have kids i want them to have the best opportunities i can provide for them. If this means making sure they have good genes. I'm ready to go for that too. Biomedical enhancement. I'm all for it bring it on. Wait a minute carlos protests. Cognitive enhancement enhancement drugs maybe. But now you're talkin about genetically designing your children. It's one thing to use a drug to bring out a person's full potential. That's different from changing their very nature making them a different person than they would have been. That's playing god. I want to talk this morning about. Biomedical enhancement. This term is kind of vague i'll need to explain what i mean and offer a few examples. The difficulties the ethical and the conceptual difficulties will reveal themselves as soon as we try to get clear on what this means biomedical enhancement. Well then pursue those difficulties by raising more difficulties taking further into the assumptions and presuppositions here. That will lead us i think ultimately to this notion of the spiritual tension that seems to me to underlie. The idea of biomedical enhancement. The term enhancement as i'll be discussing it today. Can be best understood by contrast to the notion of therapy. When a person is sick. We bring medical knowledge and medical technology to bear to do away with the disease. Or some other pathological condition. To return the patient to a state of wellness. This is therapy. I take it none of us has any objection. Did this process. But if we use biomedical means to make a normal person who's not sick. Better off. Then we're dealing with enhancement. In more specific terms under enhancement we mean the attempt to improve or enhance a particular behavior or trait or characteristic. By the application of our emerging knowledge in. Medicine physiology genetics neuroscience pharmacology. Etcetera. So the idea is that traditional medicine does therapy. It takes sick people and helps to make them well. Enhancements. Take normal people. And use biomedical science. To make them better than well. To make them better than normal. And this can take a number of different forms perhaps it's best understood by example. So let's look at a few examples. One of the most common in most widely discussed. The use of pharmaceuticals. Is to improve the performance of athletes. This goes under the unflattering title of doping. And it's prohibited in most organized sports but i mentioned it here cuz it's a clear case of biomedical enhancement. During his seven tour de france lance lance armstrong. Cancer beside. Was. Not sick he was not taking drugs to treat a disease or to remedy some pathological condition he was suffering from. The drugs were intended to enhance his performance. To take him beyond his normal abilities. Now some of us. Society-at-large seems to find the doping of athletes objectionable. And it's worth asking oneself what is it that i don't like about the doping of athletes. There's the obvious issue of fairness. Seems like i wanted it has an advantage over others. If he or she is using. Pharmaceuticals to enhance his or her performance. So there's a fairness issue that we might find traveling. But in addition we might think. Purpose of athletics is to. Pit against one another. To athletes each of whom is doing what he or she can naturally do best. Or his or her best natural performance to introduce drugs here is to enter. Introduce artifice. In. An inappropriate way. To normal sports competition. No i think that's part of it. I think the unfairness involved is troubling and i think the introduction of artifice in what we'd like to see as a natural competition. Is another part of. The issue but i think that's not all that some of us fine. Troubling about it i don't want to come back to that later. Already you see some difficulties in the conceptual distinction between. Enhancement and therapy. When you think about people in different physical conditions when you think about. Enhancement as taking someone beyond his what's normal for him or her. Baking him a better than well. We remember that different people have different normals. So this raises a conceptual question right. To raise i have a friend. He's about my age. He runs 5 miles a day. And he does triathlons every other week. Now to raise me to his level would to his level of normal. Would not be therapy it would be serious enhancement. So how shall we define than the notion of normal in such a way that we can understand the difference between therapy which brings one back to normal and enhancement which takes one beyond normal. If it turns out as is indeed the case. There isn't a universally agreed-upon notion of what counts as normal healthy human functioning. This is a problem. It will be back again in a second. So there's. Biomedical enhancement of athletic performance. The reading i did earlier brings up another kind of biomedical enhancement it's increasingly common and will become increasingly so. And that is cognitive enhancement. We have drugs now that can. Improve. Memory. We have drugs that can increase one's powers of concentration. We have drugs as mentioned here that will deal with narcolepsy and. Pray to god in coming years will have. Drugs that. Prove the condition of alzheimer's patients. So there are pharmaceuticals. On the way then enhance one's cognitive abilities. Now. Most of the interesting examples of taking these nowadays are not for purposes of therapy although they were developed for that purpose. They're generally used. By college students my college students and. Professor buchanan's college students. For cognitive enhancement. To improve their alertness to improve their ability to focus on an exam or in studying and preparation. Exam. These kinds of cognitive enhancement pharmaceutical in nature now. Are there coming. They're coming on college campuses especially in a big way but we can easily imagine that they'll be more widespread in their uses well if they enhance one's ability. Cuz we like to be able to think. And sleep well and think acutely. So there's every reason to believe that this kind of cognitive enhancement is coming and growing. And. Worth. Wondering whether one finds that ethically troubling. That people should be engaged in taking drugs that will enhance their capacity to think. And if so why what's objectionable about that. Is it. Unfair that some students should have enhanced cognitive abilities as a result of taking drugs. That's part of it. Is it that it seems unnatural and artificial and there's something objectionable about the artificial as opposed to the natural. Maybe that's part of it too. But would be back to that. In a second. The end of that reading. Reminded us that it's not just a matter of pharmaceutical enhancement of people's cognitive abilities. There's also the promise. Or the threat depending on how you look at it. Of the possibility of genetic enhancement of the next generation. Now some ways of carrying out what we called genetic engineering are intrinsically objectionable to some folks. I think for example of certain kinds of. Selection for certain traits through abortion. But leaving aside that question. There are already all kinds of ways in which we can intervene in the genetics of the next generation. In a way that will. Arguably enhance the capacity is the characteristics of the next generation. Now once again the distinction between therapy and enhancement rears its head. Because presumably most of us will not find it objectionable if we had. Ways of intervening genetically in order to do away with the existence of certain. Incapacitating disabling painful diseases in the next. Presumably we would think that's therapy and that's a good thing. The difference between that kind of genetic therapy and genetic. Lee bass enhancement. Is it of course in the latter case we're trying to. Make the next generation better than it otherwise would have been even though it wouldn't have been sick it wouldn't have been disabled it wouldn't have been incapacitated it wouldn't have been a pathological state. It have been perfectly normal. But we can make it better. And for some this raises problems by the way the technologies involved i don't want to go into it but it. In the tail but they are truly fascinating. So for example if a couple goes in with fertility problems and they want to have. What's called in vitro fertilization. Where the egg is fertilized in a petri dish outside of the body of the mother. And then. Transplanted into the mother in order for it to develop in a normal pregnancy. What they normally do is take six or eight eggs. And. Fertilize the mall. And then they have these six or eight fertilized eggs some subset of which two or three are going to be implanted. Into the mother in hopes that one of them will. Take and become a normal pregnancy. But the trick is if you wait a few days. Those fertilized eggs will. Replicate into two cells and then into 4 cells and then into 8 cell organisms each one. And you can take one of those eight cells and do a genetic analysis on it. And find out a number of interesting things about the genetics of this next-gen of this particular. Fertilized egg which may become an individual in the next generation. Again if we're looking for a painful awful disease like tay-sachs. Surely none of us thinks it's problematic. To analyze the genetics of those. I fertilized eggs before implanting two or three of them in the mother and implant only those which don't have that terrible disease. At least i think that's fine. And there are a number of other mini but you may be sure they're coming. Not yet very many but there are number of genetically based. Pathological conditions. For which we can do genetic analysis and identify them as present or not present. In a fertilized egg before deciding whether or not to implant that fertilized egg. Into the mother. In hopes of. A pregnancy. Again if we're talkin about eradicating. Awful genetically-based diseases. Think about. The genetically-based condition for breast cancer. Motivated angelina jolie. 2. Have a voluntary. I guess you could call it voluntary double mastectomy. The high 85 + percentage. Going to contract. Breast cancer if they could have done. A genetic analysis on. That fertilized egg which became angelina jolie and it had some choice about it. Then they might have been playing a different. Didn't have that problem and she wouldn't be suffering the difficulty she's having today. Some people think that would be a step forward that version of therapeutic. Genetic intervention. But of course the genetic interventionism only going to be therapeutic because the powers in the possibilities of genetic enhancement are just too tempting and too great. For people to ignore write suppose and this will not be impossible it is right now but it won't be for very long. Suppose that it were possible to genetically enhance your offspring's memory. That's. The assumption is that that will be possible relatively soon. Or suppose and this is a big one suppose it were possible to genetically enhance. Your offsprings height. It turns out that in our culture especially among males being tall is an advantage. Don't know why sociological factors. Evolutionary factors i have no idea why but as a matter of fact all the studies stay. That it's an advantage in our society to be taller rather than shorter. If you were able to genetically intervene in your children in order to make them taller. This is not therapy there is nothing pathological about being short. It's an enhancement. Ostensibly. And is that something we think it's okay and if we don't think it's okay. Why don't we. Is what interests. Now just mentioning height. Will remind you of course that when this is available people are going to want to do aesthetic enhancements on the next generation. After all we have certain. Ideals of aesthetic beauty. Certain hair color something certain side certain eye color certain body shape etcetera. That we think optimal as a society. You know. That as soon as parents are able to intervene genetically in order to ensure that the next generation will have those desirable aesthetic characteristics they'll do it. And some of us think. That's not so okay. But why do we think that's. That's okay. Do we think it's unfair. Is that the issue. Do we think. It's not natural. Artificial and there's something preferable about the nafta. So the artificial is that what we think. What is it that leads some of us to think. This is not a good road to go down. One more it seems. Back now. In the direction of cognitive enhancement through pharmaceuticals. We're getting. Better and better psychoactive pharmaceuticals for. Various. Mental conditions i don't want to say disorders i don't want to say diseases or illnesses but mental conditions. And the question of when to use them has turned into a really interesting. So taking just one example because it might be familiar to some of you. In the mid late 80s and you psychoactive drug. Called ssri was developed prozac. But his best-known example. And it was developed for minor and then major depression it's now. Prescribed for a dozen different. Mental. Problems. A wonderful author peter kramer who was a psychiatrist who got started who was one of the first to be prescribing prozac wrote a book called listening to prozac. And what you talked about. He's struggling. With a patient who was not clinically diagnosable as ill. With any mental disorder. But you know. Wasn't entirely happy with his or her life. And didn't feel quite as assertive an outgoing as he or she might have. And lacked confidence and got nervous when standing up talking to crowds. And felt like. She wanted some psychiatric help to deal with these problems that she had in her life. And cramer asks himself. This woman's not sick. If i prescribed one of these drugs for this individual it won't be therapeutic cuz she's not sick. It'll be an enhancement attempt. Do i want to do that. Is that legit. Well it would he wouldn't had a book if you hadn't done it so he did he prescribe these drugs for these people not always women but predominantly women. In his accounting. As he puts it who am i to deny the bounties of modern science that these people who could be helped. And in certain cases not always in fact not even most of them but in certain cases and i recommend the book highly listening to prozac. There were dramatic. Character a personality transformations that happened as a result of this drug. And again i remind you these people weren't sick. But they weren't as happy as they might have been and they were made considerably happier. Bye. And more assertive and more confident and more successful. By the drug. He coined the term. I told all that story just to introduce the term to you. He coined the term cosmetic psychopharmacology. Now that just sums it right up this is not therapy this is cosmetic. Cosmetic cosmetic surgery. Is cosmetic. It's not. Design to repair a a serious disability it's just that the person would be happier looking different from the way the person looks now so he or she undergoes cosmetic surgery. This is cosmetic psychopharmacology lb brightened up and look a little better. With the drugs. Anyway you see where this is going. You see the various kinds of. Enhancements through biomedical technology. That are available and becoming more available. And the question is. One should we go down that road and if so how far. + 2. We're suspicious and hesitant here. Why are we sisters. And. I want to use that question as italian to. You folks as unitarians. I think of the unitarians as a meliorative lot. Where that means. Inclined to want to make things better. You guys encounter injustice in the world. And the form of racism sexism homophobia or whatever. And you think. We have to do what we can to make this better. You encounter what seemed like unjust inequalities of various kinds and society and you're naturally motivated to want to make things better. And you. Unitarians in particular. Are respectful of the achievements in the accomplishments of the natural sciences and technology. In a way in which some. Religious denominations are not respectful of the compliments of science. But i think of unitarians as especially. Attuned. To those accomplished. Proud of them rightly. And ready-to-use the bounty of our greater rational understanding of nature and ourselves to improve the lot of humankind. Sometimes this improvement is in the form of doing away with bad pathological social conditions like racism. But sometimes it's just. Taking things as they are and thinking think it be better. Unitarians want to make things better. And that's one of the great strengths of the spiritual tradition from which you come i think. Is. The desire to make. He's better through our efforts. Through our commitment through our conviction through our. Work. What was it helping hands. But there's another side to the unitarian. Spiritual tradition. And that is the appreciation. A sense of all and wonder. Toward nature as we find her. Which you'll notice is very different from. We can make this better. I'm going to claim that there's a spiritual tension. Between. The inclination to want to use what we know and what we have learned and what. We acquired by way of knowledge of nature and our sales. To make things better. And. The sense of all and respect and wonder and acceptance. Of nature as we find her. Cuz. I think as i say those two are intention. The folks who discuss this question that i'm talking about. Biomedical enhance. Versus therapy. There are two sort of spokespersons for the two sides in this debate. One is a guy named sandell at harvard the other guys this. Is the sky buchanan at duke. And sendell asks himself and i'd like us to ask ourselves from energy to. What is it now that we find objectionable about the effort to control the next generation genetically. The effort to master our own thought processes through farmos. Pharmacological intervention. What is it that we find objectionable and diane send out suggest in a really nice little book with the revealing titled the case against. Perfection. He says. A mentality. There's a way of thinking a motivational pattern. The underlies. Our efforts to intervene to make things better through surgery through pharmacology through genetics. And it's. It's a attitude of mastery. It's a belief that we got it in control we can get it in control. We can understand it we can make it happen we can. Be the captains of our fate in the masters of our. Pinterest. Whatever it is. Good news that attitude and send dale says that's an objectionable attic. Because it short-circuits and undermines the possibility for another attitude that sendell thinks we ought to have. And that's the attitude that he calls. The sense of giftedness of human existence. Bi-weekly means. The realization that. I didn't make me. And. I don't deserve credit for my being here. Add. I'm not responsible for this. Rather there's something much greater much older much more powerful than i am. From which i resulted and i are rightly to be. Modest. And i ought to. Rightly. Recognize and respect that power is greater than my own. And to the extent that i feel like i can i can change things i can make it better i can make it right. He suggest will be less amenable to that sense of the giftedness of. That's really interesting and i think. Part of the unitarian tradition is. A recognition and respect for the gifted. Foster's in a certain modesty a certain humility a certain. Creation of that which is greater than ourselves. And those are all i think spiritually very good traits. In addition. This is a little. More tenuous. To the extent that we think of. People's characteristics and qualities and virtues. As. Coming from somewhere else as as things for which they are not individually responsible. I think that. You may disagree with this i think that fosters a sense of justice. I think we're less likely to become a society. In which we say. You got problems. You didn't work hard enough to. Overcome them. You got problems. Get busy. You got problems it ain't my problem. There's a certain attitude there that accompanies the sense that we're in control we are masters of it all. That according to send dale it's not very promotive of. A sense of social justice. So we lose that sense. The gifted. Things we lose the sense of self. Again. I think i know what you what send out it's talking about there. Think i agree that to the extent that we think we have things under control. We're less mindful of. This is all. A gift. This is all something. Which we are. We have no credit. Pink lane oprah. On the other hand. The unitarian tradition has that other strand according to which. We're smart. We've got the powers of reason and observation we've developed a natural sciences and technology we can take our own destiny into our own hands. And make it better. And how do you put. Those two together. Send out 10 sandals favorite examples i really like this. He says. Parenthood. Can be a really good lesson in humility. Cuz. Parents. Have to accept whatever comes their way generally speaking. And. There in one sense responsible for it in another since they didn't plan it they didn't organize it they didn't create it. But there. They are to take their children as gifts. Not things over which they have mastery. Gives a long discussion of. The difference between. Accepting love. And transforming love. And we want the best for our children. But we also have to accept them for what they are. And that's attention. We want him to do better. And. We love them just the way they are. And how do you. Reconcile. That tension. As a parent. And how do you reconcile that. As. A spiritual person. With that commitment. Unitarians have both to the possibility of progress through our efforts. And. Importance of a sense of. The wonder of the gift. As a part of it. It is attention i think. I feel it myself. When i debate these issues with young people. By the way this is one of those issues about what you find remarkable. Listing generational. But i urge you to talk to folks of a different generation. To get a different scents for their take. The acceptability of. Kind of biomedical. When i think about it myself and discuss it with young people i find myself torn in both directions. Human reason science enlighten. Etc. It's such a fine thing. Let us put it to work to improve the human condition. So far as possible. And at the same time i say. We're not in control here. And we're not the masters. We would do well to. Pain that humility. That modesty. That comes from the realization. A gift. That was perfect. The words of the hymn right. We got science we got reason we can understand the creation we can tame the wind. And it's so remarkable and it's so beautiful. So should move us to say oh altitude oh. In the presence of reality. Those two are i think at least intention. I hesitate for to do this final brief reading from sandal because they're a lot of people here who live in gated communities. In vero beach don't be offended. This is his follow-up on his discussion of parenthood. In a social world that prizes mastery and control parenthood is a school for humility. That we care deeply about our children and yet cannot choose the kind we want. Teaches parents to be open to the unbidden. Such openness is a disposition worth affirming. Not only within families but in the wider world as well. It invites us to abide the unexpected. To live with dissonance. Duran in the impulse to control. A gattaca like world in which parents became accustomed to specifying the sex and genetic traits of their children. Would be a world inhospitable to the unbidden. A gated community ripped large.

uufvb_org

2011Dec04Sermon128.mp3

You know i really love living here on the treasure coast. In so many ways this is an absolutely lovely and a dilek community. Vero beach as you all know is a charming old florida town nestled in an absolutely stunning natural environment. The chamber of commerce. Hasn't easy time marketing vero beach as a great place to live and work and play. But if you are paying even a semblance of moral attention being a part of this community. Is also to be aware of jarring and painful social realities. First among these disquieting realities in our community is the huge and glaring golf. That exists here. Between the halves. And the have nots. A golf here. A profound economic disparity that i am forced to witness almost everyday i bike for this town. One of my favorite cycling loops which i take several times a week has me start out. From the beachside condo where i live. Right near the boardwalk jaycee park. Elderberry ryland. And i ride up a1a several miles past as you know some of the most expensive and exclusive gated communities in america. When i get to the disney resort with it's $300 a night room rates and gated 24-hour security i turn left on 510. Go right across the bridge. Go right through. The busy route one light and then immediately turned south on old dixie highway. Do the towns of obosso and gifford. Where i ride past the extremely modest and in many cases ramshackle and run-down housing of the very poor. In our region. Nsls-ii we've my way further south and west to the center of gifford. Near the county jail complex i ride through one of the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods. In our region perhaps all of florida. Where i c. Leaking roof covered with temporary blue tarps. Broken windows covered with plywood. Junk cars in the driveway and clusters of people in the summer sitting in the shade of the trees because they have no air conditioning. This week. I saw a real thin elderly woman she must have been 85. With a broken down shopping cart. Picking through an open dumpster in gifford looking for aluminum cans and discarded. Turkey roasting pan. To recycle for what. A few dollars. After leaving gifford on my bike i eventually pedal my way back through town over the over the barber bridge back onto the barrier island once again. Surrounded by incredible affluence and all the beautiful gated homes worth. Millions. The point is that i almost daily basis i ride here. I am reminded in this place i call home. I'll be incredibly painful disparity that exists here between the rich and the poor the advantage and the disadvantage. The struggling and the comforter. And it's not just here in this mostly a dilek part of florida where such. Painful american disparities can be noted recently the reverend galen gingrich the senior minister of the all souls church. On the upper east side of manhattan described a similar dynamic. Where he lives and where the church is i quote him. Take a walk through the neighborhood around all souls and you soon see the problem. The wealthiest census tract in new york city is just a few blocks from all souls. With an average household income of around $300,000 a year. And the poorest census tract in the city begins only a few blocks farther away the average. Household income in that area. 5. Thousand dollars a year. In the faces of the people you meet and the houses where they live. You see a city divided against itself. A painful and unsettling contrasty right. Between wells and w. The privileged and the impoverished between hope and despair between opportunity and oblivion. We live in a condition of class. Warfare he concludes. No matter how much. We deny it. The facts of our national economic life bear out these observations. Our most recent national census completed as you know in 2010. Reveals that economically speaking america is becoming a nation. Terribly. And radically divided against itself. The latest data released last year reveals that the income differential. Between rich and poor americans is now greater. That at any time since they have been keeping these statistics. And is the greatest such disparity among all. All of the western industrialized nations. As one recent report put it bluntly. Income equality has been growing rising since the late seventies and now rests at 11 not seen since the gilded age. Which was 1870 to 1900. Hey. and us history defined by the contrast between the excesses of the super rich. And the squalor. Of the poor. Here are the profoundly disturbing numbers i'm sure that a few of your going to doubt the accuracy of these statistics. But they are the real numbers that come. From the wall street journal recently. According to the wall street journal. In a recent comprehensive study of wealth in america the richest 110. Of 1% of our population that's just. 14000 american families now possess. 22.2% of the nation's wealth. While the bottom 90% of the population 102 million families have. 4. Percent of the wealth the rest of us. The rapidly shrinking middle class 9.9 per cent of the population. Some 11 million families. Have the remaining 73.8%. Of american well. Here. Are the sad and startling truth but i when i saw these statistics i could not believe them 90% of the people. With 4% of the wealth those are the facts. Here are a few more equally disturbing economic statistics. Today as you all know about 10% of our population is unemployed at least many of stop looking for. There are almost 50 million americans about one-sixth of our population living. Beneath the official governmental poverty line. And another 50 million are what the new york times called in at oriel last sunday. The near four. Which means approximately 100 million americans about a third of our population. Live in deprive household suffering a scarcity of life's necessity including. The all-important moniker. Healthcare. Just last month the census bureau released an additional. Shocking statistic i doubted it when i read it. The typical us household. Headed by a person. Who is over 65. Is has a net worth of 47 *. Doubt of a household. Headed by someone under 35. 40. 7. Time. The wealth gap between american generations is vast and growing. And then there's the issue of the pay differential between the corporate ceos and their average worker. In 1965 the average ceo pay was. Only 25% higher than the average worker. Today. Does 55 years later the ratio has grown. 250 x. Even as millions of once good-paying american jobs have evaporated along with as you know much of the middle class. And much of america's industrial base. And then there are the many billions of dollars. A few thousand executives in the banking and financial sectors claim for themselves. Regardless of how they perform. For their investors. In the face of these i think terrible. And certainly undeniable facts. About the growing economic inequality of american life. The people of our nation are finally finally beginning to start paying some attention. Despite despite the smoke and mirrors deception of some political and economic leaders. To justify this growing disparity between the rich and the poor by saying that the rich are job creators. A recent. Treasury department study shows that only 14% of those who earn a million or more ever create a job. The rest of them are all in the financial sector they create nowell for others no jobs for others. Other than the crumbs that may fall off their table. The growing gulf between the haves and the have nots has finally begun. To catch the american intention in spite of the smokescreen about. Did many people are putting out. Over recent months the occupy wall street movement. Agree with it or disagree with if you want with the cry of we are the 99. Has captured the american the nation's attention. Spider-man that this nation and its leaders both political and business. Begin to consider consider concrete steps. To ensure and enable greater economic parity and opportunity for all. Wealth and income disparity and america have reached an astronomical and unhealthy level and even the most ardent. Free market capitalist arby's are being given pause. Enter coming to realize. That our nation. Cannot be socially and economically healthy prosperous or humane or secure. If these trends. Of increasingly consolidating most of the nation's wealth in the hands of a few. Continues unchecked. It seems clear to me at least. That eventually profound disparity of wealth in america will not only threaten the moral well-being of the nation. But also directly endanger the security and comfort of everyone along the economic continuum including. The very rich. Let me return just a moment to those statistics. How is q. Can the very rich even think to maintain their incredible wealth over the long haul. You're fully 90% of the citizens of this country have no assets. In which to participate. In the american consumer economy. This is an unsustainable. Tableau. Leading economist agree. National economies with vast numbers of people forced to live in poverty. Cannot sustain the wealth. Of those even at the very top. For very long. Or so some measure of economic equality is in everyone's interest. But nevermind nevermind the pure economic unsustainability of this all. There is also the glaring moral issue which arises with profound economic and quality. Dr. martin luther king once pointedly said. All too many of those who live in affluent america. Ignore those who exist in poor america. In doing so the affluent will eventually have to face themselves the question. Adolf eichmann. Had to face chose to ignore. How responsible the question goes. Am i for the well-being of my fellows. And then came sharply concluded. To ignore evil is to become complicit in it. I believe king was right. None of us. No matter how personally wealthy or comfortable we are no matter how hard we work to get there. Can or should ultimately deny or ignore the truth the poverty life robbing. Spirit crippling poverty is a social ill that is poisoning our nation's future. But in many american communities like this one. The social economic and educational segregation we have allowed to exist. Like that between the barrier island. And that between gifford and wabasso. Grants us the dangerous psychic and moral luxury of generally keeping. Millions of american poor out of sight. And therefore. Out of mind. No. This american illusion. The poverty is not a problem where i live. Is dangerous because i have already observed. There can ultimately be no safety. No health no enduring satisfaction or well-being. For either individual americans or the nation as a whole until the national specter of poverty. And radical economic inequality is acknowledged and addressed. As the dangerous. Social diminishment. That it is. The reason i've included justice. In the 12 as one of the 12 gates of the human spirit necessary. For full and responsible religious living in this sermon series that i'm in the middle of right now. Is life and passionately persuaded. Ss america establishes as social and economic policy and reality. A solid basic floor of economic decency and justice for all of its citizens. We can never as individuals or as communities. Fully enter the holy city of our own life that holy city. Where we have safety. And satisfaction and blessing and peace it will not be available to. Again the words of king. In a real sense all life is interrelated. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. Tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly kinguin. I can never be what i ought to be. Until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you want to be until i am what i are to be this king and. Is the interrelated structure of reality. This morning i'm talking to you about what i believe is the absolute moral necessity for us as a people. As americans one with another. For creating what my colleague the rev richard gilbert and many other economic economist than theologians call. Distributive. Justice. Now distributive justice and i'll explain exactly what i mean by that. Is as you know and as i said before i started the service. An extremely complex and controversial topic. One which within the confines of a sunday sermon i can only begin to scratch the surface so that's why we're going to start a dialogue today. After service. But i would also refer you. To dick gilbert's book. How much. Do we deserve. How much do we deserve. An inquiry. Enter distributive justice and his more recent nasa you can all google it. Was robin hood right. Ethics and economic injustice in america today just google richard gilbert. And robin hood and the essay will pop up for you this afternoon if you want to read more about it. Alright. In an ethical nutshell. Distributive justice means that our society. Intentionally decides by fair and rational means. To redistribute. Some of the total economic and material assets of that society in order. That no citizen of that society. Lives in abject poverty or want. Let me quote the moral conclusions which which which reverend gilbert reaches at the end of his book a moral conclusion i have as well reached. He is describing. What we must have if our nation is to be a good and just and healthy society. My thesis. He writes is at these great. And increasing gaps in income and wealth between the haves and the have nots. Are inherently unjust. I argue not for absolute equality of distribution in which wealth and resources. Would be meted out equally among all people that was the illusion of the soviet union wasn't it. But for a humane equity in which all people are presumed to have dignity. I argue gilbert goes on. For a just and compassionate economic system which simply guarantees. A basic decent minimum for all. Now this vision of economic and social justice. We're abject poverty is simply not allowed as a matter of social policy. Is of course not just a unitarian. Universalist moral proposition. Roman catholic moral thinker john ryan in his landmark book of the same title. Distributive justice. Asserts this. All human beings. Have the inherent right to have their basic needs met. Before any economic surplus is distributed to others. Simply stated. The basic needs of the poor. Immoral importance. Transcend the superfluous desires of the rich. This principle is affirmed in religious and philosophical traditions. Completo. Two jewish. Christian and muslim scriptures and i would parenthetically add there also found in buddhist. And islamic thinking what is he already mentioned. And then he concludes. It is based on the universal idea that all people are worthwhile. And sacred. Early in his adult life the great hindu moral teacher gandhi. Rejecting the extreme wealth and social privilege into which he was personally born. Set this. I suggest that we are thieves in a way. If we take anything that we do not need for our own immediate use and keep it. Receive. From somebody else. You and i have no moral right to anything that we really have. Until these many millions of the poor. Are clothed and fed better. You and i who want to know better must adjust our what. In order that others might be nurse. Fed and clothed. There is enough wealth in the world gandhi observed. To meet everyone's needs. But not enough. To meet everyone's greed. Now this idea of distributive justice. Is also at the core social and economic message which animated the life and teachings of jesus of nazareth. Although many conservative and evangelical christians today like to conveniently ignore the sea logical message. And i got to tell you i went to the clergy meeting here in town. And somebody said what are you preaching about this week and i told him distributive justice you wouldn't believe some of the stuff i heard you know the christians in the room half of them. Are much less committed to the christian message than i am and i'm not even a christian i don't get that. I don't get it at all. But i'ma leave them alone for now don't tell him i said this. Jesus. Jesus. Repeatedly said that the rich and those of economic privilege had a moral and human obligation to share a portion. Of what they had. With those home for whatever reason were impoverished or suffering. You'll recall he said it is as difficult for a rich man to get to heaven as it is to thread a camel. Through the eye of a needle. He repeatedly said that everyone had the moral duty to feed the hungry clothe the naked house the homeless take care of the sick. In christian moral thought. This emphasis on society meeting the basic needs of the impoverished has a title. It is called the preferential option. For the poor. Edit means. Do we have a special obligation to take care of those in our society. Who for whatever reason find themselves. In extreme want. In 1986. The roman catholic bishops of the united states fully aware of jesus's. Moral and societal challenge issued. A pastor letter that is still in effect. Entitled economic. Justice for all which calls. Four significant greater. Distributive. Justice in america i quote from the bishops. Distributive justice. Calls for a floor. Of material well-being on which all can stand. This is the duty of the whole society. And it creates particular obligations the bishops remind us. For those with greater resources. This duty calls into question extreme inequalities of income and consumption. When so many lack basic necessities. And then they go on catholic social teaching. Does not maintain. That a flat arithmetic in equality of income and wealth is a demand of justice again none of that soviet illusion that everybody's going to be making 14.8 thousand dollars a year. But it does challenge. The bishop say. Economic arrangements. That leave large numbers of people impoverished and then the bishops concluded further. It sees extreme inequalities as a threat to the solidarity of the human community. Fourth-grader disparities lead to deep social divisions and conflict. The point here. And reverend gilbert goes into great detail in this book spelling it out. Is it there are many religious and philosophical traditions that call. For a greater degree. Of distributive justice and exist in our country today. As i've already pointed out. The fact that economic disparity and poverty are increasing rapidly right now in america. Is a social trend that should greatly concerned everyone in the nation. Including the very rich. Whose lives are threatened. As gilbert puts it in our time. The rich are getting richer. The poor are getting poorer. And the middle class is shrinking. Income disparity is at an all-time high in this nation we have one author jonathan kozol called. Savage. Inequalities. This morning. Here in the treasure coast which is one of the wealthiest zip codes in the nation. I am adding my voice to the many religious and ethical leaders across all the traditions i have named. Which believe it is time. In fact past. For our society. And the system. Of our. Two more intentionally and compassionately structure its economic life. And the distribution of wealth and material assets in a way that ensures that no america is american is obliged to live in abject. Dehumanizing poverty. No society. Captain can imagine itself as good or just. With such stark and painful contrasts. Between the rich and the poor as king wants a firm. True compassion is more than flinging a coin at a beggar. It is that is haphazard. And superficial. It true compassion. Comes to see. That an edifice. Which produces beggars. Needs. Re. Structuring. Re. Structure. I believe in statically believe that america must significantly restructure now its economic life if it is to survive as a good nation. And while i'm hesitant to offer in the context of the sermon specific. Economic or social remedies. I believe we as a people might want to consider. To begin to consider some of the. The needs of the poor through modalities like the following. 1. A sustained. Earned income tax credit. For low-income families. 2. A national living wage. At several times higher that the complete on the completely unrealistic $7 minimum wage. That is now in effect. 3. Some structure of a national guaranteed income including comprehensive healthcare. Provided for every man woman and child in this country. And then of course. Increased taxes. However we might choose to structure that. From the nation's very rich. To pay for that floor of economic justice. This week in the new york times paul krugman. Who is one of our speakers here at emerson center last year. Suggested to simple and what he thinks are fair and reasonable ways. To ensure a greater measure of wealth distribution. To provide for the poor one. Attacks on all financial transactions. + 2. Restore is somewhat higher tax rate. 4 very high-income individuals people who make more than a million dollars a year. And i'm sure there are other reasonable approach is i'm not here to argue those. I fully realize. But any such call. For equalizing economic measures. Will be met with howls of protest for many of those who are doing well in the current economy and as i said this nation is torn right down the middle right now. Between people who believe things like what i've said to you this morning. And people who do not. Many conservative economics at economist politicians and social theorist. Do not believe that in any form. Of distributive justice or an any tax. On the affluent that would be required. They're not moved. But by the christian moral idea. Of the preferential. Option. For the poor. Nor the moral necessity of sharing personal wealth that jesus talked about. They assert rather the best way to end poverty. And to encourage the poor to take full responsibility for the quality of their alive. Is not by taxing the rich. But our by port to provide more for the poor but simply allowing and now i quote. The unseen but wise hand of free market capitalism. An individual economic initiative to eventually increase the wealth of the nation. This is the rising tide of the wealthy. Lifts all boats argument. The rising tide of the wealthy lifts all boats. So conservative economist and politicians are suggesting. The one affluent americans do well. Don't text them. Don't ask any more of them. Which might reduce their willingness to make capital investments and might reduce their personal economic initiative. In your effort don't do any of that in your effort to uplift the poor. Rather let the success of the well. Wealthy trickle-down. Cuz i was at the bottom of your society. As they suggest. It inevitably will. The only problem with this argument. Of course. Is the undeniable fact is i've already statistically spelled out. That the rising tide of american prosperity for a few. Which we are experiencing right now is not lifting all boats does not lift all boats and does not have the power to lift all boats. It is not creating jobs or real opportunities for 100 million people at the bottom. No. In all fairness to conservative economists one must admit there is probably. Some tipping point. Of taxation. An economic redistribution of wealth beyond which capitalism's productive engine. Whose growth is substantially driven by those with assets and influence. Might be chopped. You can text a people too much. And economies are negatively affected by. I would find it helpful. To listen to a spectrum of economist both liberal and conservative. Debating the finer points and pitfalls. Of this idea of distributive justice. Surely we must avoid trying to end abject poverty by strangling american economic vibrancy no one's going to argue. But the finer points aside. What i must assert you this morning with great confidence. Is it with the rich. Hungrily increasing their share of the american economic pie each year. And more and more and more millions of our people becoming. Core. We are nowhere near that tipping point. I am morally convinced. As still the richest and most innovative society on the face of this earth. We can well afford as a people. To redistribute a significant share of the nation's total wealth to ensure that all americans have enough to eat. The roof that does not leak over their head. Indecent. Closing on their bodies. Healthcare when they get sick weak enough. Weekend. I believe it is as oliver wendell holmes once observed taxes are the price we pay. Corliving. In a civilization. It is through our national taxation. Specifically taxing those who have. For those. Who do not have. That we achieve greater justice. In. The please understand it was all this said. I am. Sing this. From a religious standpoint is opposed i'm not an economist. I am a minister. We are unitarian universalist we have gathered here as a religious people this morning. And as we've already said. This religious movement is founded on the principle of the inherent worth and dignity of every person and justice. Equity and compassion. In human relationship. And that is why we support the service committee with jack and all the others. Because the service committee is doing this work all over the world. For economic justice. In the lovely old african american spiritual oh what a beautiful city hallelujah. Upon which my sermon series is based at. Holy city that will be established when god returns to earth the new jerusalem. In this beautiful him. Celebrates that city. The city will be built with 12 gates for all the people listen to the lyrics of the hymn. What a beautiful city. There are twelve gates to the city. Walk right in you are welcome in the city. Step right in welcome. To the city. Rich and poor welcome to the city young and old welcome to the city weak and strong welcome to the city there are twelve gates to the city hallelujah. We have no moral choice. What's a bill that beautiful city here. We have no moral choice but to establish basic economic and social justice at the gates of our city. We have no moral choice but to welcome all persons. The rich and the poor and and poverty. In our city. Let us build the beautiful city. With gates wide open. We're all god's children. Will find safety.

uufvb_org

2013Dec29Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. My name is beth pearson and we are so glad you have chosen to be with us this morning. We are a congregation of open minds loving hearts and helping hands. People seeking to become our best selves even as we work to make a better world. Please know that you are welcome. Just as you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight. Black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you are on top of the world. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between we are delighted to see you just as you come to us in all of your particularity and need. We hope you will find this service meaningful and enriching and that you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit. And feeds your soul. And gives you renewed energy and joy for the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. How far is sherman today. His truth. As opposed to the mean-spirited forms of communication. Did we see so frequently these days with half-truths and outright lies. As opening words we offer a quote by winifred willard walther from the seventh plane their world messages 46. She said. Nobody wants mathematics from a methodist viewpoint. Physics or chemistry as a congregational subject. With the chief and eternal concerned with truth. Church is becoming free intellectually and spiritually. Truth were ever discovered. Unquote. My question before the house today. Is that true. Where is that wishful thinking. In line with our sermon today about truth and incivility. Ar reading comes from ernest h cherrington a leading tempers temperance journalists and activists in the pre prohibition era. He is quoted in a publication called leaves of gold printed in 1938. I quote. We are accustomed to say the truth makes men free. It says nothing of the kind. It is the knowledge of the truth that creates freedom. You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. We are now at that stage where the main emphasis must be laid on the dissemination of the truth. We need as we have never needed. Campaign of education. With men and women going hither and thither in a great lecture campaign. Weeding itself across this nation like a weaver's shuttle. We need a baptism of the right kind of literature periodicals and truth carrying messages that will make the people of the nations and the rest of the world. Sit up and take notice. We have reached the place where we can no longer take the defensive. We must once again resume the offensive. The colleges universities and high schools with the millions of young men and women in those institutions. Who are to take their place in the life of the nation just a few years hence. Are the laboratory where truth must be demonstrated. Before we get underway with a sermon. I suppose i should pause and say. So happy new year. Now let's. How easy it is a spirited political advertising. Spirited. What's going on here. Why is it. That we accept those mean-spirited diatribe direct. And then that's a mean comments. Where is the first uu principle. Where is fairness. Hit honesty. Where is compassion. I'll tell you where it is. It's in the backseat. And mean. Is driving this juggernaut of a vehicle. Toward the cliff. Do we really want to sit back and exercising. And stop accepting. The situation. If you do at war all the meanest maybe you should consider talking about. Stop preaching to the choir so to speak. Part of the problem seems to be the conviction. That if it's in front of your eyes. In black and white. On your computer screen or on the tv. Must be true. Right. Part of the problem seems to be the conviction. It seems most people would reading their newspapers believe every word. Even the editorials and the letters to the editor. They know they're listening to. Let's take this a step further. When you read political ads and flyers sent to your home. Especially about your own candidates. Turn to email. Now that's one of the most. What an acquaintance forward you an email that's a mean-spirited tire tribe ford some current hot-button issue. Why is it. If so many of us are ready and willing to swallow the line being delivered. Wine & sinker. It just gets passed on to the next group of email correspondence without question. I'm talking about i take on the issue and those it knocked the other side of the issue. Everywhere i turn the truth is getting blown off and something inconsequential. That was really true and painful to watch in here in the last election. Both locally and nationally. The best can be said of this is. People just naturally trust others. But my experience truth is sharing the backseat with compassion. The majority of things being forwarded to others via email and facebook are either totally wrong. Hugely exaggerated or at the very least misleading. The internet seems to bring out the worst in a lot of people. Because they can do things anonymously. They think it's great fun. Or exaggeration for example. A photograph and story during the presidential election hit the emails. Someone had taken a campaign photo. There's the original. With t-shirts spelling the name romney. Digitally altered to say money previously. That's funny money. Chuckle but realize it. A similar thing happened to obama. A photo in 1964 raced across the internet. It turned out to be someone else's digitally altered australian birth registration document. Change to say the republic of kenya and showing barack hussein obama his name. Manipulated. It was the dominion of canada in the year that obama was born. In another country. Deliberately falsified. Unfortunately face value by. Some people. What politicians are not the only ones getting wrongly hammered on the internet. Several years ago an email began whipping around the internet starbucks support the troops. It seems that a sergeant. Had heard something from a friend who heard it from someone else you're getting the picture there. But the sergeant a scathing commentary on a starbucks his friends. He discovered just a little bit later. That the information was completely wrong. Attraction to all 10 of his friends. But it was too late. Most of them had read it. Girlfriends. Who's more. None of them checked the facts. Perfectly happy. Ready to accept that a large corporation was totally at odds with most americans. The worst about large corporations. Personally. Take the hoax about. An olympic virus that was supposed to wipe out your hard drive on your computer if you open some email labeled invitation. Now that email started. Faded away. Reappeared in 2006 for the olympics. 2040 olympics labeled. Blacks in the white house. And swiftly moved through the internet. It was all purely malicious and scary. No such an incurable virus has ever been found. Mcafee antivirus company research. They could find nothing. You watch. With the 2014 olympics coming up. Do not be surprised. Dusty this garbage reappear on your computer screen. There are the emails. Such as an email quoting bill cosby. He never said any such thing. The quote actually came from some bloggers and somebody put those words email. My facebook is another place. Skizzy untrue stories spread and facebook has been the victim of such tall tales and 2009-10 this year. A story kept on appearing that facebook was going to start charging subscription. That caused a huge backlash. And every time it was totally untrue. I've pretty well reach the point. We're look with suspicion upon. Electronic item that is forwarded to be especially if it's passed through several hands. And as far as advertising. Tv or radio. If they have an accusatory tone. Even about those products that i just like. Put the chicken reba in. Because everyone seems to be buying into the spirit and truth altering method of communication. Is the notion. This kind of activity violates every sense of fair play and compassion that i can bring to mine. And william urging one at all to do. As far as email and facebook is concerned. Is taxis accusatory and off-kilter stories with the same skepticism. Or the ultra sarcastic verbiage coming from stephen colbert. Emails off of your friend. For their level of truth. If you're interested. Grab a pencil right now i'm going to tell you how to do it. Write this down. It's a website. Trusted by law enforcement and many others for ferreting out the real story. Snopes.com. Exxon website. Like i said trusted by a lot of people real diligent work there's another one called truthorfiction.com. As far as i can tell they do not exhibit. There are a few other so-called facts. They don't work in one way or the other. Lake report. To be even-handed. But don't take my word. Just go to one or both of those website snopes.com or truthorfiction.com. Be astounded. At the number of false and misleading email stories that they have researched and debunked. It's amazing. More trouble than it's worth you say. Don't matter you say. Well yes it does matter. Because in my mind that all contributes to the increasingly shallow intellect in america. It shows a lack of self-education. A lack of proper education of our children. So. Climb down from my soapbox now. You just talk to you a little bit. Some people say that this mean-spirited way of being. Goes in cycles. Well maybe so. But i think we need to break that cycle. I'm concerned about the moral fiber of our country as a whole. In my mind. It's just far too much willingness. To accept meaning. The deliberate falsehood. And the intended misinformation. His. I think that's the wrong path to take. He's taking our nation. Into the corner where one wears a dunce hat. You know that conical shaped hat the symbolizes this person's not too terribly smart. And what's worse. Doesn't there. One of the things happening to me. As a result of all this mudslinging and meanness and political discourse in elsewhere. I've almost. Lost all my face. In the political process. Is that if i'm beginning to lose my faith. How is everybody else doing. The my particular personality is such. That i cling to beliefs. Up to the point where they are totally default. Beyond quit. For example. And i'm sorry to admit this. But i was in nixon supporter for a long time after it became obvious. I was extremely reluctant. To believe my president. Had done such things. But i finally had to concede the point. To point out that if. If i. Soul slow to accept things that are contrary to my wishes and my beliefs. How are other people doing. When it comes to losing their face. In the political process. Are we already falling down that mountain. Got to bring this into the pulpit. I know this is a sermon. just a rant and rave. If we. As unitarian universalist. And other religious bodies. Simply senator hands. And do not speak up about this trend. What's going to happen to our country. You say. That we believe that every human being that our first principal talks about. Get how many of us in considering an issue with which we have strong disagreement. Are willing to grant. Let's say. The abortion issue. If you support abortion. Are you willing to grant. That the majority. Of those who oppose it. Are doing so out of a genuine belief. And that you should grant them. The inherent worth and dignity of anyone else. Even those rabid ones who are in your face on the subject. We say. We seek out justice. Equity and compassionate human relations. But most of us seem to be willing to believe the worst evil motives that the opposition might possibly harbor. And regurgitate it for public consumption. We say. That we seek a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. But when we hear or read stories about someone we strongly disagree with on an issue. Do we just accept that story. And not question the motives of the originator of the story. Are we willing to believe these evils. Because we want to be true. We say. Do we support the right of conscience. The where is our conscience. When we hit the forward button to send the rumor laden email out to others of our acquaintance. I posted on facebook. Without a single thought as to his truthfulness. Okay. But perhaps. We should be willing to take a sharp look. And how we acted react. When we find ourselves being opposed and sings we take personally. Maybe when something starts going. Out-of-the-box. I'm about to launch into a slightly off-color story. About thinking out of the box. Husband takes his wife. Play her first game of golf. Of course the wife promptly hack surfers shot through the window of the biggest house adjacent to the course. The husband cringe. I warned you to be careful now we got to go up there finally odor apologized see how much your lousy drive is going to cost us. So the couple walks up to the house and knocked on the door warm voices. Come on inn. Are you. Broke my window in that bottle. What the people saw when they came in was. Broken glass all over the place. Had a really nice face. On the floor. Yeah we're sure sorry about that the husband said. No apology is necessary. You see i'm a genie. I've been trapped in that bottle for a thousand years. I'm allowed to grant three wishes i'll give you each one wish but if you don't mind i'll keep for myself. Said the husband. He pondered just a moment bieber. i like a million dollars a year. No problem said the genie. You got it. It's the least i can do and i'll guarantee you a long healthy life. And now young lady what would you like to have. I'd like to open up gorgeous home in every country in the world she said. And now the couple ask the genie. What's your wish. Well. Bottle for a thousand years. And i haven't been with a woman in that time. My wish is to lie with your wife. The husband looked at his wife and he says ge honey you know we both now have a fortunate all those houses what do you think. And she said you know you're right considering our good fortune. I love you sweetheart and i do the same thing for you. So the genie and the woman went upstairs where they spent the rest of the afternoon. The genie was insatiable. 3 hours later the genie rolls over and he looks directly into your eyes. Penny asked. Are you and your husband. He said. 35 years old. And you both still believe in genies. Question stories. And quote to you from a sermon that was denver delivered by uu minister rev on von foerster to this congregation many many years ago. He said quote. Between point and counterpoint are we. Caught between angels and demons. Fortune. Lancaster. Reverend vaughn forester went on. We know that you aspire to hold us forever anxious over fractured. Is nothing short of ludicrous. This is our salvation. Angels singing. Hard situation. There is hope. As long as we can respond to the jester. I say to you and closing. Look with us cancer things. Keep your sense of humor about you. Keep believing there are more good and decent people the mean ones out there in the world. The mean ones. Or just one. And we need to match. They're balling. My final words to you today. Take the heart the hindu word. Namaste. I honor and recognize the spirit of the divine. Everyone else in the entire world. Use the essence of that far. Find yourself. With mean-spirited untruthful or twisted truth. Weather in print. Electronic or otherwise. In other words. Be firm in your beliefs found in the seven principles of uu. Amen. And the lobster.

uufvb_org

2012Jul22Sermon32.mp3

Artichokes and alligators maybe i've had just a bit too much spiritual time on my hands lately that can happen to a minister in the quieter months of summer. I've been thinking a lot recently about this amazingly intricate natural world of ours and how we human beings should stand should understand our place. Sometimes are decidedly insignificant place. What's in the grand scheme of it all. I think it's spiritual matters a great deal actually how we two legged arthropods. That's a very important for us to have a spiritually mature and realistic and i might add scientifically accurate understanding of the natural world. And how we is just one species. Among. Millions. I must admit that what got me thinking about along these lines was a stark contrast that struck me the other day when i was pondering this world amazing diversity of life between two things artichokes and alligators. I told you i had too much spiritual time on my hands lately my mind. Has wandered into some rather curious places but hang with me this morning dear friends for i assure you there's a useful sermon in here somewhere. Artichokes and alligators. No by almost. Any measure those are two pretty dissimilar things in this creation aren't they. About the only thing they have in common is that they are both green. And scaly and bumpy to the touch. But here's what put some. Together in my head. The culinary aspect. I love to eat artichokes and alligators love to eat me. Well that's what i was thinking about. Let me start by discussing artichokes. Artichokes are one of my favorite in wisconsin. And here you see the someone is in the process of devouring one. I love steaming them for an hour or so in a big pot with a few cloves of fresh garlic if i have them. Until they are soft and tender and then eating them with drawn butter of course no mayonnaise running like that. One delicious leaf at a time as this person has already done until you get down to the real culinary reward. The artichokes tender and meaty heart. The succulent. Flavor. Core. Which i carefully then cut up with a knife. And simile bathe each piece in drawn butter. Artichokes are wonderful in. Good things. Just slowly eat. With your family and friends. Peeling a part of eating an artichoke as a separate course it must be a separate. What's some good white wine if you have. Gives you time. To talk and laugh and enjoy the camaraderie of an evening even as your taste buds. Savor this. Curious. Green delicacy. In a word artichokes are an exquisite and delicious gif. Of this creation of our. And if you haven't yet discovered the light urge you to look up how you cook them already told you. And then there's the other side. Of this mental equation. Mine. Alligator. One of the most. Fearsome. And ferocious animals on the front door griffin wisconsin and wisconsin sharks alligators. Come down here you got to watch when you get in the water. Their founders you won't know in abundance some million-and-a-half strong here in the waterways of florida. And they will catch you and they will eat you unexpected human if you make the mistake of not properly respecting their natural habitat. Earlier this month as many of you saw on the news seventeen-year-old flirty and caleb. To cool off for the summer heat with friends. In the cool outside kalos a tri-river. In southwest florida when hungry 10-foot alligator. Armaf and would have taken all of caleb. Have this world wise teenager not realize he had to give up his arm. To save. His life. The point is. It's a live here an alligator-infested florida requires that you use caution. When you are in or near water. And these for these fears and hungry creatures will make a meal of you. If you give them a chance. In there. So. We interact with both artichokes and alligators in very different ways that's plain enough vyas. Where am i spiritually going with this. Well these two disparate natural phenomenon symbolize for me the curious and often contradictory relationships. We human beings have with this amazing complex creation. There is so much in this world of ours so much of sheer grace and beauty blessing and delight like. Big and fighting artichokes waiting to be. And at the same self time. There is so much in this world so very much of absolute danger and destruction risk and ugliness like. Hungry alligators hiding along the riverbank waiting. For unsuspected pray to wonder by. And in a similar natural vein. There are as you all know warm tropical days here in the treasure coast so hospitable and beautiful. You might think you died and gone to heaven. But there are also dark and harrowing days as my reading pointed out. What hurricanes are other violent weather races shore. And unleash unimaginable sorrow in destruction. A day you might think you entered hell itself. That exists here in the treasure coast my point is. The hours is undeniably a world of both grace and gruesomeness. This mysterious creation gives us at the same self moment. Both alligators and artichokes. Hurricanes and hyacinths. Lizards and blueberries. Pancreatic cancer cells and. Christine crescent beach. Tornadoes and trumpets one this world gives us both raspberries and rattles. Until my spiritual question today is. How do we human beings make useful sense. Of this contradictory and confusing whole this blessed yet the deviling world. And our place in it how do we as human beings living on this natural planet earth. Come to spiritual terms with a world that is in one moment. So utterly delicious and divine and even the very next moment destructive. Well the first thing you must remember from science classes back in high school and college. Is it the spy. The fact that human activity now almost totally dominates our planet and i would add ending. Very little. Of everything that makes up the natural world. Is about us. Or our human needs. Sure we human beings have successfully evolved mostly in terms of neurological complexity and cultural. Sophistication. In ways that largely enable us to dominate and control many animal species. Everything from mosquitoes. We have mosquito control this. Here in florida. And cows. And many natural phenomenon like floodwaters are dams and levees. Usually can safely channel. Or like the forest fires we are usually able to extinguish. But the natural sciences remind us at every living thing and all of this world interconnected phenomenon have developed the way they have generally by paying absolutely no attention. To our needs. Our desires and wishes. But rather by the inexorable unseen hand of evolution. And other immutable and powerful laws of nature. Let's just take artichokes and alligators. Because charles darwin was unitarian. His theory of evolution has been irrefutably proven by countless. Scientific experimentation and observation. That evolution is the mechanism by which life changes and develops on this planet everything's the tiniest. Micro to the largest. Whale. We know for exam. But the fact. Encounter with an artichoke is so pleasant and satisfying to us today and conversely is so unpleasant. Or dangerous. Are merely accidental consequences of these two species one plant and one animal evolutionarily pursuing their own survival and success it's an accident of their seeking their survival. And their success. They're artichoke this and their alligator this is not about us it's about them. And they're naturally carved out a niche in creation. As best they can. If i understand darwin and natural selection right artichokes there's an artichoke. In blossom. The budding flower portion of the thistle plant. The intricate pleasure they are. Simply as a means of ensuring their propagation and survival is a plant. Other beautiful flower that results in the artichoke that you see here. Is singularly designed not to please our pallet. But to attract i didn't find this on the web i couldn't find it but i assumed to attract the insects. That will pollinate the plants and help us survive. Similarly alligators. Alligators have evolve. Into the stealth picture. I want to meet him. End of the stealth and effective meat-eating creatures which occupy our waterways here in florida. Because they're out to get us. But because they want to eat and survive and produce healthy offspring they're not out to get us it's not about you. The fact that artichokes name delicious and intriguing to us. And conversely that alligators are so abhorrent and terrifying. Has nothing to do with us although these particular natural facts about these green things. Matter to us. It's okay to interface with an artichoke it's not okay to interface with an alligator. Charles darwin proved in the natural sciences have since repeatedly proven. But over great spans of time. Each particular species. Picador habitat. Is continuously and simply doing its own thing. And naturally adapting and changing for its survival and success. We human beings of course of all kinds of reactions to the way other plant and animal species. Seemed to us we despised for example skeetos. But we love. Panda bears on bunny rabbits. But none of this means they're paying any attention to us. Or our judgment. Purposely hostile or hospitable to us. That's not what they're about. So what i'm saying here is that obviously. Weezer homosapiens shouldn't take it personally. The artichokes are wonderful. And alligators seem wicked. They are essentially indifferent. And the niche. We human being. Are similarly carving out in our habitat. And as it is with the plant and animal species so too it is with natural and weather phenomenon isn't it. Like rainbows and hurricane we have a lot of those in florida. Kira florida we are regularly uplifted in charmed by rainbows. When they splash their amazing color across a beautiful summer sky. And in the same in the same season we are not infrequently terrified and endangered by hurricane. When they form like the lower picture when they form far out to sea and raced toward our homes here. In all their incredible destructive power but again. Neither of these natural phenomenon or of course paying any attention. To our needs or our lives. Rainbows and hurricanes respectively happen simply because predictable meteorological forces and nature come together in just the right way to make that possible. Although it is increasingly undeniable that we human beings as the major force of nature that we are are affecting evolution and natural phenomenon like the dangerous global warming we have created. By burning fossil fuels which may lead to the extinction of thousands upon thousands of species. They're not able to adapt. Those changes were already seeing thousands of. This is you all know from reading. Intelligent articles about. Many thousands. They can't adapt. Climate change. Or when we prevent ecologically helpful prairie fires are burning across the prairies again. Negatively affecting. Countless animal and plant species. Course we effect we human beings affect evolution. But nature wallet evolutionary responds and predictable mechanisms of change. Remains indifferent to our behavior. Whether it be wise. Foolish. Hurricanes for exam. That are most climate scientists are telling us now becoming more frequent and intense in this century are not out to punish. Humanity. Fourth global warming folly. Reverend pat robertson the tv evangelist and i guess you could call him a social commentator. Might believe hurricanes veer away from vero beach where his church is located and strike new orleans or he's. Concluded the human cinnabon. But anybody with more than the kindergarten understanding of science and the laws of nature not to mention immature spiritual respect for all human life. No it's a hurricane. Have no. Moral. They do not. Let me bring all this precisely home. Monster hurricane frances and jeanne hit vero beach just days apart. In 2005. It was not because those storms somehow decided quote to put vero beach in their crosshairs. Okay or to target vero beach the bullseye as so many other commentators seem to say at the time. Nature is not out to either bless us. When it gives us artichokes or asparagus to eat. When random hurricanes wreck havoc in our coastal communities. Nature is absolutely indifferent. To our needs are human judgments and our human activities again. We human beings do change and affect things by leaving such a large footprint as we are now doing on our planet. But nature whether it be this planet's plants or animals or weather. Does not quote-unquote care. Or choose. To act for human bein or benefit. Just as it has since the beginning of time. Nature in all its myriad forms and manifestations is just blindly being itself. Following its immutable laws. To their inevitable natural. So. Follow my logic. I believe it is a silly for someone to say that rainbow was put in the sky for me this morning to see it i needed to be uplift. As it is for a tv weather person to say is they routinely do. Is hurricane has put the gulf coast in its crosshairs it's painted a bull's-eye right on pascagoula and it's coming for us. The hurricane. And the rainbow curse. Care less. They're just doing the only thing they can. Was there rain bonus or there hurricane. Ness. So people. Should. Spiritually speaking. Take either the blessings of nature or the blows of nature. Personally. I don't often make references in my sermons to me being a gay male but i have to. There's a phrase in the gay male community when somebody in the gay male circle is making a big drama about their life. It's our something this happened them somebody will inevitably blurred-out oh for god's sake mary shut up it's not about you. Well i'm saying the same thing about nature. It's not about you. What i'm trying to affirm here is it during our lifetimes on this planet. We mustn't take nature's phenomenon either the wonderful. For the wicked. Or the part or the painful. Personally. Because nature as i've said is eternally in. To our needs. Our desires. And our judgments. The natural world. Is not i am passionately persuaded spinning out some sort of quote. Grandeur purposeful plan for human beings. Either as a species. Nor for individuals. The flow of natural life both in its gracious dimensions and its crew someone. Really isn't about us and the sooner we discover that. It's not about us. The more successfully we can move spirits. Truth hour. And through the good and bad time. I'm a ministerial colleague in michigan. A previously totally healthy woman in her mid-50s. Who recently had a terrifying an unexpected cerebral hemorrhage. But suddenly threatened her life. No blessedly this colleague has over recent months made a full and fast recovery. It has been told that all likelihood she will never experience. Another life-threatening cerebral event in her life. With cerebral hemorrhage is apparently. It seems that sometimes in some individuals often for reasons. The doctors can never pin down or explain. Blood vessels in the brain suddenly break in some person. And it is at an anomalous and dangerous medical event that naturally happens. Too many thousands of persons. Each year. And that's how we should scientifically understand them. Cerebral hemorrhage. As anomalous and unpredictable events but when. I was recently discussing her medical scare with her. My colleague mentioned that one of the most appalling parts of a recovery. Was having some all be them god knows well-meaning insincere. Up friends and acquaintances. Repeatedly express their belief to her. Out loud. The blood vessel burst in her head quote. For a reason. For a purpose. In other words people around her were suggesting that the scary and life-threatening natural medical event. Was part of some grand spiritual plan. To help her become i don't know that. Kind of human being she supposed to come. You know more grateful for the gift of life were more patient with her husband and children. Or closer to god or more mindful of the gift of life. They never really said why they thought this was all part of this plan for her. My colleague fully aware of the straightforward. Scientific and natural reasons for hemorrhage. Was furious. He was theologically. The people would ascribe such meaning. To what she knew to be a meaningless natural event. And i to think this kind of thinking is unscientific. Spiritually and emotionally unsustainable. Not to mention offensive. Again rainbows do not appear in the sky to quote-unquote make your day happier. And hurricanes do not make landfall. Precisely where they strike to punish your sinfulness i'm sorry pat robertson that is not life hornet that's not why hurricanes. Reach landfall in certain play. And blood vessels do not break and some of our brains to make us better people are to help us appreciate the gift of life that's not what happens. Should i say that loudly enough. Now please hear this. Such appreciation and spiritual growth after you face a dangerous thing in your life. Might in fact result. From you having a medical crisis or surviving a terrible storm i've known plenty of people. Who survived heart attacks. Cancer scare. And it has changed their life and made them better people they feel. Not. Why. Nature including that. Constantly expresses itself in our own bodies. Again it's just doing its own thing. It is indifferent to our thoughts and needs and development as person. The sooner we understand this. The better we can't read through the. Blessings on the sorrows of a lifetime. That are ours. Is not about us. A few years ago. One of my best friends in the world i've talked. About him before paul. Who is a skilled veterinarian and all-around wonderful husband and father and human being and we are scattering his. He was diagnosed with a terribly aggressive and malignant tumor. In his back. Spine. A cancer that after several years of struggle eventually. Paul's life. Paul was a hard. Nose. No-nonsense empirical cornell educated. Scientist. And he was very philosophical as a scientist about his illness. An illness yes he nonetheless fought with every ounce of his strength and being and soul and heart. Whatever we discuss the cancer that was spreading through his body and robbing him of his mobility and freedom and strength he was a strapping guy. Paul refuse the absolutely spiritually refuse. To take any of this tragedy that was happening to him personally. He refused to even entertain the question. With so many people who gets emily sick want to ask that. Question why me. He refused to ask that question. This natural creation human cells in our bodies sometimes mute. And become cancerous and attack the host. Body. And if that was precisely and only what was happening to him. He did not believe he got cancer to quote facilitate his spiritual growth. Or to bring him closer to his family. Or just somehow become a better person he believed he got cancer because well he got cancer. .. And paul as i. Refuse to believe that nature was somehow purposefully and injecting itself. Spiritually into his life. By making him sick. One of the worst. And i believe most utterly unscientific and illogical ideas. But you unfortunately here expressed in our culture again. And again and again. Is it everything in this natural world happens for a larger purpose and reason because it's all part of a master plan i do not believe this and do not see how this. Possibly be so. As i've said again and again this. In as many ways as i know how to intelligently say it. Nature. Disease. Weather animals everything in this natural world operates by rules. But have little or nothing to do with. Now when we human beings are confronted with natural adversity and destructiveness natural events like. Cancer. Hurricanes. An alligator. Because we are meaning-making creatures. We may well find life and purpose and energy new insight and wisdom in our lives. As we cope. With these crises. But these natural phenomenon. Our indifference. To these context of meaning and purpose. But this deep. Eternal indifference. Did i believe nature has toward us. Does not mean life on this planet is meaningless. Or purposeless. Or without hope. Nor does it mean we should not love and cherish. Both the natural world in which we find ourselves and the lives. We so tenderly. Continuously hold on to. The fact that life. I believe. Is. The life and nature are neither out to bless us or to batter us. Does not mean that we cannot love this world. And the amazing opportunity. We have to live our lives to build relationships and weave wonderous meetings and joy into our lives. This creation in different as it is to us is none-the-less a sacred place. A home for us to build lives of meaning enjoying for. Even though it isn't. One of the last times i saw my friend paul alive. Beautiful summer evening. When collins and i are returning home from a car trip through new england to see a variety of fresh. Stop the millington new jersey to their home. To have dinner and an evening with. Paul is. We talked all night. Are there magical candlelit screened in porch deep in the woods just a jc. The great swamp. With the crickets in the cicadas in the. Wildcat. He's roaming everywhere. And we talked. About what paul. Was facing. Several times. I'm not soft and lovely evening. Chemist with so much sadness. Does wise and. Precise. And spiritual and scientifically. Unsentimental man said to us in several ways. Well. There it is. I always knew this guy. My cancer is back. My prognosis. But there it is. I have not been singled out. It's just a bit of bad luck. I have to live as best. And is joyfully and his. Fully as i can. For i still have my life. And i still have my fam. And i will always. Cherish. And that is where i will. Spiritually. Leave you this. We must love this world. We must love this world. But this curious and a different mix of artichokes and alligators. Raspberries and rattlesnakes beautiful summer clouds. Terrible tornadoes we must love this world. Not because it promises us endless days filled with rainbows and blueberries and gentle summer rain. We must love this world. Because it is the holy uncertain and amazing workshop. Where we shape our lives. I pray it. Into works of purpose and meaning. 2 works. Satisfaction. And love. Amidst all the trouble. Some spiritually might imagine that they can wait. For some other. Next. Creation. Some other next creation that will offer them all artichokes. And no alligators. But the spiritually wise no client to their hearts. That it isn't this ambivalence world this world indifferent to us as it eternally is. So we must build our heavens. Find. Our holiness. Sing the songs. We were meant. To sing. And fall in love. Right here. Right now.

uufvb_org

2014Mar02Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. I checked the weather forecast this morning from philadelphia 36 rain sleet and snow coming tonight rain forecast new york city 36. Rain freezing rain and snow washington. 44 rain. Freezing rain. Welcome to vero beach. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are glad you've chosen to be with us this morning we are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands individual people seeking to become our best selves even this together we work. Place. And please know that you are welcome precisely as you come to us this morning. Whether you were young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you happen to be feeling on top of the world this morning or struggling with something deep within you. You are welcome and we are delighted to see you. We hope you will find the service this morning meaning for enriching. You will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed purpose and joy. For the living of life in the days and weeks that lie ahead. My favorite mary oliver poem. Why i wake up early. Hello sun in my face hello you will make the morning and spread it over the field and in the phases of the tulips and the nodding morning glories in the windows of even the miserable and crotchety. Best preacher that ever was. Beer star. That just happens to be where you are in the universe to keep us from ever darkness. Tweezers with warm touching to hold us in the great hands of life good morning good morning. Good morning. Watch now is this. The day. This morning's reading is a short biographical sketch. A mark twain. On november thirty. 1835 the small town of florida missouri. Witness the birth of its most famous son. Samuel langhorne clemens was welcomed into the world. Sa-6 trial of john marshall and jane lampton clemens. Little did john and jane know. Their son samuel would once be known as mark twain. America's most famous literary icon. Approximately 4 years after his birth. In 1839 the clements family move 35 miles east. To the town of hannibal. A growing port city that lay along the banks of the mississippi hannibal was a frequent stop. For steamboats arriving both by day and night. From st louis and from new orleans. Samuel's father was a judge and a build a two-story frame house on hill street. In 1844. As a youngster. Tell me what was kept indoors because of poor health. Whoever by age 9 he seemed to recover from his ailments and join the rest of the town's children outside. He then attended a private school in hannibal. When samuel was 12 his father died of pneumonia. 13 samuel left school. To become a printer's apprentice. After two short years he joined his brother orange newspaper as a printer and editorial assistant. It was here that young samuel found that he enjoyed writing. At seventeen he left hannibal behind for a brunch printers job in st louis. While in st louis. Clements became a river pilot apprentice. He became a licensed river pilot in 1858. Clemens pseudonym. Mark twain comes from his days as a river pilot. It is a river term which means two fathoms or 12ft. When the depth of the water for a boat is being sounded. Mark twain memes that are safe to navigate. Because of the river trade was born to a standstill by the civil war in 1861. Clements began working as a newspaper reporter for several newspapers all over the united states. In 1870 clements married olivia langdon and they had four children. One of them died in infancy infancy and two who died in their twenties. They're surviving child clara lived until she was 88. Twin began to gain fame when his story the celebrated jumping frog. Of calaveras county appeared in the new york saturday press. On november 18th 1865. Twain's first book. The innocents abroad was published in 1869. The adventures of tom sawyer. In 1876 and the adventures of huckleberry finn in 1885. And all he wrote 28 books and numerous short stories and letters and sketches. I'm was one of america's most popular lectures. He was born shortly after halley's comet pass close to the earth. In 1835 and he predicted that he would go out. With it too. Queen died on april 21st 1910 the day following the comets subsequent return. Mark twain passed away on april 21st 1910 but he still has a strong following today. His childhood home is open to the public as a museum and hannibal. Calaveras county in california holds the calaveras county fair & jumping frog jubilee. Every 3rd weekend in may. Walking tours are given a new york city of the many places that twain visited around his birthday every year. Now they're supposed to grip to all this i want to mention that any of you who happened to be traveling in california on the 3rd weekend in may you can attend the 87th international jumping frog jubilee. Here it is. And it is being held on may 15th. True may 18th. There's a whole program of events and one of the things i need to point out to you is if you like you can bring your own frog. So. For as long as i've been administering that's been a very long time i've always marveled at other brave reckless uu ministers who help their congregations raise money at their annual church auctions by offering a sermon topic of your choice. To the highest bidder. No i've always thought this a cute and fun idea but being a fairly cautious minister who doesn't like surprises. I've never gotten around to it in 40 years. Until now. After 40 years of avoiding the risk and perils of this endeavor i finally took the plunge and offered a sermon of your choice at last year's auction here. A great event masterminded each year by spike which will be held this year saturday april 12th put it in your calendars it'll be a lot of fun and we raised a lot of money for the current gation but in any case. Who in the world do you think then submitted the highest bid when i offered the sermon. None other than our most sedate. Conventional and predictable friend of the congregation brian ellis brian will you please stand up. So. When it came time for him to present to me the topic of this choice knowing brian i was prepared. For demanding offbeat shall i say choice and brian did not disappoint me. He asked me to preach a sermon on 19th century american literary icon mark twain and his classic little volume letters from the earth. A book. The one i went looking for it on my shelf sure enough it was there and have been there for forty years unread by me i paid $0.95 for this. In like 1973 i think. I've never i never actually gotten around to read it. How many of you have read this book. I'm just curious. so most of you. This will be a new experience for you. And dumb. Alright so it looks like most of you will benefit from learning more about twain in this curious little book. Anyway. When brian told me of his choice of necessity of course i i do right in and started reading it. Eager to find out what importance i might actually say about it on this occasion and i want to begin this morning by publicly thanking bryan. For what tammy turned out to be a very interesting choice because i've truly enjoyed reading and then reflecting on twain's. Biting. And provocative commentary. On religion and life. The author's real name is you already know was samuel clemens. Mark twain being his folksy nom de plume. Came from his days as a mississippi riverboat. As you know he was born in a small missouri town in 1835 and died in connecticut at age 75 in 1910. And he was a famous literary person and humorist. The great american writer william faulkner once called him the father of american literature. And upon hearing at the unitarian president. William howard taft. Mark twain gave pleasure. Real intellectual enjoyment to millions. And his works will continue to give such pleasure to millions in years to come including the jumping frogs in california. A prolific writer as as ali said hero 28 books. The most famous of which. Huck finn and tom sawyer and numerous short stories articles letters and abundance peaches. And this pork. Which. In which wayans biting and sarcastic commentary. On religion. The bible christianity and the nature of both god and humanity. Summarized. Interesting lee. This book was not published until 1962 posthumously. Fully 52 years after clemons died. The reason it did not see the light of day for more than half a century after his death. Is that his fearful and embarrassed daughter clara. Who apparently wanted america to remember her father as quote a genial humorous. Could not be persuaded by publishers who are very eager to have their hands to it. There was a good idea to unleash her father's dark and biting wit. And disdainful scorned directed at so many sacred cows of american culture. For years his only surviving daughter clara block publication. Saying that this book. Presented a distorted view of her father's ideas when in fact they reflect. In harsh and unavoidable clarity. Precisely his bitter sarcastic and skeptical views about almost everything religious americans held sacred. He lies. As one reviewer in the new york times wrote in 1962 when the book was finally released by clara. Quote. The brilliant parts of the letters are compressed and savage. We are beginning to understand the reviewer right that at long last that mark twain was or could be a savage man. Who was unsparingly indignant. About both man and god for the cruelty and injustice has they respectful respectively. Practice. Unquote. So one way of thinking about the letters from the earth. Is that it is a succinctly and biting treatise of mark twain spiritual and theological feud. With both god and man religion the bible and certainly all things christian. Thanks a lot brian i really appreciate your constructive help this morning. But before i dive into clements actual writings it seems important to shed a little more lifetime his biography. For that may explain why at the end of his life when he wrote the letters from the earth. He was so bitter and skeptical about the goodness of life. And god and humanity. Samuel clemens life for all its success was also marked by tragedy grieve. Loss and depression. At age 35 late for a nineteenth-century marriage he married olivia langdon who was incidentally a reluctant bride having rejected him the first time. And they had four children. But all but one of them died tragically in early their only son langdon died at age 2 of diphtheria a death for which twain felt responsible having taken the boys outside one winter's day without enough clothing and after which he did die. His daughter suzy succumb to spinal meningitis in her twenties and daughter jean also in her 20s drowned in a bathtub. Suffering an epileptic seizure. His only daughter. Clara. His only surviving daughter the one who withheld. Publication of this book. Lived a full life dying. 8888. But compounding his personal misery was the fact that although twain became. Quite rich through his writings and lectures he was perhaps the most famous and sought-after lecturer in the last half of the 19th century. Later in his life he bankrupted himself by heavily investing in an innovative but ultimately unworkable typesetting technology he sort of bet on the betamax of his day okay and he lost. Twain that only lost all of his writing process. But much of his wife's sizable inheritance as well. All of these painful and tragic events took their toll on his spirit. As one biographer puts it. Plane passed through a period of deep depression that began in 1896. When is daughter suzy died of meningitis. Alicia's death in 2004 and jean's death on christmas eve 2009 deepened his gloom. Unquote. So the skepticism about life's fairness and god's goodness that get expressed in this book. Met at least in part flowed out of the multiple misfortunes twain himself. Personally. Suffered. All right with that background. Let's begin. With twain's biting critique of religion in general and christianity in. At least as it was practiced in his 19th century america. Although clements was at least nominally a presbyterian his whole life his funeral was held in 1910. At the old brick presbyterian church in new york city. By the time he had penned letters from the earth had become a bitter. Skeptic of religion he wants were road. I cannot see how a man of any large degree of perception. Can even be religious unless he purposely shuts his eyes and mind and keeps them shot by force. And elsewhere he offered. There are those who scoff at the school boy calling him frivolous and shallow. Get it was a schoolboy who said. Faith is believing what you know ain't so. And then twain focused is critical sites on the christian church of his day he once famously said. If christ were here now there is one thing he would not be. A christian. Elsewhere in the speed she ridiculed christianity by observing. The so-called christian nations are the most enlightened and progressive. But in spite of their religion. because of it. He went on the church has been opposed to every innovation and discovery from the day of galileo down to our own time every step in astronomy and geology has been opposed by religious bigotry and superstition. The greek surpassed us he wrote an artistic culture and an architecture 500 years before christian religion was born. Nothing agrees with me. Concluded if i drink coffee it gives me. Decepcion. If i. How do you pronounce. Dyspepsia if i drink wine and gives me the gout and if i go to church it gives me. Dysentery. Mercy. I wonder if the presbyterian church usa. Proudly claims samuel clemens says one of their own heroes he had very little good to say about presbyterianism are the rest of the christian church. Elsewhere he wrote. This is a christian country. Why so is hell. Is it not proper to brag and boast that america is a christian country when we all know that certainly 56 of the population could not enter into the narrow gates of heaven. And finally he wrote the church is always trying to get other people. To reform. It might not be a bad idea to reform itself a little. By way of example. Do twain have little use for the pieties and proclamations and presumptions of the church of his day. Any didn't think much of the holy bible either. Listen to his blood description of the holy book. And consider yourself warned if you're a biblical literalism who believes that every word of the bible is the perfect word of a good and loving god. Please close your ears if that's your perspective. Dwayne said of the bible. It is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it. Some clever fables. And some blood-drenched history on some good morals. And a wealth of obscenity. Upwards of 1,000 lies. And then he quipped most people are bothered by those passages of the scripture they do not understand but the passages that bother me are those i do understand. Now let me pause here and report that just about the time twain was born. The split that occurred in american congregate in the american congregational church primarily between the unitarians. And the universal ascend the other protestant sects such as presbyterianism in methodism. Was in large part due to the unitarian and universalist refusal. To take every word of the bible as the eternal truth of god as literally true. The unitarians for example refused to believe to take the miracles reported in the bible the people being raised from the dead by jesus. Other things of that nature. Parting of the red sea. Even jesus's resurrection into heaven. We refuse to take those as historical or even spiritual fact. Religious liberals like mark twain were very skeptical about the many biblical stories. Got passed down. In the old and new testaments and to this day religious liberals tend to see the bible. As twins.. A curious and flawed compilation. Of ancient religious writings. Cobbled-together loosely by many writers and editors known as redactors. That should be tested the bible. Bible human reason and common sense. So twain from all that i have read. Had a very unitarian-universalist take on holy scripture. Elsewhere he complained that when he was 15 years old he was forced to sit woodley by either his parents or a sunday school teacher. To read the entire bible cover to cover. And you said none can do that and even draw a clean sweep breath again this side of the grave. Listen to his harsh deconstruction of the ark story for example. We're clements points out that god like a perplexus. Petulant and callous father. Decides in the early part of the ark story 2 wipeout wipeout humanity off the face of the earth with a great flood except. For god knows what reason noah and his family. Twain graphically imagines the horror. As god indifferently drowns humanity by endless rains as described in the bible i quote. Queen. The multitude of weeping fathers and mothers and frighten little children. Who are clinging to the wave wash rocks in the pouring rain. And lifting imploring prayers to an all just and all-forgiving and all pitying being. Who had never answered a prayer since those crags were built. And would still not have answered one when the ages should have crumbled them to sand again. And then twain like lightning things up a bit moves onto humorously imagine what it was really like for noah and his family on that crew dark which they shared with the countless species of animals from earth. Hero. The discomforts furnished in the ark. Will many and various. Noah's family had to live in the presence of the multitudinous animals and breathe. The distressing stench they make. A definite day or night by the thunder crashing noise of their roaring sound screeching. And in addition to these intolerable discomforts it was a particularly trying place for the ladies. Or they could look in no direction without seeing some thousands of the creatures engaging in multiplying and replenishing. And then he said and then there were the flies. They swarmed everywhere and persecuted the family all day long they were the first animals up in the morning and the last ones down at night but they must not be killed oh no they must not be injured on know they were sacred. Their origins were divine they were those special pets of of the creator his darlings. Thanks a lot brian. Elsewhere and now i'm moving on to focus on more of what samuel clemens said about god. He opines that the god and this is a very important thing to realize the god described in the old testament of the bible. Was nothing short. Twain concluded nothing short of a monster. Accrual cosmic parent listen to him. God so atrocious in the old testament. To trust the god of the old testament is to trust. An irascible vindictive fierce and even sickle and change for master. Who has uttered no promises. And then he concludes we have to keep our god placated with prayers. And even then. We are never sure of him. And later twain turns back on the predominantly christian theology of the christian church of his day saying. The christian equips the creator with every trait that goes into making a fiend. And then arrives at the conclusion that a fiend and a father of the same thing. Yet you would deny twain one on that a malevolent lunatic and a sunday-school superintendent are essentially the same. What do you think of the human mind twin concludes i mean in case you think there is a human mind. It is clear from the writings from his writings. Set the god for which twain had absolutely no theological used is the stern judgemental sickle and yet somehow all-powerful god described in the old testament. Which if you read the bible literally is in charge of the entire universe and responsible for everything that the falls humanity. When twain looks around at the life on his planet. He sees so much suffering and sorrow and evil that he refuses to believe. It's some sort of all good and all loving and all-wise father god is in charge ruling from heaven. But rather he sees god as a cruel or at least indifferent. Distant parent. Listen to his scathing passage about the ways of god as you listen to it remember the clements among other tragedies lost three of his four children. I will tell you a pleasant tail. He starts out sarcastically. A man got religion and asked the minister what he must. Dude to be worthy of his new estate as a religious person. The minister said. Imitate our father in heaven learn to be like him. So the man studies the bible. Wainwright's diligently and thoroughly understandingly and then with prayers from heavenly guidance. Instituted his imitations. He tricked his wife into falling downstairs and she broke her back and become a paralytic for life. He betrayed his brother at the hands of a con artist who robbed him of all his money and landed him in the almshouse. Inoculated one son with hookworms another was sleeping sickness another with gonorrhea. Infernus one daughter was scarlet fever and ushered her into her teens deaf dumb and blind for life and after helping a rascal seduce the remaining one he close the door against her and she died in a brothel cursing him. Then he reported train goes on to the minister. And the minister looked and said well that's no way to imitate our father in heaven. The convert a squared and he had failed. But the minister thinking for a minute about the nature of the world. The minister change the subject. And inquired what kind of whether the man was having up his way. And elsewhere in this writing. He reflected on the adam and eve story. Twain piles on his stinging indictment of god he wrote. God banished adam and eve from the garden eventually assassinated them. All for disobeying a command that they not eat fruit from the tree of knowledge. Which he had no right to other. Then twin goes on but he did not stop there. Of course for those you will soon see. He had one code of morals for himself god and quite another for his children. He requires his children to deal justly and gently with offenders and forgive them seventy times seven whereas he deal neither justly. Or gently. With anyone. Now. Here's twain's sharp theologica. Conclusion. Again auto lee rejecting the strictly proportion god of the old testament. Which are the illogical conclusion again is very much like where the unitarians in the universalists. We're all ready for our nineteenth-century forebears like clemens. Rejected the. Orthodox and puritanical christian view of a vengeful. Judgmental anthropomorphic god sitting way up in heaven high and angry and righteous disgusted with his children lording over them is pathetic creatures. Maybe had clemens walked into one of our liberal unless theologically harsh congregation. During his lifetime. He would have found god described not. As an angry incomprehensible capricious. Cosmic personality randomly dealing out blessing and tragedy but rather he might in one of our churches. Heard of god spoken of quietly as a mysterious yet. Powerful spirit of grace and beauty and goodness in love. Not controlling the world but. Animating and infusing and informing both nature and the human. From his writings in the letter from the earth it seems that the only idea that i've god the samuel clemens could imagine and subsequently. Angrily reject. Is the harsh primitive all-powerful god described in the old testament of you. Which he might have gotten from sitting in almost any 19th century presbyterian church. This rejection of god. Which dominates this little book of his. Reminds me a lot of what. Happens when somebody comes up to me knowing that i'm a minister. And declares that they don't believe in god. I always ask them so which god is it you don't believe in. And what usually comes back to me. Even in these early days of the 21st century. Is a description of that all-powerful all-wise anthropomorphic. Cosmic peeping tom. Which mark twain rejected. Much like the old testament god. And what i usually end up saying when someone says why i don't reject i don't believe in that god sitting up in heaven on the throne i don't believe in that primitive an ancient all-powerful god either. But let me tell you about. Let me tell you about the fragile spirit of holiness. And grace and beauty and love that i do feel purposefully pulsing in my world. And let me describe. That spirit of beauty and holiness that i see in the intricacies of nature. End of the innocence of children. And then the compassionate embrace which. Human beings so often offer to one another. Let me tell you about that god would whispers through my world. And brings me both peace and joy. What i am suggesting here. Is it the god would samuel clemens devoted his book to ridiculing. And dismissing is not a god that anybody with the least bit of theological sophistication today. Wood waste time defending. He was absolutely right of course. When you look at the random senseless tragedy and pain and suffering of our world like that which he personally experienced. Sumatra. It's pretty difficult to postulate. That there is an all-powerful all-knowing all loving personality running the show. That deserves our worship and praise. More than 100 years after his death i share mark twain's rejection. Of the capricious and harsh god of the old testament. As do most modern christian theologians of all denominations and stripes. And i just wish that for his own spiritual sake. He had been able to revision the idea of god a little bit in the more mystical in a more modern way that would have allowed him to strike a truce. With the way life. Had treated him. Such a god. Might have brought him comfort and meaning. And hope during his life. Atlanta but not least i want to share what mark twain had to say about humanity and human nature. By now you should suspect. That much of what he had to say about us human critters. Was just a skeptical and sarcastic and critical as nose. His view was. Christianity and the bible. And god. Justice have little good to say about the way bible says that god rules from the heavens. He was not exactly full of praise. For humanities performance on earth. Early either. His most famous proclamation about human nature was simply this he once wrote. 2 million years ago man descended from the apes. And he's been descending ever since. In one chapter four letters from the earth wayne imagines a conversation between god and satan. In which god is patiently describing for the devil's benefit. How he god-shaped human nature. God puts it this way. Well i put into each individual in different shades in degrees all of various qualities. Courage. Cowardice ferocity gentleness. Fairness justice cunning treachery. Magnanimity cruelty malice lost mercy petty purity selfishness sweetness honor love-hate baseness nobility loyalty falsity veracity untruthfulness. Each human being god was saying. So have all of these in him. Man is a marvelous curiosity. Between goes on. When you said is very very best he is sort of a low-grade nickel-plated angel. At his worst. He is unspeakable. Unimaginable. And first and last and all the time. He is a sarcasm. Yeah he. Blandly and in all sincerity calls himself. The noblest work. Of god. And elsewhere clemens writes about humanity's failure to live. In peace and harmony around the world listen to this. Man is the reasoning animal. Such as the claim. I think it is open to dispute. Indeed my experiments have proven me. That he is the most unreasoning animal. In truth man is incurable foolish. Simple things which other animals easily learn he is incapable of learning. Among my experiments was this he right. In an hour i taught a cat and a dog to be friends. I put them in the cage. Another hour i thought them to be friends with a rabbit. And in the course of two days i was able to add a fox a goose a squirrel and some dove finally a monkey they all live together in peace an absolute affection. Next in another cage. I can find an irish catholic from tipperary. As soon as he seemed tamed i added a scots presbyterian from aberdeen. Next saturday from constantinople in greek kristen you know where this is going don't you agree kristen from crete and armenian a methodist from the wilds of arkansas. A buddhist from china a brahmin from the banaras finally a salvation army colonel from lapping. Then i stayed out of the way for two whole days why came back to north results the cage of higher animals was alright. But in the other one full with the humans there was a chaos of glory odds-and-ends of turbines in fez's and plaids and bone and flesh. Not a specimen left alive. And then he hands his reasoning animals had disagreed on a theological to taylor another. And carry the matter to a higher court. And finally he wrote this. Man is a marvelous curiosity. He thinks he is the creators pet. He even believes the creator loves him. Has a passion for him sits up at night admiring him. Yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him he thinks god listens. Isn't that a quaint idea. Soul train. Was sharply skeptical and cynical about the goodness and nobility of human nature and here is where i think. He bumps right up against loud and clear the study optimism of our liberal religious tradition for as you know. Unitarian universalism has always had a rather. Sunny and positive view of human nature we have always in our faith tradition believe. Believe first and foremost in the human potential for goodness and nobility. As being more powerful than our propensity toward evil and depravity. Between indeed like the more orthodox religious traditions. That are focused on human sin and failure. He sharply challenges are sunny view of humanity. With the stark facts of. Human cruelty and failure. For centuries unitarian-universalism has been accused of having what some christian theologians called an insufficient doctrine of sin. Which is to say we stand accused of the religious group of sugarcoating the reality. Of human depravity and weakness and there can be no doubt. That is religious liberals we have been hesitant over the century. To look human depravity and cruelty. Square in the face. In the 11th chapter of letters from the earth. It begins with this sentence. Human history and all ages is red with blood. And bitter was hate. And stained with cruelty. And in this book twain describes in detail the slaughter and crucifixion. In 1862 of the minnesota farm family. At the hands of 12 marauding native americans. And compares it. To the gentle cycle slaughters that are described in the old testament that god seemingly orders. Throughout the book. Twin convicts both god and humanity. Obscene and repeatedly unimaginable cruelty. And honestly. Any unvarnished and unsentimental examination of human history. Would have to give much of his point. Just this week in case any of you missed. The small little example. Human depravity. Boca heron and islamic terrorist group in nigeria. Which is opposed to western-style education attacked a residential school earlier this week. In nigeria in the middle of the night and heartlessly slaughter. 45 young. Mail. Students. Simply because. They were there. Mark twain was i think basically right. Human nature. Is deeply and eternally flawed. We homo sapiens can be both demonic. And angelic. And we have a very wet long way to go spiritually. Before we can ever be proud of our collective behaviors and accomplishments on this earth. And we unitarian-universalist despite all our optimism about things human. Need to be realists about the dark side of human nature. Which twain. So brutally. Well in closing i want to thank brian ellis. For challenging me to tackle in the structured format of a 30-minute sermon. The brilliant and brutal writings of samuel clemens. The sermon. Took at least twice as long to research and write as normal sermons do for me. But i think brian for challenging me to reflect on this razor-sharp. An unsentimental view of life on this planet i have enjoyed the process. I'm trying to distill his thinking down to what i think is both a clear and manageable presentation and i hope you found it interesting. And provocative in your own thinking. So what is my personal take away from reading and reflecting on letters from the earth while i must confess. I enjoyed the razor-sharp edge. Of his sarcasm. And skepticism about god. And life. And persons. It helped me is a unitarian universalist to keep my optimism about life and god in person in balance. With a realistic take on existence. But honestly i must tell you. The fort wayne's soul's sake. I wish that despite the very real heartbreaks and hardships. He had to endure his lifetime. I wish the samuel clemens. Had been able to turn the spiritual corner. And somehow strike a more satisfying spiritual truth. What's the nature of life. Without picking on the presbyterianism of his day. I have to wonder if only you'd wandered. Endure unitarian. Or universalist church say around the time of the civil war. And stayed he might eventually have been able to see and take comfort and spiritual meaning from. The fragile goodness. And beauty and grace. Of this earth which is always with us despite. Earth's brutalities. When was right of course. Life and humanity can be horribly painful and cruel. But it can also be beautiful. And holy. And good. Beyond imagination. May we then. In the days in years. Glitter left ahead for us. May we keep our hearts. Open to that. And nothing. Addition. North indiana. Life is not respectable. Immortal. Tormented confused diluted forever. But it is shot through with beauty. Braids with clips of courage alaska. Nmds for spirit blooms timidly. To the light. Thor.

uufvb_org

2012Jun10Sermon128.mp3

On sunday evening. July 15th. 1838. Little chapel of the harvard divinity school in cambridge massachusetts i hope we can show it there it is. It still is. There today which seats fewer than 100 people. Was jammed. Jam to hear ralph waldo emerson. Speak at the graduation ceremony of the seven men. Who are graduating from the harvard divinity school that night. His address. Which is known simply and famously as the divinity school address. Immediately caused great intellectual controversy and excitement. Among the clergy intelligentsia of new england. And it's gone down in history. As one of the enlightenment humanist proclamations of that heady. Transcendentalist century. That is given shape that only to the modern sensibilities of our unitarian-universalism. But much of the consciousness. American thought as well. Listen to emerson. First elegant words. On that hot july eve. In this refulgence summer he said. It has been a luxury to draw the breath of life. The grass grow is the. But first the metal was spotted with fire and gold in the tent of flowers the air is full of birds and sweet with the breath of the pine. The balm of gilead in the new hey. Night brings no gloom to the heart with its welcome shade. Through the transparent darkness the stars pour their almost spiritual rays. Man under them. Seems our young child. And his huge globe a toy. And emerson went on. Cool night bathe the world. As with a river. And prepares his eyes again for the crimson dawn. The mystery of nature never displayed more happily. What is constrained to respect the perfection of this world. In which our senses converge. How wide how rich what invitation from every property of gives. To every faculty. And i never said went on and i encourage you all to google. The divinity school address ralph waldo emerson read it for yourself. It's one of the classic. Documents. American intellectual history read it. It's it's a little hard to get through some of his archaic flowery nineteenth-century length. But it's a useful in the worthy read in any case. Emerson went on that night. To issue a bold spiritual call that's still shapes and informs our faith. Today. And that's spiritual call wasn't now i'm going to put it in my own words. What he said to those people in that chapel that night was. Obey thyself. Know thyself. Trust thyself. Refuse to take the world's second hand from what someone else or some other time or age says or thinks about it. Emerson said open yourself directly to this wondrous world around you trust. Your own reason. Trust your own conscience. Trust your own instincts and intuitions your perceptions that your emotions. For you emerson said are the child of a good and wise god. Divinity stores within you. And so you like your creator have boundless goodness and wisdom already in you. You were created he said not as a helpless claude. Who needs to be spoon-fed what is true and what is good. You were created a precious being. Fully capable of knowing firsthand. As you eagerly embrace this world. Firsthand you can know everything that is good and true and real and right. He said there is no barrier no filter no screen. Between you and creation between you and god. Thundered this message. For you by your god-given capacities as a human being. Can do and serve every holiness every purity every purpose. Of god and life. Whatever someone was saying. Particularly to those seven rather dingy looking unitarian ministers in their grey overcoat. He was saying. What are you timid scholarly minister types doing hour after hour i see you down those dusty stacks of the harvard divinity school library. Reading what other people long dead and unaware of the unfolding world that we have here in boston in the 19th century said about god and creation. Noble book shook his hand at those ministers. No dogmatic tradition no ancient creed can tell you the full glory and import of your world or what god calls you to now or be wake up you fools. Is what he said. Be and do yourself. Be yourself and now i quote him. Be a newborn bard of the holy ghost. A newborn bard of the holy ghost. For the soul invites every man he said to expand to the full circle of the universe. Whatever son rather pointedly meant. Was it if these young newly-minted ministers were to serve their congregations well. And showing. The way to god into life. They were going to have to rely on their own direct. Immediate experience. With god's creation. And with god's call to the holiness. That is so a. Within us. Emerson's remarks on that night and 1838. Immediately sparked controversy and conversation all over new england. It was the most widely public published rack for a decade. And it is and it is framed one of the great religious and intellectual controversies. With which humanity and religion still struggles today and it struggles with it right here in vero beach. Some of the churches. Exactly. My sermon this morning. As i continued my year-long. Sermon series of twelve gates to the city this is actually the 11th sermon of the series and the final one is next sunday when i talk about balance. But and by the way you can find all 10 installments of the sermon series. On our website either in video version or in printed version. If you want to look back at the 12 gates of the city what i. Giving you is 12 ways to enter the holy city of your own life. This morning it's about discernment. The reason i think the quality of discernment the process of you ultimately figuring things out in your life. Is one of these twelve gateways it is so important is it emerson. With right. When it comes to shaping your own spiritual and intellectual emotional life no one else can do this for you. I believe that in order for any of us to lead a deep and authentic and meaningful life. We must as emerson suggested know ourselves. And trust ourselves obey our reason and our conscience. Trust that is capable creatures. We can know the world and do what is right. And insist on having the authority. Within ourselves. Within our spiritual and intellectual lies an ethical lies. To determine what in this life is real and good what is true and noble. We must have emerson asserted almost 200 years ago. We must give ourselves. The full first-hand authority to use our own faculty. And our own capacity. As alert and worthy and noble beings. To discern for ourselves here and now. Where we live. What we should believe in. How we should live and behave. And what. To ultimately give our allegiance and fealty. 2. Now please hang with me here i realize some of this. Talk about discernment. Epistemology which is coming up as a little abstract and it'll actually dance. But where we end up. On this question of discernment. Is crucial to the quality and depth integrity of our spiritual lives. As i've said on other occasions from this pulpit. The question of authority. Is the most fundamental in religion. Every religion. As every individual person must decide who or what. Has the authority. To determine in this life. What is real. And true what is good and right. In our religious. And it's by the way is epistemology what is your theory of knowledge. Why what. By what light do you call something true or real are good or right that's epistemology. That's discernment. In our tradition. Authority lies first and foremost. Just where emerson suggested it must. With each of you. As a conscious and capable human being. Who finds him or herself alive. Seeking understanding and wisdom the right path. Responsible passenger. Unlike orthodox religious traditions. Which usually insist that the authority for establishing what is true and what is right. Lies once and for all ever-fixed ever revealed in say scripture. Or tradition or some far-off theater. That's their epistemology. In our face. The authority that authority. Reside primarily not exclusively. But primarily within each of you. To be discovered. And affirmed and shape. Again and again and again by you as you live your life use your mind plum your heart. Employ your conscience and steal your way. Torta gooden meaning. We go to you first. Now. Look if you will at the full and quite revealing text of ar7. Unitarian universalist principles. What's china's going to. Those are the principles that hold us together. The faith. There are several statements here. Which suggest how. Wii u use approach this all-important issue of discernment and authority now first you see that. You know the inherent dignity that the statements a theological statement just a sec. Compassion ethical statement. Acceptance of one another then we get. Choosy. Epistemological. I quote. Fourth bullet. A free and responsible search. For truth and meaning. That means that for us truth and revelation are not once and for all signed sealed and delivered. As. Orthodox church. Rather. The truth and revelation. Evolve. You know if we have a bible it's a loosely. Take out some pages put in new ones. Loose leaf bible. Revelation is not a sarcophagus. It is not sealed. For all in some age. And then now can we go to the next. Thank you the next three principles. You will notice. The right of conscience. And the use of the democratic process within our congregation. And society at large. And so in this upper section as emerson did. We affirm both use of reason. And conscience. We discern how we are to live in the. And then after if you go to the unitarian universalist website after our 7 principal. Are listed in many of you don't know this. The statement of sources from which our religion comes. And let let's move to that next slide. If. There we go. This is in the by-laws of our denomination. I'm going to read it. The living tradition which we shared draws from many sources. Look at the first bullet. Direct experience. A veteran sending mystery and wonder affirm by all cultures. Which moves us to renewal. Of the spirit an openness to the forces which create and a pole life. Then following that first source of authority. Words of these are prophetic women and men which challenges to confront powers and structures of evil with justice. Compassion in the transforming power of love words and deeds of prophetic voice has old test. New test. The writings of gandhi martin luther king. Any prophetic words. The third source of our faith. Wisdom from the world religion. Now we're talkin scripture. Which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life. Anella squad of the next slide. Which shows. Jewish and christian teaching. The bible. Wait and another a hasidic traditions and then.. Christian writings. From various mystics. Jewish and christian teachings with collars to respond to god's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves then humanist teachings. For the last hundred and twenty years we've been very. A very committed to humanist thought as well. Which council us to heed the guidance of reason there's the word again and the results of science. And warned us against idolatries of the mind and spirit and it's finally added recently. Spiritual teachings of earth center. Paganism. Which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony. With the rhythm. Of nature. Notice please again that first. Source. From which our faith springs. Not scripture. Not dogma. Not traditions or declarations passed down from centuries not our own denominational history. No. The first source. Is the direct. Experience. You have with the. Your directive. My directive. Our direct experience. Quotes. That transcending. Mystery. And wonder. In this world. No. You must notice that. Direct experience. Is not the only authoritative source. For discernment and truth and virtue in our tradition. As i said. The whole always other sources are valid. All these sources are valid but it was no accident. When does statement of. Of sources of our faith. Put together the first. Your. Direct. Friends to this day. We are still an emersonian faith. Tradition. We do believe. The human beings. Despite their obvious. Chronic flaws. Gaps in knowledge and understanding. Are none the less worthy. Incapable creatures. Pumas. Trust themselves. Know themselves. And the crucial word here. Obey. The insights. The come to them. As they searched. Really yet responsible. For what is real. True. Liquid and rice. You're obliged to obey. The truth. And the moral imperatives. The come to you. Through your own direct. No. All this of course separates us wildly. From religious fundamentalist. Of any sort. All fundamentals. An orthodox religious. Insist. That their adherence submit themselves to the authority. Not of their own reason perceptions conclusions and conscious. But rather to the immutable and dust distant authority of god. Scripture our ancient tradition. What separates unitarian-universalism. From most orthodox religion is not so much what we say theologically a recipe about persons and creation. That's not what separates us. From the earth. What separates us is how we approach. This key question. Of authority and discernment. And how we rather radically us you use. Trust and empower individuals. To seek their own spiritual path and build their own ethical life based on the insights of. And the fundamentalist who are afraid of our religion and afraid of the spiritual openness and freedom in implies. Keenly understand this. In this book. It's called the kingdom of the cults the definitive work on the subject by walter martin. But they cataloged all the error-filled religious traditions of mormonism is in here seventh-day adventist his witnesses salvation army and us. Now i am happy to report that in the chapter on unitarian versus they devote three pages to me. Yeah how about that. Why do you think i had to have this book. I want to reduce a sentence. For years i've i've been an evangelist for our faith and so here's what they wrote about me. Leading the charge is reverend scott alexander alexander publish salted with fire a strategy guy that presents a militant program for expansion of this face. Alexander's approach appears to have a high level of support blah blah blah blah blah on it goes for to page. I've highlighted all the all the references to my what a dangerous guy i am. But what's interesting about this is not what they say about me. They don't argue in this. Can this chapter on austin's of heresy. They don't argue with the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The search for justice compassion or truth. None of our principal. They don't touch. Any of the ones that are that that involve issues of. Of ethics. No. What this book singularly attacks is our epistemology. Our way of getting the truth. That's what drives them crazy our way of discernment. Is what the chapter attacking us focuses on. Our way of establishing what has authority to guide our ethical. Remember i said the issue of authority is probably the most fundamental. Issue a religion. And this. Fundamentalist written book understands full well. That if we are right. About authority. And freedom and religion. Then one individual human beings have to be trusted with authority and freedom to shape their own faith and they're alive. The reason and conscience and intuition our god-given tools. For as we search for what is true and right and the three and responsible people can and do reach different conclusions. About any religious idea or assertion. And if we're right. It also means a good people can and do disagree over important moral and ethical matters like abortion. Stem cell research. Gay rights. And the death penalty. And if we're right. It means that revelation is not sealed. That new scriptures are written all the time even as new truth and ethical conclusions unfold with each age. These fundamentalist understand that if we're right. About authority and discernment. Their dogmatic fixed absolutist way of religion falls like. Elaborate house of cards. Until they attack us. For the way. We think. And our century-old commitment room emerson. To trust. Each individual. 28 the world with direct experience. And come up. With their own. Firsthand conclusion. About what. And this bedrock uu commitment of ours to the important of individuals. Determining what is true and right and real. Means by necessity that we embrace pluralism. And diversity and disagreement things which drive. Fundamentalist. But enough about the fears. A fundamentalist christian. Blue label us a cult. This is a sermon. About how discernment. About how your discernment. Is a liberating gateway to freedom. Truth in a meaningful and authentic life. I believe that only by trusting yourself. And your own first-hand experience with life. Can you enter the holy city of your own life. Enter into that sacred place deep within you where you discover. Who you are. And what ultimately matters to you. And how you must have statically live to have a joyful and responsible life. I believe you can only enter the holy city of your own life by trusting yourself. By knowing yourself and empowering yourself as emerson suggested to be a newborn bard. Of the holy ghost. Someone who was fully alive. To the day you are in. And unafraid. Just say what you believe. And why you believe it. To stand up for what is what you believe to be true. And to live by the truth and the goodness has been revealed to you. As you employ the reason of your mind. And the compassion of your heart and in the end. Leave this life. Knowing that you have embraced. And serve life anticlea and well. Buy your own life. Now all this may sound liberating and wise and wonderful but there is a big rub. And that rub is that if. Do. This way of religion. You have to be responsible. It's a huge and waiting. Responsibility to be in charge of your own religious life as opposed to having someone. Spoon feed it to you. And tell you exactly. What you believe being a newborn bard of the holy ghost. Is incredible work. Early on in my ministry when i begin again a little church in houlton maine. And a roman catholic couple sheets. The wife has been coming for some time. And i went over to see that the husband in the wife. And this roman catholic guy said to me after he got he got the freedom. What i talked about our faith. Lenny said scotty said. I like this religion this religions a cakewalk i can believe anything i want the unitarian church. And i said. Oh no john. No no. The freedom we give you in this movement is not the freedom to believe anything you want. The freedom we give you is the freedom. Define that which you must believe that to what you must cleave that to which you must obey. The freedom we give you is not the freedom from religion. It's the freedom to do the hard work of religion. Day after day is you strive everyday in your little ways to make. Difference. To become the most ethical and aesthetic. And true person you can be. And that is precisely what i am saying to all of you this. Using your own discernment. The process of you fully owning your own spiritual authority over a lifetime. As you grow a soul and give shape to your face. Is both incredibly liberating. And demanding. It matters ultimately. How carefully and responsibly you study and engage the world. How you discover yourself and then move through your days. In the light of the highest truths and values that are revealed to you. No one else can do this work. About emily discerning. What is real and true and good. There are a lot of people out there. Just talked to any fundamentalist. Who will give you all of it. Prepackaged airtight answers you want there lots of. Give you all that and tell you exactly. How you should think how you should be in the world. But i say to you. To fully enter the holy city of your own life. You must trust yourself. Dare to know your world. And live your life. Not second hand. Not third hand in the basement of the harvard divinity school. Immediately. Through your own flesh. And blood. First hand. And find your own way your own way to sacredness. To loveliness. And to all. It is just that simple. And. Just.

uufvb_org

2013Oct06Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. Morning breath like me you woke up in paradise this morning. What a beautiful day in the treasure coast welcome. To the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida. And we're glad that you've decided to begin your day with us this morning. We are current gation as the slide says of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. Seeking to become our best selves even as together we work to make our world a better place and our world needs those loving. Hearts and helping him. And please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity whether you are feeling absolutely on top of the world this morning. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. Know that we are delighted to see you as you come to us in all of your uniqueness and charm. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful enriching that you'll find at least one thing. Take with you in the days and weeks ahead. That will bring you more joy and renewed energy and zest for the living of life. My opening words this morning come from uu minister and author of the famous book everything i needed to know i learned in kindergarten. Robert fulghum. My colleague from washington state wrote. We come to this place because we need each other. We need to see each other. We need to touch each other we need to smell each other we need to hug each other we need each other. So we come to this place. We come to work. To talk. To sing to laugh. To dance. We call this a religious community not because. This is holy ground. But because what we do here what we say here together. What we are here. Make this. A secret gathering. Seeing all of you. Bringing your prayers reminds me of what a lovely group. I'm blessed. Max koontz the wonderful old minister he served our church in canton new york or kathy coral was one of our seasonal members. Is a member. Endive and urlacher fridays got connections. Where to. He wrote this one. Northern new york autumn about this time you have to place yourself in a new england gardner mode. It's about a gardener snakes giving prayer. Listen to these words about friendship. And then the minute of silence of silver will follow our meditation will end with the ringing of the bell. Max road. Let us give thanks for a bounty of people. For children who are our second planting until they grow like weeds and the wind will too soon blow them away mayday. Forgive us our cultivation and fondly remember where their roots are. For generous friends with hearts and smiles as bright as their blossoms. Or feisty friends as tart as apples. Or continuous friends who like scallions and cucumbers keep reminding us that we've had them. For crotchety friends a sour is rhubarb and is indestructible. Four handsome friends. Who are as gorgeous as eggplants and as elegant as a row of corn and others. Play news potatoes but good for you. 4 funny friends. Who are as silly as brussel sprouts and does amusing as jerusalem artichokes. And serious friends who are complexes cauliflower. And as intricate as onions. Four friends as unpretentious as cabbages. As subtle as summer squash as persistent as parsley as delightful as dill as endless as zucchini. And who like parsnips parsnips. Can be counted on to see you through the winter. We're old friends notting like sunflowers in the evening time and. Young friends coming on fast like radishes. For loving friends who wind around us like tendrils. And hold us despite our flights. Wilts. Withering. And finally for those friends. Now gone. Like gardens pass that have been harvested. And two feathers. In their times. That we might have life. Thereafter. For all these things. I tried to get barbra streisand to come but she wanted $100,000 so. We settled on the wonderful choir to sing that. Morning. I begin a brand new sermon series are you getting used to the idea that i like sermon series here at the fellowship. This is my 5th series since becoming your minister three-and-a-half years ago a brand new sermon series i begin this morning. Which will be preached on seven more or less random sunday spaced out over the coming year. On the seven habits of happy people. Now. We all know that happiness is as american as apple pie. Indeed happiness or at least the freedom to pursue it. Was written right into as you know our nation's declaration of independence. Another people americans. Routinely expect their lives to be well. Happy. But happiness. Is a hopelessly big and elusive idea and frankly a lot of us are uncertain. About precisely what it is. And exactly how to find it or achieve it or sustain it. As one psychologist put it. Happiness is inherently subjective. And so it's hard to know who has it and what it looks like and they today life. But recently a group of leading psychologists have created a field a new field called positive psychology. And they've got a great deal of what i think is very exciting resurge. On what makes for human happiness. And even more important concept human well-being. And they have been looking as one author puts it for what makes the human heart. Really sing. I will focus eat sermon in the series on one of the seven habits of happy people identified by a team. Directed by doctor paul the saint a yale and harvard educated psychiatrist. Relying heavily on the groundbreaking work of positive psychologist pioneer. Dr. martens siegelman. This team has suggested that there are seven dimensions of our ordinary lives. Which if properly nourished and cultivated will lead to a greater sense of happiness. And well-being in our lives other words we will flourish. If we cultivate these 7 habits. The ancient greeks called such a favorable psychological state. Eudaimonia. Which roughly translates into english as well being or flourishing. Do hear of the seven habits. But the scientists have concluded which happy people cultivated their lives. That lead to a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction. And you see we're starting with relationships. And then overcoming weeks in a couple of weeks i'll be doing caring. And i'm not necessarily in order will be covering health and fitness. You'll love that sermon from a guy who bikes everyday i'm sure you'll love to hear that one. Flow. Very interesting concept spiritual engagement strengths and virtues and positive mindset. Now before i move on to talk about the first and all-important habit of nurturing close. And karen positive relationships in your life. I want to talk about the discoveries of positive psychology in general. When positive psychologists talk about happiness. They do not mean what i call the happy face theory of happiness. The happy face theory of happiness focuses on when. We are in a buoyant or cheerful mood you know. they're delight merriment that sort of thing. I recently was down in fort lauderdale and picked up the sun sentinel. And this guy had written a little op-ed piece. Equating his happiness in life. With the thrilling experiences yet had over his lifetime you know. Winning the co-factor soapbox derby news 10. Getting a date with the hottest cheerleader in high school. Getting to the end of the coolest fraternity in his college driving his first lexus austin car dealers lot. Getting the promotion of his dreams at work holding his first grandchild for the first time will you get the idea just started peak experiences. The steady stream of moments of of gleeful delight which is what the happy face. Requires butt. The experts were running about happiness today suggest. If these if these flashy places are the places you are looking for happiness you are as the song goes looking for love in all the wrong places. Looking for happiness in all the wrong places. Because happiness they have discovered the kind of. Sustainable well-being and life satisfaction that has the power. To make our lives really glow in a kind of contentment is not like. The hot rush of momentary pleasure you feel from winning the lottery or skydiving from 10000 feet or watching your home team win the super bowl or even having a great night of endless sex. The kind of happiness. And well-being that has the power to make your life a work. A warmth enjoy. And here's my key phrase for the morning. Is like a low hum of steady reliable satisfaction. The quietly arises out of the ordinary aspects of your day-to-day life. Out of these. And let me pause here for a moment to make a very important point about happiness. All the experts say you don't necessarily have to have a cheerful ebullient outgoing personality like mine. Define lasting status well it's true i'm hopelessly optimistic and cheerful to be like mr. bubbly you know. Or miss bubbly. Define lasting satisfaction. And well-being your life people with very many different personalities and styles including reserve people introverts quiet people. Can be happy. You don't have to go through life. Like mr. smiley face with a perpetual smile. Slapped onto your face. Tips to flourish and define well-being again. What the positive psychologists are saying in this makes perfect sense to me is it sustainable happiness. Are not achieved in the dramatic flashing noisy moments of. Of happy face lie but rather. That well-being is a kind of quiet ostentatious quality that. Deal gently into our lives. As a long-term result of art ending. What is really important. Okay y'all got that. Which brings me to today's topic of relationship. What's a psychologist studying happiness and well-being. Are telling us. And we shouldn't find this a surprise because his one author i. Consulted this week put it. We human beings are social animals. I cannot live healthily or happy in isolation. We were not made for loneliness and isolation. What the psychologists are telling us. Is it has our clothes and positive connections to other people. In this life. Which more than any other single thing. Have the power to bring us a sense of well-being and. In 2002 to pioneers of positive psychology at diner and martin siegelman who i've already mentioned. Conducted a study at the university of illinois. On the 10% of students with the highest scores on an indent and indices of reported personal happiness they studied 10%. They found the most salient characteristics shared by students who were very happy. And showed the fewest signs of depression. They had strong ties. To family and friends and a commitment. To spend time. With those friends. That's what made them have. This is precisely what the popular barbra streisand song. What's the choir sang to us just a few moments ago says people. People who need people are the luckiest. People. In the world so be a person. Who needs. And again this doesn't mean the scientist studying happiness have concluded that you have to be a cheerful outgoing extrovert. With scores of people close to you. A study on the quality of personal relationships found the to avoid. Loneliness people needed really only. 1. Close will only one. Close relationship. But the key is that relationship has to have. Significant interaction in self-disclosure and a real willingness to reveal your issues and your feelings one person. Can you make all the difference in the world. Coupled with a network of other relationships. As one study puts it. People who have one or more close friendships. Appear to be happier and it doesn't seem to matter the study goes on to observe. If we have a large network of relationships are not. What seems to make a difference is if and how often we cooperate in activities. And share our personal feelings with a friend or a relative simply put. It is not the quantity. Of our relationships that matter but the quality. Now this conclusion oughta give pause to those who are compulsively. On facebook. Striving to establish more and more friends. What these studies on happiness are telling us is that having 797 contacts on facebook or twitter. May make you think you're a popular person. But will have nothing to do probably. With the kinds of relationships. Close. Caring and continuous. In again involving personal disclosure and regular interaction and true engagement. But have the power to make us happy over the long haul of our lives so if you're looking for love on facebook. York you're looking in the wrong place. Apparently. It is knowing how and be willing to share really share your life. With a few close family and friends. What does the power to make us. Lasting lehab. And speaking of the kinds of in-depth relationships that give us all well-being and satisfaction. Over the long haul we have to talk about marriage. Or partnership. Well there are of course obvious and unhappy exceptions. Spending your life. With one other person in a close and continuing relationship. Isn't every study positively correlated with happiness. Many studies show that married people are happier and more satisfied in life. Then those who are single and they live longer. Again martin sichelman quote. Unlike money. Which has it the most a small effect on our personal happiness and well-being. Marriage he writes is robustly related. To happiness. In my opinion he goes on. The jury is still out on what causes the proven fact that married people are happier than unmarried people. But they are. So. A strong and intimate marriage where genuine sharing occurs can be a major contributor. Do happiness and well-being but the good news for those of you. The good news for those of you who've always been single. Or for those of you who now find yourself single after losing a spouse either to death or divorce. Is the thurman d other kinds of caring. Close relationships relationships with siblings. And with your grown children or other relatives or are lifelong friends. Relationship with an old college friend or a childhood friend. Relationships with a neighbor or a co-worker or church friend. Can similarly provide you the contacts. Of safety and security and joy within a marriage.. So you don't have to go the world doesn't have to go noah's ark. Two by two. And speaking of church friends. Did you know that regular church attendance being act with a congregation of any kind. Health direct and positive effect on your health and happiness and longevity. Numerous studies report that not only do church-goers live years longer as many as seven to 14 years longer. Just by going to church. Then those who languish in bed with the sunday times. And if they were here they know they're killing themselves with that behavior right now. But nelida church-goers live longer they have healthier lifestyle behaviors less depression and more satisfying. And nurturing relationships. Here's the way one study puts it. As people settled into churches most of them develop strong supportive relationships. Among other members. During times of health and family stress. These church friends support and encourage one another. Psychologists have realize for many years how powerful these relationships are. And that there are very few organizations that can imitate a church's ability to support its members. And if you need proof of that look at what's happening with dottie grant right now. This community is supporting her in. So different if you want to be happier in your life. You want to live longer you come to the right place this morning. Because churches and other organizations to its clubs. Support groups. Are places for positive supportive relationships. The neighbor. They have a sense of well-being. But enough counting our own institutional horn. The larger point this morning with the positive psychologists are making. Is it intentionally nurturing close and caring relationships again. Think quality over quantity. With family and friends. What is an everyday habit in life that provides us with that. The glowing quiet hum. This observation should be a no-brainer for us. Where is clear that human beings as our leader of zurich. Are clearly social and tribal animals. We are not made for isolation not made the hand of god. For isolation and loneliness not made out of the primordial soup. For isolation or loneliness. We homo sapiens were made for interaction with one another. As it is in and through these relationships that we find our place in the world. And our lasting satisfaction in. One recent study asked its participants about their mood. On random occasions during the day. And they found that people were happiest when they're with their friends. Next happiest when they are with their families at least happy when they were alone. As one researcher put it. Almost every person feels happier. When they are with other people. Elmo's occasions like right now my partner is up in washington dc. And i read the paper in the morning i'm just very contempla kevin the office there's christy and there's katrina. I'm happier when i come to the office with people it it's the natural. A thing that i think we all share that watching a football game with an old buddy. Walking on the beach with your children or grandchildren sharing a sloppy italian meal with old friends over candles or dripping onto the. Tripadvisor your table talking on the phone. With your oldest brother a half a continent away or. Just hanging out at a saturday morning with a cup of coffee with that. What's that terrible old spouse of yours of the last howsoever mini dick. Also. Alright. So assuming you can all see the wisdom in the logic of what the scientist and what i'm saying to you about human happiness the question becomes. So what can we do to enhance. Or extend this dimension of our lives well i think the answer to that question is profoundly obvious. Just like in the stock market and please. Forgive my crude capitalist image. We have to make regular and substantial investments in our relationships if they are going to make us rich. You can't if you don't invest in the stock market you're not going to get rich and if you don't invest in your relationship. They won't make you rich. We have to invest time and care and heart. In our relationships with our family and friends if they want if you want them to bless you. I believe every relationship. Worth having with other people you know this is true you have to give to get. To reach out to take the initiative to go the extra mile to pay attention to nurture the other person if you want wood comes back to you. So when i think when i think about all my clothes and caring relationships the one that. Ones that make me happy and give me a sense of. Genuine well-being in the world every one of them requires me to be. Proactive. And intentional about tending that relationship and keeping it. You know alive and fresh like a washed-up pillow in the bed. Fluff it up every morning. With my spouse of more than three decades. With my far from far-flung brothers and cousins with my darling nieces and nephews and their children now. With my best friends right here in town and those who are. Three thousand miles away i have to invest. Time-in heart and care to keep these relationships. Precious and strong. I can't just sit back passively in my life. And expect other people to beat a door to my beat a path to my door to provide me with the emotional support i need. No i need to understand the value of these relationships the visa v my own well-being. And proactively work to keep them strong and close. In other words if i'm to experience the well-being. And satisfaction that comes from other people's interest and care and support. It falls to me to invest in those bonds to return to my wall street image to invest. In those. Bonds. Let me come at this from the opposite angle. I have over the course of my life and i think you'll recognize this. I've had several family members and friends who stance toward my relationship with them has marlys been hey you know where to find me. Hey you know where to find me. In other words these folks have basically over time and distance place. The burden of maintaining a nurturing the relationship. Almost entirely on me which can work. For a while. But eventually overtime. All these relationships of mine have necessity of necessity whether they're fading. Because the truth is it for a personal relationship. Between two persons to remain significant and strong and vital. Interest and effort on both sides is required. The kind of positive personal relationships that bring us satisfaction. Must be like a busy two-way street. With lots of purposeful traffic. Going both ways and you all know this is true. Which brings me back to every last one of you sitting in this room right now. I hope that over the course of my remarks the last few minutes you've been thinking about. The significant personal relationships in your life right now. Those clothes and caring connections with other folk which bring you that that hum. That sense of well-being and belonging in your life. I hope you've been reminded. This morning. But like everything else you value in your life. Personal relationships that matter. Require your engagement. Your investment. Your nurturance your commitment and care. Only when you freely invest in others. Do you receive those steady reliable dividends. The comeback and make you rich. And further i'll further bet that everyone of us in this room right now. Has at least one or two personal relationships that needs some special pending. Some special gardening. Right now. As i wrote the sermon i was personally reminded of several once important relationships in my life. That like roads which no longer bear traffic have become overgrown. And nearly impossible by weed the kudzu comes out of the woods and covers them. And you may have had some of those neglected relationships. In your own life too but here's the good news. As long as we have the will and intention these neglected. Relationships can once again be made to thrive. So they can once against a bless us again you can't do it all by yourself. But you can do some initiation. It will help them to become. Traffic road. Thanks to modern technology in particular. There's almost no excuse anywhere everyone long-distance calls used to cost $4. Yeah. Then you had an excuse not to call aunt mabel. Now you don't have an excuse. Do not call your old. College buddy. Thanks to modern technology. You have no excuse for not trying to revive or new rekindle relationships. They have in the past made you happy and brought your fulfillment email. Instantaneous in effortless. An easy way to reconnect. Cell phones with their cheap and abundant minutes. And social networks it is the earlier but facebook and twitter. These are great ways to check in with people you care about. All are reliable tool. Then enable us to keep. Relationships that matter. Alive and fresh and drawing even when great distance. Or a lot of time intervene. And for friends and family. Close proximity it's even better. There's a good old-fashioned technology of. Getting together. Over a cup of coffee at panera's in the morning. Over lunch at some favorite. Sandwich shop here in vero. The brisk afternoon walk on the beach over a glass of chardonnay on your back patio. To get together and just catch up. And see the little. Twinkle in their eye and ask him so. How are you. And really mean it. How. Are you. But i'm simply reminding all of us this morning. Is the powerful truth about happiness and well-being the all of the positive psychologists affirm. To make it successfully through life on this planet. You need a few clothes and caring people on the road with you. When it comes to being human. There is no such thing. A splendid isolation. Only the blessed. Reliable joy we take. I'm staying close. To one another. The critters. And i say and me. I said you were on your way on your way today with these words of my colleague wayne arntson. Take courage friends. The way is often hard. The path is never clear. And the stakes. Are very high. Take courage. Or deep down there's another truth. You are not. Alone. Go in peace. Have a good way.

uufvb_org

2012Nov11Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach my name is pete kersey. Hi serve this congregation is a member of the board and the chairman of worship. But you have chosen to be with us this morning. Please know that you are welcome. No matter how you come to us this morning. But you're young. Old. Gay or straight. Black or white. Or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Weather on top of the world. Or somewhere in between. We're delighted. Conceited. You are here. And you are welcome here. Just as you come to us at all of your particular at. And your charm. Welcome. We hope that you will find this service meaningful. And enriching. Did you find something here. This morning. That nourishes your spirit. And feeds your soul. And gives you renewed energy. Enjoy. For the coming week. It's a universal human experience. A moment in our life when it looks like what's going to happen. To us. Change the way life will be. Forever. And we made reddit. We may fear it. It may strike to the heart of what we think we are about. And yet weeks. Or months or years later. We look back to that time. Not as a moment of endings. But as a time of beginning. Train. Change that is so threatening to all of us in a way. Do we see it. For what it ends. Or for what it begins. Come let us think about this. Some words of others. This morning. Reaching from antiquity. We're not that and. But more like. Years ago to. Now and maybe beyond. Ralph waldo emerson. Society never advances. It receives. Is fast on one side as it gains on the other. It undergoes continual change. It is barbarous. It is civilized. It is christianize it is rich it is scientific. But this change is not amelioration. For everything that is. Is taken. Society requires new arts. But losses old instincts. What a contrast between the well clad. Reading writing thinking american with a watch. A pencil and a bill of exchange in the pocket. And the naked new zealander whose property is a clave aspira mat. An undivided 20th of a shed to sleep under. The civilized one has built a coach. What is lost. He is supported on crutches. But lacks. Support of muscle. Watch. But he fails to have. Skill the tell the time. By the song. A greenwich nautical almanac he has. And so being sure the information when he wants it. But the man in the street. Does not know a star in the sky. The soulstice he does not observe. The equinox he knows as little. And the whole bright calendar of the year as well without a dye on his mind. His notebooks in paris memory. His libraries overload his whip. The insurance office increases the number of accidents. And it may be a question. Weather machinery does not. Some of the reflections of ralph waldo emerson. Western next to the words of. Robert kagan. He's a professor at. Harvard university and he wrote. A piece called the real reason. People won't change. It was published in the harvard business. Competing commitments. Caused very deploys to behave in ways that seem inexplicable. Indian remy abell. And it's enormously frustrating the managers. Take. Case of john. A talented manager at a software company. Not like all the examples that kagan speaks of you says. The experiences are real. But we've ordered some of the identifying characteristic. Sort of sounds like the end of dragon. If you remember. We've changed the names to protect the. John was a big believer. Open communications. And valued close working relationship. Yet his caustic sense of humor. Consistently kept colleagues at a distance. And though he wanted to move up in the organization. His personal style. Was holding him back. Repeatedly john was counseled on his behavior and he readily agreed that he needed to change the way he interacted with others in the organization. But time after. Time. He reverted to his old patterns. Why is boss wondering. Did john continue. To undermine his own achievement. Does it happened john was a person of color. Working as part of an otherwise all white executive team. When he went through an exercise designed to help him on earth is competing commitments. He made a surprising discovery about. Underneath it all. John believes if you became too well integrated into the team. It was threatened the loyalty. To his own racial group. Moving too close to the mainstream. Made him feel very uncomfortable. As if he were becoming. One of them. And betraying his family and friends. Showing people gathered around his ideas in a suggestion he tear them down in a way. And their support with sarcasm. Inevitably ineffectively. Returning himself to the margins. Where he was moretti's. Ensure. While john was genuinely committed to working well with his colleagues. He had an equally powerful competing commitment. To keeping his dick. And then the poetry of mary oliver. Her poem the journey. One day. You finally knew what you had to do. And began. Do the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice. Do the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. Mend my life. Each voice cried. Didn't stop. You knew what you had to do. Do the wind tried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations. Though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough and a wild night on the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little. You left their voices behind. The stars begin to burn. Through the sheets of clouds and there was a new voice. Which you slowly recognized. As your own. Company. Is you strode deeper and deeper into the world. Determined to do the only thing. You. Determined to save. The only life. Want to thank you for that. There's a history behind it and i'm not just talking about. Sibelius. And the way it was used as an. Anthem of national pride in finland during the occupation. But the words are connected to that him. We're written as the youth him. For a new organization that was founded in 1955. Liberal religious youth. These were the words about the future. That youth wanted to speak out. To the world. But they also tell us another story. Unitarian and universalist. The use from two different religious movement. With long histories. Long institutional memory different practices came together in 1955 and said you know what. We can do more together. Any of us alone. And so they consolidated their two movements. Universalist unitarians together. And they wrote that him to celebrate it. Just say we would be one. Singing for the future promise. Of course most of you who know the history of unitarian universalism have some inkling. Some point. The unitarian church in the universalist church actually the american unitarian association. And universalist church of america. Came together. They did that in 1961. The us did it 1955. Why was there a six-year gap. Because so many of the adults. We're afraid of what that change would mean. You mean we're going to put two names on the front of church. You mean we're going to have to sing some hymns we don't know. You mean we might have to share ministers. Universalist ministers might be preaching and unitarian pulpits and vice versa. Everything that we've been about. Differentiating ourselves distinguishing ourselves for 200 years we're just going to say is forgot. You said. You're focusing on the wrong thing. Took six years for the adults to get it. Fact maybe it's taken. 50. Maybe we haven't gotten it yet. Maybe in fact what we're talking about is one piece. Of the basic. Human struggle. My friend jean. Lived in a wonderful community on the south shore of long island. One of those places where you can easily zip out. The barrier islands and go to fire island you can be right there. Wonderful situation. Her husband. Was suddenly transferred. Now get this he was transferred. 2 east hampton long island. Now if you know long island what that means. You're being sent to the place that people are willing to pay thousands of dollars a week to rent a home in the summer and he's being transferred there. And her immediate reaction was. I don't want to go. I don't. Want to go. All those who knew her well we're sort of mystified. Don't you realize you're being offered the entire east end of the island. Won't this be wonderful and she's i don't know about that. I can remember sometimes in my life. When events have conspired. Not by my making or my choosing. To make a big change in my life. And at the time i may have experienced. All those emotions of profound loss. I may have an angry. I may have tried to bargain i may have tried to get. Somehow out of all this i may have become depressed over it. I've also all that because change edits hard. Train is about loss. Kinds of loss. And most of us spend our lives focusing on. The series of little losses. So we don't have to deal with the really big one that we know is coming. But we don't want to admit to. Ernest becker back in denial of death. Gradebook. What are the problems for modern-day north america. Is that they are beginning to think the death is optional. Figure out ways to postpone it. We figure out ways to. Euphemistically speak about it. How many people has heard that someone has lost their wife or husband. Hissy wondering. We talked about passing over. I read the my local paper and the local community a lot of people have. Gone home. A homecoming event. We don't deal with. That big show. That big loss. And then there are the somewhat lesser losses it's not about our death. The death of. Loved ones. And we find all kinds of patterns of ways. To make it. If not okay. At least better. And many of those have to do with avoidance. And so we learn from the big losses. But the way you deal with small losses. Maybe denial or avoidance. I'm not going to see it. But it's there. And if i have any power. I have any power at all. I'm going to resist any possibility of any loss. I want to take. Back. Do when you were children. You all were children right. And you remember it. Vaguely right. Ed sheeran steps a little further away. And then you're reminded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. What you were like. And what was one of the great moments. A childhood. Losing a tooth. Remember those days. I go back to the nickel era. You know what i mean. And that seems a big deal. Because for a nickel. I could get a three musketeer bar that i could cut in three pieces to share with your friends. The lost. Of that. Symbolic. I'm not going to be that little kid anymore. I'll have that great gap for a long time but it means i'm growing. I'm going somewhere. Things are changing i'm losing the tooth. But there's going to be something. At least i hope there's going to be something. Growing in its place. You see wiz kids knew about this. We know that there will be losses in life and. It often you need to celebrate them have ways of memorializing at ways of knowing them. When's an expectation. That when something is lost. Something else. We'll take it. You lose a tooth. Wait a while you're going to get a bigger better one. Your move away from your house of origin. And all your friends. But then you're going to find a new house. Which won't be the same. But it will offer new treasures. I remember leaving. The house i spent my first 11 years in. Not sure i wanted to leave that was my bedroom. Those were my windows looking outside. I should tell you by the way i lived in a place where at night in the summer. With the windows open. You could hear the lions. I live two blocks. Mizzou. It felt magical. It felt special. But then i got to the new house. And discovered in the closet of my new room. But the former people has left a beautiful bow and arrow set. I would never have had that i never would have learned archery i never would have had the experience of going up into the park. Trees and all that. If i'd stayed in. And if you ever have those kind of experiences where. You leave in desolation from something. You say you think goodbye forever to something of value. And you're quite sure there will be nothing of meaning. Ever again. And then surprise a new meaning. Walks into your life. Your work. For 40 years. And people keep telling you. Going to be great you're going to do a thing called retire. But you're not so sure. That you want all those empty hours. And so you may resist it for a number of years you always do excuses like. If i wait longer i'll get a better social security payout. Although statistical things. If you allow yourself into that change. And through invest yourself in being there you may discover. That there are things you have loved all your life. You didn't know it. And here they are. Is waiting for you when you're not so busy. With the work. The paid a salary. Los. But therefore also opportunity. Genova that opening him we sang enter rejoice and come in at has that line. Don't be afraid of some change. But you've noticed i have titled the sermon this. Be afraid. It all hinges on that word. Psalm. There are some changes. It should probably. Naturally. Ought to be afraid of. Things in which your life may be imperiled. Changes which may in fact endanger where you live. The way in which our society operates. Those kind of. Yo. Wednesday don't be afraid of those changes know you ought to be afraid of those chain. And you also ought to be afraid i think. Of little. Here is what i've learned. Across. Nighttime in ministry. Counseling with numerous people. What they really are afraid of is not. Change. It's the payoff. That they have no insurance in the midst of the change in the law. That they will get more after it. Then what they've had already. Vetting a balance sheet of things if this is what changes going to mean. I'm going to end up being a loser. I'm going to have less i had before and that was what makes. Train. So. Hard to tell. I'm going to lose more. Then i will. And that. Become. Self. Fulfilling. Prophecy. Because people then resist change. They resolved that they won't change so much what is tinker around the edges whenever get to the car because i don't want to get into that big loss situation. We're in most occasions in life what life is calling out for us when change occurs is not to do a little change. But to do big change. The do the change such that you're not doing what you've been doing before. What are willing to risk doing something different and different. Sings mike losing the old but not replacing it with something new yes. You will feel there's a loss. But if you make significant. Not just some. But you make some real. Important. The balance. Begin. Most people are not afraid that there will be too much change. They're afraid. That there will be. Little. All the change will bring. Is a sense of loss. Without an accompanying. So i counsel you this way this morning. To be afraid of just some change. But don't be afraid of real change. The change that grows up out of your value. The grows up autobot. Principally have is who you are. That is directed toward taking your life and changing it in the direction. Where you believe that your values lie. The change that is visionary. And not just function. Be afraid of the thumb change this just tinkering with life. But grab for the change that will make a difference. Mentioned before that we change the name of our congregation.. It was the unitarian universalist fellowship of key west. I know it's a long movement. The change the word fellowship. They wanted to have some other name. Didn't know what. We could have. Decade-long battle over the what. Would be at church. Fordia congregation mode. Center. Then the congregation realized. They would lose more. Then they would gain by just tinkering. So they entered into this process of. That ass. What is it that we are really about. Is it important keeping a. Thousand-year-old theological argument alive. And unitarianism and universalism. Is it important what the. Gathering name is about. Or is there something. And slowly people began to realize that if we went for the value-laden. They would feel they had gained. More than they. The familiar uus kw with no come off their lips anymore but something else would replace it will be far less cumbersome. Far less meaningless outsiders. And so they went for the big change and you know what's happening. People are discovering along the way. That one should make that big change. owner do you suddenly have more but other people are joining you into that. Wave hats ary have it. A hat that says our new name. One island family. Non-members are buying the hat. Because they want to affirm. The concept of one island family. If we had tinkered. We would have lost something of our history. Bye-bye doing radical change. We got more than we could have imagined. So i leave you with this thought. Be afraid of. Just settling. For some change. Dream big. Follow your values and your vision. Because the change is worth having. Are the ones that are large enough. To give you more. Then what you already. Be afraid. Assumption. But don't be afraid. I need to talk about the next 10. Rick mastin wrote this him. Back in the 1960s let it be a dance i was his roadie. For a. of time. And when it was put in the hymnal. The wise beings in boston decided he didn't know how to spell. So they changed one word in it. And in the third verse there's a part about. Bear the pain. And they sprouted bear as if to. You know submit yourself to the pain. He didn't write it that way he wasn't talking about well we'll put up with the pain. He talked about a community which it was safe enough to. Where is a pain pare. To let it out. To be at one of the rare places in our world where being in pain and openly admitting it was okay. Asian sing it you're going to see what's in the hymnals the word. But remember what rick mastin was inviting all of us to do. What's be radical enough. To be with one another. Even when things. Philadelphia dance. And not just the simple little box step. Then we could go on doing forever. But risk the moment of twirling and spinning. I'm sharing the laughter and bearing the pain. I'm being open to the change that's so big. That you will be better for it. Let us go and do that dance. Blessed be.

uufvb_org

2012Apr22Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. We are a community of memory and hope which meats in the present. Please be present. To this day. To this fellowship. To the warmth here to the hopes here. The life you have whether it's plan a or plan z. Do what we can do together. We are a memory we are a community of memory and hope. Which meats in the present. Please be present. And be blessed. And let these words take you wherever. You need to go in your heart. Well here we are. Children at the big party. Having our moment in the sun. Our piece of the action. Here till our bodies give away until we are called home. We're one big not always happy family given life and breath by an eternal parent. We dearly long to know. And now we have our one shot at it. Are one-time to be a. Conscious part of this ongoing cavalcade. It's not a free and easy trip though. We have to live with pain as well as pleasure. Temptation. As well as promised. Loneliness as well as love. Fear. As well as hope. We have to live inside a coat of skin wrapped up and drives difficult to control. And dreams difficult to achieve. And over the guests of honor we don't get the set the time of the party or its place. Nor we never consulted about the guest list. Just a big surprise to us we appear at mid party in the midst of things. And were expected to somehow know how to deal with it all. But there's no place we else would rather be. Certainly there's no place else we can imagine being. This is our time. And there's really only one question. What are we going to do with it. What are we going to do with it. What are we going to do. With it. Still have a little bit of michigan in my throat i'm sorry. William. Very glad to be here. I've been blessed already by the warmth of many of you i've met over the last few days. And i don't know if you know how lucky you are such a beautiful place and you have exquisite music it's just wonderful and i don't know after that that wonderful story of what i'm going to be able to add. But i have been put on my guard i have met olive detering. And she told me to remember that i'm just a sub. Now to some of you with sub may just mean you know a big sandwich with a lot of ham in it. But back in the northeast of subs a hero. And if you don't like that up in new england where i have a lot of italian friends it's a grinder so doobie. I and it's a pleasure to be here and to be part of what god has been doing we have been friends for. A long time and. We don't. We have some things in common. And some not but the biggest thing i think we have in common is that we don't believe. That you have to be earnest to be serious about religion or anything in life. And i am going to sort of pickup. Where he left off last week when he was talking about some ways. To deal. With with life and living when there are bumps in the road and so on. And talk about something that scott doesn't have to worry about. Having a bad hair day. What am i what i think about that. I've never had one. Anybody never have one i wonder. You know it's like. Bucky beaver used to say a bad hair day as one damn thing after another. Oh okay. And we have them and we usually survive them. But there are bad hair days and then there are really bad hair days. Days that not only. Interrupt our lives. Like what alexander went through but disrupt our lives they. Shake them up they turn them around. And then what are we to make of them. Now the bible is full of characters who have some really bad hair days. There are some genuinely juicy bible stories but i have been told that whenever i address a unitarian congregation. Because we are speakers i always write a check. To see if they know what characters i'm speaking of. I remember one time being admonished that i should check it out 26 anybody here not here of adam and eve and several hands went up but i do know. That when i mentioned no i everybody knows about the ark. And his wife joan. Ivar but we know that that's not true because. The ark is made of wood. And john was maid of orleans. So that way hahaha. Now we're going to get siri. My. I think my favorite story of what we might call bad hair days are actually two of them and they're intertwined. A couple i know you've heard of. And they both involve angels. Now sometimes today when we think of angels we think of the hallmark greeting cards that whole section of really cute. Beings. But the truth is that. In the bible and i think probably in real life when an angel comes to call. It means you're in trouble. And one of the first clues you get his whenever almost whenever an angel comes what does it say fear not. Which is like the dentist thing that slowly tickle a little. They are bringing springer's as news and it's often. Well disruptive news i wish since i can't have graphics i haven't caught up yet that i think i will by the time i finish up here. I wish i could do a robin williams on this. Because the angel i'm talking about visits a young woman named mary. Armarium. And this is what he tells her. You're fifteen maybe sixteen and you're preggers you're pregnant. And you don't know who the father is you don't know the father actually. And not only that you're going to have the baby in the city far away. Where it's going to be cold. And you're going to be in a place where there's a lot of. A lot of animal behavior going on and it's going to be stinky. Salon. Now wouldn't that make your day. That kind of news. And the thing about it is that if you think this is fantastic or fantastical. Something like this happens in detroit michigan everyday. Gretna seriously while young woman is 15 or 16 doesn't know who the father is. We'll probably go to the city will be alone and not have will have terrible situation. Now let's remember.. Is what happens to joseph in this story. Here's a young man. Now he has a little better than mary in history because he's a young man he's establishing his career as a carpenter. And he has an arranged marriage with this young woman who is a little younger than he is and he's got his plans made for his life. It's all set out what's going to happen. And then in the dream actually has two dreams in the angel decides that it's not bad enough to visit him once or visit him twice. He said guess what. This girl is pregnant and not by you. Okay. And you're going to marry her. And carry on with the baby and not only that i will tell you what to name the kid. And you're going to go to a far city and this will all happen in the stable. And then in the second dream he had something the story said there's a king who's going to kill all of the jewish boy babies that i say was going to be able i. And so is her results but i'm going to tell you to do. Is you and the wife and the kid who really isn't yours are going to go to egypt which is a wonderful place for a jew right. And not only that. You're going to work hard and die young. So long. Now you want to compare bad hair days. That's a really bad hair day. And yet. Joseph. He's. The angel. What i want to say is that believe it or not. This isn't very different than our life experience. I wish i had them on the board but i think you'll go catch this. We make plans. And god laughs. Little and big interruptions remind us that we are not in control. We marry strangers whether we know it or not. Because the person remarry isn't the same person that person becomes after a few days or months or years. They're not what we imagine. And then we go or we are ladder we are propelled the places and circumstances we hadn't planned on. We have kids and our kids are often more of an education than a delight. And we are called upon to make sacrifices sometimes unimaginable ones for those we love. And joseph in the story is luckier in the way than most of us are because he gets warned. He gets warren that's what's going to happen and most of us in our you know in our illusions don't believe it. But being warned he has a chance to refuse and he doesn't. And he shows us what faithful people do he goes on he embraces the life that is his he embraces the life that he is. Given and so the carpenter builds a life out of the materials that are given to him. It's flawed and imperfect is those materials maybe. So what are you do with the big. Bad hair days of your life. And what do you do with the little ones. Cuz little ones sometimes have surprises in them. There are so many of them. Not since i've talked about these two archetypical people i want to talk about some things in our lives that mirror there's an end sometimes and very mundane ways. And i'll tell you some stories that i've either been connected to her been my stories and i want you then reflect on your own life. My sometimes what appears to be an unpleasant and a nun. Wanted interruption turns out to be an incredible gift. This has happened many times i'm sure he would certainly in my life and i'mma tell you one time. Incredible gift. It happened to me at a young age i was in the 8th or 9th grade. And by this time i was playing music i play the accordion i even write music and write little arrangements even that so i was kind of invested in music then. So there i am doing one of the most high musical things you can imagine. I am stuck. In 9th grade chorus. Which. Meant that everybody was stuck in it wasn't people who sing everybody was there. And there i am if you can imagine this i'm not making this up. A bunch of ninth-graders boys voices are changing in all accounts. Trying to sing jerome kern they asked me how i knew i'm sitting there like this god this is awful. When over the loudspeaker to this combined junior-senior high school comes the voice of. The band director who says. We are looking for people who would be interested in playing an instrument and if you would be interested you can come and sign up today. I raise my hand. Can i get out of car at city okay. So i am walking from the first floor to the fourth floor of the school. And i'm thinking oh god. This this is going to harvest younger. Benny goodman. Are you sure you know stand you to play the clarinet i will be the greatest jazz clarinet player in the world. So i walk into the room. And the band director immediately knows why i'm there. And he says you got good arms big lips you're going to play trombone. Now i don't know if you know what this. Does to a kid but. I'm thinking from bone it doesn't have any keys does it justice big tube and you have to blow into it you don't know where the notes are. And i was sort of crushed at the time little bit of a bad hair day. But what turned out your me was incredible. Because the unpleasant news turn to this. That i was in the high school band and orchestra that meant two hours a day i was into music. And in the orchestra i could learn the classical repertoire. I could learn about the broadway show musicals show overtures and perform them and listen and listen to how they were so i learned more about orchestration and arranging and on top of that i sent next to the best musician in the school. And where that led me. Besides the learning and the writing. I got to write. For bands do some television work even. And what's up some world-famous and world-class musician. What a gift. For what i didn't want to hear. And sometimes that can happen. But i haven't asked. Doesn't this depend on who you are and what you have to bring to it. All of course. But that only means that the circumstances. Are a many-splendored gift to give you an example. Picture yourself. There you are under an apple tree. Going about your life may be having lunch. Maybe reading dreaming who knows. An apple falls and hit you on the head okay. Now if you happen to be isaac newton. I see the gravity of this situation when. If you're either you say wait till i show this to adam right. If you're william tell you say target practice. Johnny appleseed chapman how about a hybrid a little softer apple here would be good. And if you're looking wig. Van beethoven. You think that'll ogio by the menu wedding. Now if the apple happens to be a blush apple. It probably sit down you're my inspiration tee-hee-hee it all kind of things can happen. From the same. Improbable situation same interruption. Different possible gifts are you can just curse. And call it a bad hair moment. But what about. Really bad hair days things that i really. Undeniably bad. Of course. I want to tell you about a woman who is in the church i served in albany new york name was marguerite wood. Marguerite was when i first got to know where she was in her 70s. She was single had been single all her life. Modest income. In her late seventies she became ill. Her doctor suggested that hurt her leg one of her legs be amputated. Her friends and some of the other parishioners who newer we're very upset at that and they kept coming to me to say talk to the doctor why don't they just let her go she's getting older that'll be painful. So finally i talked to the doctor and he said look he said i'm i'm getting up there too and i guarantee this will improve the quality of for life. Well. I'll tell you my leg was amputated and this woman of those years and that experience. I recuperated more quickly than i could have as a young whippersnapper. But then she started going blind. And there she was alone in a nursing home. Pretty much. Confined to bed. Is that a life worth living. Well i'll tell you this. Every time i visited her i felt better than when i went in. And the staff like her so much. That they would argue over who gets to take margaret to get her hair done. And not only did they have a leg for her. But they they got a mannequin leg and they put a garter on it in a room. They just loved her. She was just one of the most contented. People you'd ever. Have the pleasure of knowing. So one day. When i visited her i asked her i said marguerite i said you know. You always seem to be so happy. And here you are. I know you can't see much and i know you're. Stuck in bed a lot of the time. And she said well. I wish i could do a. Good yankee accent. Spell. Joe. You know. I'm was born a good yankee. And i know what life is all about. And. I can feel the sun in the morning. And i can see the light. And there's a little music on the radio. And that makes me happy. My god what she. Did with what she was given. We don't always get what we want or even what we need. But there it is. The angel compared is end. Laser on us. Sometimes. Sometimes we don't even know what to do with what we get and we don't know why it means something to us. Go back to a little story when i was. Probably the age of the of the kid who had a very very very excetera bad day. In the fourth grade. And i had a birthday party and we invited kids who i happen to know or lived in the neighborhood maybe five or six boys okay. And i happen to really open a gift. But i didn't understand. The name of the angel was a kid named john meckley who look like he could have been my brother at the time we were both. Small a dark complexion that yours it's too stood out. And i don't know i really don't know now i've got a granddaughter and probably just help me figure this one out i don't know what you expect to get when you have a party when you're that age. Is a gif. From other boys i don't expect. But what i didn't expect was what john gave me i open this up. And here it was a piece of wood. That had been sought out in the form of a kid. With a shovel digging in the garden. And painted. And i looked at that. And i didn't know what to make of it i'm sure i was polite. And that was in the fourth grade so let me tell you about let's see about 60 some grades later. I realize something. And here's what i realized. That i don't remember any of the other boys who came to party. And i don't remember any of the other gifts okay. But i kept that figure in one of the drawers right now i kept my clothes in the chest of drawers. And every once in awhile i would take it out and look at it. And i'd put it back. There with the socks. And i think of a line from the beatles what do i get when i turn out the light i can't tell you but i know it's mine. I don't know what it is i don't understand it but i know it's mine. I just read a couple weeks ago of a minister who was retiring. And as he was retiring he visited man who was in hospice. And the man said i have a gift for you. And the ministers goes on to say that he could think of a thousand things that might be a nice gift. But never what he got from this man. It was a little pocket knife and he gave it. To the minister. And then he said. When you see this remember there's somebody there who loves you. When you see this remember there's somebody there who loves you. So i got this and didn't know but there was kind of an underlying gift that. And the underlying gift is that life is full of unexpected things that are unbidden and wadded and sometimes not even understandable. We may not know what to do with them but that made an impression on us and the gift is uniquely given to us. At a tires. What do i get when i turn out the lights i can't tell you but i know it's mine. If i were to try to. Create a biblical parable. About this i would say this life. It's like a birthday party. In which a young boy gives you. Estranged present that you never understand. Well. Whatever you plan and i do encourage you to plan. The old angel the better option or disruption or bad hair may visit you. And well. Here's how it goes. We make plans. And god laughs. Little big interruptions remind us that. Whether we like it or not we're not in control. We marry strangers whether we know it or not. And whoever we marry is different and more. Then what we thought. We go on or we are ladder we are. Powell the places and circumstances we hadn't planned on. Are children god bless them are often more in education than the delight. And we are called on to make sacrifices. Sometimes unimaginable ones. For those we love. Let me finish one more story. This so woman gets on the plane. She's i hear this the true story by the way it's about 55 or 60. And it's her first trip. First trip on the plane. And she sits next to a business traveler. Okay. And the plane starts to speed the taxi house. Oh my. Already the guys getting irritated okay. And then they take off. And he's trying to play it is. Get my computer out as soon as i can. And then the plane takes one of those wonderful turns. Out of the airport i analyze destination. Look there look at that and look at that. Then they hit the jet stream. And turbulence. And they're going up and down and she said. Finally this is much as the business traveler can take. And he says lady he says. I wish you'd shut up. Don't you know that this is scary and potentially dangerous. And she stops. And she looks at him she puts his finger her finger in his chest and says. Listen mister. The pilot is my son. And he wouldn't let anything happen to his mother so just sit down and shut up and enjoy the trip. Well. The trip is yours. And if you have a bad hair day just make like donald trump and capitalize on it. This is our time and there is really only one question. What are we going to do with it. What are we going to do with it. What are we going to do with it. Amen.

uufvb_org

2011Nov27Sermon32.mp3

How was it. And his national socialist party. To persuade the people of germany. If i enlarge highly educated and civilized population. How was it a first depriving them. Of their basic civil economic and human rights. And then methodically exterminating the concentration camps. Surely one contributor. Was the long-standing anti-semitism. That work was prodigiously embedded in both german culture in particular and european culture in general and in european christianity. Hitler built. Hate on top of the shameful cultural foundation. By employing widespread. As despicable subhuman species. That deserve no sympathy or quarter. I'd like you to look now at some of these images of how jews were portrayed by the holocaust. These images from the historical archive. So hitler and his henchmen worked hard in germany. To create a clear sense of the jew as the despicable other. Established. The ugly other nests of the other. Considered those people to be the enemy look at these images. German and japanese people from the propaganda generated. The government of the united states. It's propaganda worked its way into countless american hurts with great success. When i was a young boy in the 1950s no seven or eight. My family had a babysitter by the name of mrs. g. Mrs. g whose last name was flipper had a son. Putting in the us navy in the pacific theater during wwii and it survived a kamikaze attack. Which sank his ship. Almost every time she cared for me and my brothers she would manage to tell us how much she hated the dirty. Little japs. Even though the war had been over for nearly 10 years. The japanese. And the end and by then the japanese were our closest allies both economic and political. This hateful image. Of the japanese people absolute other discontinued to live. A my babysitters heart. Now. I'd like you to fast forward to our own country. And to our own time. Well this example is surely nowhere as heinous or as dangerous as what happened during world war. To the ez stand of other artists. On saturday october 15th of this year. While the campaign stop in cookeville tennessee presidential candidate herman cain. Suggested that is a solution to the complicated problem. About authorized immigration in this country. America electrified fence along its southern border. With enough current running through it to kill anyone who comes in contact with it now i'm going to show you the video. The actual video of mr. kane offhandedly making this violin suggestion. And more if you if you will be shocked if you haven't already seen it by his flippant word and. More than acanthus remarks. Is the gleeful. Enthusiastic reaction of the american crowd. That seems delighted. By the suggestion that we electrocute people on our southern border to work and make a better lives a life for themselves watch this. Another guy. I've absolutely no interest. In particularly picking on mr. cane. I think the american people are perfectly capable of judging whether or not. Has a maturity experience and temperament to be our next president. But i do want you to focus on is the fact that someone running for the highest office in our land. In these anxious and fearful times. Ordinary american citizens and get a rousing roar of approval. For suggesting we should electrocute spanish-speaking foreigners who are trying to come into our country not canadian. Just the ones to the south thank you. This too is the skin of a governess raising its ugly head. Don't let me bring all this even a little closer to home. In fact as close. At the home as i can get by telling a confessional story about myself. As a unitarian universalist i like to think of myself as spiritually to enlighten to fall victim to the sin of others. But the truth is that like all human beings itune vulnerable to this natural and pernicious prediction of the heart i want to tell you about a true story. About a transforming moment in my life which i shall never forget. When i became aware of how easy it is to fall victim to this sin of others. I want to tell you a true story about the day i scott alexander first began. To get a glimmer of white actually mean to be a true universalist. It was in the spring this goes way back. But i guess is vivid in my mind as it was the day it happened. Spring of the year 1973 i was in my last year in seminary out in california. And because i had grown up in a universalist church and consider myself a third-generation. Unitarian universalist unitarian. I had decided to preach a sermon at the weekly chapel service held for faculty and students at my school. About this often neglected part of our faith tradition the universal aside. I was sure that morning i could preach a powerful and poetic sermon about the. Living essence of universalism that saved gospel. Of our radical belonging in oneness to one another from which we all see logically came. Well as i walked my way up from the apartment i had. Down in the flats and berkeley up to the school which is up at the university of california. I was going over my migrate sermon in my head about inspire everyone to understand. This wonderful universalist ethic of human inclusion and kinship. And as i approached shattuck street which is the main drag up for a moment. Sitting on the bench waiting for the bus was a very very obese woman. Who almost occupied the entire bench by herself now i've always had kind of an obsessive thing about my own weight watching it anyway. Before i could censor the unkind thought i said to myself there on the street. Oh dear god look at that. Grotesque woman she must be 400 pounds how could she ever let herself get that way who could ever love that. As if it were a message directly out of the heavens for me this skinny little guy next to her leans over and gives her the most. Loving kissed i had ever. Tina person bestow upon another. And right there. On shattuck street with all the buses in cars. A voice came to me. A big. Booming voice and it's sad. Don't you get it. Are you on your petty little way up to your petty little unitarian school inclusive gospel universalism. She is a sacred vessel of human worth and beauty as anyone. And you call yourself a universe. I want to assure you i'm not in the habit of regularly hearing voices on busy streets. California day i heard. The voice of god. And it was a universalist god i heard. Yeah it was. Holy and haunting and is still rings at my heart was as swift as spiritual kick in the butt as i've ever gotten and when i went up to the chapel i confess the whole story. I confess the whole story. To the faculty and friends and since then i've been working. A trying to become. A true universalist working at someone who really tries to his true. And deny the sin of other nests. From my life. Now before i say more about the role of unitarian that are unitarian universalist faith can play in combating this sin of others. Which is really where i want to take you spiritually and leave you. Later this morning. I feel a need to go back and take a few moments. To explore what leading evolutionary psychologists and neurologists. And others who study the primordial predilections of the human brain are saying to us. About how we human beings are hard-wired. In our encounters with one another. As i understand it from extensive reading in the subject which really fit evolutionary psychology really fascinates me. As i understand it. But the current science about how human brains react when they bump up against people who aren't anyway unlike them. Is both cause. For optimism and despair. Number of recent studies by leading neurological scientist. When it comes to responding. Who are different from themselves. That we are hardwired. Okay hardwired. Xenophobia. And hate. Tribalism and universalism for both altruism in indifference. Hardwired. For both those responses. One side on the one side of the neurological equation as dr. paul maclean suggest in his classic study of human neurology. Human brains. Reptilian. The so-called are complex. Located in the most recently developed evolutionarily speaking spear of the brain. Which is responsible for and now i called him the reptilian brain. Rage. Xenophobia. Basic survival fight-or-flight responses territoriality. Tribalism. Social hierarchy. Along with a desire to submit. To stronger alphatype members of one's own species on coral. The reptilians. On the other side of our neurological equation. It seems we human beings are also wired hardwired. For generosity. Compassion and altruism. In a recent washington post article entitled new findings suggest that good impulses are basic to the brain. Doctors your j george amol and jordan grothman report. But acts of human generosity quotes. Acts of generosity quotes. Activate a primitive part of the brain that usually lights up in response to food and sex so it's basic. Altruism it goes on and compassionate concern for others. Was not a superior moral faculty. That suggests that suppresses basic selfish urges but rather. Was basic to the brain. Hardwired. Unpleasurable. And the article goes even further and reports that several similar neurological and behavioral studies quote. Are showing unexpectedly that many aspects of morality. And altruism appear to be hardwired in the human brain. Most likely the result of evolutionary processes. That began in other species. And if you just look for example at recent african history. You can see how this stark hardwiring dualism can play itself out in human affairs. In 1994 in rwanda. Persuaded the hutu majority of that country to blame the entire. Intimately amongst in every city and village of rwanda. They blame them for all of that country's increasing social and economic problems. As a result of an active again propaganda campaign to blame the tutsis. For oliver wanda's problems in a matter of a few horrific weeks as you all know more than 800,000. Tootsie men women and children were slaughtered. Butter who to neighbors mostly with machetes. Wiping out more than 75% of the tipsy population. The sad history of rwanda will always be stained by the knowledge. That in its darkest days one tribal group successfully demonized and then nearly destroyed. Another. But then on the more merciful side of the equation the positive side of the equation is the story of south africa. We're after generations of distrust and violence and apartheid and depression between the races. Millions of black and white citizens somehow managed. And that nation to move past. They're painful history of deep and profound other des. From one another. And forge. Through a complex process of reconciliation and communication and slow trust-building. A new democracy and civil order which while not perfect. Has allowed their nation to move forward and profoundly greater equality and prosperity and peace. I believe both history and science. Indicate that we human beings. When we bump up against deep human differences in conflict. We are hardwired for both genocide and gentleness. Both kindness and cruelty both nobility and depravity both tribalism and can include inclusion. And there and we human beings. Often teeter-totter. Near the abyss that lies between those two hardwired impulses. Where. Can either direction either toward depravity or decency. Where does the ultimate help for the human family lie. Said differently what my tip the balance in the good towards the good. Are divided primordial selves. Use an everyday example. From the world of computers which you all move in. Dualistic nature of our neural neurological hardware i think the answer. Estelline the software side of the equation. The hardware work. Between these two polarities. It's a software side. Second lead humanity. Software in terms of human life. Are things like. Humane cultural values. Compassion ethical precepts. Clear moral codes of decency and respect the guy behavior. And this is terribly important another piece of the human software. Is inclusive and loving theological affirmations about humanity in person. If humanity it seems to me. Can come to agree upon the software coding. Coding that there are certain values. And and precepts in morality must. Guide human affairs if we can agree on the software. Then there's hope. That we will move toward the good. And the inclusive. And hear it. Is a good news for us my good unitarian universalist friends. I believe with all my heart and soul that our faith tradition is part of this software solution. Are universalism. Is part of the software solution. Even if it isn't where it's looking for it needs. We are not the only religious tradition of course. Inclusive. What is smitty christian. Many muslims many. Confucians all kinds of people around the world. Have similar. Teachings on ethics of nobility and care. Core affirmation of our particular face. From both the unitarian and universalist sides the core affirmation of our faith. Irreducible commitment. Human kinship. And oneness and belonging that is what. Ab our theology. For more than five hundred years we have been an organized well semi organized religious faith. Pizza hut attend one of our annual meetings if you think we're organized religion. We've organized religion for 500 years we've been teaching and we've been striving to live. The ethical and theological assertion that humanity has one. And it is therefore incumbent upon us. Treat no one else has some foreign member of a foreign tribe as some sort of other. That we can build a fence. And electric. We have consistently affirmed this in the face of other divisive religion. Which have been focused on dividing humanity between the saved and the damned. As my colleague the reverend rob hardy's of the all souls church in washing and just wrote you all got your worldview uworld magazines of couple weeks ago. This quotation is in that. He said. Talking about our faith. One of our greatest assets is our gospel. The gospel of universalism. Of god's love for all people. I serve at church robin on i serve a church called all souls. Which kind of says it all. That is good and holy and true about religion. Can you imagine a church that called itself. Some souls church. Name of the culture of america. The religious worship the god of some salt and chooses. The good news. And universalist. Have to share. Is it a god picks and chooses is milk. Tidal. Against the spurious faith. We must preach the old universalist gospel of a love that invites all souls to the welcome table not some. A love. Rob goes on. That can take hold of our hearts and lead us to lives of meaning and purpose. Our gospel universalism. Is big enough. Generous enough and loving enough to capture the hearts and minds of the people. And then he can. Sometimes folks universalism. Almost sounds too good to be true. When they do i always remind them of something mae west once said she warned too much of a good thing. Is wonderful. And then reverend howard hughes concludes. Other folks worship a god of some souls. And they have the audacity to call that good news. We stand. For commanding and transforming love. That embraces all souls. That is even. Better. This is the timeless good news. Of our unitarian universalist faith our software offering. For humanity. I take it on faith. The humanity even. Through its ambivalent there a lot even though it's a neurological hardware places in on this dangerous teeter-totter between good and evil. That we can overtime. Download. Into our hearts. The software. Into the human mind that will enable us to create a world evermore dominated. Viking ship. And care. At 1. And yes. Know the software of human inclusion inability. Cannot completely control their killian brain. Just look at history genocides. Continue to happen every 10 or 15 years. Somewhere in the world. And those primitive predilections and destructive behaviors will be hard to eradicate. But the right moral values. Compassionate ethical constructs. The right cultural values and the right ideas theologically speaking about god and about humanity. Will give humanity the edgit needs to build a better future. And because you and i. In this room at least those of you who are unitarian universalist are the inheritors of a noble faith. That is always affirmed the reality and power of this human oneness and belonging. We have a special responsibility. In this volatile world. And with our own reptilian brains always lurking. To share our inclusive values and principles and our vision of humanity becoming one. Becoming a kinship web. A protection and respect and care for everyone on the planet. I for one do not believe such a dream is too big a dream. I believe humanity again if exposed. The right software for the heart. The right software for the heart. Can make steady progress away from that terrible sin of other nests. For the holiness. That will make humanity one.

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2014Mar09Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. What a beautiful sunday morning here in the treasure coast and welcome all of you. To the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach and we are so pleased you've chosen to begin your day with us. We are current location. Open minds loving hearts and helping hands. Individual people seeking to become our best selves. Even as together we work to make our world a better place and please know that you're welcome. Just as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What are your feeling on top of the world this morning. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We welcome you just as you come. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose. For the living of life ahead. We'll look at you all you clever ones who remember to push your clock forward an hour i don't want any smog or self-righteous behavior for the dozen-or-so who show up at 11 at church at 11 for church this morning. Be kind be gracious and be understanding. I have said it before on this sunday. The saving of daylight is what our congregation must be all about poor everywhere. About us. Are the places of darkness. Warfare. Human cruelty. Crime in abusive persons. Economic and social injustice indifference and greed. So we need to be in the face of these darknesses. A people of the light. A people of love. A people of compassion. How people of understanding. And kindness. Injustice. A people who purposefully turn their lives. Toward. The light. And share that light with those around them. I harold from the north. From a congregation next door to cambridge massachusetts. A place where snow has abound it this year. It is a pleasure to be here in such a beautiful and warm place. I also harold from a long-time friendship with collins and with scott. I just counted twenty-seven years. I was scott's intern and one of my fond memories is in the congregation where scott was then serving in plainfield new jersey we often stood side-by-side in the center of the chancel. And my sister who attended worship during that time would describe us as the liberal donny and marie. So we're back again together. I hear such good things. About you. You practice a radical hospitality. And you are willing to change and grow. That is a skill that is often in short supply in religious communities. So. I bow to your. Wisdom. The reading i offer you this morning is a single line. It is from the apostle paul. Someone i suspect you don't often hear from. And it's from his letter to the romans chapter 5. Where sin increases. Grace. Abounds all. The more. Where sin increases. Grace. Abounds all the more. Or put another way. Where error thrives. Love. Thrives all. Sommore. Each of us is here today. Do the work and the commitment. Of thousands of nameless unitarian and universalist. Most of them are long forgotten or soon to be forgotten. Their presence will go unrecorded. Yet by their deeds of heart and hand. They kept alive. The face. That love must outweigh law. And compassion. Must outweigh custom. The first church i served. Restored its historic 1808 sanctuary. During my ministry. And the sanctuary was filled with scaffolding plasterers. And painters. But one worker caught my attention. Well sanding the floor. Listen to public radio at top volume. And after each coat of polyurethane. He would run his hand over the floor. Like a man. Making love. The minister's office was off the sanctuary. One afternoon he said to me. I have figured out. What you do. You read. You right. And you schmooze. I couldn't argue with his definition of ministry. I invited jim to attend the rededication service of the sanctuary. And he kept coming back. He would say to me. You are my spiritual mechanic. I come each week to get a tune up. Some sundays it works. And some sundays i sit there and don't know what you're talkin about. But i figure it's a tune-up. For someone else that morning. Jim harrison was a character. Scott and collins. Remember jim. I introduced them. And they have their own stories about gym. Today i will tell you. Mine. In time jim decided to sign the membership book. But with. One caveat. He said. I am a member of this church. But i don't call myself. A universalist. I'm a universalist. In training. Jim believe. That to call oneself. A universalist. Was an act. Of hubris. And in fact he made those t-shirts and handed them out during coffee hour. And scott still has his. Jim was not a theologian. He was a struggling contractor with dirt under his fingernails. He was loud talking. I'm not impressed. Buy class. Or false airs. Jim winters known what to make of a transylvanian bishop. Or brahman unitarian. But jim. Got it. Our universalist forebears. Believe that above all else. The essence of god. Is love. And at the spiritual game plan. Is to do as god would do. To love. As god would love. This idea has unitarian parallels. Nearly 500 years ago. Our unitarian forebears in transylvania. Wrote a catechism. The states this. V. Purpose of religion. Is to refine our souls. True love. Toward god and neighbor. What lies at the core of our common faith. I asked. What lies at the core. Of our shared. Face. As liberal religious people. We put our faith. In human reason. We believe in thinking. We believe not without. Doubt. But in spite of doubt. We questioned and search. We believe that diversity. Is a reality. And homogeneity. Andalusian. We work and worship together. The fidgety four-year-old. The man with two master's degrees. The woman who cleans houses. The couple married 50 years. The lesbian and her daughter. We avoid exclusive truth stands. No word of god is god's last word. We see truths continually unfolding in our midst. There are new lessons. From science. And the pursuit of justice. Those. Are the basics. But the heart. Of our face. Is love. Love god. Love. Your neighbor. This is so simple. It risks sounding. Trite. But jim harrison. Understood. That this was a. Call. Order. Jim understood. Said to be a universalist. Was to see good. In all people. Defined them love-a-bull. Lovable. In the sight of god. And jim said. I'm not there yet. I'm. In training. Jim would tell you about the guy on the road who cut him off that morning. Or the man who cheated him out of something. He squirmed about gay men kissing on the street. Or the women on the grocery line. Who spoke spanish. He wasn't proud. Feelings. But when the local hispanic church needed a place to worship. He made it possible. For them to worship in the sanctuary on sunday afternoons. And when he installed a hot tub in the home of two gay men. He jumped in the tub. To prove to his workers. That you can't get aids in a hot tub. Jim could be generous. On mother's day. He waited till mid-afternoon. And then dozens of flowers at half price. And delivered those flowers to all he knew. He delivered one bunch of flowers to my husband. And said. Give these to marta. And tell her they're from you. When my marriage ended. He moved me out of my beloved condo. He arrived with four men and a truck. And he said. Boys. Our job is to get everything out of here before the woman cries. And they were out of there in an hour. Whatever good acts he performed. He countered by saying. Don't mistake me for a nice guy. Jim. Could be a pain. He talked too much. And was long-winded. Fancied himself a self-reliant man. He called himself. Jimmy fix. A new houses inside out. And could repair anyting. He took the church on as his project. Caring for its old boiler. Changing locks fixing windows doors and even plumbing. Jim new. How to do. But not always. How to be. Jim drink. Too much. He drank when he woke up in the morning. He filled his coffee mug with vodka. He kept the bottles in his truck. And when he was drinking he talked even more. And more loosely. He horrified some of the proper ladies in the congregation with his forthright language. Afterwards at my urging. He would personally apologize. Jim new few boundaries. He called too often. Showed up unannounced. And was generally. In your face. He was the kind of person. It was easy. Not. To like. And yet i loved. Jim harrison. In or. Congregations. And small towns and big cities. We are living a grand experiment. We are trying to live out the vision of our forebears. Trying to love. Even the unlikely. And difficult. Among us. Truth is. It's. Easy. To love others. When they've done good. But the time to love another. Is when they are at their lowest. And least. Attractive. That. Is the universalist challenge. And we fall short of that goal. Over and over. But we keep. Trying. I asked you. Who. Do you need to love. Right now. In order to live out. This. Cool. Do you need. To be loving. Who is at their lowest. And least. Attract. We are. Universalist. In training. Everyone of us. And it is the jim harrison. In our midst. Who keep us on. Our toes. Love. The love i'm talking about is rarely solved. And sweet. The love is demanding. As well as gentle. Tough. As well as tender. Blazing with the fire of judgement. As well as brimming over. With the oil of healing. And forgiveness. Love. Love what is difficult. Love the one who is irritated. Love the one who has. Disappointed you. Love the one who has brought you down. Love the tea party neighbor. Love the gun holder. The one with the pro-life bumper sticker. And the one. Who shops. At walmart. This love is not simply. Personal. It involves the commonweal. It is active. Love made manifest. Inevitably. Leeds. To justice. When we love enough. A new way on earth. Will. Unfold. So vote. As an act of love. Protest. As an act of love. Challenge cynicism. As an act of love. Fix the system. As an act of love. In the end. Our goodness will not be measured. By what we resisted or whom we excluded. But by what we embraced. And who. We included. An hour and brace. More than once. I brought gym. To detox. He packed up his bag. Locked up his truck. And got into my little white honda. When he was released. He start going to meetings. I know i still have one of jim's 30-day chips. At the bottom of my jewelry box. But that was about as far. As jim krakow. When jim's father. Committed suicide. By rolling his own wheelchair. Orthodox. Here in florida. Jim phoned me. I arrived. Anna's house. An empty out all the bottles. I could find. And jim said to me. You don't trust me. No gym. I do. And jim. Smiled. And cried. At times jim was a master. Of denial. And other times. He knew himself. Too well. On november 21st. 2000. James melvin harrison. Died. Of liver failure. He was. 51. Even now. 14 years later. I find my stihl self. Still. Weeping. Fortune. Paul wrote in the letter to the romans. Where sin increases. Grace. Abounds. All the more. Or put another way. Where error thrives. Love. Thrive. All. Lemoore. Jim harrison. Is one of the thousands of nameless ones. Who are forgotten. Or soon-to-be forgotten. His name will not be inscribed on a plaque. Or hung in a church hall. His presence. We'll go unrecorded. Yet such are the ones. Who offer us another chance. 2 train. As universalist. And to love. One another. Choose. Love. And when the recall sounds. And the shadows fall. May we have hearts. An embittered. By all we have suffered. And uncorrupted. By all we have into it. And be at the last. Remembered. And cherish. As those who have loved.

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2013Feb17Sermon32.mp3

Beth pearson and we are so glad you have chosen to be with us here this morning. We are at congregation standing on the side of love. Seeking to become our best selves even as we work to make a better world. Please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight. Black or white or some other wonderful shea the humanity. Whether you are on top of the world down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you just as you come to us this morning and all your particularity and need. We hope you will find the service meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul. And gives you renewed energy and joy for the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. Our speaker today is board member and worship committee chair puker see he has been a member of this congregation since the summer of 2001. And has held a variety of committee positions in a in addition to being our administrator from 2005. Through january of 2010. Opening words. R words that i wrote. A couple years ago. That have been holding them. For just the right time. The time is now. When and if. The world comes to an end by the hand of man. It shall not be for a lack of love. It will be for love misdirected. Love of things. Love of power. Rather than love of law. Love in its purest meaning. The meeting this says. My love. Openly. Thoroughly. I required nothing in return. You can have such love for ideals. Like freedom. Equality. Democracy. For any two people to be in that position. With one another. Is a beautiful thing. Some people look at couples in that position and they just can't believe it. They have to. Question it. It's it's like a scab on their souls. Their hands off of it. I believe what they're really picking at. Is their own black. Of love. Show today in this sunday service. We celebrate love. And some of the people like saint valentine and romantics down through the ages. As well as some thoughts and things that have surrounded the concept of love. Over the centuries. This morning's reading is make not a bond of love by khalil gibran. Following the reading there will be a short time of silent reflection. Love one another. But make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Still each other's cup. But drink not from the one cup. Give one another of your bread. But eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous. But let each one of you be alone. Even as the strings of a lute are alone the quiver with the same music. Give your hearts. But not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of life can contain your hearts. And stand together. Get not too near together. For the pillars of the temple stand apart. And the oak tree and cypress grow not in each other's shadow. But let there be spaces in your togetherness. And let the winds of the heavens dance with you. Love one another. But make not a bond. Of love. Well. Here we are. Cold february 17th. Only 3 days after valentine's day. And i have a few things that you may not have. Such as. Men spend. Twice as much on valentine's day as women do. And this year the average man around the nation spent $116. For every 120 single men. Who are in their twenties. Girl 100 single. In the same age range. The story changes drastically when we look at. There are 33 single men. For every 100 single women of the same age range. Should we say happy hunting. More than one-third of men would prefer not receiving a gift on valentine's day less than 20% of women feel the same way. Around this season from dozen long-stemmed roses cost an average of about $75. About 30% more than the normal price. And more than 9 million pet owners. Bought gifts for their pets this valentine. 15% of women. Ship themselves. Flowers. On valentine's day. I'm not going to ask for a show of hands here today. And here's one for you. The condom industry says. Sales skyrocket. On valentine's day. And the corollary to that is. More at home pregnancy tests are sold in march than any other month of the year. So cupid is indeed a busy fellow. So where in heaven's name did the name and the word cupid come from anyway. In roman mythology cupid latin for cupido. Meaning desire is the god of desire affection and erotic love. Is often portrayed as the son of the goddess venus of persons or even deity who is shot by cupid's arrow is filled with desire. Cooper's ability. To compel love. And desire. Please in instigating roland several myths or literary scenarios. The old roman days. And cupid was a continuously popular figure in the middle ages. 100 christian influence both heavenly and earthly love. End of the renaissance. With a renewed interest in classical for the philosophy complex allegorical meanings. Edin contemporary popular culture cupid is shown shooting his bow to inspire romantic love. Often is an icon of valentine. And that brings us back to valentine's day. Where did that come from. Let's travel back to the year 44 bc. The lupercalia festival. Partly honor of loop. The she-wolf. Who suckled the infant orphans romulus and remus the mythical founders of rome. Explaining the name of the festival lupercalia or the wolf festival. That's a festival celebrated near the cave of looper cow on palatine hill. Which is the central hill where rome was. This festival xph and purifies life. In the spring. Unknown lupercalia festival 44 beast attest to the continuity of the festival. Oh those were pagan days of fun and frolic. But. The straight-laced hoax of latter days. Hey couldn't handle that. So they set out to more. The celebration of valentine. Do a bolish. The heathens. Lewd. And superstitious custom. Oh boys drawing the names of girls in honor of their goddess cubs w a juno on the 15th of the month. Several rather zealous as pastors. Substituted the names of saints in the place of girls. Him that rather put a bit of a damper on love. Yep. It's been suggested. The valentine's day was created as an attempt to supersede. The pagan holiday of lupercalia. Did february in rome. Now we go to the year 270 a.d.. When we try to answer the question. Who was saint valentine. Samsung roman priest. Martyred during the reign of claudius gothika. He was arrested and imprisoned. Upon being caught marrying christian couples. Helping christians. At that time. Ancient days. What's considered. A crime. Perhaps akin to the persecution. Not so many years ago in this country. I'm homosexual. Outlaw. Here. Anyway the priest valentinus tried to convert the emperor. He tried to convert the emperor. What he got for his troubles was beheaded. Outside the gates of rome. But the festival of lupercalia survived the initial rise of christianity. As it was being done christian. At the end of the 5th century about 490 ad when lacey has declared february 14th as. Saint valentine. However. The wolf festival. Still celebrated in some places today. As a matter of fact. It was february 15th and 16th. That cartoon. Is the official shall we say mascot. For the. Adherence. Did the lupercalia festival. What does move now to the middle ages. That's when the day became definitively associated with love. Sometime during the middle ages year. by the way 500-1500. Approximately. It came to be commonly believed in france and england that february 14th was the beginning of the birds mating season. Which added to the idea that the middle of foot. Georges st-pierre ali look like. Nobody really knows. A commonly ascribed. Geographics. Isn't that wonder. Word. Hagiographical. It simply means a study with a biography or pictures of sinks. But i digress. Hagiographical identity appears in the nuremberg chronicle 1493. Which provides the first depiction of saint valentine in a woodcut portra. Join him caring for fellow prisoners after he had been arrested. Now what legend has it that the middle ages young men and women drew name from a bowl to see who their valentine would be aware of those names on their sleeves. For a week. Today. To wear your heart on your sleeve means being transparent with your affection. Ever wondered where that came from you know. Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the middle ages the written valentine's didn't really begin to appear until about 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today. Was a poem written in 1415 by charles duke of orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the tower of london. And i was following his capture at the battle of agincourt. The greeting by the way is now part of the manuscript collection of the british library in london england. And try as i might. I searched the internet as hard and as far as i could. I could not find a copy of the poem to read to. Only references to the fact that it exists. Oh well. Many of the current legends that characterize saint valentine where invented in the 14th century in england notably by geoffrey chaucer. And his people. When the feast day of february 14th first became associated with romantic love. Historian jack oreck. Esme the case. That's your traditions that we associate with valentine. Documented in geoffrey chaucer's works. Jack in the sectional context. Open old tradition. Had no such tradition before chelsea. He says that the speculative explanation of sentimental custom. Posing as historical fact. Heather origins among eighteenth-century manticore is notably alban butler. The author of butler's lives of saints. And they've been perpetuated ever since. By respectable modern scholars. So saint valentine's day is a myth oh well. In 1836. Some relics that were exhumed. On the via to bertina. Your room. Ratified was saint valentine. They're replacing the casket. And transported in a second. To the high altar for special mass dedicated to young people at all those in love. Alleged relics of valentine also in france. Involves them in malta also and blessed john duns scotus church in glasgow scotland. And there's a gold reliquary bearing the words corpus saint valentine m. That's the body of saint valentine martyr. At the birmingham oratory united kingdom in one of the side author. Do that church. Soap or saint david allen. Is it all over the. Although saint valentine's day is now celebrated on february 14th and remains in the catholic church's official list of saints. In view of the scarcity of information about the man. His commemoration was removed from the catholic general calendar. For universal liturgical veneration. Well that was revised back in 1969. The catholic encyclopedia and other. Hagiography. Source. I love that word. Anyway they speak of three saint valentine's that appear in connection with february 14th one was a roman priest another the bishop. Both buried along the via flaminia outside rome. At different distances from the. The third they say was a saint who suffered on the same day with a number of companions. For whom nothing else is really no. At any rate. There's no doubt. That saint valentine was associated with romance. What are the most famous romantics of all time though was b a young. The author of the kama sutra. This. And probably some of it scholar. Who lived in classical india around the 5th century. Adp. Is an unlikely candidate to a written histories best-known book on erotic love. No i'm not going to click the look on the inside. Little is known about foxy on his life but in his famous book actually a collection of notes on hundreds of years of spiritual wisdom passed down by the ancients. He wrote that he intended the kamasutra. As the ultimate love manual and a tribute, the indian god of love. Though it has become quite famous for its sections on sexual instruction. The book actually deals. Much more. With the pursuit of fulfilling relationship. And provided a blueprint as it were. For courtship and marriage and upper-class indian society at that time. It was another famous romantic. V. Greek lyric poet born around 6:10 bc. In the majority of her poems. Sample road about love. And the accompanying emotions of hatred. Anger. Jealousy. Among the members of her largely young and female circle saffell gave her female acolytes educational and religious instruction. As part of the preparation for marriage. The group was dedicated to. And inspired by aphrodite. The greek goddess of love. Then we come to the name of casanova. Long since. Come to conjure up the romantic end of an image of the prototypical libertine and seducer. Thanks. In large part. To the success of giacomo casanova posthumously published. 12 volume autobiography. Which. Call nicole with vivid detail as well as some exaggeration. Is many sexual and romantic exploits in eighteenth-century europe. That made him the leading champion of a movement towards sexual freedom. And the model. The famous don juan. Of literature. In our times you cannot talk about great lovers without bringing up elizabeth taylor. An actress from early childhood. Dark-haired violet-eyed lizabeth. She died in march of 2011 by the way. She was perhaps known for her rarebeauty best. And her epic love life best of all. She was married a total of 8 times. Twice to the same man. The actor richard burton. Whom she called one of the two great lovers of her life. First film producer mike todd. He died in the plane crash in 19. Taylor and burton met on the set of cleopatra. And that's how she. Depicted there of course. And their affair soon made headline. Around the world. Romance. Rose blooming. Passion and love made it common for friends and lovers of all social classes. Do exchange small tokens of affection. Or handwritten notes. In americans probably began celebrating and exchanging handmade valentine's in the early 1700s. Literally 1840s esther. Begin selling the first mass-produced valentines in america. Howland the mother of the valentine. Media laboratory. Real lace ribbon colorful pictures. And today according to the greeting card association. An estimated 1. Billion valentine's day cards are sent each year. Making valentine's day these. Largest card chic. Sending holiday of the year. As you might imagine chris. That's 2.6 billion cards. Purchase approximately 85% of all valentine. Why is that. They don't say. That's according to hallmark. One version of the saint valentine story has it that valentine was so loved. Why the children of the town. That they would constantly write him notes. Speaking of their affection. Hence the origin of exchanging valentine's by children. No. Let's talk about it about hallmark. They produced their first valentine in 1913. And today hallmark. Employees and 80 person research staff. Do annalise. The sales pattern of previous valentine. That analysis combined with more than 100,000 annual customer interview. And focus groups and in-store observation. Anyway that helps create roughly 2,000 cards. It hallmark score valentine's day line. No. Well hummer. Offers thousands of different cards on valentine's. It was one card. That was a top choice of customers in new york. Los angeles. And virtually every other city in the country risa. This card. Which has the romantic name by hallmark of. V335. Chipley states. Each time i see you. Hold you. Think of you. Here's what i do. Eiffel deeply. Madly. Happily in love with. Happy. Just think. Saint valentine probably. Is responsible for the fact that many of us. Or alive and walking the earth today. When the excuse of saint valentine's day. How many of our ancestors would never have courted and consequently never have married. Something to think about. Perhaps. We all owe a debt of gratitude. Justina valentine. For our very existence. So you might ask. What is all this got to do with you you. Good question. Never repeat to you what we said in the chalice lighting earlier this morning. Love. Is the spirit of our church. And service is its law. This is our great covenant. Dwell together in peace. To seek the truth in love. And to help one another. Saint valentine's day is all about love. And we you use continuously proclaim. That love is one of the prime tenants. Hope unitarian universalist. So perhaps. What's saint valentine's day rolls around next year. We could send cards out too many more people than those. We're just romantically entangled. Our final words this morning. Come from mother teresa. Who said. Love cannot remain by itself. It has no meaning. Love has to be put into action. Whatever form we are able or disabled. Rich. Poor poor. It's not how much we do. What how much love. We put in the doing. A lifelong sharing. Of love. With others. Go forth now. Love a lot. Enjoy life.

uufvb_org

2012Feb05Sermon32.mp3

In a week or so. It will be valentine's day. So what could be more time like than having a service devoted to the subject of love. Well this is a holiday of hallmark cards. Chocolate. I'm valentines. I think back. On the way we celebrated valentine's day when i was a child. I bet you can remember those days too. At school we cut out. Heart out of red paper they were always lopsided we could never get them quite right. Plastic scissors and crooked arrows across them. For someone very special what members of our family food on a lacy white. And wrote i love you. My little girlfriends and i made and exchanged valentine. And we competed to see. How many we could get. We all got the same number. Because we sent them to each other. And we didn't want to leave anyone else. Those were special years of innocence. And our understanding of love at that time 7 or so. Was pretty much limited valentines and sharing them with one another. Of course we all got older. In our understanding of love and its many complexities. Expanded with our developing maturity. Should write itself sermon on the subject of love. Maybe your foolhardy venture. Within the past couple years i have heard the expression standing on the side of love used more and more frequently and unitarian-universalist circles. I don't know whether this is a new promotion. Or where else it might have come from. Shirley love as a principle of unitarian theology is not new. Christian unitarians in europe in america. From the 15th. To the 20th century believe in the unity of god. And the blessing of divine love. In our lives. And the humanists of the 20th century include love and service to others. As an ethical mandate of our faith. Similarly and universal is theology. The belief in god's universal love for all living creatures is foundational. And universalist are challenged to make manifest. This commitment to love. And to serve humankind. But frankly. I don't know which standing on this side of love means. Either institutionally. Denomination or to me personally. As a minister i think i should know this. Just in case. Someone comes up and expect me to. How do i make this cliche real. Applicable and behavioral. How do i live in contact my life. Standing on the side of love. How would i know it. If i saw it. Islam something that has one side. I'm supposed to stand on the side of. Or does it have many sides. What happens if i don't want to stand at all. What happens if i just want to wallow around in the middle of it. If i can't answer these questions for myself. How can i recognize it in someone else. Will you see my problem. I wasn't getting anywhere with this. So i decided to look at its opposite. Maybe that would help me. I decided to look at 8. It seemed much easier to recognize. It is emotionally raw. Who is hostile. And frightening. I am sure that each of us has felt the sting of this like or hate at some point in our lives. And we know it immediately. For what it is. If i can recognize define and feel hatred. What it is directed at me. Does that mean that love. Is everything else. Love is simply the absence of patron. Or does love have its own integrity its own power. Can love be so strong. But even when there isn't provocation to hate. One's emotional needle does not swing over and stay stuck. In that red zone of hatred. Can love the power of love. Knowify hatred. The following story. Gave me a perspective. On this question. A few months ago my husband and i went to a lecture. Given by a young. New york times war correspondent. He had covered the news coming out of iraq. And afghanistan for the past 10 years. And in his last assignment. In afghanistan he was captured by the taliban. For 7 months david road his translator and his driver. I'm in the back of a truck. Different remote villages in afghanistan. Finally they were country and into the inaccessible villages. In the tribal areas of pakistan. His captors demanded exorbitant ransom psalms from the federal government. And from his family. The us government does not pay ransom. And his family could not afford the 25 million dollars demanded for his release. When no reason was forthcoming. His his captors. Tortured and threatened to kill him. He knew that is time went by and no ransom was received. High-value as an american hostage would plummet. Is there was no chance of rescue. As no one knew where he was. You knew we had to escape. If you wanted to survive. One dark night. He and his translator. Did manage to escape. And they managed to get to a pakistani army garrison in the same time. However the soldiers would not open the gates and let them in. The tribal areas. Rc cars. The soldiers do not open the gate so they do not leave the garrison themselves. For fear of being killed. They do not open the gates and let people in because they feel. That they would be suicide bombers. Soldiers not knowing what to do. Call the garrison commander captain nadine. When he was told of the man outside he came down to see for himself. And he ordered the gates are open. You rescued david and his translator. And you arranged for their safe transport by helicopter to kabul and then. To the united states. Why did captain nadine do that. He didn't know these two men. He didn't know that these men weren't assassins. I could have exploded a device inside the compound. Until them and the other soldiers. Didn't he know that if he turn them back to the taliban a handsome reward. Did he even think about these things. We don't know if he thought along those lines. But it is doubtful. Because he opened the gate almost without hesitation. One could speculate that is a practicing muslim. He was following the islamic. Principal. Hospitality. The offering of protection and shelter to those who come to one's home seeking help. But that explanation isn't enough. We don't know cartoon nadine. David does tell us something important about him. David asked him later why he had taken that huge risk to save them. Encryption nadine responded immediately. It's only natural he said. One man can see another man suffering. Yes captain nadine recognized a young frightened desperate man a foreigner. But he could have walked away he could have kept the gate locked. He could have done nothing. Yes he's so another man suffering. What was it about that that caused him to act. I'll get back to that. This story is frightening it is set against a backdrop of hatred cruelty. Destruction and death. It is totally foreign to anything we can possibly imagine facing in our online. How to nadine and david road we're caught in exactly these circumstances. These men were not unusual or unique in any way. They are not larger than life. They are not for men. They are ordinary people. Just like you. I'm just like me. There is nothing inherently heroic. About either one of them. And yet. In the most desperate moments of their lives. The acted heroically. With the utmost courage. When anyone else might have walked away. Might have saved himself. Ignored his own safety and without hesitation. To help complete strangers. We don't know how he found the courage to act as he did. But we do know the captain nadine recognized. Someone's suffering. How do we explain his actions. Some might turn to religion. I say that even in this desperate. Terrible circumstances. The god was present. The lord is my shepherd i shall not want the samus. Charles r us. As the shepherd loves his flock. So too does god love us. And will not rest until he has made safe. Even one lost lamb. A mighty fortress is our god a bulwark never failing. Number 200. In our hymnal. Words by martin luther. Religious metaphors depict an all-powerful deity. Who will protect us from harm. The god whose limitless love works through and inspired the action. Of this muslim commander. I am sure david rhodes family said thank god they are safe. Thank god for captain nadine. For many. The only way to understand and come to terms with these frightening and horrifying event. Is in the context of a traditional faith. For others of us. We might seek a different spiritual understanding. We might say so highly principled individual and acted in a way that was morally right. Thank you certainly was. But the explanation again. We all know people who are religiously faithful. Morally upstanding. Righteous and go drive. We admire such people. And we can point to many of their works and good deeds. I standing on the side of love. And we would be right. The good deeds. Done by these individuals. Costume little. They don't have much of a price tag attached. It is not difficult for them to act as they do because they risk little to nothing. Of themselves in the process. They make no sacrifices in their own lives. They even make it praise for their efforts. In contrast captain nadine. nothing for his efforts. No financial reward public. I know he risked everything. Without hesitation he put his life on the line. What. It wasn't until i heard a quotation. By the well-known educator parker palmer. That i began to understand. Parker palmer said very simply. Break your heart. Open. Break your heart. Open. We will like to think we are sensitive to other people. And the world around us. And certainly we try to be. I also know. Screening ourselves. Protecting ourselves emotionally from things that we fear might upset or hurt us. Sometimes we even turn away. Well it may be a natural reflux. We live much more emotionally limited and circumscribe live. When we break or heart. We begin to experience life at a much deeper level of our being. In our heart of hearts. In the core of our being. In our soul. What happened to captain nadine. On seeing the escapees standing outside the fort. Captain nadine's heart was broken open. And he felt at the deepest level of his consciousness. Human connection. So strong. He had to help. How to save the ones who would otherwise die. He could do nothing else. He was bound to them by their common humanity. They were one. Their suffering was his suffering to. You're wondering at this point if i'm asking you to place yourself in a dangerous situation. To test your emotional response to these challenges. I'm not suggesting that. Lamps. The we share a strong connection. A common humanity with all other people. And by breaking her heart open by opening ourselves emotionally we will be able to relate to others at a more meaningful level. We will be able to discover that the desires the needs the frailties the fears and the joys of other people. A remarkably. Like a run. Yes it does involve taking a chance. Allowing oneself to be run. Chupacabra. Having one's feelings hurt. But it is something that we do every time we meet someone now. And we reach out to that stranger. With an overture of friendship. Right now for example in the fellowship. We are launching a large brand new program. Loser covenant group program. I'm more than 60 people have signed up to be a part of it. Each participant is being placed in the small group of six to eight. Who was the participants know each other. But some other members of the group under the fellowship. Anew to one another. One objective of the program is to develop meaningful relationships within the group. Discussion and sharing your feelings. Our second objective is to expand one's spiritual life. By probing the important religious and philosophical questions of our time. The goal is for members to form deep meaningful connections with one another. Connections which might not occur in other activities in our church life. In signing up for this program participants. Or taking a risk. Are being asked to emotionally open themselves. Other members of the group are saying. And they're being asked to share their own feelings as well. Participants cannot play it safe by choosing their best friends. Who they already know and trust. To be in their group. Nor can they choose the people who they might want to get to know. Rather eat participant particular group by the two group leaders. Yes it's a risk. That might not work out. But how big a risk is it after all. We all belong to the same fellowship. And we all share. Many of the same values. This is a safe environment. We can choose to break our our heart open here we can practice. Without danger to ourselves. That was not the case with captain nadeem. His risk was enormous. He was hoping emotionally and he could see their desperation. I'm suffering. Any actor to save the two men. He acted out of a deep well of sensitivity compassion. And selflessness. I had to contrast the hatred. Generated by a terrorist regime. What does seemingly puny efforts of one ordinary man. Trying to do the right thing. To see extreme examples. Of love and action. And the power of love to save. And the power of love over hatred. He chose love of his fellow man who chose compression. Petros selflessness. Enact love. Made all the difference. Hopefully. None of us will ever face circumstances as excruciating as those faced by these two people. But it is inevitable. Then we will all face difficulty and losses in our lives. It's not so hard. To be loving when our lives are going well. And we're on top of the world. Behave. How do we treat others. When the chips are down. And we are in the midst of adversity. Will unitarian-universalism and the principles of our faith. About the inherent worth and dignity. Be enough to sustain our. In those hard times. Or does it take much more than just giving. Today's principles. It takes a great deal more. Standing on the side of love. It is not a religious slogan. Nor is it a state of grace that we hope to achieve at some point in our lives. Standing on the side of love is based on two fundamental assumptions. The first is the realization. The we are connected. Not only to each other. But they're all other human beings. Was summed up in our opening words. Which said. By taking the time to look into one another's faces. I'm seeing their communion. The reflection of our own eyes. We are them and they are us. The second fundamental assumption. The wii. Need to recognize is that in our relationships each of us has the power to choose how we will treat other people. Weather for good. Orfordville. When we choose to treat others inhumane ways that will be beneficial. That will enrich lives in ways that are self-serving. Alienating or even hostile. There were times when we might try to rationalize our behavior. Are less-than-stellar behavior perhaps. We're still responsible for how we at. We choose how we respond to others. We never lose that power of choice. Rebecca parker who is the president of starr king theological school. Strange this very well. By saying quote. The purpose of our life is not our well-being in isolation from all others. Our well-being enters into other things. Adding a measure of health. Enjoy. Our actions matter to us. And they matter to the world. We live both for ourselves. And for one another. Unquote. So standing on the side of love. Comes down to a greasy little verb with a lot of muscle. It's the verb. To try. To try to open our hearts to others. We can be in all our relationships. Not only with people that we already know and love. But with the stranger. When we made him. It requires a huge commitment to live intentionally. To take responsibility for the choices we make. And how we treat others living intentionally. It's not easy. I we must practice hard everyday. It is our life work. I think again of those little girls cutting out their paper valentines. So they probably couldn't very well. But they did know one thing. They knew that when they shared their valentines with their classmates. They did not want to leave anyone out. Sometimes we will succeed at being our loving best. Succeed. The world will be better for our efforts. What does standing on the side of love mean to you. Let's get together and talk about it. We have a lot to share. I'm at.

uufvb_org

2015Jan25Sermon128.mp3

How many of you doug hat and gloves out this morning. So that's good canadian are we welcome canadians and we welcome canadian air. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased you've begun this crisp. And fresh day with us. We were congregation as you just saw bob. Open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual cell. Even us together the current gation we work to make our world a better place. And please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you were young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd. Whether you're feeling absolutely on top of the world this morning. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you just as you come to us and all of your particularity. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. I think you'll find something here this morning to take with you. It will make the days and the weeks ahead. Better and more joyful for you. My opening words are adapted from jean pearson's words but i'm going to take a personal moment before that. And say that of course i chose this topic quite a while ago. And at the time i did not realize that i would be going through a personal loss. And that is said a week ago. We had to make the very difficult decision to release. Our dog of 15 years and he was really my. He was i was his person and. He was my boy. And traveled all over with me from the time he was eight weeks old. So. I know that there are many people out there i'm sure. Who had to do. Make the decision that we did. And we'll feel. The loss of a beloved pet. So my opening words. How have we forgotten those days in eden. The peaceful kinship of that ancient land. How is it that in these long centuries since. We have had to deny our animal relations. Saying they had no souls. No reason. No speech. And claiming ourselves as so very different. We made a chain of things to protectis. Fire. Medicine. Are locking houses. Clothing. And we renamed those animal gifts. Farm product. Fur crop. Renewable resource. As we prepare to let our challenge this morning and focus our spirits on worship. Let us pray. That we. Will again see animal faces in the mirror of creation. The miracle of animals they're clear eyes. Their lives. As precious. As our own. My first reading is from sarah grounds book. Water for elephants. As a jacob who accesses that for the circus animals. Goes in one day soon after his arrival to feed the animals the following takes place in the book. I open the orangutans door instead of pan of fruits vegetables and nuts on the floor. As i close it. Her long arm reaches through the bars. She points at an orange in another pan. That. You want that i say. She continues to point. Blinking at me with close-set eyes. Her features are concave her face a wide platter friends with red hair. She's the most outrageous and beautiful thing i've ever seen. Here i say handing her the orange. You can have it. She takes it and sets it on the floor. Then she reaches out again. After several seconds of serious misgivings i hold out my hand. She wraps her long fingers around it. Then let's go. She sits on her haunches and peels her orange. I stare in amazement. She was thanking me. The second reading is from mary oliver poem straight talk from fox. Listen says fox it is music to run over the hills to lick do from the leaves to noah's along the edges of the ponds to smell the fat ducks and their bright feathers but far-out safe in their rafts of sleep. It's like music. To visit the orchard. Define divulge sucking suite of the apple. Or the rabbit with his fast beating heart. Death itself. Is a music. Nobody ever. Came close to writing it down awake. Or in a dream. It cannot be told. It is flashing bones changing shape. And with good cause. Mercy is a little child besides such an invention. It is music to wander the black back roads outside of town no one awake or wondering if anything miraculous is ever going to happen. Totally dumb to the fact that every moments a miracle. Don't think i haven't peeked into windows. I see you in all your seasons making love arguing talking about god as if he were an idea. Instead of the grass. Instead of the stars the rabbit caught in one good teeth whacking hit and brought home to the den. What i am. And i know it. Is responsible. Joyful. Thankful. I would not give my life for yours. For 1,000. 4000. From the words of hermann hesse. Sometimes when a bird cries out or the wind sweeps through a tree. Or dog howls in a far-off farm. I hold still. And listen. For a long time. My soul turns. And goes back to the place where 1,000 forgotten years ago the bird and the blowing wind were like. Me. And where my brothers. My soul turns into a tree and an animal and a cloudbank. Then changed. And god it comes home and asks me questions. What should i reply. What should i reply. But how can we. Reply. This experience is pretty language. It's deeper. The language. What is saying is that we are not separate from any being or thing. Zen master dogen says you shouldn't treat trees and rocks to preach the dharma. But of course. It's pretty difficult. It's pretty difficult for them to teach us if. We. Are busily destroying them. Cutting them down. Moving them out of the way. And you should ask rice fields. And gardens. For the truth. Santouka. Or perhaps you know that the un proclaimed 2009 the year of the gorilla. The un among many other organizations has raised money for these magnificent creatures. Who are threatened with extinction from disease hunting. Indeed poaching. And loss of habitat do to deforestation. No i was way late seeing the movie king kong long after it had been in the theaters any number of times. I wanted to see it but my nancy was a little resistant like me she'd seen some earlier version and didn't feel she could handle seeing this sad story again. Eventually i guess i wore her down. I didn't care that i wanted to see it so many times it's finally 11-day a few months ago we agreed together to rent it. And of course i told her that she didn't have to watch it with me. But she did. Well we tried. Imagine many if not most of you have seen one version or another. And if you haven't seen the movie. I assume that you know the basic story. A filmmaker decides to sail a ship to the mysterious skull island. To shoot a movie. Taking along a couple of actors one of homosassa. Down-on-her-luck aspiring actress named and daryl. When i get to the island they discover that it is inhabited by giant dinosaur like creatures. One of them a 30 ft tall gorilla. Is worshipped by the local natives. The native people of duct young and to offer as a sacrifice to con. But at least. In the version that i saw. And since has something in common. Perhaps this sadness. And she attempts to amuse him with her juggling and other antics. And kong. Treated kindly for perhaps the first time in his life. Falls in love with a woman and protects her from the dangers on the island. What are shipmates finally rescue her they drug kong take him back for an exhibition in new york. Ultimately, breaks free recaptures and an in confusion and desperation climbs on the top of the empire state building with her. With an waving her arms wildly and screaming no. Plain circle. Fire on kang and finally kill him. If you seen it. Did you cry. We cried. I think. If your heart isn't all open i don't know how it's possible not to cry. It is a tragic tale. It doesn't matter. But there's no real gorilla that huge. It's a story that's trying to tell us something. Ultimately i think. Something about ourselves. For me. One of the unforgettable moments in the latest version that i saw. Was when the young woman looked at con. Touched her own heart. And said looking deep into kong's eyes. Beautiful. Yes. Beautiful. Because he was. Big. And beautiful. Compassionate. And he had touched that passionate wildness. In her. Sometimes when a bird cries out or the wind sweeps through a tree or a dog. House in a far-off form eyes. Hold still. And listen. For a long time. My soul turns. And goes back to the place where 1,000 forgotten years ago. The bird in the blowing wind. We're like me. And where my brothers. I'm a great fan of the brilliant ken wilber. And i was recently listening to a conversation about evolution between ken wilber and brother wayne teasdale. And she still made a fascinating observation. When we talk about evolution. We talked about a gradual progression of awareness. And postulate that humans clearly descended. From apes. But teasdale sided jane goodall's work demonstrating that apes have a culture. And mentioned the researcher in africa who noticing how intelligent chimps are. Adopted one and actually name the chimp and taught it human behavior. He suggested. But it may not be. That we descended from apes. But rather than apes decided not to go our route. Think about this at some point 1/8 may have decided. He didn't want to get into all our human stuff. Urbanization technology and give up. The wildness of life. Close to nature. It's brain teaser. Teaser. I actually never considered that possibility. As mary oliver had brother fox say i would not give my life for 1000 of yours. Just over 20 years ago a book was published by two philosophers titled. The great ape project. Arguing that gorillas chimpanzees bonobos and orangutans should have the same basic rights as human beings. Ever since then there's been a quiet movement to get the un and governments to grant legal rights to these primate cousins of ours. I'm sure you're aware that. Ape share up to 98.7% of their dna with us. In 1999 new zealand. Granted personhood rights to the great apes. Spain did the same thing in 2008. The spanish parliament resolution at the time granting the rights of life liberty and prohibition from being tortured. Placed great apes under the quote. Moral guardianship. State. And just last month. A court in argentina. Recognize sandra a twenty-nine-year-old orangutan. As a non-human person. And ordered her freed from a zoo and transferred to a sanctuary. Saying that she had been unlawfully deprived of freedom. Ultimately i think why king kong makes me cry if that there is such a need for us for human beings. To relook. At our relationships. With creatures. They claimed naturalist aldo leopold was a hunter. A farmer. Regular kind of guy. But then one day he had an experience. He shot. A wolf. Here is the passage from his classic books and county almanac. A jeep trustee ball echoes from rimrock to rim rock rolls down the mountain and fades into the far blackness of the night. It is an outburst of wild defiance sorrow and of contempt for all the adversities of the world. Every living thing and perhaps many of dead one as well pays heed to that call. To the deer. It is a reminder of the way of all flesh. To the pine a forecast of midnight scuffles and of blood upon the snow. Do the coyote a promise of gleanings to come. To the common thread of red ink at the bank to the hunter challenge of fang against bullet. Yep behind these obvious and immediate hopes and fears there lies a deeper meaning. Known only to the mountain itself. Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of a wolf. Those unable to decipher the hidden meaning no nevertheless that it is there. Fortis felt in all wolf country and distinguishes the country from all other land it tingles in the spin of all who hear wolves at night or who scan their tracks by day. Even without sight or sound of wolf it is implicit. And a hundred small events. He goes on. My own conviction on this tour dates from the day i saw a wolf die. We were eating lunch on a high rimrock at the foot of which are turbulent river elbowed its way we saw what we thought was a do forwarding the torrent. Her breast wash in whitewater. When she climbed the bank towards us and took out her tail we realized our error it was a wolf. Half donut dozen others evidently grown pups sprang from the willows and all joined in a welcome and millie of wagging tails and playful mullings. What was literally a pile of wolves rise and tumbled in the center of an open slot at the foot of our rimrock. Now in those days we had never heard. A passing up a chance to kill a wolf. In a second. We were pumping led into the pack but with more excitement than accuracy. How to aim a steep downhill shot is always confusing. When are rifles were empty. The old. The old wolf was down. And a pup was dragging a leg. Into impossible slide rocks. We reached the old wolf in time to watch a fierce green fire. Dying in her eyes. I realized then and have known ever since. That there was something new to me in those eyes. Something known only to her and to the mountain. I was young then and full of trigger itch. I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer. But no wolves would mean hunter's paradise. But after seeing the green fire die. I sent. But neither wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view. As he wrote we reached the old wolf in time. To watch a fierce green fire. Dying in her eyes. Just as a fictional actress saw something passionate. And beautiful. In the eyes of khan so leopold. See something in the eyes of the wolf. Mary oliver puts it this way in her poem meeting wolf. There are no words. Inside his mouth inside his golden eyes. We stand silent both of us tents under the speechless but faithful trees. And this is what i think. I have given him intrusion. He has given me. A glimpse into a better. But now broken world. Not his doing. But hours. Animal eyes speak a rich language that most of us cannot understand. A language that is preverbal and primal. And mysterious. We may not be able to understand it. But we can feel it. I'm certain that like me you have sent that primal language. And moments when you have held the gaze of your domesticated cat. Or your dog. Or when you have locked eyes ever so briefly. With some animal in the wild. Once out of the retreat center i have frequent it in orlando i was out walking. And out of the corner of my eye i saw what looked like a really large cat race by. I thought it actually might be some kind of bobcat big bushy tail. Definitely larger than a domestic cat. I barely caught side of it. I sat down for a little while. A little later. I heard leaves rustling and found myself face-to-face with a fox. Just. An instant. Eyes meeting. Do the fox then turned and ran away i was left. With a feeling of having somehow. Been blessed by the encounter. You may know that the word animal comes from the latin word anima. That actually means soul. Knowing our own soul. We discover a bit of that wildness within. An organic wildness as well as a spiritual one. Our brain itself as you know is actually. Three brains circles and circles showing the course of evolution. From fish to human. The ancient innermost rain often referred to as the reptilian brain. Contains ancient species lures and functions instinctively. And non-verbally. It's the part of us that we share with bobcats and deer. Bears and foxes and. Have to do with activities like hoarding. Hunting. Bonding. Nesting. Flocking. Defending territory. And playing. Joan asked me to believe you don't do all those things. Surrounding the reptilian brain. Is the paleomammalian and then the neil mammalian or neocortex. Only the outer layer as far as we know that. Thinking and consciousness. Korean. Somewhere in our ancestral bones lies the memory of sitting around a fire in the darkness. Listening to stories being told. While the cries of animals around us on all sides. As many of the oldest tales begin. Long ago. Back when animals could talk. And people. Could understand them. We reached the old wolf in time. To watch. A fierce green fire. Dying in her eyes. That fierce green fire is being an extinguished in so many corners of our planet. Among all sentient beings really. And that extinguishing is a great threat to us. Because the great green fire. Exist within every life. In every human heart. It's not a fire that destroys. It's a fire that's wild. That's new and green and full of life. It's an aspect of our nature. That is completely. Utterly untamed. Now here we are. Moving through the second day decade of the new millennium and what is happening. I look around. And see the fierce green fire. Being extinguished. Everywhere. Everyday in iraq. In afghanistan. In haiti in sierra leone in new orleans and ferguson. In the increasing political and racial divisions in our country. In the sweatshops in the prostitution rings and the recruiting of child soldiers. In the faces of families torn apart by our immigration policies. In the beached whales and the dying coral reefs. And the poached. Ivory. In the utter savagery of isis and boko haram. In the plunder of the rainforest. In the street children of manila. Pumpkin shasha. There are an estimated 20000 children. Living in the streets victims of destruction wrought by years of war. We can literally see the fierce green fire that's going on in their eyes. And the eyes of too many. Of the world's children. The wolf is he was a kind of pathfinder. Not the common trail that's easily marked but the invisible path. To the soul. The dying green fire in the wolf ignited. The green fire. In aldo leopold. Who became. As i trust you know one of the 20th century's greatest naturalist. I think most of us have felt that fierce green fire at some time or another. And daryl felted incon. And it drew something out of her. Is it a flicker. Or flame in you. Is it a memory. Our ever-present. And if you don't feel it like you once did. What would it take. To ignite that cheers. Greenfire. Again in you. In us. How can we preserve. And nurture. That green fire. And what would happen. What would happen. If the greens fire really heated up our passion for our faith. What could we do. What would we be doing if the greenfire were ablaze in our witness to our faith tradition. If our thoughts about and dreams for our faith were wild. And free. I recently heard a six-word mission statement for a uu church. Becoming the people the world needs. I don't know about you but that sure touches the green fire in me. Just feel it. Admission becoming the people the world needs. I'll close with a very brief story that appears in paul lobes book the impossible will take a little longer. Telling the story is a young woman suffering with an unpredictable and debilitating illness. Some days for her we're great. Some she could barely move. Add a conference she attended she was frustrated by people saying that one person can't really make a difference. I commute to campus by foot along a railroad track she said. In the spring. I come across turtles who have gotten stuck. The track is littered. With the halloween shells of turtles that couldn't escape the rails. So i bend over. And i pick up the still-living trapped turtles. That i do find. I carry them to a wooded area. And let them go. For those turtles. The power that i have. Is enough. Going to ask you to or invite you to do this responsively. The words that you'll be saying are we join with the earth. And with each other and i'll kind of kill you so let's begin with we join with the earth. And with each other. To bring new life to the land. To restore the waters to. Refresh the air. We join with the earth and with each other to renew the forests to care for the plants. To protect the creatures. We join with the earth and with each other. To rejoice in the sunlight. To sing the song of the stars. We join with the earth and with each other to recreate the human community. To promote justice and peace. To remember our children. We join with the earth. And with each other. We joined together as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery. For the healing of the earth. And the renewal. Of all life. And now before we extinguish the chalice we invite you to after that go in peace. Go making peace. Love mightily. Live kindly. View the world through the eyes of compassion and with a global heart. And always always bow. To the mystery.

uufvb_org

2010Oct03sermon128.mp3

uufvb_org

2012Aug26Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. What better place to wait for the storm than in church huh. We've got a new roof. We're hopefully. So. 510 in what the heck. No problem good morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are very pleased you chose to be with us here on this. Stormy. Sunday on the treasure coast please know that you're welcome. Just as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you're feeling on top of the world this morning. Or down in the dumps or. Somewhere in between. Know that you're welcome just as you come to us this morning and all of your particularity and charm. We hope you'll find our service meaningful and enriching this morning. And then you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy. The living of life. The days ahead. My reading this morning comes from unitarian universalist minister serving one of our congregations in england. Patrick o'neal i've known him my entire career he's a great big guy. Both in terms of his physical stature and his ideas. This reading. About our religion. He writes a religious spirit is a pilgrim spirit. A spirit in search of a way to live that is aesthetic and true. Call to some serious engagement. With the world. It is not about standing still. Or the status quo. Religious living is about movement. It's about journey. A religious spirit is by its nature a questing spirit. For most of us that question. He writes takes on the form of primary questions. Questions of meaning and purpose. Questions of sacred and secular. Questions of destiny destination. Questions of how and why winston whither we are to live. How important these questions are. Philosophers and dreamers. Poets and singers petitions. Builders at warriors and explorers and i would add. Astronomers. They even make us theologians sometime. Patrick wright. The questions you ask. Can be very. Knowing many searches as you know the challenge of faith is a fairly passive. Or receptive activity. The beliefs of tradition. Systemically stated an organized overtime by theologians into doctrine or dogma. Are simply handed down to the believers. Who live in accordance with those beliefs. Membership in practice in such churches is largely a matter of conformity. And acceptance to an already defined creed. Unitarian universalist edition. We've intentionally chosen a different basis for religious community. Our way is not based. I'm such fixed body of doctrine or dogma. It has been our common practice he writes going back over four centuries. To the first unitarian communities in europe. Not to adopt. A set of creedal formula or vocabulary is a condition. Of membership. Instead we have. Fashion together. A style of spirituality. That is decidedly not passive. Not the providence. Province. A professional theologians. And then he hands. Our unitarian universalist tradition. Takes a different approach to religion. It is an approach that values connection. Over conformity. Diversity. / division. Recent. Overlined doctrine. We simply do not ask those who would join our church do you believe as we do. We know there is a much more important question. For us to engage on our journey. The root question upon which any personal theology. Orchards community must be paste. We asked those who would walk with us. What. Do. Here ends. Imagine any of you thought one of two things when you saw my sermon title this morning why not to be a unitarian universalist either at the office staff made a grievous error. And added the word not to my title or. I'm using rather cheap and obvious rhetorical device. Using reverse psychology in argument to preach a sermon on the wisdom and values ever unique. Actually it's not exactly either of these but it could be. First the possibilities are in the order of service. I don't know if you've all seen these lists i got them all the time. But church newsletters and bulletins are full of errors and here's one list that was sent to me just some of the bloopers that have been. Printed in church newsletters. Ladies don't forget the rummage sale it's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget to bring your husband's. The sermon title this morning is jesus walks on water. The sermon tonight. Searching for jesus. Minister unveiled the church's new stewardship campaign slogan up yours. And this one don't let worry kill you off. Let the church help. A bean supper will be held on tuesday night and the church hall. Music will follow. And last but not least. The low self-esteem support group will meet thursday at 7 p.m.. Please use the back door. You know. Automated are in fact. In my born again christian secretary. And one a sunday the closing hymn was one of my favorites. Number 287 faith of the free. And she had printed its face of the tree. And i was highly amused by that when i spoke to her the next monday morning you know her only contact with unitarian universalism was employee she's annoying about it. Hunting unitarians i never know i mean you're always singing praises to the natural world daffodils and metal arsenal like how was i to know this wasn't the face of the tree. The thing which made her defense all the more humorous was that she was right of course you know since our transcendentalist roots in the 18th and 19th century we have them. A faith tradition. Bound into the natural world love and respect. The beauty of the natural world that this week. I can report to you that are wonderful and careful team that puts the or. Bulletin together in a katrina and the bonnie they didn't make an error this was my title. I will admit however. I'm going to really i do really mean to give you three concrete reasons why you should not. Be a unitarian universalist and this is not simply a rhetorical device because indeed. I also want to affirm. There are the free and open religion that we practice here based on the reading that i just shared with you from patrick o'neal. Religion. Is not spiritually right. For everyone in our community. The god knows we never want to turn anyone away from our congregation or our faith denomination for that matter. It's very important to me and the leadership of our congregation that our continued our congregation continues to grow. And grow rapidly as it has the last couple of years we've grown by 35%. In the last 26 months. But when it comes. When it comes to conjugations i think growth is good. And what's more the most of my career is something of a. Unitarian universalist evangelist in fact i wrote the book on the subject. It's called salted with fire. And it was a it's been a best-seller in our movement for a long time it's 23 essays about how to share your faith. And grow your congregation and grow our denomination. And for up about five years after this book came out i was flown all over the country. Assertive is a uu sort of oral roberts. Don't call me oral alexander but that's. In effect. What i. Was. But you know. The bottom line is that are moving really needs to grow some of you may not realize just how small a religious denomination we actually are. So i decided to show you some of the numbers. In the united states of america there are. 71 million roman catholic. 47 million baptist. 13 million. 4 million shoes. And. 218. Thousand. Unitarian universal. Naviera statistic. That is if you just go up and ask an american. What religion are you. Random sampling on the street. 900000 stay on the unitarian universalist. So go figure. One of my colleagues bruce marshall wrote years ago he was once feeling really heavy about all the influence that unitarian. Universalist have in this country and in our culture until he read a newspaper article. Indicating that more americans have. Breast. Implantation surgery every year than there are unitarian universalist. There are other statistics. There are more people arrested every year for criminal fraud. There are more filipinos. Living in san diego county california. Then there are unitarian-universalist from maine to california. And there are more americans working a gambling casino tables that's over 175,000. Then there are unitarian. So while it is true that america can you use because. We have over the last couple of the american centuries bimbo. Outspoken social activist. Intellectual leaders in many case. We have had more influence and clout. In our culture. Then our numbers might indicate. The fact is. We are still a religiously. Statistically very small religion in fact when most. You see most of the religion groups. Allocated usually wear under astrix or not even mentioned at all. But current. Statistics aside. I am passionately convinced that there are no unless millions of americans out there. Who would make their spiritual home here. If they only knew we existed. Back in the fifties there was a famous advertising campaign by the layman. Put in major newspapers all over the country. Are you a unitarian without knowing it. And that brought in many many people those ads. I think. Cambro. If we can find ways to help people to know that they are at unitarian universalist in terms of their spiritual. Orientation. Do i want us to grow not because there's any virtue or value in sheer number. Aura balancing the church budget. But because i believe serious. We have a. Spiritual and moral message. The millions in our culture urine for in c. Would bring them blessing and challenge and. We have a life-affirming. Life-saving message about humanity and life on this planet. The both our nation. And our world need. We are not of course the only good. And noble and life-affirming religion on this planet. There are hundreds. Literally hundreds. A worthy and reasonable faith traditions. Scattered around this globe. Large and small. Eastern and western. Old and new hundreds of new religion. Performed every year in the world did you know that. There are thousands of good religions out there. The symbol of the teach love. Joy. Sensibility and dignity. Sodas without any. Spiritual superiority or ethical. Hegemony. Did i say i want to share my unitarian-universalist face with others. I want our honorable 500 year old religious tradition to grow simply because i believe it. Capacity. Force. For much good. In this troubled and tormented world of our. And if you are a visitor or a newcomer with us this morning. Maybe this is the faith. Spiritual and ethical path. Did you have looked for in long for your whole life. If so we want to welcome you. To that journey here. But as i've already acknowledged in my curious sermon title. Clearly uuism is not a religion for everyone. Here in this congregation. We have a certain outlook. Certain principles and beliefs. A particular way of approaching the religious life. The real not spiritually suit everyone. There are good reasons i think why some good people will not want to become. Unitarian universal. Morning. I want to focus on just three of them. Which yes by reverse logic point i think to the greatest value of our religion element that all right. My first reason. Why possibly you should not become a unitarian universalist. You should not be a unitarian universalist. If you want a sunday only religion. But you can simply pay lip service to once a week. And then go back to your daily rounds unaffected. Unchanged. And i moved. This is the methodological. Foundation. Affirmation. The separate sauce. Turn on majority of religions in the. Here in this religious community. You as a spiritual and moral individual are ultimately responsible. For shaping and honing and that means sometimes shifting. Evolving and growing. Your face. And you are further responsible for the way you live that face out. In your daily rounds. Yes we have the seven guiding principles that you find printed in your order of service every sunday. And they're they're there for you to take home and notice. We have centuries of unitarian universalist history and tradition. As well as the universal teachings of all the world's great religions. In addition to the facts of science and the wisdom of history in the inspiration of the arts. All these sources of wisdom guide us in our religious quest. But in this liberal tradition you are ultimately responsible. And free to employ your own reason. And your own conscience and your own heart. And the powerful lesson. Of your own direct experience in the world with others. In deciding for yourself what is real and true and right. We. Defer to you. The ulta. Responsibility the first informal sources your direct experience in the world. As you went your way responsibly through this complicated journey of life we expect. Use your reason and your conscience. Chapultepec. Here in this community. We have faith that a trust in you as a spiritual and moral adult. We are not going to treat. We put you in charge of your own spiritual and ethical journey within the constraints of our tradition. Encourage. Actually. We demand. Did you shave. Your own. Religious. Now some people mistake this time dogmatic fluid personal approach to mean you can simply believe or do anything you want. If you're a unitarian universalist. But in fact nothing could be further from the truth. Being a unitarian universalist means you spend a lifetime. Doing the challenging your joyful worker freaking out for yourself. In the study light of our tradition. Figuring out for yourself in the study light of our tradition. What you must believe. How you must live to honor those beliefs. What all this means. Is it going to religion. Authority for determining. Real and true and right ultimately. Rest with our long-standing articulated tradition. And your individual heart and mind and soul it's a partnership. Tradition. And you're in the. So you should not be a unitarian universalist. If you were unwilling to be an active partner. In your own spiritual and moral development. Engross. Information. No. I have several perfectly wonderful and intelligent cousins. Back in wisconsin where i grew up. Cool become very fundamentalist. Born again chris. And trust me. Because i have talked to them about their face. They would make miserable. Unitarian universalist. Because they go to church every sunday not to actively question or struggle bless their hearts. Way and reconsider spiritual and moral matters is we do. They go to church to once again hear from a higher authority than themselves. Precisely what they must believe. And how they must act. To achieve eternal salvation that is what they weren't. Well i frankly do not understand totally understand or even fully appreciate this cut-and-dried approach. I do respect. My cousins need. And comfort for it. In a car this kind of. Cast faith. But here at you uscb. We will not spoon-feed you some final info. Rather what we will do every sunday you walk in these doors we promise we will do. Is intelligently challenge you and encourage you as you grapple. With what it means for you to. Be fully and finally human. What it means for you to be a correct moral age. Being a unitarian universal. Spending a lifetime growing a soul. And forming of faith and living ethics. As you know you must. Is a lot of work. But the rewards of taking. Time to fully discover what is real and true and right. Are you. Are incredible. If this is the kind of open but demanding. Religious journey that appeals to you. You're in the right. No. Here's the second. I think you should not be a unitarian universalist. You should not be a unitarian universalist if you want a sunday only religion. That you can simply pay lip service to once a week and then go back to your daily. Round unaffected unchanged. And i moved. That was the first one. To have all right. Technology has its dangers. You should not be entering your versalus if you want to send the only relay. Many religions in america promise salvation. To those who simply swear allegiance to a particular set of old and unbending beliefs. Sunday morning television is full of such preaching. But unitarian-universalism is different. Ours is a fiercely lifestyle religion. A religion that requires action as much as it does ideas and behavior. Behavior as much as it does. 24/7 from the inside of your life out. I believe it was the famous nineteenth-century unitarian minister theodore parker was said. Be careful how you live. It is the only son sermon you will ever preach. And the early universalist whose primary message was that god is love. Kimberly todd. The human beings find salvation. Not by faith. By character. Salvation by character. Their slogan. When i was growing up in the sixties in my hometown uu church in racine wisconsin. One of my ministers favorite sayings was. Don't tell me what you believe. Show me how you live. And that pretty much summarizes the driving spirit. An ethic of our faith. Here in this congregation. We expect there to be a congruence. Between your core beliefs. What you believe to be real and true and right. And your behavior. How you touch life. And sir. Life in person. If you were unitarian universalist. Your beliefs again those beliefs you home by the light of our tradition in your own experience. Must be actively practiced and embodied in your living. Years ago as my colleague hearing reserve who served our church are big church in st. paul minnesota. Who put a marketa marketa love than all of the ministers stole that year. It was his title that sunday was. If dina unitarian-universalist were against the law. Would there be enough evidence to convict you. He hoped of course that the answer for most would be yes. As a unitarian universalist you are expecting. To actively live. By the light of your principles and your values. And participate in the positive transformation of human life. Short all that is good and just. And kind and key. But this does not mean of course. The unitarian universalist are perfect. Let me tell you firsthand this is not the case. One of the most i have a spouse i've lived with him for 30 years i'm almost irritating things he does with me. Is when we're driving and i'm irritated the drivers in front of me and i say something perhaps i shouldn't in the confines of the car. He said well that's not what i heard in church last sunday. God i hate it is there anything worse than to have your own stuff thrown back at you by your spouse it's it's just a nightmare. Being a unitarian universalist. Doesn't mean you practice all this stuff perfectly this blessing light and goodness. Compassion. It means that you're constantly working. I'm using your own head and heart and soul. To bring it into accordance. With your. Cheapest. And most passionately. Tina you you mean you're willfully in a journey toward a fuller more authentic. Compassionate self. And that you spend a lifetime. And yes that means 7 days a week. Becoming the kind. Spiritual and ethical person. Of which you are cape. In some ways. Being a unitarian universalist is choosing. With full hardin free will. To be on the most demanding religious tyranny of wall. Unlike my cousins who can go to church and rest easy cuz i've heard it again and they all know what it is. We send you out of here go to work. Get back to it. Work on yourself work on the world. And being that you you also means. You can't just do this as an individual active. You have to join with others. And helping to transform our world in accordance. What's what yubel. This is why we have so many community outreach projects here and social justice commitment. Carrot uscb. It's not enough to be a unitarian universalist in some sort of splendid isolation. We have to pool our resources. Combine our efforts. Roll up our sleeves together. To make the kind of world. That we dream of. Alright. And then there is the third. And for my purposes this morning final reason. Why you should not be a unitarian universalist. You should not be unitarian universalist i hope we have it here. If you believe. People are bad and life is sad. Now this little rhyme thing if the glove doesn't fit you must acquit. Well i couldn't get that out of my head so. If you basically believe. People are bad and life is sad. You're not going to work out here. Since its earliest beginnings more than 500 years ago. Our religious tradition both the unitarian side. And the universalists. Have always been distinctly life-affirming. And humanity of. It is not of course. That we do not with the rest of humanity occasionally get terribly. Discouraged. Disheartened. Steven despondent. Over life's most difficult situations. And humanities. Inhumanity. We do. To live in this beautiful yet broken creation of ours is of necessity. To experience a measure of sadness. And worrying discouragement. Put in the broad constellation of american faith group. We have always been theological and spiritual. We are not a doomsday people. But rather of faith. Community. Always ready to work for what is possible and it's the world we live in we are not a religion always looking. To the better world the next world because this one is so. Messed up we'd rather work on the one. We know. Ever since. Our religious tradition blossom. In 17th and 18th century new england. The positive theological reaction. The dark and pessimistic doctor. Calvinistic puritanism. Which understood humanity you all know he meant the puritan view was it humanity. Depraved. An earthly life. Was to be available tears you simply got through to. Could get. Some better world. We have been spiritually uniquely. Hopeful. About the human future about the prevailing and persistent goodness of. And about humanities and society's potential. For progress. And a nobleman's. And i would add now survival. Cuz humanities. Survival on this play. We have always been optima. Back when both the unitarians and the universalist were liberal christian sects. And we do have distinctly christian roots even though today. We look to all the world's great religions. Trusting that they all have. Teacher. But back in the early days i religious forebears affirm. That this creation was created. And was eternally animated by a good and loving god. A good and loving god. Who's positive qualities. Where the essential nature of his children on the words god. Light. And love. Reflected. As a religious tradition we've always believed in the basic goodness. And potential of both individuals and society. And we've always assumed both individual character. And societal progress. Are possible. Just one example. Tooele illustrative of the difference between our theological optimist. In the theological negativism of others. When a baby is born into many orthodox tradition. Roman catholic. Or fundamentalist chris. There is usually a ceremony of baptism. To wash away. The original. Sim. Of the infant. The presumption being the baby is naturally born already. Weakness and simple. I want a baby is born in the one archive. We celebrate a ceremony of naming and dedication using water. Not to cleanse away. Some pre-existing evil. Who can see that in a baby. But rather. To welcome the child. In all of his or her original blessing. It's not that unitarian-universalist don't realize that some babies grow up to be nasty. Or even evil. We do. We begin life however by thinking that the glasses. At least. As opposed to be. Empty. Now as you might expect. Will you use it often been accused by are more orthodox friends of not having quote. A sufficient. Doctrine of sim. The takes fully into account the errors and evils of all society a since they've called us kind of funeral pie optimus about people in society. Not fully ready to face. The tragic. An ugly dimensions of life. We have been accused of. Recently one of my colleagues is very critical of our movement is a whole aisle at won't name him. Does the unitarian universalist and their spiritual relationship with creation. Wheel of bambi. But not the wolf the stalks and kills bambi for food. His point being. The world is a darker place than. Summer. True enough i suppose as a cheap spiritual shotgun. But the reason that i am startled unitarian universalist. I'm a third-generation. But i continually recommit. To this is my spiritual home. Is because. I want in my face life to begin each day. Positive empowered and purposeful place focusing first on what is right and what is potential. Within myself. And within all of you and within the world rather than what is obviously broken or flawed. We're going to be a hard. Log. Do i grant you. These are not the easiest. X. To be robustly sanguine about the potential. For progress in human life and culture what was so much. Warfare and terrorism in depression and crime and newspapers every morning. Not even after the unbelievable natural devastation. We've had over the last couple of years with floods. Wildfire. It's a tough time to be. Real optimistic. And real glibly affirming about the. Fatality and grace of our. Natural world. But for me at least. I wish to spiritually arise. Every morning. Not the morning and cataloging all of the world's problems and sorrows and dangerous real as they are and needing our efforts. But rather i want to lean gladly and purposefully into the day with. Spiritual energy and hope. What is dawning. As it does every day i'm grace. And goodness and. Possibility. It is not spiritually naive. I will assert. To believe that despite all of its heartaches and disappointments. And tragedies. Human life. Can be transformed. Into a better and more beautiful thing and. As if you need any scientific support. For this positive spiritual approach to life. Every recent study. Of human happiness. And personal effectiveness. The social psychologist. Heaven writing lease. All points to those who do best in life. Are those. Who tend to see the world in a more positive. And believe that they can be. They lend themselves possibly into the world and it. So newcomers old-timers alike. If you make this place your spiritual home. Come here expecting not to hear an endless jewelry catalog of what's wrong with the world. Do we do of course name those things. But rather. Come to this place. Expecting to hear how we. As flawed but richly potential person. Can lend our hopes. Our dreams and our talents. The ongoing human struggle. To transform this planet. Into a much better. Unsurvivable. These are the higher holy. Hopes. Which have built this. So there you have it. Three perfectly good reason. Why some people should not should. Stick with more orthodox religions and not become unitarian. But stated positively and that of course is my whole spiritual point this more. These three reasons why you should not be a you you can stay be stated positively. And here they are. To be a unitarian. Abia unitarian universal. Because you want to be an active. And respected partner. In your own spiritual transformation nfl growth. For here you will be both trusted and challenged. Touche. Your own religious faith. Seconds be a unitarian universalist because you want a seven-day-a-week religion. A 52-week year face. Where you are growing a soul. And creating everyday congruence. Between your core beliefs. And your daily behavior. For here. Expect you. To live. Congruence. With what. Everyday. And 3rd. Unitarian universalist because you want a positive and purpose for religion. That gives you the spiritual energy to do your part. In this complex and broken world of ours. In transforming human life. Tour decency. For justice. For gentleness and love. To be a unitarian universalist. And i close with these words. Is to spend a lifetime. Being thoughtful irresponsible. And joyfully engaged in your world. To be a unitarian universalist means you know deep to your heart. But life is good. And that it matters profoundly profoundly it matter. That you live lovingly and compassionately and well. In your daily affair. It is not an easy journey. What does o v bless and challenge you. So whoever you are. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey. Come travel with us. For there is room now only cuz we have 1000-seat sanctuary is there room. There is room for you. Just as you are. In this house. Of love and hope. We need. The gift. Of your hands. And your heart. And i say your name. The words of my friend and colleague john curotto. We will keep a place for you. We will keep a place for you. Wherever you may go. Will sustain this home of faith and love. You've come to know. Going pee springhope two hearts that urine. We will keep a place for you until you return. Smiles in size of days gone by our blessings we hold dear. Voices. That one memory. Call softly. To us here. Go in peace. Springhope two hearts. That urine. We will keep a place for. Until you return. Have a good week.

uufvb_org

2011Jan23Sermon128.mp3

When referring to issues of sexuality and western christianity. Karen armstrong a former nun author and prolific scholar of religions. Talks about the long struggle. To bring sexuality. Into the ambit. Of the sacred. Indeed as i prepared for today. I thought a lot about why. Sexuality. Is not best left for lecturer or a fourth friday. Potluck discussion. But deserved. To be a part of this time. Abortion. And reflection. And i kept thinking about how sexuality enriches our lives. And is an integral part. Of who we are. When we come together as a religious community. To pursue meaning. We bring with us our whole self. Part of which. Is our sexual self. It is not at the forefront of our thoughts all the time i hope. But it is there. And it influences many of our thoughts. Action. And choices. Sexuality is essential to who we are. Two are being whole individuals who are in relationship with others. And therefore. Worth. Of consideration. This sunday morning. Furthermore as a religious leader in this community. I recognize the responsibility. All religious leaders have to the spiritual emotional and physical well-being. Of their religious congregation. Many religious traditions recognized the sacredness of expressing love and generating life. Of the need for mutual companionship and the sharing of pleasure. We are called. To be stewards of the gifts of our bodies. And our sexuality. Bought. Sadly. There is also the possibility of suffering caused by the abuse and exploitation. Of these gifts. The silence about healthy sexuality in our society. Is having an impact. In the quality of life. Of many people. Young and old. And it is time. We. Speak out. When gay teenagers. Commit suicide. As a result. Of being bullied. Or feeling despair and hopelessness. Because of who they are. It is time. To speak up. When young people are exposed to show such a 16 and pregnant. Teen mom. And skins. We have to ask ourselves. If we truly want the media. To educate youth. About sexuality. Attitudes. Appear. To be slowly changing. As we saw with the repeal of the military's don't ask don't tell policy. And as the state of florida refuse to appeal the third district court's ruling. That the thirty-year-old thirty-three-year-old ban on gay adoptions. Is unconstitutional. Yet the conversation. Around these topics. Continue. To be heated. Sadly. Some of it is fostered. By religious communities. Believes. About sexuality. From a religious point of view. Sexuality needs to be celebrated with joy. Holiness. And integrity. But it also. Demand. Understanding. Respect. And self-discipline. That is where i believe. Religious communities. Have a responsibility. That is why we celebrate. The our whole life ministry. At this fellowship. Today. One of the choices i have made because of my work with this congregation. Is to become involved. In the owl program. And i've even been so moved and transformed by this that i. Become a certified sexuality educator. This program offers curricula for all ages. Kindergarten. Through adulthood. Last fall the owl team and please stand as your name is called. Barbara beckham. Steve lapointe who is teaching the youth on the second floor. Judy orcutt. Thank you. You may be seated. Various guest speakers from the community. And i offered the teen out program. 213 use from our community. This is the fifth year. That we offer this program. But as you can imagine. Working with 13. 2 sometimes we have 20 youth. Once a year. In indian river county. Really doesn't cut it. I was in a meeting last week. And i found out that just in the last month. In in the last month there have been 13. Pregnancy. In north. And it just shows. Why these programs are important. Education is alone is not going to solve the problem. But it is a. Of the puzzle. And when we don't speak up about how important this is. We are not only doing our children a disservice. But we are doing our community. A disservice. Because our community. Has to deal with the consequences. Of what happened. When children. Are having to. In the past aside from the t now we have also offered the kindergarten and the adult elk. And what i'd like to share with you is an analogy that i've adapted from a presentation. From a fellow sexuality. Educator. And this is a reflection that she made on why. Sexuality education. Important. Her name is elizabeth canfield and she says. I've often wondered. What it would be like. If we taught young people. Swimming. In the same way we teach sexuality. If we told them. That swimming was an important adult activity. One day we'll have to be skilled at when they grow up. But we never talked to them about it. We never showed them the pool. We just allowed them to stand outside closed doors and listen. To all the splashing. Occasionally. They might catch a glimpse of partially closed people going in and out of the door to the pool. And maybe. They find a hidden book. On the arts. Swimming. But. When they asked a question about swimming what it felt like. Or what it was about. They would be greeted with blank stares. And embarrassed look. Suddenly. When they turn 18. We would swing open the doors to the pool and they would jump in. Miraculously. Some might learn to tread water. But many. Sadly. Would drown. The reflection of elizabeth canfield. Wouldn't it be nice. If there were alternatives. To treading or drowning. When it comes to sexuality education. Teaching. And being open about sexuality. It is a viable option. The tea now program can help move towards into integration. When you hear about sexuality. As a healthy part of the whole person. The owl curriculum goes beyond anatomy. Prevention and disease. The lessons are all based on sexuality. Encompassing five different areas. Sensuality. Intimacy. Sexual identity. Sexual health. And sexualisation. I invite each of you. To reflect on these turn. As they are described. And to think about what is holy. And sacred. In what each. Implies. The first is sensuality. Sensuality is the awareness. Acceptance of. And comfort. With one's own body. It includes the physiological and psychological enjoyment. Of one's body. And the bodies of others. We are sensual beans. Everyday smells and sensations bombard our senses. On a more personal level. Many of us are aware of our sensuality as we dress. Or apply perfume or cologne. How many of us. Feel comfortable. In our body cells. How many of us can comfortably relish. In the sensuality. That comes from being alive in the world. Do we feel safe. In our body cells. Do we feel honored and respected. Respected. Where do we learn to honor respect. And be aware of the beauty of our bodies. And all the perceptions we make with our senses. Do we learn this at home. From exposure to the media. Do our faith communities. Have a role in this learning. The second component intimacy. Refers to the ability and need to experience emotional close. To another human being. And have it returned. Intimacy is about trust. Honesty. Caring. Sharing oneself. About being aware of the needs of another. Intimacy requires. Communication. All of these aspects of intimacy. Are important. Not just with a particular partner in the context of a consensual sexual relationship. But with the people we are in relationship with at work. At home at school in our fellowship. These aspects of intimacy. Are important in community building. And. Relationship. A member of our congregation who is no longer with us. When levi used to greet visitors with a smile and a phrase. Hello my friend. Is open genuine welcome. Was a true sharing of himself. And open the door to intimacy with our faith community. How do we learn about intimacy. How do we honor intimacy in the different relationships we have. With friends. Family members. Sexual partners. Do our faith communities. How they roll. In helping us learn. About intimate. These two aspects of sexuality. Sensuality and intimacy. Seemed to me the most related to spirituality. When we think of the spiritual. Regardless of our theology. It inspires awe for that which surrounds us. And the connections. I feel towards the transcendence. The sensuality we can experience through our senses. Also produces a feeling of awe and connection. Intimacy. If you will. With nature. And with others. Sexuality seen in a positive light. Is another way to experience connection. And relish. In the possibilities. Of the senses. There's a part of who we are. How is it. That it has become dirty and unmentionable. As a species we need to reproduce to survive. Yet it seems like we have become so disconnected with nature. That the sacredness of bringing forth new life. And sharing intimacy with another. Has become taboo. The third component. Sexual identity. Refers to the development of who we are. Sexually. Including a sense of maleness and femaleness. It includes biological sex. Which is the physiology were born with. Gender identity. Which means how we identify with that biological gender. Gender roles. Which we heard about in our story. And sexual orientation. Which actually has three components. Who we are attracted to romantically or who we are in love with. Who we are attracted to affectionately or who we like. And who we are attracted to erratically. Which means those we are attracted to physically. As you can see this is a very. Complicated. Opponents of sexuality. And. One of the components that is most easily. Misunderstood. So how do we learn about gender roles. How do we learn about sexual identity. Is there a role in our faith communities. In teaching. About sexual identity. The fourth component sexual-health. And reproduction. Encompasses the attitudes and behaviors related to childbearing. Hygiene and health consequences of sexual. Behavior. It not only encompasses anatomy and physiology. But feelings and attitude. Which are influence. By our values. Which is weknow intern. Our influence. Buy archaeology. Adequate reproductive information helps us care for partners our children and ourselves. Do faith communities have a role in advocating for sexual and spiritual wholeness. In society. Is there a role for faith communities to support parents. In their role as primary sexuality educators of their children. For supporting adults as they mature and their relationships. Evolve. Lastly. Sexualization. Refers to the use of sexuality. To influence control or manipulate others. Include sexual harassment. Antabuse. And other behavior behavior such as flirting. And seduction which can be part of a healthy sexual relationship. What description of sexualization. Is that it imbues with sexuality. Something not inherently sexual. Selling a car for example can be a very straightforward proposition. Using a pretty young scantily-dressed. Woman to sell cars. Takes it to another level. We can all think of instances in which sexualization occurs. Do faith communities. How to roll. In addressing sexualization. And its effect. On individuals. Inherent. Worth. And dignity. These last three aspects of sexuality. Sexual identity sexual health. And sexual. Ed. Sexualization. Are areas in which a social justice. Opponent. Is palpable. If we truly respect. An honor the inherent worth and dignity. Of the individual. It includes. Honoring. Their whole self. Which means they're sexual self to. Education about sexual health. Reproduction and sexual ization. Is one way. We support the rights. Of individuals. Education and also contribute to reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies. That sometimes result in abortion. Or children born to parents were children themselves. For children waiting to be adopted. Late. Into their teen years. Education can be a tool to empower women. To control the size of their families. On a planet that is zooming toward a population of 7 billion people. And all the environmental issues. That that entail. Education to support understanding about sexualisation. Can make a difference. In the live of individuals. Who are discriminated against. And sometimes mistreated. Because of their gender identity. Or sexual orientation. Maybe. Maybe in the future we will live in a community. That embraces the whole individual. Including. The sexual self. Maybe we can come together and talk about our believe around sexuality. If we can listen. And learn. Together. Being a part of this conversation. Is an important contribution. People of faith. Can make to adjust. And healthy society. This conversation can begin. In the heart of our congregation. On a sunday morning. How can we support each other. And how can we support our community. So all may honor. Sacredness. A sexuality. In our lives. I invite each and everyone of you. To be a part of this conversation. Support teen outreach to the community. Help us get the word out. Help us fund the program and scholarships. For those who need them. 13 teenagers a year just doesn't cut it. Participate in the adult i'll program when it is offered at the fellowship. Better yet. Let me know if you would like to see a program. Offered soon. Urged political leaders to fun sexuality programs for teens. That are fat face. Not based on ideology. Or wishful. Thinking. Like. Just say no. Speak out. When someone is being disrespected. Because of his. Or her sexual orientation. Or his or her gender. Our unitarian universal universalist theology. Peaches. There is a spark. Of the divine. In each person. The journeys of emerging self-awareness through sensuality intimacy and sexual identity. Bring us even closer to knowing. Honoring. And revealing. The spark. We each. Carrie. Through giving and receiving. Touching and embracing. We come. Even closer to knowing. 2 honoring. And too revealing. Depressant. Of the holiness. Wholeness. That we each bring. May it be so.

uufvb_org

2014Mar23Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. And what a beautiful day it is in the treasure coast last night my bedroom windows were open all night i can hear the night sounds but a great place to live and welcome. The unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida we are glad you have chosen to start your day with us. We were current gation as you just saw up on the. Bored. Of open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking individually to become our best selves. Even as together we work to make our world a better place. And please know that you're welcome precisely as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you're feeling absolutely on top of the world or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are glad to see you just as you come to us this morning. We hope you'll find our services morning meaningful and enriching that you'll find something here this morning to take with you. To feed your spirit and nourish your soul. And give you renewed energy and joy and purpose. For the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. Are opening words this morning. Come from 20th century american poet. Carl sandburg. I was born in the morning of the world so i know what morning how morning looks. Morning in the valley waiting. Morning in the mountain wanting. Morning looks like people look. What are cornfield wanting. Corn. By cassie wanting ship. Tell me about any strong beautiful wanting. And there is your morning. My morning. Everybody's. This this picture. Is that my brother eric alexander this photo of him which appeared on the front page of the local newspaper in grand rapids michigan where he lived was taken a few years back when he was a curator. At the city museum there. It is a picture of my quirky. Interesting and smart brother taking an mri of an ancient petrified native american skull. As part of his work. What's museum's collection. In addition to being a museum curator and college teacher. My brother was also an alcoholic. So addicted to the drug of alcohol. But he drank himself to death four years ago. The last time i saw my brother-in-law i was when i visited him at a residential treatment center. In oxnard california where he was trying to break his addiction. To the drug. Which by then had ravaged his body and wreak havoc in all his relationships. Just a few weeks later back in home in grand rapids michigan drinking again. And unable to control his addiction he died alone. At the age of 54. Every year in america addiction to the drug of alcohol kills some. 80000 people. That's 200. 14. Men or women. Every. Single. And this was most of you know. Is the accomplished american actor philip seymour hoffman widely-acclaimed is perhaps the most. Daring talented. And versatile actor of our time. Another very smart. Interesting and talented person who succumb. Turn addiction to drugs just a few weeks ago now. In hoffman's case the deadly drug was as you all know heroin. Mixed his autopsy revealed. With prescription opiates like oxycontin oxycodone. And vicodin. To which had become addicted years ago. And from which he was able to unable to break free despite repeated treatment. By highly qualified professionals. In the end he like my brother died alone. Both his body and his relationships fraying beneath the unrelenting damage. These drugs inevitably cause. Every year in america addiction to opiate drugs like heroin cocaine and oxycontin. Kill. More than 40,000 people that's 110. Men and women. Every. And this this is a photo. A four guys smoking cigarettes outside a bar i don't know them. I simply shot this photo on the web and couldn't resist it. I know nothing about their particular health situations beyond the obvious observation. But here they are engaging into. Unhealthy addictive habits simultaneously. And we know that regularly smoking. Being addicted to the stimulant drug. That is in tobacco nicotine. Is the deadliest of all drug habits known to humanity at least in terms of the sheer number of its victims. Every year in america. More than are you ready for this number. More than every year 400,000 of our fellow citizens died. From habitual tobacco use that's 1100 of our fellow citizens. Lost every. It is estimated by various health studies that regular smoking shortens one life span between anywhere from 10 to 30 years. Indeed one anti-smoking website i consulted point out pointed out that the drug of tobacco which delivers the stimulant nicotine. Kills almost everyone. Who uses it for very long. And now let's move on to discuss the drug. But most of america is talking about and threading in arguing about these days. I found this mellow fellows picture on the web when i googled pothead. Answer me at least this guy looks like he's clearly under the influence of marijuana. Note the glazed-over eyes and the rather how shall i say this spacey expression. Marijuana. Is a mind and mood-altering drug most americans think somewhere lies between alcohol. And caffeine. And i up alcohol caffeine and nicotine. Play somewhere between those drugs. And the so-called hard drugs like heroin cocaine and other opiates. It lies somewhere between them most of us think on the danger addiction scale even though. This drug is hardly ever associated with human fatalities. Indeed when you googled drug deaths in america the number of drafts a deaths attributed. To marijuana last year. Was. 0. A big. Fat. 0. The federal centers for disease control reports that a single american died last year or the year before. From marijuana use. Yet despite these benign statistics. It is a debate over the legalization of marijuana. Whether or not legalization will prove to be a good or a healthy thing. For individuals or for american society as a whole it is this argument that is fiercely dividing america today. Many americans i'm sure many of you. Things that marijuana. Could be treated and regulated about like alcohol and tobacco are today. As socially acceptable legal drugs produced and taxed. Under the watchful eye of government. Illegal for adult citizens if they are used moderately responsibly i think that's one position many of you cleave to. Where is many other americans and surely many others of you. Believe that marijuana is a powerful. Mind bending and mind stupefying drug which dilutes and diminishes. The human personality. And often proves to be a dangerous stepping stone. To the abuse of more dangerous and deadly hard drugs. Which should therefore this argument goes for the safety and health of everyone should remain is unavailable and illegal. As we as a society can make it. There are nuances in this debate of course but basically the divide here. Is between those who see marijuana as a low-risk low dangerous enchilada harmless drug that should be made legal. And those who see it. Very much otherwise. Now a little more than a year after colorado and washington state legalized the drug for both. Medicinal and recreational purposes about half of the remaining united states. Curiously both in liberal and conservative regions of our country. Are considering legalizing marijuana as well and surely it is only a matter of time. Until the federal government and our elected representatives in washington. Take up this public policy issue as well it's coming as a public policy issue. All across america. And inevitably once the marijuana debate is assumedly settle. In the coming months and years. Surely what will follow is passionate public debate on about the legalization. Or at least the decriminalization. Of other more potent. And obviously more dangerous and mind-altering drugs. Drugs. And how we as a society. We'll deal with them. Is a moral and a health issue. That we as americans are going to have to increasingly way and consider. I-41. And passionately convinced. That the health and wellness of both our society as a whole. An individual americans singularly. Will be affected by what we determined as a society. As both legal and socially acceptable the stakes for this debate. I believe are very high. So this morning as i continue my year-long sermon series exploring some of our cultures. Most persistent and perplexing moral and dilemmas and ethical arguments. I want to see if i can shed at least some useful light on this critical debate. And i do so a course from the unitarian universalist. Ethical and spiritual perspective after all we're here in church this morning this is not a wednesday lecture at the women's club. I believe the values in the spirit of our religion do speak to this issue. Now i must confess. But as soon as i settle on this topic this morning and began. Arduously researching the complicated and nuanced issues that swirl around drugs in america. I was reminded of the saying. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread i announced that the newsletter i started researching and i say can i get out of this. But here i am. I quickly realized the reason drugs and whether or not we should legalize them or criminalize them. Are a controversial point of debate because. Durable sound reasonable and coherent arguments on both sides. So if you came here this morning thinking that i was going to swiftly. And persuasively settle this issue once and for all from on high. You're going to leave this morning. Vastly disappointed. Given the nuances complexities and crosscurrents. Of the drug issue i believe the clear and simplistic public policy. Will elude us. Probably for a very long time. That said let me know venture into some sharing some perspectives that might be helpful to you. As you personally think about the issue as a unitarian universalist. And we're in the coming public policy debate. You're going to stand. First in the name of full and frank disclosure i must tell you that almost everyday of my life i used to. Mind. Body altering drugs. And i'm not particularly proud of either have it. Every morning right after i wake up i drink a couple of cups of coffee strong coffee. Largely for the welcome stimulation the drug-testing provides my still sleepy body dear god. I love that first cup of morning joe with my new york times thank you jesus. Even though subsequent cups often make me jittery. And sometimes when i get to the office my staff says slow down scott. Then at the other end of the day most evenings after a long day of work exercise and other activities. I usually drink some alcohol usually beer wine. Largely to relax my body and mind just a bit. And what the way i like to think about it take the edge off the day. In my daily life that i have been thoroughly used to non-prescribed. And admittedly non-essential drugs. To someone alter how i experienced life and people around me. Now as you know these two drugs caffeine and alcohol are both. More less socially acceptable certainly legal. And arguably if used responsibly and in moderation. Do not significantly harm or endanger people like me. Who takes them. Wisely. Still i'm aware that i'm choosing on a regular basis. To alter the natural state of both my mind and my body by taking these unnecessary drugs. Second if you hear nothing else for me this morning here this next paragraph. Ford is really the center in the soul. Of what i'm going to offer you this morning. I believe all the non-medical non-essential mind and body altering drugs we take. All the non-prescribed drugs whether legal or illegal. That either hyper sup or dopest down inevitably here's the key phrase. Diminish our full and natural and vibrant humanity. Deprive us of some of what we wondrously are. Here is one of the first and foremost facts of our human being i believe. We were made to walk on this earth and interact with one another upright and proud with clear heads. Healthy bodies at attentive spirits. And drugs that alter that clarity of engagement clearly are not over the long run of our lives. In our best human interest. Let me see the little differently. We human beings were not meant. To stumble or kareem ordos our way through our days doped and drugged up or down wrecking cars and careers. Marriages and families along. The way. At our full matural human best. We are alert. Sober. Engaged interacting with our world with just as much clarity and enthusiasm. As we can muster. That is what we were made. In every congregation i have served over the last 40 years of my ministry i've repeatedly reaffirmed my belief. That the religious life is all about mindfully devoting yourself. To building full of healthy relationships in life. Religion religare rebuild up relationships bind up. Relationships of depth and passion and caring enjoy with self with others with nature. And with that great mystery of the whole. The song called god. It seems to me. An undeniable truth. That the regular use of most presently. Illegal. Mind and body altering drugs. Diminishes our natural ability to form and keep robust. Healthy. Life satisfying relationships. With both life. Within. I believe it is just that pure and just that simple. When i recently discussed all of this with one of our members here. Who has long been a member of aa working on his own sobriety and health. He said to me that he personally believes that habitually using drugs. Whether it's alcohol or marijuana or heroin. Inevitably leads and now i quote him. To a slow subtle erosion. Who you are as a person. In a very provocative recent editorial in the new york times entitled we'd been there done that. David brooks was a celebrated speaker here just a few years ago at the emerson center. He suggests that by legalizing marijuana in this time. The states of colorado and washington are and now i quote him. Nurturing amoral ecology. In which does a bit harder. To be the sort of person. Most of us want to be. Don't repeat that. The states are nurturing a moral ecology in which is a bit harder. To be the sort of person. Most of us want to be. Brooks talks about his own teenage experimentation with marijuana with his friends. And says his eventual rejection of the habit. We didn't give it up for the obvious health reason. That it is addictive in about one out of six teenagers that smoking and driving is a good way to get yourself killed. The young people who smoke go on to suffer iq loss and perform worst on other worse on other cognitive test. We didn't even given up brooks says. Because. One of the smartest guys in our group became addicted to weed and sunk. Deeper and deeper into the life of a pothead. We gave it up you said because most of us developed. Higher pleasures. Most of us figured out early that's smoking weed doesn't make you funnier. Or more creative. Anthony point south academic studies confirm that you really aren't funny or smarter when you do do. We graduated he writes. Two more satisfying pleasures. The deeper sources of happiness usually involve a state of going somewhere. Becoming better at something. Learning more about something overcoming difficulties and experiencing a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment in your life. And then suggesting that legalizing marijuana is not good social policy he conclude. It legalizing weed citizens of washington and colorado. Are these enhancing individual freedom. But the larger question brooks points out. What sort of individuals individuals and behaviors. Do our governments want to encourage. I would say he goes on. Didn't healthy society government wants to subtly tip the scale in favor of temperate. Prudent. Self-governing. Citizenship. In those societies he concludes. Government subtly encourages the higher pleasures. Like enjoying the arts. Or being out in nature. And discourages lesser pleasures. Like being stoned. Look. Like david brooks i do not regard marijuana is some sort of great and dangerous societal scourge. But instantly destroys your brain. Makes you an apathetic pothead or even leads inevitably. To harder and decidedly more deadly drugs like heroin or cocaine. Marijuana in my view can be used moderately and safely and responsibly. Much like alcohol is used by millions upon millions of america. And doesn't necessarily function i don't think. As a stepping stone drug leading to heroin and cocaine abuse. Although i have absolutely no use for this drug myself. I personally know people who occasionally use it. To no real apparent personal or societal detriment that at least i can discern. But i do believe again as i have already approved this morning that in the overview spiritually. Okay. We are far better off as human beings when we steer clear of medically unnecessary. Mind and body altering drugs as much as possible we're just better off. Speaking personally. I would. Personally discourage any young people say the children of my nieces and nephews. And mike's in my extended family from ever developing a marijuana have it. Again drugs that we do not need for medical reasons. Diminish both the clarity of our perceptions and engagement. And i think the quality ultimately in the satisfaction we find in all our relationships. To our five senses. Select david brooks i'm not personally persuaded. But the quote full cultural acceptance and total legalization of drugs on quote. Is it good thing for either of us individually or for the society. In fact i would say that i generally would discourage. Drug use even my own limited drug use. But all that said i want to move on to my third and final point this morning. While i am not based on what i have already affirmed. Obviously in favor. Full and unequivocal societal acceptance. And legal acceptance. Of the drugs currently banned in the united states i am in favor. And i do not believe this to be an ill logical contradiction. I am in favor of systematically decriminalizing. Their possession and use. I believe the so-called american war on drugs. Which federal state and local governments have been waging in our country for the last several decades. Has been an unmitigated. And costly social and legal failure. Our societies criminalization of drug possession and used by means of harsh. Legal penalties and long prison sentences. Has filled our prisons. Has increased crime. Has cost billions upon billions of dollars that could have been otherwise used. For societies benefit like universal healthcare. It has wrecked social and family having especially in for minority communities. Has created illicit drug cartels and their mayhem all over the world. All well totally failing. Totally fail. To curb drug use and drug deaths. In every sector of our american society. I believe that rather than criminalizing drug use and punishing those who fall under its spell. We need to focus our societal efforts and effective and systematic education and treatment. Let me give just one example of what this compassionate. Chef. Of emphasis. Might look like this new way of thinking about drugs. And those who use them. In spite of our masley. A massive and costly war on drugs. Heroin use in the united states right now is soaring. Thanks to the ever-expanding supply of this drug produced by the violent drug cartels. In mexico. In just the last six years despite our massive interdiction efforts and harsh penalties. The number of heroin users in the united states. Has almost doubled increasing her about 375000 citizens. To 600. 20000 citizen. Almost one in five hundred of our american citizens. Are hooked on here. 1. 5. But in switzerland. Which has shifted its national drug policy to emphasize education and treatment. Rather than criminalization and imprisonment. Heroin use has gone in the opposite direction. It is dropped dramatically. In the late 1990s you may not know the swiss people tired of having their parks. And they're real weigh stations bustling with iv drug users and sellers. And watching both crime and hiv infection rates sore all over switzerland about 15 years ago. The swiss people approved referendum. To decriminalize heroin use and possession. They set up heroin addiction treatment programs or hat hiit program. The provide treatment on demand. A clean accessible state-run heroin clinics. Where chronic addicts can receive free medicine. Anytime they well it was in scheduled anytime they wanted they can have it. As a result of the shift in public policy away from punishment and toward education entry. They do try a course to work with the drug addicts. 22 and their yearning for it. The positive results. Of this policy of the shift in policy haven't staggering. The number of heroin addicts in switzerland has dropped by about 4% a year. An incidence of death from drugs and hiv infections from needles dropped even more dramatically. And not one patient in the program. Not one patient in the swiss program has ever died of a heroin overdose. Assumedly because the quality of the drugs they get from the government. Is fiercely regulated. Handmade safe. The swiss approach has resulted in lower crime rates. Death and disease. As well as improve their nation's rate of mental and physical health. Employment and housing. The program is also pulled the rug out from underneath the illegal black market. Until the smugglers and the sellers who wants clog the swiss street and train stations. Have moved. Elsewhere. And because. The medicalization program has tarnished the image and the allure of heroin by making it look like you've got some disease you have to go to the state for it has become less attractive to young people. And finally for the fiscal conservatives among you the swiss government saves $38. Per day. Per patient. Mostly because of lower police court and prison expenditures there saving millions of dollars. Every year as a nation. By the shifter. Now this is important to know. The goal of the swiss program. Are not to cuddle or enable or encourage the users. But rather to help the addict. Free hammer herself. From the grip of heroin. And enable his or her return to full and productive living that is the goal they want people off drugs and they work very hard to get them off of heroin. The average swiss. Patient in the program is only there for 3 years. But it must be acknowledged that some have not gotten off the drug they stay on the drug indefinite. Due to the clear success of these pat programs in switzerland and other your other european nations germany denmark the netherlands and britain to be specific. Have all created similar programs with similar positive results and now spain belgium and canada are all experimenting with a similar shift away from criminalization. To education and treatment. I am persuaded. That if we americans spent just a fraction of what we now spend on drug drug interdiction and criminalization on drug education and treatment as a swiss have. We could significantly reduce the number of american drug addicts and drug deaths. We could prevent countless young people from starting on those destructive habits. We could greatly reduce local street and international crime. We could greatly reduce our prison populations and we started to decriminalize some of this is you know. Because we have the highest prison rate as you know anywhere in the world. And that we could also help poor and minority communities break the cycle of drug dependence and violence. Which will reduce crime stabilize families and strengthen employment in the economy all that is required. Is a shift. In our thinking. As a society. Removing away from criminals ation. Toward. Education and treatment now. As i've already said. Four overarching spiritual psychological and societal reasons. I'm not like david brooks personally enthusiastic. About american society totally accepting. Or totally encouraging. Marijuana use. But if the supporters of the new decriminalization laws. In colorado and washington state are right. This change in public policy. May civilians now spent by our government. In the war against pot. It will bring millions upon millions of new tax dollars to the coffers of the state. Money that could be spent on other pressing social needs. It will essentially and the illegal and frequently dangerous street sale of the drug and rid us of drug dealer crime. It will reduce the sale of the drug to teenagers. It will ensure the drugs purity safety and consistency. It will greatly reduce the price of marijuana. It will lower street crime now associated with marijuana use. It will significantly reduce our prison population. And put it into the current. Disproportionately a criminal prosecution of black. And hispanic and other minority users. Of the drug. Now. I realize that the two main points i am advocating this morning. That being. To discourage it as a culture. And to decriminalize it as a culture. That may seem. The contradiction there. This but that is where i believe health and wholeness for both our society and all our citizens lies. This is i think the wisdom and the genius of the swiss approach. As a society they do not approve of heroin use they are discouraging it. But neither do they demonize reject or punish those. Who fall victim to its addiction. Personally i am persuaded by the arguments made by those who advocates that us drug policy must make a shift. From interdiction and criminalization to education and treatment while still in always discouraging the drug use and decriminalizing at the same time. Well. I've covered a lot of complicated and potentially controversial ground this morning. And i'm certain i've only scratched the surface of many of this issues thorny and vexing realities. But as of our denounce them in a ring a bell and there's going to be an opportunity for any of you who want to talk about more share this. Continue this conversation to do so in this room in about 11 2025. I am positive. That many of you have perspectives that either this differ or disagree with those i have express this morning. And i'm further certain i have not given voice to some things this morning that should be acknowledged. Or argued or affirm. As i've said many times from this pulpit. The sermons i offer you on sunday mornings do not end with a.. They end with a,. And we're going to do that, stuff. Right after church this morning. In the days and years ahead. America will be seriously debating drugs. And how best to manage and control them for the good of persons and society as a whole. Because we are unitarian universalists who care passionately. About the worth and dignity of every person. And the health of our society and its future. We must be engaged in this conversation. This is a religious issue. This is an ethical and spiritual issue. We cannot avoid because. Much. Is at stake. Perhaps this morning. Will get us started on that important journey. Toward figuring out. How we as a people. Must intelligently. And compassionately respond. To the many drunks. They're all around. And i say and mean. With a,. And this and benediction. I don't know the author. Go in peace. Speak the truth. Give thanks each day. Respect the earth and her creatures for they are alive as you. Care for your body. It's a wonderful gift. Live simply. Be of service. Be guided by your face not by your fear. Golytely. On your path. Walk. In a sacred manner. God bless you all.

uufvb_org

2014Jul27Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida. My name is bonnie shelton. I'm a member of this congregation. And we're so happy you've decided to be with us this morning. We are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. We seek to become our best selves. Even as we work together to make a better world. Please know that you are welcome no matter how you come to us today. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight. Black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you're down in the dumps store. Up in the sky or somewhere in between please know that you're welcome just as you come to us this morning. We hope you find this service meaningful. And that you'll find something here this morning that raises your spirits and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and joy for the coming week. In the beginning is the breast. And brockman breathe into the human form. And the human form became a living soul. We sound the ancient chance. Home. Topshop. Eternity. Taught identity. Thought. Reality. Truce. Conscious of mortal limits. Conscious of the shadow of death. Conscious of suffering. The quest begins. Seeking truth. Seeking god. The solitary secret longing to become one. With the all. We find ourselves immersed. In the experiment with truth. Called life. A short reading from the bhagavad gita. He lives in wisdom who sees himself in all and all in him. Not agitated by grief. Or hankering after pleasure. She lives free from lost and fear. And anger. Better no more by selfish attachments she is not elated by good fortune. Nor depressed by bad. Such is the seer. Even as a tortoise draws its limbs the sage can draw. Is census at will. When you keep thinking about since objects attachment comes. Attachment breeds desire. The last of possession which when ported burns. To anger. Anger clouds the judgments. And robs you of the power to learn from past mistakes. Lost. Is the discriminative. Faculty and your life. Is outer waist. The disunited mind is far from wise. How can it meditate. I'll be at peace. When you know no peace. How can you know joy. When you let your mind follow the siren call of the senses. They carry away your better judgment. As a typhoon. Drives a boat off the charted course. To its doom. This morning my focus is on the oldest. Living world religion hinduism. Literally thousands of years old. Beginning sometime around the third millennium. Before the common era. Hinduism is arguably the fountainhead of all religions. Now. As i said in my last. Part first part of his series. I'm not really. Attempting to give you a thumbnail sketch of hinduism's beliefs. What i want to do is simply to offer. To you a very personal. Statement about the gifts of hinduism. To my life. How it is contributed. To my understanding through the years. My interest in eastern religion. It goes way back. Way way back. I was already interested in studying religion when i was in high school. And have been doing a significant amount of reading on my own. And then in the fall of my junior year. I was in a car accident. It was one of those. But for a few seconds or a few difference i might not be standing here. Kind. There were four of us in the car. I was in the front seat next to the driver. We were in the proper lane. Making a left hand turn across several lanes on a busy commercial highway. Justice we had begun to make the turn. We were hit from behind. Buy a large truck. A second or two later. We might have been broadsided. The force of the impact. Butter. diagonally across the other lanes. Again. Missing oncoming cars by seconds. The back of our little opel station wagon was trashed. By the next day it was clear. But all four of us had suffered. Whiplash at least. And i have little something extra. I have no memory of turning around. Or seeing. The oncoming truck. Some. Sixth sense or maybe a change in the air or the noise told me that we were going to be hit. Now this is. Long before seat belts. I did what was probably the worst thing that i could have done at that moment i instinctively brought my knees up and hunched into a ball on the seat. What that means is major impact on the back. Weather followed a series of cortisone shots in my back not fun at all. And over a year of wearing a back brace. Really not fun when you are in high school and can hardly bear. To go out the door looking the way you think you look. With these rods going up and down your back. By the way a little commentary on how times have changed. Especially for those of you who. May agree with me that personal injury awards have gotten out of line. I remember my parents discussions that ended in the decision to seek a compensatory award for pain and suffering in the amount of $200. Anyway what does all this have to do with hinduism. Well after a year. Of the brace and still not being able to stand for any length of time without pain. I decided that the brace wasn't really helping. And i decided to try yoga. And after several months of faithfully stretching my back through various pastors. I finally. Began to heal. Until my first great gift from the hindu tradition. Was the practice known as hatha yoga. It taught me how to breathe. How to be more aware of and more deeply in my body and of course. It's practice left me with a. Reasonably good back. Hatha yoga. Is the form of yoga. That presents a series of postures. Design. To balance the body. And ultimately. The mind. It's what we usually think of when we hear the word yoga. But as i would learn as one thing led to another the word yoga. Means union. Or yolk. In meaning is it is in fact remarkably like the english word religion. Which in its latin roots means to bind together again. Yoga is a kind of training. Leading to integration or union with god. And like the word religion. Yoga actually refers. To a wide variety of spiritual practices all considered. Worthy pasta god-realization. And that's the physical practice of hatha yoga led me to explore the philosophical aspects of hinduism. And it's understanding of the different paths to god. Now i'm going to really radically oversimplify here but i do want to mention the four main pass. Perhaps like me some of you have. Found. Great psychological meaning in the typology of carl jung through such things as the myers-briggs type indicator classifying. 16 basic personality types the combinations of introverted and extroverted sensing. Intuiting sinking feeling judging and perceiving. Well the hindu stages. Had a similar system thousands of years before young. They understood that some people are mostly. Reflective types. Others are primarily emotional. Others. And others. Experimental types. And so they suggested for major paths to god realization. And one path is the path of learning. The path of knowledge called. Spiritual aspirants who follow this path. I have a real intellectual been. Ideas are what's most important to them and their lives reflect. Where their minds have led them. It's the path of. Reason. And involves first. Intense listening. And then reflecting. And in time identifying more with the eternal than the ephemeral. Needless to say it's the path that many unitarian universalist would. Identify with. Bhakti yoga is the path of love and devotion. Where the jana tries to perceive identity with god. The bhakti throw self into a total. Adoration of god or the divine. Bhakti literally means participation. And suggest participation. In the divine reality by way of emotional. Devotion. Bacchus trying to live a life of unselfish love. Loving god purely and holy. And loving all other living beings as a reflection of god or. Brahman as hindus would say. Could say maybe mother teresa was perhaps a famous example modern example of. Someone on a bhakti path. Karma yoga is the path of action. A good deed and service. It is the path to god through works. Is the path of india's beloved son gandhi. What matters in karma yoga. Is the way. The work is done. It must be done without thought of self. So that self-centeredness diminishes. When understanding self as an instrument of god. All acts are performed as a service to god. Each task. Becomes a ritual offering. T'god. Finally there's rajayoga which is the way to god. Psychological experiment. The ronja path requires passion for experiencing the full reach of human potential. And involves a series of experiments on oneself. Including mental and. Breathing exercises meditation and absolute concentration. The rogers pass. Involves turning the attention inward. Defined truth. What if i learned about these four pass what i especially loved. With the all. Are equally valued pads. To realization. So it was hinduism then that gave me my first experience. And exposure. To the idea that people really are different. And will need to travel different spiritual pass. It is hinduism's profound awareness that different people. Are in different places at different times. And one cannot be other than where one is. Different people must seek meaning must search for the holy in different ways. There is. Not. 1. Rite-way. But rather many ways it seems obvious to us but remember this is a tradition that. Thousands and thousands of years old. The four pass. Are all valued ways to achieve what hindus understand as the main purpose of life. Which is achieving union with god. Or broncolin. And brahman is understood as everything. All is brahman. In some ways hinduism is utterly simple. Experience most commonly as. A way of life. With no central authority. No founder. No hierarchy. No divine revelation. No rigid moral code. No separation between the sacred and the profane. It places more emphasis on an individual's actions. Been any other religion in the world. And yet in other ways hinduism is profoundly. Complex. It has one god. Brockman. It has a trinity of central gods brahma. Vishnu. And sheba. And there many many incarnations. It has 330 million gods. This was of course one of the things that made such a deep impression on me when i first went to india. Incarnation alema jizz of god in every doorway. Small shrines by the roadside. And on many street corners. The face of god in some form. Almost everywhere you look. Is a profound reminder. To look. At others. As if one were seeing. The face of god. It's reminder. But everything is part of the full expression. Of the divine. Now. Hindus honor the many faces of god with images but they also honor by chanting. Chanting the many names of god a practice often called kirtan. And so another daily and lasting gift to my life from hinduism is the practice of chanting. I love. Champion. It is one of the most beautiful and wondrous spiritual practices in my life. When i attended the uu ministers biannual institute last year. My chosen workshop for the week was facilitated by sacred music composer and kirtan artist. Jai utah and titled awakening bhakti. A celebration of divine and human love. Will another very specific gift of hinduism to my life with the choice to adopt a vegetarian diet. As i mentioned. I went on to do quite a bit of reading about hinduism after my accident. And as i read. I became convinced that are non-meat diet had the possibility to bring about greater peace in the world. And so. On the last day of my 20th year. I ate a big mac. And beginning on my 21st birthday stopped eating meat. It was only in later years but i began to absorb information on slaughterhouse conditions acreage for soy production versus grazing land he's if he feeding the world's population and other political. Aspects of the meat diet. My original decision. Was rather a purely spiritual one. Given that eating and nourishing our bodies is a daily part of our lives my decision has had daily implications on all aspects of my consumption habits. The last thing i want to mention as a particular gift to me from hinduism. Is a specific passage from the cata upanishads. The hindu hindu upanishads are among the oldest religious writings on the earth. There are more than 100 to punish odds. But among those considered principal is the cata upanishad a powerful. Practical. And deeply poetic document. The story of the cata upanishads takes place in the land of death. It is a story of a teenage boy. Name not to cater. Who goes to yama the king of death. To learn the meaning of life. Yama teaches that money. Power prestige and pleasure. Are all transient. At any moment def can sweep them away. Not your kata is searching for something permanent. The self hidden at the core of consciousness. And to find that self is his supreme goal. And at one point in the dialog jama compares the body to a vehicle. A chariot. For me this is one of the greatest passages in all of hindu literature. And it's a passage that provokes me. It's a passage i have used. Peripheral action and meditation for many years. And here's what yama says. Fanatic asia. Know the self as lord of the chariot. The body. As the chariot. Indeed. The discriminating intellect as the charioteer. And the mind. As the rains. The senses say the wise. Are the horses. Selfish desires. Are the road they travel. So what is this passage saying. First it offers us the image of our bodies as vehicles that carry around our whole self. When someone asked me for example how tall i am i usually say. 5 two-and-a-half with a deep breath. Asked to describe myself. I mentioned brown eyes and straight hair and so on. Yama says nonsense your chariot is 52 and a half. You are not your chariot. And for the hindu. When we've learned what we need to learn we move on. And leave our shell behind like an old coat that's too frayed to be of use anymore. Our intellect. Is the driver through life. Its task is to see ahead. Clearly. Our inner self. Is the part that should be making major life decisions. Armine. Must have the power to convey those decisions to the emotions and senses. And that's in this image. Access the reins. Bob says yes, most of us go through life with our five horses the census. In the best condition and full of spirit. The driver. Our intellect. Takes a nap. Wild horses drag us around at breakneck pace. Our inner self. The one who should be making decisions. Sits on the couch occasionally saying. Oh dear. Oh my. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. What jama is reminding us is that when the senses are uncontrolled they go on the road that they love best. Personal satisfaction. And pleasure. They had for the bakery even when our mind says we aren't hungry. We say and we've all been there. I just can't help it. I got this problem with my sweet tooth. Yama would say. Oh no. Your horses have a sweet problem. You better get them trained. Yama is essentially saying that when our senses are trained and disciplined. We are no longer at their mercy. And that's do not lose our capacity to choose the way we will journey. So let me try to bring all this together and leave you with a single image. Let's. Head back to the base. Where our senses are always wanting to take us anyway. Now. The reason types got there. Because they've concluded it is the best bakery in town. The emotional ones. Debauchees. Got there because. Sweet things remind them of the sweetness of god. The active types needed walk and want to support the only minardi owned bakery in the neighborhood. The experimental types of rogers. Want to explore what sweets do to their bodies. At least. That's what they say. So imagine where in the bakery. There are dozens and dozens of cookies. Olcott. From the same dough. Some are in the shape of hearts with pink icing. Others with red icing. Others with sprinkles. Others are cut like various kinds of flowers in different shapes and. Colors of icing. When were in the bakery a little girl comes in with her mother. Her mother places in order. And from then on we hear a constant wine. But mommy. I don't want an itchy. Vicky pink heart i only want a pink rose. The way to the bakery. And the decorations on the cookies maybe different. But the dough is the same. For the hindu. The natural state is still. And unbroken. Extending through everything. Individuals are not little separate. Unconnected islands of consciousness. We are only. Temporary locations. On the same endless consciousness. But extends through life. That has always been. And will always be. Now if i mentioned. For hindus. Sounds are considered important in sustaining the world. And for pleasing deities. And so we did a little bit of ohm. And. I'm going to invite you to do just a little bit more you'll see the the words are in your program. And i think they'll be they may may be posted up here. As you hear the chant. When. What was the name of the person who's doing the kirtan. When she sings lokanath on the sky. I'd invite you to begin to join in as you feel comfortable. The words are simply. It's quite phonetic local semester. Sukhino. Busan 2. You can see it in your program loca. Summer style. Sukhino bhavantu. She will sing some other things and then she'll come back to low, and i invite you to please join in it's very beautiful. But this is what you're saying. May there be well-being to the people. May all beings. In all the worlds become happy. Peace. Peace. Peace be everywhere. Again. May there be well-being to the people. May all beings in all worlds become happy. Peace. Peace. And peace. Be everywhere. And one last chant enclosing. The meaning is may there be tranquility on earth. On water. In fire. In the wind. In the sky and the sun on the moon on our planet in all living beings. In the body in the mind. And in the spirit. May that tranquility be everywhere. And. And everyone. Bhoomi mangalam varika mangalamani mangalam mangalam.. Aunt mama mongol empire of a mongolian barbecue barbecue barbecue barbecue barbecue barbecue to. May there be tranquility on earth on water and fire and wind in the sky and the sun on the moon on our planet and all living beings in body in mind and in spirit. May that tranquility be everywhere. And in everyone. And now may you go in peace. Go making peace. Live kindly. Love mightily. Do the world through the eyes of compassion and with a global heart. And always always. Bound to the mystery.

uufvb_org

2013Aug11Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning we're here in the warmest part of her summer was so glad that all of you have chosen to begin this summer day with us here. At the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We are current location to vulcan mind loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best selves even this together we work to make a better world. Please know that you're welcome just as you come to us. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shaded humanity. Whether you were feeling on top of the world this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between know that we welcome you just as you. In all of your particularity in need. We hope you will find our services morning meaningful and richie that you'll find something here this morning. Take with you that will learn your spirit and feed your soul and give you renewed purpose and joy in living life in the days nf. So this morning i continue my 2013 summer series on the seven principles of our unitarian universalist faith and. With a sermon focus on our fifth unitarian universalist principal. Right in the democratic process within our congregations and society-at-large the longest of the 7 principles in terms of numbers with letters. Before i delve into this morning someone tricky two-part principal i need to remind him full-term sublime attempting to do with this sermon series on our seven principles. Noise you know we have these seven principles prominently and handsomely displayed in the main wall of our lobbying because our building is frequently used for public events. Thousands of people who are not unitarian universalist. Come into our building see those principles of often say things while i really like your principles either things i believe into. Positive reaction always pleases us and me because i secretly do hold and some of these people to come in for a wednesday night concert will come back on sunday to learn more about our faith and our current location because i believe we have a faith that needs to be shared and spread. But there is also a problem in herrin. In the immediate positive reactions that we get by strangers to our principles. And that problem is with these principles as they are worded are rather you do grand and blowing kind of standards that are so broad and idealistic but kind of hard to disagree with. Let's take this morning principal for example. What american would disagree with our association. That democracy. And following the dictates of your own conscience hardwood finish. I have a rather iconoclastic and controversial colleague from texas is named as the reverend doctor davidson lord. With little use for our sweeping seven principles. Laura sarcastically called them the seven dwarfs. Or the seven banalities. By which he means these principles. Ron is they are lacking profundity and religiosity. Call me right. Secular culture from the secular values of american liberalism paper that distinguished unitarian-universalism as a religion. Or at least not with anyone with a clear and compelling spiritual path. Or lasting spiritual insight. Well i passionately do not share reverend laura's live and categorical dismissal of our 7 principles. I do think he's put his finger squarely on a problem with all 7. Each of our 7uu principles are undeniably wildly hopeful statement. About life in the human condition. The needs of deconstructing some real critical analysis and correction if they are to be truly useful for us as we live out our religious lives in this complex 21st century. Over the course of the series. I will be critically reflecting on these expensive but hopeful principles not only affirming that obvious wisdom and value little so they named the ways in which they live in us and their excessive than their optimism. I need to be critically understood if we are to be a serious religion for series x. With all that said an introduction let's turn to this 5th princeton. Visit to park principal that's important to know it's a two-part and kind of bipolar state. Arthritis conscious. Establishes that in you carrying the versus there is a right to stand by yourself. Kind of liberty principal. That focuses on honore and perspectives and prerogatives. Of the individual so that's the first part of the principal. But then it goes on to almost paradoxically infirm secondly that we will encourage and uphold the use. Of the democratic process within our contributions and within society. Which is an obligation i think that formation that obliges us. Freedom of the individual. But also to focus on the good and the will of the whole community through open and fair decision making process. I will address this interplay or this attention. Between these two distinct parts of this principle later in the summer but for now please just know. That this principle focuses. and the needs of the community. To have their own needs met. Alright. As i observed in my last two installments of the sermon series. The middle principles 3 4 and 5. Are the process principles of unitarian universalism. Unlike principles one into which you see there at 6 and 76 is the goal of world community east liberty and justice for all and 7 is the interdependent web of all existence. Those are ethical moral and theological statement that are without a nation dates about persons and society but principal 3/4 and 5 which you see their spell album how the all-important how we will go about the business of liberal religion. In our congregations and in society at large the principles you see there the practical operational liens and methodologies by which we will discern articulate and live out our painting. And then the fifth principle of our clearly says. Did you use will go about their religion not autocratically. The democratic. This is a very important caveats without subverting. Without super duper right of individual conscience. In addition to being a process or how to principal. This principle of ours is i think perhaps more than any other single principle. Preferably depended on all of the other six principles. You know because we value the apparent worth and dignity of every person. Because we believe in justice equity compassion. 6 7/2 quarter we will affirm fifth principle. Which supports democratic process and respect for the individual what could be more american than that. Indeed the reverend doctor forest church the longtime minister of all souls church in manhattan and the author of many books. An american states tradition. Claire unitarian-universalism. The quintessential american religion. Ruu principal spring from the same sources. As the declaration of independence. It is important for the american creed. A biography of the declaration of independence. Shoot straight. The american creed captures the essence of the american experiment. The what is the american creed boarding to church but here they are. American creepy says. Is justice for all because we are. Second part of the creed is liberty for all because we are all endowed by the creator. With certain unalienable rights. Shirt says that this creed is simply called those truths are founders help self-evident. Justice for all because we're pretty equal and liberty for all because wind down. Creator. So. As i trust you can clearly see this fifth unitarian universalist principles ours. Places us philosophically directly within the ideals. The american experiment the american republic. For in our congregation this fifth principle declared. The beautiful as always free will always have the liberty to follow the dictates. Observer unconscious. In all matters religious. No matter what the majority says or believe you will have the right. And yet we will also trust an honor the democratic process. As we strive to make good and just and reasonable and equitable decision. Both within our congregation and in society at large. No i guess is that for most of you this. Bedrock unitarian universalist commitment to individual liberty the freedom to follow your own conscience and your own reason. And the democratic message this is not terribly controversial is aborted pointed out. Bonita high point out before many american religion. Democracy and free speech are at least within the governance of their congregation and denomination. Not necessarily highly value fact and benny is simply not that it. American religious group do not even come close to operating long democratic line. But rather fundamental of hierarchical and autocratic. Indeed american faith traditions most especially the more orthodox. Are explicitly. They are not to the people deciding. Decisions are made by designated leaders not by the people as a whole. But unitarian-universalism is a quintessentially democratic american faith tradition that grew up as i think most of you know the 18th and the 19th centuries. Sperling is church point out. Firmly rooted in this american creed. And i for one am very proud of you publicly proclaim. This is dualism about individual tribes of susan ancient native american saying leave even if it is a tree that stands by itself. Unitarian universalism you have that right. Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree. Let's dance all by itself. And yet the insistence that always drive. To employ the democratic methods of decision-making. Ensuring the value equity and liberty of each and every individual is a bit of a paradox here. Until. I will assume that all of you are comfortable if not not downright proud of this. Unitarian. After all we are red-blooded americans for whom the ideals of democracy individual liberty. If that's a gross act. Cultural values. But i must tell you as someone who was the minister in this faith tradition. 40 years. I will text celebrate the 40th anniversary of my ordination next april with you i hope. I must tell you that this fifth principle with its inherent tension. Liberty of the individual and the collective need of the community. Easier said. Both within our nation's and the society at large i'm not telling you anything you don't know. Let me start first half of this principal divided conscience. Individual you use. As i've already observed because we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Our first principal in here again we arrive in theater connection between these principles. We have courses promised to give each individual who comes into one of our congregation. The right to follow the dictates. Reason. Religious matters. No one can tell you here you have to believe in a certain kind of god or leave this without about jesus or come to one particular ethical. York rite. But sometimes in our boot. This is what i think to be nefariously interpreted to me. Either a local congregation or denominations headquarters. And i'd say or do anything if it is much as a single you you or group within our. Tradition however small disagreed that was the argument used by the board person the story for all ages than that everybody agrees with immigration so how can you proceed. That's the furious. In every congregation on answer. For as long and for as long as i can remember and denominations housing. Democratic process. Open majority ruling after an issue has been discussed at the side. Is always vulnerable in our tradition to being subverted or at least brought to a maddening crawl by individuals who cried my conscience is being a deprecated myviewpoint just being ridden roughshod over by them by the group consensus. Back in the 1980s. It was either a very old called nationwide group of you use you incorporated this principle about the right of conscience. Another name they called themselves the right of conscious committee. Unitarian universalism. This group has happened to be made out of socially economically and politically conservative who use but the flies implacably couldn't admit up with very progressive. But this particular conservative. The objective. Wua snap in boston working for various social justice causes. Like farmworker justice when it's right and if you get nam efforts universal healthcare. Even though. The staff was taking direction on these issues. From the delegates. Resolution on the democratically decided advocacy issues that the people of our movement decided. Despite the fact that the denominations reached its social justice agenda then as now democratically from a democratic body the general assembly. This did not stop those with a minority viewpoint from trying to take away social justice voice of the denomination. They wrap themselves in the rights of conscience and they said you're probably roughshod over us. I must admit that some three years later i as 1uu minister. Do not particularly like it with the nomination of headquarters publicly take the political economic or social stand with which i personally do not totally agree. Even when they are following those taken on the issue by the general assembly a perfect example from the entities. Is the issue with the depo. Over recent decades the membership of our moon. And after a careful process up-to-date consideration. I asked by wide margins again and again. Total rejection. The death penalty being used in american crime and punishment. Do i personally happen to be able to mortal minds up. I am not sure. The banning the death penalty no matter how heinous or inhuman the crime. Is the way to ensure that first principal part. How we best. Unitarian universalist association is not a. They they advocated washington state capital for the oven. I'm doing a sermon series is coming here would be writing about it next newsletter. Persistent moral and ethical dilemmas of american life. Universal healthcare abortion over the year. Following saturday. Lingering. When does the nomination takes to stand i personally don't find myself for green. And i know from conversation to longview so if you could get the world magazine and see what the uu ar denomination is pushing on a national level. How cold are they speak for me it's a problem. But these people suicide broader point. As a pertains i think how was your time is standing employee principle. Is the fact that just because we promised every you you but here she will have the right of conscious. Unimportant does not need. Not me. The denver you you could demand that every denominational or congregational decision will go their way. Yes we believe in the right of every individual to follow their own dictation. But we also believe because of our commitment has never had the process. City park. The disagreeing individuals must respectfully abide with the majority decision that arise on the democratic process. It shouldn't go take their marbles home they should passionate passionate. Every time your government doesn't do something you like you don't leave a church over a decision that you don't like. Sadly over my long career i've watched again and again. Put your put your big girl on big boy pants on now that i have watched local uu congregation be immobilized. Building a building. Firing order. I have watched carnations be immobilized by a minority group unwilling or unable to set aside their own conclusion when the even when the will of the majority of the congregation is clear. Because our faith has long a sizing the right of individuals. To think for themselves and because you use highly value getting along and harmony. Consensus and conclusion and inclusion in our congregation. We are sometimes vulnerable. Very small group. Sabotage the democratic process did our conversation. And support the will of the whole. To their liberty and we call this allowing the tyranny of minority. Can you use a particular. So we put up with a lot of. Let me give you one example i remember all too well when i was called into the senior minister of the river road navigation to bethesda maryland some 15 years ago it was painfully clear we were growing congregation. We need anything building addition to accommodate the rapidly expanding membership and sunday. Gather the board of trustees and i began working for you seeing that edition panic bringing trailers. Do to accommodate all the kids we had we had 350 trailers we counted the put them in the back of the building. I thought it might take two or three years to build this the building just romanian took. It took me 10 years. The reason it took. Was it a small group fearful dissenters in the carnation no more than thirty or forty people out of 700. Who did not want the current issue throw and saw no reason for more space even though they we were all jammed into this building. They want the project. Evergreen. Using the open and stifle democratic method that we follow to draw nicholas roblox superfluous objections of unfounded fears. Whose name was done. And he wasn't spouse the staff member. And he was always the smartest guy in the world. Once and he thought he was at certain amateur architect he thought he knew exactly what our new building on. On the committee. And the committee of 12 people after years of process came up with a different building. Then the one done on the pump is not pumping out hope this out of all this stuff. And i said you're right. it is the one. What is the building where people are building it and you're not feeling it. We're going to be. He was always could never accept the collective wisdom or desire. Because we knew what the right building was. And so he took his marbles inlet home. It's bad behavior. Unitarian universalist. All out of proportion power that they should have had because you do things never chronically when you when you take a majority vote of the majority decides to go away. Is superbena once worked with a healthy growing you carnation about 120 members wanted to build their first building they were derailed by two couples i'll call them rodger and betty and friend sylvia who said if you were going to resign will take our pleasure. This will never happen. It's a few people don't want to. Riled up. We are vulnerable to letting individuals in the individual decision-making of the whole group. My larger point is that this fifth principle of ours as wise and noble and quintessentially american as it is with its dual focus on individual liberty and democratic process gets us often into institutional trouble. Yes. Having the freedom to follow your own conscious and conclusion to your own religious life is a precious thing but that liberty must always the times he was trained on formed by the conscious and the conclusion of the whole community. And yes of course the democratic process should always be used in a local congregation or in society at large. But not an unfair way which allow a minority to unreasonably to rail or delay the book the will of the majority. Seems to me that we always in our congregations and in society have to balance the individual liberty and the frog it is we give to individuals. And the common good and the majority will that does emerge. These things are always intended again. There are many times as a citizen my life as a citizen in the united states. What ibm italy disagree morally and otherwise with my government. But it doesn't mean i packed my little honda and drive to toronto may it doesn't mean there. I remain i remain loyal opposition staying engaged even when i haven't gotten my personal way now chris i noticed never has applied to anyone here would be over the entire history of organization but you know who you are. This is why. Some people sometimes drove getting the decision out of the group of unitarian universalist is a lot like her. If we do this principle versus principal. Of the rights of conscience and individual side of things are never right. We'll get it to the right place. So let us probably claim this fifth principle individual liberty. That we trust honor the process of group consensus. As the reverend doctor forrester transfer. We are a quintessential american faith. Committed both to individual liberty and justice and equality in fairplay for all. It is a tricky thing. Navigate me the rights of dragons of the individual and legitimate needs. Just as our success as a nation. Depends of balancing. And honoring both sides. American.

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2014Jun22Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. It feels like summer on the treasure coast this morning got a few weeks coming welcome. Unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach and we are so pleased that you've decided to begin this summer day with us. We are congregation. Of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands individual people in this together. And more humane place. Please know that you're welcome this morning precisely as you come to us. What are you were young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd. What do you want a visitor with us this morning for the first time or have been coming for decades. Whether you were feeling on top of the world this morning. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. Circularity. And charm. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning to take with you. That will give your life renewed purpose and energy. Android in the days ahead. The opening words i do not know the author. Hush. This is a holy place. A sacred place. Where's the vision 12. What do dreaming of a race began someone's god. Has stepped here. Melt here dwells here spoken here. Of life and death. Of. Holy things. So when you come. Come softly. Walk softly talk. Softly. Be mindful of the dreams. Displace. Is a sacred place. This morning's meditation is a piece called divine mystery written by mark pellatini who is the senior minister. Of our large congregation columbus ohio i will see him tomorrow night. It's a small movement were apart for 40 years we were among the various i just realized this. We were among the very first gay clergy. To come out. Just forty years ago it was not. Acceptable to be openly gay even in our. And we were among. Well we were second and third. Santa come out. And mark is a very deep and wonderful thinker he's one of the. Editor's of our gray hymnal. And i chose this because i'm talking about. Expanding. Your concept of god. It's called divine mystery listen to it. It'll then going to a minute of silence and i will ring the bell to end the. of metal. Divine mystery. Some call you the universe. Call ukiah. The great mother. Come call you the power of life itself. Call you the spirit. You are loved. Incarnated in human form. The christ buddha. Each one of us. For some you are the alpha and the omega. Points of all existence for some you don't exist at all. For some you are ashy. For someone he. For many in it. Bautizo adonai. Are only words vibrations in our throats. All of these are metaphors. Of the ways sometimes the desperate ways sometimes the playful ways. What's the human spirit uses to give voice. Unspoken cry of. I am. I am. I don't know how or why. But i do know that i am not my own source. My own womb. My own mother nor did i begin the song of life which i now. Try so hard to sing in harmony with those around me. It is true. I do not buy the power of my will. Keep the world spinning through the incident night. I hope not. The constellations in my hands. Like gleaning pebbles from a brook. Nor does the beating of my compassionate heart stop warriors. In their destructive tracks. I cannot make the desert bloom. Or cause even a single yellow rose to open. In splendor. Whether i call myself a child of god. Or a cog and the great cosmic machine or part. Does the interdependent web of all existence matters very little. It is enough for me to know that. I am not god. Not the machine. Not the web. And so knowing for a time i shall set myself. Free. As a servant. Unreasonable joy. I want to begin this morning if i might. With a bit of personal spiritual biography. Even though it was more than 40 years ago i will never forget this moment for as long as i live. All of a sudden otherwise ordinary moment of my life i suddenly encountered god as i have never before. And it has made all the difference in my life. It was late october in 1972 21 year old minister in training. What's the weather three-day uu ministerial study group. Add a conference center located at pere marquette state park located. In the rolling countryside of illinois and i went online and found the picture of that park. It's at the confluence. Of the mississippi in the illinois rivers. That day i was at a particularly hard crossroads in my life i just completed my first two grueling months. Of a year-long live in. Hospital chaplaincy at the city of memphis hospitals. I was living in a dark and dingy hotel hospital. 1 with 1 grimey 30 window looking out on the alleyway for the emergency room. Working long shifts. In the chaotic inner-city emergency room there was a trauma center. For that part of tennessee and even for arkansas. In those two intense months i have been repeatedly exposed to many of the worst brutalities. And tragedy of life a baby. Lying dead and blue on a gurney shaken to death by a frustrated father. A young woman repeatedly stabbed and disfigured by a jealous and vengeful boyfriend. A motorcyclist burned almost beyond recognition in a fiery crash. A storekeeper shot dead right through the head. For $6. Of cash register change. A wonderful young father-of-four suddenly gone after suffering a massive heart attack driving to work on an ordinary day. Even a mass shooting that fall or a crazed gunman killed five of his neighbors. Into city of memphis police departments all the families there together. In the bloodstream emergen-c. My long shifts as a hospital chaplain or forcing me to look at the worst side of human depravity and sorrow. Square in the face and i was spiritually struggling that autumn. To keep all of the pain the violence that the emergency room from literally overwhelming my spirit. Although i wasn't really aware of it at the time. You know our emotional defenses are good things. In hindsight i realize that that autumn i was slowly losing. Face in the goodness. And the beauty of my world. After another tough weekend at the hospital i drove alone in my little. Blue american motors javelin remember those little cars. 200 mi to the rustic conference center up the mississippi. Unable to chase from my mind as i drove all those violent images from the emergency room. I arrived at the park early in the afternoon only vaguely aware of how my heart and soul were reeling and spiritual shock. Over the sorrow i was dealing with day-in-and-day-out when i got out of the car and contrast. I was feeling inside it was an absolutely beautiful a tumble day with a sky so blue it made your isaac. The clouds pure and puffy white. They are cool and crisp invigorating as grew into your lungs. And the gentle rolling hills. We're covered with trees ablaze in orange and purple and red and yellow. Somehow sensing i needed to be alone to get my spiritual bearings. Rather than join the other old white male ministers who are already gathered at the great big lodge were laughing loudly as they swap stories and dirty jokes. I put on a flannel shirt. Blue jeans and a pair of running shoes and headed up the high hill that overlooked. Emerging rivers all by myself. The climb was steep and invigorating and in no time i was at the very top of the hill. Taking in the absolutely spectacular view of the two merging rivers below and miles of rolling farmland. And woods that were laid out for me as far as the eye could see. I quietly sat down right at the top of the hill. The wind tossed waving yellow grass that adorned the hilltop was all around me. And with my heart still so heavy and all the sorrow i had left behind in memphis. I sat there just taking in the world. Including. Few feet above my head heading south. Amazing i could see the feet on the bottom of their bellies. Honking their way. Majestical. Suddenly i was filled with a powerful sensation that healed my heart and well. Saved my soul. In one holy miraculous instant i felt on that high illinois hillside what i can only call the presence of a good. And loving god. A divine spirit infused. In everything. I felt myself. Totally embraced protected and loved by all that was ever to be. It was as if the cool fresh air the gailey waving grasses the pure clouds the deep azure sky the majestic. The river water is shimmering in sunlight down below in the brightly-coloured autumnal landscape. Spinning out as far as the eye can see it was as though. All creation wrapped me in a warm and loving embrace. Cherishing and protecting me in the arms of something i can only call. In that moment of grace and holiness i felt utterly safe and loved and suddenly i knew that. My life mattered and creation even though it was one little human being i felt so insignificant. So often in the emergency room unable to really make a difference against the forces of evil on.. The feeling was so intense. But i began. I just sat there on the hillside weeping. Cheers pouring. Down my face not sad. Just overwhelmed. By the beauty and the power. And the grace of that mom. I have no idea. How long i sat there in that holy embrace. But when i finally went back down the hill to join my other colleagues. I didn't even try to describe to those good old boys who are already into their scotch and bragging about their exploits. I didn't even dare tell them. What spiritually had just happened to me. And how profoundly isn't healed me. It was just all too intense all too personal all too profound especially for those good. 3 days later with the conference over i drove back to memphis to that gray and violent hospital knowing deep to my bones that i had the strength of heart. For the hard demanding. Months ahead. I knew this because of the holy powers of creation that i felt in the it around me that i could stay the course. I can handle the heartache and i could be a positive and purposeful. Part of creation. And i didn't shaq. Complete that year-long chaplaincy. With reasonable. Aplomb. This morning i want to tell you something about something called process theology. I have come to believe that whether you are a humanist dorothea's store a doubter or confused or something in-between. Useful and important spiritual way of understanding the world. And understanding your place and purpose in it. Unitarian universalist theologian paul reiser points out quotes. Theology is at its most basic level about the way we understand ourselves. In relation to the world and to one another. It is about the way we describe and relate to whatever we understand as ultimate. Or holy. That which we experienced as worthy of the highest devotion. Process theology first articulated by british philosopher and mathematician. Albert north whitehead early in the 20th century. And further developed in subsequent decades by several unitarian universalist theologian. Charles hirschhorn. Henry nelson wyman and someone i knew bernard loomer. And carried forward today by many other unitarian universalist thinkers and many christian thinkers as well. Is just such an attempt to understand our human place. In the world and our relation to whatever you think of his ultimate or holy. In a nutshell process theology postulates god. Not so much as traditional christianity and judaism or islam does as some sort of. Fixed turtle perfect remote all-powerful all-knowing human-like super presence in creation like some grand puppet master. Pulling the strings to control all earthly events. Process theology rather sees god as a kind of. Fluid and mystikal presents. An evolving and participatory presents much like what a claudia was talking about a partner. An energy sunk down deep into wall that is a loving and transforming present. In our world which speaks and here's the key word it seeks to lure us. Luer us. Interbeing partners. In the ongoing creation of the world. God's process is a+ creative power sunk deep down into all that is. Which calls to our heart calls to our hearts back. Our participation in shaping the future of the world. In ways of goodness. And beauty and health. I love the way my colleagues. The rev elizabeth stephens who is our minister in the college town of moscow idaho put this all recently it was her sermon that caused me to dig around in my old sermon file and retrieve the stuff on process theology i just. Found this from her a few weeks ago. An angry or demanding parents. Yelling up the stairs on a school day trying to make you get up out of your adolescent stupor but god is rather like the aroma of pancakes. Gently rafting into your bedroom. Calling you to wake up. Nourish yourself. Jen about something positive today. God is the aroma. Pancakes. Listen to her wonderfully crafted word. In process theology god or the spirit of life for the creative spirit of goodness or love insert whatever word works for you she right. It's like the scent of pancakes in the morning. Awakened longings in the heart lowering not just people but all of creation forward. And it continually unfolding process of growing and becoming. that is what keeps. Pulling the universe forward pulling it toward life and love and peace keeping it from descending as it is in iraq today from entropy stagnation and collapse god is like the smell of pancakes luring you downstairs where you will be north. And then she goes on to make the important point in process theology. All-knowing all-powerful cosmic entity. Running the universe from some sort of grand book or plan. The god of process theology she writes is not in charge. In a universe of free choosers that would be us. God can make anyone god cannot make anyone or anything do anything but god does pull on the heartstrings. That activates deeper life giving and love-filled longings the god of process theology doesn't make rules. Morally god is ambiguous. And as far as the end of the process god doesn't know how it's all going to turn out. God is not all-knowing god hopes. Allurez. And loves but god is in the thick of it she writes. Just like the rest of us. God is powerful. And is essential to the continuance of life. But god is helpless actually. Greatly do much of anything beyond. Lowering the universe for wholeness for ultimate goodness toward unconditional love and then she ends. So if you believe that god is active in the universe working like the smell of pancakes. To instill in our heart that lure us to places we need to go. You have to do is lean in. Into the longing. And then she ends. Listen to your heart. For the direction life is luring you. For the choices you make can help. In the creation of a world that is more just. More beautiful. And more loving. Process theology den postulates of god is a participatory presents a vulnerable. And it rather than communicating to us once and for all on high as so many in this town in churches this morning are hearing god put it in a book and there it is and it's on high and it's done. God is rather standing here right now with us. More of a verb. The renowned beckoning us. You know and cherish the world and live better. Listen to the way my weight my colleague rodger birch housing. Of appleton wisconsin i'm having dinner with him on thursday. Puts it. So rather than god up in the clouds pulling the strings like some grand puppet master. The god of. Process theology participates. With us. In our lives parker palmer 16th lee put it this way. God is in the map. With us. And then rodger goes on. God walks with us not only through the good but also through the bad. God is a loving supporting companion in the light. And in the darkness. When we are joyous god is with us when we are worried god is with us. When we are suffering. God is with us. For process theologian. Rich houser goes on. God is not up in the heavens but right here in the midst of our lives. The god of process theology. Is thoroughly imminent. Incarnate. In us and is between us and in everything. Estilo jen selling mcfague concludes. There is no place. God is not. And then rodger ends. God. Was in auschwitz. And god. Is that the grand canyon at sunrise. God was in osama bin laden's soul. And god is in your soul. God is here. My soul.. Is in. God persuades us. For that which is good. And true. Listen to the way another colleague of mine matt elspeth similarly describes the heart of process theology. The god of process theology is not the almighty all-knowing all perfect and unchanging god of traditional christianity but is rather a transformative reality. It is like us. In a stream of events undergoing change. And fully embedded in the universe deeply connected to each of us. This god matt goes on invites us invites us doesn't demand us invite us toward creativity. Torrid engagement and beauty in the world. We are free event by advancing our lives to follow or to ignore. Just calling. This lure. Ford what is good and beautiful. We are free to ignore it. And when we respond. We inform and increase the potential the possibility for the good that is god. And then he has this god unlike the ancient father god. Can suffer with us experience joy with us because this god is so closely connected to us. We are drawn toward this process god and then responding co-create with god. Adjust world. One full of more joy and beauty. Ducking my way of thinking. The god of process theology is a very mystical and elusive construct. A mystical and elusive contract with i personally find very. Spiritually useful. And perhaps it can be useful to you. Even if you were a humanist who for decades. I've had not much use for god talk. To understand god not not as some sort of external transcendent being rather. As a living breathing evolving and vulnerable present with us. A fragile yet powerful presence stuck deep down into all things that is available. Chihuahuas as we journey in our everyday relationships. For that which is good. This feels exactly theologically right to me is universal. Maybe this is because as long as i can remember theology. Has always been more to me a matter of feeling. And intuition. About my life. There's some logical argument or concrete proof. When i say the word god in my life. I never think of the god of traditional christianity that. Patriarchal aloof all-powerful all-knowing personality supposed. Be running the show like a grand clockmaster. When i say the word god is usually as a whisper. When i'm personally experiencing some magical transformative moment. In my life when i'm suddenly aware. A holy forces that are at work for example. Being a parent or grandparent. Cradle a child for the first time. Or quietly taking in a spectacular indian river sunset. With someone i love. Or watching a group of people organizing to bring more justice or food. Into the world. Or sitting with my spouse of all these decades. Watching a thunderstorm fill the night sky with. Power and grace that's this month. Being. At the final bedside of someone whose life has been long. And useful. Is it peace because she has no regrets. Feeling myself being pulled. Play god knows what. For goodness and generosity and care for others despite. My very strong selfish instinct. These are all times. When the word god or spirit comes to my lips and these are moments that helped me believe in the promise. Of my broken. And painful world and they give me hope not only for my own immediate existence. But also for the larger world which we all share which is his you know so broken. And tormented. Now i suppose those of you who've not particularly found the idea or thought of god to be a useful one in your spiritual life. And this may be the case was up to half of you. Set this articulation of these articulations of the process the illusions may simply feel unnecessary. Indeed i am certain as i've said from on more than one occasion from this pulpit. You need not. Have a concept of god. Lead a life of joy and responsibility and meaning. What i personally find so spiritually helpful. process theology. Is it gives me a concrete spiritual way of understanding my world when i see things i can only call holy and sacred. It gives me a word to use with. Yes there are other ways to describe what we are seeing when we watch a loving parent. Cradle a child or participate in a glorious sunset or join with. Others fighting for justice or feel ourselves pulled toward. Acts of love and care these are all natural phenomenon. Which don't require c a logical supposition. But i find a spiritually fulfilling to believe as i have since the illinois hillside. But there is a powerful and purposeful presents. In my creation. Embedded in all things yet as fragile as i am. What is trying to lure me and the rest of the world. For goodness which is begging me to participate in the world in ways that will make it more beautiful. More loving more just more humane. Personally it gives me great comfort and hope to feel that there is a dynamic. Presence of foot in creation. Again not an all-powerful one. But of honorable one. With great power. The quietly drives. Life. Possibilities. And is constantly trying to lure me. I love the spiritual idea. That i am free. In this often difficult and often painful creation of ours. To lend myself. To that powerful holiness. In all my relationships in all my moments and all choices in all things i can lend myself. Saudi vero beach friends here is the good news that i would have. You spiritually consider this morning. Again whether you have ever been comfortable with the idea of god or not or whether you thought you rejected the idea of god for all time. The process theologians. Are not persuaded that there is some kind of holy transcendence father. Austin heavenly ether somewhere. Unilaterally deciding what is next for us or creation they reject that god that old ancient. But there is they say shimmering. And reliable holiness sunk down in all things. Its presence and to participate. In the process of moving. Creation. Ford. Goodness. We all know that life is difficult and dangerous. And like it or not there's going to be plenty of tragedy and the gation and cruelty to go around for everyone and we're never going to rid the world of it. But the hopeful message of the process theologians. Is it through it all we as little. Tiny creatures on this planet. Are radically free to respond to the lure. To respond. The invitation. Of that which is holy. And loving. And true we are free to choose life. To build healthy and caring relationships with that which is around us. Just becoming partners with this world's holiness. Helping us. In whatever little corner of the world we occupied. Nudge creation b. Bybit. Bybit. Toward the best world we can imagine. I for one can see logically ask for nothing more precious. Or sustaining. Run that idea. I leave you this morning with the words of german. Dorothy i'm not sure how you pronounce her name solo. For these words of hers give me great hope. To believe in god she writes means to take side. Pick sides with life. And to end our alliance with death. It means to stop killing. And wanting to kill. And do battle with apathy which is also akin to killing. It means an end to the fear of dying. Enter the counterpart of the fear of failure. To take sides with life goes on means to stop looking for some neutral ground. Between murderers and their victims into seas looking upon the world as some sort of supermarket. In which we could buy anything we want as long as the price is right. And the system is preserved. And then she ends. And this is my benediction to you today. To take sides with life. To experience how we can transcend ourselves. Is a process. The has many names and faces. Religion. Can mean the radical. And wholehearted attempt. To take sides. Until i'm back with you again god willing. And i leave you this day with the words from this libretto. By british playwright british brian wrenn. God is not a she. God is not a he. God is not in it or maybe. Is a moving. Knowing. Growing. Mystery. Psps. Nba of god.

uufvb_org

2014Nov16Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. These days we move to florida for rent. Wonderful weather welcome. The unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so glad you've chosen to begin this beautiful day with us. Lyrica. Open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual cells even is together. We work to create a better world. Please do as i say every sunday you were welcome precisely as you come to us. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful. Phd whether you are a visitor this morning or been coming for decades this morning on top of the world. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you just as you come to us. We hope our services morning. Will be meaningful and richmond do everyone here. And that you will find something here this morning. That nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed purpose and joy. End directions. For living. In the days ahead. I'm focusing on evolution. And our world this morning. These words from my colleague victoria victoria stafford a wonderful minister. In great bear lake minnesota. What if there were universe. In which a world was born out of a smallest star. Blackbirds. Sperm whales. Any winds to lift the tiniest hairs a naked arms in spring. Any onions in mount everest. And also the kite. We spotted in the woods about a mile from here. Just after sunrise. When the moon is full. The very scent of him. Makes his brother are dog and ancient memory. Into that world can animals and elements and plants. And imagination and the mind's eye. If such a universe existed. And you noticed it. What would you do. What praises what sacred offering. What world leader in essential gesture would you make to greet that world every single day. You were in it. There is religion in everything around us. A calm and holy religion in the unbreathing things in nature. It is a meek and blessed influence. Stealing in as it were unaware upon the heart. It comes quickly and without excitement. It has no terror. No clue. It does not rise up the passions. It is untrammeled by creed's. It is written on the arts kai. It looks out from every star. It is on the sailing cloud. And india invisible wind. It is among the hills and valleys of the earth. Where the struggle has mountaintop pierces the thin atmosphere of eternal winter. Or where the mighty forest fluctuates before the strong wind with its dark waves of green foliage. It is spread out like a legible language upon the broad face of a nun sleeping ocean. It is the poetry of nature. It is that which uplifts the spirit within us. And which opens to our imagination a world of spiritual beauty. And holiness. Amir 1632. The great italian physicists and astronomers galileo published dialog of the two chief world systems. Which asserted among other things. But the great polish astronomer nicolaus copernicus was correct. When he declared contrary to catholic teaching at the time. Set the earth revolves around the sun. This new scientific assertion which contradicted the old theological and homo sapien centric one. Assertion that god made the sun revolved around humanity in the earth. Kerosene. Threatened by the truth church authorities ordered all copies of galileo's book destroyed. He was forced to publicly. Is astronomical. Which was later commuted to permanent house arrest. Galileo died ten years later in 1642. Astronomers and physicists around the world. The earth revolve around the sun just as the other planets. It took the roman catholic church until. 1992. That's only 350 years. To officially acknowledge the church's error in its treatment of galileo they apologized to him 340 years after his death. As incredible as it may seem. I was shocked to read this clients pollster john miller of northwestern university reports that one in five americans when asked about on earth and sun incorrectly state that the sun revolved around the earth but i think that's mostly ignorant. As opposed to the persistence of discredited church doctrine. Similarly in 1859. British unitarian. And scientists charles darwin after years of exhaustion. The western shores of the south american continent. Proposed in his now famous book the origin of species. What was the time and controversial scientific theory of natural selection. Which asserted as i trust you all now. Living organisms. Evolve and change over time in some cases over hundreds of centuries of time. In order to adapt and survive in their changing natural environment. In the century-and-a-half since darwin's breakthrough work the theory of evolution. Has come. To lie at the very center. Of all scientific inquiry and natural understanding. As to how life on this planet works. Athame geneticist. Theotis dobransky wrote in 1973. Nothing in biology makes any sense except in the light of evolution. Unquote. And today of course every reputable scientist american scientific organization. That is weighed in on the recent evolution versus intelligent design controversy that i'm talking about today. Affirmed evolution as close. The bedrock of modern scientific knowledge. I quote from the recent american astronomical society statement on the importance of teaching. Evolution as the only. Established scientific truth. In our nation's school. They write evolution is a valid scientific theory for the origin of species. Tennis been repeatedly tested and verified through observation formulation of testable statements. Explain those observation. And controlled experiments in additional observations to find out whether these ideas are right or wrong. The scientific theory they conclude is the unifying concept. That explains the physical. Universe unquote. So today in the year 2014 what did the american people believe about their creation. Well as the washington post recently put it. If you think the question of evolution versus creationism was settled in a tennessee court room in the early 20th century referring of course to the famous scopes trial. Think again. Evolution creationism the postcode have actually been running neck-and-neck. In the origin of life sweepstakes. Has entered the fray. Regardless of how questions are posed this article goes on. Polls consistently show that 42 nearly 50%. Of the american public. Except the old biblical creationist account of wise origin. While slightly more accept the idea of evolution and then the article concludes. In a recent pew poll. 42%. Of americans agreed quote. And other living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time. Well 48% believed that humans and other living things. Happy fall. Overtime. No i've been caught up short before when i've made sweeping assumptions about what a congregation full of unitarian universalist believe. But i'll bet every last fossil in my home collection. There is not a single person pray it be so god in this room right now who does not intellectually accept as fact and scientifically refutable evolution and natural selection as the building blocks to understand and explain our world. American people. They think otherwise in the twenty-first century there is no longer even a residual of serious debate. In scientific circles anyway about evolution and natural selection. They are the only verifiable mechanisms by which our natural world operates. .. End of story. Look. Perhaps the most single important thing for us to realize about science and religion. Is it when science and religion. About the facts of the natural universe and how it works science in the end one hundred percent of the time. No matter how long it takes. Whether you were talking about the truth is covered by galileo or darwin or einstein. Regardless of public opinion poll or how insistently some hold onto old inoperative ideas. In the end the facts the flow of science. Rather the doctrines of religion carry the day. And i believe that they are to earn the electoral respect of the world. And more important serve their adherence well in that world. Simply must religion must find ways to incorporate new scientific discoveries and long-established scientific truth into their theological worldview or they will eventually be left behind on the trash heap. Of history. Play some religious beliefs even when they bump right up against undeniable scientific findings. Prove most difficult to dislodge. You may not know for example that you can sign up. For one of two kinds of rafting trips. In the collagist will describe what you're seeing. Which isn't fact. A beautiful wondrous canyon. Created 550 million over the last 550 million years by shifting fault. And water erosions but if you want you can sign up for another trip. The canyon will be explained through what the orthodox christian leader called biblical glasses. And asserts that what you were looking at is rather than a flight is rather a place car. 400 4500 years ago by the great flood. Described in the old testament. Just some traditional religions and dozens of conservative christian churches right here in vero beach. An indisputable fact of our natural world can be ignored. Oregon. No matter what intellectual gyrations are required to do that to defend ancient scripture and unyielding feliz. The great tragedy of course i've already said is it the refusal to accept. Either established or unfolding scientific understanding the different from old theological ideas. Places these religions in perilous intellectual waters. Perhaps the clearest example of this to dan america courses a persistent. And frankly in so many ways intellectually ridiculous over whether creationism. The ancients. And poetical. Creation myth that is found in the book of genesis in jewish scripture. Which dramatically tells the story and a couple of different ways of god creating the universe and everything. Justice argan-6 actual 24-hour days. Weather this ancient story. Should be taught in american science public classroom. As viable as a viable possibility or a possible alternative. Natural world as we know it. From f with evolutionary theory. Nevermind. The all-important american principle of the separation of church and state which as you all know. Help help us keep any particular religious teaching. Of the public school. Our government is not supposed to establish any religion. The larger issue however is simply that of accepting irrefutable scientific. Just one current example if you might. The importance of teaching only scientific facts in american science classrooms. Right now if you all know humanity faces a serious threat. From the deadly ebola virus that is horribly taking thousands of lives in west africa and does threaten all of us. No. Because this little tiny pernicious virus like all living organisms on earth. Operates by the established. Laws of evolution and natural selection it is rapidly right now evolving and adapting and waze. That may make it harder to treat every time you treat a virus with with a drug the virus tries to work its way around that every time the host changes it works. The ebola virus is a particularly very very clever virus and it is evolving. Incredibly fast. Trying to combat and conquer who clings to the creationist idea that this virus was created as it is now four and a half thousand years ago. It's crazy. Creationism in more on this in a moment. Maybe a charming old political story about how our world came into being. What is science. It is downright dangerous. Necessary. Over recent years the cultural debate about how the natural sciences. America has significantly shifted away from the old creationism versus science debate. Another idea. In preparation for the sermon i read a lot of articles about intelligent design. Written by those few scientists to articulate. As a viable scientific alternative to evolution at the house this planet came into being and work. By the overwhelming majority of science who just simply dismiss it as well intelligent design is a nice idea but it has nothing to do with science. Intelligent designs central idea. Is one one of its major proponents lehigh university professor michael behe calls. The irreducible complexity that exists the molecular level of life. Which asserts can only be the result of some sort of overall intelligent design. In other words life as we know what he argues must have been shake. God. This very idea is very much like the early and classical christian theological argument. Which is known as a kelia logical argument. For the existence of god the theological argument for the existence of god. Which was articulated by english theologian. 1802. Created his famous watchmaker analogy. If we find a pocket watch in the field. We immediately infer that it was produced not by natural processes acting blindly. But by a designing. Human intellect. Likewise he goes on. The natural world contains abundant evidence of a supernatural creator. No. Because i don't have sufficient time this morning i encourage all of you who are interested in this. Debate about intelligent design and evolution online take a look and intelligent design and do further reading on. Cuz it doesn't interesting. But suffice it for now here to say that just was with creationism that ancient political meth found in the old testament. Intelligent design in the eyes of all but a mere handful of serious earth scientist. Has no empirical evidence to support and therefore. Must have no place in american science classrooms. Clear here. By dismissing intelligent design. As a scientific assertion. Which of course is based on everything you know about the physical universe. I am not dismissing intelligent design. As a theological assertion. It's no good science but it's actually kennedy pretty fine theology. In the field of religion and theology. Nnnn in one's own personal spiritual life. Believing that there's some sort of holy or transcendent spirit or presence or intelligence. Dennis had a role in creation. And the ongoing sustenance of life. Is i thinking altogether honorable and reasonable view. But again it must be taught in science classroom. It can be taught in churches. People can say i feel a god in my world i look out at the at the lagoon with all of the pelicans and wildlife. Perfect environment and i see the hand of god of the spirit of love. That's a fine theological idea. What i'm saying is it when it comes to the questions about the mechanics of life. About how nature and natural life really works. Religion must always see the authority to science. And this is something that unitarian-universalist have long done. Are liberal tradition has always welcomed new scientific understanding. And blended them into our evolving space. About life and the meaning of life on this planet. But here's where i get to what i really want to say to you this morning. The speeding of a sort of authority by religion to science regarding scientific matters. Doesn't mean that religion. And those very different from our own. Cannot have an authoritative understanding life on this planet. Religion and science if they are to coexist creatively for the good of humanity. Which of course is the ideal they must be understood science and religion. Has two different. Fields of human endeavor with two very different methodologies of arriving at wisdom and truth to guide our human enterprise. Understanding science and religion and are parallel and equally important discipline. Is to think of science. As properly focused on question how does life mechanically work. Where is religion properly focuses on. And what does life mean. Mysteries and how can we be fully and finally human while we are here in this world. Dr. stephen jay gould the famous american paleontologists evolutionary biologists in history of science. Call norma. Non-overlapping magisteria this morning. Overlapping magisterium. With science concerning and having the authority to address the factual and empirical realm of life that this magisteria over here. What religion is concerned and has authority to address meaning and moral value of life. As he puts it. Each and separately have illegitimate. A domain of teaching authority. That's cool. He points out they do not overlap. Now. This makes sense to me. If we accept the idea that science and religion are different authority and the surgeon and endeavor. With different methodologies for discovering and living truth. Then we can proceed with the creative interchange. Between these twin towers of human expression and understanding. Differently. As a unitarian universalist. I think the enduring tragedy of the. Evolution creationism intelligent design debate as it has been framed in this country. Isn't it has become a winner-take-all public policy struggle. Either at least someone have it either you believe in the coal mechanical march of millions of years of natural selection and evolution. The science describe. Or you believe in an ancient creation myths found in the book of genesis. In which an all-powerful all intelligent all good god for his all creation and all life forms once and for all a few years back. What a tragedy. Both sides today. I've been unable to consider and incorporate the essential truth. The other. The magisterium not the magisteria not able to talk to each other. Personally for just a moment. As a rational i believe educated human being i thoroughly believe that i said. In the scientific. A proof of evolution and natural selection. And believe these scientific theories both describe and explain how for example are beautiful indian river lagoon an estuary came into being. And continues to evolve as an integrated ecosystem a dynamic interconnected ecosystem. Understanding when i cross the barber bridge and look out over at darwin explained on it. It is a personal thing i also can't. While gazing up for pelican island on the barber bridge. See and feel and the uplift. A scientifically unquantifiable. Alive and operating. Before my eyes. As one person who looked at my world both through. Scientific eyes and religious ones. Between the scientific facts. Anderson's painting intuitive face. About the sacredness and and holiness and and beauty and mystery. Of the world. In performing. In other words i believe bolton evolution. Which i can prove. The active present in my world until alexander's case of what i call a holy and sacred spirit. View apparently in the laboratory i can never prove. But there is a. Holy and sacred spirit of put in my creation breathing. Do the manatees in the sea grasses and the sky and the. The palmettos. But i experienced it. Experientially. In my spiritual life with what i call a faithful certainty. Here in my view anyway. Is the really neat thing. About religion and theology. Weather. Well neither theological assertions north face statement should be unreasonable. For the scientific and thinking mine. You do not answer my call or spiritual discourse. Need to prove your theology or faith as you would if you were a scientist studying the ebola virus. That's not the way theologians day's work. So speaking again personally this unitarian universalist believe. In the scientific and irrefutable scientific irrefutable evolution. My face in a. Holy spirit that animates. Senator john mccain. It is interesting book character is destiny he says something similar. After favorably quoting darwin and diversity of the planet on earth. It was there a paper i'm going to read it to you. Excludes religious faith from its interpretation. Those who need not deny a person's. Call perception of divine purpose. These two sides mccain goes on. Can find common ground in the letting. Call the facts of evolution. And letting the faithful see the hand of god in nature. It may surprise some of you to know that this is precisely the position. Taken by the roman catholic church galileo 340 years late. They have no problem. In reconciling the science of evolution. And their faith in god's role in creation. In a 1996 address to the church. Expressing the catholic church's long-term policy of scientific rationalism. John paul the second made it clear quote. The scientific conclusions of evolution. Need not contradict the core teachings. Of the christian faith. I was quite surprised 2 weeks ago i think when i was out in utah. By the way taking in the absolute beautiful scenery with my newfound brother at zion national park with those incredible canyon that were created millions of years ago. To read that the new pope pope francis in a recent address to the pontifical academy of sciences. Also reaffirmed that the process of evolution does not contradict catholic teachings i quote him. A few weeks ago. The big bang. That today is considered the world. The creative intervention of god on the contrary he wrote it requires it. Evolution and nature is not in contrast. With the notion of a divine creation. The beginning of the world's arrive directly from a supreme principle he concludes. That is created out of love. 21st century. The roman catholic church position visa v evolution. It's what jay gould was say. Let the scientific truth of evolution be acknowledged by all. And let the theological truth. Of our faith in god's loving role in creation also stand. Statement. Religious faith in a loving god or spirit animated creation at the end of the scientific understanding of the laws of evolution. Are not in conflict and can peacefully coexist. Seems to me exactly right. This is why i would love to find a way to gently convince for example my born-again erstwhile cousin's back in wisconsin. Who live on a farm. Richland sis. But the science of evolution and their face in a creator god are totally incompatible. And they can listen to no scientific truth about evolution. Only the old story. If they could just open their hearts and see their old stories. How much is it flows out of an understanding that there's something special going on in our creation. As reverend reverend henry brinton. A presbyterian theologian who regularly used to write in the washington post puts it. A literal scientific description of what happened. As life appeared on earth if they could affirm that. With both the reality of evolution and their face century-old assertions of god roll surely there's a way to allow scientific truth and religious faith. To be together in creative interchange as religion again tries to ascribe meaning. And purpose to our lives and is science simply tries. To describe it let me try to say this another way. As a theological assertion the idea that there is an intelligent design. Or some sort of transcendence. Creator of sustainer behind incredibly complex beautiful world that we have on our hands. Seems to me perfectly reasonable appropriate. When i look at the lagoon for example of all the ways with all these things interact to create an ecosystem i wonder how is this possible. It clearly blind process of evolution. Choose to describe to ascribe to that world a larger. A larger force of love the mystery of glory. Thinking theologically about the world is very is a very different exercise from thinking scientifically about it. Each pursuit has different rules and different methodologies and what i'm reminding you is that these magisterium. That's okay they operate in different. It's okay. Enclosing let me just say all this just a bit differently. The science of our natural world is clear and a refutable the unitarian darwin was right. Life on this planet operates by evolution and natural selection. But the theological or i'm a logical reality of our world. Now that's a wide-open exciting question. A wide-open an exciting question. Liberal liberal and conservative religion humanists mystics alike. To explore. I believe for example. Put in discussing my natural world. And my place in it. I could perhaps find some common theological ground with my born-again cousins in wisconsin. Some common ground that would allow us together to live more joyfully. And responsibly upon this beautiful and loving flynn. In this pointless winner-take-all allow. No creation science in the public. Rather than involved that winner-take-all battle about what you be taught. I'd rather. Allow scientists. Slow jams to speak in the same room. About their truth. And begin to interact. But setting aside in closing. For the moment the persistent debate. In american scientific classroom one of you. As something more than a mechanical relationship with your world i hope. You have some sort of active spiritual relationship. With the lagoon in our environment here in indian river county free. What matters to me theologically and spiritually. Is it you have. An active heart and a heartfelt appreciation. And engagement with your world. Something like walt whitman 200 years ago he wrote this. About his world if you don't have this kind of feeling i pray you will. Beauteous hero. Is the earth. And fair. The splendors of creation are. Nature's green robe. The shining sky the wind that through the treetops. All speak of a bounteous god. The sweet young flowers the bird that's the birds that singing forest bowers. The rivers grand murmuring role in fall. Joy's or claims the soul are made by a gracious my. And then yes. The flocks and drove happy and free. The dwellers of the boundless sea. East livingston. An air or land is formed. For joy. And peace. When you have that. Relationship. With your world. No matter how rational. And i say and mean to you. Thomas more. Legislators curious wisdom. The world's mystical heritage. Paint your canvases. Play your tunes give your all. To the worlds. That are born from you. Going.

uufvb_org

2014Nov30Sermon128.mp3

You are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old day or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd whether you're a visitor this morning or been coming for decades. Whether you were feeling this holiday weekend on top of the world or. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between we are delighted to see you this morning. Just as you come to us and we hope you will find. Our service this morning meaningful and reaching that you will find something here this morning to take with you. It will feed your spirit and nurture your soul. In the days and weeks ahead. More than 160 years ago unitarian bard ralph waldo emerson said. Men and women make their religion and historical religion they see god in judea and egypt in moses and in jesus. But not around them. We want a living religion. As the face was alive in the hearts of abraham and paul. So i would have it in mine. I want a religion not recorded in a book. Glowing. From all things. I know many of you have plants at the insert in this morning's order of service about the golden rule. Olive detering and i are going to read this through and tiffany and you can follow along or just listen. To all the different ways faith groups articulate this universal truth of religion. Baha'i. Lena said that you would not wish to be laid upon you and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself. Buddhism. Treat others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Christianity. In everything do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the law and the prophets the prophets. Confucianism. One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct. Loving kindness. Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself. Hinduism. This is the sum of duty. Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Islam. Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others. What you wish for yourself. Phantasm. 123 tall creatures in the world as one would like to be treated. And in happiness and suffering and joy and grief we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. Judaism. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. And what is hateful to you. Do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole torah. All the rest is commentary. Humanism. Human has affirmed that individuals and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason. Intelligent effort critical-thinking join. With compassion and the spirit of empathy. For all beings. Native american. Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he. Who you what you you wrong but yourself. Shinto. The heart of the person before you. Is a mirror. See their your own form. Sikhism. I am a stranger to no one. And no one is a stranger to me. Indeed. I am a friend to all. Sufism. The basis of sufism is consideration for the hearts and feelings of others. If you haven't the will to bladon someone's heart. Then at least beware lest you hurt someone's heart. Four on our path. No sim exist but this. Taoism. Regard your neighbors gain as your own game. And your neighbors loss as your own loss. Unitarian universalism. We affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Justice equity and compassion in human relations. And respect for the interdependent web of all existence. We are apart. Wicca. And it harm no one. Do what thou wilt. And my favorite. The yoruba indians of nigeria. One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird. Should first try it on himself. To feel how it hurt. Zoroastrianism. Do not do unto others what injures yourself. He runs the morning reading. So this morning i continue my sermon series which i'll preach on occasional sundays over this coming year. About the six official sources of our faith. Now it is my educated guess and even though i've already preached the first two sermons of the series. A majority of you are still much more familiar with the seven principles of our faith. Which we print faithfully every sunday in the order of service and often talk about from this pulpit and elsewhere. Then you are the six sources of our faith which the denomination has identified. After enumerating the centaur seven principles the bylaws of the denomination adopted in 1984 immediately go on. Do identify officially six foundational sources that gives shape to our faith. And here they are up on the screen hopefully and i want to quickly read them if i can. The six sources of our faith. The living tradition which we share draws from many sources. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder affirmed in all cultures which moves us to renewal of the spirit. An openness to the forces which. Create anapole life. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenges. To confront powers and structures of evil. What's justice compassion. And the transforming power of love already preached on each of those two on those are on our website. Words ending in the third wisdom. From the world's religions which inspire us in our ethical and spiritual life my focus today. And then i'm future sunday jewish and christian teachings which call us to respond to god's love. By loving our neighbors as ourselves. Humanist teachings. What counsel us to heed the guidance of reason. And the results of science and warned us against idolatries of the mind and spirit. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions. Which celebrate the sacred circle of life. And instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. And then. It was added. Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and nobles are faith we are inspired to deepen our understanding. And expand our vision. Esprit congregations we admitted this covenant. Promising. Up to one another our mutual trust and support. You might wonder why our free-thinking denomination has bothered to formally. Enumerate 6 sources. Which in form and shape our faith tradition well it's because like. All traditions as i've said before ours need to answer the epistemological question. And the epistemological question in religion is simply by what authority. Does your faith tradition say something is real. Or true. Good or right. Epistemology is when he's fancy academic and philosophical words it simply means. The methods and ground or siri of knowledge. So the epistemological. Question in religion is by what authority. Does your face tradition say something is his so. And. This is a really big and essential question and religion for i think it is obvious to anyone who thinks about it. But if a religion any religion. Cannot answer this question in a reasonable sound. Or sort of manner it is in real spiritual and intellectual trouble. Now. For many traditional christian religions indeed for most of the congregation. Here in vero beach. This epistemological question is answered in a way something like this. Mainstream christian epistemology. The source of bought in the authority for our religion is the word of god and the teachings of jesus. As recorded in the bible and as interpreted by church doctrine. And tradition. Indeed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries both the early unitarian. And the early universalist had biblically-based epistemology similar to this one. For both early unitarianism and early universalism were. Liberal judeo-christian sex that sprung up in new england. We were christian. Liberal left-wing christian but kristen none the less. And they almost the our forebears and religion. Relied almost exclusively on biblical scripture. I'll be at their liberal understandings of the nature of god in the teachings of jesus. As the source for their spiritual and ethical lives. In both as individuals and in society at large but. As i've said in the previous sermon. With the arrival of the 20th century. Both unitarianism and universalism as faith traditions. Increasingly open to and influenced by religious humanism. And the other great religions of the world that they we were discovering around the turn of the last century. Most especially the eastern traditions of buddhism. Hinduism and taoism with the arrival of the twentieth century we began to embrace a much wider and more inclusive epistemology. And began clearly moving beyond the confines of our judeo-christian roots. So when it came time for the denomination. To update our epistemological sources statement in 1984. This statement that i just read to you earlier is what we came up with. Very back to keep going back. Keep going back will get there. There you go. This is a very broad and obviously inclusive statement now. You will see that in honor of our judeo-christian roots 4th. Source is jewish and christian teaching. But as i'm sure it has caught your attention. The modern unitarian-universalism put some other sources first your direct experience the words and deeds of prophetic women and my subject today. Wisdom from world religions above our own heritage. As a judeo. Christian. Church historically. About this third simple. Source statement which affirms our genuine open to open this to and respect for the wisdom of all the varied scriptural teachings of all the great world religions. And as i've already said. This clearly sets us epistemological apart. From most religious congregations in america. Including many of our traditional christian and jewish neighbors here on the treasure coast. This is because jewish and christian congregation of course. Are almost exclusively spiritually and ethically focused. On the ancient collection of writings. Which are called the holy bible specifically. The 39 books. Which makeup jewish scriptures often called the old testament as you all know. And the 27 books that make up christian scriptures. Often called the new testament. But right around the turn of the twentieth century as i've already said. The unitarians and the universal is who did not merge together until 1961. Separately began looking far beyond the confines of our judeo-christian roots. And opened themselves. To what the world's many diverse religions had to offer both spiritually and ethically. Let me say this another way. More than 100 years ago. Wii u use began moving past the confines of the old familiar jewish and christian narratives found in the bible. And began to adopt a radically more open and eclectic spirituality. Really drawn from all of the world's many religious traditions their scriptures and their stories again it's very important you understand. It's not that are free church tradition was suddenly rejecting. Or forsaking our long-standing judeo-christian roots. The wisdom of judaism. And christianity will always be important to us as the fourth statement. The affirms. Rather it says humanity moved into the modern age. We flown our spiritual and our ethical doors wide open. Welcoming wisdom and insight from all the world's great religions not necessarily favoring christianity or judaism over any of the rest. So the bottom line here is that. As we evolved and matured in the 20. The century in the 21st century now. We were spiritually and ethically unwilling to limit ourselves. To the old comfortable confines of the judeo-christian narrative in story. And we began to just explode really. Another way to think about us we are the first. Post biblical american safe. Not rejecting where we came from spiritually. But radically expanding. Our intellectual and our spiritual and our ethical horizon. Alright. So we modern-day you use seek to incorporate the wisdom from all the world's religions. Into the fabric of our own spiritual and ethical live. But then the question quickly becomes well. Exactly what wisdom is that that we're taking from hinduism and buddhism what what wisdom is that what truths. Are there. Aura seltzer. As a twenty-first-century uui take it on faith. But every one of humanity's major religions. Has a meaningful measure. Of wisdom and truth. The canby pot that can be a positive and practical used to me as a unitarian universalist. As well as frankly. Some beliefs ideas and understanding that i will end up rejecting or at least ignoring. As i proceed down my own spiritual and ethical path. Further i most definitely do not view any one religion. Including my own. Including unitarian-universalism. As possessing. Human wisdom and truth in its entirety. I don't believe any religion has that. Has the corner on cosmic truth. That is why i'm comfortable in this free and open face tradition. Which encourages me really to pick and choose. Religious and spiritual and ethical perspectives. That resonate with my understanding of life that seemed true and good to me. And an ad direction. Hope and purpose in my life. One of my favorite unitarian-universalist saying is here in our congregation. We have a loose leaf bible. Meaning. You can pop open the binder and take out the thick of says women should never speak in turkey just let that go and put some buddhist saying about love or compassion. Our understanding of scripture. Isn't it. Revelation is not sealed we are still writing the bible into our own hearts and we are free. To do it in a fluid in open way and this is anathema as you know. 2 most traditional religion has to say nope nope nope scriptures once once and for all clear and it's my scripture and that's the only one that has any truth. This is not an idea we resonate with. One more thing needs to be set at this juncture about the various scriptures. Of the world's great religions. And that is it mostly they are ancient. And in many cases. Confounding. Contradictory. Unclear. And curious. They are loose loosely edited collections most of them. A readings and stories and poetry and history and thought. Written thousands of years ago there's no other way to say it by primitive people. Living in a primitive and largely pre-scientific world. Trying to make sense of the universe and their life these are ancient. I know that many of the religious orthodox with our community would take vehement exception. To this view. But tomorrow night unitarian universalist sensibilities. I think it's incredibly far-fetched. And spiritually unethically dangerous to think. The anyone such ancient. Compilation of writings alone. Can provide and infallible. Roadmap for life in this incredibly complex time i don't see out any of the sets. Of the world's religions scriptures. In the beginning of themselves can provide an adequate roadmap. Ethically or morally or spiritually. Let me just take the judeo-christian bible for instance. Well as i said i think the old and new testaments are full of great spiritual insight and i'll preach about that when i do the 4th sermon. And many ethical truth. That i regularly rely on in my own spiritual and ethical life. I also think the bible contains as you all know a great deal of primitive. Time and culture-bound writings and believe. That we as modern people i think must reject or at least intentionally ignore. As we give shape to our religious life. Well the bible. Written and edited by many hands thousands of years ago. Points the way i think clearly. The justice. And compassion. The gratitude. Reverence and joy and love. It also the bible in other places points to tribalism. Slavery. Genocide. Racism sexism and cruelty. Unbounded. All of this is to say. That is a unitarian universalist as i seek out the wisdom. Of the world's great religions to enrich my faith. I will be doing that with a fierce selectivity. And with great discernment. About what i think is timeless and true in in buddhism and hinduism and christianity and judaism and i'll be letting a lot of the rest of it just go. A spiritually and ethically unuseful or even harmful. To me and to humanity that's my view. Let me give just one personal example about how i as 1uu. Do in a vehicle importance to not use scriptures be at ancient and modern. I find many of the old biblical sayings and parables. That are attributed to jesus of nazareth. About love forgiveness generosity and compassion. To beat some of the most important ethical and spiritual writings known to humanity. And much of my ethical bearings as a unitarian universalist come directly from the teachings of jesus. But these ancient scriptures. About his life. Are no more. There are the current writings of my favorite contemporary buddhist teacher. None other than the 14th dalai lama. In the dalai lama's wonderful book ethics for new millennium is now 14 years old. Put in that wonderful book ethics for new millennium. He speaks with i think at least as much power and persuasion. About compassion and connection and love as did any parable. The jesus is said to have spoken. My point here. Is that the body of work which i as a twenty-first-century you you call scripture. Can the ancient. Or modern. It can be poetical or prosaic. And it can be from any of humanity's great religions or philosophical or artistic traditions. Wii u use insist on being free. To explore human spirituality across the whole face of history. And the globe. And not limit ourselves to one little narrowband of scripture. Alright. So that's sad. What are some of the timeless others jesus and there's the dalai lama in case you just want to let the picture of the actor who is playing jesus as best i can find. So. So what are some of the universal. And timeless truths and understanding so i think all religions. I notice well. Some of you may not know much about something called perennial philosophy but i think it's a good place to start. Perennial philosophy was made popular through a book by british philosopher aldous huxley. Published right after wwii while 1945 is the end of world war ii. Here's what the online encyclopedia wikipedia. Says about perennial philosophy. Perennial philosophy is a perspective within the philosophy of religion. Which views each of the world's religious traditions as sharing a want one single universal truth. On which the foundations of all religious knowledge and doctor have grown according to perennial philosophy. Each world religion including but not limited to. Christianity. Islam judaism hinduism taoism confucianism shinto sikhism and buddhism. Is an inch of these isn't interpretation. All this universal truth. Adopted to cater for the psychological intellectual and social needs of a given culture. In a given. of history. And then wikipedia goes on. The universal truth. Which lives at the heart of each religion. Has been rediscovered in each epoque. Buy saints and sages and prophets and philosophers. These include not only the founders of the world's great religions. But also gifted and inspired mystics theologians and preachers. Who have revived already existing religion when they have fallen into empty platitudes. And halo ceremonial ism. And then wikipedia goes on perennialists argue that although the sacred scriptures of the world are undeniably diverse. And often superficially scene. To oppose one another. One can discern quote a common doctrine. Regarding the ultimate purpose of human life in all of them. Typically this doctrine is posited as mystical insofar. As it is viewed as abused the summum bonum of human life. As an experiential unit with the supreme being sometimes perceived as energy hang with me hear such as the universe. Which can only be achieved by undertaking a program. A physical and mental purification or improve. So contemporary philosopher ken wilber call perennial philosophy. The worldview that has been embraced by the vast majority. Of the world's great spiritual teachers philosophers thinkers and even scientists it is called perennial. Or universal. Because it shows up as we've already said. In all cultures across the globe and across all ages wherever we find it. It has essentially the same features. And it is essentially an essential agreement the world over. And then he has riley. We moderns who can hardly agree on anything. Find this universality a bit hard to believe. Here is how doctor wilbur summarizes the seven major points of perennial philosophy are what he calls. The timeless wisdom. Of all religion i want to share these with you briefly this morning. To see if they resonate with any of your understandings about what universal in religion. Here is perennial philosophy as wilbur sees it. 1. Spirit exist. Second spirit is found within each of us. Three most of us don't realize the spirit within us however because. We are living in a world of sin separation into ality. That is we are living in andalucia restate but. For there is a way out of the state of illusion. There is a path to our liberation. And if we follow this path which conclusion. The result for each of us is rebirth. Or enlightenment a direct experience of spirit within. A supreme liberation. Which marks the end of separation and suffering and which finally in here the kiki point. Issues in social action. A mercy. And compassion. On behalf of all sentient beings. I want to go quickly through these. 1. Spirit exist. Well i take this to mean as a unitarian universalist. Is it all the great world religions. A holiness. Or a sacredness. Infusing. In forming an underlying life. It is the belief. But they're in all religions that there is something larger lovelier and more lasting. Then our mortal individual cell. And that larger something opens away to us. To live lives of purpose and gratitude and satisfaction in love. During our all-too-brief lifetime on this. Beautiful the dangerous planet now. Some. As the opening hymn. Suggested some call the spirit god but. Others call this spirit. Love or justice or ultimate mystery or moral goodness but all religious people steal this holiness and it gives them hope. And gives them purpose. As they live out their lives. So spirit exists and then the second point. Spirit is found with him. Second thing of all religions share. Is the conviction that this holiness. And sacredness that lives and breathes in our world is not somehow up on a cloud you can only see when you're flying at 40,000 feet it's not separate from each person. It's found naturally within each person. The spirit of life and love that lives in creation. Lives in us. And if we trust it and nurture it. It can help us to become. The best persons we are capable of. In the unitarian tradition we frequently speak of this. As the inherent worth and dignity of every person. And similarly for centuries unitarian and universalist have always said. There was a spark of the divine. A spark of the sacred. In each person which we see a glow. Inside each person. Even those who had the spark muted by tragedy or abuse. Show all the world's religions. According to perennial philosophy. And certainly. As unitarian universalist we agree with this. All religions trust that the highest. And the holiest in the universe. Is within you. Is not something separate. But lights the way. But. The problem is most of us don't realize this holiness in the sacredness because we live. And kind of a tough world. Many of us move through our days this suggests unaware of the richness. And the holiness. But lies everywhere including in our own hearts. So many of us live out our days barely aware of the fullness and the purpose of life but. Or there's a way out of this state of illusion and separateness is a path. To our liberation. There is a spiritual path in every religion. To help you discover the god in the holiness both within you and then the world and that leads to number five. If you follow this path. The result will be a rebirth in your heart and lighten a direct experience. Of that spirit or sacredness within. A supreme liberation which. When we get on the right spiritual path and do the work of the spirit. And allow these powers. To shape our lives in the best way possible. We are liberated all religions say this. To a meaningful and a purpose for the good life. We realize our human potential. Do use a humanist expression. The religious journey's end. Is all about in all religions getting in touch with the spirit. Both within us and around us. And this chicks. Leads to happiness it marks the end of separation. And suffering. Which seven very important. When you are not suffering when you are aware of the sacredness within and around you. Guess what it leads to. It leads to ethical living it needs to compassion. And to care about earlier in the service olive and i read you the golden rule from every great religion. This sort of proves what perennial philosophy is saying. All religions in the end. End up. At a place of compassion. And care. The how is it you might ask the quite independently from one another. In both ancient and modern time. Each of the world's religions. Came to the same universal ethical conclusion. That'll be truly religious means you treat all sentient beings. With respect decency compassion and the mercy. You hope for. Yourself. When i think of this third. A source of unitarian-universalism this wisdom from world religions. It is this universal commitment. To compassion and care for others. That is most importantly and inspiring to me the unitarian universalist. If you look at the seven principles of our faith are printed on your word as a service and that's our next flight if you look at our principles. You can see the breathing through all these affirmations of our art is the golden rule. Breathing through every one of our principal is the golden rule. That is also found innocent. And in julian. And in buddhism and taoism and shintoism are astrium is a man on and on it goes. Different religions understand god and the supernatural differently. But when it comes to human relations. In everyday life. They all agree on the golden rule. All of the world's major religions embrace the same version. The golden rule. In her very important book. The great transformation the beginnings of our religious traditions. Religious historian karen armstrong. Points out. Didn't the 9th to 2nd century bc before christ so called the axial age. 4 broad distinct religious traditions. Philip had an incredible impact on human life. And that being confucianism and taoism in china. Hinduism and buddhism in india. Monotheism in the middle east that being judaism. And islam and the philosophical rationalist in greece. All of these traditions. Moved in response to the violent and the violence and the inhumanity of their age. To articulate she says. A new ethic of empathy and compassion. Ford all human beings everywhere i briefly called her. The axial age. Was pivotal to the spiritual development of humanity. The prophets mystics philosophers and poets of the axial age again. 229 centuries before jesus. Tata spirituality. Of empathy and compassion. Predates christianity. And they insisted. The people abandoned their egoism and greed. Violence and unkindness. And karen armstrong goes on and embrace respect. For the sacred rights of all persons. Each of these traditions. She concluded. Developed its own formulation of the golden rule. And the axial traditions all taught that if people behave with kindness and generosity to their fellows. They could save the world. Though some of you are aware that over the last year or so i have been quite involved here in vero beach. In a new community-wide initiative. Which we have called. Compassion zero. I'm currently on the steering committee we're going to have a film showing here in just a couple of months. About the infectiousness of human kindness we have a national film coming. And the event is going to be here at the fellowship the first big public event of compassion vero. This is austin's bar website if you google compassion vero you can see what we're doing until they have all kinds of resources up there to help people. Run compassionate meetings and how to be a compassionate parent we've got a wonderful. Set of resources up. Here is our mission. The mission of this local community-wide initiative here in vero beach. Spearheaded by business. Governmental. Religious educational and nonprofit leaders of vero beach. Working collaboratively. Is. To increase compassion. Consideration. Respect. Acceptance in conclusion in every area and aspect. Of our shared living at vero beach. This largely came out of people attending city hall meetings and county commissioner meetings where people rip each other apart like a piece of dead flesh on the beach. And we said we are not treating each other in this community. Very well. Let's build a new. Compassionate. Sense. And we took our inspiration for this local effort from karen armstrong. Worldwide charter for compassion. A modern-day ethical movement. With more than 150,000 individuals and many cities and towns. Sign on to be compassionate cities we are the latest. Compassionate city. Around the world. A clearly building. On the golden rule. Again the charter for compassion. The principle of compassion. Karen armstrong right. Lies at the heart of all religious ethical and spiritual traditions. Calling us always to treat each other as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly. To alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures. To dethrone ourselves from the center of the world. And put another person there. And to honor the inviolable sanctity of every human life treating everybody. Without exception. With absolute justice. Equity and respect and then she has. Humanity urgently needs to make compassion. A clear. Luminous and dynamic force. In our polarized world. This. Is the universal and inclusive religious note upon which i want to end today. As we unitarian universalist open ourselves. To the wisdom of all the world's great religions. Which inspire us in our ethical and spiritual eyes. May we always trust. The line at the heart and the soul of every great religious tradition. Is the call to treat all human beings everywhere. With respect. And dignity. And compassion and care. May all of us as unitarian universalist. Live our lives out on this earth guided by the light. Humanities universal understanding. Of the supreme value. Of everyman. Woman. And child. Let there be peace. In the name of the father. End of the sun. I love the mother. End of the daughter. But the skies be clear. Let our homes be happy. Let there be justice and goodwill. In every corner of the globe. Let there be peace. In the name of the father. End of the sun. And of the bother. And i'm the daughter. I'm in.

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2010Feb21sermon128.mp3

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2013Jan27Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. It's another beautiful day on the treasure coast it's why you moved here. Beautiful. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We are so pleased that each of you have chosen to be with us for worship this morning. Please know you are welcome. Precisely as you come to us. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you are feeling on top of the world this morning or. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you just as you come in all of your need. Circularity. We hope you will find our services morning meaningful enriching and you'll find at least one thing to take with you. In the days ahead. Did you may live more fully and more joyfully. The words of my colleague kathy mckee. We come together this morning to remind one another to rest. For a moment. On the forming edge of our lives. To resist the headline tumble into the next moment. Until we claim for ourselves. Awareness and gratitude. Taking the time to look and see there. Communion. The reflection. House of laughter and silence memory and hope. Is hallowed by our presents together. The following is a spoken meditation which will be followed by several moments of silent meditation. According to the pali commentaries. The buddha originally gave this instruction of loving-kindness meditation two monks who are being harassed by the tree spirits of a forest in of a forest. In which the monks we're trying to meditate. Doing this meditation in the forest it is said that the spirits were so affected. By the power of loving-kindness that they allowed the monks to stay in the forest. For the duration of the rainy season. This is what should be done by one who is skilled in goodness. And who knows the path of peace. Wishing. And gladness and in safety. May all being a tease. Whatever living beings there maybe. Whether they are weak or strong omitting the great. Or the mighty medium-short or small. The seen and the unseen those living near and far away. Osborne. Or about to be born. May all beings. At ease. Deceive another or despise any being in any state. Let none. Through anger or ill-will. Wish harm upon another. Even as the mother protects with her life. Her child. Her only child. Something with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings. Radiating kindness over the entire world. Spreading upwards to the sky i'm downward to the depths. Outward and unbounded. Freed from hatred and ill-will. Weather standing or walking. Seated or lying down. Free from drowsiness should sustain this recollection. This is said to be the sublime abiding. May all beings. At ease. Well this morning. I continued my 2013 seasonal sermon series. On the seven heavenly virtues. And the seven deadly sins identified so many centuries ago by the early christian church. With a third installment this week on this of the duality kindness. And envy now. As i've spelled out in my introductions to both the first two installments over the last two weeks. My well-laid plan for the series was in each of the seven sermons preached between now and may. Explore what i think it's the creative spiritual emotional and moral tension. Between these sets of steaming. Polar human opposites. With. Most of these dualistic sets. It's pretty easy for me to identify the ways in which the identified virtue is listed first on the left. Are. so purely virtual. And for me to identify how devices are the sims on the right. Are not so purely wicked. In other words i've not had too much trouble articulating. The ways the heavenly virtues are not all that heaven. And the seven deadly sins are not all that.. Butter in fact. Apart. What it means to be fully antithetically human but. This morning in addressing the virtue of kindness and the vice of envy i'm in something of a different and much more challenging philosophical. An intellectual spot precisely because. As i think about them anyway kindness kindness really is pretty much. A pure virtue. And then really is pretty much a pure vice. In other words it's really difficult to say anything bad about kindness. It almost impossible to say anything good about mz. Let me start with arguably the much easier side of this equation to my mind anyway. Kindness. Is there anyone here right now who had a bad word to say about kindness. No. Susan you can't do that to me. It was a rhetorical question that a real one. Here's what wikipedia the online a galuteria dictionary has to say about kindness. Going to put their definition up. Is the act or state of being kind. Being marked by good and charitable behavior pleasant disposition. And concern for others it is known as a virtue. And recognized as a value in many cultures and religions. This is kind of curious research. Kindness not only benefit receivers. Of the kind act but also the giver. As a release of neurotransmitters. Respondus is a modern dictionary. Responsible for feelings of contentment and relaxation. When such acts are committed. Another offer author offers the following definition of kind. It's charity. Compassion and friendship. For its own sake. Empathy and trust. Without prejudice or resent. Unselfish love and voluntary kindness. Without bias or spite. Indeed all the world's great religions religious traditions. Proclaim and acknowledge the absolute value and importance. Kindness in human affairs. Of ancient jewish scriptures claims that quote. Deeds of kindness. Are equal in weight. All the commandments. And many consider kindness to be the lost 11. Of the ten commandments. In the jewish tradition. Much as i said in my sermon a couple years back on the golden rule. Which enjoins us always to do unto others. As we would have them. Do unto us. In the christian tradition kindness is listed as one of the fruits of the spirit. By paul of tarsus otherwise known as saint paul. In buddhism the 14th dalai lama tenzin gyatso simply declared. Mi religion. Is kindness. The hindu tradition. Spiritually asks. Where is religion. Without loving kindness. Confucius urged his followers to quote. Recompense. Kindness. With. Kindness and islam. The prophet muhammad himself said. Allah is kind. And he loves. Kindness. But perhaps the best of all. All the simple tributes that i like. Is that which twentieth-century humanist. British philosopher aldous huxley offered. To the virtue of human kindness. I'm putting it up for. He wrote. He was a great philosopher. It is a bit embarrassing. Problem all one's life. And find that at the end one has. No more to offer by way of advice than. Try. Tubi. So kindness i think must be understood by all of humanity including unitarian universalist. As a heavenly or near-perfect virtue. For us to put into practice in our daily lives. Just as broadly and frequently as possible. You know one of the nicest things. And say about another human being is that they are kind. And it's hard for me to imagine that any of us will ever be accused. During our lifetimes of being overly kind. That despite the saying that a person can be killed with kindness i don't really believe that. I am persuaded. That there is no such thing in human affairs. Estimate car. The bottom line my friends is it all of us on our spiritual journeys tour being better people. Should always seek. To be kinder. And just learn individual. . feeny and the varga. It's like the buddha said we want. All beings everywhere to be. The way we do that is by being. Kind. So. With that i assume shining truth. Established about kindness. Let's turn our attention to the side of this morning's equation shall we. Just as kindness. Isn't nearly unquestionable virtue envy is almost certainly always an unseemly and ugly. Or human failing. Let's turn once again to wikipedia wikipedia by the time i'm done with the series. They're right. Andy is best defined as a resentful emotion. Occurs when a person lacks another's perceived. Superior quality achievement or possession. And wishes that the other lactive. Only is the envious person rendered unhappy by his envy. But they also wish to inflict misfortune on others. The wikipedia ends is similar to jealousy and that. Both feel discontent toward someone's trade. Dallas abilities. Or rewards. Md the authors write. Is best defined as this resentful emotion. Does henry farley bluntly observe. About envy in his book. The seven deadly sins today he says. The face of envy is never lovely. It seems to be the nastiest the most grim the meanest of the sims it is sneering and sly and vicious. And my colleague will saunders. Similarly right. Each of the deadly sins. Destructive. At least the other sims provide moments of gratification in the earlier stages. Goofer example does not enjoy the initial pleasures of sloth. Everest gluttony or less. Attorney rice. But it doesn't last. All those first moments are delicious. But envy by contrast he writes hold no initial gratification. With envy there is nothing particularly. To enjoy. Has absolutely nothing to recommend itself. In human affairs. When you feel envy. When you were filled with envy or poisoned with envy. It instantly makes you feel bad about yourself. And pollutes your relationship. With the persons or person. For whom you direct this venom. Mvsa saying in some circles is a lose-lose proposition. It is a quick and total downer that leaves everyone the poor. And yet despite its obvious cause most of us. Experience angie i mean let's be honest. Who am i les does not at least field from time to time. Of envy directed at another. Inside you when your kid brother. Pulled into your driveway with his new lexus. But you can't afford. Or when you walk into a neighbor's home that is appointed much more lavishly tastefully and beautifully than your own. Or perhaps you get that. of envying your stomach when you see somebody at the gym. Who is a much more beautiful body or much pain summer face. Then you imagine your own to be. Or when while out enjoying an afternoon at the mall or a museum you plant over and sia. Hopeless a seemingly hopeless. Happy family or couple obviously enjoying each other's company more than. You are feeling at the moment. Toward your spouse of the last one. Or your kids. I will leave them alone for. Or would it work you realize it one of your younger energetic co-workers really is brighter and more intellectually capable than you. There are so many comparisons. We can and naturally do make. Between ourselves and others. And when we do make such comparisons and fine for whatever. Reason our own lives wanting. That is precisely when envy can rear its ugly head. And make us feel inadequate or jealous or an app. Or just feel inferior. Ps better look. She has a bigger stock portfolio. He has more talented children. She has everyone's respect for her brains. He has such a loving family and so many friends she always gets the plum promotion at work. He takes fabulous exotic vacations on and on and on the comparisons. Can go that make our own lives look into. Let me just quickly crawl into the confession booth on this subject. Just a moment myself. And give you an everyday example and envy despite my best intentions crept into my heart. And worked its mischief. A few years ago when i was the senior minister of a large and very prosperous church. In bethesda maryland. The congregation after years of healthy growth under my guidance. Enter the. of number stagnation we just hit a plateau and even. That toured attaway ministry began a slow decline. My hard-working staff and i all 17 of us. How many staff. We all felt we were doing just about everything right. And there were other but and their other three other large you use suburban churches in similar towns that we're also having the same. Demographic decline that we were. Just down the road from us. There was one church. Just like us in a similar suburb that was growing by leaps and bounds. With both people and money pouring in and some of my congregations more aggressive l. Unless supportive leaders. Pointed this out why can't we be like fairfax. I have always liked and respected my colleague in this successful church but i will admit that some nd crept into my heart. As i watched her shop blossom. While mine and the other ones were spinning their wheels i find myself saying to myself quietly. I was going to benicar if she is she's just lucky that's all she's got a better demographic. Envy is an emotional snake. The house the way of knowing just how to. Slytherin slide into your heart. Rather than. Me tell you some more examples i want. To take about 10 seconds. Nsync in your life. In the last couple of years. About sometime when. Felton. Think about. Cryptids. I hope that. You were all able in the honesty of your own silence. To conjure up. Some concrete reflection of envy. Because. It really. Is a universal thing in it and i think it's almost never feels good. Defense. For who doesn't like who doesn't who likes to admit feeling in between toes. In our own defense we might protest. Usually feeling when we stack up what we have and are against what others having our. It's admiration. envy. Now surely it is not a sin to positively admire others in fact admiring the skills. Lock possessions qualities and achievements of people around us. Balance the good thing in people's lives and even want them. Out of that positive association for yourself. Can i take the appositive and motivating and useful thing. When we truly admire others. Boy she sure knows how to apply herself at work and advance her career. Why was he ever a good father and husband and cook. Manda she ever know how to dress and take care of her body. I wish i could succeed in the stock market the way he does. Our sincere admiration for the good and desirable things other people have an r. Can function positively to motivate us. Self development and improvement hard work and diligence more effort more discipline more care. In whatever aspect of living we admire. Early in my career as a minister for example. I truly admired some of the great preachers of our moving and i think. That admiration helped me to learn. From them i would. I would say look at the qualities. These three or four men who is that sign was all men. Who am i study the art of preaching and worked on my skill i believe by admiration. Was a positive. Horse and i think. Canby. A positive force in all of our lives. If. Prevent it. We prevent it from waxing over into the. Poisonous. Negative. Diminishing sinful realm of envy if we can just keep it as admiration. As i have already said. Envy more than anything else. Human relationship. It harms the relationships you have. With those toward whom the envious directed. And even more importantly as harms the relationship you have with your own self. And your own life. It harms your relationship. With your own life. First of course. Begrudging comparison of what others have or our necessity poisons our relationships with them. How can we be envious deepen our god's to someone else's wealth. Or success or capabilities or charm. And not have those feelings sully or somehow diminished. Our interaction. With them. Oh we may still smile and appear outwardly enthusiastic. In our dealings with those who trigger r-nv but over time our feelings. Inferiority. Inevitably eat away i think it's the he's in the flow and the joy. Other relations. And even more than this truth. Randy drives us away from others. It also damages our relationship the relationship we have with our. Who sells. County road. The joyful connection we have. What the precious an amazing life. That we have in each given supper. Live. Reason with me. To be envious of another human person. Means that we are in some way or another fundamentally dissatisfied with our own lives. Feeling nd means we don't truly feel good about. Who we already are and what we already have. And so we imagine others as superior to us. It is my colleague will saunders who writes ultimately. The source of envy. Is is low self-esteem. It is a lack of appreciation and gratitude for what we do have for the gifts. We are given. Empty arises he writes from the feeling. That by not having what others have we are somehow a failure somehow less worthy and henry farley. Does the same thing a bit differently. The envious person does not love him or herself. Are envious. Disparagement of others is a reflection of our disparagement. Of ourselves. I believe these observations. Precisely on time. Envy by logic is always a symptom of low spiritual and emotional self esteem. I persuaded that md can only rise in our hearts. Sully our relationships with others. If we are. If we are not in a right positive and grateful relation. With the lies we have and the blessings we already put. Relation. With that. Mdworker. Surely we can only be diminished personally. By the feelings of others are superior to us. If we are out of sync with our own. Soles. A nun. Comfortable in our own skin. When dante. Rode his dark. Great picture that's the devil obviously it in the one of the rings of hell. When you wrote this dark allegory the inferno in the 13th century. He seemed to understand how envy function. Not only to cut us off from those we envy but to cut us off from ourselves and the blessings we have in this life. When dante and his companions. Come upon the envious in the underworld he finds some suffering. Terrible and blind poverty of being the envious are being punished. By god. For their sin of being envious by having their eyes drawn shut closed with threads of iron wire. As farley explains dante's ironic punishment. The eyes of the envious. Well they lived could not bear to look upon joy especially the joy of others. Which might have shown on them so now in the afterlife. Their eyes are closed shut. So they may not look at the light of the sun. And others may not look into their eyes. With the happiness. That might have greeted them. No i'm not sure that dante is version of hell awaits each of us. If we fall victim to a little envy now and that i hope not. Unitarian universalist believe in hell anyways. Obviously. We would be all spiritual emotionally happier and live much in a much more positive place and then better relations with others. If we don't spend our lives always comparing ourselves to others in terms of what. We art are not what we cannot do and what we do not have. My colleague rodger fritz. Describe the relevant cartoony once on a new yorker met or somewhere. Two monks are walking outside of chapel in a monastery in the one month. Most of the other. Brother paul i know it's a sin. But i can't help but envy you. I found my way. To this life in the monastery only recently before i came here i little life in the outside world i made lots of money in the stock market and real estate. I don't myself a big house with a swimming pool and a hot tub is the best restaurants in the world i went to spectacular shows in places like vegas in. Monte carlo wiper blades. Call fed all the best country clubs i skied saint moritz and aspen i bought new sports car every year and of course i made love to many beautiful women. You and the other hand brother paul came to the monastery when you were very young man have devoted your life to god and contemplation oin view. To which brother paul looks like this in the cartoon. Look in almost any human context envy. Negatively comparing ourselves to others have can crop up because no matter how. Good we may have at the grass does always look greener on the other side. As greek philosopher rototillers observe centuries ago. Envy is universal. It is rooted in. Heart and it is natural to man and. But that being acknowledged to the extent that we are able. Emotional and spiritual live. We must limit our comparison with. Others. Which will thereby enable us to focus on the riches of our own lives. Abundant blessings that are already ours and the unquenchable beauty and worth. We already possess. Listen again to the wise words of my friend wilson. The solution to envy. Is simple really. But difficult. We must know ourselves. We must be ourselves. We must count our blessing live in the grace of this world we must have fell of confidence in who we are and what is important to us. We must learn to honor our own life and vision are and vision. Our own experience and be our own persons. Recognizing without regret or comparison that others will be different. Different skills. Callos resources and dreams and then he writes. To banish envy. From our lives. We must love ourselves and love. Lives. We haven't give. Is exactly. I want to summarize everything i said to you i say. About kindness. And then the other. Envy is a sin. Because it is unhealthy attachment. To your own self. And you're dissatisfied. When you fall victim to envy you are caught up in a kind of self-centered narcissism. But not only diminishes you and your satisfaction with the world but also diminishes. The one you work with. Indy is a lose-lose. Position proposition that poisons. Everything. But kindness. Is just the opposite. It is a powerful virtue of goodness. And karen connection. Kindness is all about moving past. A dark preoccupation. Self. And focusing as the buddha would have you on other. They're happy. And their well-being. When you live a life. With abundance and ready kindness not only do you bless others you bless. Yourselves. Wikipedia is right your. Your neuroreceptors go wild in ecstasy. Kindness. Shared and received energizes and enlarges you. Envy. And poisons. Kindness spreads blessing and light to the ends of the world. Aldous huxley. Had it right. After being concerned with the human problem my whole life. I'm embarrassed to say that i have only one thing to do. Try. A little kind. I send you on your way this week with the words of emily green.. Let us strive to learn to live together. Let us be patient with one another. 11 patients. With ourselves. We have a long long way to go. So let us hasten along the road the road of human tenderness. And generosity. Groping. We may find one another's hands. In the dark. Go with us.

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2013Nov24Sermon32.mp3

William morning good morning. You're chosen to be with us this morning. Open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. He was together we work to make a better world. Please know that you're welcome justin from the book rhino i say this every sunday but we need a. Gay or straight. Black or white. Top-of-the-world this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between be welcoming just as you come. So please remember. Service this sunday before thanksgiving. Meaningful interaction. Identify soccer gear. The nurse is your stereo and feeds your soul and give you the new energy. Are opening words today come from my colleague gary kowalski. Ouija. For the earth creatures. And are grateful from a. For alligators. Apricots. Acorns and apple trees. Eagles. Coconut crawdads. Cornfield. I'm coughing. Elephants and flying fish. For groundhogs glaciers and grasslands hazelnuts icicles and iguanas. For juniper jack rabbits and kangaroos. For mount mistletoe. Narwhals and assertion. Asia. 4 pennies and persimmons and polar bears. Call hogs. Queen anne's lace. Forever roses. Birches at valley and waterfalls. Yogurt. We are grateful zucchini. A zebras. And for the alphabet of wonderful thing. Saturn symbol. Meditation. Is by reverend christopher brice. Knoxville tennessee. Grandmother's house. Over the river and through atlanta atlanta traffic to grandmother's house we go. It was our holiday routine during my childhood. I remember looking at all the food spread out on grandmother's dining room table. There was a large turkey roast into a golden brown. Super salads casserole dressing. Freshly baked rolls. Anna variety of vegetables to choose from. But these were of no interest to me. It was only one dish that mattered. It was served in an elegant fine china bowl. With a ladle to the side. It was a delicious. Piping hot bowl of spaghettios. I was always excited to see their grandma had cooked my favorite dish. She had lovingly open toucan. Poured the contents into a pod. And warmed perfection. And of course. There was the presentation. I'm probably one of the few people on earth who has been served. Spaghettios in fine china. My father her son became an episcopal priest. And i am a unitarian universalist minister. Perhaps this is the trickle-down theory operating in religion. Before i became a member of a yo-yo church. I am not sure how she would have reacted. She would have said. The same as my aunt. Said. One time to my brother sam. Chris is a unitarian. I thought he was at least episcopalian. This was not. A diplomatic comment considering that sam is is an episcopal priest. Grandmother be surprised by my choice. Maybe not. Grandma taught me from the earliest childhood. If there is room at the table for someone who is a little different from the rest. The memory of the bowl of spaghettios continues to remind me to make rum. My heart for people who are a bit odd in their tastes and dispositions. Can be room in our hearts for diversity. There can be a place at the table. Even the more finicky children of god. Well this morning. On this sunday before our big national thanksgiving holiday. All the sermon series. Charlie brown into this for a while. With a sermon today. I'm having a positive mindset which is defined. As having optimism + gratitude. Which has been identified by the social scientist. That's something we must achieve. Sustainable. And reliable happiness in our lives. I will focus each sermon in the series on one of the seven habits of happy people identify. Directed by doctor paul. Yale and harvard educated psychiatrist. Relied heavily on the groundbreaking work of positive psychologist pioneer. Dr. dr. martens. Nourished and cultivated will lead to a greater sense of. And well-being throughout our lives and here are the seven areas. But they have identified. Relationships which i've already talked about caring and service an appositive. Mindset. Now before i move on to talk about the third all-important habit of. Cultivating a positive attitude of both optimism and gratitude in your daily life. I want to briefly talk about what the positive psychologist. Have discovered in general. When positive psychologist talk about happiness they do not mean what i call the happy face theory of happiness. The happy face theory of happiness. Focuses on when we are in a buoyant or a cheerful mood those times were full of sore merriment. Requires a steady stream of. Moments of lee and kitty delighted that light up mr. smiley face up there. But the experts were writing about happiness and well-being suggest. If these are the flashy places you were looking for content that you are as the song puts it. Looking for love in all the wrong places. Happiness the kind of sustainable well-being and satisfaction in our lives. But has the power to make a skull with contentment. Is not like. The hot rush of momentary pleasure you feel from winning the lottery. Or skydiving from 10,000 or watching your home team win the super bowl. The kind of happiness and well-being has the power to make our lives. True works of joy and warmth. It's more like a low steady hum. Quiet satisfaction it's not flashy. The quietly rises again and again. Out of these ordinary aspects of our lives that we're about to put up again the relationships and the caring and the positive mindset these things. It's a quiet hum. An important point about happiness which i made before. All the experts say you don't have to necessarily have a cheerful or bubbly or outgoing personality. Define lasting satisfaction and well-being in your life. People with many different personalities and emotional styles including reflective and reserve people. Can be happy. You definitely don't have to go through your life like mr. smiley face with a perpetual smile. Slapped on your face to find true contentment. And well-being in life again. True well-being is like a quiet ember of satisfaction burning in the fireplace of your life. It doesn't have to be bursting into flames all the time. Again. What the positive psychologists are saying again and again in this makes perfect sense to me. But if we are to find sustainable happiness. It is getting that quiet and on austin texas quality. Long-term as a result of our purposely tending. What really matters not winning the lottery but things really matter. And that brings me to today's topic. Maintaining a positive mindset. Which involves the twin qualities of optimism. Ingratitude. What the psychologist studying happiness aren't all telling us in this. Maybe the most predictable and understandable that i will discuss. Is it if you are to truly find satisfaction in your life you have to cultivate a positive attitude. And the optimism and gratitude as you move to the. I want to take each of these two pieces optimism ingratitude intern. An address first how optimism is beneficial to us as persons. The authors of this study point out that optimism seems to have a tremendous number of real and concrete benefits for person. First optimism is linked to life longevity. Researchers studying the mmpi the minnesota multiphasic personality inventory that was is used so frequently in america you all took it as grateful children i'm sure. For every 10 point increase in a person's score on the quote-unquote optimism scale. The risk of early death the creases by 19%. Which is a very significant statistical difference. Optimism has been correlated positive behaviors such as getting exercise avoiding smoke. Optimism also has been proven to help people who come from families with drinking problems to avoid alcohol dependence. And helps those who have become dependent on sober. Optimism also plays a huge role in the recovery from illness and disease. And can play a protective role against the development of chronic diseases. Multiple studies have invested have investigated the role of optimism and pessimism in people undergoing cancer for treatment for example. Reveal that a positive attitude. When facing illness. Can make a huge difference in healing. Ed recovery and survival rate. And can even reduce your chances. Of developing heart disease and other chronic diseases later in life. Optimism seems to play a positive role with your immune system. In one study greater optimism predicted greater antibody production. And better immune outcomes and another study. Positively correlated with the suppression of viral load a greater number of helper t cells if you're if you're optimistic so. Optimism seems to have a profound effect on a person's overall physical health. The mere act of looking on the bright side if you will. Expecting positive outcomes and being hopeful when difficulty arises in your life. Can extend your lifespan. Lead to healthy behaviors and boost your immune system and prevent disease. And this brings me to the positive correlation also between optimism and psychological health. There's abundant evidence that optimism is important in helping us emotionally cope. What's difficult or challenging life events. It has been correlated positively optimism has with life satisfaction and self-esteem. As well as hyatt evening. Optimus experience much less clinical depression. And suicidal ideation then pessimists. That kind of makes sense doesn't it. And report overall optimus that they are happier with their lives than pessimists. Optimus are more likely to engage in effective problem solving. When faced with difficulties which also leads to a greater sense of psychological well-being. Scientifically. Skittle optimism is really good for you it's really good for you. But the next thing to determine is precisely what in psychological terms and optimistic outlook as opposed to a pessimistic outlook. According to dr. siegelman the founding father of positive psychology. The difference between optimist and pessimist is primarily the way. They explain life events and personal outcomes to themselves. It is how they talk to themselves they write in their own psychology. When bad or challenging or difficult things happen. Define optimism. As reacting to problems with a sense of confidence and high personal ability. Optimistic people believe that negative in their lives. Optimists believe their temporary. They are limited in scope this is not a catastrophe over the whole land. It's manageable. I don't to take this personally. Where is pessimist on the other hand. Believe that negative or difficult are permanent. Pervasive. And they are unmanageable. Listen to sigman's own words. Optimist and pessimist for 25 years he write. The defining characteristic of the pessimist. The pessimist either they tend to believe that events. Will last a long time. Will undermine everything they do are their own fault. Optimist when confronted with the same hard.. Misfortune in exactly the opposite way. They tend to believe the defeat is a temporary setback. But the causes are confined to this one case. And that it is not their fault. Such people he writes are in phase by defeat. Confronted by a bad situation. They perceive it as a challenge and will work harder. And then he writes. Finding temporary and specific causes for misfortune is the art of hope. But finding permanent and universal causes for misfortune. That. Is the practice of despair. Optimist. Optimism is a large part 2. Other kind of narrative. You right in your own head. When negative and difficult things happen to you. Optimus write an open narrative. That helps them to move on with hole. Well pessimist write a clothes near a catastrophic narrative. That convinces them that all they can do is sit in the despair. And let me pause here to make what feels like a really important observation. Optimism pessimism dichotomy is pure black. Surely when you look at the total population of people in this room for example. Some of you are in a whistling cheerful songs all day long in the middle. Except for a few extreme optimist and extreme. Incline. To have a little more of an optimistic outlook or a little bit more of a pessimistic one. It might be helpful for you to think just for a moment along the continuum. When you're confronted with difficulty. Do you immediately fold your tent like a pessimist. Or do you start whistling happy songs like an optimist i can handle this i can manage this is about me. Where do you fall on the continuum. It's an important thing. When negative or difficult or challenging things happen. Do you write an open and optimistic narrative for yourself or a closed and pessimistic one which which way of seeing the world comes most naturally to you. Some of this where you personally follow along the optimism pessimism continuum. Shirley has to do. With our family genetics and our family patterns. I freeze a was born into a happy down-home wisconsin's family that. We choose optimism from every pore of our stupid ewing brains okay. Perhaps some of you who come from less positive and more naturally. Family backgrounds were pessimism and negativity. But as someone who is naturally almost hopelessly optimistic i have learned over the years that many many people that i work with. Find this positive proactive open outlook to come so naturally to me. Impossible as an emotional style. 1 ft story if i might like 25 years ago i was the minister of the plainfield. Set new new jersey church and the church of her name was eva kaplan. How older is a very strong eastern european and new york city background eastern european new york city. Anyway she lives well if it's alright i'll sit in the dark. Anyway. Painful arthritis. And was in the minds of almost everybody in the congregation of pessimistic person. One sunday i was preaching about doctor siegelman's a new book called learned optimism. And i was just more than waiting for what evil would come to the reception line and say to me. And bless her heart she didn't disappoint me. And got to her turn and she took both my hands and she said. This big smile came over face and she and i would just howl for a couple of minutes. It was very magical and healing. Your friend. The evidence across-the-board is an optimism is really good for you and pessimism really isn't. And optimism are more successful and happier life. And i suspect that this will be no surprise to you whether you. Whether you're natural styles to be more optimistic or pessimistic optimism is good for you. Big. Sixty-four $1,000 question and that is. Can optimism. Elearn. Or nurtured or acquired or cultivator. With the emotional pattern of our family or. Can pessimism on the other hand has the other side of the question. Can pessimism be controlled or treated or stifled or reduced. Positive negative continuum. Dr. siegelman. Indeed believes that optimism can be learned. Find more pessimistic. He invites in his work as a psychiatrist. He invites pessimist. Learn to be optimist by thinking again. About the reactions to adversity in a new way. To think about adversity in a nuwave. Again his words. A pessimistic attitude may seem so deeply rooted as to be permanent. I have found however the pessimism is escapable. Pessimism is escapable. Pessimist can an optimist whistling a happy tune or. But by learning a new set of cognitive skills. A new set. Of cognitive skills. Individuals. Can choose the way they think he writes. Pessimist can learn new skills. Pessimist can dispute. Their own negativity. They can dispute. Their own negativity. Habits of thinking he goes on. Need not be forever individuals can choose the way they think. If you can learn a set of skills that free from the tyranny of pessimism allow you to use optimism when you choose. Rather than ducking. Ducking our disturbing a negative beliefs a more lasting remedy is simple. You must learn to argue with yourself he rides. Give your negative beliefs an argument. Go on the attack. And. Directly and effectively disputing that the pessimistic beliefs of yours and follow adversity. That this bat event will last a long time that it will undermine everything i do it's all my fault. Anthony. You can change your customary reaction. From the jackson and giving up. Activity and good cheer on quote. And in addition to learning new cognitive skills learning to argue with yourself when you have debilitating thoughts and negative thoughts. But this is actually a school of thought in in pastoral care and in basic therapy. Many therapist believe that one successful path. Two more positive mental health is it when you are feeling negative and down. To change your outward behavior first. In the hopes that your feelings will follow. You change your outward behavior first. And hope the feelings will follow this is smile when you don't feel like smiling. Take a walk when you don't feel like getting out of the house. Going to social events when you don't feel you want company. Watching a funny movie. When you don't feel like laughing. This school of thought. About how to begin feeling better in your life. To change your behavior and hope that the emotion will follow because many psychologists believe. That it will. And this makes a lot of sense to me. That no matter where you fall on the optimist pessimist continuum. You can learn new more positive thought pattern. It will help you not catastrophize. A situation is hopeless when life gets tough. But will help you write a narrative that there's a way out that this is not permanent that i have a lot to do here and can do it. And the reason recent studies which cell that optimism can be developed and nurtured in young people. If it is 5 parents. Parents teach their children negative about life. Sports always do that you can teach your kids. But studies indicate that when we optimism our kids learn to be very important. All this is well and good but if you have spent a lifetime. If you spend a lifetime. Habitually being like that guy. I'm sure that this new optimistic outlook writing these new narratives is not going to come quickly or easily. But it makes perfect psychological and spiritual sense to me that we can all learn to adopt a more positive outlook. By crafting narratives in our head that allow us to make more positive outcomes possible. And move past negative moments in our lives. With more home and more happiness and more. Well being alright. Someone else about choosing and learning optimism. Now on the sunday before thanksgiving i want to quickly and the morning by talking about the equally important role of gratitude. There's a place in our containment and our well-being. The great roman orator cicero road. Gratitude gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues it is the parent of all others. Almost all world cultures. And religions emphasized the importance of being grateful. Whether it is to some higher being. Or the natural world. Or ones close family and friends or even strangers who bless us on our way. As the authors of the seven habits of happy people put it i called them now. It is apparent. That the mere act of giving thanks. Can have a remarkable impact. On a person's well-being. Feelings are associated with. Less frequent negative emotion. And more frequent positive emotions. Touches feeling energized. Alert. And enthusiastic. Gratitude is associated with pleasant physical sensations as well. One study found that people. Experience pleasant muscle relaxation. When they recall situations in which they have been grateful. Grateful people tend to be more spiritual than their less grateful counterparts study goes on. And people who are genuinely grateful. Report being more agreeable and less narcissistic. Compared with less grateful people. Feelings of gratitude they go on are also associated with increased feelings of closeness. And a desire to build or strengthen relationships. What's people around us. Simply put the study an. People are happier. Have stronger feelings of social support. And feel less stressed and depressed. Gratitude is clearly a part. What is called. The good life. I assume this also makes. Perfect spiritual and emotional set. To all of you. When we cultivate gratitude and appreciation in our lives and that's become more mindful. And appreciative toward all the good things. And the good people that surround us and the facts are that they do there are lots of good people. And lots of good events around us even when we are going through a tough time. Then we move past are selfish and narcissistic fixation on our own selves. And realized. And here's the key thing about gratitude i think that we are wondrously dependent. We live in an interdependent world we cannot make it on our own we are gloriously dependent. I'm so many persons and things that uphold and protect. And then rich and then bless us and if we don't know how to be grateful for those things. Sweep were stalled in the water spiritually. The active truly giving sayings for people and things around you. Has the power to remind you how blessed you are. It reminds you that you are being held in truth. In a great and generous web of life. It makes your life possible and joyful. Gratitude. Clearly just calls us out of the lock. Sarcophagus of the self. And connects us with life around us and positive and healing ways. I'm grateful because i know i'm not in this alone. I'm in a web of life. And i being held by so much. Justice with optimism we must ask. So can gratitude be nurtured and learned here to the answer is an emphatic yes. I like the way one. Author i've stumbled upon last week joshua becker put it. Listen to this. Gratitude. Is a discipline of the heart. Not. Animotion. That's right. We would all fare better if we learn to consider gratitude a discipline of the heart rather than emotion a discipline of the heart. That requires attention. And consistent practice. It requires practice when it comes easily. And even more practice when it comes different with difficulty. And here are a few suggestions he writes. To spur us on this new discipline. Of the heart. Schedule 5 minute periods of thoughtful thanksgiving each day simply sit down and say. What am i thankful. Intentionally finding gratitude in the simple drawings of daily life. A hot cup of coffee. A warm bath. Stroking your pet cat. 3. Reflecting on the past and counting the blessings that have been yours over the years. For keeping a gratitude journal on paper or online. And five i like this one expressing thankfulness to yourself. During life's little inconveniences such as a red light. Alarm grocery store line. Or waiting at the doctor's office instead of gnashing your teeth while you're waiting for your damn doctor to make his appointment an hour late. Use that time for gratitude. And then again he right. Gratitude is a discipline of the heart that can be a truly life-altering process. I gave you a little gift this morning. It is called. The 2013 holiday season gratitude journal. Katrina for making this up. What i want you to do with these. Is to take these home and put it where you have your breakfast or where you have your evening supper or at your bedside. And every sunday. For the next 123456 sunday's over this holiday.. Just take a couple of minutes. I'm literally right down some things you're grateful for. Every week just take a few moments. The catalog. What you're grateful for and if you find this a useful discipline. I heard you to get a larger a blank journal from stationer. And do this. Either everyday of your life or every week. Start a gratitude journal. And use it as a year-round practice. And so. On the sunday before thanksgiving and by the way i hope each of you have a wonderful meal with others or. Or whoever you're with. Even if it's just yourself a wonderful day thursday. And enjoy who you are and who you're with. Tranis sunday before thanksgiving. May we all quietly promised ourselves that we will do everything we can. To cultivate. Positive mindset. In our living. Think of optimism. And gratitude as expandable qualities of the heart. What you can nurture. Even the face of life abundant difficulties and sorrow and pain we all of course have those things. But these things optimism. Gratitude candy cultivate. Austin of course we cannot control the external circumstances which life throws at us. But we can. Shape the attitude. Apart. With which we responded then we can adjust the camber of our heart. To be more open. Arm. With optimism and gratitude. We will do more than get through life. My friends we will masterlife. And then mastering it. We will be blessed. Cheerfully say to you this sunday before thanksgiving. When we are asked ederers to count our blessings. For storms. Which reacquaint us with the coziness of our hearts and our homes. For misfortunes which reveal the loyalty of our friends. 4 problems. Which ignite our imaginations and call forth larger efforts. Port conflicts. In which we may discover the healing power of love. Four defeats which make unavoidable acknowledgement. Of our human imperfections. And even. For the increasing years and loss of strength. At all reminders of our mortality. Whereby we are reminded of just how fragile and precious. Is the gift of life. Let us give thanks them for all the things we would not. Have wanted to happen. But without which we would never have grown. Or discovered. Or lived. Orlov. Blessings. To all of you.

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2010Jun20sermon32.mp3

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2014Mar02Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Check the weather forecast this morning from philadelphia sleet and snow coming tonight and freezing rain forecast. 44. Freezing rain. Welcome to vero beach. Loving hearts and helping hands. Place. And please know that you are welcome precisely as you come to us this morning. Whether you were young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. You happen to be feeling on top of the world this morning or struggling with something deep within you. You are welcome and we are delighted to see you. We hope you will find the service this morning meaning for enriching. You'll find something here this morning nurses your spirit and feed your soul and gives you renewed purpose and joy. For the living of life in the days and weeks that lie ahead. My favorite mary oliver poem. Why i wake up early. Hello. Best preacher that ever was. Gearstar. You are in the universe to keep us from ever darkness. Tweezers with warm touching hands of life good morning good morning. Good morning. Watch now is this. Today. This morning's reading is a short biographical sketch. A mark twain. On november 30th. 1835 small town of florida missouri. Witness the birth of its most famous. Samuel langhorne clemens was welcomed into the world. Sa-6. Child of john marshall and jane lamp. John and jane. There's such as mark twain. America's most famous literary icon. Approximately 4 years after his birth. In 1839. To the town of hannibal. A growing toward city that lay along the banks of the mississippi hannibal was a frequent stop. For steamboats arriving by day and night. From st louis and from new orleans. Samuel's father was a judge and a build a two-story frame house on hill street. In 1844. As a youngster. Samuel was kept indoors because of poor health. Whoever staged recover from his ailments and join the rest of the town children outside. He then attended a private school in hannibal. When samuel was 12 his father died of pneumonia. To become a printer's apprentice. After two short years and his brother organs newspaper editorial assistant. It was here that young samuel found that he enjoyed writing. At 17 lewis. Warren st louis. Clements became a river pilot apprentice. He became a licensed river pilot in 1858. Clemens pseudonym. Mark twain comes from his days as a river pilot. It is a river term which means 212. When the depth of the water for a boat is being sounded. Mark twain safe to navigate. Because of the river trade was brought to a standstill by the civil war in 1861. Clements began working as a newspaper reporter for several newspapers all over the united states. In 1870 plymouth married olivia for children. Wonderful mom died in infancy on to drive in their twenties. They're surviving child clara lived she was 88. 20 began to gain frame when his story the celebrated jumping frog. Of calaveras county appeared in the new york saturday press. On november 18th 1865. Twain's first book. The innocents abroad was published in 1869. The adventures of tom sawyer. In 1876 and the adventures of huckleberry finn in 1885. It all he wrote 28 books a numerous short stories and letters and sketches. I was one of america's most popular lectures. He was born shortly after halley's comet pass close to the earth. In 1835 any predicted that he would go out. With it too. Wayne died on april 21st 1910 the day following the comet subsequent return. Mark twain passed away on april 21st 1910. His childhood is open to the public museum in hannibal. Harris county in california holmes county fair & jumping frog jubilee. Every 3rd weekend in may. Walking tours are given a new york's of the many places that plane visited around his birthday every year. Now there's a postscript to all this i want to mention that any of you who happen to be traveling in california on the third weekend and international jumping frog jubilee. Here it is. And is being held on may 15th. May 18th. This whole program of events around frog. So. For as long as it's been a very long time you ministers who helped raise money at their annual church auctions by offering a sermon topic of your choice. To the highest bidder. No i've always thought this a cute and fun idea but. I've never got around to it in 40 years. After 40 years of avoiding the risk and perils of this endeavor i finally took the plunge and offer to sermon of your choice at last year's auction here. A great event masterminded each year by spike which will be held this year saturday april 12th put it in your calendar as it'll be a lot of fun and we raised a lot of money for the current location. Who in the world do you think then. None other than our most sedate. Conventional and predictable friend navigation brian ellis. When it came time for him to present to me the topic of this choice knowing brian i was prepared. For demanding offbeat shall i say choice and brian did not disappoint me. He asked me to preach a sermon on 19th century american literary icon mark twain and his classic little volume letters from the earth. The what i went looking for them myself sure enough it was there there for 40 years i'm red by me i paid $0.95 for this. In like 1973 i think. I've never i've never actually gotten around to reading. How many of you have read this book. I'm just curious. This will be a new experience for you. And dumb. All right looks like most of you will benefit from learning more about twain in this curious little book. When brian told me of his choice of necessity of course and started reading it. Eager to find out what importance i might actually say about it on this occasion and i want to begin this morning by publicly thanking bryan. What tammy turned out to be a very interesting choice because i've truly enjoyed reading and then reflecting on twain's. Bison. And provocative commentary. On religion and life. The author's real name is you already know was samuel clemens. Mark twain. As of mississippi riverboat. As you know he was born in a small missouri town and 1835 and died in connecticut at age 75 in 1910. And he was a famous literary person and humorous. The great american writer william faulkner once called him the father of american literature. And upon hearing at the unitarian president. William howard taft sad. Mark twain gave pleasure. Real intellectual enjoyment to millions. And his works will continue to give such pleasure to millions in years to come including the jumping frogs in california. A prolific writer as as ali said hero 28. The most famous of which. Huck finn and tom sawyer and numerous short stories articles letters and abundance peaches. Mc sports. Which. In which wayans biting and sarcastic commentary. I'm religion. The bible christianity and the nature of both god and humanity. Summarize. Interesting. This book was not published until 1962 posthumously. Only 52 years after clemens. The reason it did not see the light of day for more than half a century after his death. Is that his fearful and embarrassed daughter clara. Apparently wanted america to remember her father as cold a genial humorous. Could not be persuaded by publishers who are very eager to have their hands to it. There was a good idea to unleashed her father's dark and fighting with. And disdainful scorned directed at so many sacred cows of american culture. For years his only surviving daughter clara block publication. Sing. Presented a distorted view of her father's ideas when in fact they reflect. Harsh and unavoidable clarity. Precisely his bitter sarcastic and skeptical views about almost everything religious americans held sacred. He lies. As one reviewer in the new york times wrote in 1962 when the book was finally released by clara. Call. The brilliant parts of the letters are compressed and savage. We are beginning to understand the reviewer right that at long last that mark twain was or could be a savage man. Who was unsparingly indignant. About both man and god for the cruelty and injustice has they respectful they respectively. Practice. Unquote. So one way of thinking about the letters from the earth. Is that it is a succinctly and fighting treatise of mark twain spiritual and theological feud. With both god and man religion the bible and certainly all things christian. Thanks a lot. i really appreciate your constructive help this morning. But before i dive into clements actual writings it seems important to shed a little more light on his biography. For that may explain why at the end of his life when he wrote the letters from the earth. He was so bitter and skeptical about the goodness of life. And god and humanity. Samuel clemens life for all its success was also marked by tragedy. Loss and depression. At age 35 late for a nineteenth-century marriage he married olivia langdon who was incidentally a reluctant bride having rejected him the first time. And they had four children. But all but one of them died tragically in early their only son langdon die today to of diphtheria a death for which twain felt responsible having taken the boys outside one winter's day without enough clothing and after whiskey did die. His daughter suzy succumb to spinal meningitis in her twenties and daughter jean also in her 20s drowned in a bathtub. Suffering an epileptic seizure. His only daughter. Clara. His only surviving daughter the one who withheld. Publication of the spork. Lived a full life dying. 8888. But compounding his personal misery was the fact that although twain became. Quite rich through his writings and lectures he was perhaps the most famous and sought-after lecturer in the last half of the 19th century. Later in his life he bankrupted himself by heavily investing in an innovative but ultimately unworkable typesetting technology. Play narrowly lost all of his writing process. But much of his wife's sizable inheritance as well. All of these painful and tragic events took their toll on his spirit. As one biographer puts it. Plane passed through a period of deep depression that began in 1896. When is daughter suzy died of meningitis. Alicia's death in 2004 and jean's death on christmas eve 2009 deepened his gloom. Unquote. So the skepticism about life fairness and god's goodness that get expressed in this book. At least in part flowed out of the multiple misfortunes twain himself. Personally. Suffered. All right with that background. Let's begin. With twain's biting critique of religion in general and christianity in. At least as it was practiced in his 19th century america. Although clements was at least nominally a presbyterian his whole life his funeral was held in 1910. At the old brick presbyterian church in new york city. By the time he has 10 letters from the earth had become a bitter. Skeptic of religion he once were road. I cannot see how a man of any large degree of perception. Can even be religious unless he purposely shuts his eyes and mind and keeps them shot by force. And elsewhere he offered. There are those who scoff the schoolboy calling in frivolous and shallow. Get it was a schoolboy who said. Faith is believing what you know ain't so. And then twain focused is critical sites on the christian church of his day he once famously said. If christ were here now there is one thing he would not be. A christian. Elsewhere. The so-called christian nations are the most enlightened and progressive. But in spite of their religion. because of it. Qanon the church has been opposed to every innovation and discovery from the day of galileo down to our own time every step in astronomy and geology. The greek surpassed us he wrote an artistic culture and architecture 500 years before christian religion was born. Nothing agrees with me. Concluded if i drink coffee it gives me. Dyspepsia. If i. Dyspepsia if i drink wine and gives me the gout and if i go to church it gives me. Dysentery. Mercy. I wonder if the presbyterian church usa. Proudly claims samuel clemens says one of their own heroes he had very little good to say about presbyterianism of the rest of the christian church. Else what he wrote. This is a christian country. Why so is hell. Is it not proper to brag and boast that america is a christian country when we all know that certainly 56 of the population could not enter into the narrow gate of heaven. And finally he wrote the church is always trying to get other people. To reform. It might not be a bad idea to reform itself a little. By way of example. Do twain have little use for the pieties and proclamations and presumptions of the church of the day. Allegiance ink parts of the holy bible either. Listen to his blood description of the holy book. And consider yourself warned if you're a biblical literalism to believes that every word of the bible is the perfect word of a good and loving god. Please close your ears if that's your perspective. Wayne said of the bible. It is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it. Some clever. And some blood-drenched history on some good morals. And a wealth of obscenity. Upwards of 1,000 live. Most people are bothered by those passages of the scripture they do not understand but the passages that bother me are those i do understand. Now let me pause here and report that just about the time twain was born. The split that occurred in american congregate in the american congregational church primarily between the unitarian. And the universal ascend the other protestant sects such as presbyterianism in methodism. Was in large part due to the unitarian and universalist refusal. To take every word of the bible as the eternal truth of god as literally true. The unitarians for example refused to believe to take the miracles reported in the bible the people being raised from the dead. Other things of that nature. Parting of the red sea. Even jesus's resurrection into heaven. We refuse to take those as historical or even spiritual fact. Religious liberals like mark twain were very skeptical about the many biblical stories. In the old and new testament. Explain sade. A curious and flawed compilation. Of ancient religious writings. Cobble together loosely by many writers and editors mona's redactors. That should be tested the bible. Bible human reason and common sense. So twain from all that i have read. Had a very unitarian universalist take on holy scripture. Elsewhere you complain that when he was 15 years old he was forced to sell his parents or a sunday school teacher. To read the entire bible cover to cover. And you said none can do that and even draw a clean sweep breath again this side of the grave. Listen to his heart deconstruction of the ark story for example. Where clements. Petulant and callous father. Decides in the early part of the ark story 2 wipeout wipeout humanity off the face of the earth with a great flood except. For god knows what reason noah and his family. Twain graphically imagines the horror. As god indifferently drowns humanity by endless rains as described in the bible. Twain. The multitude of weeping fathers and mothers and frighten little children. Who are clinging to the wave wash rocks in the pouring rain. And lifting imploring prayers to an all just and all-forgiving an all pissy and being. Who had never answered a prayer since those crags were built. And would still not have answered one when the ages should have crumbled them to sand again. And then lightning sings humorously imagine what it was really like for noah and his family on that crew dark which they shared with the countless species of animals from earth. Camp hero. The discomforts furnished in the ark. For many and various. Noah's family had to live in the presence of the multitudinous animals and breathe. The distressing. At the death of thunder crashing noise of their roaring sound screeching. And in addition to these intolerable discomfort it was a particularly trying place for the ladies. Or they could look in no direction without seeing some thousands of the creatures multiply and replenishing. And then he said and then there was a flies. Play swarm everywhere and persecuted the family all day long they were the first animals up in the morning and the last ones down at night but they must not be killed oh no they must not be injured on know they were sacred. Their origins were divine special pets of of the creator darlings. Thanks a lot brian. Elsewhere and now i'm moving on to focus on more of what samuel clemens said about god. He opines that the guy has a very important described in the old testament of the bible. Was nothing short. Twin concluded nothing short of a monster. Accrual cosmic parent listen to him. In the old testament. To trust the god of the old testament is to trust. An irascible vindictive fierce and even sickle and changeable master. Who has uttered no promises. And then he concludes we have to keep our god placated with prayers. And even then. We are never sure of him. And later twain turns back on the geology of the christian church of his day saying. The christian equips the creator with every trait that goes into making a fiend. And then arrived at the conclusion that a fiend and a father or the same thing. Yet he would deny 21 on that a malevolent lunatic and a sunday-school superintendent are essentially the same. What do you think of the human mind twain concludes i mean in case you think there is a human mind. It is clear from the writings from his writing. Set the god for which twain had absolutely no theological used. Is the stern judgmental fickle and yet somehow all-powerful god described in the old testament. Which if you read the bible literally is in charge of the entire universe and responsible for everything that the falls community. When twain looks around at the life on his planet. He sees so much suffering and sorrow and evil that he refuses to believe. But some sort of good all good and all loving and all-wise father god is in charge ruling from heaven. But rather he sees god as a cruel or at least indifferent. Distance parents. Listen to his scathing passage about the ways of god as you listen to it remember the clements among other tragedies lost three of his four children. I will tell you a pleasant tail. He starts out sarcastically. A man got religion and asked the minister what hummus. Do to be worthy of his new estate as a religious person. The minister said. Imitate our father in heaven learn to be like him. So the man studies the bible. Plane rides. Diligently and thoroughly an understanding late and then was prayers from heavenly guidance. Instituted his invitations. He tricked his wife into falling downstairs and she broke her back and become a paralytic for life. He betrayed his brother at the hands of a con artist who robbed him of all his money and landed him in the almshouse. Inoculated one son with hookworms another was sleeping sickness another with gonorrhea. Infernus one daughter was scarlet fever and ushered her into her teens deaf dumb and blind for life and after helping a rascal seduce the remaining one close the door against her and she died in a brothel cursing him. Then he reported to the minister. Well that's no way to imitate our father in heaven. The convert a squared and he had failed. But the minister thinking for a minute about the nature of the world. The minister change the subject. And inquired what kind of whether the ban was having up his way. And elsewhere in his writing. He reflected on the adam and eve story. 20 piles on his stinging indictment of god he wrote. God banished adam and eve from the garden eventually assassinated them. All for disobeying a command that they not eat fruit from the tree of knowledge which he had no right to. Tint windows on but he did not stop there. Of course. He had one code of morals for himself and quite another for his children. He requires his children to deal justly and gently with offenders and forgive them seventy times seven whereas he deals. Or gently. With anyone. Now. Here's twain's sharp theologica. Again orderly rejecting the strictly proportion god of the old testament. Which this theological conclusion again is very much like where the unitarians in the universalists. We're all ready for our nineteenth-century forebears like clemens. Rejected the. Orthodox and puritanical christian view of a vengeful. Judgmental anthropomorphic god sitting way up in heaven high and angry and righteous disgusted with his children lording over them as pathetic creatures. Maybe a clemens walked into one of our liberal unless theologically harsh congregation. During his lifetime. He would have found god described not. As an angry incomprehensible capricious. Cosmic personality randomly dealing out blessing and tragedy but rather he might in one of our churches. Heard of god spoken of quietly as a mysterious yet. Powerful spirit of grace and beauty and goodness and love. Not controlling the world. Animating in infusing and informing both nature and the human. From his writings in the letter from the earth it seems that the only idea that i've god that samuel clemens could imagine and subsequently. Angrily reject. Is the harsh primitive all-powerful god described in the old testament of you. Which he might have gotten from sitting in almost any 19th century presbyterian church. This rejection of god. Which dominates this little book of his. Reminds me a lot of what. Happens when somebody comes up to me knowing i'm a minister. And declares that they don't believe in god. I always ask them so which god is it you don't believe him. And what usually comes back to me. Even in these early days of the 21st century. Is a description of that all-powerful all-wise anthropomorphic. Cosmic peeping tom. Mark twain rejected. Much like the old testament god. And what i usually end up saying. But let me tell you about. Let me tell you about the spirit of holiness. And grace and beauty and love that i do feel purposefully pulsing in my world. And let me describe. That spirit of beauty and holiness. End of the innocence of children. In the compassionate embrace which. Human beings so often offer to one another. Let me tell you about the whispers through my world. And brings me both peace and joy. 1 a.m. suggesting here. Is it the god would samuel clemens devoted his book to ridiculing. And dismissing is not a god that anybody with the least bit of theological sophistication today. Wood waste time defending. He was absolutely right of course. When you look at the random senseless tragedy and pain and suffering of our world like that which he personally experienced. So much. It's pretty difficult to postulate. But there is an all-powerful all-knowing all loving personality running the show. That deserves our worship and praise. It's more than 100 years after his death i share mark twain's rejection. Of the capricious and harsh god of the old testament. As do most modern christian theologians of all denominations and stripes. Before his own spiritual fake. He's been able to revision the idea of god. With the way life. Had treated him. Such a god. Might have brought him comfort and meaning. And hope during his life. And last but not least i want to share with mark twain had to say about humanity and human nature. Much of what he had to say about us human critters. Was just as skeptical and sarcastic and critical as those. His views. Christianity and the bible. And god. Bible says that god rules from the heaven. He was not exactly full of praise. For humanities performance on earth. Early either. His most famous proclamation about human nature is simply that he once wrote. Million years ago man descended from the apes. And he's been descending ever since. In one chapter four letters from the earth plane imagine to conversation between god and satan. In which god is patiently describing for the devil's benefit. How he god-shaped human nature. God puts it this way. I put into each individual in different shades in degrees all of various quality. Courage. Cowardice ferocity gentleness. Fairness justice cunning treachery. Cruelty malice lost mercy selfishness on earl of nobility loyalty falsity veracity untruthfulness. Each human being. Is a marvelous curiosity. Between goes on. When you said is very very best he is sort of a low-grade nickel-plated angel. At his worst. He is unspeakable. Unimaginable. And first and last and all the time. He is a sarcasm. Blandly and in all sincerity calls himself. The noblest work. Of god. And elsewhere clemens writes about humanity's failure to live. In peace and harmony around the world listen to this. Man is the reasoning animal. Such as the claim. I think it is open to dispute. Indeed my experiments have proven me. That he is the most unreasoning animal. In truth man is incredibly foolish. Simple things with other animals easily learn he is incapable of learning. Among my experiments was this he right. In an hour i caught a cat and a dog to be friends. Another hour i thought them to be friends with a rabbit. And in the course of two days i was able to add a fox a goose a squirrel and sometimes finally a monkey they all live together in peace and absolute. Next. I can find an irish catholic from tipperary. As soon as he seem tame. i added the scots presbyterian from aberdeen. Next saturday from constantinople a greek kristen from crete intermediate a methodist from the wiles of arkansas. A brahmin from the nearest salvation army colonel from lapping. Then i stayed out of the way for two whole days why came back to north results the cage of higher animals was alright. Put in the other one full with the humans there was a chaos of gory odds-and-ends of turbines and feathers and plans and bone and flesh. And then he hands his reasoning animals had disagreed on a theological to taylor another. And carry the matter to a higher court. And finally she wrote this. Man is a marvelous curiosity. He thinks he has the creators pet. He even believes the creator loves him. Has a passion for him up at night admiring him. Yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him he thinks god listens. Isn't that a quaint idea. Soul train. Was sharply skeptical and cynical about the goodness of human nature. He bumps right up against loud and clear the study optimism of our liberal religious tradition for as you know. Unitarian universalism has always had a rather. Sunny and positive view of human nature we've always in our faith tradition believe. Believe first and foremost in the human potential for goodness and nobility. As being more powerful than our propensity toward evil and depravity. Between indeed like the more orthodox religious traditions. That are focused on human sin and failure. He sharply challenges are sunny view of humanity. With the stark facts of. Human cruelty and failure. For centuries unitarian-universalism has been accused of having what some christian theologians called an insufficient doctrine of sin. Which is to say we stand accused of the religious group of sugarcoating the reality. Human depravity and weakness and there can be no doubt. That is religious liberals we have been hesitant over the century. To look human depravity and cruelty. Square in the face. In the 11th chapter of letters from the earth. It begins with this sentence. Human history and all ages is red with blood. And bitter with hate. And stained with cruelty. And in this book twain describes in detail the slaughter and crucifixion. In 1862 of the minnesota farm family. At the hands of 12 marauding native americans. And compares it. To the gentle cycle slaughters that are described in the old testament that god seemingly orders. Throughout the book. Twin convicted both god and humanity. Obscene and repeatedly unimaginable cruelty. And honestly. Any unvarnished an unsentimental examination of human history. Would have to give much of his point. Justice week in case any of you missed. The small little example. Human depravity. Volkihar on in islamic terrorist group in nigeria. Which is opposed to western-style education attacked a residential school earlier this week. In nigeria in the middle of the night and heartlessly slaughter. 45 young. Mail. Students. Simply because. They were there. Mark twain was i think basically right. Human nature. Is deeply and eternally flawed. We homo sapiens can be both demotic. And angelic. And we have a very wet long way to go spiritually. Before we can ever be proud of our collective behaviors. Accomplishments on this earth. And we unitarian-universalist despite all our optimism about things human. Need to be realists about the dark side of human nature. Which twain. So brutally. Well in closing i want to thank brian ellis. For challenging me to tackle in the structured format of a 30-minute sermon. The brilliant and brutal writings of samuel clemens. The sermon. Took at least twice as long to research and write as normal sermons do for me. But i thank brian for challenging me to reflect on this razor-sharp. An unsentimental view of life on this planet i have enjoyed the process. I'm trying to steal his thinking down to what i think is both a clear and manageable presentation and i hope you found it interesting. And provocative in your own thinking. So what is my personal take away from reading and reflecting on letters from the earth while i must confess. I enjoyed the razor-sharp edge. Of his sarcasm. And skepticism about god. And life. And persons. It helps me is at unitarian universalist to keep my optimism about life and god in person in balance. With the realistic take on existence. But honestly i must tell you. The fort wayne's soul's sake. I wish that despite the very real heartbreaks and hardships. He had to endure his lifetime. I wish the samuel clemens. Had been able to turn the spiritual corner. And somehow strike a more satisfying spiritual troost. With the nature of life. Without picking on the presbyterianism of his day. I have to wonder if only you'd wandered. Endure unitarian. Or universalist church say around the time of the civil war. And stayed he might eventually have been able to see and take comfort and spiritual meaning from. The fragile goodness. And beauty and grace. Of this earth which is always with us despite. Hertz brutalities. When was right of course. Life and humanity can be horribly painful and cruel. But it can also be beautiful. And holy. And good. Beyond imagination. Play wisin. In the days in years. Glitter left ahead for us. May we keep our hearts. Open to that. And nothing. Disposition. North indiana. Life is not respectable. Immortal. Tormented confused polluted forever. The shot through with siri. Braids with clips of courage. Nmds the spirit blooms timidly. To the light. Thor.

uufvb_org

2013Jun09Sermon32.mp3

Summerella treasure,. Shooters arrive the temperatures are born. Settlement of the pleasures of the season which includes. Noticeably reduced car and truck drive at the grocery store. Available paper tables at attempted waiters at the restaurant. Play room on the beach has a boardwalk. Refreshing afternoon sunshine hours in the magical fruit. Genesis is frequently more temperate and comfortable and northeast. Eat your heart out robards. In this beautiful corner of creation we call home. This is a good flight. And a good time. To be alive. Serious. I've already this area university. Inherent worth and dignity of every person need to give you an overview. Over the course of the seven weeks. As you know we have these seven principles prominently and handsomely displayed on the manual in our lobby just behind you. People in the treasure coast coming here and happen to look at our principal. And many times it is, to me like. Wow i really like your principal i don't even go to. The reaction always pleases me and yes i do secretly hopes. Rooms by the principals will come back on sunday join us. I think we have religion worth sharing and growing we shouldn't hide our light under a bushel we should tell a story and we do so in a public principles in our lobby. But there's also a problem. 7. Seven principles that are so really grandly worded there such high i'd highly idealistic. At first they're kind of hard to disagree with. In fact i have a rather iconoclast iconoclastic and controversial tommy from texas. His name is the reverend doctor david to the lord. Little use for the seven principles of ours. Lure a sarcastic called our principle the seven dwarfs. Religiosity i call him. These principles come from the secular culture. Secular values of american liberalism. They cannot distinguish unitarian-universalism as a religion he right. At least the clear and compelling spiritual path or a lasting spiritual insight. Ashley do not share reverend lord categorical dismissal of our seven core principles. I do think he has put his finger on a problem with all seven of them. Each of these principles is undeniably a grand and glowing generality. Wildly hopeful statement about life and human condition. The need i think so deconstructed. They need some real critical analysis and correction. If they are to be truly useful to us. Very complex and very challenging world of ours. So over the course of the seven weeks. I will critically reflect i was expansive principal only affirm invaluable. And the very real ways which they need to be criticized and constrained. If we are to be a serious collision. Where is difficult time so we'll all that sadness turn to this principle when our principles were constructed the last time in the 1970s put together. They chose my almost unanimous consent to put this principle first. It is in fact the first formation unitarian-universalism make it to the world so it's very important that we understand precisely what we mean when we say that. Because it's such a freaking falls texas. If you're worth and dignity of every person. Unitarian universalist. Entire life my grandfather for the universal and 3rd generation. And i deeply believe this foundational principle. I do believe in my heart and soul. With inherent worth and dignity. And then we were all born. Natural sacred spark of valuing goodness and we have the freedom to lutheran high potential during arlo. But despite this be a logical conviction of mine about the basic goodness. A person and societal. I also recognize that somewhere along the line. And more than a few of you know what i'm going to say here. Somewhere along the line a whole lot of human being. In a whole lot of contacts. Example of whole lot of bad behavior. Bad motivations and failed to live up. To that great human potential. For taking the ski valley. Which may explain the following happens regularly. In my house. Incident report. Somebody with a garage packed a bunch of guns and kills a bunch of people for no discernible purpose. And in such occasion collins will turn to me and say with a mixture of heartfelt resignation and sarcasm well so much for the inheritance rights and dignity of every person. Do i must admit that despite my personal optimism about person. Whenever you said that to me i find myself reluctant leah green. That are cheerful do you proclamation of a person dictate every person is a pretty hard sell. When you have to face the facts about people. And groups of people acting at their worst. What causes spontaneous outburst so much. Are not minor events of following weakness god knows we all see those unforgiveness. Supposed to feel this way this profoundly disturbing ass was caught any human being cringe. The kind of evil. Taking flight when i was in washington there was a woman suicidal woman on the rappahannock bridge over 95. Commuters getting home. Gm chord. Inherent versus dignity of every person. And then you have all the other all the other cases of. People bombing girls schools in afghanistan because they disapprove of women's and educated take your pic about human depravity. Sadly everyday. We reminded at the permanence and pernicious listen to eagle. And yeah just hard truth about humanity toll. Here we are gathered this morning in this beautiful unitarian universalist state. A convocation. Which has as its first and most central principle this simple. the mystic glowing statement. About human nature as a denomination are filos begin with the statement. Recombinant to service her mobile. Inherent worth and dignity of every person. Affirmant about the other 26 rather sweeping theological unethical affirmation. But the first principle is this one which i think most arguably most define who and what we are as a spiritual tradition. And i might as well say it loud and clear right here. If we unitarian-universalist logically defend. This first principle of art. Give me the honor flight. A full sweep of human behavior and nature. Then our faith has wheelchair. To help us in the world millions and millions of people. No mercy. As a good-hearted and hopeful religious people. We have no trouble. Goodness. A positive assertion. About human nature our world. Is undeniably filled with countless. Manifold gloria holy act for human goodness and nobility. Ask cuz i would the surface of a fair analysis of the human drama. The axis of evil and depravity. And we are right to lift them up. An undeniable evidence of the inherent adorable goodman. But again. If this first affirmation of our faith is to mean anything. Understand is my idea with any theological depth in integrity must be able to seem reasonable in the harsh life. Of the work. Human depravity medieval. That always isn't. Over the years of my decades of ministry at least i teach my offer classes on to do an introduction to unitarian universalism here we call him all about all i have 12. It almost never fails when we go over the seven principles of the new covers. Someone will say something like this to me. I really feel comfortable here on sunday mornings i love the service and find myself in agreement with most of the police. But this first principle of yours seems a bit over-the-top and way too naive. When you take into account key. Reality of evel knievel and brutality of the world do you really mean. Charles manson or the new town elementary school shooter. What about all those villages who killed the neighbors machetes that they lived with their play slaughtered others. In a world with so many people acting as so many people wait evil ways and newcomers to our face and say how can you say that everyone. Has inherent worth addicted. That's such a question of course always gives me pause as the union minister but the truth.. As i've already said we could have carrying your birth was must answer just snowing. About the very real darkness found in human nature. Answer it honestly and well. If we are just drive as a viable religious movement in this world. Perhaps the place to begin. Is the trace back the history of our faith tradition. I don't understand how we got the very positive place. The we are in with human potential in nature. Unitarian universalism is very much a child of the age of enlightenment. That. in the eighteenth and nineteenth century when much of western philosophy and culture. New optimism about the human enterprise. Well it's difficult to summarize enlightenment thinking for europe and in america. It was not a single movement. But it could be broadly understood as an as a commitment to an invicta pd on the online dictionary an encyclopedia says it well. Wegmans. Is the commitment of freedom democracy and reason as the primary values religious freedom democracy differently.. With a more measured and correct statement that might be something like this. Acknowledging the permanent reality of evil and aaron human life. Reaffirming formosanus essity of contrition. Redemption. Correction and moral law. For all persons and society i would be comfortable with that as our second principal or something.. It is important for you to send serious theological circles in judeo-christian tradition. Unitarian universalism has awesome been historically criticized especially by conservative christians were having cole. Woodstock crystal suit. Polite way of saying that are deeply ingrained liberal and lightfoot optimism above all things human does not fare well. In the sad and brutal life that shines on the words pages human history and behavior. And i can offer truly do have an inadequate. Doctrine. At the movement not do. Head over the hundreds of years of our history around. 4 / 550 years. We have i think repeatedly. About human failings and eric we've tended to look at humanity through rose colored glasses. Please hear me loud and clear on this. This does not mean that i believe are central theological affirmation. Harris worth and dignity of every person is naive. Foolish silly or raw. Yes. The most difficult theological challenge. Any unitarian universalist plus faces reconciling these two things. The first principle of this sacred optimism and the obvious evil depravity and cruelty. Which people have again and again proven themselves capable. But such a reconciliation between optimistic principal in the worst of human behavior. Impossible. Possible to weigh to not only makes our first sensible believable in true. Toronto. It is also in a way that i can power this would be an affirmation. Which informs and animated everything we do ethically. I believe the first step to reconciling the activism of our principal with the worthless human behavior. Is as i've already alluded to. Accurate perspective on the whole of the human. Finance. Has headline-grabbing acts of evil and depravity are. Did they represent only a small tiny tortured portion. Of the full sweep of human behavior at history and predilection. If you rely only on the few dramatic stories of crime iliff and cruelty-free example in america on saturday. One shooter in santa monica killed six people. If you only focus on that. What happens in america. Williams of the gillian picnic. Happening between people. All over you only focus. You will miss 99.999%. And you will get this is just pay attention. Cnn. Play jaded spirit crushing. An unnecessarily dark perspective on human nature. In the face of all the world traumatic and highly visible bad news and the media knows how to bring those to him. It isn't easy to lose the illogical. And historical perspective. Forget the examples. Everyday. Ability goodness justice. Passion. Albeit sometimes whole family. Move our world in a positive life-sustaining hopeful group. Simply cut. Play obvious presence of human evil and wrongdoing in creation. Forces of darkness we have to confront this content can simply straight. In the positive flow of everyday peaceable life. Taxes goodness. Spring this earth. And our self together. I believe if you look objectively at the whole of the human drama. The preponderance of human activity full confirms improves our confidence. In the workmen goodness. I also take. Great theological comfort from recent scientific study. Whichever concluded that we human beings are literally from our most primitive roots as a species we are quote-unquote the scientist ellis. Hardwired for goodness. Neuroscientist george a mall and jordan rossman of the national institutes of health. They recently reported. Does many aspects of morality. Appear hard-wired in the brain. And the brain imaging of psychological experiments show. The generosity. And a deactivated you primitives and central part of the brain. Another scientist barkhouser from harvard to call. There are aspects of morality. That are automatic and unconscious just as language. And joshua green also from harvard says call. Morality and clergy. Philosophers and clergy but handed up. Hello i'm at all of the brain basic propensity. Numerous scientific studies that have concluded that goodness. Morality. And altruism. Are fundamentally lawyers into who we are as human beings will you crawled out of the primordial soup it was already in our dna. It's been there. From the beginning. Primitive. If all human beings are primordially and powerfully hardwired for goodness. Then how do you explain all this depravity. But some people come in. How do we reconcile still a obvious evil people do. With our unabated was belief in the inherent worth and dignity. Well. How do i believe that all babies are born in the world with original stand that you need to wash away as quickly as possible in the church ceremony. From the get-go we unitarian-universalist have believed. 550 years is every person every person comes in world no. Mattress original cell. Matthew fox called original blessing. Durable corn of goodness and possibility. Sparks and nobility if you will if nurtured protected and encouraged will grow as this person the truth into a person. Efficiency. Compassion. We also urge. Under certain hole hole. Pernicious and evil influences the human heart and mind. Lights out of adolf hitler. For adam lanza shot all those kids in newtown.. The human heart can be twisted. In hideously. Turn over power. It occasionally almost extinguished altogether that core of inherit words that divine spark that i believe everyone is born with. These influences can almost extinguished. That way. It is important to acknowledge that despite our belief that every person comes into the world with natural goodness and dignity we also know that certain people. Can be terribly wounded and twisted by harmful experiences. Hateful ideas. Mental illness and emotional traumas and wasted your. There were no diggity. The differently. I do not believe. There are any innately evil people. People who are born evil live evil medallion. But sadly there are. Who ended the crush of thermostat. Bad formation indoctrination and twisted personality can grow up to act and very. And brutal ways. But yes people grow up to actinium away. Crucial theologian. It's one thing to say people are capable of doing evil things including herself. It's quite another to say some people. Apparently eagle. From the dairy. Because we unitarian universalist believe and inherent worth of dignity of all people. We refuse. To view anyone ever. Irredeemably evil. And this is important even though as we refuse. And excuse their evil or just the humanizing behavior. Aishwarya rai by sink. Finally the one i believe to be the most. Aurora reformation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The first principle. About the word potential of people. Is not. Cuz you would some object art that you want to look at every once in awhile. It is rather believe this person isn't boulevard. But you mustn't ethically keep close to your handling card so that you can. Valium to work. In your daily living. Our first principle is agreed to become a living at the precinct. The guy that everything you do. In your world and in your relationships with others. Believing in the inherent worth and dignity about you. Maybe you strive everyday. Generous. Passionate kind. And forgiving and understanding. Toradol human being. Even though they're really made of month of july. Even those who are very difficult. Believing in the very person means. You routinely assume the best of and for those persons. With whom you interact. Giving them the benefit of the doubt with whatever. You leaving in the inherent worth and dignity of every person means you made your own life. With as much dignity as you can even as you work to ensure that they're both your personal and your public life. The mothers have their inherent worth of dignity protected and encouraged. And believing in the inherent worth and dignity of others means that you're welcome. Every reasonable. Text brendan. Human diversity in different. That you that you welcome every reasonable present. Acuity. Diversity. And didn't. And that your grandfather is the widest latitude of freedom for their personal expression. Addicted to you. And believing any inherent worth and dignity means that you work. Justice. Society. Protect and nurture and care for everyman. Woman and child this is why for example so many of us are fighting. Free universal healthcare in the state trying to persuade the. Numbness in the legislature i can hardly say we're going to try to keep a million meridian out of the healthcare they got to spite our president. Nothing. Maybe they're at. Play we'ens committed unitarian universalist rise to the great connecticut. And call on this first principle of ours. And live our lives in the troubled human world. Fearlessly defending a nursery the worth in the diggity. It is an incredibly small order. And many other religions were theologically skeptical about human nature say a no father is going to take over since going to win the devil's everywhere together. That's if they don't bother with this afternoon. Put indiana. This is what the summons substance of our liberal faith must be about. Doing whatever we can. Send the promote and lived. The inherent dignity of every person. Everyman. Every woman. Child obesity. These words i send you on your way from jordan..

uufvb_org

2013Jun16Sermon128.mp3

Vero beach we are so glad you're chosen to be with us to this morning my name is judy kennedy and i am a member of his congregation we are congregation pumping mind loving hearts and helping hands people thinking to become a best-seller even as we work together to make a better world please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning whether you are gay or straight black or white. Just as you come to a phenomenal particularity canyon. And then you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feed yourself and gives you renewed energy and joy for the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. There's a wonderful yiddish expression that humans plan and god laughs and says that will happen this morning. This is a wonderful sunday morning that i get to stand before you on father's day. And actually two of my daughters that are here with me and be able to enjoy the sweetness of the said. One of the texts that i'm going to be playing with this afternoon mean your chaos build which means literally the chapter of our fathers and so on this morning when we celebrate and honor fatherhood i wanted to start with a piece from a tail though and it's mine. In waukesha on a mifi. If i don't stand for myself for me. And if i don't. And if i don't know me. Who was going to show me. If i don't stand up for another it was my brother how will i held my head up high. And you know i got your back and i'll remind you i'm behind you. Would you please look out for me if i go astray but please make it okay. And show me the web. If not now when. This is a chance that might never again. Luana nili nili if i am not for myself if i am not for myself will be for me but if i am for myself alone what am i. And this is a moment that we down there was a community that we have together not now when. I welcome you this morning glad i have this opportunity to share you with you. This morning we're going to talk about fatherhood and so i thought i would start with a pretty good father. You started talking about abraham. It's easy to start thinking about abraham. Had some distant historical figure right you open a bible. Ebru. We're very formal english. Unless you start talking about this abraham.. You think of those very powerful pictures that you might see in various religious places whether they're christian or jewish or muslim. I mean you know bible. Even when you cross paths with him. Abraham. Leawood family in israel. Money beginning my gear in israel. And we were at a place called the thai elephant. And our leader asked us to open our bibles arta knocking that were with us. Started reading from the story of the binding of isaac and said that seth ron is he the same several in any walk for 3 days and then he stops to place that buys and then there's a mountain in the distance. Until our. L r us to stand in the place of reading the story and he said think about it for a minute you realize you are standing in the land of israel. And look to the south found three days away if you were walking or by donkey guess we're ut. And now i want you to alter mountain get its all turnaround. Turn this all around then he says. Later in the story of the binding of isaac. See if you look down from there you can actually see the road that goes from here to there and by the way that's a half day's walk just what it says in genesis. So he says we are standing is that man over there hunting towards the temple mount. And i remember standing there in that moment in like wow this isn't. Moment that i hadn't had that point of connection other than that paper him in our stories. Today this morning and i can before you on this father day father's day i asked you to make a hold mother movie. Talk about abraham as this historical figure there's another term in hebrew and jewish tradition that is so vital and so important. The trembly use for abraham is abraham avinu abraham our father. And when you start saying abraham our father. And you start talking to turn us over and over again with various holidays in various moment imagine that you were standing inside. Imagine make you cross the sea of beads. Imagine you were the one went out of egypt. Send me an image of abraham of enos and abraham des.. Suddenlink you start talking about abraham of you know abraham our father. Change into the relationship. We have that opportunity as we talked about opera on the video. Start making of the genealogy. And then you start thinking about abraham related to abraham them in a very different way and started thinking about all of the experiences with my father as i was growing up there were moments of lung and lessen the lungs had to do with throwing a big throwing a baseball my father i remember this to me. Not only did he walk down the hill so i can try to settle down when you're going to go very quickly. Making sure that sarah had a burial place and save both. Because there's a piece of jewish test of you part of our prayers are with the washing uses or benediction that says something something our it says lol. Lol hey you, abraham isaac god of jacob. Did he have to learn from alta to bite and sometimes it's from their mistakes and from there then i challenge you to think about abraham our father realize that he and all of the other patriarchs. We talked about honoring father and mother in the book of leviticus and many other places in various traditions and the word for honoring its the word is in hebrew means. Glorious presence same way when you talk about something feeling the weight of their presents. We also have the fluidity to know that there are moments there are times are things to learn from the good moments in the bathroom and can we allow those perspectives of those ideas in the stories to move with us as we move through the world i sent an important reason because of personal attacks that i want. They wanted to know as chapters of her father's and understanding that it's personal and that there's all kinds of entry points places of wrestling and understanding that our father is not just one picture but it's all looking different. Different translations and commentaries but what i wanted to do this morning is offer you some words of our fathers some of my different selections i pick out three or four or five of them and offer them to you. Fall into you. Challenges of the book age if i was really good idea but played throughout kendall and have them up here today. Hello michelle, along with each other two of our fathers they offered the pieces of wisdom. And hello said. Be a disciple of aaron. Loving peace. Pursuing. Loving people. And rhonda near. To the deplorable. Do not separate yourself from the community. Do not be sure of yourself until the day you die. Do not judge her friends until you are in first place. Say nothing if not be understood at once. It will be understood. And do not say when i have time. Old study. Never. I hope you're thinking about those moments of whether it's playing all. We're learning to july. Or riding a bike we're learning a musical instrument. Summit use of wisdom. Did your father offered to you these and taking the heart. Adult misses. Chapter 12. 2:12. Let your friends proper be btu dear to you as your own. Discipline yourself for it is not something that you would hear it not something that is born within you. And lecture every tv for the sake of heaven. Rabid rabbi eleazar ben sorry. Where there is no store. There is no life on the derech eretz. Where there is no wisdom there is no reverence. Where there is no reference there is no wisdom. Weather isn't understanding there is knowledge. Where there is no knowledge there is no understanding. You hated him off until rodney in morocco indiana. Where there is no meal where there's no literally flour or people are not things in their body. Then you can't. Beneful with oral with wisdom with understanding with communicating. And when there is no community and wisdom and understanding. All of the pig. Joke in the world actually not sustained ian. And last but not least nzomo. He said that the agency will come. Who is wise. One learns from every person as is said in psalms. For all my teachers i have gained understanding. And who was strong. One who shows self-control as the sudden offers. One slow to anger is better than the hero and one who showed self-control than one who takes the city. Who is rich. One who contented with life's portion as anna said in the song. When you eat when you have work for happy or you unfortunate your love. Happy or are you in this world unfortunate your loss on the world to come. And who was respected. One respect others. As a descendants 4 samuel for those who respect me eyebrows and those who despise me will be held in contempt. Justice my father. Help me in those moments. All of the little threads back into my life. These fathers come the same way and obnoxious some book on a shelf it's not just some piece of wisdom literature. Justice we take on auburn avenue and see what he has the teacher says if it is a father we have the same opportunity to do that. Then he let these fathers teach us how to move in the world to be a match. Play me some sense of pride and love and honor and merit. Protection. Progressive. To think about all of those different quotes and i'm happy to share share them with you as i read through them through the service. To think about which part. Which of those threads that give you that place where you can enjoy this on this father's day. And. My final piece. Wisdom. Humble. Let me take a heart and sister all of the ones that speak to us and carry us forward. So we also realize that as we sit here in this place. Didn't i stopped and said that we really just have to take time to honor the fathers of old i would be missing something. Because it is not just the text of the past even as we adopted into our day and age. It is not also those that did not the only play till we get inside and wisdom that we have narrative and protection. There's a line in jewish wisdom that says that if you teach tour of them is if you give birth to them. There are many fathers here. Ounce of this congregation and this community there are many fathers here. And there were many foggers in our hearts and in our minds we're all gathered here in this place as we take a moment to honor fatherhood. We have our own aids. Abraham. Isaac and jacob. And stanley's involves and leonard and jim's and richard. There's a second part of our calendar. Do we have to look at the father's in our own nest. Fathers in our time and in our place. Those were fathers in this. You look surprised. I asked you to stand so we can take just a moment in this time and place. Electricity you to look to you for wisdom. Site to look to you for humor. To appreciate what you have to pay off to the world. And just as. God blessed and honored and protected our fathers. Did all of you on this father day father's day. Whether it is forces of the eternal. And the incident. Or it is the sweetness of for children. I'm standing with you that you feel honored and appreciated and protected as we look to these followers it is also my hope that we will also think about all the father-to-be. Did they have become an opportunity to think about them. One thing of offered us in those blessings and we take a moment to offer our blessings and art and sitting in our students on this father's day. Whether we are father. Or whether we looking today father in our lives. May those arms be filled with honesty and integrity highness and compassion. The opportunity house on that knowledge nonetheless. Read with her family. Bender community and weather world as of shallow oldest thickness. Talk without fathers about bringing their stuff than bringing their wisdom bringing their logged into this world this is part of the central pairs of jewish worship praise her you are on and i are god. of our ancestors god of isaac and god of jacob.

uufvb_org

2012Mar04Sermon128.mp3

Doesn't man look like a hero to you. His name was greg mchenry. And although i doubt any of you will recognize either his face or his name. He is a genuine. Unitarian universalist arrow. For one day he showed remarkable courage in the face of evil itself. He's a hero because on the morning of july 29th 27th. 2008. He was serving. As an usher. At the tennessee valley unitarian universalist church in knoxville tennessee. When a crazed and bitter gunman by the name of. Jim david atkinson who later said that he had targeted our church. In knoxville because of its liberal teachings and he believed that all liberals should be killed. Because they were quote-unquote ruining this country. He walked in on a light-hearted service 125 of the congregations children were performing the musical annie. He pulled a 12-gauge shotgun out of a guitar case. And began firing. Mister mchenry who was you can all see was a big guy. Immediately and deliberately put himself directly between the gunman and the 25 children. And he took a shot point. Blank. In the chest. Almost immediately for other courageous men in that audience. Church members john bisset. Robert birdwell. Arthur bowles and terry uselton vaulted over rows of chairs amidst all the chaos tackling the gunman. Restraining him. Until police arrived. Yes there was murder and mayhem in that church that they one other person was killed and six others injured. But there was also courage. Courage beyond all measure and none of the children. I want to show you a second image of another courageous soul. This is new york firefighter mike kehoe. And you all know the day. September 11th. 2001 climbing his way up one of the stairwells of the north tower. Of the world trade. Center. After. The planes had struck. And panicked workers you see them sweaty streaming. Down their way to safety. This powerful picture. Of a simple firefighter. Who miraculously survived that day. Because he was ordered by his superior out of the building at the last possible moment. Just seconds before it collapsed. Nonetheless he became an iconic image that represented the courage and the bravery. Are the new york city police and firefighters. So many of them as you know perished on that day. To me is facing this photograph and i wish it were a little clearer in a little larger. Is that with what i can only call brave dutiful determination. No one can know of course. If mike kehoe this young firefighter husband and father-of-three. Fully appreciated at that moment. How gravely his life was in danger. But we can only call him a hero for going up in that stricken building when every human instinct of a father-of-three must have been screaming to him. Not to go. Had to turn around. And to leave those. At the top. Stories. To the rhone. Devices. I want to show you one more picture of a hero. A lot of you know her. This. She embodies. Courage to me is ruth car. Longtime stalwart member of this congregation. Who died just a few months ago. Ruth i think showed incredible courage and grace as she faced the end of her life. Late last summer at the age of 92 not feeling well for weeks and of course not complaining to anyone or letting anyone know. She received diagnosis of terminal ovarian cancer. And was told that she did not have long to live. Rather than fold her tent. Or permit yourself the self-indulgence of feeling cosmically sorry for herself. Ruth did as she had done with her entire life without fanfare she quietly decided to continue her life with as much purpose. And engagement and care for others as she could muster. During her last month's even as the cancer increasingly robbed her of energy. Comfort inn mobility ruth. Remained ruth. Refusing to surrender her life or her relationships including her passionate commitment to this congregation. And her presence and purpose as a human being on this earth was maintained until her very last moment. Her dear friend denise hate tells me that just a couple of days before her death. When she was terribly weak. She asked denise. To get her to her computer so she can update our membership records one more time. She was too weak. To manipulate the keys so denise manipulated the keys at ruth's instructions because after all it was very important that the membership rolls. Be correct. There was nothing particularly flashy or dramatic. About the courage ruth exhibited in her last days but. All of us who watched her live. Bully and well and bravely again remaining ruth until her very last moment. Will regard that as a blessing. I have a final story about courage to share with you this morning and i don't have a picture for it. It's perhaps more subtle and less traumatic than the. 3 i've already shared. You'll just have to imagine him. Back in the 1980s when i served the minister of the first unitarian society of plainfield new jersey. One of my parishioners. Was a quiet conventional middle-aged pharmaceutical executives. Name tom you might even think of him as. Milquetoast. If you just looked at him. One day tom called me and asked me if he could stop into my office to discuss quote an ethical dilemma. He was having at work. When he arrived he matter-of-fact matter-of-factly described the terribly difficult position he was in. It seems that his boss had come to him again he's a pharmaceutical executive his boss had come to inform inform him. That one of their company's biggest selling and most profitable drugs had just been banned for sale in the united states. During medical questions about whether or not it caused the death. Of many women. I would taking it. But his boss said that for the time being at least because of regulatory red tape the drug could still be successfully and legally marketed overseas especially to women. In poor undeveloped nations of the world. Were they would be uninformed or might overlook the risks. His job thomas job his boss informed him was to move as many million units of this drug overseas as quickly. As he could before regulators close the door. My first nurse dilemma of course was a stark moral one. Even though his boss was demanding was still technically legal. Because of tom's unitarian universalist commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person. He was unsure if as an ethical human being he could follow. His superiors indifferent. And calloused order. Now come with his family's only breadwinner. Two kids were happily ensconced and expensive private school. And the older nice home. With a very large mortgage. And he was tormented. By the tension between what his conscience was telling him was right for the long run. It is immediate duty and concern for the well-being in the security of his own family. We talked this tough decision all the way through at painful length. And such a decision of course can't be made by a minister needs to be made. By the parishioner. And decide he did. He told his boss he could not mark at this drug overseas and ask to be relieved of this expectation and shifted to other duties instead he was fired. On the spot. And i will tell you for it is important to the story that is a result of his courage. Tina's family faced many many months. Personal and financial hardship until he finally found. Another executive position about 18 months later. This good man was never in any physical danger. And no one. Ever really knew what he did beyond his own family and me. But he was a genuine curry. And lived with such. Elegance. Purpose and virtue. Morning i'm offering you the tenth installment. About year-long sermon series on the 12 gates to the city. Spiritual pathways to the holy city. Of your own life. It is hard to imagine preaching such a series without devoting a sunday as we are this morning. To the all-important quality of courage. Over the centuries various philosophers and religions in world traditions. Have compiled lists of the core human virtues. And everyone of them. Completo. To the bible to the boy scouts. In some way include the idea of courage. And human history not to mention human literature the movies the art. Are filled with stories about courage. And in some cases stories about the failure of courage which is of course. Cowardice. Courage it seems to me as one of those human commodities. Which is often hard to clearly define it's one of those traits. That we recognize though when we see it like the supreme court justice who was defining pornography i know it when i see it that's kind of the way can survive cancer courage works. Let me begin them by trying to offer a clear working definition of courage for me at least courage. Is fear and pain management in the face of real danger threat and adversity. It's fear and pain management which enables you to continue to live out your life. As you were intended to live it out. In its best form. Let me put this differently. Courage is to me the spiritual and psychological refusal in the face of danger or threat or adversities refusal to allow yourself. To be immobilized incapacitated or co-opted as a human being it is a refusal. Courage. Is the brave insistence that you were going to remain a full and active and principled and purposeful presents in creation as long as you have breath and being. It's a refusal. Disappear. As a human being. Courage. Let me say this a third way is the refusal and i've said this. Cuba for. It's the refusal to submit. Your human agency. In the face of difficult. Human agency meaning the power to be a human being. Courage is the refusal. When you are endangered are in chat or challenge by difficult circumstances to existentially run. Or hide or collapse or cower or fold your tent flat. Courage is a decision to remain somebody and not just anybody but somebody principal. Somebody who matters. In a world that matters. Does this definition make any sense to all of you. The next thing that i think is important for us to do as we establish what courage is is to make sure that we do not confuse courage. With fearlessness. For they are not the same thing. The great american unitarian novelist perman melville. Makes this point in his classic book moby dick when starbuck the chief mate of the whaling boat first addresses the crew. I will have no man in my boat. Starbucks. Who is not afraid of the whale. Ladder latter-day moralist bill bennett. Expands on this idea. A brave person is not one who is never afraid. That is rather. The description of a rash or reckless person. Someone who beat for maybe more harm than help. In an emergency. Unquote. And i think that's exactly right. Courage is not the blind and foolish denial of fear and danger and pain. It is rather than noble management of these things. Which enables us to go on to remain somebody entertain somebody purposeful and good. That's what courage is its managing. If there was ever a situation that called for human courage it was certainly for the prisoners of auschwitz and other nazi death camps during those terrible days. A world war 2. Viktor frankl. Was it psichiatra store. There you see the prison that he wasn't actually i think this was a visit to auschwitz right after wwii you see the barbed wire. He was a psychiatrist. Who survived that concentration camp and wrote about courage. There in his famous book and it's a wonderful book man's search for meaning i called him now at some length. The experiences of death camp life frankel roadshow that men and women do even in extreme circumstances. Have a choice of action. There were enough examples he goes on awesome heroic nature. Which proved that. We human beings can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom. Of independence of mind even in such terrible conditions. I'm psychic and physical stress. We who lived in concentration camps he went on. Can remember. The men and women. Who walked through the huts. Comforting others. Giving. Others their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number. But they offer sufficient proof. And now he writes a beautiful sentence. That everything can be taken from a human being but one thing the last of the human freedoms. The freedom to choose one's attitude. In any set of circumstances the freedom to choose. Your own. Way. And then he goes on and there were always choices to make. Everyday every hour offered the opportunity to make a decision. A decision. Which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self your inner freedom which determine whether or not you would become a placing of circumstance pronouncing your freedom and dignity to become molded in the form of the typical inmate. And then he ends. Fundamentally there for. Anyone facing difficult. Can decide what shall become of him or herself mentally and spiritually. We are free. To remain brave. Dignified. And i'm selfish. When i first read these powerful words by franco about. And think about the whores suffered. In auschwitz. I wondered if i myself. Would have been capable of finding. Such mobility encouraged what i have been one of those people moving through the huts. Offering. Comfort. Or what i have cowered. I must tell you that i honestly don't know. The answer to that question and i suspect most of you do not. No either how you would have been. And here it seems to me as one of the real problems with courage. We can never be sure if we will find it inside of us. When we most needed. I wonder what sort of prisoner you are i would have been at auschwitz. In such horrible conditions. Would we have been brave and generous and noble. And i wonder if i had been that knoxville church that morning. Whether i would have put my body. Between the gunman. And the children. And i wonder if i had been a fireman on 9/11 if i would have gone bounded up those. Stairs of the north tower tower like. Mike kehoe dead. And i wonder if i ever know the physical laws that ruth carf. Did if i would be able to not fold my tent. And i wondered. If i was a pharmaceutical executive order to do in morality. And still get my $200,000 paycheck. There i. Take. You are. Job. Stop it. I don't know. I must honestly tell you. But i can't answer these questions i'd like to think because of my upbringing and my. Crazy backbone. I would find the courage but i. In the face of real danger and and remain a good handful. Person. But i think that no one knows for sure until those moments. Those deciding moments really arrive. And where. Forced to make either a courageous or a cowardly choice. As i think back over the first 62 years of my life i don't think i've really ever been really tested on the courage thing. Yes one side over into the ocean to help save a drunk and drowning man but i was with two others who were also in the waters. And we did save him. And twice i've had very public disputes. Where principles were. Was mayor like that shoot a mayor and the city council once in my life was threatened in some mild sorts of ways but. I've never really. Really been faced i think with the situation required deep-down bravery and perhaps. Perhaps for many of you it's the same. Well some of you perhaps have really done courageous thing we have a lot of wwii veterans in this crowd today and maybe some of you. Really faced moments where are you were either. Where where courage was. Required. I suspect that most of us don't know if we'll ever really step up to the virtue of courage. Improve ourselves on until we get there. Centuries ago aristotle said we become brave. By doing brave acts on this is a reassuring assertion. That we become more naturally courageous over a lifetime as we get used to being brave. But i wonder if this is really so. Can we really learn to be more courageous. Does a brave act. Habits foundation upon earlier brave acts or do you just sleep out in front of a bus to save a baby because it's the right thing to do and you do it. I'm not sure. But i've been inclined to believe that every time we faced a moment when courage is called for we either from whatever mysterious source. Either rise to that call or fail to answer it. And there is another problem with courage. I believe most of the time when we are in fact most courageous. We undervalue or don't even recognize it as courage. I would assert that most of the time when courage is truly required of us. It is not in grand sweeping heroic moments. Like that in the knoxville church or a 911 or in world war 1 outfits. It's usually nestled quietly and far more subtle and mundane moments of our living. When courage may largely go unrecognized and unheralded. I've already told you about ruth carf quietly being courageous. And i see much other courage expressed in this community of faith here in vero beach amongst you the congregation i'm honored to now serve. As your minister i see countless acts of bravery that are in the end i think. Just as noble as those witnessed on 9/11. I see courage on the faces of those of you who i know struggle on a daily basis to get out of bed. Where to stay on top of a clinical depression which seeks you to rob you of energy in. An engagement. I see courage in the faces of those of you who i know has struggled. For decades to underdue the damage and self-negation and fear which were inflicted on you by. Sexual or emotional abuse when you were young. I see courage. In the face of those parents of this community who have struggled to accept or integrate the death of a child. Or a grandchild. I see courage on the faces of those of you who i know must cope. Chronic pain. And disease and disability. I see courage on the faces of men and women in this congregation who are the caregivers. Months. After months. After months of someone with alzheimer's or some other terrible illness which robs them. Of their own ability to care for them. I secret on the faces of many of our elderly members. Who fight on a daily basis to maintain their dignity. Their purpose there freedom in troy. Living in the face of bodies. Dalaran clear. Decline. In physical limitation. Most of the time in human life. This is what courage looks like. It's often bravery of a slow study endurance. It's the day-to-day refusal. If i said earlier the day today refusal to allow difficulty to rob you of your agency. To rob you of your ability to choose and to act. And to live purposeful. And plus i arrive at what i really want to say to you about the virtue. An importance of courage the. That which makes it. Essential to entering the holy city of your own life. Maybe a few of us. Epsom rare or spectacular moments in our lives will face some grand heroic moment. When we will prove ourselves extraordinaire ali-a nobly courageous like. Risking our lives by running into a burning building to save a child. Or wrestling. A gun out of some terrorist or. Murderer. For the most of us. Courage will either come to us or find us wanting. In far less remarkable. Yet equally important moments. More often the test of courage comes to us quietly. When we face a decision of the heart weather. Tubi. Full human being. Orchard shrink. Into something less. Courage. Fuseal. To submit. Your human agency. It is. Fuseal. To submit. Your human agency. One of the central tenets of my personal faith. At the unitarian universalist. Is it every person. Comes into being and breath. In this creation. Intending to be some intended to be somebody. Not just anybody. But somebody unique and remarkable. With things to do and give. And care for and love. We were made out of this most holy mysterious of creations. To be full and powerful presence is on this planet and nothing less. You were meant to be something. Courage is that noble commodity of hardened spirit which comes to us in moments. Of adversity and testing and mitigation. Which give us the strength to remain. Purposeful. Who won what we are. When cowardice begs us to fold our tent and flatten our human being. Courage is a pathway to that holy city varane live. Because it alone enables us to live out of our our particular destiny. And our courage our life is a being. Greg mchenry. Found it. In that morning on the knoxville church. His last day of of. Mikey who founded on september 11th rushing up that stairwell. Ruth carf founded bravely living at home. Her last days. Viktor frankl. Founded fighting for dignity and being an auschwitz and tom my. Pharmaceutical executive friend founded. In the luxury of a executive suite. And i take it on faith that all of us can find it to write where we live. And right where it matters the most. Here is a spiritual bottom line. No matter how lucky or blessed we are. Sooner or later life will unfold. In ways that threaten our lives. And our human being. And call upon us to find courage. Deep within. The time will come for each of us when we are challenged. To bring out our fullest and finest selves. In whatever life we yet have to live. May we in that crucial our find that. Holy commodity of courage resting steadfast in our heart. When we find the strength of being. To courageously remain fully the sacred somebody. Bully. The sacred somebody we were intended out of the stars to be. That. What courage.

uufvb_org

2014May25Sermon128.mp3

Welcome. The unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach on this memorial day weekend when we honor so many of our veterans. We are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. People seeking to become our best individual selves even this together we work to make a better world. And as we say every sunday please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd. Whether you are a visitor with us this morning or have been here for decades. Whether you were feeling on top of the world or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are glad to see you this morning. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. I think you will find something here this morning. That nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose and joy. For the living of life and the days ahead. Are opening words this morning. May we be reminded here of our highest aspirations. Uninspired to bring our gifts of love. And service to the altar of humanity. May we know that we are not isolated beings but connected in mystery and in miracle. To the universe. To this community. I'm to each other. Our story for all ages today. I found it on the internet. And you can read it there if you choose. The title is. She is a teacher. In september 2005 on the first day of school. Martha concern history teacher. Ed robinson high school in little rock arkansas. Did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school. With the permission of the school superintendent. The principal and the building supervisor. She removed all of the death in a classroom. So when the first. student-centered. They discovered there were no deaths. This concern. Where are desk. She replied. You can have a desk until you tell me. How you earn the right. Just sit at a desk. And so the kids thought. Well. Maybe it's our grades. No she said. It's not your grades. Maybe it's our behavior. No it's not even your behavior. And so they came and went the students left. The second. students came. The 3rd. students came and still. No desks in the classroom. Kids call their parents. And told him what was happening and by early afternoon. Television crews had started gathering at the school. To report about this crazy teacher. We're taking all the discs out of the room. The final period of the day came and the puzzle students. Bounce sheets on the floor. Of the desk. Less. Classroom. Martha catherine said. Throughout the day. No one has been able to tell me. What he or she has done. To earn the right to sit at desks. That ordinarily found in the classroom. So now i'm going to tell you. At this point. Martha went over to the door of her classroom and opened. + 27. United states of america veterans all in uniform. Walked into the classroom. Carrying. A desk. The vets begin placing the desks. Enrolls. And one by one they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier headset the final desk and place. Those parents the news crew and those kids started to understand. Perhaps for the first time in their lives. Just how the right. Just sit at those desks. Had been earned. Same as the pews were sitting in today. What she said next is the most important part of this true story. This teacher was awarded the veterans of foreign wars teacher of the year. For the state of arkansas in 2006. She is a daughter of a wwii veteran. Who was the prisoner of war. And therefore she had a deep conviction. Of the value of responsibility. And appreciation. And this is what she told the students. You didn't earn the right. Just sit at these desks. The jasper place here for you by heroes who did it for you. They place the disc. For you. These heroes went halfway around the world giving up their education and interrupting their careers and their lives and their families. So you could have the freedom you have. And so kids. It's up to you. To sit in them. And it's up to you to take on the responsibility of learning. And to be good students and to be good citizens. They paid the price for you. So that you could have the freedom. To get an education. And don't you ever. Forget it. This is a poem. Call the young dead soldiers. By archibald leach. The young dead soldiers. Do not speak. Nevertheless they are heard in the steel houses. Who has not heard them. They have a silence that speaks for them at night. And when the clock. They say we were young. We have.. Remember us. They say we have done what we could. But until it is finished. It is not done. They say we have given our lives but until it is finished. No one can know. What our lives gave. They say our deaths are not ours they are yours. They will mean what you make them. They say whether our lives and our deaths. War for peace and a new. Hope. War for nothing. We cannot say. It is you. Who must say this. They say we believe you are deaf. Give them their meaning. We were young they say. We have died. Remember us. When scott asked me to preach on memorial day weekend. I knew that i wanted to honor our veterans who gave their lives to defend our country. We have many such heroes from many different wars. And we need to revere them and remember the ultimate sacrifice that they made to safeguard democracy. And our way of life. On this particular memorial day. However i want to focus specifically on our soldiers sailors and airmen who served in the battle of normandy. As june 6th. 2014 10 days from now is the 70th anniversary of d-day. On that day. The armed services of the united states great britain and canada landed on the coast of normandy and began and invasion and a two-month campaign. To defeat the german army occupied normandy. This campaign was the start of the western invasion of europe by the allied forces. That ultimately led to the defeat of nazi totalitarianism and the surrender of germany in 1945. Winston churchill said that the normandy invasion was quote. The most difficult and complicated operation ever to take place unquote. To prepare for this service i read stephen ambrose's account entitled d-day. A 600-page history of the invasion and the days and weeks that followed the normandy landing. Only by reading this lengthy book could i begin to understand the enormous scope of this campaign the years of planning the complexity of the defensive and the heroic acts of the soldiers sailors and airmen who by their sacrifices achieved victory over the german forces. A stephen ambrose rights. Quote. Victory was salvaged only by the cumulative weight of thousands of acts of individual bravery and sacrifice. Unquote. In 1960 for 20 years after the invasion president dwight david eisenhower was interviewed by walter cronkite at omaha beach. One of the two beaches where american troops landing. The president said. Quote. Looking out at the channel you see these people out there swimming and sailing their little pleasure boats. It's almost unreal to look at it today and to remember what it was. But it's a wonderful thing to remember what those fellows. 20 years ago were fighting for and sacrificing for. And what they did to preserve our way of life. Not to conquer any territory nor for any ambitions of their own but to make sure that hitler. Could not destroy freedom in the world. To think of the lives that were given for that principle. Paying the terrible price on this beach alone on that one day over two thousand casualties. But they did it so that the world could be free. It just shows. What freeman will do. Rather than be slaves. Unquote. Ambrose echoed these words by saying. The gi's believed in their cause they knew that they were fighting for decency and democracy and they were proud of it and they were motivated by it. They just didn't talk or write about it they came as liberators. Not conquerors. To put the scale and scope of this invasion in perspective it is necessary to give you some background. Operation overlord as the battle of normandy was named is considered the decisive battle of the war in western europe. Before this battle germany had occupied france and the low countries. For several years and had access. All the raw materials and industrial capacity of western europe. The allied forces. The united states great britain and canada knew only that i knew that only a land invasion could liberate this part of western europe and that the invasion had to come. From the sea. The planning of the invasion began two years. Earlier in the spring of 1942. The location of the landing sites in normandy. And the date that the invasion would start. We're carefully guarded secrets. And the decision to go. Was made by. General eisenhower supreme commander expeditionary forces only hours before the invasion was launched when weather conditions. How to improve. Months before however american. English and canadian divisions have been garrisoned in england along with war material of all types. The night before the beach landing. An enormous fleet. Of warships and all manner of landing craft sailed across the 20 miles of english channel and positioned themselves off the coast of normandy. These navy's primary primarily american canadian and british. Augmented by navies in exile. From france. The netherlands. Norway. Poland. I'm greece. Over 5,000 warships and auxiliary. Man by 195000 sailors and merchant marines. Transported. 175000 infants infantry soldiers plus tanks. Trucks and huge weapons. Across the english channel at night. The landings along the 50-mile coastline of normandy where to begin just before dawn. Hours for 4. British american and canadian. Airborne troops. Parachuted into normandy behind enemy lines. I'm just before dawn. Bombers from england. And the warships now anchored off the coast began showing. Highly fortified german bunker system along the beaches. The coast was divided into five sectors. Utah and omaha the beaches where the american troops landed. Gold and sword. Were the british troops landing. And juneau. Where the canadian troops landed. Well each beachhead very very serious obstacles. For the invading troops to overcome omaha beach 6 miles long. A third of a mile deep. And wide-open was the most exposed. And the most difficult. Many of the landing craft carrying troops tanks trucks and huge guns were destroyed. I never reach the beach. The germans had laid mines in the shallow waters off the beach. Below the surface. Of the these were invisible to the approaching boats. In preparing for the service when mary and i were talking about it he told me that he had lost a nineteen-year-old friend from new jersey. Who is an engineer on a landing craft. That did not make it to shore. The soldiers that did manage to land on the beaches were weighed down by 8290 pounds of gear. And we're easy targets for the german gunners. Dug into their concrete gun emplacements and bunkers above the beach. 50% of those coming on shore in the first wave. God before getting off the beach. But despite the carnage. I'm lost of material wave after wave after wave of july's kept coming racing for the protection of the bluff at the far end of the beach. Some did make it. Some even made it over the bluff and inland where they had more protection in the woods. Hold on the beachhead was extremely fragile and vulnerable at the end of that first day. But at 1. On june 7th. And for the days and weeks the following reinforcement started coming in. Dj was only the first day of the battle of normandy and many more lives were lost as allied troops advanced inland. Over the two and three months of the invasion. 1 count. By the national d-day memorial foundation places the number at about 5,000 americans who were lost. On d-day. By june 30th 1944 the allies had brought in. 71,000 vehicles. Over the beaches. M452 thousand soldiers. 11000 g eyes have been killed in action. Or died of their wounds. There is so much more that one could say about d-day. Or the weeks that followed the beach landing. But it's more much more valuable for you to read one of the many excellent accounts. Of this time. So now i'm going to focus on the troops themselves. Who were the soldiers sailors and airmen who died in normandy. For the most part. They were young. Still in school. Or college-age. Stephen ambrose mentions one gi who is 15 years old. Having lied about his age when he signed up. These soldiers were from every walk of life. And from every part of the united states. Some of them were even recent immigrants. And spoke with a foreign accent. However it must also be said. That in 1944. The armed service for highly segregated. African americans were not assigned to combat positions. Their services. What was central to the overall campaign. Or in the capacity of supply and support. To the ground troops. In 1945 one year later that would start to change as a result of the exemplary performance. Of african american soldiers who had been used in combat. And also because of the order. Of general eisenhower to begin integration. Of the army. American soldiers in world war we're not military cadets. They were ordinary citizens. Many of them were away from home for the first time. I knew nothing about being in a foreign country and they did nothing about the realities of war. They were innocent. Idealistic. And just get it's getting started in life. Stephen ambrose calls them citizen-soldiers which is also the name of one of his very famous books. Hitler scott at the american soldier and was certain that these quote spoiled sons of democracy could not possibly stand up to the solid sons of dictatorship. Unquote. But hitler did not know. I could not. Possibly have understood. The american psyche. These aren't tested young men idealistic. And fiercely. Patriotic. They believed in serving their country they believed general eisenhower who's written order to his troops. On the eve of dj said quote. Soldiers sailors and airmen of the allied expeditionary force you are about to embark on a great crusade. Toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. The freemen. Of the world are marching together in victory. Unquote. Few of the men the soldiers wanted to be in normandy and all of them were afraid. But they wanted to do. Their duty. And the vast majority. Did that and much. Much more. In many cases the officers and sergeants leading the assault with the first killed. And those who remained alive. Found themselves. Leaderless. Regardless. Individual soldiers step forward. Charge and began giving orders and directions. To their fellows. Historians have said that victory by the allies depended on the junior officers and ncos. On the frontline. No switching gears again. To look at a much more recent past. Mm2007. David and i traveled with dutch friends to normandie and we visited omaha beach. It is enormously long. Angie. And wide open. The day that we were there it was sunny and warm as we strolled along the beach itself. And a bluff. Behind it. Who is almost impossible to imagine what it must have been like on june 6th 1944. After visiting the beach. We drove a short distance to the american cemetery. Located on the cliffs above the beach. We parked in a large parking lot. There were many other cars in the parking lot that day. And a lot of people were walking down the path. A simple wooden path. Let us from the parking lot. Along a grove of trees and curved very gently. For the massive. Call entranceway. Some distance beyond. We walk slowly charlie with our friends. I didn't join the peaceful and serene setting. We came to the entrance way. Impasse true. Unlock the head. Then. We all stopped. And stared. In disbelief. At what we saw. No one spoke. No one moved. The only sounds i will call with the halyards of the american flag. Slapping lazily against the tall flagpole. In front of us. I turned slightly. And i saw shocked. On everyone's face. I also saw the each of us. Strangers to one another in a crowd. We're crying. As we stood there in silence. Before us and as far as we could see. Or graves. 9300. An 83 graves. Imperfectly straight rows. Whitestone crosses or stars of david mark. Each plot. 150 acres of manicured lawns. The head overlook omaha beach. And the sea beyond. Hypercom the final resting place. Of those american. Who died on d-day. Or in the weeks following. I have no idea how long we stood there in silence. But at some point we must have absorbed. There's site enough. To move forward. Into the first row of graves. On each cross or star of david. Where's the soldiers name. Rank. Date of death. And home state. Well there are three medal of honor. Recipients and many officers of different ranks. Buried in the cemetery. The vast majority of the fallen or regular gi. We walked slowly down the rose. Reading aloud to each other. The names and details. On each of the graves that we passed. This enormous campaign. The largest invasion ever to take place. Suddenly. I become very very personal. As i read a name allowed to david i wondered to myself who had that gi been. What kind of his life been like at home. What had been his dreams and hopes for the future. What was going through his mind as his landing craft approach the beach. Or his parachute or glider. Hovered over the treetops. Was he thinking of the orders. But he did receive and doing his duty. What she consumed by fear. What you thinking that his service. What help shape democracy for the free world. I would never know. What could this young man have known of democracy. Tramps like equality. Unalienable rights. Government by the people. Of the people by the people and for the people he was probably familiar with. Had he experienced anything tangible in his short life that had remotely fulfil these lofty principles. When he was growing up in the 20's and 30's. The country had been plunged into economic depression. Unemployment. Hardship. Hunger. And fear. The benefits of democracy certainly were not obvious. Or within reach for most and perhaps not. For this gi. At all. Yorkie believe. In our way of life. Not because he had necessarily reaped any rewards. Because keith and thousands of other americans. Overseas or at home whose work supported the war effort. Trusted the promise that america held out. The promise that one could live in freedom. Did wanted have equal rights and that one could get ahead and build a good life for himself and his loved ones. He and all his comrades had stake their lives on this promise. On this hope. But did not live to see it realized. How much we owe them. How much i would like to say. To that young grin to all the others. That their sacrifice was not in vain that because of them and many others who died in world war ii or in other wars before or since that they did help to save the world for democracy. We. Their descendants. Are fortunate to live in freedom. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice. These men. Where are fathers. Husband. Psalms. Brothers. Friends. Neighbors. We are related. To them all. Is peter rabbit a well-known uu minister said. Quote. We build on foundations we did not lay. We warm ourselves at fires we did not like. We sit in the shade of trees we did not plant. We profit from persons we did not know. We are ever bound in community. Unquote. We must never forget that. We must forever be grateful. But we have another debt to pay. One that is much greater. Much heavier. Ingratitude. We owe it to the men here in the cemetery. And to all others who have served our country to move democracy forward. To make the american dream only a promise in a hope in 1944. A reality. For every person in our nation. Yes. Life in the united states has become better since 1944 how many people there have been games in civil right in the care of the elderly and the ill and economic opportunity and an education. But there is much more work to be done and we must do it. If we are to keep faith with those who died for us. And to leave a legacy. A better legacy. For those who follow us. In our reading but aren't you in a few minutes ago. The young soldier's say we have done what we could. But until it is finished. It is not done. We have given our lives. But until it is finished. No one knows what our lives gave. They say. I guess are not ours. They're yours. They will mean what you make them. They say. We leave you or des. Give them. Their meaning. Our work is not done said donald no and 80 year old veteran and army chaplain who was in normandy. If you forget what happened here you are never going to improve things. It's never going to get any better you must keep it alive. I'm caught. No we can't forget. And we do understand the democratic principles that are country stands for. The foundation of our unitarian universalist principles were inspired by the declaration of independence and the constitution of the united states. Yes we are firmly inherent worth and dignity of every person. Justice equity and compassion in human relations acceptance of one another the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process. The goal of world community. When we affirm these principles we are speaking for all those who lie buried in the american cemetery in normandy. I'm speaking. To all who have served our country. About a month ago. During a coffee our conversation with an older member here. She told me about a decision that she and her husband had made recently. She said very forcefully. We will no longer tolerate insulting and disrespectful language used to describe our elected leaders are those that other people do not like. If we say nothing against this hate speech by public officials or private citizens we are condoning it. And allowing it to become acceptable behavior. This is a dangerous path we are going down and we must say loudly that this kind of behavior is not acceptable it diminishes and degrades democracy we have seen this before in europe in the hostility towards jews minorities and political group that led ultimately to the condemnation and extermination of people by hitler's third reich. She and her husband have not forgotten. They live through world war ii. This can happen again she said. So now she and her quiet. Gentle husband. Speak up with passionate conviction whenever they encounter this kind of speech. We must do so too. Affirming what we believe. Is important. And promoting our principles is even harder to do. And that's exactly what we are asked to do. If we are to give true value to those. Who died. In normandy. They cannot give anymore. So we must. Each of us must try to move democracy forward by the way we live our lives. In helping others in our community who are disadvantaged. Voting for representative to stand for rights for all citizens and by speaking out about the right. Of all americans. You might ask. What can one person do. What possible difference could i make. Who would even listen to me. It can seem overwhelming. Such an enormous task that no one person could possibly fulfill. We're not ass. To act alone. I am sure that the individual gi. In world war i felt overwhelmed and frightened. But that gi along with hundreds and thousands more soldiers sailors and airmen and millions of people at home supporting the war effort. Did. Make the difference. I live today or witness to that. Together. Acting together to achieve a shared goal will bring success. It will make it a reality. We as unitarian universalist must be proud of our principles. We must defend them. Stand up for them and. On them when we see egregious violation. Of american rights. We are not alone. We will be joined by the voices and the actions of others. Who are working to bring the american dream. To all who seek it. We can do our part to move democracy forward. For the next generation. We give you our desk. Give them. Their meaning. Say the dead. May it be. That our lives. Even in a small way. Help to create. The reality of the american dream. That our fallen veterans saw.. I'm at. As we leave today. May we carry the spirit and the values. Of this community in our hearts. Goforth resolved to work towards the highest standards. Of equity and fairness for all people. So that someday humanity will live in peace. And love. Honoring our differences and holding sacred. Or commonalities. Go in peace.

uufvb_org

2011Oct23Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. I must say i am impressed by the. Read into my. Talk this morning. It is open so so appropriate. My talk this morning is one woman's story. This is my story. If i get a little over emotional every so often. Please bear with me. Aprender to brag. I was born in 1942. In los angeles. A few hours after new year's day. Just at the start of world war i. I spent most of my young life in albany oregon. The heart of the willamette family. Who's a nice friendly small world. Pretty typical of the 1950s. One of my early memories. You said i was not who i seemed to be. As a child before i could not be more specific. I just knew something wasn't right. I finally went to school. I've been held back a year because i was. Boring a little too late. I had a clearer picture of what was wrong. These creatures called girls. And i found that i had a lot in common with him. Then i get my first brick wall. Wanted to grow my hair longer. But it was not allowed. Because i was a boy. And boys. Just didn't do that. I wanted to wear a dress. But that was not even to be mentioned. Because boys really didn't do that. And i was a boy. Actually i was confused. But my mother was quick to point out on every possible location. I was a p y. That's a child i have been regularly sent to sunday school at two different churches. Join you all about saying prayers before bed. I had one i'm changing prayer for years. Tell me what's somehow. Wake up a girl. Do my childish mind. Simple task it would be easy for an omnipotent omnipresent on missions guide. When nothing happened after several years of very fervent praying. I consigned god does the same category as santa claus and the tooth fairy. I moved on. My grade school years i had balance and eyesight problems. I was always the last person selected for any schoolyard games. I didn't enjoy the games anyway so. Much matter. I would prefer to sit and read or engage in some other individual activity. I just wasn't comfortable playing with the other boys. Or even associating with them. We had nothing in common. Problems today so if i seem a little wobbly on my feet. It is unfortunately not because i have over invite. Are you golfing been attracted to my mother's jewelry. A couple of pieces of costume jewelry. But i found especially pretty out of her jewelry box. I had never seen her wearing them. And she did not discover that they were missing. By the age of 12 i had cobbled together a play dress out of an old bed sheet. But i was constantly in fear of my mother finding the dress so i ended up throwing it out. Kittens misty sheet either. The difference i felt seems so out of place became so incongruous. Can i refuse to accept it. Every time i got out of the shower and looked in the mirror i could see very clearly the reason for my problem. I stopped looking in mirrors. I completely denied my internal feelings. And shout out to be the best male. I could be. In high school i associated with a beat pro. A a peach 250s. And a german foreign exchange student. We spend our school hours playing scott. And our evenings in a coffeehouse. Drinking espresso and listening the bad poetry. I graduated from high school i applied to several colleges. I was accepted by massachusetts institute of technology. And university of southern california. I talked briefly about the snow and the sun and quickly chose usc. By that time the cuban missile crisis was heating up. The grass was an ever-present threat. End up in the army crawling through the mud. Air force rotc in college. It was also just another way to show that i was really a man. At my apartment. I had my own female wardrobe weekends. Which i never dared we're outside. Also why don't you will see i bought a little sports car. I drove it far too fast most of the time. The only freeways were not nearly so cluttered back in those days. Hyster had absolutely no idea what was wrong with me. And i have been very carefully taught. That one simply did not talk. About such things. When i graduated from usc the air force sent me to europe. Well where i did the ultimate male thing. I married a wonderful woman. Another air force officer who worked in air force communications. We actually had many of the same security restrictions. Which we tended to ignore when it suited our purposes. I was still trying to be a good male. I never mentioned a thing about my little problem. Too touristy. Eventually left for vietnam she was pregnant with our first child. We bought a house in howey-in-the-hills. So she could be near her father. Otter was born in 1970. While i was overseas. Another child so in 1973 we managed to have a boy. We return to florida in 1976 from i left the air force. And raise two kids and two dogs in our little florida house. Both of the kids turned out to be fine compassionate adults. Bragging. In the 1950s i had heard about christine jorgensen. But i was still far too young to understand what she had done and how it apply to me. In the 1970s i found a couple of books by dr. john money if johns hopkins. The talk clinically. About transgender and intersex problems. They were interesting. Pictures. Horrible. But i still could not apply them to my situation. Actually i was probably still very very deep. State of denial. 1999 after 33 years of wonderful marriage. And after seeing both kids married. Treatment sick for several years or death was neither sudden or unexpected. It did however leave a big hole in my life. Shortly after her death i retired from some 30 years of government service. Once i was on my own. I bought several articles of women's clothing. And that was really very satisfactory. Threw them all out. Then. In the famous words of hayley mills in the trouble with angels. I had this brilliant idea. I bought selected items with women's apparel. That appeared to be completely androgynous. I could wear them outside the house. And no one would ever know. But me. I build up a complete wardrobe that consisted of shorts blouses underwear and shoes. Play that time i also acquired. A pig. Pushy. Beard. And a very bald pate. So i had little fear that anyone would think that i was anything for the man. When i absolutely have to. It was a good compromise. But it was not fulfilling. Astronomer long until 2007. Still trying to piece. And i knew i was failing. I was very depressed. I was getting more and more desperate. Finally in march 2007. I found myself sitting at home. What's a load in 45. Seriously debating. Was there or not. I should simply. I have a gun in my hand ready to use. When somehow. I found the courage to put it down. A result didn't there's a course i have been following all my life. I'd like to nothing but stress and pain. So was time to chart a new course. Can you imagine just how hard it is. To discourage her entire life. Everything. You have lived with for 65 years. Start fresh. Facebook so i had ridden internet sites i visited. I believe i was a transexual. So on that basis i started working on my problem. With an electrologist. To remove my beard. Step number one. She took one look at me. During our initial consultation and said. You're a transexual aren't you. I said yes i am. So she told me to lie back. And she started working. She became my first therapist. Teacher and staunch supporter. Next. Surprised he agreed immediately. I sometimes wonder. What is c. The first prescription she wrote out. Rafiraffee. The proper dosage. Third i went looking for an actual service. Who's experienced in working with gender dysphoria. I found an excellent rogerian in orlando and we started the course of visits. Then i had to tell the kids. I invited them to a pizza party. They want my pizza. But they themselves had always suggested the previous pizza party. Since i had never suggested such a thing myself. Something was up. After plying them with pizza and wine. I laid it all out cold. I told him that i was a transsexual. But i was going to change my gender. And with the father they had known. Was about to disappear. Their life. Forever. To their credit lead said. So what else is new. Apparently i really had raised him well. They have to this tape remain steadfastly supportive of. We're here. I was officially diagnosed with gender dysphoria. And had a confirmed course of treatment before.. Benjamin study gender dysphoria. That standard was codified in the fourth edition of the americas cycle association's diagnostic. It was later adopted by the world professional association for transgender health. And has recently been upgraded based on your current research. I suddenly became very busy. I had to build a completely. Change my name and prepare for my real life. A year of living full-time. Before 7. As a woman. On august 24th 2007. Robin when kelly was born. On september 1st. Robin lynn made her first public debut. In front of the walmart in the villages. Collecting money. For muscular dystrophy. Months before i had promised my folks heaters forest. But i would help them. On that weekend. And i saw no reason not to honor. Promise. My wife became an absolute shambles. Of all the hundreds of friends and acquaintances. But i had amassed over the years. Boston 25 people. We're still speaking to me. The rest. We're speaking about me. My christmas card list immediately dwindled to a total of 9 people. It was my service. Who suggested the obvious poison my life. Unitarian universalist church. Good for me. So far he's been right. Unknown active member zuu congregation of lake county. I've never been an activist. Allowed mouse yes. Knowing being drawn into the local transgender community and its problem. I have several friends both locally and online that are more transgender. I feel rightly or wrongly. But the more people who know what gender dysphoria is all about. The better life will be for all of us. Most transgender people lead a very closeted life. It is generally said that they live in stealth mode. They desperately attempt to protect their actual condition. Out of fear of being mistreated should they be discovered. Look at you with facts. Concerning transgender individuals. Turn transgenders used today as an umbrella term. To encompass crossdressers transsexuals in the intersex. We still don't know exactly how many transexuals there are. The commonly accepted estimate is one in 1,000 births. We don't know because statistics. We're never collected. Passed the 1960s. There is no source. Current. A recent. Survey was sent out. Trying to reach as much as a transgender community as possible by. National center for transgender equality. And they received about 6,500 responses. Random sample that was pretty good. Wonders not shoes. To be a transsexual. Transsexuals like homosexuals are born and not made by genetics or environment. Gender dysphoria is not catching. An imbalance in hormones in the mother's body sometime around the 12th week of pregnancy. And cause the child to be born a transsexual. If the imbalance occurs around the 16th week of pregnancy the child may be born a homosexual. A person is not officially transexual. Until he or she has been diagnosed as such by properly trained and experienced personnel. The most recent standards of care have eliminated the long-standing requirement for a psychological evaluation. But therapy was a trained professional still recommended. To ensure that the individual knows what he or she is doing. And is aware of the permanent. Completing the treatment. What's the transsexual is ready. Your she will begin a course of hormones prescribed by ninja chronologist or other knowledgeable physician. Androgen and aldactone cause a male to female. Pinterest ostrom for the female to male. The year of living in the desired gender. Is no longer required. O'shucks. Whatever the transsexual can afford it reassignment surgeries the final step in the treatment program. The biggest turtle plus the transsexual has to face is his or her appearance. Outwardly as the other. Tempe up problem. Younger male-to-female transsexual. Schools of us who were past our prime. Just make two. The transsexual. Is often not accepted. Even by members of his or her own family. Family members have been known to completely reject the transexual child apparent. Not to mention the horrible strain such condition places on a marriage. No wonder the transsexual chooses to live a stealth life. Hiding from everyone. And dealing with the desperation and stress and private agony and isolation. In such cases online and local support groups where the transsexual can meet and talk with others facing the same challenges. Without fear of injury or ostracism. Or invaluable. What types of discrimination can a transexual face. Different religions. No that one was coming. Termination from refusal employment and housing we're struggling to get laws in place that will prevent that but we have only succeeded in a few states. Refusal by ems remt personnel to treat or transport and yes that is real. A friend of mine called for emergency transportation to the hospital. Ems flight suit. Refusal of police to respond to a known transexual. Some police officers have been known to refuse to backup a fellow transexual officer who is known to be in harm's way and that actually happened. Do transsexual i know. She was in a hazardous situation call for backup. And all the officers who knew her condition refuse to respond. Luckily she managed to work her way out of the situation. But. It wasn't planned. Desertion and rejection by family and friends. Arrest by police for trivoli trivial offenses the general population of jails. Use your imagination. When a transexual is assigned to the general population of a jail. It is not. In fact. Another story. Yeah i can't type squeak it in. Miss florida. Was passing through. Southern florida community which shall go unnamed. And she was pulled over by a police officer for perhaps exceeding the speed limit a little bit. Officer came up to the car chatted with her very polite very friendly. After chatting for a few minutes he said well let me run your license. And if you have no other problems. You're on your way just a little. Verbal warning. He went back revelations. Came back to the car in a few minutes. Chadwell mister. You see in florida and probably elsewhere driver's licenses are kept on file and available to police officers for 7 to 10 years. He saw an old license. When he left her she was an absolute tears. And holding a ticket. For the maximum amount. He could have signed for speeding. Police or not. Dinosaur indian the audience. My apologies to you but still. Overall lornography. There are far more suicides among transsexuals than in the general population. But ncte study that i mentioned earlier ask that particular question. 47% of the respondents reported having attempted suicide at least once. Attempted suicide rate in the general population is 1 and 1/2. Ultram. They're subject to taunting and attacks especially while in the real life experience. From others while out in public. Of course. This condition does not come cheaply. Across from $60,000 for the male-to-female. And well over $100,000 for the female to male. The hyksos often prevents the average transsexual from attaining the final step. Even hormone treatments and therapy sessions. Are beyond the ability of some to afford. And hormone replacement therapy especially for the male-to-female will be required for life. I had my children for reassignment surgery in october 2008 by dr. marci bowers. In trinidad colorado. I am now on my last leg of the journey through life. I feel happier and more peace now than at any other time in my life. But always worth it. Oh yes. 50 years. Thank you all.

uufvb_org

2011Jan30Sermon32.mp3

Laundry or theological hats cuz we're going to be covering a lot of ground real fast. I want to begin by telling you about a moment in some way is a profoundly ordinary moment from my own life. But also a moment when i can. I can only call the holy. Broken upon me in all of his saving glory and simply would not let me go. I'm a little hesitant to try to describe it to you. This fleeting moment. Because my words may fail to convey fully the power grace and healing. With which that moment broke over my human being and gave me renewed energy for my life but i want to try because almost everything i wanted. Communicate to you about the sacred in our living i think. Lies quietly in the store. It was early. An early-morning. A blast april of last year right here in vero beach actually. During the candidate in week when i was getting to know all of you prior to the vote which. Brought me here permanently as your minister. You have the good grace as a congregation to put me up that week down at the beach at gloria estefan's wonderful costa d'este. Hotel thank you bob. It was very pleasant. Inadvertently pleasant environment by any standard well that morning i had arisen very early i think just before 6 a.m.. Just before the sun was to come up. How does the atlantic. To signal the beginning of a new day. Which for me was to be filled with many hours of meetings and interactions and conversations with all of you up here at the fellowship. With the rest of the hotel absolutely quiet i got out of bed. Put on my bathing suits lipton those luxurious warm bathrobes they provide. And in the cool air went barefoot alone down to the jacuzzi the outdoor jacuzzi which is right on the beach. Right at the edge of the beach and the waving grass. In the cool pre-dawn are. Without again with no other soul or stafford guest anywhere to be seen. I slipped out of the robe and settled. Up to my neck into that warm. Soothing water. Within moments of course i was thoroughly relaxed in my early-morning solitude and without so much as a conscious thought i began. Tumblr. Really look. At where i was. At the fresh day. Was marvelously unfolding all around me. In an instant. I found myself magically in the embrace of one of those spectacular welcoming sunrises. It can only happen here on the eastern coast of florida son having quickly risen from those turbulent grey waters. Was bursting forth amidst clouds. In red and orange. To the roiling tropical. The strong and steady breeze was agitating or was it caressing. Both the surface of the sea and the grasses. Which were just at my eyes level. Everything i was taking in through my senses the sun. The wind the cloud. The grass is the ccent. Galls. Made me feel profoundly welcome is a creature of creation i felt utterly safe. Serene and embraced by beauty. And just when i thought. My world couldn't possibly get any more magical it did. Seemingly out of nowhere. Text pelicans. Lighting right over me on the north wind. It's so close i could see the variegation of there. Their feathers. Beautiful arch. Great big wings. So close. Just felt like. With me. In an instant my whole body know my whole soul filled with on appreciation for everything that was around me. And a quick assign here about. Magic of pelicans i'm not much one for the idea of reincarnation. What if i were to ever have the chance to come back to earth as another creature i'd wanted to be as a pelican. Stately princes of the air glide and such regal calm. In the tropical air. I would love to spend a lifetime floating above the traffic. The way they do it any case. Back. In that wonderful wonderous simp. Sunrise moment here in. Without a word coming to my lips my heart explained. Beautiful. What a beautiful world. I am so blessed. On this amazing. Your instant i was ready for the day and all of you. This morning i continue my year-long sermon series in the ten commandments for the 21st century and that is a typo which has a?. After that there's a gremlin office gremlin and put a? it's not a question. Thou shalt open your heart to the holy. There are of course. Many. The we human beings need to be receptive. If we are to have lives. A fullness and responsibilities and purpose in troy. And over the course of my series this year i'll be touching on some of those things we need. But being open to the holy. The holy or the sacred. That is always around. Is surely one of the most important religious and existential responses we can make. In these fleeting days. Letter h. Now perhaps the first thing to do this morning i need to do is to as i try to persuade you of this great imperative in my. Is the define what i mean by the whole. And that's where i immediately get into trouble. I can easily tell you about moments in my life when i have felt. What i can only describe as the holy breaking over me and my world. Like accounting as i did my story about that morning at the beach. I can describe many other moments similarly in my life. William. When i was sure i was in the presence of the sacred. Watching a newborn baby smile up at me and total innocent radiance. Feeling the love and care of dear old friends around a messy. Noisy dinner table. With melted. Watching. A devoted spouse. In the congregation that i serve stan the sad night watch. Their partner. Reaches the end. Working with others late into the night. I'm trying to end a human injustice witnessing somebody with terminal cancer. Choosing to live their last days. I know what the holy looks. And feels like. And taste like. One of my colleagues. Dewey clark wells. Ascribed. Freshness. And i'm sure that everyone if you in this room could tell similar stories about moments when you have been keenly. And blessedly aware of life's deepest and loveliest and most holy dimensions. And can further describe to us the rest of us how these encounters with the deep and high moments of existence have blaster. But why some of you might ask why do have to label such encounters as holy why couldn't you just call them. I do most spectacular wonderful delightful and rare gifts of natural life why. Those are few of more humanistic or rational bent my tasks. Why do you have to layer. On top of your natural peak experiences this theological language about. Holiness. Will indeed this is a bit problematic for when most people in our culture use the word holy. They are referring to some sort of transcendent being a reality some sort of spiritual entity that stands separate. Or higher or apart. From life on the soften grimy an imperfect planet. But this is not what i mean when i say the whole. To me the holy which again i know from best. Direct everyday personal experience right here in this creek. Creation of. To me the holy has nothing to do with. Transcendence or separate. But with what the theologians call eminence. Eminem's which means that it is that which is sunk deep down into the very nature and essence of the world we have been given. Eminence song. Deep. Down. Indeed in my c logical universe. It is the very fact that everything which i call holy is utterly dependent. Upon this transitory. It is that very reality that makes it so holy. And infuses it. With the power. To bless and. 4 m. Higher. Let me see all this just a bit too. My understanding of the holy. Isn't that which is most sacred and saving is fully natural. And fully knowable not supernatural. Not remove not untouchable as so many religions suggest. Holiness is rather equality sunk deep down in the very nature of earthly and human things and it arises out of that. Out of that mud if. To surprise and bless and yes save us. Save us simply out of ordinary moments. And relationship. And decisions. When the holy breaks in upon our routines. It's not from some. It's all there already. It often feels astounding. Ordinary. It is utterly natural again apart of the very nature. Of the world. In all of that imp. Adhere to my mind at least. Is the real feel on jekyll rub of this decidedly unitarian universalist view of the holy. That which is holy that wondrous available sacred quality sunk deep down in our world. Is not in control. Of the universe. For this creation and please tell me. You experience. This world any diff. Play in this creation. The holy. And the beautiful and the wondrous. Is spiritually counterbalanced. In the grand messi scheme of things. The undeniable presence. The horrendous. And the horrible in the heartbreak. Yes our world is full of glorious sunset. And laughing children and brave men and women living courageously and compassionately. It's full of countless moments of natural and human beauty thank god. But our world is also. As you are all aware. Of tornadoes. Traffic. Of human viciousness. Of evil. And indifference. Of disasters. And random abundant sorrows that's. Yes. We read in the morning paper. About the miraculous mine rescue that saves 47 chilean guys. But on the very next page. Is a heartbreaking story about the mother who back. The family suv. Out of her driveway only to crush. 422 your month year old daughter she did. In our open. And chaotic world the holy. Is quite. Alien unavoidable. Spiritually offset. The horrible. That's just. The whaler. Is. Eternally strong. Princetown and grace. And on answer. And this existential understanding of life's. Bittersweet mix. Brings me to what i think is the worst. Idea. In the world which gets so many. In spiritual trouble. Many people. In this community for its. Predicate their face. In the worthiness and purposefulness of life. The assumption that there is holiness in charge. The god or some other. Transcendent. Supernatural. Being. Is in charge. And that therefore everything that happens on this planet earth the good in the bad the lovely in the hideous the noble in the depraved soul lifting and heart-wrenching. It's somehow all part of a master plan irrational grandmaster plan set in motion. Buy-wise sacred purposeful hand. The problem with this. Is that what horrible and sorrowful things happen to us. Like a tsunami wiping out your brother's family while they are vacationing in bali. Or a beautiful grandchild dying at 6. Or an old college roommate being senselessly killed during a $10. When horrible. And senseless things happen we are left. Theologically understand why god or some other. Power or principality. Would allow such. Such. Heartbreaking. Injustice. Theologians call this problem theodicy. We can simply be stated in the form. Of an unflinching question. If god is all good. And all power. Then why do so many evil and tragic thing. It's a course. Is foremost. Rightly and unanswerable question. And to me it is the wrong question to ask in a creation like ours. It is the wrong question. Because in the chaotic world i live in it is spiritually observed. Just suggest. The some higher rational just loving power is in charge and somehow chooses or wills everything that happens. Terrible. Our creation just has too much tragedy and sorrow for this the illogical idea to make any sense. I believe with all my heart. That abundance holiness. Is everywhere. To be seen. And known. But it is tragically again offset by. And this brings me on this sunday when i suggested you there is a spiritual imperative you. Imperative for you to open your heart. Yourselves in your heart to the. To something that liberal theologians including many in our movement call process. Theology. In a nutshell process theology postulates that god or holiness. Is not. Is not as so much of traditional christianity imagines it's some sort of. 6. Eternal perfect remote. All powerful all. Knowing presents. Riding above creek. Like some grand puppet man. Strings. But rather. Process theology imagines god. Is rather a dynamic verb. Mysterious. You're available presence or energy sunk deep down into all things. A natural but sacred quality embedded. In the universe a quality and this is the real important part of process theology equality. Which seeks to partner. Seeks to partner. Got to a process the illusion is a present. Which calls to our hearts and invites our participation. In shaping the future of the world and in shaping ourselves. Ourselves in the world in the waze. Of goodness. Beauty and. Process theology postulates that ours is a participatory. You're not a b. Where every living thing is kind of in a cosmic conversation with every other part and particle. And the god or holiness. Is there in the mixed with us. As we participate in creation god is in the mix. Whither listen to the way. My colleague matt allspice. Describes the heart of process theology. The god of process theology he writes is not the almighty all-knowing perfect and unchanging god of traditional christianity. But a transformative presents. That is like a stream of events. Undergoing change. Fully embedded in the universe deeply connected to each one of us. This god or sacred this he goes on. Invites us. Word creativity toward engaged. Toward beauty. In this world. We are free he goes on event by event. In our lives. To follow. Or to ignore this calling. This lure. This lure. Ford what is good and beautiful. And when we responded goes on. We inform and increase. Potential and possibility for god. That is good. For good that is god. This god. Unlike the ancient father god can suffer with. And experience joy with us because this god is so closely connected. And then he ends. We are drawn toward this process. And then responding co-create with god. Adjust world 1 full of joy and beauty. Let me return to the story i told you at the beginning of the sermon about my mama.. In that moment i was fully a participant. In the holy dance that was that moment. I opened myself. The gift. The glory of. That my creation offered in that fleeting. Fragile moment. And in that moment i participated. Holiness. That was at hand. Became part of it. And as a result i was energized and blessed. For the day. Process theology. Is the idea that i can respond again. Again in my life. Respond to the lord and to the call of the holy. On my way to becoming more fully and joyfully and response. We human. It's an extremely useful concept. Now let me be very clear about. Process theology is very missed. Construe. But when i find you. To describe god is a living breathing participatory organic verb. As a holy transformative power sunk deep down in creation that is available to us and invites us. Lures at pegasus come out. As we journey in our everyday relationships toward everything that is good and justin beautiful this feels. Just write the. Unitarian. Universal. Maybe because. For as long as i can remember theology has always been more a matter of feeling and intuition of poetry. The logical argument. When i say the word god in my life. I never think of the god of traditional christianity. Patriarchal aloof. Powerful personality is supposed to be running the cosmic show. When i say the word god it's usually in a whisper. But i'm personally experiencing. Some gracious moment. Like i had that morning on the beach her when i look. These transformative moments and mercifully. You all could tell me of. Help us to believe in the possibilities and the promise of our broken painful world. And that only give us hope for our own immediate personal lives but also hope for the larger. World end. That all. I suppose it's true for those of you who have not found the thought of god. Or the idea of holiness or sacredness to be useful in your own spiritual eyes. And i supposed maybe something running to half of you. I suppose that i thinking of the process the illusions. Just thought maybe unnecessary. Indeed i am certain as i. If set a numerous occasions during my career i'm certain that no one. Need have a concept of god or holiness. Delete a joyful responsible. But what i personally find spiritually helpful about process theology is it gives me a concrete way of understanding my world. When i see holy things at work. Yes there are other ways of describing what we are seeing. When we watch a loving parent cradle a child. Or watch an astounding sunset. Or join with others in fighting for what is right. These are all naturalistic phenomenon which don't require. Erudite theological suppositions but this unitarian universalist. Finds it spiritually fulfilling. Find it spiritually.. To believe as i do. But there is. Transformative. Holy power. Available in my creation. Embedded in all things. With which i can play. And making my world more meaningful. More just. Humane and more butte. It gives me great. And hope. Feel there's a dynamic presence. Stirring creation like a wind. Not at all powerful. Not able to fix all. But amazingly. The thrive life profligate. Abilities. Is constantly luring me. To a life. Greater troy and. Thanking me. To lend my. Is that reliable. Could your girlfriend's whether you describe yourself as a christian. Or did you. Orpheus. Or an agnostic. Or any theists or humanist. Or you're just plain confused. I pray. That you open yourself to that dearest. Freshness. Indeep downswing. Be spiritually ready everyday to lend yourself. To all the fragile blessings. Creation sikhs. To offer up and will. Partner. Asbestos. With the most beautiful your creation. To offer. And plus help expand the grace and the goodness. This is a. Commandments. Opening your heart. Lending. To all. That is sick. This will not protect. Tragedy. This will not make you immune. From sorrow. But it will give you the strength. To live the life you are given. With ever more grace. Ever more generous.

uufvb_org

2014Nov02Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We are so happy that you have decided to be with us this morning. We are a very friendly congregation. We are delighted that you are here and we want to welcome you just as you come to us. We hope that you will find our service this morning meaningful. And enriching. I'm thought-provoking. And that you will take away and experience that will be of value to you. And to add to your well-being. Good morning to you. My name is pete kersey i serve this congregation as the president of the board as well as several other things and once in awhile i stand up here in the pulpit and expound upon a theme that is. Personal to be and a favorite of of mine and what are the themes of this calendar year. What is it and how can we enhance that feeling. Spirituality in our fellowship. A member of our task force allen just shot roach spiritualism from those moments of intense respect or love of another or a person-to-person deep connection. Such moments. That come about and being in tune with nature. With another person always silly vent that is all inspiring. Perhaps. That brings a feeling of enrichment to your soul. It doesn't have to be answer. Do any of the traditional religious or supernatural theme. Today. My sermon brings to you my joyous embracing. Of the feeling of spirituality as i pursued my ancestors down through the pages of history. The spirituality of genealogy. Everything. With on how nearly every moment in life. Candy infused with this awesome. Pain spiritual feeling. This morning. Comes from the author of roots. Alex haley. And he wrote. Preaching ancestors as back. As far as possible. Has brought too many people great satisfaction and pleasure. Even documenting one's family thoroughly but for a few generations can prove just as exciting and fulfilling as a more sketchy documentation across two or three centuries. Each individual ancestral relative previously unknown and genealogical. No restroom. Is the discovery of records rich with information. Which would have remained untouched. Which would never have come to light. Unless you withdraw from caught up. In the multiple magnetic lures of genealogy. Young and old alike fine that. Better provides a personal experience. Uncovering family history. For each discovered united states family history becomes a newly revealed small piece of american history. Stated simply. A nation's history is only the selective histories of all of its people. And it's only that a nation's culture can be studied. Hit its fullest meaning. Unquote alex haley. Do triad. Uncovering a family history. That excitement of discovery. History and my ancestors part in it. Tubi. Is a spiritual feeling. Okay. It was 1850. And 30 year-old sarah mcleod. What a my great-great grandmother's. Porch swing metal towel. Children ages 3 years old and 8 months and her husband bannister's children. From a previous marriage. In from the yard the chicken coops and the fields. It was a beautiful day. Near the lake. Just outside the town of monticello. In the panhandle of north florida. The family had just moved there. From south georgia. Leaving the high and dry georgia lands for the fertile florida panhandle. 150 years later. 2005. I stood. Next to that lake. With my imagination. Running wild. Feeling the ghosts of my ancestors. Running. Traveling across that land where i stood. I could just imagine my great-great-grandfather bannister. Striding in from the fields of corn and hay with my great-grandfather nine-year-old william. Close-by as heels and banisters namesake. Running along hollering to his brother. Dinner's ready. Wonderful images. Family life in the mid-1800s. World around my brain has the florida summer sun. I stood there. Lost. In the dream of the past. It was a moment of connectivity. It was a spiritual feeling. What the field of genealogy does. For those who. Other families. Another such moment. This was 1999. Southwest georgia. Or i was spending a week of my vacation. Down in the basement of the lee county courthouse in the little city of leesburg. Where bannister and his family live. His first wife nancy. Would arrive before his first son. My great-grandfather william. Born 7 years later. But on that day. In the courthouse. I was seeking proof the banister. Manila folder. How about the history of the county. Were you. Depicting the fat. That nancy and her father noah lawhorn. What are among the founders baptist church perry georgia. In 1835. Is that the mother of actress tatum o'neal. But in my eyes. That fame was the founding of its church by my ancestors. I stood there. Jerry. I told graveyard and its markers. One side of the road. And the church on the other side. Again my head still with family images. Nancy and her three daughters her father and mother singing the old rugged cross. In that small church building. A spiritual kinship with this woman of devotion my great-great-grandmother. After all. Well i did not found a church. What's a house of worship. I suspect. Set my great-great-grandmother. Would have been scandalized. At the notion of a church like ours. We're both members do not believe. The spiritual. Supernatural being. Open heaven. No notice that i did not say. That her husband bannister was in that church. He apparently. Was not much of a believer either. As a matter of fact. By all accounts. He was a mean. Tamagotchi. I found proof of that in the old records. Spiritual connection with nancy. And the image of that family singing in that church building. Turned out to be wrong. I found out later that the old church building. Was built elsewhere. Abandoned around 1899. It says relocated to present site 1889. The one i stood in front of. Was comparatively new. The old one. Torn down. Its exact location. Lost to history. Along with. Whatever graves. We're in the grounds at the original church site. My spiritual feeling of connectedness. Dissipated into disappointment. Because not only was the church building lost to history but the original cemetery. Was also lost. My ancestors were resting in perpetuity. How come some field. Somewhere. I was able to contact the woman who held the church records on that spiritual. Among the founding members of that church. This giving me proof positive. Of the important facet. Of my ancestors life. And that glows connection. Was burning brightly. My disconnect was reconnected later a couple years later when i went searching for the marriage record of noel. That's william. Maryellen. My grandfather jeffrey. And the rest of the kids. And about county courthouse. The small town of shellman georgia. How is delavan through the records. Not picture. These old musty dusty handwritten letters big. 6in thick. Two-and-a-half. Just as tall but this. Page after page. How's marriages land transactions disputes and more. And i was searching and searching and searching. I'm getting very. Very frustrated. Wondering if once again. The connection would be broken. The index did not mention william kersey. And his 1866 married to anybody. But my grandmother had left me a hand did happen. I was about to give up. I closed the huge ledger with a couple of choice words. And much more experienced. Genealogical researchers said. She suggested looking for the name of the bride. It's never occurred to me i was new at this business. And sure enough. There she wants. Maryellen noel. Married to william kersey. Spilled cursey instead of e r e y. No wonder i couldn't find. The index had a correct. As far as the certificate was concerned. If you look real close. The alternative spellings of names that you run into which makes cheating ology. Very much. Like a detective story. She concludes here. Grinning like a cheshire cat. Connect. To my will of the wisp ancestor. You know the feeling. Something in your soul. Just. Resonates with that moment. Discovery is the same in dusty old courthouses in library shelves. An old manuscript. When you turn the page. The ancestors you've been looking for. How the silence of the library genealogy department. Volunteer once a week. Has been punctured as an excited researcher claims out loud. When they find some long-lost ancestor. Well when the century turn. The summer of the year 2000. How do you spell another vacation.. Chasing after mike. Great-great-grandfather. The father of bannister. The family room what was that. In the center of the state i can feel my ancestor. Ministers father. Hold the elijah kersey calling me from the pages of history come on. I was playing with ghosts again. Once again return to the county library. Another one of those scripts in a corner. A transcript of an oral history of the area. From a pioneer family. From burke county georgia. When. I looked up. From the type pages. And i could see in my mind's eye. I figure of old man you elijah. Pollard's. Near the city of augusta. They're once again into the courthouse. And a huge ledger's of handwritten records and pension request files like this one. All handwritten. Deciphering some of that old handwriting us sometime. Boxes and boxes of folded yellow riddle papers from probate court. Revealed himself. Connection time once again. Just like many other researchers. I couldn't contain myself by hand slap down on the counter and i exclaimed. A couple other researchers recognizing. Just smiled at me and went on with their own research. Elijah the landowner. Had paid tax on $0.31 covered land in 1805. 93. Having failed to pay his taxes. The most intriguing things. It'll landlocked. One of the winners was elijah kersey. Orphan. The vision changed. Here he was a single man with children. Penny early 1800s. Something that happened to his wife. I know not what. That feeling of spiritual connection. Really strong. I could almost feel the sadness in the desperation. Trickling down through those dusty pages representing of very real person. With very real troubles migrate. Great. Great-grandfather. I have yet to uncover the rest of the story. My assumption is. The banister was one of those orphan to children. Family lore says he was one of four sons of elijah. Their names. Joseph. And bannister. But i think my lucky stars. And joseph do you have any idea how many. But only one. 1. So there are some of the highlights of my spiritual journey with my crazy family through the pages of time. I've been unable or ireland or courtesies are known for centuries. Is the name of a certain rough type of cloth for uniforms. And also there is a. Exist today. And strangely enough not a single person named kersey lives there. Show ladies you may be wondering why is this guy only talking about his male relatives. Remember me telling you about mary ellen noel. Maryellen. Married my great-grandfather william. And for the longest time. I labored in the courthouses and libraries and haunted online files available to no avail. Define her parents. A few years ago. Spiritual glow once again. When my niece kathy. My brother is grown daughter. Caught the genealogy journal. And she joined me in the search. I have to tell you. Genealogist is mostly a pretty lonely task. That's hardly anybody. Has another member of the family to show real interest in what you're doing and what you find. Oh really. That's nice. Anyway she and i were working on my mother's family line when justice years suddenly she happened upon a man with the last name of noel we had not discovered previously living in the same town where mary ellen. This man larkin noel. How about another distinctive larkin. Wayward plowing to the old census records and sure enough. Satisfaction. Down in my soul. No my family line seems to have a penchant for names of her a bit out of the usual. My niece and i are now engaged in searching for records that link us to the first member of our family that we hope to improve that fought in this revolutionary war. Joelle noel. Can you believe parents would name somebody like that. Still on the distaff side. Picture for you. Picture an eighteen-year-old girl. Having been 15 years older than she was. This was my mother k. Or mary catherine. Who is pampered and petted. Until. On her 18th birthday. Her mother sat her down. And told her. She was at.. Katie had been adopted as an infant. 18 years previously before she even left the hospital. What was her reaction. Well. I'll let her tell you. She wrote about it. Has a preference to her life story. Which i put in a book i wrote about my family and our ancestors along with my brother randy. She said. 18. The girl that was me. Stood before a mirror. Sterling accusingly at the stranger reflected. My mother had just told me i was adopted. Who are you. I said aloud. Who is the mother downstairs. Who's that other woman. I have no mother. Neither of them. Armine. Unquote. My spiritual connection. When i first read that. Simply amazing. My mother's soul was suddenly adrift. In time and space. And she carried that feeling with her. The rest of her life. She met her real mother wants. In about that she wrote. She never wanted to see her again. I always believed she had wanted something from me. It was so sad. To read that. Here she had the opportunity. To possibly heal that wound is 18 year old girl. And instead. Rejected anger. Jokes. Which rare opportunities come upon you take advantage of them. Take control your mind. Like your stool reach out. To that other sewell reaching out to you let the connection. I guess i'm preaching now. But in that what i'm supposed to be up here in the pulpit. Let me continue my story. As i grew up. There was no effort really why didn't my mother or father to instruct religious matters until 11. Church nearby. At that point in time we moved immediately behind a congregational church on the beaches of st petersburg florida and almost shotgun shack that's my brother standing in front of. In 2008. When we went back to st petersburg to rediscover our roots and where we live find the places of our youth. My mother sent me to sunday school when we live there. And that year. Was the extent of my formal education. In christianity. Know my grandfather suggested. Attending church with him a few years later. I just wasn't very attracted to. That was in the 1950s. The 1950s. I did not cross the threshold of a church again. Until the summer of 2001. When i came to this church. Genealogy research. Became a part of my life after my mother died in 1955. Never. Bring up the subject of her real parents with her because she was so. Touchy about it. So i did not. Anytime i aged near that subject i could feel her tension suddenly build up. It was certainly nothing spiritual going on there. After she passed away. When i began researching the files in the state of illinois. Adoption records were totally closed. I could find no chin. And that wall. Record administrators in illinois firmly told me. And we can neither confirm nor deny. That's such an adoption ever took place. I even had her birth name. Virginia. According to my phone. There were plenty. Which were the one. Really her birth name. I struggled for years with this. Until suddenly the state relented. Illinois. Open adoption. Open the adoption records providing. I could prove. Thought i was her son. No problem. It did require some paperwork though. Back and forth correspondence. Some phone calls. My mother's. Original. Birth. Certificate. Talk about. Spiritual moment. There it was. Her real name. Just as my father said. The names of her real parents. Brickwall boring my path and crumpled. Family exploration. Chasing down census records old manuscript. Marriage records. Burial records. Not so far my name is kathy and i have traced my mother's line back to 1814. In kentucky. Don't worry about now some of you were wondering. This is all very interesting. I'm glad for you peaton your discoveries with. What is an after church today. Well it's it's not. The field of genealogy. That reveals soul satisfying moments. I maintained at nearly any endeavor that you're really into. Can do that. And what i say to you. Take those moments. Henry stem. As spiritually satisfying. With those close to you. No it may be that they will not really appreciate what you do. But they will appreciate that feeling of joy. That you share with them. I call that feeling the spiritual. Namaste. Which means innocence. Connor. Respect. Spirit of the divine. Which resides you. Everyone else. Goforth. Spiritual moment with yourself. Tumi. This discovery of family history has provided me with. Mini moments. That i would describe as. Beautiful. And i would like to leave you with a quote from helen keller. Remember. No effort. To obtain something beautiful. Use ever. Lochte. Go in peace. Go in love.

uufvb_org

2010Oct24sermon128.mp3

uufvb_org

2014Jan12Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. And welcome beautiful january day here in vero beach florida to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We are very glad you've chosen to spend this hour with us. We are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands people become our best individual cell. Even if we work together to make this world a better place in. That you are welcome. Just. You come to us. Whether you are black. Or white. Gay or straight. Young or old. What are you are feeling on top of the world this morning or. Dumpster somewhere in between. We welcome you in all of your particularity in need. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. Find something here this morning. Nourishes your spirit and feed you soul and gives you renewed purpose and joy. For the living of life. Valencia want to introduce our guest speaker this morning the reverend doctor. Call randy becker who serves our fellowship in the conch republic otherwise known as key west. Randy and i've known each other for over 40 years and he's a rascal in our ministry just like me and i'm delighted to share him with you this morning. We're so glad randy was here yesterday to do a leadership development process for us. And we have a long-standing relationship with dr. becker. Who's been here four or five times in the last couple. Unitarian universalist minister and author robert fulghum road everything i needed to know i learned in kindergarten. Has said this. We come to this place because we need each other. We need each other. We need to talk. We need to hug. Other. We need each other so we come to this place. We come to work. To talk. To sing to laugh. To dance. We call this a religious community. Brown. Because what we do here. What we say here. Together. And what we are here together. Makes this. A secret gathering. I bring you greetings. From one island family the universalist congregation in key west. We love to come up here to the north. Hello yesterday you reminded me of home with your wonderful warm weather. In a way you've already heard one of the readings because. The words for all ages was one of our readings. I've got another two. The first one is from stephen prothero he's a professor. Boston university has written that book. Interesting thesis. It's so often in the world people say. By saying that all religions are basically the same. We are robbing them of their potential to inform us. And we're doing them a grave disservice. He says that each of the world's religions. Address is a different facet of the human experience. And offers a different solution any rates these words. A few years ago. When what would jesus do bracelets. Were colonizing events across america. A friend started making. You do bracelets. What jesus would do. Joseph. Or katie do. Inside the packing boxes. For these bracelets. Sayings from various thinkers. How about finding and following your own path. In almost all religions. There was at least the information. Daughter heaven wants for us. Is the simply become ourselves. When the 18th century hasidic rabbi zuzia. Why were you not. Azusa. The masters. And it's up to each of us to find our own. To explore the great religion. Is the wander through these 10000 gates. It's to enter into the hindu conversations on the logic of karma and rebirth. Christian conversations on the mechanics of sin and resurrection. Versation zahn flourishing here and now. And perhaps forever. It's also to encounter the rivalries between hindus and muslims. Practitioners in nigeria. Each of these rivals offers a different vision of. I human being being fully alive. Each offers its own diagnosis. Of the human problem. And its own prescription for the cure. Each offers its own techniques. For reaching its religious goal. And it's on exemplars to emulate. Muslim say that pride is the problem. Christian say that salvation is a solution. Education and ritual are key to confucian techniques. And buddha isms exemplars. Are they are hot the bodhisattva and the llama. Are each of them right. Each of them wrong. All them right. All them wrong. That's the question asked by. Stephen prothero in. God is not one. The reading i want to share is maya angelou's wonderful poem i know why the caged bird sings. The freebird lips on the back of the wind. And float downstream till the current ends and dips his wings in the orange sun rays. And dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage. His clip wings are clipped. And his feet are tied. Sweet opens his throat. To sing. The caged bird sings with fearful trill. Have the thing is unknown and his tune is heard on the distant hill. For the caged bird sings of freedom. Free bird thinks of another breeze. And the trade winds soft through the sign trees. And the fat worms waiting. I mean names the sky his own. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams. His shadow shouts a nightmare scream. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown. Long for still. And his tune is heard on the distant hill. For the caged bird sings. A freedom. Maya angelou. So stephen prothero. Makes this argument. He says each of the world's religions. Is focus on one human problems. The central problem of the human condition. He says everything as if the same. We miss that emphasis we miss that nuance miss. Driving force that is made religions exist. For millennia. Let's say his thesis is correct. The great world religions. Looks like human beings. Another car speeding. They say i'm here's solution. Only we know. And only we have the solution. Houses for me. As a member of the free church. The cherishes the teachings of all the different religions. Looks at the world as a place. Opportunities and possibilities as a unitarian universalist. As part of liberal religion. Does that mean that our congregations thing libraries of the problems and solutions. Is there about hear that. We cherish and we make it available this weekend. Maybe have one that's long overdue in your problem. Using his model. Using his ideas. Do unitarian universalist. See a unique human problem. And suggest their own special solution. Are we just basically the smartest bird of religion. Well let's take a little bit more if we. Prothro argues. About each of the world religions. All we're going to have that problem are we the technological problem. Behave. Come on. Although it's being ornery this morning is it not. I know what's doing it. It's the weather. We'll ignore that we can do it the old way. His argument is. That for example. Problem for humanity. Is human pride and arrogance. We think we know better. Then the creator of all existence. Then we will take upon ourselves. A mantle of power going back to the tribalera in the arab area. The we don't need anybody else as long as. Are horses. We can dominate. And there is no. Problem will lead you to places you don't want to go. The solution is. Submission. The very word meaning submission islam. Awesome forces of life and nature and reality that are larger than you. There's one problem. Submission. In china. And the question. And so the problem was identified. As being that of civil unrest. Anything of meaning. And he said the simple answer the simple solution. Education. Training. Learn the proper things to do and the proper ways to do it. If the problem is civil unrest. Structure of proper behavior. Across the length of asia down into india. It was perceived that the great problem was that people were willful. Whatever they wanted to do was in a matter of power or anything it was just a matter of. Having no focus. I'm going at any moment's notice to do whatever they wanted. The problem was human willfulness. And the solution suggested was that. You are something. You ought to be able to focus in your life in some way. And so the hindu traditions of the many. Focal points of devotion. Developed over eons. Reminded that it's not just whatever whenever. But there's something. The continued in transcend and you should be devoted. The jewish tradition. The great covenant. It says that there is a special relationship between. And a group of people. But the problem is that the world is large and moving about. And so the problem is. How do you know if you're part of that community. The solution is a series of rules. No that you are part of identity. You've got to prove it somehow. By acting worshiping believing speaking in certain ways that are distinctive. Aruba traditions. The tribal traditions of africa come across the caribbean areas. And now it's the most of the world. Problem. They saw and experienced people isolation. People who were. Terribly terribly alone. They had no sense of where they belong. Until the problem was cumin isolation. And the solution. A focus swayze connection. You're connected to your neighbor you're connected to your village you're connected to your pastor connected to your future in times of ways. 2000 years ago. After the life of a person who preached. Connection and identity and many of these things. A religious tradition grow up i think we know what the problem really is. And so the christian focus became. A focus. The failures of human being. What's usually called sin. That's the big problem. You're all sinful. We're all sinful. Louis. You can't solve it. Is salvation. That has to come from outside of you. Sinfulness. And salvation. The dallas. Saw people. Going through their lives. Acting out rituals and devotion and understanding of friday. Human being is essential meaninglessness. Feeling that what's the purpose. To get born. Yeah. i. That's your point in the pathway is part of a larger way. And what you do with the parts it's yours influences. And i know that you're on that and whatever is. It's all part of a continuum. It goes on. And then into the mirror but it's always been there in spirit. Of the religious options. In fact that option says that the grapefruit just problem of humanity is religious. You fill me with your logic. You feel me with meaningless. You fill me with superstition that's the problem. Because the capacity. Reason for deduction and soda solution obviously is. A form of reasonableness. Of. Reliance on scientific method that's the solution. Buddhist. Would say. You can get all that right but you know what. It's still going to experience suffering. Eppicard. Of human existence. Is the problem. Of suffering. And there's nothing you can do. Escapist. Except. A mindfulness about who you are. Attachment to things. The solution is. The more you become. The last you will suffer their loss. So here we have. World religious traditions. And they've all identified different problems. Is the problem. Richardson is the problem that you're prideful isn't that your willful isn't that you're disconnected your identity. I need one of them would say it's a different problem. And probably each of us here would say you know. In my life. Maybe even this morning. Identify. With one or more of those problems being my problem. And therefore there been times in my life maybe even this morning. What i'm hoping for a solution like they're offering. Because i see there is a truth reality and. Lowe's. Religious traditions. There's something there to be cherished. Religious question. Is it simply enough. To offer all those perspectives. Is there something more. Couldn't we just spend our time going from group to group to group as our spirit calls. Or are necessity demands hoping that their solution will work or. Is there something else happening another possibility. Let me suggest. This. That if we look back to the roots and origins. A liberal religion. The nineteenth-century unitarian universalist in america. Transylvania. I'm talking about at the foundational level. A few minutes distance there has been another argument. What is the argument about. The nature of existence. Are we living in an existence. Which leaves us wanting. Basic design. Or are we living in an existence in which we have all the tools and possibilities we could possibly want. And the challenges for austin. Use what we have been given. To the best potential. Do we see the abundance that is around us. Do we sense the possibility. For growth in each of us. Do we sense the capability for love to flow into community. Do we sense the idea that. Better than yesterday. People have been arguing and especially those within our tradition for centuries. That's the central human problem. We have. Fulfill. That we have the means by which to create the world vision. There are they. And the resources and the model and the possibilities. To make this world wonderful and just for ourselves but for everyone. And the problem is. We don't do it. We can do it. Is there. Sometimes were scared. The take on the task. And then what would we have to complain about. That's a really big one by the way. Power. More than afraid of our own lack of power. But that is a central problem. Address in any of the other religious traditions i think is one. The gas we may make mistakes and yes we may be willful and yes a time we lose our identity. Eschew. Central problem. Is what are you going to do with this. Wild and precious life in which. What are you going to do. But if that is the problem we identify. Then what. The solution. The can't just say. There is a problem. It got us a solution. What is keeping you. From fulfilling. Your potential. Some are likely to say. My own fears. I keep myself i don't liabilities i'm not sure. And you know what i say. You're a caged bird. Or maybe it is the social situation. In which society has said. Because of who you are. Gender identification bonnie and you can't do those things that you dream of. Again i say you're the caged bird. Or maybe it's that your family background. Gave you messages of inadequacy. Or even sinfulness. Limiting quality. And you don't think you're worthy of it. You're the caged bird sitting inside that cave. Perhaps of society perhaps of family perhaps of self. And you know the answer the solution. Caged bird sings of freedom. The freedom to be. I can be we can be collectively everyone together. That the solution to the world is. If we lack freedom. If we support freedom if we encourage freedom to move and all areas of life so people are not constrained by a. Sustain a sense of freedom and always. If people sense they are truly free in life to be themselves. Then they will feel free. To fulfill their potential. And the world will be transformed by it. I do not hear. Any other religious tradition in the world. Saying that's the central problem. And that's. The solution. The problem universalism is so magnificent being alive. And the solution is that we look for ourselves. And for the person next to us. And for the people behind us and in front of us and the people around this room and the people are on the streets of vero beach and the people out in the state of florida and the people in the united states and the people in every country in the people on every continent for that sense of freedom. That will let each and every person. Fulfill. Or his. Wonderful potential. And all i got to say is. Wow that's a great problem to have and a great solution to envision. Cuz at least for me it calls me to do the religious work i think i need to do. In life. How about you. Is that the problem unitarian-universalism for you. And do you feel called. Tore that solution in life. Put a pause for a few moments of silence. You got some sermon preaching to do inside yourself. You heard all my words he probably wandered off some places which is good. Because the real sermon is not what i say. It's the sermon you say to yourself. Here. Tomorrow. Next week next month. As you shape your life and worked on behalf of it and the lives of all others. What you will take from now so. A minute or so of. Thoughtfulness. What do you take away. As you consider the problem of the unitarian. Universalism. It's your life. It's my life it's our lights. The world will be transformed. So we don't hide it under a bushel. We don't say it somewhere else some other time. But we say it's here now and know that our efforts. I work in this world here and now. Will make a difference. For ourselves and everyone else. The solution is at hand. I see it in front of me. Blessed be.

uufvb_org

01Feb2009sermon32kbs.mp3

I know it runs counter to the. Unitarian predilection for social activism. I'm not really a fan of the bumper sticker. Bumper stickers are the public discourse what the professional wrestling. Justice court. There's one however that i do like that is claimed. By no fewer than five new england unitarian congregation. It reads. The most radical thing we can do is introduce people to one another. Whatever the source that resonates with me because that's what i do i introduce people. To one another. As a former member of the board of trustees and now director of the pilgrimage service. The unitarian universalist partner church council. I helped oversee an organization that was formed in 1993. To boston support relationships between north american. Congregations and unitarian universalist congregation around the globe. Our mission is to make international outreach. Oreck of liberal religious institutions overseas. A normative park. Uu congregational life. Just as social justice committee and welcoming committee. Become part of uu congregational life. It may come as a surprise to you. In more than 40 countries and on every continent. Of this earth. Before i introduce you to some of these people. I'd like to spend the first part of my time today. Giving you a quick refresher course on the theological and institutional route. Denomination. Am i experience. American you use are largely ignorant of their own history. Interpark that's understandable. We are by definition of forward-looking face. And then practice a very personal. Religion. Back to where we come from will usually sink. Go back to what the flowering of the new england and emerson and channing. And it's good as far as it goes. There's so much more. We have a rich. Glorious. Dating back centuries which we should be informed. And rightly proud. And i believe that even a cursory knowledge of the system goes a long way towards informing us about our two nominations today. And the journey that are partners overseas have taken. If you ushered will bar the door i'll proceed with a history lesson. Trust me this is good for you. The question that jesus asked in the bible. Who do men say that i am. What's not answer definitively for more than 300 years. After his death. Just who he was god or man or something in-between. Was hotly debated. By the early christians. Areas of alexandria in particular. Was not eternal is god. Created by god is an instrument for the salvation of the world. That's a perfect man. argued that the sun was supportive to the father and human rather than divine. Illogical arguments or serious stuff in those days much like political debate now. Slogans were shocked on the wall cyrus speeches were made and marketplaces. And it got heated enough to come to the attention of emperor constantine do it only a few years earlier converted to christianity. Constantine was a politician. Not at the election. And he really didn't care much. About what he considered. Define point of his newly adopted. You just wanted everybody to agree so that he could get on with ruling the world. 7325. In nystea he brought together all the bishops of the church to decide once and for all. Who and what's the street. They debated from us and reduce the argument. To whether jesus was of the. Same substance as god. Or are they similar. Scott. It's an interesting bit of trivia here. The greek word to describe these two conditions are still the same. Except for the letter i. Or iotum in greek. This is the origin of our expression in iota's worth of difference. As you probably guessed areas and his followers lost the boat and were excommunicated. His writings were burns and he would stand. From returning to alexandria. And he won that argument. We unitarians with the guys and those big churches on the town square in the baptist would be renting rv. If you google areas you'll find a host of websites. Such as bible.com wanting you to their heresy index which usually contains a reference to unitarian. Lorraine. This morning. The argument didn't end at the council of nicaea much to the chagrin of constantine. I persevered in 1531 the reformation was sweeping across europe spanish position name michael servatus. Published a book entitled. On the errors of the trinity. Which in addition to questioning the biblical validity of the trinity. Also disputed the notion of original sin and the need for. Infant baptism. It was a well-known position. It was the first for example the public. Description of the blood circulation through the lawn. It was also widely traveled which brought him to the attention of john calvin. And the protestants of geneva. History's unclear here. 1553 calvin either invited survey. Oyster babies came of his own accord to debate with count. The debate never took place. Calvin had surveyed his arrested. And burned at the stake. Something presbyterians won't tell you. Just a decade later. Nearby kingdom of transylvania the radical reformation. In those days transylvania was not autonomous i'll be at week country surrounded by powerful neighbor. And in 1566 a calvinist minister. Working earlier. Begin preaching against. Converting large number of believers to the humanity. Jesus. Mcgann religious division threaten the security of the state. Until king johnson jasmine. Call don each of the major religion. Send a representative. Merits of our respective theology. Course of those debates francis w converted the king and much of the country. What would later become known as unitarianism. He also around to the idea of religious tolerance. 1568. King issued a remarkable trait. At station park. No one shall compel them for their souls would not be satisfied. They shall be permitted to keep a creature whose teachings they approved. Therefore none of the superintendent or others so abused. No one shall be reviled for his religion by anyone. Is not permitted. Anyone should threaten anyone else. Imprisonment or by removal from his post. Would fight religious war for another two-and-a-half centuries. The first and only unitarian kingwood codify the practice of religious tolerance. Become one of the cornerstones of our faces. Unfortunately these things always seem to go. The king died young. Catholics return to the throne. David was charged. Ostomy and innovation. And imprisoned as a heretic. He died a martyr's death in the fortress. Despite that. Another 450 years of almost continuous oppression and persecution. Unitarians are transylvania have kept alive the flame of the volition. Today there are about 60,000 unitarians in about 120 churches. In transylvania in more than 100. Congregations current partnership. With north american uu church. With the fall of nicolae ceausescu in romania at the end of 1989 and became possible. Rustic connect. Transylvania and what we saw was a church. Whose infrastructure was teetering on the brink of collapse. Partner church council began as a grassroots movement. Shortly thereafter. And how does its original focus. Open the transylvanian church to rebuild. More than a decade later the fruits of these partnerships are abundant and diverse. There are rural health clinic. Water project. Unitarian dmvs for echo tourism. Community development. Model farm scholarship. New dormant. Programs to help young people go to high school and college a renewed sense. From both sides of the atlantic. Partnerships are not just in europe anymore. There are thriving indigenous unitarian movements in the cosby hills of northeast india. Negros island in the philippine archipelago. Elementary many countries throughout sub-saharan africa. Rwanda burundi. Canyon. And others. These rural denominations have attracted tens of thousands of appearance with a physiology that blends tribal monotheism. With a reading of the bible that startling and its similarity nevada francis study. Justice to their stories and their martyred. It's important to note born independently without any contact with support from. Knowledge up. Unitarianism in the wider world. It makes you think there just might be a god. The founder of the philippine unitarian church. Address. The universalist church of gloucester massachusetts in a new u.s. newspaper that have been used as packing material for shipping a bible. Hero to them. And i wrote him back. Who discovered the universal. The motto was. Right-wing death squads during the marcos regime. Eradicating landrum. But the church he founded his survive and continue to grow. Sew-ins dentistry. Okay so they're unitarians and universalists in other parts of the world so what. So why should you care. I find it. Wonderful. Opal story. I think it's profound. People are from the earth with a thunder blade. Logical position. Right in among. These are not the boss.. Unitarian universalist of transylvania india and the philippines. Are largely subsistence farming. One could argue. That we have plenty to occupy us here at home. Poverty or planet looming financial crisis. It's a lot to keep the caring community busy. Right here in florida. We have to look no further than. Poetry about independence. So in case you forgotten what you signed up for. You use have made a promise to promote the goal of world community with liberty. And i would submit. No greater threat on this planet to adjust. The world. The spread of religious fundamentalism. Much of that effort. Comes from these shores. Everyday the mormon church. The baptist church the jehovah's. Another fundamentalist. Scores of missionaries abroad. Spread their worldview. Religion and popular culture. Are the two american exports to continue to grow. If you accept. Fundamentalism works against or six principal. Takes us further away from the state of golden world community to my logical extension as follows. By embracing our co-religionists. And their struggles. We help with. Who better. Join the struggle against the patriots. Places like africa balkans in benicia and elsewhere. Continents in empowered. Rihanna universalista nomination. Committed to the ideals. Reason. Freedom. Administer. Vinyasa delivered in lexington mass. Transylvania today many missionaries come from the evangelical and fundamentalist churches of the united states. They're successful in romania no matter what denomination is belong to because what matters. They're from the dreamworld of america. The other side. Democratic tolerant realistic ways of living. Compassionate. President william sanford unitarian universalist to bring advocacy. Witness to the international arena. First visit. He spoke these words the thousands of unitarians at their annual outdoor gathering. Something you really should see for yourself. Thousands of unitarians on a hillside all day. Art religious service park political rally and part talent show at the wonderful. William sanford stood before them and said these words. We hold out. A word of hope. Oakbrook global unitarian universalist community of state. Not hidden behind walls we constructed an attempt to find safety. Building bridges of relationship with the universe. Justice. I think it's important to note that we not confused global partnership with social justice. Social justice movements tempe unidirectional. Central component. An attempt to address. Some structural inequity in the world. There is an economic element that we americans bring to this movement. The disparities between our respective circumstances. Are just too bright. Partnership implies mutuality. Unless we come to understand our partner learn that. Much more. Are the words in another young transylvanian minister lorenzi. With your help we built new church. Establish centers for the care of our old people. Youth centers in high-school dormant. Cheapest places. The most important way to keep in touch with the city. Which makes the partnership real. Are for visitors from the partner church many congregants join in the preparing. There's much more license. Which brings us closer to each other. We feel we're not alone in this world. We're partners friends brothers and sisters in the most powerful country in the world. That's the last point. Partnership angels live. As well as. Those of us who've been touched fire contact with transylvania unitarian. Travel there with feelings of deep reverence. As if we were on a pilgrimage. And indeed we label our trip at work. Reply to encourage are you program. Remain open to the possibility that they might be transformed by this contact with our historical face. And with the people whose church has literally kept them alive. Terrific time. I believe this encounter for critical. American unitarian universalist. We forget that our own experience of liberal religion. Only one strand in a larger family. Members of our church has often surprised to find that are transylvanian can are unapologetically christian. And we have to help them realize the path chosen by the american church. Would not have served neat. Personal aside. When my parents. Good presbyterian. What it is. I'm really does. Their answer is. John is a missionary. And that just bother me. Like many of you probably escapee from a christianity of my parents. I took my travels to transylvania and my exposure to their flavor unitarianism. I'd left a number of things behind that have meaning and value. Things like religious ritual. Imagery. And vocabulary. My parents and mothers went to labeled a missionary i'm okay with that now. Frankly i think that's way past time. Or religious liberals to claim that or liturgical language in the vocabulary the safest. Reverend scott printer. German division more global. Reward of my own journeys there has been to find myself exchanging spiritual navel-gazing. Provision that extends outward. Even though as an educated me about myself. Space and relationship gives our movement both roots and wings. The roots of four birds with struggled and persevere fed and warmed by us-based stronger than persecution. And the wings of a broader and richer vision. Embracing even those strands of our state's the challenges. Church that emerges at this threshold. Edge between east and west. Edge between tradition. And freedom. It's not a church of simple answers. Place. Where we may find a sense of belonging to a great and fertile religious family. And reap the rewards of an honest and radically. Is american unitarian universalist we can no longer avert our eyes and live out our faith isolated on this contest. Incumbent upon us to reach out. And bring our partners include religious. Circle. The world needs. Unitarian principles and values need to be informing world opinion. And shaping the course of history. Our partners needed. They need to feel connected to their spiritual can hear and it's prosperous and powerful country. In order to help sustain themselves through difficult personal circumstances. And their churches in austin hospitals around. And we need it. We need spiritual death. The sense of rootedness that comes from knowing. We are heirs to a proud and ancient history. And members of a global community estate. Power what we do lies in the miracles first one. I'll close with an excerpt from ts eliot. The cocktail party. Approach the stranger. To indict the unexpected. Release a new for. What's the genie out of the bottle. Start a new train of events that is beyond your control. Do change your mind but you're not free. Made a decision. You step in motion forces in your life and in the lives of.

uufvb_org

2011Jan09Sermon128.mp3

Alright. I know what many of you were thinking right now our new minister is a very very mean little man. I mean after all here it is just a week after the winter holidays when we have almost the last man and woman overindulged. In favorite and yes frequently fattening foods to the wonderful killer a traditions of thanksgiving hanukkah christmas new year's and all the rest. And as i mentioned the average american gained 7 lb between thanksgiving and new year's. And all scott can do is get up here in the pulpit in early january in focus on the guilt-inducing joyless topic of ethical eating thanks a lot. No actually i don't have a mean bone in my body at least none that are really mean. Besides when you think about it my timing rather than being heartless or cruel is actually i think appropriate and helpful for. This is the time of the year the logical time of the year when we flip the calendar from one to the next. When many of us do take stock. A various aspects of our living. And in fact choose to make new year's resolutions. To live a little differently than we did last year. Often about a relationship with food. And exercise. When we promised ourselves after this long season of abundance eating and lounging around the house. To be more prudent and disciplined about our care for our body. So what better time than this sunday to spend just a few minutes thinking about. Our relationship to food and the duty we all share as the reading implied. To eat more ethically and wisely. That look as a minister i am fully aware that i am waiting into dangerous waters this morning eating. Is a very personal. Powerful and primordial and sometimes painful topic for all of us eating is one of life. Templates. And most routine pleasures. Not to mention necessities. We all do it is singer said in the reading we all do it several times a day when our bodies tell us they're hungry. We all have tastebuds the drawers ravenously to food flavors we personally like. And we all have eating habits good and bad of a powerful grip on us. I venture that there is not one person in this room right now. Who does for example not have a leak at least a little guilt or shame or regret about. Some aspect. How or what they eat take. Need for exam. Just because i'm a relatively thin guy who bikes all over town everyday. Doesn't mean that i do real well and always eat responsibly and well. I have several dietary habits i'm not proud of and no i'm not going to tell you what they all are. But i will confess one i like mcdonald's chocolate milkshakes okay. I know it's if petrochemicals but i still like them and i'm going to beat them occasion or drink them whatever you do with them. Come on be honest with yourself. What do you love to eat that you know is no good for you i'll bet you all at least have. One wicked indulgence if not sever. That's the way food is. Look the truth is. We all eat stuff. We know we shouldn't. There's an old search joke in the south when the minister gets to a sensitive subject. Person comes up to a person this morning. You crossed over from preaching in the midland. I don't want to meddle. In your lives this morning. But this did seem like the perfect sunday for us again to just think about our relationship with food and our choices. So let's talk about food. You know food in america today has gotten downright amazing when i was growing up in wisconsin as a boy and then when i went to my first church and little old houlton maine. Grocery stores. We're really basic in a couple of iceberg lettuce and some carrots and none of the fancy stuff you go to today. But today when i go here in on the treasure coast to my favorite publix. I haven't my fingertips almost every appealing foodstuff known to humanity. Loan in much of it from huge industrial farms a serious problem. But i'll talk about in just a few more minutes. From all over the world these foodstuffs come to me here in vero beach. Perfectly and appealing to me and bright clean. White colorful isles store lays out for me everything i want to take. As an american consumer i can find everything from kumquats. Quail eggs. Tiger shrimp to teriyaki tofu. Artichokes do anchovies who likes those. And a nearly infinite variety of things to satisfy every culinary with assuming you have the money. To buy it and that's another big. Not everyone. Is parrilla. To have the money to buy. All of this wonderful food that is at. Most of all. Now granted. Some of this fresh. Exquisite food is quite expensive. But the truth is. The most of us here in the treasure coast are blessed with enough personal indiscretion re income. To take home. Pretty much. What we want. We make choices but we all indulgent. Our grandparents. Would be amazed. By the food choices and abundance. The problem of course. Is. That all this abundance of pleasing things to eat. Comes with some huge cost. First and foremost. The incredible cost of the growing epidemic of american obesity and cardiovascular disease which everyone from. Nutritionist to social sciences. Is talking about now in dyer term. Medical thermography. There is such a thing. Now predict. Reversing a centuries-old transit american kids growing up today will live shorter. Life expectancies. Then their parents. Dying younger. Simply because. Of what they eat. Edith to excessive do not exercise. The truth is many americans young and old rich and poor black and white and latino. Are literally eating themselves today. The bottom line is that all this american abundance of food and food choices. Has incredible and in many cases largely hidden. Costs to us and to our planet as singer pointed out in the reading. And this is where our duty. For all of us to eat more ethically and more wisely. It seems to me that we have to learn to eat more ethically on two levels. The micro-level of our own personal life. And the macro-level of our lives as citizens. Averitt. The microsphere. Is where we must pay personal attention. To the health and sustainability of our own individual bodies. Remarkably constructed organism. That we have. Which enables us to move through life. And then the macro sphere. Where we together as we now are increasingly aware in this plan the shrinking planet. We must live as interconnected citizens of earth. Paying attention now in a way that we never had to 300 years. To the health and sustainability of the entire planet and the whole of our family. Human family that lives. As i got deeper into this topic of ethical eating the thing i came to realize is it generally speaking. When it comes to the food we eat. What is good for individual bodies is also good. For the whole planet in the whole human family again generally speaking. When we eat responsibly for ourselves at our own dinner tables at home we are also eating responsibly for the whole plant. I realize it's a lot to think about but it was just want to break this down a little bit further again returning to the micro. Sphere. Are obvious ethical responsibility for each of us to eat responsibly in well in order. That we can kick around the planet for a while and make. Are contributions to life. I take it as a human duty to live as long as well as you can you have a duty that. Hey little woody allen said 90% of its just showing up. If you eat yourself to death. You can't show up. And so we have a responsibility. 2. To use this great gift of life that we. And one key aspect of using the gift is eating wisely and prudently. The naples us to carry on and have some reasonable physical health. Now the bummer here is it a whole lot of what we know is best for our bodies. Ssi. Claudia said freshman organic locally grown fruits and vegetables simple wholesome grains and nuts. And almost anything naturally prepared with little or no saturated fat you all know these good thing. All that stuff is generally not as tasty or satisfying as all the stuff that's not good for us. Rich and fatty meat eggs and cheeses sweet treats made with mounds of sugar processed foods loaded with salt and calories. Where's that empty grocery start a card of mine i'm ready for that stuff man. You all know the list of bad things we like. I suspect that there is a relatively small percentage of you sitting out there this morning. Who are health conscious vegans or vegetarians. Actually let me see a show of hands how many are vegan or vegetarian or virtually so. Okay. Good for you. Really good for you. But the obvious and powerful truth. Is it you vegans and vegetarians even if you're not totally pure about that practice are eating. More wisely and health lien and yes more ethically than the rest of us. As howard lyman puts it in his forward to an import his important book vegan the new ethics of eating. By eric marcus. A book which i recommend if you're considering becoming a vegetarian he says. Almost 70% of all americans are dying from ailments associated with their diets. About half of us will die from one thing heart disease. Another third will have cancer much of it related. Much of a diet related and 1/4 will die of. Study after study heroes proves the inseparable link between diet. And health. And if we expect to lead long and healthy lives we can no longer afford to stick our. Heads in the sand. And then he goes on to say that you know vegans vegetarians live on average seven years longer than people with meeting diets. Studies in germany and finland have shown that. People who eat no animal products living additional 15 years. Over those who. And nem. A vegan diet. Is mostyn harmony. With our bodies needs. Moving to a plant-based diet. Is comparatively easy. It opens a door to a gentler healthier and happier way of being and i have no doubt. No i'm no nutritionist. But i know enough about diet and health to know the vegetarian evangelist like marcus. Are doubtedly right. Like the truth or not we human beings are far better off health. Only don't eat meat. Or meat cheese or eggs or. And dust. I am willingly arrive. Place in my own sermon or my own research and common sense lead me to a place i really don't want to be. I'm an omnivorous person. A good old warm-blooded wisconsin boy. Who grew up on a. Hardy rich and steady diet. Of meat and potatoes and bratwurst. Now. I spent my whole life eating this way. I intellectually unethically know that switching to being a vegan. Or a vegetarian or even approximately one would be far healthier for me personally not to mention. More compassionate toward the animals and more responsible environmental a given all the things that were mentioned in the singer articles. Because i like my old familiar and comfortable eating habits i also doubt no honestly i know. But i will not achieve this dietary discipline anytime soon. The truth is. But when it comes to my personal diet i'm an old dog who really doesn't want to learn new tricks. Even though i know it will be better for me and the planet. In spite of what i an election lino. I'm quite attached emotionally to the familiar delicious diet i'm used to i've i've evolved but i. I still like me. And i know i have a hard time giving up so many foods. That i seriously enjoyed for my entire life and besides. I'm am nervous. You know my family just jumped out of the savanna tree is a few thousand years ago and so did your parents. So i will confess to you that even though i know. The moving to a meatless or near meatless diet is the right thing. I doubt i'm going to get there anytime soon. And i suspect that many of you find yourself in some way in the same uncomfortable and. Quasi irrational boat. So is a serious religious person who tries to take life's ethical imperative seriously. It nonetheless looks like to me is i'm honest with myself. That for the time being i'm going to have to live with some ethical dissonance in my life between what i know is best for me and my creation. And how i'm actually going to behave. What does personal admission of mine. I'm a bit stuck here in an old familiar dietary pattern does not mean that i'm not going to try to move myself. A distance. Do a different diet. And a different way of relating to animals. M2 planet. What i have decided to do for now for now at least at this time in my life when i'm not prepared as i've honestly told you. To take that full bold responsible step to a vegan way of life. What i'm going to try to do. Is significantly reduce the amount of animal products and fats and sugars in my diet. To regularly practice meatless days. To regularly eat smaller portions of meat like you doing a chinese dish where you chop up a little bit of pork or a little bit of chicken and mix it in with a lot of vegetable. I hope to move my diet not entirely to a vegan position but to a healthier. More sustainable quality. Not only will this intentional shift in my diet i know be better for my body and my personal future. We also know it's better for. And for the entire human. That's why i arrived back at the micro-level of this whole thing of eating us. This is where the topic i think really gets complicated. But i want to begin to unpack just a few of the intricacy. Let's go back to just a quick moment the american supermarket. When i go to my favorite publix. The fact is that most of the wonderful foods i find there are the products. Huge industrial operations agricultural enterprises. From all around the world. Now in my grandparents day. Most of the food they ate in rural wisconsin. Was. Except for a few canned items produced locally and regionally. In small-to-midsize largely organic. Self-sustaining minimally pulling family farms like the one my grandfather and grandmother owned outside of wausau wisconsin. On the wisconsin river. 100 years ago. Are most local farms in america variety of crops and animals were raised for immediate human consumption. Including a small number of cattle and hogs and chickens. Who was rome to rome. Room to roman whose ways we use local fertilizer not in the density packed in where the land was ruined by them they were grazing animals most of. Given both natural foods. Inhumane treatment. But now the food even most of the fish we consume. Is it you know produced in vast industrial operations. When i took my last bike ride across the country went through dalhart texas. And you could smell it coming for 20 miles. The cattle all pendennis defeating lots. Hundreds of thousands of. It smelled at 20 miles away when i biked past them they all. They all look like rescue me liberate me it was. Helluva creepy. This is. Farming in america today a large part of it. Even though so many more small organic farmers are coming back and we have to serve. Example of how we produce beef on the planet in a really tells the whole story i don't know how much i'm not going to go i'm going to skip some of this about beef. But beef is you know produces a great deal of methane some studies say that it produces more global warming that all the cars buses. Planes. Together. The billions of cattle a take. Edible amounts of resources. State that leads to. Deforestation spreading deserts water pollution water scarcity. Species extinction an animal suffering. And. It's just. Credible how much beef. Destructive how how. Rain it takes to produce a pound of marble beef and all the rest. If you want to go online and i'm going to skip over this part is it. It's just too much to talen. So you can read this on the web on monday or tuesday. But you all know. That beef tells the whole story about. How we the big the beyond beef people. Is are now asking people to not give it up. Cut their consumption. In 4:30 now. And encourage customers. Consumers to demand. Humanely and sustainably raised beef like i would witness in west virginia i had a home in the mountains of hardee county. And each farmer had five or ten cattle spread over 100 acres. And it was a very low density humane. Sustainable level. Tornado last week more ethically then we must begin to insist as singer implied in the article both as consumers and citizen. That those who produce food for us do so in much more ecologically responsible and sustainable ways in these big industrial operations can do that. They simply. Shift to a more sustainable level. Flipnote this is a course incredibly tall order. The industrial agricultural complex. We have an industrial west. Has been taking shape for almost a century now several center. And as you know is very powerful. Politically and economically. And as we consumers have gotten quite used to seeing all that attractive. Inexpensive food laid out for us in publix under neatly. Sealed packages it's going to be hard for everyone to check. But there is a growing movement as you all know i have two cousins. Insinger slinger wisconsin who are doing this. They have an organic farm and they have they sell shares to neighbors in the neighbors. Get a big bag of food in the. The spring and summer and fall you know. Says the crops come in in the. Produce has made. The growing home. Small farm small organic farms. Is a whole movement. And it's growing and we need to. Supportive. Consumers. Many advocates of such local organic agriculture convinced that we can raise all of the food the growing population of our planet needs on such small to mid-size. Sustainable organic farms. And i hope we will do what we can here on the treasure coast. To support the shift. In our thinking. When i was in northern maine as a minister. Potato farms were failing there is no. Hundreds of thousands of acres. In northern maine alone going back. Auras. Because there's no one to farm. The hardscrabble and it's not that farming can't be done in northern. Candy. There's no market. What do we have plenty of land in this. Farm and i responsible. It is clear i think to anyone paying attention. The humanity is running out of time unless we systematically begin to change the way we relate to our planet. Cluding the way we produce. But the good news is there time for these shifts to. So in conclusion i believe that eating ethically means that we pay attention. To what and how we we eat both on the micro-level. And the macro-level of our existence. Both in terms of we take into our own individual bodies. And then how we help humanity to feed itself. Here is what i personally intended to. To eat more ethically myself. As i said i'm not ready to become a vegetarian. But i do intend to discipline myself to observe more meatless days. And cut the portion of meat most especially red meat which takes so much rain to produce and is so. Destructive environmentally. When i do partake. Infinita. Similarly. Well i'm not yet willing to forsake all the wonderful food stuffs in the grocery store. Erased by huge industrial farms far away. I will make an effort. Two petrol eyes. Small sustainable diversified non-polluting local farms whenever possible. And that is a wonderful farmers market we have informed pearson here on the island every saturday. I aspire to always remember the ethical truth. What is good for my body. Is also good for the plant. I am 10. To ever more diligently do whatever i can to create health in here. And at the same time create hell. Beyond. My. In this vast. Precious. Fragile planet. That is our home. Eating. It's one of the greatest and most primordial. Pleasures of life is there anything like. Biting into a grape. Big strawberry. Piece of water. We should enjoy eating everyday don't listen to the neo-puritan to have you eat stuff doesn't taste. But let us increasingly eat. Simply. With wisdom. And responsibilities and yes restraint. Wisdom. Responsibility. And restraint.

uufvb_org

2013Feb10Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach i've got some spiritual advisory this morning this is the conversation. With family and friends in the northeast. Hi it's 74° in a light breeze is blowing to the palms resort sunny and gorgeous little white puffy clouds how's the weather by you. Do not gloat. Welcome. Wera congregation. Seeking to become our best selves even as we work to make our world a better place for all. Please know that you're welcome this morning just as you come to us. Whether you're young or old. Gay or straight black or white. Or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you were feeling on top of the world this morning or. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between we are delighted to see you just as you come to us this morning. In all of your particularity and need. We hope you will find our service. Fearless morning meaningful and enriching. But you will find something here. This morning that nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and joy. For the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. So this morning on stewardship sunday i continue my 9th by 2013 sermon series on the 7th. Heavenly virtues and the seven deadly sins revisited. Which were identified many centuries ago by the early christian church. With the fourth installment. Generosity. And greed. Now i don't have spelled out in the introduction to each of the first three sermons in my series. In each of these sermons i will explore what i think is the creative spiritual emotional and moral tension. Between these sets of seeming human polarity opposites. Which were identified by the early church fathers. What consistently strikes me as i look at all seven of the sets. Is not how is the church fathers seem to think they are. Standing in stark an absolute moral contrast one another. In real life how intertwine intermingled and interrelated they actually are simply put. The virtues aren't all that virtuous. Aren't all that sinful. It'll be nice i suppose if all we had to do in our lives was you know follow the virtuous path and avoid these identified sins to be good and noble human being. I am persuaded. The life and even more obviously our human nature. Are much more complicated. So what i am doing in this sermon series is what i called gently deconstructing. This simplistic and dualistic construct of the early christian church. And replacing and i hope. In thinking about our old lives with a more nuanced and realistic understanding. Of what it really means. To be a human being. Alright let's take a look at the fourth pair. Generosity. Agreed. Qualities. There is virtue and vice. No. Let's begin as i have in all three of the earlier series. With the obvious more difficult side of the equation that being i hope for all of you greed. That's a harder part. What in the world can be said in favor of this obvious and unseemly stand that was named. So many centuries ago well leave it. American capitalism because they have a spokesperson it was. Ivan boesky. Doesn't he look like a ball of fun. Remember him. The famous and fabulously wealthy wall street stock trader in corporate takeover specialist had to go back and. We get his biography off the web. In the 1980s who during the commencement address of the school of business at the university of california. In 1986 just shortly before quite incidentally he went to federal prison. For 22 months. It was fine 100 million dollars after being convicted of illegal insider trading at commencement speech. He famously touted the virtue of greed. When he said in part to that year's business graduates. Green is all right by the way. I want you to know that greed is healthy he said. You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself. Now this notorious speech given in the 80s during a time of obvious wallstreet excessive not the last time of wall street excessive. But the first one perhaps. Was the inspiration for the popular movie wall street whose main character. Wealthy capitalist gordon gekko. Was it was portrayed by a very slick-looking michael douglas. At the most famous moment in the movie. He claimed to a stockholders meeting quote the point is. Ladies and gentlemen that greed. For lack of a better word is good. Greed is right. Readworks green clarifies cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed and all its forms greed for life for money for love for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. Well neither of these quotes i pray and hope is in the end morally or ethically persuasive. The fact is that both both ski and gekko are on. Just something that we human beings. Cannot and must not ignore and that is i think the universality. And naturalness. A human acquisitiveness. Human acquisitiveness. We homo sapiens are an inquisitive. Species. Any evolutionary or economic psychologist worth his or her weight in salt. Will tell you that acquisitiveness. Is both natural and fundamental to the behavior of humans. Everywhere. People in every corner of the globe regardless of background or race or standing quite naturally want to acquire. More wealth. More goods and more creature comforts. It is natural and it is universal. I think. To look out for yourself and your family seeking to acquire and possess. Hopefully within reason and more on that word in a moment. Hopefully within reason. More than you have today. Indeed it can and has been argued that greed. Or at least acquisitiveness and the desire to improve one's economic circumstances. Are the engine. Capitalism's creation of wealth. Which benefits not only the wealthiest of society but also those at the lower rungs of wealth and material possession or well for as they all say. A rising tide. Does lift all boats. Indeed i think it can be argued that human acquisitive. The personal desire for more. Canada's motivators. To work hard. It creates competitive drive. An entrepreneurial risk-taking. That can benefit not only the individual but society as a whole life. That is true. That's the light side. I think it's not what the early church fathers were warning us against when they labeled greed ascend they were not warning us against. Natural. They were talking about excessive. Acquisitive. Irrational. Acquisitive. Acquisitiveness that knows no bounds. Here is the way wikipedia the online egalitarians encyclopedia defines the sin of greed. Which in other contexts is called everest. Or covington. Here's the definition. Greed. Is the inordinate i underline the word. Desire to possess wealth. Goods or objects of abstract value. With the intention of keeping it for oneself. Far beyond the dictates of basic survival and comfort. It is a market lehigh underlining mine. Desire for the pursuit of wealth. Status and power it is an inordinate desire emphasis mine. To acquire or possess more. Someone needs. So greed. Is not acquisitive. But rather excessive or irrational acquisitiveness. It is acquisitiveness gone mad. Here. Is the way english painter evelyn de morgan in her 1909 painting the worship of mammon. Portrays the spiritual. An emotional pathology or patheticness of greed. It is a desperate cleaning need. To have and to hold earthly and material things. Beyond all health and reason. And it was 13th century italian writer dante. In his metaphorical work the inferno. Which address is all the deadly sins by showing how god will eternally punished. Each. Wickedly. Has doomed. so wickedly doom the souls who had been greedy in the earthly lives. They were bound. And laid face down on the ground. Especially. We're having concentrated too much on earthly things you want to be focused on earthly things all the time i'm going to put you. Raystown found in hell. It was not us. As i thought about the sin of greed. Which again is the spiritual error i think of allowing our natural and acceptable acquisitiveness. Run wild beyond reason. It occurred to me that. That greed is really a dangerous and distracting idolatry. It's a light dollar tree. That is the false worship. Of money and things like king midas. Fell victim to. A focus. Ingredients that has the potential to isolate us. From everything that is truly important in life. When we are consumed by greed as king minus one. Money and things become like gods to us and we devote. All of our efforts to acquiring more and more stuff. Which. Isolates us that preoccupation. The sacredness of life is around us. And what is truly sacred. In this earthly life. Well i got news for you. It's not three. Leak mercedes parked in the driveway of a 4 million dollar home on the ocean. Nor is it a closet. Full of exquisite clothing from the world's finest boutiques. Nor is it lobster newburg or filet mignon on your plate every night. I had a guy in one of my churches. He had that you grew up in belfast maine during the depression. And all they had to eat was a lobster that washed up on the shore morning noon and night he had to eat lobster for breakfast. Lobster for lunch and lobster for dinner like king midas. You couldn't look at a lobster. It's not lobster on the plate every night. Nor lavish opulent caribbean vacations on the beach every winter. Pleasant as these things are. What is truly holy. In this world our times spent with family and friends. 11 treasures. And the rich quiet reflective times we send we spend with self. In the simple life satisfactions of reading poetry. Gardening. An intimate relationship we have with us amazing world of ours which. Dances around us in such stunning beauty whether you're watching palm trees or a blizzard. If we are earthly lives are constantly focusing our attention. Unsinkable acquiring more and more wealth and stuff. We will miss the subtle richness. Gloria. The world around us. You will know this is. Let me see all this slightly a different way. When we fall victim to greed is a radical and m. Returning of one's attention away from the world. And toward the self is a radical empty turning away from the world. Toward the self. Read therefore isolates and impoverished is us. Because it causes us to shut out other person sun life. And plus plus dooms us to a lonely life. Filled. Noisy. Justice the story of king midas which claudia shared with us. Greed traps us in a terrible poverty. Of emptiness and aloneness. And prevents us from relating to the wonder and holiness of the world. Greed unbounded acquisitiveness is a sin. Does it takes you away. From everything you were put on earth. That is a sin. And it is a sin against god if you. And those we arrive finally at the other more positive. Side of the equation. That being the virtue of generosity. Let's return again to wikipedia i'm going to use it almost every sermon during the series. For simple definition. Of generosity. Generosity is the habit of giving without expecting anything in return. It's involve offering time. Assets labor or talents to aid someone in need. Often equated with charity as a virtue. Generosity is widely accepted in society as a desirable trait. Generosity they write is not solely based on one's economic status but instead. Includes individuals pure intentions. I'm looking out for societies. Common good and giving from the heart. Generosity should reflect the individual's passion. To help others. And so just as greed. Turn the individual n-word on his or her own solitary self. An ultimately causes of poverty. Of cluttered isolation. Generosity on the other hand. Turns you out word. For the community of life. Where in richmond of reciprocal relationships. Awaits great joy. We're agreed ultimately it always diminishes our connections with life and persons. Generosity i think ultimately and always enhances our human and worldly connection. Connections alone as i've already said. Which have the power to make us whole and how singularly have the power. To make us whole and happy in our lives on earth. It is relationships. In which salvation is. Simply put them. Greed greatly discrete decreases the likelihood. You will be happy. Or satisfied or rich. In this life where is generosity greatly increases the likelihood. You will be happy. Unsatisfied. I trust this obvious truth. About generosity and greed. Makes helpful sense to everyone of you in this room right now. And again the great irony. Is the throws who are voraciously greedy in this world. Imagine their singular focus on evermore possessions and wealth. Makes them rich. When in fact. The pursuit always. Impoverished. It is only by being generous. By magnanimous looking looking beyond the confines of the self. And generously giving a portion. Keyword again apportion. Of what you have to others. That you will that will enable you ultimately to find the riches. That will bless your life. So generosity is clearly a virtue not only because it does good in the world. Because it returns abundant blessing. To you. But then the question i think quickly and pointedly becomes. How much. Generosity. Is required of us. In this life how much. Possess. Or have. Either emotional. Or physical or financial do we have to share. And give away to those in order to be a virtuous and happy person. Date the question can be also negatively asked is there such a thing. As too much generosity. Let's begin by looking at emotional generosity. Before we look at the financial or the monetary. Side of that question. Isaac it can be sad. Emotional generosity which i think is forgiving of personal. Non-material gifts from deep within yourself emotional generosity. Is an essential form of generosity we must practice. Freelee. And regularly in our lives. When in the normal course of life. You generously decide to give some of your time. Or some of your attention or understanding or. Sympathy or wisdom or knowledge. Or your love most important of all to someone or something else whenever. You freely pour yourself out. With good intention. Not only with the person's not only will the person's. Receiving those gifts be blessed but you as you all know. What curiously be blessed in return. It is countlessly been observed by men and women are wiser than myself. The generosity the regular habit of giving from yourself. Frequently beretta blesses. The giver as much as it does. The receiver. The generous person is almost always blessed. And similarly on the other side of the equation the one. Who is hesitant. To freely give from the heart often finds him or herself impoverished. By the lack of positive traffic. Between themselves. And the world they are impoverished by the lack. Appositive. Seems to me that while we must always. Prudently reserve. A healthy proportion. A healthy portion of our own personal resources. For the maintenance of self. Skip over that part we must reserve a portion of ourselves. Just. For ourselves. And that need to protect and attend. To the south. Should never be minimize. It is also true that we must regularly give freely from the cell. But there are limits. We cannot always be in the business of giving ourselves. Emotionally. Or spiritually. Away like some sort of. Mother teresa. And so it is with financial. The monetary gift. Are you all knew i'd get to this because this is stewardship sunday after all but relax i'm not going to be too hard on you. We're getting to financial generosity. I'm not going to be too specific. Be specific enough. How much financial generosity is required of us if we are to be virtuous and happy well. It seems to me that justice in the case of emotional generosity there are limits. To how much financial generosity is appropriate or required. As i pointed out early in the sermon. We human beings are acquisitive creatures. Who have a natural and healthy desire to accrue. Wealth and comfort for ourselves and those in our immediate circle of love and care. Unreasonable. To ask folks to give away most or even a significant portion. Of what they're able to earn jesus did that. He was tough. He said give all you have to the poor and come with me. That's an unreasonable request for most of. Yet clearly. Some financial generosity has called for in life and the question is how much. What portion of our wealth is required by virtue. Well in ancient time one plastic answer was. 10%. Surely you've all heard of the idea of tithing. The ancient and honorable jewish idea which even predates moses i found out this week when i looked it up. The practice of that one should give away 10% of all that one earns. For the good of others in the wider community now. In ancient times this full 10% was just to go to the priests of the temple and if any of you were tempted to do that. But you're more than welcome to. I'm the only priests at the temple here. Feel free. And some conservative christian churches to this day. Still have this 10%. Expectation. For their member. Numbers. What today many modern folk including many unitarian universalist talk about. The virtuous duty of tithing a total of 10%. Back. To every of everything they make to the world. Personal ties every year. Of 10%. As i've mentioned before on stewart other stewardship sundays here. Collins and i have. Establish tithing as a spiritual practice. In our own lies we faithfully give back at least 10%. Of everything we learn. To our community distributed in our case among the various charities. Support. This past year. I just. Take this out i did my taxes this. Sweet figuring-out i've given we've given / 12. This year. The good more than we usually do. Tithing about 12%. About half of which. Is going to uscb. The point i want to share here. Is it the ancient 10% generosity. Your feels just about right to me. Intuit too many other unitarian universal. Like the rest of humanity collins and i are acquisitive creatures. We like having a nice home. Good food. Decent clothing and be able to hop onto a jet. Few times a year. Among other things. Until there are limits. To our generosity we want these. I have one ministerial colleague the minister of my hometown church back in wisconsin. Half of everything hirons. But then again he drives a beat-up gremlin. Remember those. Yeah holy mackerel anybody's all his clothes at second hand stores they don't necessarily fit him. Tony is a sweetheart. But for most of us. 50%. Is going to go a little high. Don't you think. What i do on this stewardship sunday is it all of you morally consider. The spiritual practice. Advertise. 10%. Of all of your assets. Every year faithful. Back to your community. Good. Ancient figure. Percent. The good news my friends. Is it your regular. Cultivated and purposeful generosity whether it comes. Purely from your heart as when you give time each week. The tutor a disadvantage child. Or spend the lunch hour. Listening to that cranky old friend up in connecticut is always depressed and always has problems. Or volunteer time at the hospital at the front desk. Or. From your open wallet giving financial gifts to worthy organizations. Which further your values and your dreams. Your generosity. You must know this. Will not only bless the world. It will bless. I once had a parishioner. But i was at church of the larger fellowship ministers members scattered all over the world. She said scott i'm i'm so old all i can do is give money i feel so bad all i can give as money. And i said that money is capital of your heart. That money is capital of your heart. Don't ever say all i can do is go. It's important. And for those of you who can give more. Your generosity. Always will bless. It will bless you. In the world. Because generosity unlike the prison of greed. King midas new. Generosity is always about building and having relationships. Having the traffic. The divine traffic. Between you and the world. Flow freely. It's all about looking beyond yourself and connecting up with the world and helpful and healing ways. It's all about lending yourself to the expanding love. And care. Of the universe. And i asked. What. Could be better than that. Are they saying mean to you on the 6th. I send you on your way this week with this poem it's a little long. Miguel otero silva. When nothing remains of me but a tree. When my actions have been scattered beneath our mother earth when nothing remains of you. Red rose nourished by that which once you were. When the breath of the kiss that we exchanged today. Has embarked on a thousand different breezes. When you put our names have become mere sounds without echo asleep. In the shade of a fathomless sound. Then you will live on in the beauty of the rose. And i in the rustling of the tree and our lives in the murmur of the breeze. Listen to me. I wish. For us. My wish for us. Is to live also in the spoken words of men and women. I would survive with you. In the deep live stream of your vanity in the laughter of children. In the peace of humankind in love without weeping. Therefore we must give ourselves to the rose. And the tree. To the earth. And the wind. Let us give ourselves i beg you. To the future. Of the world.

uufvb_org

2013Oct06Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. Perhaps like me you woke up in paradise this morning. What a beautiful day in the treasure coast welcome. To the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida. And we're glad that you've decided to begin your day with us this morning. We are current gation as the slide says of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. Seeking to become our best selves even as together we work to make our world a better place and our world needs those loving. Hearts and helping him. And please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. Know that we are delighted to see you as you come to us in all of your uniqueness and charm. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful in richmond that you'll find at least one thing. Take with you in the days and weeks ahead. It will bring you more joy and renewed energy and zest for the living of life. Play opening words this morning come from uu minister and author of the famous book everything i needed to know i learned in kindergarten. Robert fulghum. My colleague from washington state who wrote. We come to this place because we need each other. We need to see each other. We need to touch each other we need to smell each other we need to hug each other we need each other. So we come to this place. We come to work. To talk. Laugh. To dance. We call this a religious community not because. This is holy ground. But because what we do here what we say here together. What we are here. Makes this. A secret gathering. Seeing all of you. Bringing your prayers reminds me of what a lovely group. I'm blessed. Max koontz the wonderful old minister he served our church in canton new york or kathy coral who's one of our seasonal members. Is a member. And do an earl locker tried his got connections. Where to. He wrote this one. Northern new york autumn about this time you have to place yourself in a new england gardner mode. It's about a gardner's thanksgiving prayer. Listen to these words about friendship. And then the minute of silence old will follow are beneficial and with the ringing of the bell. Max road. Let us give thanks for the bounty of people. For children who are second plants grow like weeds. Forgive us our cultivation and fondly remember where their roots are. Generous friends with hearts and smiles as bright as their blossoms. For feisty friends as part as apples. For continuous friends who like scallions and cucumbers keep reminding us that we've had them. Befriends a sour is rhubarb and is indestructible. Four handsome friends. Cora's gorgeous as eggplants and those elegant as a row of corn and others. Plane is potatoes good for you. 4 funny friends. Priscilla's brussel sprouts and does amusing as jerusalem artichokes. And serious friends who are complexes cauliflower. And as intricate as onions. Four friends as unpretentious as cabbages. As subtle as summer squash as persistent as parsley as delightful as dill as endless as zucchini. And who like parsnips parsnips. Can be counted on to see you through the winter. For old friends notting like sunflowers in the evening time and. Young friends coming on fast like radishes. For loving friends who wind around us like 10 trolls. And hold us despite our flights. Goodwill. Withering. And finally for those friends. Now gone. Like gardens pass that have been harvested. And who fed us. In their times. That we might have life. Thereafter. For all these things. I tried to get barbra streisand to come but she wanted $100,000 so. We settled on the wonderful choir to sing that. Morning. I begin a brand new sermon series are you getting used to the idea that i like sermon series the fellowship. This is my serious since becoming your minister three-and-a-half years ago a brand new sermon series i begin this morning. Which will be priests on seven more or less random sunday spaced out over the coming year. I'm a seven habits of happy people. We all know that happiness is as american as apple pie. Indeed happiness or at least the freedom to pursue it. Was written right into as you know our nation's declaration of independence. The people americans. Routinely expect their lives to be well. Happy. Is a hopelessly big and elusive idea. About precisely what it is. And exactly how to find it or achieve it or sustain it. As one psychologist put it. Is inherently subjective. And so it's hard to know who has it and what it looks like and day-to-day life. Recently a group of leading psychologists have created a field field called positive psychology. And they've got a great deal of what i think is very exciting resurge. On what makes for human happiness. And even more important concept human well-being. And they have been looking as one author puts it for what makes the human heart. Really sing. I will focus eat sermon in the series on one of the seven habits of happy people identify. Directed by doctor paul and harvard-educated psychiatrist. Blowing heavily on the groundbreaking work of positive psychologist pioneer. Dr. martens eagleman. This team has suggested that there are seven dimensions of our ordinary lives. Which is properly nourished and cultivated will lead to a greater sense of happiness. And well-being in our lives another words we will flourish. If we cultivate these 7 habits. The ancient greeks called such a favorable psychological state. Eudaimonia. Which roughly translates into english as well being work flourishing. Do hear of the seven habits. But the scientists have concluded which happy people cultivated their lives. That lead to a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction. And you see we're starting with relationships. And then overcoming weeks in a couple of weeks i'll be doing caring. And i'm not necessarily in order will be covering health and fitness. You'll love that sermon from a guy who bikes everyday i'm sure you'll love to hear that one. Very interesting concept spiritual engagement strengths and virtues and positive mindset. Now before i move on to talk about the first and all-important habit of nurturing close. And caring positive relationships in your life. I want to talk about the discoveries of positive psychology in general. When positive psychologists talk about happiness. They do not mean what i call the happy face theory of happiness. Happiness focuses on. We are in a buoyant or cheerful mood and i'm full of laughter delight merriment that sort of thing. I recently was down in fort lauderdale and picked up the sunset. And this guy had written a little op-ed piece. Equating his happiness in life. With the thrilling experiences you had over his lifetime. Winning the co-factor soapbox derby. Getting a date with the hottest cheerleader in high school. His college driving his first lexus also car dealers lot. Holding his first grandchild for the first time. The steady stream of moments of of gleeful the light which is what the happy face. Requires butt. The experts were running about happiness today suggest. If these if he's flashy places are the places you are looking for happiness you are as the song goes looking for love in all the wrong places. Looking for happiness in all the wrong places. Because happiness they have discovered the kind of. Sustainable well-being and life satisfaction that has the power. To make our lives in a kind of contentment is not like. The hot rush of momentary pleasure you feel from winning the lottery or skydiving from 10000 feet or watching your home team win the super bowl or even having a great night of endless sex. The kind of happiness. And well-being that has the power to make your life a work. Awards in july. And here's my key phrase for the morning. Is like a low hum of steady reliable satisfaction. The quietly arises out of the ordinary aspects of your day-to-day life. And let me pause here for a moment to make a very important point about happiness. All the experts say you don't necessarily have to have a cheerful ebullient outgoing personality like. Define lasting status well it's true i'm hopelessly optimistic. Or miss bubbly. Define lasting satisfaction. And well-being your life people with very many different personalities and styles including reserve people introverts quiet people. Can be happy. You don't have to go through life. Like mr. smiley face. With a perpetual smile. Slapped onto your face. Tips to flourish and define well-being again. What the positive psychologists are saying in this makes perfect sense to me is it sustainable happiness. Are not achieved in the dramatic flashing noisy moments of. I'm happy face glee but rather. That well-being is a kind of quiet ostentatious quality that. Steal our lives. As a long-term result of art ending. What is really important. Interlock. Okay y'all got that. Which brings me to today's topic of relationship. What the psychologist getting happiness and well-being. Are telling us. And we shouldn't find us a surprise because as one author i. Consulted this week put it. We human beings are social animals. Antenna live healthily or happy in isolation. We were not made for loneliness and isolation. What the psychologists are telling us. Is it has our clothes and positive connections to other people. In this life. Which more than any other single thing. Have the power to bring us that sense of well-being and. In 2002 to pioneers of positive psychology at diner and martin mansion. Conducted a study at the university of illinois. On the 10% of students with the highest scores on an indent indices of reported personal happiness. They found the most salient characteristics shared by students who are very happy. And showed the fewest signs of depression. They had strong ties. To family and friends and a commitment. To spend time with those friends and. That's what made them. This is precisely what the popular barbra streisand song. What's the choir sang to us just a few moments ago says people. People who need people are the luckiest. People. In the world so be a person. Who needs. And again this doesn't mean the scientist studying happiness have completed have to be a cheerful outgoing extrovert. With scores of people close to you. A study on the quality of personal relationships found the to avoid. Loneliness people needed really only. 1. Close only one. Lost relationship. But the key is that relationship has to have. Significant interaction in self-disclosure and a real willingness to reveal your issues and your feelings one person. Can make all the difference in the world. Network of other relationships. As one study puts it. People who have one or more close friendships. Appear to be happier and it doesn't seem to matter the study goes on to observe. If we have a large network of relationships are not. What seems to make a difference is if and how often we cooperated activities. And share our personal feelings with a friend or a relative simply put. It is not the quantity. Of our relationships that matter but the quality. Conclusion ortega falls 2000. On facebook. Striving to establish more and more friends. What these studies on happiness are telling us is that having 797 contacts on facebook or twitter. May make you think you're a popular person. But will have nothing to do probably. With the kinds of relationships. Close. Caring and continuous. In again involving personal disclosure and regular interaction and true engagement. But have the power to make us happy over the long haul of our lives so if you're looking for love on facebook. York you're looking in the wrong place. Apparently. It is knowing how and be willing to share really share your life. With a few close family and friends. What does the power to make us. Lasting lee happy. And speaking of the kinds of in-depth relationships that give us all well-being and satisfaction. Over the long haul we have to talk about marriage. Or partnership. Well there are of course obvious and unhappy exceptions. Spending your life. With one other person in a close and continuing relationship. Is an every study positively correlated with happiness. Many studies show that married people are happier and more satisfied in life. Those who are single and they live longer. Again martin sichelman. Unlike money. Which has the most a small effect on our personal happiness and well-being. Marriage erases robustly related. To happiness. In my opinion he goes on. The jury is still out on what causes the proven fact that married people are happier than unmarried people. But they are. A strong and intimate marriage were genuine sharing occurs can be a major contributor. Do happiness and well-being but the good news for those of you. The good news for those of you who've always been single. Or for those of you who now find yourself single after losing a spouse either to death or divorce. Is the thurman d other kinds of caring. Close relationships relationships with siblings. And with your grown children or other relatives or of our lifelong friends. Relationship with an old college friend or a childhood friend. Relationships with a neighbor or a co-worker or church friends. Can similarly provide you the contacts. Of safety and security and joy in a marriage.. You don't have to go the world doesn't have to go noah's ark. Two by two. And speaking of church friends. Did you mail the regular church attendance being act with a congregation of any kind. Health direct and positive effect on your health and happiness and longevity. Numerous studies report that not only do church-goers live years longer as many as seven. Just by going to church. The sunday times. And if they were here they know they're killing themselves with that behavior right now. But nelida church-goers live longer they have healthier lifestyle behaviors less depression and more satisfying and nurturing relationships. Here's the way one study puts it. As people settle into churches most of them develop strong support of relationships. Among other members. During times of health and family stress. These church friends support and encourage one another. Psychologists have realized for many years how powerful these relationships are. And that there are very few organizations that can imitate a church's ability to support its members. And if you need proof of that look at what's happening with dottie grant right now. This community is supporting her in. So different if you want to be happier in your life. You want to live longer you come to the right place this morning. Because churches and other organizations to clubs. Support groups. Are places for positive supportive relationships. The naval us. They have a sense of well-being. Touting around institutional horn. The larger point this morning which the positive psychologists are making. Isn't intentionally nurturing close and caring relationships again. Quality over quantity. With family and friends. It isn't everyday habit in life that provides us with that. The glowing quiet hum. This observation should be a no-brainer for us. 4 is clear that human beings as i earlier observed. Are clearly social and tribal animals. We are not made for isolation. For isolation and loneliness not made out of the primordial soup. For isolation or loneliness. We homo sapiens were made for interaction with one another. As it is in and through these relationships that we find our place in the world. And our lasting satisfaction in. One recent study asks participants about their. On random occasions during the day. And they found that people were happiest when they're with their friends. At least happy when they were alone. As one researcher put it. Almost every person feels happier. When they are with other people. Partners up in washington dc. And i read the paper in the morning the office there's christy and there's katrina. I'm happier when i come into the office with people if it's the natural. A sting and i think we all share that watching a football game with an old buddy. Walking on the beach with your children or grandchildren sharing a sloppy italian meal with old friends over candles or dripping onto the. Tripadvisor your table talking on the phone. With your oldest brother a half. Continent away or. Just hanging out at a saturday morning with a cup of coffee with that. What's that terrible old spouse of yours of the last house over mini dick. Also. Alright. So assuming you can all see the wisdom in the logic of what the scientist and what i'm saying to you about human happiness the question becomes. So what can we do to enhance. Or extend this dimension of our lives well i think the answer to that question is profoundly obvious. Just like in the stock market and please. Forgive my crude capitalist image. We have to make regular and substantial investments in our relationships if they are going to make us rich. You can't if you don't invest the stock market you're not going to get rich and if you don't invest in your relationships. They won't make you rich. We have to invest time and care and heart. In our relationships with our family and friends if they want if you want them to bless you. I believe every relationship. Worth having with other people you know this is true you have to give to get. To reach out to take the initiative to go the extra mile to pay attention to nurture the other person if you wanted comes back to you. So when i think when i think about all my clothes and caring relationships the one that. Ones that make me happy. Genuine well-being in the world every one of them requires me to be. Proactive. And intentional about tending that relationship and keep it. You know alive and fresh like a fluffed-up pillow in the bed. Delta fluff it up every morning. With my spouse of more than three decades. With my far from far-flung brothers and cousins. With my darling nieces and nephews and their children now. With my best friends right here in town and those who are. Three thousand miles away i have to invest. Time and heart and care to keep these relationships. Precious and strong. I can't just sit back passively in my life. And expect other people to beat a door to my beat a path to my door to provide me with the emotional support i need. No i need to understand the value of these relationships. And proactively work to keep them strong and close. In other words if i'm to experience the well-being. And satisfaction that comes from other people's interest and care and support. It falls to me to invest in those bonds. To return to my wall street image to invest. In those. Bonds. Let me come at this from the opposite. I have over the course of my life and i think you will recognize this. I got several family members and friends was stance toward my relationship with them has marlys been you know where to find me. Hey you know where to find me. In other words these folks have basically overtime investments place. The burden of maintaining a nurturing the relationship. Almost entirely on me which can work. For a while. But eventually overtime. All these relationships of mine have necessity of necessity whether they're fading. Because the truth is for a personal relationship. Between two persons to remain significant and strong and vital. Interest and effort on both sides is required. The kind of positive personal relationships that bring us satisfaction. Must be like a busy two-way street. With lots of purposeful traffic. Going both ways and you all know this is true. Which brings me back to every last one of you sitting in this room right now. I hope that over the course of my remarks the last few minutes you've been thinking about. The significant personal relationships in your life right now. Those clothes and caring connections with other folk which bring you that. That sense of well-being and belonging in your life. I hope you've been reminded. This morning. Just like everything else you value in your life. Personal relationships that matter. Require your engagement. Your investment. Your nurturing your commitment and care. Only when you freely invest in others. Do you receive those steady reliable dividends. The comeback and may cure. And further all further death to every one of us in this room right now. Has at least one or two personal relationships that needs some special tending. 2 special gardening. Right now. As i wrote the sermon i was personally reminded of several once important relationships in my life. That like roads which no longer bear traffic have become overgrown. And nearly impossible by the kudzu comes out of the woods and covers them. And you may have had some of those neglected relationships. In your own life too but here's the good news. As long as we have the will and intention these neglected. Relationships can once again be made to thrive. So they can once again. A blesser. Again you can't do it all by yourself. But you can do some initiation. That will help them to become. Traffic road. Modern technology in particular. There's almost no excuse any long-distance calls used to cost $4. Yeah. Then an excuse not to call aunt mabel. Now you don't have an excuse. Do not call your old. College buddy. Text modern technology. You have no excuse for not trying to revive or new rekindle relationships. The havana past made you happy and brought you some filming email. Instantaneous in effortless. An easy way to reconnect. Cell phones with their cheap and abundant minutes. And social networks i tease them earlier but facebook and twitter. These are great ways to check in with people you care about. All are reliable tool. The neighbor wants to keep. Relationships that matter. Alive and fresh and drawing even when brake distance. Or a lot of time intervene. And for friends and family in. Close proximity is even better. Good old-fashioned technology of. Getting together. Over a cup of coffee at panera's in the morning. Over lunch of some. Favorite. Sandwich shop here in vero. The brisk afternoon walk on the beach over a glass of chardonnay on your back patio. To get together and just catch up. And steve a little. Twinkle in their eye and ask him so. How are you. And really mean it. How. Are you. But i am simply reminding all of us this morning. Is the powerful truth about happiness and well-being the all of the positive psychologists affirm. To make it successfully through life on this planet. You need a few clothes and caring people on the road with you. When it comes to. There is no such thing. Splendid isolation. Only the blessed. Reliable joy we take. From stain clothes. To one another. The critters. And i say annie. I send you on your way on your way today with these words of my colleague wayne arntson. France. The way is often hard. The path is never clear. In the steaks. Are very high. Take courage. Or deep down there is another truth. You are not. Alone. Going peace. I have a good way.

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11Apr2010sermon32kbs.mp3

uufvb_org

2014Jun29Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. And how is everybody today. Welcome. 302 therrien universalist fellowship of vero beach. We're so glad that you have chosen to be with us here this morning we are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts. Helping hands. People seeking to become. Our best selves even as we work together. To make a better world. Please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you're young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd. Whether you were a visitor this morning or have been a member here for decades. Whether you're feeling on top of the world. Somewhere in between. Or maybe even down to the dumps. We're delighted to see you. Just as you come to us and all your particular ready. Indeed. We hope that you're going to find this service meaningful this morning and enriching and that you'll find something here today that nourishes your spirit. And feeds your soul. And gives you a renewed energy and joy for the living life in the days and weeks ahead of us. Good morning. Are opening words are from. A colleague. Gary kowalski. In this quiet hour. May our spirits. Be renewed. In this gathering of friends. May we be ready to extend ourselves. To those in need. And with trust. To receive the hand. That is offered. In this community of ideals. May we remember. The principles that guide us. And reflect upon those things that give meaning. To our lives. Renewing our dedication. To serve the highest. That we know. In this time of worship. May our minds be open to new truth. And our hearts be receptive to love. As we give thanks. For this life we are blessed. To share. Are reading this morning. Comes from a book called. The dance. Bye. Araya mountain dreamer. What if it truly doesn't matter what you do. But how you do whatever. You do. How would this change. What you choose to do with your life. What if you could be more present. An open-hearted with each person you met. If you were working as a cashier. In a corner store. Or as a parking lot attendant. Then you could if you were doing a job you think. Is much more important. How would this change how you want to spend your precious time on this earth. What if your contribution to the world. And your fulfillment of your own happiness. Is not dependent. Upon discovering a better method of prayer. Or technique of meditation. Not dependent upon reading the right book or attending the right seminar. But upon. Really seeing and deeply appreciating yourself. In the world. As they are right now. How would this affect your search. For spiritual development. What if there is no need to change. No need to try to transform yourself. Into someone who is more compassionate more present. More loving. Or wise. How would this affect all the places in your life. Were you are endlessly trying to be better. What if the task is simply. To unfold. To become who you already are. In your essential nature. Gentle. Compassionate. Incapable of living fully. And passionately. Present. How would this affect how you feel when you wake up in the morning. What if who you essentially are right now. Is all that you are ever going to be. How would this affect how you feel about. Your future. What is the essence of who you are and always have been. Is enough. How would this affect how you see and feel. About your past. What is the question is not why am i so infrequently the person i really want to be. But why do i so infrequently want to be the person i really am. How would this change what you think you have to learn. What is becoming who and what we truly are. Happens not through striving and trying. Goodbye recognizing. And receiving the people and places and practices. That offer us the warmth of encouragement. We need. To unfold. How would this shape the choice the choices you make about. How to spend. Today. What if you knew that the impulse to move in a way that creates beauty in the world. Will arise from deep within. And guide you every time you simply pay attention. And wait. How would this shape. Your stillness. Your movement. Your willingness. To follow this impulse. To just. Letgo. And dance. When i first arrived in florida. In 1998. My father. In new jersey. Became ill. And died. Quickly. My mother died 6 years later. When i finished my ministry. The spirit of life. So my ministry there was bracketed by the death of my parents. It is something. I will never forget. And i've been thinking about the concept of being an adult orphan. Since my father had died. And even before my mother had died. Those thoughts had come. As poet. Linda pastan. Puts in her moving poem the death of a parent. Move to the front of the line. A voice says. And suddenly. There is nobody left standing between you and the world. To take the first blows on their shoulders. This is the place in books where part 1 ends. And part 2. Begins. And there is no. Part 3. My friend and colleague and your minister. The reverend scott alexander said one day and a sermon. After any loss. Or diminishment in your life. You can either. Rail against and refuse. What is. And resent. How unpredictable and hard life can be. Or you can work spiritually. To keep yourself open to the life that is still yours. And begin moving again. Toward the richness enjoy that still await you. I had read this somewhere. And so. Richness and joy. Yes. I began thinking about a new kind of relationship that my sister my only sibling. And i would have. My sister and her family and me. We can. Put those sibling rivalry rivalries long away and begin anew. I was able to see my sister again right around thanksgiving in 2005. When i managed a quick trip to new jersey. It was just after that next new year's. But she was taking taken to the hospital. Dying one month later in february 2006. My younger sister. My only sister. I was now really. An orphan. Really and truly. Alone. I started reading everything i could. The best was. Surviving the death of a sibling. Living through grief. Sorry living through grief when an adult brother or sister dies. My mother died and was not unexpected. Not. Uncommon if you will she had been ill. My sister's death was uncommon. We never knew the reason. That this happened. I want to talk today about pain. Emotional pain. The pain of suffering the fear that each and everyone of us. Has experienced. I've come to realize that experiencing the pain of life. Precedes any reconciliation. With that pain. Once i can do that. It is simply a matter of. Agreeing with life itself. Participating fully. In life. Means that i will experience both. Happiness and sadness. Both joy and sorrow. Both pleasure and pain. Agreement doesn't mean i have to like. The pain or the situation that is giving me. Pain. It does mean. But i will agree that the situation forms part of my life. At that moment. It means that i will feel the pain. Without reservation. I will not. Try to deny it. We have slide one. Nature. Has to granite sentences. I think that means written in stone. Become. Who you are. And that which does not kill me. Makes me stronger. This isn't something that just happens. This is something that grows. That makes up and comes out of the core. A spiritual health in engagement that's got talked about this month. But where and how does that happen. For me. It happens to a large extent within and because of my religion. We unitarian universalist. Have a whole religion. Dedicated to helping me and each one of you. Doo gro. Spiritually. Good religion. Good religion. Like a good lover. Will draw out the best in us. It will encourage us to get to our fundamental selves. To be the best human beings that we can be. Being the best human beings we can be. Means among other things that we learn to recognize and accept. Recognize and accept. All that life puts before us. It will call us forth into a new light. Where who i am and what i do is going to be congruent with what i believe. I still struggle with this concept. As i said i don't like pain. But when i agree with my pain. I know that it is the right response from me to that situation. In that moment. It is saying. Yes. Not only to the pain but. To life. Itself. Many of you will recognize these words from mary oliver. To live in this world you must be able to do three things. To love what is mortal. To hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it. And when the time comes to let it go. To let it go. Grief comes to everyone of us sooner or later. And when it does. According to an old. Yiddish teaching. We undergo three levels of morning. The first is tears. The 2nd. Is silence. And the third is. Song. Kubler-ross has. Five stages. Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. And acceptance. And others more contemporary talk about grief not in that straight line but. In a circle. Cuz there are many ways to experience grief and it comes back. It goes out there and it comes back. It goes out there and it comes back. Everyone here. Has a painful story to tell. Death of a parent. Of a spouse. Have a sibling. Or a child. Alcoholism. Drug addiction. Mental illness. Sexual abuse. Financial hardships. Emotional. Neglect. So i am certainly not unique. All of us have to confront pain. The issue. Is how. Will i do it. Most of the time. We can live. Realizing that all is not right. With the world. Most of the time we can hold that in balance. Unless that is the balance gets thrown off. As we watch. And experience the news of the world. But that balance. Here. Here. Is created in some measure by recognizing the presence of sorrow. As well as joy. I know. Within this room there are people worried about so many different things. Worried about. Your medical conditions. I know within this room there are people for whom. Relationships with loved ones are not what they would wish. I know within this room there is disappointment and worry over money. Jobs. Retirement. The soul of this country. Finding. A purpose in life. Pause pause for a moment to hold these sorrows. Realizing that grief. And sadness recognized are often stepping stones. On the path to thanksgiving. To spiritual health. To joy. And to have our hearts sing. Could we have slide to. I'd like to lead you through meditation. In which you will be reflecting on a difficulty in your life. She quietly. Feel the rhythm of your breathing. Allow yourself. To become. Calm. Unreceptive. Think of a difficulty you face in your life. As you sense this difficulty. Notice how it affect your body. Your heart. Your mind. Begin to ask yourself. A few questions. Listening inwardly. For the answers. We have slide 3. How have i treated this difficulty so far. How have i treated this difficulty so far. How have i suffered. From my own response and reaction. To it. What. Does this problem ask me to let go of. What. Great lesson can it teach me. And using this reflection to consider. Your difficulties. The understanding and openings may come slowly. Take your time. As with all medications that can be helpful to repeat this. Reflection and number of times. Listening each time for deeper answers from your body and your heart. And your spirit. I will repeat the question. How have i treated this difficulty so far in my life. How have i suffered. From my own response and reaction to it. What does this problem ask me to let go of. What great lesson. Can a teach me. Ernest hemingway said. The world breaks. Everyone. And afterward. Many are strong. At the broken places. Agreement with the pain i mentioned before means to step aside. From the eventualities of life and look at them from a higher. Viewpoint. This requires. Not only that acceptance in kubler-ross's stages. Perhaps that's a bit. Passive. But it requires agreement. Full participation in life. This to. For me comes from. My unitarian-universalism. Living into and out of love. Full participation in life. Being the best human being that i can be. It is in the connections and relationships among people. That helped us a duck that higher and larger viewpoint. From which. To look at. Our own pain. Our own lives. The connections in the community which we create. In our unitarian universalist congregation that is where. And how. We are saved from isolation. Shaved from isolation. We do not have to do this alone. We do not have to participate. In life. Alone. We walk together. We hold each others hands. We kneel before the mystery of life together. This is the only life we will ever have. And therefore there was no time to waste. Remember scott sermon on. The three words of unitarian universalist theology. This is it. This is it folks. No time to waste. Now is the time to sing. Now is the time to serve now is the time to celebrate. Now is the time to love and live with purpose. So let us get about the business of living fully and religiously now. That is the essence. Of what it means to be. A unitarian universalist. To live this temporal life. Passionately endwell. With both joy and responsibility. That is why this congregation is so important. That is why this congregation needs you. And you as well. Need it. And you know what. The pain. My pain. If i can't help but reflect on my sister's death. Especially on the anniversary of that every year. Another losses in my life begins to feel clean. It is now felt. Right. Losing my beloved sister is supposed to hurt. I'm not arguing with it. And i'm not trying not to feel it even all this time later. I still find the need sometimes to just let it wash over me. I've begun to realize that i am agreeing with the pain though i don't like pain. I'm coming to realize that agreeing with the pain of life is a matter of agreeing with life itself. Yes participating fully in life does mean. Did i will experience both happiness and sadness. Both joy and sorrow. Both pleasure and pain. Agreement doesn't mean that i have to like it. It does mean. I will feel the pain. Without reservation. I still struggle with this concept. But when i agree with my pain i know that it is the right response from me to that situation in that moment. It is saying yes. Not only to the pain. But to life. Saying yes to life. How incredibly difficult. That can be. How exquisitely rewarding. That is. Let me conclude. By quoting. Jack mendelson. Minister emeritus bedford massachusetts. The more we try to say precisely what is in our hearts. The more we find. That we are speaking for multitudes of strangers the world over. The deeper we get down to our own fundamentals. The more deeply. We represent those of other people. Like all human beings. I live on borrowed time. I never know when my time will run out. But i do know. That it will run out. I have no way of knowing where tragedies will befall me at the next step. The next ring of the telephone the next. Rising of the sun. My notion of spiritual fulfillment. Is learning how to accept this fate. With a ringing affirmation. For all that makes life. Worse. Living. To laugh. Is to risk. Appearing the fool. To weep. Is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk exposing our true self. To place our ideas. Are dreams. Before the crowd. Is to risk loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope. Is to risk the spare. To try. Is to risk. Failure. To live. Is to risk. Dying. Let us all go out together. Risking. Amen. And blessed be.

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2014Aug17Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. It looks like we have another tropical day on our hands. Yesterday and my bike ride it went from 90° to 72 during the afternoon rainstorm and that's our story isn't it. Warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon. Welcome. Universalist fellowship decided to begin your day with us. We are current gation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual selves. Even as together we work to make our world a better place. And please know as i say every sunday you're welcome just as you come to us. Whether you're young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd whether you are a visitor with us this morning or have been coming to these halls for decades. Whether you're feeling the top of the world this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you. And want to welcome you. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching and you will find something here this morning to take with you in the days and months ahead. That will give you renewed purpose enjoy in your living. Good morning america. The summer sun is slowly spreading its welcome over this vast and beautiful and strong nation. The blue-green waters here in the treasure coast already sparkle in the mornings and brace. Grass prairies of the heartland are being awakened by the touch of gentle august light. And the mountains and deserts will soon receive their baptism. A promising hope. And all across our nation. The people of america are stirring to life and purpose. Pancakes with the kids. Lollygagging in bed with coffee in the sunday paper is for the sinners. Walking the dog dragging the beach getting ready to play soccer. Do the chores go to church. Good morning america. We are a great and vast nation. A land was so much beauty and promise as well. As you know from ferguson missouri. Challenge. And pain. 10 prong.. As we begin our jamie our hearts remember the noble ideals and highest hopes of our nation. May we strive this day to open our hearts to life. And one another. As american. And by the work of our hands and our hearts helped to shape our nation. Into the america. Of our dreams. Good morning america. Good morning. My reading this morning relates not only to my topic of loving to hate american culture but also to the events that are going on in ferguson missouri this week. Which i know you have all been following with great concern. Langston hughes african american poet. It's a lament about american the unfinished business it's a famous poem any of you know it. Let america be america again. I will share it and then steve will provide a musical interlude. Let america be america again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plains of homeware. He himself is free. America never was america to me. Let america be the dream the dreamers dream let it be that great strong land of love. Never kings connive nor tyrants scheme that any man be crushed. By 1 above. It never was america to me. Let my land be a land where liberty is crowned with. No false patriotic wreath. But opportunity is real. And life is free. Quality is in. The air we breathe. There never has been equality for me. No freedom. In this home land of the free. Who you are that mumbles in the dark. And who are you that draws your veil across the stars. I am the four wife. I am the negro bearing. Slavery scars i am the red man driven from the land i am the immigrant. Clutching the hope i seek and finding only the same. Stupid. Plan of dog eat dog of mighty. Crush. The week. Young man full of strength and hope tangled in that ancient endless chain of profit power gain and grab the land. Grab the gold of grab the ways of satisfying need of work the men. I'll take the pay of owning everything for one's own greed. I am the farmer bondsman to the soil. I am the worker sold to the machine i am the negro servant to you all. I am the people. Humble hungry mean hungry yet today despite the dream. Yet today. Pioneers. I am the man who never got a head the poorest worker battered through the years. Yet i am the one who dreams are basic cream. In the old world while still a serf to kings. Who dreamt a dream so strong so brave so true that. Even yet. It might. Daring sings. In every brick and stone. In every furrow turn. That made america. The land that has become. I'm the man who sailed those early seas. In search of what i meant. To be my home. For i am the one who left dark ireland's shore and poland's. Play an english england's grass ely. And torn. From black africa strand. I came to build a home land of the free. The free. Who said the free. Not me. Surely not me. The millions on relief today the millions. The millions who have nothing for our pay for all the dreams we've dreamt. For all the songs we sorry for all the house we've held for all the flags we've hung. The millions who have nothing for. Except the dream that's almost dead. Today. America. Be america again. The land that never has been yet. And yet must be the land where every man is free the land. That's mine. The poor man's. Indians. Negros me. Who made america. Whose sweat and blood was faith and pain his hand at the foundry. Who's plow in the rain. Must bring back our mighty dream again. Sure. Call me any ugly name you choose. The steel of freedom does not stain. From those who live like leeches on the people's lives we must take back our land again. America. Oh yes i say it plain. America never was america to me. And yet i swear this oath america will. Be. Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death the rape and rot. A graft and stealth and lies. We the people must redeem. The land. The mines. The plants. The rivers the mountains of the endless plain all. All the stretch. Of these great. Green. States. And make. America. He runs the morning reading. Incident number one. Not long ago at a gathering of my rather large and boisterous extended family back in wisconsin. I had occasion to have a long and rather intense conversation with a favorite cousin of mine. And her husband steve very passionate. Fundamentalist bible-believing born-again christians. Which is over the years as i'm sure you can imagine led to quite a few interesting conversations with them as much as we try to avoid some religious top. On this particular occasion though i'm not sure how the topic came up with suddenly. Me the progressive unitarian universalist and they the conservative christian. We're discussing the present state of american culture. My cousin and her husband express their absolute fear and loathing. Of the common culture. Calling it a foul tip. Of degeneracy and morality and withdrawing. To protect themselves and their children from its pernicious influences. They echoed the sentiments expressed by paul wyrick. Was described in the washington post as the founder of modern. Social conservatism counseled his fellow conservatives to quote. Separate themselves from the open store. That is american popular culture. While i am not suggesting we all become amish or move to idaho what wyrick road. We need some sort of quarantine from are corrupted and polluted culture. Octagon similar fears my cousin and her husband. Move their family to an isolated farm in slinger wisconsin. We are in addition to doing subsistence farming. Are homeschooling their children. Rather than allow them to be polluted. By the children in the cultural values they would encounter in public school. Additionally faith we attend several times a week nearby fundamentalist church which also proceed. American culture with as much revulsion and distrust. As they do. Now don't get me wrong here i have plenty of complaints and criticisms and concerned about american culture. There are all kinds of things about american life that profoundly upset and worried me. Like the absolute crazy availability of guns. And the proliferation i must admit of body tattoos and sloppy clothing. The persistence of racism sexism and homophobia. And the reactionary outrage of the tea party. Which is having such a pernicious influence i believe on american politics. And the calispeed of so much of american capitalism to name just a few of my complaints. Indeed if i was asked to cattle out all my concerns about american culture. I would without much prompting go on at considerable length. But i was troubled as the three of us arguing about how good and bad things were in america. Which my cousin and her husband had to find. Their very being as persons and parents in absolute opposition to the culture in which they find themselves. They really seem to hate. American life. Incident to. A few years ago at our general assembly nomination in salt lake city to where lecture. Which is a famous and endowed lectureship. To which someone of national or international note is invited to address the delegates of the ga. Each year about some vital aspect of our faith. Or human life. It is often the highlight. Of the general assembly. The speaker that year was dr. mary pipher. Pifer. Renowned author social analyst and active unitarian universalist. From lincoln nebraska. Her topic for the evening was how to succeed in making healthy families. In our culture. I found much of address address to be. Useful and wise and challenging. But i also found myself resisting. One of the key operating assumptions upon which everything she said depended. Coding cultural critic david denby. Pfeiffer declared that american that in american culture we are quote. Buried in an avalanche of junk. And she went on in some detail. To decry all the many ways which in her view. American culture was a wasteland. Drugs. Stax stupidity. Banality. Violence. And trash. Most of us she said. Are good parents in a sikh community. And she went on to say that our job as adults was to offset as much as we can of the cultural messages. We are getting and protecting ourselves and our children from quote that. Which is noxious. Connecting instead and this of course is a disagree with. Connecting with what is good and beautiful. I left the lecture feeling quite sad about the extent to which. Dr. pfeiffer a true progressive. Despised american culture. Now what's going on here. Today in our culture. Many rather strident voices are being raised both from the conservative right. Represented by my cousin. And the liberal-left represented by doctor pfeiffer. Reaching essentially the same fiercely negative conclusion about american culture namely. Has become degenerate. And therefore must be rejected pronounced and resistant. Play golden wise people. As columnist geneva overholser recently observed in the washington post. Loathing the culture is as american as apple pie. We loaded from the right. Decrying the obvious tears in the moral and social fabric. And yearning for traditions lost and we loaded from the left. Bemoaning the distorted distorting grip of capitalism. And yearning for more government funding. Even when good news pierce's the gloom she right. We hasten to assert. Socially and culturally we are still headed. For hell. In a handbasket. It is long fascinated and perplexed mean. Set the american parents who are most passionate about homeschooling. Are either extremely conservative trying to influence their children. From the godless liberal influences of the culture or they're extremely liberal and progressive. Trying to insulate again their children from all the barbarisms of the quote. Vulgar and shallow culture. I find it extremely interesting that many conservative christians and many progressive you use. Generally do everything they can to filza philosophically distance themselves from one another. Seem to agree on one thing at least our culture is a mess it must be rejected avoided and challenged whenever possible. So this morning. I want to. Explore with you the question might have first seemed a bit esoteric or abstract but one which i think is very important for us. As a faith community to answer and that is. What kind of relationship do serious and ethical religious people strike. With the culture. They live in. Now. First to begin to answer this question seems necessary to try to define what culture is. 20th century theologian are richard niebuhr in his classic book. Christ in culture dresses. The question of what is a serious christian do living in a culture like ours. He defines culture is this. Artificial the artificial. Secondary environment which is a community of persons. We superimpose on the natural. So according to niebuhr. Various cultures that no matter where they are located around the globe. Comprised and now i call him again. Of language habits ideas beliefs customs social organization. Inherited artifacts. Call proceed. And values. Sweet culture then whether it's here in north america or in africa or asia. Each culture is an incredibly complex and fluid human constructs. Today's flights very nature. Profoundly imperfect. Do all cultures are imperfect and frustrating. Human constructs. Religions on the other hand. By their very nature the religions are pure and idealistic human constructs. Which dream of perfect was all religions dream of perfect justice perfect love. Perfect order. Perfect morality perfect life. That's what the news about. Feed a conservative or progressive. All religions wants things to be right but culture any culture by its very nature will of course never be. Just wright. It will always be significantly wrong. Again cultures no matter where they are found in the world they stumble and they grown forward. Any turtle in perfectibility. There is no culture to my knowledge on the face of this earth. But even approaches the human excellence and perfection. For which all religions hearing. And so it seems to me by logic. That all religions and biological extension all religious people. Will always find themselves in some sort of appositional relationship. With the culture they find themselves in. I mean can you imagine a religion which themes of pure things. Being totally satisfied with any actual imperfect culture. Egyptian. American indonesian or swedish. No of course not. To be a religious person to be a person with an ultimate dream for life and person's mean. We're at least in a perpetual lover's quarrel. With the culture in which we find ourselves. As we work with others to try to make it a better thing. And the fallen to accordance with our values and our dreams. Sometimes of course. A religious people need to have more than a lover's quarrel. With their culture. Sometimes religious people are required by moral circumstance. Too fiercely resist and renounce their culture. As some christians. Nobly but futile futilely attempted to do in the 1930s. Speaking out against nazism in germany. Against the hateful culture. That became hitler's third reich. The resistance resistance was most dramatically represented by german theologian dietrich bonhoeffer whose image you see. A brave lutheran minister in theologian. Who reached the moral conclusions that nazi culture was so evil. That he must participate. In the plot. To assassinate adolf hitler. A decision which cost him. Surely no religion. Worth its weight in salt. Allows itself to become completely co-opted by its culture. Captured religion. In some sort of sweet non questioning conformity. Does the cultures imperfect assumptions and evil structures as so many christians did in germany. As a holocaust unfolded they simply pretended. Not. Toosii. I can't imagine any serious religion here in these united states. Beer on the conservative and on the liberal and it could be completely comfortable. With the current shape and substance of american culture. And american life. Conservative and liberal religions will often be upset and concerned about different things. Conservative conservatives for example might hate new dating is not the new show. Great stuff i'm sure. While liberals might hate gun violence. On that same evening television time. Because they both take life seriously both the conservative and the liberal. A lovers quarrel with the culture. So what i'm eating this morning is it to be religious. Ultimately in idealistically about the shape of life around you. Is to always being a critical. Oppositional relationship with your culture. But the question becomes what kind of oppositional relationship. And to what extent and how will that opposition get expressed. The answer to that question of course will vary from culture to culture. Across historical time. Clearly there are times. When religious people are morally called upon to take great risks. And to pay gray costs to achieve to actively resist. And support cultural and societal realities and trends as happened in the civil rights movement. In the fifties and sixties when people stood up against the terrible. Terrible racism of american culture at great cost to themselves. Many religious people stood up. I've already mentioned the obvious example of hitler's third reich. And you can also asking to where was the serbian community. Christian community during. The genocide. Cleansing of. Muslim innocence in bosnia. And where were the buddhist faithful in cambodia in the late seventies when the khmer rouge killed over 1.7 million. Of their own people. And where were the religious leaders of africa when the hutu majority in rwanda slaughtered nearly a million tootsie. Men women and children hacking most of their neighbors. To death. How can any truly religious people. Standby. In the face of such cultural. Evil. Course it's always easier to challenge other religious people in other cultures and other times. For the ways in which they apparently failed their religious principles but what about. Us. In america today. How dire is our cultural situation. Are political cultural and moral condition. How bad are things in america really. And to what extent. And how should we as caring unitarian universalist. Either fit into the culture as. Our privilege. Usually allows us to do. Or actively confront. And reject and challenge those unhealthy. And immoral and unjust aspects of our culture. Again the large question i think it's a large question i posed to you this morning. What is the appropriate relationship 4oz of serious religious people. To have this time with are obviously flawed. These questions have long vexed many religious thinkers including many christian theologians. At the one end of the extreme christians like leo tolstoy leo tolstoy. Who saw culture. And the send the government as the chief offender against life. Which committed christians are morally obliged to totally reject and refuse because. Culture always and tolstoy review violates. The pure laws of christ. Tolstoy believe. That the only responsible. Response of a true christian can make. To any culture. Was complete. Non-participation. Had to retreat into a peaceful anarchy that is a lawless withdrawal utterly indifferent to authority. Because the gulf between god's perfect law. And the nature of culture. Can never be bred. No just extremely oppositional position. A forcefully rejecting the common culture is not like the position. Not unlike the position of my born-again cousins. And other social conservatives have taken. What is the other end of the spectrum. Of religious response to culture. Arwen ybor call. The conversion list. The conversion oldest. Serious religious folk. Who fully see that sometimes clary and i ugly gaps between the pure demands of their faith. And the volga realities of their culture but stay engaged in an earnest attempt to convert the culture. More in accordance. With their highest values. Iquote niebuhr. The conversion list. Belong to the great. Central. Tradition of the christian church. Do they hold fast. To the radical distinction between god's work. And humanities work in culture. Road of rejectionist christianity. Into isolation from civilization. Or reject its institutions will with tolstoyan bitterness. What distinguishes. Conversion list right. From rejectionist. Is there more positive and hopeful attitude. 4culture. They're more positive and hopeful attitude. Ford. Culture. Here is really the choice. That we face. Between rejection ilysm. End conversion. Between being a. Projectionists. Or conversion list. What is the morally appropriate stance for us as you used. Do we like my conservative fundamentalist cousins. And liberal progressive dr. mary pfeiffer. Declare insurance superior tones. That our culture is full of junk. Give up on it just run from it. And move away into some sort of pure rejection ism. Or do we find some way do we find some way. To stay actively and purposely engaged with our culture. Even as we work through converted to one that is more to our moral and social liking. Well tamia's unitarian universalist the answer. Is completely morally and spiritually obvious. I believe that effective and responsible religious people always stay engaged. And do not permit themselves easy out of self-righteous withdrawal. From the common culture based on an imagined moral superiority. I'm better than all you great unwashed i'm going to go live my pure little life over here. Screw. It makes me proud to tell you historically speaking that are as has always been. A conversion list faith. Tradition. From the earliest days of our unitarian and universalist. The movements in the 18th century new england. Liberal religion has never hesitated to give voice. To the many ways in which we see our american culture. Falling short. Of our most deeply-held values and beliefs. All the great unitarian and universalist reformers in the eighteenth and nineteenth century there were many. Devout liberal christians i would remind you. We are the ones who worked with others a good-faith to reform american prisons american schools american mental hospitals. And job places workplaces. Are religious forebears believed that they were. Working. Toward what they believed was the ever-growing kingdom of god. That was possible here on earth. They did not reject it. They rolled up their sleeves and worked to make our culture more like. The kingdom of god. Earth that's what they thought they were doing. They stayed engaged. And moved to ciety. Tordon approximation. Other purist. Dream. 4life. As a faith tradition we have never allowed ourselves. The convenient cop out of declaring our cultural pile of junk. Or an open sewer. So that we can just live in some isolation of purity. Show for us is a faith tradition. Projectionists. Escapist stats is not acceptable. To be a unitarian universalist has always met that you refuse to give up. On your culture and society. No matter how grievous that society or culture has strayed. From your most passionately held principles. Sure you can. You can indeed must from time to time excuse yourself. From some of the more obviously despicable or destructive aspects. Of the culture like refusing. To allow yourself and your family to watch them mindless violence and sex driven crap. I'm television these days. Or listening to visit misogynistic and gun-happy gangster rap work. Or just to name a few was so with some of the worst aspects of american culture. Obviously for our sanity and health we sometimes have to excuse ourselves. From the worst. What in the overview in this is my main point. To be a unitarian universalist means you stay morally engaged. An act of spiritual conversation with your culture. Helping with others of goodwill who are also hanging in there. Toward greater dignity. And humanity in the past president of the u.s.a. bill schultz once said. Ours is a theology of dirty hands. We have to roll up our sleeves. And stay engaged. Like all religious groups we unitarian universalist have high and holy expectation. For culture and the end for human life and if you doubt that just read the seven principles. The order of service every sunday those are as idealistic statement as you can get. We really really have a very high dream. For all of culture. We know. We know are coming culture will regularly fail us. There is no way our present-day american culture or any other culture. Could ever live up to our seven principles it'll never happen. We can move toward it but it'll never happen justice-peace equity for all. Come on. Never going to happen. I suppose. It's not totally unreasonable. To take a hard look right now in the year 2014 at the overall condition. Of american culture and life. And to declare it as my cousins do. A despicable and unworthy enterprise. I suppose it's not totally irrational. You want to give up on our flawed society. And retreat into the imagine. Imagined safety. Open isolated farm. In slinger wisconsin. But as i have said in our tradition. Dismissive stance for culture has never been acceptable. We have always been engaged. In our culture. Critically and compassionately. With the abiding faith that our cultures worst errors worse evils and injustice has. Are in the end correctable at least partially. If we apply our best selves. And i would also. I would also go on to stay to my cousins. Horsepower trying to isolate themselves on the farm in wisconsin. Is america really an open sewer. Full of junk. Such a sweeping judgement of our culture feels good to see when you said i was just live in a culture of john. But these are i think vastly overstated and may. Mislead us in dealing with the actual culture we have in hand. When my fundamentalist cousins declare this culture an open sewer getting worse by the minute. I tried to do a brief reality check. I said wait a minute. Are you sure things are as despicable and despairing as you suggest. And then i shared some of the positive facts i learned from gregg easterbrook who's scholar of american life. Did you know i said. In america today drug and alcohol used both among adults and teenagers. Is substantially down. Violent street crime and murder dramatically down. An out-of-wedlock birth. Even school place violence and workplace shootings. Down sharply. Did you know racial minorities and countless groups of immigrants in our nation. Are making rapid economic and educational progress in contributing. Vast amounts to our health as a society. Do you know. Those of you who are so negative about the state of american life that americans read twice as many books last year as they did in 1947. And the internet and even ipads show no sign of vanquishing a good old paper book. Did you know that museum attendance is dramatically up everywhere in america. The number of symphony orchestras. Has increased from 1965 to today from 58 to 1200. The number of american opera companies has grown from 27 to 122. Why professional theater companies popping up all over america does this sound like an open sewer. Right. And then i shared with my cousin's my excitement about the fact undeniable to all who look honestly at our culture. Set america is without doubt despite all its problems and one of them we saw this week so painfully in ferguson missouri that is. Radically unresolved. Nonetheless. We are the most successful. Peaceable. Creative multicultural society on the face of the earth. An inclusive social order with more freedom. More opportunity more decency and more hope for more kinds of people. Can any nation in any historical time. I said to my cousin's. Sure america. Has some vulgar and sinister aspects too much drug abuse bad music. Growing economic. The gap between the rich and the many poor persistent. Domestic and sexual abuse crazy gun violence. Gender and racial inequality for many problems persist and summer probably even getting worse right now. Many things. Some obvious and some not-so-obvious are moving in a positive inhumane direction. And this is critical. Many cultural trends will respond. To our attention and our moral concern. Geneva overholser points pinpoints our failure of prospect. Today in america. We focus on some foul mouth rapper. As if you were the sum total of all that we do. Look at and listen to as americans. As if he were somehow more representative of our culture. Skellington. Martha graham. Or steven spielberg. The sad part of my conversation with my cousins. Was it no matter how many concrete examples i gave. A+ people affirming american cultural trends. They steadfastly refuse to consider even a tiny bit. Their condemnation. Of american culture. It was as if their entire sense of their selves. Was absolutely dependent upon their belief in the growing degeneracy. Of everything around them. My cousins and many other in this culture. Both on the right and the left are moving toward a rejectionist isolationism. That imagines safety and sanctity for themselves and themselves alone there is no. Search. If you want to name a dangerous cultural trend. Name. That's why. I believe it is the moral responsibility of every citizen in every culture to stay critically. And compassionately engage with their society. And do what they can in the light of their. Religious principles. And by the work of their principled hands. To be a part of the transformation. Of their all of their culture. Private istic withdrawal from the struggles of culture. Mayfield good. But it leads to great disaster. Again no one is ever saying. Things will be perfect. As a religious liberal just like so many religious conservative. I am frequently so troubled. Find my culture. God knows i am not saying we should live uncritically in america. You have to be really really stupid and i'm caring. What is a unitarian universalist i know it is my moral duty to hang in there. And strive with others of goodwill from both the right and the left. Promote conservative and progressive ends of our culture. My america is not an open sewer of filth. My america. Persistent and magic mattingly imperfect as it is. Is a culture of possibility and promise. Who's human future. Is not yet written. My america is a place where human life can and will if we will lend our best and most discerning cells to it. Organized itself into ever more justin beautiful patterns of decency and wisdom and goodness and respect. So let's hang in there with ourselves. My fellow americans. We are in this together. We are in this together irretrievably is 1 people. Forever indivisible. In america now and forever. There can be no safety. And no decency. Unless we all move toward shared. Safety and decency. Together. So let us get to work. Let us work on our trouble culture. To make it better. What does fraternity. Is langston hughes suggested. To its highest principles. And it's most noble aspiration. But a strike. Pitkin vergilis relationship. With this terribly imperfect construct. That is america. There is a lot to do. And i assure you there is absolutely. No one else. To do this work. So let's get about it. This land is your land. This land is my land. There's no one else. Beauty. A good nursing home. We are the one. As our highest values.

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2013Nov03Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. Beautiful. To the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach and we are so pleased you've chosen to be here with us this morning. We are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. People seeking to become our best selves even as together we work to make a better world and please know that you are welcome. Idiosyncrasies and out just as you are. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful state of humanity. Whether you're feeling on top of the world this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We hope you will find our services morning meaningful and reaching that you'll find something here. To take with you that will make your days and your weeks better as you live life as you were meant to do it. Oh yes. Another day. Stay is h beauty and its promise. It's weight of sorrow and disappointment. The brightness of its opportunity. For doing an achievement. It's opportunity for the deepening of love. An understanding. This day is ours. Even as we make it ours. By the readiness and our appreciation. 4front. We shall receive according to our measure of giving. Marcel. And from the heart. May there be laughter in this day. And if there be tears. Generous tears. Another day. A day. Get a life. In which you were generous. Look around the azaleas in the neighborhood where you grew up. Look for the full moon hanging over in a black black sky. On a cold night. And realize that life is the best thing ever. I meant you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about his goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money that you have spread on yourself. I'm give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a big brother or sister. All of us want to do well. But if we good. I'm doing well will never be enough. It's so easy to waste our days our lives are ours. It's so easy to take for granted the color of the azaleas. The color of our children's eyes the way the melody in his symphony rises and falls and disappears and rises again. So easy to exist. Instead of live. So live. Generously. This morning i bring you the second installment a sermon series. On the 7th. Caring. Which has been identified by social scientists who study human. As something we must forever to achieve. Sustained happiness in our lives. Now we all know that happiness is american as apple pie. The freedom to pursue it is written right into our nation's declaration of independence. People. The americans routinely expect their lives to be well. Happiness as you know is a big. And elusive ideal a lot of us are. Uncertain about precisely what it is. And how exactly to find or achieve or sustain. Ecologist. Is inherently subjective. Who has it. And what it looks like in day-to-day life. But recently leading psychologist. Positive psychology of the study of happiness. I've done a great deal of fresh and i think exciting research on what makes for happiness more important. Human well-being. Make the human heart. Really sing. And over the course of the series i hope we can discover. More what that might look like. Get our own lives. I will focus each sermon in the series on one of the seven habits. Identified by a team directed by doctor paul desann. Yale and harvard educated psychiatrist. The groundbreaking research of positive psychologist pioneer. Dr. martens engelman. The team has suggested. But there are seven dimensions of are individualized. Properly nourished and cultivated will lead to a greater sense. Of well-being and satisfaction in our lives. The ancient greeks call such a favorable psychological state. Eudaimonia. Which roughly translate into english. But as well being or even more salient. Flourishing. What it takes to flourish. As opposed. To the more fleeting emotion of happiness. Here are the seven habits that the. Scientists have included in their lives. For greater sense of well-being. Relationships which we covered couple of weeks ago. Today's top caring and service. Health and fitness. You'll love to get a sermon for me on that subject i'm sure. Slow. Spiritual engagement strengths and virtues and positive mindset. Optimism. Ingratitude now before i begin to talk about the second. Of these habits. I need to talk about the realization of positive psychology in the overview. When positive psychologists talk about happiness. They do not mean what i shall call the happy-face theory of happiness. Theory of happiness. One side in the sixties are minister in binghamton new york. His name was harry thor bless his heart and orange jumpsuits. He made the congregation every sunday as the intro sing this. Zippity doo dah wonderful day. We friends. That is a happy siri. Of happiness. It focuses on when we are in a buoyant or cheerful mood. Those times were full of laughter and ebullient and merriment. I recently wrote flat piece in the sun sentinel when i was down in fort lauderdale. Where the author equated his happiness in life. With all of the quote and quote. Thrilling experience has lifetime. Winning the soap box derby when he was 10. Getting a date with the best-looking cheerleader in high school. Accepted into the coolest fraternity in college. Driving his first lexus off the car dealers lot. Getting a promotion of his dreams at work. Holding his first grandchild for the first time. This is a happy face view of happiness. It requires a steady stream of moments of gleeful and giddy delight. Light up mr. smiley face up there. But the experts. Sustain. Happiness. And well-being suggest. But if you were looking for contentment and joy in all these flashy places you are as the song says. Looking for love. In all the wrong places. The kind of sustainable well-being and enduring life satisfaction. But has the power to make our lives glow with contentment. Is not. Like the hot momentary rush of pleasure you feel. When you win the lottery. Or skydive out of a plane at 10,000 ft. Or watch your home team win the super bowl or even devour a two and a half pound lobster. The kind of happiness and well-being. What is the power to really make our lives. Works of sustainable warmth and joy. It's more like a steady low hum. A-reliable satisfaction it's not noisy. Quiet. Low decibel hum. Of satisfaction. The quietly arises again out of these ordinary aspects of our lives. Relationships. Caring and service. Health and fitness in the others. No let me pause here and make a very important. Observation about happiness. All the experts say you do not necessarily have to have. A cheerful ebullient or outgoing personality. To find lasting happiness or satisfaction. In your life people with many different personalities and styles of being including. Quiet. Reflective and introverted people who do not look like mr. smiley face every minute of their lives. Can be happy. You do not have to go through your life. With a perpetual smile plastered on your face. For you to know that true sense of well-being the kind of burns like a quiet amber. In a november fireplace. Again. What the positive psychologists are saying this makes perfect sense to me. Is a sustainable happiness. And well-being. Is not achieved in our lives. In flashy or dramatic or noisy moments of happy face glee but rather. It's a quiet and honest and patience quality that steals into our lives. Because we're doing these kinds of things. To what really matters in our lives. Cannot jumping out of airplanes. To skydive pretending. To what really matters in our. And that brings me. To today's fundamental topic. Caring and service. What the psychologist studying happiness are telling us. Surprise. Is it if you truly want to find satisfaction in your life. You must regularly find way to care for and serve the needs of others. Here is the way the study puts it. And they say here is not the bottom line. Here is the top line they the rothers right here is the top line about caring. People who volunteer or simply care for others on a consistent basis. Seem to be happier and less depressed. 10 people who do not. The seems to be especially true. For older individuals. Most people who care for others in a selfless manner. Study goes on. Do so because of a genuine desire to help others. And to improve the world around them. Nonetheless modern sociological research has shown that caring has benefits. For everyone involved. And then they go on. People who volunteer or care for others on a consistent basis. Have better mental well-being. Including fewer depressive symptoms and higher life satisfaction. Although carrington. As a part of an organized group or club. It can also be a simple as reaching out to a workmate. Or classmate or neighbor. Who looks lonely or is struggling. With an issue. And then a hand. Studies show that people who serve others. Even for as little as two or three hours a week. Can benefit in multiple ways. And experienced more life satisfaction and that's one reason. I inserted. Simple guide to how to become more generous in your life i heard you to take it home. Maybe put it on your refrigerator for a few weeks take a look at it every once in awhile. We all i think intuitively understand the truth in the old saying. When you bring sunshine to others. You cannot avoid it. Yourself. When we selflessly care and serve the needs of others not only definitely brighten the lives of others and make our world a better place. We also as a kind of a free bonus. Feel better about ourselves. I believe there's a deep and natural tendency in all of us. Helpful. And generous and kind. In part because it makes us feel good about ourselves. When we do something for others simply put. We humans feel good. When we do good. And this is good because it enables us and causes us to do more good. It is wonderful book emotional intelligence. Dr. daniel goleman assert. All human beings come to the world. With a strong and natural empathetic impulse. The others and their needs i quote roman. The roots of empathy can be traced to infancy. Virtually from the day they are born all infants are upset. When they hear another infant crying. Feel empathetic distress. Even before they fully realize they exist apart from other people. A response that is. He writes the earliest precursor. Empathy. In a similar vein. Recent studies of the human brain reveal that we are actually wired. For generosity and service did you know that. Years ago to leading. Neuroscientist at the national institutes of health about a mile. From my last church that i serve. Dr. jorge and dr. jordan grassland study the brains of volunteers. As they were asked to think about donating a sum of money to charity. Or keeping it for themselves. I quote from that study. The results showed that when the volunteers place the interests of others above their own. The generosity activated a primitive part of the brain. That usually lights up only in response to pleasurable things. Like food and sex. In other words giving makes me feel as good as food and sex. Was not a superior moral faculty. That suppresses basic selfish urges but rather. Was basic to the brain. Hardwired. And pleasurable. They're finding that unselfishness can feel good lenses scientific support. To the admonitions of spiritual leaders. Such as saint francis of assisi who said. For it is in giving. That we shall receive. And so the everyday have it. Caring and serving others. And what the authors are mostly talking about here. Is the practice of regularly volunteering. Tourism organization. For the well-being of others. The everyday habit of volunteering or otherwise caring. Not only strengthens our basic connections to another it also has the tangible. But powerful benefit of making us feel good and valuable ourselves. I trust that all of you. Have felt that boost of self-esteem and satisfaction that comes. When you take the trouble to gather with our folks who are putting the meal together for the homeless family center. Once a month. Or if you take a shift volunteering at the front reception desk. At the indian river medical center or at the vmas hospital house. Your dad i would always see him at the front desk at the hospice house. Beaming as he served others. Orem. Spending a saturday painting the new house which our local chapter of habitat. For humanity has built. I'm entering a disadvantage child for a one-parent home through our wonderful youth guidance program here in town. Or. More simply going to the trouble to take over a plate of fresh baked cookies to your neighbor. Who just lost her husband of the last. 40 years. Any one of these simple acts of caring and service. Work their powerful magic not only in the lives of those who are being held. But also in our own lives and psyches. Caring comes naturally. To us. For other people. And we almost always feel better about ourselves when we get. Despite all the good news about the pervasiveness of human caring and service. Surely you of all noticed in our time. In these early years of the 21st century that. Selfishness. And self-absorption do seem to be on the rise. Are materialistic culture. As countless social commentators and analysts have already observed. Is one that is increasingly marked by an ethic of self concern. Self-interest and self-focus. Sadly an american life today. We are all given ample cultural permission. To turn inward. To pay increasing attention to our own needs and wants and desires. While at the same time expressing a growing indifference. To the needs and wants and desires of others were given permission. To be selfish. Clyde's. It is important book bowling alone. America's decline in social capital. Sociologist robert putnam argues that there is a dangerous to climb. In american today. Social capital or civic engagement. The kinds of invisible threads belonging and responsibility. The hold us together which alex de tocqueville. Talked about an american life just after the american revolution. That makes our culture a beautiful fabric of mutuality at its best. The makes the case that as a people we americans are becoming. Increasingly private istic. And isolated from one another. Are once plentiful voluntary associations. Everything from bowling league. To service clubs like rotary and kiwanis. Do churches and synagogues to ptas. Even political parties. Are declining. And there's a result he writes the bonds of community that once held us together. As a healthy and vibrant and engage culture. Are weakening. Erosion des erosion of community connection and caring as reflect. Declining rate of volunteerism in this country. The bergen county record newspaper in new jersey recently reported i don't know how they get the statistic. 3.6 million fewer americans volunteered. Today then they did just seven years ago. Another study entitled volunteering. In the united states and in 2012 which uses numbers from the us bureau of labor statistics and again i don't know how they got to be sadistic. It is reported that the volunteer rate declined by 303 tenths of 1%. In the last year alone. Now down. The 26.5% of the population who regularly volunteers about a quarter of us. One-in-four americans go to the trouble. Irregularly volunteering. And this is a decline. From just a few. Decades. Here are some other interesting facts about volunteering in america. More women volunteer than man. Married persons volunteer more than those who are single and this was a bit of a surprise to me. Caucasian americans volunteer at a higher rate. Then blacks asians and hispanics. It's not surprising our lowest among the 22 24 year olds. And highest among those of us between the ages of 35 and 45. Was volunteerism tapering off. Slowly after that but that doesn't seem like the case here on the treasure coast. Does it. Area. People in the treasure coast in this retirement community can be found volunteering all over town and reality. In just a moment. Finally individuals with higher levels of education. Engage in volunteer activities at a higher rate than those with less education. But the bottom line here is a volunteerism. The organized and intentional act of caring for others in need is slowly declining in america. With fewer and fewer of us. Troubling to set aside time and energy. And then our financial resources to serve. The needs of those around us we have. Turn this ship around. I take it on faith. But the rate of volunteerism. And the commitment to service to others. Is radically higher in this congregation. The one in four americans in general i trust that we have a much higher rate. Volunteerism here in this congregation. And it didn't all religious congregations. In america. Are liberal religious tradition in particular. Has always emphasized that we have a moral and spiritual duty to care for others. Most especially those. Disadvantaged in our society i called again. From this morning's chalice. Lighting words which are printed in your orders of service it's used in many of our congregations. Is the doctrine of this church. Quest of truth is it sacrament. And service. Service is it prayer. Intends to dwell together in peace. To seek knowledge and freedom. To serve human need. To the end that all souls shall grow in harmony with the divine. Service. And. Services mentioned twice. And so dear friends. The truth isn't if you want to be both a real and a happy unitarian-universalist you've got to be a volunteer somewhere. Get out there in our community. And all the little ways to quietly count. Make an effort to serve the needs of others and even if you are physically restricted in your life or. Just don't have the energy. There are many ways of volunteering as you know on the phone or by making charitable contributions. And that it will be both a blessing to you and to our community. Chester new york minute. Isn't there more to the spiritual story here than my predictable admonition as a minister. To increase the amount of caring and volunteering in your life. Yeah wait just a new york minute. As i thought about caring. And service to others. The second all-important habit of happy people. I realize. Analyze we surely always have to balance in our lives. This instinct to selflessly reach out. With a good old healthy dose. Of self-interest. Is it life. Balancing your life between self-serve between service of others. And service of self. It seems to me. Set a healthy balanced life is a balance between. Self concern and other concern. Is it real life always a dynamic interplay between these two legitimate steers of concern. Shirley selfishness. The inward focus and desire to take care of your own life and needs and those needs of your loved ones immediately around you. Must peacefully coexist. In our lives with a certain measure of self. Listless that outward desire. Aurelia 10. To the needs of others at a cost to you. In spite of all the positive benefits that. Caring and service have for us it there must be practical limits. We put about how much we put out into our world. I have known a few people in my life who i think gave. Too much. And as a result their personal lives. With their families did suffer. It is logical and right for example. Immediately after you spend a demanding and useful afternoon down at the local food pantry. Packaging bags of food for hungry families in our area. If you go home and indulge yourself. But a long hot bath and then sit back. And enjoy a glass of chilled chardonnay on the porch all by yourself as the sun goes down. Or. And he doesn't say much for you guys. Do nothing more socially useful as many of you will tomorrow to watch the green bay packers 3. The chicago bears packers. Well i'm from wisconsin i can't help myself. My uncle is on the board of directors once of the packers underwear. Let each of us remember that for our spiritual and emotional health. Our generous caring are our looking this must always be balanced with a bit of self-indulgence and self-care. Only in the balance allows us to go through our lives. With that bright sense of. But with all this sad before i am this morning. I must return to warn us all about the very real spiritual and emotional dangers. Of excessive. Selfishness of excessive self concern. I want to see a quick show of hands how many of you know someone you regard as truly truly selfish. Raise your hand if you know somebody like that. Someone who. Who just drives you crazy with their selfish. Are these fun people to be around. No. Here i think is the sad truth. About truly selfish people. Play imagine by keeps all their focus on themselves. On what they already have and possessing one. That they will find in that holding us. Daily blast with lasting contentment and satisfaction but in fact. The exact opposite is always the case. A selfish person who like their sisters can only look. A hammer herself. You never looks. At the needs and wants of others. Is like a feather. Stagnant pool of water. No fresh water in. No fresh water out. I love the way the british philosopher and mathematician alfred north whitehead. Once put this truth. About how healthy given take in life. Is necessary if we are to ever know well being. Listen to is wise words. The secret to happiness. Lies. And knowing this. That we must live by the law of expenditure. We find the greatest joy not in getting. Expressing what we are. There are tides in the ocean of life he goes on. And what comes in the pens on what goes out. The currents flow inward only where there is an outlet. Nature does not give to those who will not spend. Hear gifts are merely loan to those who will not use them. Amerigo's on empty your lungs and breathe. The more you give out. The more you shall receive. Be exhausted and you shall be fed. People do not live he goes on for honors or for pay. Their gladness is not in taking. And holding. But in doing in striving and building it. Living. And then he concludes it is higher it is a higher joy to teach then be taught. It is good to guess justice but better to do it. To have things. But more fun to make them. The happy person. Is the one who lives. The life of love. And expenditure. Not for the honors it may bring. But for life itself. And so my dear friends please remember this great and obvious truth. About our living. And about happiness. You cannot be happy. If you do not know how to share. And care and serve others. Well-being and contentment. Is this magic carpet ride. On this magic carpet ride we call life only comes to you. When you learn the craft generosity. Excessive selfishness. Access off from everything that is holy. In life and everything that can sustain us. Only through generously pouring ourselves out. To world and the others. On a regular basis only then. Can we quietly discover. The great door. To heaven. Unsatisfied. And i say and mean to you this hour. And it is wonderful 14 years ago with the turning of the millennium the dalai lama. Set this. Both now and forever a protect. Tour without protection. A guide for those who have lost their way. A ship for those with ocean to cross. A bridge for those with rivers to cross a sanctuary. For those in danger. A lamp for those without light. A place of refuge for those who lack shelter. And the servant. To all in need. Live a generous life this week. Andy black. I'm in tijuana.

uufvb_org

2012Sep02Sermon32.mp3

Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach on this labor day weekend. We expected to see about 10 people here but we're glad you're here. Please no. You are welcome. What are you young or old straight black. What do you want for the world are down in the dumps. Or somewhere in the middle. We're delighted to see you. You're welcome here just you come to us. It all of your particular arity. And your charm. Welcome. We hope you'll find this service meaning. Morning. That is your spirit and feed your soul. And gives you renewed energy. Enjoy. For the coming week. But our service begin. The stream of life. Bye. Robbins brothers. The quarry. The same stream of life. It's a shame life that shoots enjoy through the dust of the earth. Numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers. It's the same life. That is rock in the ocean cradle of birth and death. Endeavor and flow. I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride. Is from the life throb of ages dancing in my blood. This moment. Good morning. Our story this morning of the little girl. She was a child that was in my preschool. Deann with a small child. With physical handicaps. Pausing it cost one arm too. Not be very usable. And she walked a little. Her siblings. When with the help of a couple of pants. They took care of these children. Her mother. Was more interested. And her drug habit. Then she was in her children. Clean and usually happen. She had an extended family. Still. With her handicap. She had many problems to deal with. It would be very easy for deanne overcome by her handicap. And see if she was a person. The direct preschool was determined. And every morning. And came into the room our director would say to her. Who's the most beautiful girl in all the world. Adidas. She left. One day i was reading the paper and. Project that they were doing. And lo and behold. It was. She had a science project. In regard to the use of drugs. Two children. Handicap seats can cause. I know she went on finished. High school and college. Time to time this groups. Each of us. For the reviver 105. But we let them know. They are special. And they have a role in life. Sometimes. Is a hello. I smile. They think that we think they are great. Bruce larson no longer strangers. Gives. A summary of the monumental free summary of the monumental work of cervantes. The story of man of la mancha don quixote. It goes like this. Ever since i saw the musical play. Man of lamancha. My patron saint has been. Don quixote. It is the story of a sundial old man who sets off to do battle with the world. Hundreds of years after the death. Chivalry. He dons a rusty suit of armor. Gold store to right wrongs. His companion. Did don quixote. Sancho panza is the squire of a great night. Knowing that only a humble servant. On the old man's farm. Sancho panza nevertheless. Loves his master. Enters into his fantasy. And so the two set off on their quest. Almost. I'm sancho panza. Autumn mule. The to ride up to a broken down in where mule trader stop. When don quixote meets the slovenly innkeeper. I'm just very questionable establishment. Which is no howard johnson's motor lodge. He kneels before him and says something like. Behold. You are the lord of this great manor. I asked you tonight me in the proper fashion. The innkeeper. Protest. This obvious madness. But don quixote. At dinner with the mule traders don quixote season 4. Misuse kitchen wench. Who comes in to serve the meal. His eyes she is a pure and beautiful maiden. Dulcinea. And he asked her to give him a token of her purity. Did they may take it into battle. As he fights the forces of evil. She insists. But she is not though some may about aldonza. In a deeply moving song. She tells with having been born into a ditch. Having used and abused and used by hundreds of men. Again. The dime refuses to see the reality of the situation. Declares that he must have a token. Pure and beautiful dulcinea. The story continues in this vein. Contrast. Don quixote soli madness. Where the brutal facts of the real world. At the end the old man is once again. Back in his bed at home. Dying. Is right mind. And no longer believes he is a nice. And the most of the people. He has encountered cubs bedside. And beg him not to change. When the strange and miraculous way. Each one has become a new person. The person who died quixote saw. It is pure and noble vision. There's a great line. My best recollection goes something like this driver says. I've been driving them out here for years. On the way out there happy and count birds even when there are none. And give big tips. And we have a great time. But all the way back. They are grumpy. Do not tip. And are like ordinary human beings. And you know what stickers they are. Just as a play a movie harvey. Makes the case for a little madness. The play and movie. It goes back through cervantes monumental work man of lamancha. Britain. Many centuries ago. Did so even better. It has all sorts of subtle implications for religion. Is well-known that don quixote in the story. Is symbolic of jesus and also symbolic. Historical religious figures. Let us focus. Musical movie version of don quixote. And the man of lamancha. Mentioning bruce larson summary. It's about a confused old man. Who seeks to recapture the age of chivalry. Centuries after it has disappeared. It's about the kind of madness that is willing to try to change the world. It is about a willingness. To seek to make the world a better place. What madness. It is about the madness of a quest. To make changes in life. And bring about. Real. Human justice. It is about seeing people. Not as they are with all their feelings. But seeing their potential. The story reminds us that most people have. Much greater potential than we are they. Realize. Don quixote sees the innkeeper. A place for a mule trader. As the great manor. And then i'll do a kitchen wench who had been used and abused. But the pure maiden. Dulcinea. In a strange and magical way. These positive expectations on quixote. Places in these people. Became a catalyst. That actually change people. It was madness. That's kind of madness that is willing to go on a people changing and world-changing quest. Now we particularly unitarian universalist. Pride ourselves to. Some extent on our ability to rationalize. To think through problems. Largely this is a good. But there is a time. Supplies. Innocence. I'm suggesting forgive the pun that's sent. It's not all that it's cracked up to be. Their limits. What could be gained through human reason. We know how human emotions make a tremendous difference in life. The psychologist may ask a person. About that. Rather than what do you think about that. I recall. Counseling professor. Jack shirley. Narcotics hospital in lexington kentucky. Associate professor who likes theological seminary. He was well-known for saying his first session. Do you feel strongly about that. Zaxby nearest think they should put that on this to stone. We are both intellectual and emotional being. The question. What do you feel about this is just as important as what you think about that. Where i grew up. In those days. Long behind the safeway. The community was racially segregated. We were taught several. The racial prejudices. Of the time. Also there was some anti-jewish prejudice. I'm sorry to say my father brought into both of these. I was raised in paducah kentucky. 12 rivers. But i asked. When the greyhound bus cross the river. Did they tell. African americans to go to the back of the bus. Why. In our local greyhound bus station. One for african americans. M14 call cash. It was a good question then it's still a good question. Teenager. Where i could not enter. And you get a hot dog i had to knock on a little door. Sidewall. The greatest influence sarah was the custodian. He was an african american. Yu-gi-oh memes principal. Desegregated lincoln high school. He was very good to us caddies. He got us some golf clubs. He also forgot my friend and i small jobs to do around there. Surprise. He didn't fit the stereotypes. That i've been given a black people. It's always interesting when are stereotypes of ethnic and cultural groups. Come into contact with reality. And are found. Picture we've been given we find his false. Positive thinking is limited. But the throwaway ones dreams and hopes. That leaves a spiritually empty. Sometimes we use all the spiritual resources we have. There was a great example. Told about secret place devotional some years ago. A true story. Between ministers ladies of the church. Paper the parsnip. I finished they discovered that paper dover all the electrical outlets. Let it go in the minister. Live news. Where's western adequate power. Undiscovered power was available. That's what i'm talkin about i'm just covered power. There is a printer. Title. Pulling up. Limitations. And the falsehood of what has been called. The power. Positive. How can i be a message for the whole world. How can we call on people who are starving. Sorry folks. Difficult. It has gotten more mileage than any one gallon. Altogether. Is tracer written about by doctor garmin vincent peale. Very sincere gentleman. Who preached that the marble collegiate church in new york city. And it has been cloned under the title. Possibility thinking. We need the kind of madness. Baba's layar. This senile dreamer don quixote. It is rusty suit of armor. Bad enough to battle. Was windmills. But it is madness he saw possibilities in people. Dead people walking around. And we're not just talking about jesus's symbolism here. But such other historical religious figures as confucius. Buddha. David. Francis assisi. Martin luther john calvin barton warren stone. Ralph waldo emerson. Alexander campbell aimee semple mcpherson. Gandhi. Emily osment. Birds that are very diverse groups are. But they all have touch. Many lives in many different ways. Now many people and hearing that a person is going to become a minister. Priest or rabbi sink. Crc. I didn't say it to me exactly has lost their mind. Perhaps. Terminate my acquaintances stuff that way. My father said to be i think you're throwing your life away. But then he was a shoe salesman. There is a certain madness and religion and other areas of life. Where people mason. And people. And make this world a better place. What madness that is. We all need some madness in our lives. To bring out our dreams and our visions and our hopes. Enter reality. People who are perfect. Are both dull and boring. Is don quixote did. What don quixote. Was like to see people as they are but for what they might become. Call the story in the bible. Hosea. At the direction of god. Marrying a prostitute. You seemed absolutely absurd to me for many years. And then i met a mess with this ministry kentucky. Who had actually married a prostitute. It took awhile for the people in the congregation to accept her. The bishop never did i understand. But he was a very dedicated man face. She became a very dedicated woman. There is a kind of madness and how people can change in life. Eric call bill williams. Peoria illinois member of the communist party in this nation. He had a religious experience. Not unlike the apostle paul he was blinded for a couple of days. And then he became a licensed christian minister. Served a couple funeral congregation. And attended. Eureka college c called just noted for having been the college of ronald reagan. This is the kind of change has happened to some people. And i can happen. There is world-changing madness. There is certainly in don quixote a person. And the world. His madness. I have no people to become. Banisters. That almost no one but they themselves. Believes. They had the potential within them. Let me tell you about 1. I'm at richard uses first. A transylvania college when i was transferring. The address. Flunked out. He was. From the clumsiest person i've ever knew. We could label him eclipse in some respects. One day working on the grounds crew. He didn't know how to turn off the ride on lawn mower. She left it running tied to a tree. He went to a little congregation west kentucky to play scala center. Freddy was fired. Lasting only 3 months. Much of the membership. Lives in that little town. He made a farewell visit to every member in town. Years later they can show you the tar he tracked it on his last visit. Ended up serving a community church in massachusetts. And after many failures he finally got a degree from a theological school. He had gone from failure to failure to failure. But he finally succeeded don't almost no one believed. He had that potential in him. Needed to meet many of the challenges of life. He had much more potential than anyone realized. And that's true. Go by ourselves. And the most of the people we meet in life. We constantly underestimate the potential in ourselves and another people. It isn't the power of positive thinking. But that most people have. Considerable hidden potential. Nar we realize. You have to be a little mad. Are you can be. Part of a catalyst in the world. That certainly sounds like madness. Don quixote we could agree with. Suffering from such perceptions of life. That it became madness. But he was able to change people. Embassy potential and people at society and given up on. With all don quixote's madness. He had a mission in life and made a question. To change the world. This called. I'm not very fond of a call reality therapy. It is highly rationalistic. Popular among the military and some others. But i'm not sure that the best thing for people who are emotionally disturbed. There's a heavy dose of reality. Who talks less and listen tomorrow. Is effective. Criselda mcalester that's busy telling a person. But he's. Archie. Should do. The story of don quixote. It's about the human struggle. For dinner. Powerful question who am i. It's a struggle. In every age. They smile old man don quixote unleash the madness of a quest. In the age. And chivalry was long over. We also have to admire his lawyer friend. Sancho panza. Who is willing out of brotherly love. Sancho panza gives us a picture of what. Loyal. And loving friends. Should do and be. Esesa madness. But also the possibilities. We struggle in every age will this question. Am i. Dietrich bonhoeffer. Talk about. Dad in the struggle. Before he was executed by the nazis. Well our fantasies request. Do not begin to equal that of don quixote. He represents the human struggle for identity. We long to feel we are not just part of the crowd. Unimportant. As individuals. In this madness don quixote saw all the hope and possibilities. In the people he met. We are forests as we wrestle with this issue to admit. As individuals. And humankind need some lamancha madness. Has anyone ever said to you. You are out of your mind. I'll just probably has happened to you. They probably said it. To your back. Their willingness to question life or goals that seem totally impossible. Are you willing to risk being identified as mad at some point. Are crazy. For venturing out and seeking. Do think change. To bring about human justice there's a real madness. In a world. Where there's so much suffering. We are used to call calling people to be rational. Take me with you use. And to what makes sense in life. But the question. To build a better world calls for. Some. Lamancha madness. So today. I don't call you to sanity. I call you. The madness. The worship is over. Now let the service begin.

uufvb_org

2013Nov24Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning good morning today at my home in the adirondack infinity 26. Your chosen to be with us this morning.. Open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. Keeping us together we work to make a benadryl. Please know that you're welcome justin to come give us 90 i say this every sunday but we needed here. Gay or straight. Black or white or some other one humanity's. The world this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between we welcome you just as you come. We're so pleased with us. Service this sunday before thanksgiving. Meaningful. But i do find something here. The nurse is your spirit and feeds your soul and give you a new energy. People living with life in the days and weeks ahead. Are opening word snake come from my colleague gary kowalski. We give thanks. For the earth and its creatures. And are grateful from may. For alligators. Apricots. Acorns and apple trees. For bumblebees bananas blueberries and beagles. Coconuts crawdads. Cornfield. I'm coughing. Daisy elephants and flying fish. For groundhogs glaciers and grasslands hazelnuts. For juniper jackrabbits and june bugs and kangaroos lightning bugs and licorice. 4 mountains and milkweed and mistletoe. Narwhals. Otters in asia. 4 pennies and persimmons and polar bears. Call hogs and. Queen anne's lace. For raspberries and roses feminine sassafras tornadoes and tulip weight weed. Birches at valley and waterfall. Yams and yogurt. We are grateful good earth not the least of all fresenius zucchini. And zebras. For the alphabet of wonderful things. Better is simple. The following meditation. Is by reverend christopher brice. Knoxville tennessee. And it's entitled. Grandmother's house. Over the river and through atlanta atlanta traffic to grandmother's house we go. It was our holiday routine during my childhood. I remember looking at all the food spread out on grandmother's dining room table. There was a large turkey roasted to a golden brown. Super salads casseroles dressings. Freshly baked rolls. Anna variety of vegetables to choose from. But these were of no interest to me. It was only one dish that mattered. It was served in an elegant fine china bowl. With a ladle to the side. It was a delicious. Piping hot bowl of spaghettios. I was always excited to see their grandma had cooked my favorite dish. She had lovingly opened a can. Poured the contents into a pod. And warmed to perfection. And of course. There was the presentation. I am probably one of the few people on earth who has been served. Spaghettios in fine china. My grandmother was a southern baptist. My father her son became an episcopal priest. And i am a unitarian universalist minister. Perhaps this is the trickle-down theory operating in religion. Grandma died before i became a member of a yo-yo church. I am not sure how she would have reacted. Perhaps she would have felt. The same as my aunt. Who said. One time to my brother sam. Chris is a unitarian. I thought he was at least episcopalian. This was not. A diplomatic comment considering that sam is is an episcopal priest. Would my grandmother be surprised by my choice. Maybe not. Grandmother taught me from the earliest childhood. There is room at the table for someone who is a little bit different from the rest. The memory of the bowl of spaghettios continues to remind me to make rum. In my heart for people who are a bit odd in their tastes and dispositions. There can be room in our hearts for diversity. There can be a place at the table for everyone. Even the more finicky children of god. Well this morning. On this sunday before our big national thanksgiving holiday brings the third installment. All the sermon series which will be preached on seven more or less random sundays over the year. On the seven habits of happy people i've been waiting to bring charlie brown into this for a while. With a sermon today. On having a positive mindset which is defined. As having optimism + gratitude. Which has been identified by the social scientist studying human well-being. That's something we must regularly cultivate if we are to achieve. Sustainable. And reliable happiness in our lives. I will focus each sermon in the series on one of the seven habits of happy people identified by a team. Directed by doctor paul desann. Ajo en harvard-educated psychiatrist. Having relied heavily on the groundbreaking work of positive psychologist pioneer. Doctor doctor martin siegelman this team suggested that there are seven. Fundamental dimensions of our lives that if properly nourished and cultivated will lead to a greater sense of happiness. And well-being throughout our lives and hear the seven areas that they have identified. Relationships which i've already talked about caring and service and now today's a+. Mindset. Now before i move on to talk about the third all-important habit of. Cultivating a positive attitude of both optimism and gratitude in your daily life. I want to briefly talk about what the positive psychologist have discovered in general. When positive psychologist talk about happiness they do not mean what i call the happy face theory of happiness. The happy face theory of happiness. Focuses on when we are in a buoyant or a cheerful mood those times were full of laughter ebullience or merriment. Happiness in this happy face view. Requires a steady stream of. Moments of lee and kitty delight that that light up mr. smiley face up there. But the experts who are writing about happiness and well-being suggest that if. If these are the flashy places you were looking for contentment you are as the song puts it. Looking for love in all the wrong places. Happiness the kind of sustainable well-being and satisfaction in our lives. But has the power to make us glow with contentment. Is not like. The hot rush of momentary pleasure you feel from winning the lottery. Or skydiving from 10,000 ft or watching your home team win the super bowl even. The kind of happiness and well-being that has the power to make our lives. True works of joy and warm. It's more like a low steady hum. A quiet satisfaction it's not flashy. The quietly arises again and again. Out of these ordinary aspects of our lives that we're about to put up again the relationships and the caring in the positive mindset these thing. It's a quiet hum. And let me pause right here for a moment to make a very important point about happiness which i've made before. All the experts say you don't have to necessarily have a cheerful or bubbly or outgoing personality. Define lasting satisfaction and well-being in your life. People with many different personalities and emotional styles including quiet reflective and reserve people. Can be happy. You definitely don't have to go through your life like mr. smiley face with a perpetual smile. Flap on your face to find true contentment. And well-being in life again. True well-being is like a quiet ember of satisfaction burning in the fireplace of your life. It doesn't have to be bursting into flames all the time. Again. What the positive psychologists are saying again and again in this makes perfect sense to me. But if we are to find sustainable happiness. It is getting that quiet and on austin tacious quality that steals gently into our lives. Long-term as a result of our purposefully tending. What really matters not winning the lottery but things that really matter. And that brings me to today's topic. Maintaining a positive mindset. Which involves the twin qualities of optimism. Ingratitude. What the psychologist studying happiness art all telling us in this. Maybe the most predictable and understandable of all 7 that i will discuss. Is it if you are to truly find satisfaction in your life you have to cultivate a positive attitude. And again that involves both optimism and gratitude as you move to this complicated thing called life. I want to take each of these two pieces optimism and gratitude intern. An address first how optimism is beneficial to us as persons. The authors of this study point out that optimism seems to have a tremendous number of real and concrete benefits for person. First optimism is linked to life longevity. Researchers studying the mmpi the minnesota multiphasic personality inventory that was is used so frequently in america you all took it as grade school children i'm sure. Found that for every 10 point increase in a person's score on the quote-unquote optimism scale. The risk of early death the creases by 19%. Which is a very significant statistical different. Second optimism has been correlated positively with health-related behaviors such as getting exercise avoiding smoking maintaining proper body weight. Optimism also has been proven to help people who come from families with drinking problems to avoid alcohol dependence. And helps those who have become dependent to become sober. Third optimism also plays a huge role in the recovery from illness and disease. And can play a protective role against the development of chronic diseases. Multiple studies have invested have investigated the role of optimism and pessimism in people undergoing cancer for treatment for example. Reveal that a positive attitude. When facing illness. Can make a huge difference in healing. Ed recovery and survival rate. And can even reduce your chances. Of developing heart disease and other chronic diseases later in life. Fourth optimism seems to play a positive role with your immune system. In one study greater optimism predicted greater antibody production. And better immune outcomes and another study. Positively correlated with the suppression of viral load a greater number of helper t cells if you're if you're optimistic so. Optimism seems to have a profound effect on a person's overall physical health. The mere act of looking on the bright side if you will. Expecting positive outcomes and being hopeful when difficulty arises in your life. Can extend your lifespan. Lead to healthy behaviors and boost your immune system and prevent disease. And this brings me to the positive correlation also between optimism and psychological health. There's abundant evidence that optimism is important in helping us emotionally coke. Was difficult or challenging life events. It has been correlated possibly optimism has with life satisfaction and self-esteem. As well as hayat cheeseman. Optimus experience much less clinical depression. And suicidal ideation then pessimist. That kind of makes sense doesn't it. And report overall optimus that they're happier with their lives and pessimist. Optimus are more likely to engage in effective problem solving. When faced with difficulties which also leads to a greater sense of psychological well-being. Alright so we've established i think scientifically least that. You know optimism is really good for you it's really good for you. But the next thing to determine is precisely what in psychological terms and optimistic outlook as opposed to a pessimistic outlook is. According to dr. siegel in the founding father of positive psychology. The difference between optimist and pessimist is primarily the way. They explain life events and personal outcomes to themselves. It is how they talk to themselves what narratives they write in their own psychology. When bad or challenging or difficult things happen. Define optimism. As reacting to problems with a sense of confidence and high personal ability. Optimistic people believe that negative or difficult events in their lives. Optimus leave their temporary. They are limited in scope this is not a catastrophe over the whole lance custom of my life. It's manageable and it's not about me. I don't to take this personally. Where is pessimist on the other hand. Believe that negative or difficult events in their life are permanent. Pervasive they are personal. And they are unmanageable. Listen to single man's own words. I've been studying optimist and pessimist for 25 years he write. The defining characteristic of the pessimist. The pessimists are they tend to believe that events. Will last a long time. Will undermine everything they do are their own fall. But optimist when confronted with the same hard.. Think about misfortune in exactly the opposite way. They tend to believe the defeat is a temporary setback. But the causes are confined to this one case. And that it is not their fault. Such people he writes are in phase by defeat. Confronted by a bad situation. They perceive it as a challenge and will work harder. And then he writes. Finding temporary and specific causes for misfortune is the art of hope. But finding permanent and universal causes for misfortune. That. Is the practice of despair. So optimist. Optimism is a large part 2 panda. On the kind of narrative. You right in your own head. When negative and difficult things happen to you. Optimus write an open narrative. That helps them to move on with hope. Well pessimist write a close narrative a catastrophic narrative. That convinces them that all they can do is sit in the despair. And let me pause here to make what feels like a really important observation. None of this optimism pessimism dichotomy is pure black and white i think. Surely when you look at the total population let's say the people in this room for example if there is an optimism pessimism continuum. Some of you are in a whistling cheerful songs all day long others of you were always pessimistic and most of us having small along the continuum somewhere in the middle. Except for a few extreme optimist and extreme pessimist most of us fall somewhere in between. Incline perhaps each of us. To have a little more of an optimistic outlook for a little bit more of a pessimistic one but but most of us are not radically optimistic or pessimistic. It might be helpful for you to think just for a moment where do you fall along the continuum. You know what when you're confronted with difficulty. Do you immediately fold your tent like a pessimist. Or do you start whistling happy songs like an optimist i can handle this i can manage this isn't about me. Where do you fall on that continuum. It's an important thing. When negative or difficult or challenging things happen. Do you write an open and optimistic narrative for yourself or a closed and pessimistic one which which way of seeing the world comes most naturally to you. No. Some of this where you personally fall along the optimism pessimism continuum. Shirley has to do. With our family genetics and our family patterns you know where i'm going with this. I briggs a was born into a happy down-home wisconsin's family that. We choose optimism from every pore of our stupid ewing brains okay we just don't know how to be depressed you wouldn't we just don't we tweak we couldn't help ourselves but to be cheerful in my family and and problems will that they weren't really problems they were just temporary little setback. But i know many people. Perhaps some of you who come from less positive and more naturally door. Family backgrounds were pessimism and negativity rule the roost helmet well i don't want to show my hands on that one actually. But as someone who is naturally almost hopelessly optimistic i have learned over the years that many many people that i work with. Find this positive proactive open outlook to come so naturally to me to be virtually. Impossible as an emotional style. 1 ft story if i might like 25 years ago i was the minister of the plainfield. That new new jersey church and there was a gal in that church i've her name was eva kaplan. A older into came from a very strong eastern european and new york city background eastern european new york city background you know what that means that means pessimist. Anyway she live well it does. You know it's alright i'll sit in the dark, greek mother of a jewish mother doesn't make any difference to tell him it's alright i'll sit in the dark jokes. Anyway. She had painful arthritis. And was in the minds of almost everybody in the car negation a pre- and pessimistic person well. One sunday i was preaching about doctor siegelman's new book called learned optimism. And i was just more than waiting for what eva would come to the reception line and say to me. And bless her heart she didn't disappoint me. Kiki travel up and and got to her turn and she took both my hands and she said. That's easy for you to say and i looked at her and i broke into laughter and i said eva i knew you wouldn't disappoint me. This big smile came over face and she and i would just hold for a couple of minutes. It was very magical and healing. So dear friend. The evidence across-the-board is an optimism is really good for you and pessimism really isn't. An optimism helps you lead a longer healthier more successful and happier life. And i suspect that this will be no surprise to you whether you. Whether you're natural styles to be more optimistic or pessimistic you know optimism is good for you. But that leads me to today's. Big. Sixty-four $1,000 question and that is. Can optimism. Bjorn. Or nurtured or acquired or cultivator are we just stuck. With the emotional pattern of our family or the one we've developed on our own. Can pessimism on the other hand has the other side of the question. Can pessimism be controlled or treated or stifled or reduced. I mean what good is all this information i've given you about the positive negative continuum if you can't do anything about where you on the continuum. Dr. siegelman. Indeed believe that optimism can be learned. Buy more pessimistic people. He invites in his work as a psychiatrist he invites pessimist. To learn to be optimist by thinking again the narrative they write in their own head. By thinking. About the reactions to adversity in a new way. To think about adversity in a nuwave. Hi again his words. A pessimistic attitude may seem so deeply rooted as to be permanent. I have found however the pessimism is escapable. Pessimism is escapable. Pessimist can in fact he writes learn to be optimist not through mindless devices like whistling a happy tune or mouthing tearful platitudes. But by learning a new set of cognitive skills. A new set. Of cognitive skills. Individuals. Can choose the way they think he writes. Pessimist to learn new skills. Pessimist can dispute. Their own negativity. They can dispute. Their own negativity. Habits of thinking he goes on. Need not be forever individuals can choose the way they think. If you can learn a set of skills that free from the tyranny of pessimism allow you to use optimism when you choose. Rather than ducking. Ducking our disturbing a negative beliefs a more lasting remedy is simply to dispute them that keyword dispute them. You must learn to argue with yourself be right give your negative beliefs and argument. Go on the attack. And. Directly and effectively disputing that the pessimistic beliefs of yours and follow adversity. That this bat event will last a long time that it will undermine everything i do it's all my fault. Anthony. You can change your customary reaction. From dejection and giving up. 2 activity and good cheer unquote. And in addition to learning new cognitive skills learning to argue with yourself when you have debilitating thoughts and negative thoughts. Many therapist i don't know if you're aware of this but this is actually a school of thought in in pastoral care and then basic therapy. Many therapist believe that one successful path. Two more positive mental health is it when you are feeling negative and down. To change your outward behavior first. In the hopes that your feelings will follow. You change your outward behavior first. And hope the feelings will follow this is the smile when you don't feel like smiling. Take a walk when you don't feel like getting out of the house. Going to social events when you don't feel you want company. Watching a funny movie. When you don't feel like laughing. This school of thought. About how to begin feeling better in your life. To change your behavior and hope that the emotions will follow because many psychologists believe. That it will. And this makes a lot of sense to me. So dr sigman and others are convinced and i agree with them. That no matter where you fall along the optimist pessimist continuum. You can learn new more positive thought patterns that will help you not catastrophize. A situation is hopeless when life gets tough. But will help you write a narrative that there's a way out that this is not permanent that i have a lot to do here and can do it. And they're even recent studies which cell that optimism can be developed and nurtured in young people. You know you you made. If you're 5 parents. You know. Parents teach their children negative narratives about life of course your course you broke your arm and baseball practice i. Sports always do that you can you can teach your kids negative narrative. But studies indicate that when we get when we model optimism our kids learn to be optimist and that's a very important thing but. All this is well and good but if you have spent a lifetime. If you spent a lifetime. Habitually being like that guy. I'm sure that this new optimistic outlook writing these new narratives is not going to come quickly or easily. But it makes perfect psychological and spiritual sense to me that we can all of us learn to adopt a more positive outlook. By crafting narratives in our head that allow us to make more positive outcomes possible. And move past negative moments in our lives. With more hope and more happiness and more. Well being alright. So enough about choosing and learning optimism. Now on the sunday before thanksgiving i want to quickly and the morning by talking about the equally important role of gratitude. There's a place in our contentment and our well-being. The great roman orator cicero road. Gratitude gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues it is the parent of all others. Almost all world cultures and religions emphasized the importance of being grateful. Whether it is to some higher being. Or the natural world. Or ones close family and friends or even strangers who bless us on our way. As the authors of the seven habits of happy people put it i called them now. It is apparent. That the mere act of giving thanks. Can have a remarkable impact. On a person's well-being. Feeling gratitude feelings of gratitude are associated with. Less frequent negative emotions. And more frequent positive emotions. Touches feeling energized. Alert. And enthusiastic. Amigo juan. Gratitude is associated with pleasant physical sensations as well. One study found that people. Experience pleasant muscle relaxation. When they recall situations in which they have been grateful. Grateful people tend to be more spiritual than their less grateful counterparts to put study goes on. And people who are genuinely grateful. Report being more agreeable and less narcissistic. Compared with less grateful people. Feelings of gratitude they go on are also associated with increased feelings of closeness. And a desire to build or strengthen relationships. With people around us. Simply put the study and. People are happier. Have stronger feelings of social support. And feel less stressed and depressed. Gratitude is clearly a part. What is called. The good life. I assume this also makes. Perfect spiritual and emotional sense. To all of you. When we cultivate gratitude and appreciation in our lives and that's become more mindful. And appreciative toward all the good things. And the good people that surround us and the facts are that they do there are lots of good people. And lots of good events around us even when we are going through a tough time. Then we move past are selfish and narcissistic fixation on our own selves. And realize. And here's the key thing about gratitude i think that we are wondrously dependent. We live in an interdependent world we cannot make it on our own we are gloriously dependent. I'm so many persons and things that uphold and protect. And enrich and then bless us and if we don't know how to be grateful for those things. We were stalled in the water spiritually. The active truly giving thanks for people and things around you. Has the power to remind you how blessed you are. And reminds you that you are being held in truth. In a great and generous web of life. That makes your life possible and joyful. Gratitude. Clearly just calls us out of the lock. Sarcophagus of the self. And connects us with life around us and positive and healing ways. I'm grateful because i know i'm not in this alone. I'm in a web of life. And i being held by so much. No. Justice with optimism we must ask. So congratulations be nurtured and learned and here to the answer is an emphatic yes. I like the way one. Author i've stumbled upon last week joshua becker put it. Listen to this. Gratitude. Is a discipline of the heart. Not. Animotion. That's right. Any news on. We would all fare better if we learn to consider gratitude a discipline of the heart rather than the motion a discipline of the heart. That requires attention. And consistent practice. It requires practice when it comes easily. And even more practice when it comes different with difficulty. And here are a few suggestions he writes to spur us on this new discipline. Of the heart. 1. Schedule 5 minute periods of thoughtful thanksgiving each day simply sit down and say. What am i thankful. 2. Intentionally finding gratitude in the simple joys of daily life. A hot cup of coffee. A warm bath. Stroking your pet cat. 3. Reflecting on the past and counting the blessings that have been yours over the years. For keeping a gratitude journal on paper or online. And 5 and i like this one expressing thankfulness to yourself. During life little inconveniences such as a red light. Along grocery store line. Or waiting at the doctor's office instead of gnashing your teeth while you're waiting for your damn doctor to make his appointment an hour late. Use that time for gratitude. And then again he right. Gratitude is a discipline of the heart that can be a truly life-altering process. I gave you a little gift this morning. It is called. The 2013 holiday season gratitude journal i think. Katrina for making this up. What i want you to do with these. Is to take these home and put it where you have your breakfast or where you have your evening supper or at your bedside. And every sunday. For the next 123456 sunday's over this holiday.. Just take a couple of minutes. I'm literally right down some things you're grateful for not it it maybe every time you'll put your kids or your your dog or nature doesn't matter. Every week just take a few moments. The catalog. What you're grateful for and if you find this a useful discipline. I heard you to get a larger a blank journal from stationer. And do this. I either everyday of your life or every week. Start a gratitude journal. And use it as a year-round practice. And so. On the sunday before thanksgiving and by the way i hope each of you have a wonderful meal with others or. Or whoever you're with. Even if it's just yourself how people wonderful day thursday. And enjoy who you are and who you're with. Tranis sunday before thanksgiving. May we all quietly promised ourselves that we will do everything we can. To cultivate. Positive mindset. In our living. Think of optimism. Ingratitude as expandable qualities of the heart. What you can nurture. Even the face of life abundant difficulties and sorrow and pain we all of course have those things. But these things optimism. And. Gratitude candy cultivate. Often of course we cannot control. The external circumstances which life throws at us. But we can. Shape the attitude. Apart. With which we respond then we can adjust the camber of our heart. To be more open. Arm. With optimism and gratitude. We will do more than get through life. My friends we will masterlife. And then mastering it. We will be blessed. I cheerfully say to you this sunday before thanksgiving. And in this season. When we are asked a nurse to count our blessings let us give thanks. For storms. Which reacquaint us with the coziness of our hearts and our homes. For misfortunes which reveal to us the loyalty of our friends. 4 problems. Which ignite our imaginations and call forth larger efforts. Port conflicts. In which we may discover the healing power of love. Four defeats which make unavoidable acknowledgement. Of our human imperfection. And even. For the increasing years and loss of strength. At all reminders of our mortality. Whereby we are reminded of just how fragile and precious. Is the gift of life. Let us give thanks them for all the things we would not. Have wanted to happen. But without which we would never have grown. Or discovered. 4 live. Orlov. Blessings. To all of you.

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2010Nov07sermon32.mp3

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2012Jul29Sermon32.mp3

And so with a big smile on my face i come before you this morning. On as pete mentioned my name is rabbi michael birnholtz on the rabbi at temple beth shalom. Was the neighbor of the unitarian fellowship of vero beach always wonderful neighbors. On and it was hard to see the unitarian. Fellowship moved from next door but we're glad you guys have such a wonderful house here and we're glad to have all of those opportunities. Do we have to share moments as congregational communities together both. I'm in any'tizers houses but also when we're out able to out and be out in the community. It's okay. With that relationship in mind it's always exciting when i have an opportunity when i receive an invitation. To come and be part of your worship. On during the course of the year. And so i very much appreciate this invitation this opportunity. The stand before you this morning. One of the things that you saw the title of my sermon i'm going to be talking about journeys. Because there's a lot of wondering in life. A lot of wandering in religious community. One of the things about culture and it's a story of wanderers. One of the foundational words for a hebrew. Came from abraham cuz he was such a wonder. And there's all kinds of wandering stories. In judaism for 40 years and all of david's trials. An adventurous that he has in the book of samuel. The one of the. Wanderers that stands out to me that i wanted to speak with you. About this morning. Has jacob jacob is a fantastic wonder and has quite an amazing journey. And it's the beginning of this our service i wanted to get start at the beginning of his wandering. Because he has a powerful moment. He if you know the story of jacob he's born as a twin his twin brother's isan actually tries the police all back into the womb and he's born he's always trying to struggle and get ahead and that's what jacob means the name jacob. It means one on pooch pulls on his brothers ankle wants to get ahead of his brother doesn't want to be the younger brother. And so jacob and esau have a rivalry that goes on through their lives and at least on two occasions jacob season esau is hungry from being out in the field and he offers to sell the to i'll buy the birthright from esau for the sake of a little bit of red porridge red lentils. Until. Esau sells jacob the first right then you have this whole episode with esau and esau's the older brother so he's supposed to get the parental blessing and jacob foote's on on the labyrinth costume and goes and fools. Isaac. In front of the. Feeling. Stealing borrowing springhead commentary there. Esau and jacob have this very tortured relationship very there's a lot of. Competition there's lots of conflict relationship together. Find me isaac.. And when isaac dies jacob hears through his mother rebecca wants to kill him. And one of the things to do when you hear that your brother is stronger and wants to kill you run away. Sounds like good advice like that strategy. Until jacob is running away he's heading off into the wilderness where we know if you know anything about three tails and anything about 40. bible all the good stuff happens. In the wilderness. And so jacob has off into the wilderness and he comes to a place in the sun is setting and he sets up camp. Any pulled some stones of that place together to make this is how quickly he doesn't even have a pillow we grab stone. Seacoast. Goodnight. In the midst of his sleep he has a dream. This fabulous dream of a stairway going up to heaven with angels going up and angels going down the voice of god's adopt them all kinds of incredible things. Heroism the god is going to see him father. Jacob wakes up from a dream. Any says. How awesome is this place. God isn't in this place and i didn't know it this is bethel. Literally the house of god. And the stones sleeping on actually fuse because of the power of this experience and he takes them in steps in the tiller and says this is bethel this is where i had this place. Then jacob do something. Jacob dances. I'm going off. And god you promised me all of this stuff but you're only going to be my god if you. All of these things. Bring me back on and on and on. It's absolutely incredible than in the midst of this blessing from god. And this promises of protection. And spiritual awakening. But even then he's filled with uncertainty. He's filled with hope. He has the sperrys not sure what he's going to. But he's hoping that god will be with him. And then heads off. That is where we are in our services morning. We are hearing and seeing this beautiful song and that image of that you can be happy if you have a smile. But this is a place where we can find the sacred. Where we can connect with a community. We have all of those hopes and those dreams and uncertainty and fears. Injustice jacob does we are sitting with them in this place and we are heading out hoping that we can have that experience of all. And so as we go forward in our service i offer to blessing. Two pieces of lessing. Blessings of departure. Heading out onto a journey. The first is from psalm 121. Filerman y'all do esri. Esri making model 9. I am i turn my eyes to the mountains. From where will my help come. My help comes from the lord maker of heaven and earth. God will not let your foot with way your guardian will not slumber. See the guardian slumbers nor sleeps. The lord is your guardian the lord is your protection at your right hand. This truck the daewoo. By day the sun will not strike you for the new moon. Small harm god will guard your life. God will guard your going out and you're coming in. Now. And forever. As we hear those words of psalm 121. As we hope we are protected in our going out into this morning and. Time of worship. I offer the very simple blessing. In the book of numbers. Eva ressecada nagash morocco. May the holy one of blessing. Protect and bless us. You saw tonight pranav left. Need that presents still up. Be with us who was with graciousness. And kindness. You saw tonight. As we are in prayer together. As we are in this space to go. As we journey forth together maybe feel the presence of something greater than ourselves. And that presently dust. Shalom. Optimist. This summer has been one of adventures and excitement in my life and there are moments when i found myself kind of like jacob. Thanks i didn't quite plan on and it was a trouble that my father got me and now that i think about it. When i it was tucked up january february or so and i got one of those random calls. In tampa. And do be times when you get calls from your parents right. Check on you to see how your family today. Almond calling with a request for me and usually don't get those. Something happened got for kids. He has is like i have a question. What would you like what's the question death. Would you like to go hiking with the adventure rap on. What. Will you know you talked about that adventure rabbi program there's a rabbi. Sitting trips on the go hiking and do all kinds of spiritual moments from bar mitzvah and a boat onto a baby naming on top of the mountain all kinds of wild stuff. And he said would you like to go with me and go hiking for three days in the middle of may leaving your family on mother's day. That's a great request to go hiking with me and in colorado. Went home and i asked my wife how do you feel about this. My father and i have been hiking when i was 19. We went hiking on the appalachian trail. And so we decided and got it all set up. Hominy. Humans plan. And god laughs and my father was not able to go so i. Right stance. And his cancer. His staff was off into the wilderness. Now you have to realize that we live at sea level. Hey. I we talked about this in jewish world all the time i don't know about you you if you actually acknowledge you live in vero beach sea-level. The air is thicker here. In colorado there my love. There's not as much air. Or at least oxygen in the air. More than mountain. You have to go up the mountains and down the mountain. I wanted to go to the top. Of the merrill barber bridge and take a picture of your beach for her. Uncertain about the hiking and walking around and may. On this adventure. And it was very much an adventure was a wonderful time. And we got all the party or and i have to i am my father's son i had to make sure i had the right shoes to two pairs of hiking shoes out with me. My children helped men's wife help me make a wonderful walking stick i have the the. The camelbak bladder for my backpack. And seven ones and not pictured out cuz i have to find the right back. So there i am outfitted. To not see a bear. There's all kinds of discussion because without. Ankle riggs. We go on our adventure. And we start in the parking lot or in chautauqua nationalist takwa park which is in boulder colorado just a beautiful settings not a national park it's only at 5000 feet. The barber bridge doesn't prepare you for that. And i'm probably. Much like jacob that you stopped and tried to get in touch with god in that place. And can i tell you in that moment i was huffing. Empathy. I wasn't sure what i had gotten myself into i wasn't sure if i was going to make it. Traits that in that. First bedford stopping place jamie. And just taking stock of why we had come on this trip. And then we sent out off up the mountain again for 3 days of absolutely fantastic hike. And there i was hiking. Huffing and puffing. And i realized i had gone from jacob jacob jacob. And i do to a whole nother part experiences i cough. That i was jacob portion later. Invite you slop and he has now gone out to karen to this place where levon is his uncle and he. Met his got married and spotted flock. And now he is coming back to the land of canaan bring all of this back and who was he about to meet. About to meet his brother esau again. And i realized as i was huffing and puffing and struggling my way out these mountain. There was very much in that moment of jacob's life. He doesn't even get to sleep in the next thing he knows. He's wrestling with a man. The bible tells us. And they wrestled back and forth what is your name the other says i can't tell you my name. And finally jacob's hip. Is wrench. Jacob's hip is wrenched in that moment and the guy says to him. Right now you're jacob you're one who's. Tries to keep pulling on your brother's ankle to get ahead of him. But you're going through a process you're going through a journey and experience in all of these challenges in this wrestling and soon you will be called. Yes trail. Divine and human and prevails. And then in that moment. When he finds out that he's going to become used to the other this man just disappears. And jacob acknowledges he's in this place he's moved from beth-el the house of god where he was the beginning of the string when he sent out he's now in a different place. Is it a place called penuel. Now leaving the house of god now he's seen god face to face. And he survived. But. In the back is quite important but is quite incredible. The butt is. But now he is physically changed. He doesn't change his how he physically moves the world. As he limps from place. The place. We have an important saying in jewish wife then god laughs. Yells laugh all kinds of. Ashley orchestrated my papers and pages so they would be ready for me at this point in my sermon. And while i was talking over there they all fell down. So give me just a second. In our minds. We stopped and we see jacob. Limping away. As we. Are here on this morning. Now i'm struggling. Define mike by. Define my rhythm. And was we think about jacob leaving that place. I think about how i was huffing and puffing up that hills. It's a powerful moment to ask a question of ourselves. How do we. That's where honor journey. Because that's where all on our life's journey we have moments where we are vessel. Where the papers fall out from under. Or we get bad news where we get into a disagreement with something where things don't go the way we planned or what we had planned turns into more of a challenge. And we wrestle and struggle and we face those challenges. And the question i asked this morning as well as we are in those moana. Oswego from place to place like jacob. Like i did on the adventure lb. How can we make our moments like jacob judd. Transformative. That they're more than just taxing our body and spirit wearing us out or distracting us or throwing us off for making us lose our patience. How can we turn those experiences into something that are really different. Jacob walks away moving physically different from moving in a different way physically from his wrestling match with god sing being divine and human and prevailing and still limping away. How can we make sure those experiences in our lives as we move through this world. They do more than just wear us out. The thing actually give us an opportunity. 2 chainz. To stretch. To see sometimes more in ourselves and in the world. Answer i come back to is what i swear part of where i started which is with that breathing with that huffing and puffing. On that mountain. And i learned something this second opportunity i have had a random. Interaction with a camp director. And you mentioned a biblical gardening. Experience. Biblical gardening opportunity to me. And i called up and soon i found myself part of the emir project in your project to something fabulous. Jewish camp counselors go to a training session. I'm just outside of gettysburg in a place called capital. In 44 days. Jewish camp counselors from 11 different camps learned how to set up a community garden at the camp. Toronto garden with. Jewish values and then donate all of the produce what some of it was used to camp for the kids. And so they're learning all about food justice and taking care of the earth. While i was on that. Call in that workshop in that training session. I learn something joey incredible and interesting about breath. And about that huffing and puffing. About jacob's wrestling back and forth. There's an important. Jewish concept. Call. Wildfox law. The first hugo really dig and expand. And then you come back in and contrast. And then you expand again. Just like her breathing in and out. And in gardening you talk about qualtrax while all the time. Right how do you start a garden. You start with a. And you put that seed into the ground and what does it do it starts. Expand you look and you start with a barren patch. Or grass whatever you have to take it all apart. Make a spam to alt and then you pull it together and form it and you put one seed in into seeds in and suddenly have all of these plants. And one little tomato seed. Can become how many different tomatoes. How many different opportunities to feed people. It was like that image and all of us have seen it. Nfl stration. Where do you start in one lytle place. Write think of google images. If we put unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. Right and what is on the side of of that image on google images you can stroll out. Further and further and we can go from this corner. To vero beach. To indian river county. And then the florida and then you have those images to take us further and further until we see the entire universe. Every time we breathe in and out we have that kind of experience. We take our breath in. We feel ourselves separating from the atmosphere. And then we breathe alton that are goes back into the greater whole. W realize that's a basic part of our human experience. Did we get a chance. Focus on something tiny just one little grain of sand yesterday i was on the beach. Can you pick up an individual shell and you look at that shell and then you place that she'll back and you see it's part of this wide expanse and broken shell is next to complete shell and you look out realiser 1000. The preacher's millions and billions and trillions of creatures. Out in those waters. And that's part of that experience of that coughing and puffing. That's how do we acknowledge those special moments and make them not job. Toiling along the way but make them something different. And part of that is claude talk lol. After realizing those moments of expansion. Traction. Expansion and feel ourselves focusing on the finite. And then being ready to leap into that which is infamous. And letting ourselves go back. 4th in those times. The second piece that i offer is the significance of naming those places. In the story of jacob we see that he names the first-place beth-el the house of god. And in the second he needs that pintle l but he faced god. Places. And in the bible when they places get name does not just a name the experience. Sometimes it's to give us itinerary. Something interesting happens in the book of numbers the people of israel have an itinerary that actually get a listing of 42 places. How many of you. When you are going on a trip like a nice long list of the places you go. Right. Thank you. you're going to start go from miami to orlando to jacksonville to atlanta flight told you anything about the trip so far. Not a whole lot. Then you go from atlanta and you go to charleston and you going up the coast. 42 places. Get listed. And the rabbi say why. Is it just that itinerary. Why is it justice listing of these places going from play. The place to place with no details or information. Azzarella chance ask that question you get a number of different answers. But one of them i'd like to offer. This morning. This is from a book by chef a gold. She writes 42 stops where stages along the israelites lb. Are enumerated and names. Each stopping point on the journey holds a blessing for us. The baal shem tov. Acidic master reminds us. Whatever happened to the people as a whole. Will happen.. Each individual. All the 42 journeys of the children of israel each person between the time he was born. And the tiny dies. We're accounting attend every of our wanderings in order to receive the lessons. And blessings at each stage of our journey. As we become aware. The significance of each stage. We can receive its bless. And benefits. It's our awareness. And appreciation that transform our story. Into a blessing. The important thing is to remember each stage of the journey that will encounter some of obstacle resistance. However annoying or difficult. Its presence can call forth power that lies hit. Within us. The way in which the obstacle compels us to transform demonstrates the exact transformation arsenal mean. Fritz roth. In fact the potential lies berries within as often requires the challenge in order to be released. And manifest. And in fact we see what these 42. Stops along the way. That there's one of those. Pieces. The reminder name for god actually 42 letters long. And that part is this teaching is that by saying those names we unlock. What is needed to figure out where we need to be on that journey. And so some of jesse's in knowledge. Finite in the infinity traverse places. Some of it is going through each of those places and remembering the significance of that moment that experience. And some of it. Is going allowing the journey to go first full circle. And seeing what happens when we get back. Again. When we talked about place names. I always thought when i was growing up that the wrestling was the big moment. Wrestles with. that sounds like a pretty big moment. And he's told that when he gets these going to get this name of the australian. What often gets missed is the end of the story the next phase of the story that jacob actually returns back. To beth-el. He comes back to the place. Earlier when he wrestles and he faces god where he's told and its future tense i will give you. He has to go a little bit further. He has to keep going on the journey and then what happened in that moment of wrestling is not where he's stuck is not worried stable. You have to keep going on his journey and keeps growing and changing and transforming limping all the way. Until finally he returns to bethel he gets back to that place. Remember when i started our service i said he had all these hopes and dreams and fears and wasn't sure what to expect. Injustice god is offering blessings he's asking for god's promises. We'll finally he comes full circle and gets back to that place. Any meats with god again and god gives him that name of the australian says that he will be ready to lead his people into a magnificent future rich and blessing. It should be no surprise given that jacob returned to beth-el and that's where he finally figured it out. But that's what my journey was going to end. I started talking about tossing and puffing up hills. I've going around on this journey with the adventure rabbi. How many finished after 3 days of hiking in somewhere between fifteen and twenty miles. Mountains and through crossroads and beautiful moments of quiet. And we came back and we were finishing our last session. And we stopped in a little round face. And we sat down and we caught her breath and everyone had their last drink of water. And then in that place. Rabbi korngold cheney asked us to look around and say did you recognize this place. Really it's real beautiful. She said look around really carefully you remember being here. 3 days ago. And i will honestly tell you i'm not quite sure i did. It took a few minutes she said michael you sat there and joel you sat there telling us all the places. And i didn't even realize that i was there. And it was in that moment something very powerful. The here we've been talkin about and singing about cycle circle round for freedom or to everything turn turn turn. And we talked about the cycle of seasons in the cycles of life. But when i got back to that place. And rabbi korngold said you recognized that place i realized something. From that jacob story very powerful. We don't just go in. We don't just get back to the same place. When jacob returns the beth-el he is not the same jacob that had the dream that night. He's something different. He is spiraling up. He is moving in a different direction being shaped by each stuff. Even though he returns back to that place. Even though we go through our cycle of years and we celebrate our new years and birthdays and anniversaries and holidays. Each time we have a choice. We have something powerful we can do. We can either just go through those motions and go through another year older and take stock of the aches and pains in the challenges and how worn we are. Or we can do with jacobs even limping. Or what i experienced on that hiking trip. With each step. With each expansion and contraction with each stage of our journey step-by-step that we go. We can find a way to step a little bit higher. A little bit farther. Knowledge the changes. So that when we get to those places we are not just going and endless loop. But we are carrying ourselves. Underworld 2. These are the words of out now by alvin fine. Birth certificate. But life is a journey. Are going from stage to stage. From childhood to maturity in houston. From innocence awareness ignorant to knowing. From foolishness to discretion and then perhaps the wisdom. From whip-whip weakness to strength or strength too weak. And often back again. From health to sickness and health again. From offense to forgiveness. From loneliness to love. From joy to gratitude. From pain to compassion increased understanding. Comfier. The face. From defeat to defeat to the seat until looking backward or head we see the victory lies not at some high place along the way but it having maine denture needs stage-by-stage. It is my hope. On this morning as we go forth into the world. As we have time to enjoy the state as a community together. That we will find those sacred journey. Does opportunity. Trestle to struggle to work together. On both as a unitarian community but also a community that's in hand-in-hand with michael congregation. With our temple beth shalom. Find ways of walking together and working together to build world of shalom. Eponymous.

uufvb_org

2014Dec14Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. It feels like it's going to warm up beautifully today will be a lovely day here on the treasure coast and welcome. To the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we're so pleased you decided to begin this sunday with us. Loving hearts and helping hands. Even this together as a congregation we work to make. This world a better place. And please know that you're welcome precisely as you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shape humanity ged or a phd. Whether you are a visitor for us with us the first time this morning or have been coming for dinner. Whether you're feeling on top of the world or down in the dumps christmas approaches. We are delighted to see you. Just as you come. We hope you'll find our services morning meaningful. And enriching and you will find something here this morning to take with you. To make the days and the weeks ahead better and more fulfilling. Only 10 more shopping days until christmas. And who doesn't have more shopping to do. Annual christmas countdown. That all the retailers push so hard as another larger truth. And that is the fact that december 14th. 10 more days for things deeper. I'm more valuable than shopping. To think about our family and friends and plan how we are going to give our love. Wonder and delight. Every child in the season of lights. Music. Ancap. To open our hearts. Love. Compassion and goodwill to all we are free each of us. To embody all. The retailers are right. There are 10 more shopping days until christmas. But that means spirit of christmas. Indoor homes and into our hearts. Choose a topic and decide what i'm looking for readings to support my argument. And so after i chose. Real war on christmas i found this so-called war on christmas by father peter. Who is a romanian. Orthodox priests. Is the season for some christians to get over the perceived war on christmas. I used to be one of those someone would say happy holidays rather than merry christmas. I used to get peeved when one town after another with outlaw their christmas display. Then i started to see news report of how christians are being treated in other parts of the world. And suddenly all seemed so stupid. George series of questions to frame my response to all of this war on christmas nonsense. Are you as a christian prevented. By anyone from setting up christmas tree in your house. Are you a christian prevented from attending the church of your choice. On christmas eve or christmas day. Are you as a christian prevented. Merry christmas. Do anyone you choose. Or when you hear happy holidays. Do you respond with christmas. Armed rebels stormed your church or home and taking you hostage or shot you in the street. For being a christian. My guess your answer to all these questions is no. Just yesterday it was reported in the news that syrian rebels. Re-entered a syrian city. Entered a christian monastery which also serves as orphanage. Kidnapped 12 living there and desecrated. Church. The monasteries church. This was done for no other reason. That they were christian. Is persecution. The real reason for this season of christmas is the story itself. Couple could not find a place for a woman to have her child. They knocked on door after door and return. Until they found a place in a barn. With the animals. She lay in the hay. And she gave birth to her son. Not with trumpets sounding. With the sound of animals. Who are there with her. Shunned by all of humanity it was the animals that witnessed. The very breath. Of our savior. Christ came into this world in the humblest way a human ken. In space that his parents borrow. Full of animals. Christ came into this world to dwell in your heart. Not in some plastic figure on a lawn of the town hall. The true spirit of christmas lies within each and every one of us in our hearts. Walmart. I'm not in target. We are to love and help each other. To worship the god who created us. We do that in church and in our life. Not around a tree. War on christmas is the number go without adequate housing. The real war on christmas is the teenage girl who has been thrown out on the street by her parents. Because she is pregnant. Strangers that will not be welcome just because. Then the rest of us. The real war on christmas is the fact that most churches will be virtually empty. On christmas eve and christmas day. Get the retail outlets.. Is the real war on christmas. If we keep the spirit of christmas alive in our hearts and in our home if we keep the true spirit of christmas on christmas coms nonsense. Next time you're standing in line gripping your credit card do not need and getting on the person behind you in line. The cash register holidays. And say thank you. I wish them a merry christmas. It is the season to be jolly. Let's get jolly. We are once again in the middle of december. Yep predictably right on cue is a good father froebel deserved in this morning. Conservative commentators mostly on fox news and talk radio are loudly crying what they have decided is a war on christmas. Being waged they say. By the aclu and other non-christian organizations and individuals receive. To be preventing christians from fully expressing themselves at this special time of year. There's only one thing i can say to these self-appointed christmas warriors. Complaining that their sacred holiday. Is being attacked and ruined by others and that they are being persecuted as christian. And that is nonsense my friend. You are full of nonsense. I agree completely with father people. Somehow christmas. Attacked and ruin. And of course i believe rightly insist. American municipalities and public schools. American principles separation of church and state. By refraining from imposing at this holiday time. Christian stories. Christian song christian symbol. Christian and non-christian alike. Fox news o'reilly and others largely blamed the american civil liberties union. For your consideration is their response to this if you go to the aclu website it's right there on the homepage this december. The aclu right. In recent years culturally conservative commentators. Cold war on christmas. And in many cases have claimed that week the aclu are leading the charge. This simply isn't true. Religious expression they write is a valued and protected part of the first amendment right. Christmas. Play observe. Is pervasive in america. And except when the government is being used to promote religious beliefs it is entirely constitutional. Well christmas the ac. What christmas displays are being placed in front of homes. Churches and businesses all across the country. And as carolers go door-to-door with songs of christmas cheer. These cultural warriors say the christmas is being removed. Public management. And persist with these declarations about quota war on christmas. The constitutional rights of people to worship preached and carols and celebrate christmas in their churches. As with their families and friends whether in public or private. Is well-protected. The aclu has itself advocated on behalf of people. To celebrate christmas. The real question and here they arrive at the nub of their. Is not whether people can celebrate christmas. They certainly can. What does the government. Should be promoting religious beliefs and practices which it most certainly wouldn't. And then the aclu statement concludes by saying. When the smoke of battle clears in america. Christmas is completely safe. Unquote. Assurances. In accusing american liberals and secularists is waging a war on christmas in kristen's indeed there's even a full-length book about it. I bought it. Don't read it. It's a waste of time. Is devoted to the is it is entitled. The warren christmas carol plot to ban the sacred christian holiday is worse than you thought. Is written by john gibson who is news commentator. I quote from the jacket. In the united states of america a nation overwhelmingly christian. Any sign of christmas in public canal lead to complaints litigation angry protest threats and bruised feelings. Secular liberals say they are just protecting want to see or hear about christmas. But what about the constitutional rights of millions of americans he goes on. Who simply want to celebrate their traditional holiday. This book he writes. Of the aclu lawyers. Professional atheist. Professional atheist. Gators door. Again i urge you not to buy 197. We're brought to bear in towns and cities across america. The rights of non-christian not to have christianity imposed in their town and in their public schools all of these cases are simply about that. Town squares and public schools. The book suggests that now in america it is christians. And christian. Which are under attack. They're minority-majority as christians. That are being abrogated stifled and endangered. The bottom line here. Is it those who accuse liberals and secularists of waging an all-out war on christmas. Are outraged. And horrified and they actually feel victimized. Whenever and wherever someone dares to push back. Even a little bit of the very public christian overload. We have to go through every december. In spite of the overwhelming truth that for the entire month of december and now god help us into november. Almost everything in america is wall-to-wall christmas. Talk radio is take radio just as one example. They devote their entire format the turnover. Christmas carol. And our televisions are absolutely saturated with those saccharine-sweet christmas special if hallmark produces one more i'll vomit. An endless twisted christmas advertising including prosperous looking santa claus's cheerfully hohoho going as they sell $80,000 lexus's. And our stores as you know are decorated head-to-toe in green and red with christmas music blaring from every speaker. In america christmas absolutely dominate our homes. Our stores are media are churches. Our schools and our family gathering. How to understand this indignant feeling on the on the part of so many american christian. Alter is somehow waging war on them. Here is what i think is really going on. For the entirety of american history christian. In all of their denominations variation. A powerful majority status of privilege. Status of privilege. Who's right. How to freely and fully express themselves. Whenever wherever and however they like. Has seldom if ever been challenged. As america becomes a much more multicultural. And spiritually and religiously diverse. People who do not identify as christians. Speak up. And ask that america makes room for them to. No one is waging war against christianity as bill o'reilly indignantly insist assume everyone. And acknowledged that not everyone is enthralled with christian doctrine christian songs christian symbol. Especially in public schools. Or in the town public square. And so jewish parents are now respectfully standing up and asking their public schools to plan december concerts that do not. Force their nine-year-old son. Old little town of bethlehem. And muslim an atheist and hindu taxpayers. Arrest at this time of year. To use public funds. And public space. To set up a lighted creche. Choosing christian story and symbol. Over all others. Both of these requests of course are perfectly reasonable and constitutional. Corey all know that the first amendment of the united states constitution says in uncertain terms. The government shall not establish. Or favor. Any one religion but she'll honor and protect. And yet. Many traditional christians feel they are. Singularly being persecuted. Anytime anyone dares to stay in this holiday season. I'm not a christian. And i don't really care to be steamrolled by your cultural and political assumption. That everyone is. You know what occurs to me that this whole war on christmas hysteria is really. About a broader problem that being the blinders of american privilege. The blinders of american privilege. What is that. Simply the powerful assumptions and entitlements of being on top. Either numerically or in terms of power. In our society. Any powerful blinders leave those in positions of privilege. Any position of privilege. To just assume that there. Right to everything preferential they have long enjoyed isn't violent and must be forever unquestioned. And so in our particular society for example this means men. Surprise. Equal pay and opportunities are surprised. In parties. And white. In our culture. Against the obvious racism and discrimination and prejudice this december after ferguson we all know what that mean. And heterosexual. In our society. Bomb position of privilege. Understand lesbian demand the same rights and privileges. Enjoys like our wonderful attorney pam at a speech here before the election in vero complained that she was being bullied. But the gays and lesbians when she in fact is the bully. Who is presenting equal rights for all amazing how people of privilege. For me i'm being. You are the bully miss bond. And lastly in our cultural privilege christians. Imagine awards being waged against them against them in december when jews. And atheists and buddhists and yes unitarian universalist. Dare to ask that they not have christmas rammed down their throats in public squares. And in public schools. Do your christmas. But not in public. Places. I think it's undeniable. But the larger problem of privilege. And it's binders leads so many traditional christians at this time of year to put their keep christ in christmas bumper stickers all over town. And treat themselves as they're the ones were somehow being persecuted in bully. When attack going on is it those in the minority are simply asking the their right. Interrogative and perspectives be respect. Alright. So i hope i've been able to persuade. My little too much passion in my park. That this whole war on christmas is basically one. Grand illusion. That is being wittingly and unwittingly perpetrated on the american people as christians. Who can't stand the idea. In this increasingly multicultural 21st century they have to share. American cultural experience. And the public square and public teaching. With non-christian. But let's move on here. My complete and categorical rejection. Of the imagined war on christmas is not to say i don't believe christmas is under attack i do believe christmas. Is under a. Christmas and everything good and holy and compassionate it stands for is endangered. And it isn't danger frankly by some of the very people. Who pretend to be or imagine themselves to be its most ardent defenders. The true meaning of christmas as i understand it. Is threatened in our time. Not by secular humanists. Or the aclu. Faurecia or muslims. Or buddhists or hindus or jewish. But by those who self-righteous leak claim the mantle of christianity. Racine. Willing and able to ignore subvert trivial and trivialize the true. An original message. Of that baby that was born in the stable. A man by the name of jesus of nazareth. I think father froebel. How did just right in this morning's reading. The real war on christmas is wade every time the loving. Inclusive compassionate teachings of jesus. Are ignored. Or twisted or co-opted in american life. Listen to the top words of christian. An environmental activist bill mckibben. At the moment america the idea of jesus has been hijacked by people with a series of causes that do not reflect his teachings. The bible mckibben writes is a long book and there's a lot in there that is seemingly contradictory. And hard to figure out. But jesus was pretty specific. About what he had in mind for his followers. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no disputing the centrality of this message. Nor is there any disputing how easy it is to ignore that message. When just before his death mckibben goes on. Jesus summed up his message to his disciples. He said the way you could tell the righteous from the dam. What's weather they fed the hungry. Gave water. To the thirsty. Close the naked. Welcome the stranger. And visited the prisoner. And then mckibben says when one of the pharisees asked jesus. What the core of the law was jesus replied. You shall love your lord god. With all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and you shall love. Your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments jesus said. All the law. And then mckibben ends. Love your neighbor as yourself. Although the rhetorical power of that statement petition. That is the radical notion. Perhaps the most radical notion possible. Especially since jesus and his teaching made very clear. The neighbor was supposed supposed to love was. The poor person. The sick person. Person the hungry. The last shall be made first. Turn the other cheek. A rich person aiming for heaven is like a camel. Trying to walk through the eye of a needle. And on and on. Jesus called for nothing less. Then a radical. Voluntary. And effective reordering. A power. Relationships. A voluntary. Radical. Reordering. Power. Relationships. Bass. On the principle of love. I passionately agree with mckibben. Jesus. Recorded in the four gospel narratives which despite the fact. Compile decades after his death. Are in fact the only real historical record we have. Of what he said. And what he taught. Jesus was very. Clear. About what he expected. Of his followers. And the kevin wright. His clarion this is me actually. His clarion call for social justice compassion and equality. Is a part of his message. Which seemingly many american christians want to ignore or at least soft-pedal. As they practice and proclaim their christianity if you attend. Any one of the big suburban mega churches that are so popular in american christianity today. Or watch some of the most successful television pastors like i do enjoy being who brought broadcast. You know 20,000 people as sunday he preaches to. But if you watch and listen to the sermons. You'll hear a lot of these services about. Personal happiness. And how to achieve. Your personal fulfillment. How to get your personal success. And salvation most especially ensuring that you and your loved one. Ultimately received your heavenly reward. But not much. Skinny's big popular christian venues with their rock bands. Not much about our shared human responsibility. To build a charitable just and humane society for all. Again quote mckibben. Depending on which poll you look at somewhere around 85% of americans. Call themselves christian. America is a place saturated. In christian identity. But today is today is that identity. Truly christian. The dominant ideologies of the moment of the popular televangelist in the consumer-oriented suburban megachurches. Undercut jesus. Muffle his hard work. Dedham. And in the end the silence him. In fact the soft-focus consumer gospel of the suburban megachurches. Is a perfect match. For the emergent conservative economic notions about personal prosperity. Rather than collective action. And then mckibben says. Privatize social security. Keep healthcare. For people who can afford it. While those under god helps those who help themselves. Conclude. Most americans have replaced. The demanding gospel. The demanding christianity the bible. With its call for deep sharing and personal sacrifice with a competing creed. A soft focus comfortable. Consumer suburban face. Focused on the need. And wants of self. Censored. Individuals. There is no. For me to say this. I honestly do not understand how anyone can call themselves a quote serious. Bible-believing christian. And then choose to ignore. The clear and compelling social justice gospel. Of care and compassion for all persons. Everywhere. Again. And again. And again. And again in the true teachings of jesus. I am reminded of the famous one-liner chicago carl sandburg who once said. In the great city of chicago a truly christian gentleman. And they're both jews. My point. Is that many in our culture seem to believe and righteous kristen without. Being personally concerned. About the poor. Orthodontic rotten the disadvantage the spies and the disenfranchised. Many americans call followers of jesus seem to resent being asked as jesus suggested we must do. To sacrifice any of their personal wealth. For the comfort and care of others. For example and if you doubt me go online and look it up. The goal to the christian coalition pat robertson's christian organization. They have a 2014 agenda other website. These are the top. And most urgent priorities. That they have. They are not feeding the hungry not housing the homeless not caring for the prison. But here the christian the christian priorities of the christian coalition. Christian. Priorities. Defunding and rolling back obamacare. Reducing government spending. Free this is my favorite making sure the second amendment of the constitution. Restrictions on guns in america would love that one. Poor blocking marriage equality. Opposing liberal judicial nominees. And get this one. Supporting unrestrained fracking and oil drilling and construction of the keystone pipeline. What do you think jesus would say if he came back to earth and read that i don't expect about how his name is being used. It seems to me that in our conflicted social time. The great theological struggle within christianity many true christian friend. The great struggle within christianity. Is the clear and painful divided in american christianity. Between the religion jesus. And a religion about. Jesus. Liberal social justice side of the christian spectrum. Who seek to embody and sir. But i shall call the religion. The original religion of jesus. And thereby they strive these kristen. Message of compassion and care and sharing. For the disenfranchised in the disadvantage. Eminem the other side you have those on the more conservative christian spectrum. Call the religion of jesus. Which focuses its attention. On jesus as my personal savior. And therefore spends most of its spiritual attention. Personally achieving salvation. An eternal life. For me and my loved one. Here is the bottom line. This christmas season. My dear friends. Christmas must never be about. Selfishness. And materialism. Christmas must never. Ever. Fever crazed and greedy shoppers knocking each other down in the isles of walmart or punching each other as you see on the evening news around thanksgiving as a flat-screen television on sale. Limited number don't you know. Dear god help the american people. Christmas people like you and me. Quietly. Growing larger. More inclusive. And caring hearts. Christmas must be about people cultivating more generous lives. And lending themselves to the work of social and economic justice. For all. This is what the simple galilean preacher taught us. This is the holy saving message. We must never forget. And must always keep close to our hearts whether we think of ourselves. As christian. Or not. So let me be. A gentle. Soldier. Of this season. As i strive to save christmas from all those who mock. And trivialize it. With their shallow consumerism. And personal greed. Let me be a gentle soldier of the season as i strive to live up. To the crew challenge and call of christmas. The challenge and call that jesus of nazareth. Lived. And died for. This december may i. Evermore live. Into the life. A care. And responsibilities. Are all of god's children. And this christmas. I and they all of you. Ever know. You're in the soluble high and holy connection. To every man. Woman and child. That walks this earth. And i send you on your way this christmas holiday with these words. A president calvin coolidge. Christmas is not a time or a season. But a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill. In mercy is to have the real spirit of christmas. If we think on these things there will be born in us a savior. Andover us was china star. Sending hope. Into the world.

uufvb_org

2015May31Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. We are so pleased that you've come to be with us this morning. We are supply just said. People working to become our best individual cells. We work to make our world a better place. This morning. What are you gay or straight. Whether you are a visitor this morning or. Whether you're feeling absolutely beautiful summer day here in vero beach or. Or maybe down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you just as you come to us. We hope you'll find our services morning meaningful. You'll find something here this morning to take with you that will give your life. Renewed energy and joy we're living in the days and weeks ahead. My colleague. Coconut coffee. Blazers and grassland. Narwhals. Scorpio knees and persimmons in polar bear. Queen anne's lace. Or raspberries. Waterfall. For xenia zucchini and zebras. The alphabet of wonderful thing in our world that is as simple. This january when the reverend marley harmony who will be our summer minister again this year she'll be with us 45. Weeks in july and august. Spoke about the loss of her beloved dog. Many of us have unresolved. Emotion. Involving animals in mementos of. Special. Animals that have meant things to you until. Kinship and care for animals. An american poet. The first one is called percy. Unfortunately. We had left unguarded. It was. Which many copies are available. Everyday. Into the beauty of his life. We touch. Supposed to. How wonderful how clever. If you needed me. With okayness. About more. Think about. Children a few sundays ago. What are the. Woodfield empty without. With and walking his dog lola. Who require a lot. Not being able. Take care of it. Personal. Is allergies. We had one. And the girls spend a lot of time. Of course we had our share of pets in the backyard. Many years earlier. We had a beautiful black lab named ben. Canada. Florist in columbia south america. A perfect home. Energetic. When i return. Member of our family. As much as i love. So fun and he was so wonderful. And i was in home alone. Took care of me. He was very protective. Also gentle with our friends children when they can. When our oldest daughter was born. Been with the quietly at her side. When i place her in her baby seat around the house as i went about my. Favorite activity. With chasing the sour oranges from the abandoned. Jason. You can imagine. Steven. But you went to sit and rest quiet. He was inadvertently left out. We never saw him. We also never spoke about him again after he. We also decided not. Our second daughter gabby was born. And we started planning a move to. That we can develop with our pet. About. Austin with the wild. The words of john o'donohue. Bless the space. A book of blessings. Scribes. Mirror to the earth park. Deeper within its silence. Animals. Never will. We. Right window. Is not fracture. Emerging. We are. From the here and now. Beauty of animals. Steel. With us. Lightning. Frequently. Steel of the wild. Let the clear silence. When's our heart. May we. Learn to walk. Upon the earth. With all their conference. In the name of the wind. Which is founded. You all know the story. The earth and everything is lived upon it. With his creation because qello. The earth is filled with violence. And the wickedness of man was great. I have determined to make an end. I will bring a flood of water on the earth. Had to destroy all flesh. In which is the breath of life from under heaven. And then god said everything that is on earth. Decides to destroy every living thing on earth except. Noah and his family and except. Is very clear instructions to noah. One mating pair of every animal species on the planet. And you all know this kind of familiar. Picture which i hope will come up in just a moment. Is it going to come up. It's not going to come up. With the the mammals going. Ensono is instructed by god to build a great ark made out of gopher-wood a vessel large enough to accommodate noah's family. And all these countless mating pairs of animals that will be selected to ensure the survival of every species. I've always wondered if that works. How many billions are there in the world. Every living thing which god created to live on earth. Continue. Story about noah and his family rescuing every species of animal. Animal from a sewer water extinction wild fantastic. Or what about could possibly be big enough. In theological terms anyway. Because it implies humanity. Every species. From the animal kingdom every created species we're responsible. To protect. Return. Overall the animal. And idea which unfortunately. And with tragic consequences beyond measuring. Given our species permission ever since to believe. That is to say in the cosmic scheme of things. Inferior. And if they are here on earth only to meet our human wants and needs. Dietary and otherwise. After the flood recedes and the ark. Empty. Be fruitful he says. And multiply and fill the earth the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast. On the earth. And upon every bird in the air. Freemovies4u. Over everything. Into your hands. They are delivered. As my colleague gary kowalski right in his groundbreaking groundbreaking book. The bible according to noah. Theology as if animals matters he right. Animals we are told in jewish scriptures were originally created by god. Helpmates for humankind. Eating them appears to be the final step. From paradise. Superchips to perdition. Kowalski right. Animals are no longer seen. A or partners instead. Appetizers. And apparel. Resources. M train goods. To be used for human purposes. And then kowalski right. God in the ancient scriptures is saying. Ethics and morality must govern our relationship with others. Of our own species. What are irrelevant as far as animals arkansas. Homocentric view. Was created by god exclusively for our purposes and our exploitation. To the spotless exploitation and in many cases eventual extinction. Countless animal species. Hazard. Human population increases. And it's habitats are reduced. Animals. Are now in days. Many animals in. there is now a rising crescendo. In both spiritual and ecological circle. Urgently calling us to a new understanding of our kinship with. And our responsibility for. One of the first to raise his voice with this new ethic of kinship and care for animals. Who's the famous 20th century physician and humanitarian. Albert schweitzer. Who interesting lee was became an honorary unitarian universalist. Through his friendship with one of our ministers the reverend george marshall. Listen to the powerful words when switzer articulate. Universal epic which is simply called. Reverence for life be right. The human spirit. In which all ethics must take root. If it embraces all living creatures. And does not limit itself. Was not only concern our human neighbor. Strength of conviction. A boundless ethics. Which will include the animal. European sausage you can clues we have come to the notion. What was the animal creation as well. Nothing else. But reverence. For all life. This is the only see us into a new day worth having. Global citizen. Humanity must simply forsake that ancient and destructive idea. Animals are here only to serve our purposes and that we somehow have. Dominion over them. We share a primordial kinship with all animals. Were they came out of the same beautiful primordial soup of evolution. As we did. They are closed. Cosmic skin. And if we are to have a planet for ourselves and our children. And our grandchildren worth having. We must take care. All of our fellow. Gary kowalski. There is no disputing. The warmth and companionship and love. Animals provide. Legally wijanarko. But the joy of these creatures bring into our home. Rings into our homes make them more like family members. The worldly possessions we share a radical kinship. Was so. Many animals. You all know the seventh principle of our unitarian universalist space we printed in the order of service every sunday. We are apart. All existing. Of which we are apart. Together we move the full. Being of the 20th century. We must keep that principle. Sweitzers epic of reverence for all life. And our kinship. With all creatures. The forefront of our moral universe. We must simply. Never go back to the days of noah. When we imagine that these animals are here. For our purpose. No. They are closed tim. Amazing. Beautiful. Creation. Animals are such. Wonderful blessing. May we return. Stop listening. We now have a ritual we hope that any of you will participate. Now is the time in this blessing of the animals service. Are in a ritual of claiming stone. Animal-loving. Can you see two baskets on a beautiful food. Riverstone. With whom you are currently sharing your life. Butterfly. Or even alligators. With. Care for animals. Hold them in your hands. And take them home with you after the service. A place of honor. And remember. Bored. Or even the cozy. Where you enjoy your breakfast. Be able to remember the animals. What are ritual begin. Addiction is from terry tempest williams. Text what is wild. We live only by grace. Wilderness. Live. Wild murphy. Who are world.

uufvb_org

2011Mar20Sermon128.mp3

Without a doubt. The highlights of my 10-year tenure. Huu ftv. Have involved getting to know some wonderfully remarkable people. For example. Did you know that there is one among us who studied romance language at the sorbonne. And worked in advertising in philadelphia. There's someone here who has raced automobiles as well as boats. Yet served as a nature guy and trained horses. Why we even have one among us who has lived on a trawler and coconut grove and a slave cabin in annapolis on a swing houseboating atlantic city's back bay. In a row home in south philadelphia. And at a suite at the waldorf towers. What's more we actually have someone here who stepped up. And married the love of her life in 2009. Just a month after vermont legalize same-sex marriages. You might ask. Who are these remarkable people. Well. Let me feel you in my recently discovered all of these people. In one person. A relatively new member of ruuf beebe family. Our own joanne finley. Moreover joanne has an accomplished rider. A public speaker and she's been compiling a collection of essays and title. A life examined. Today our worship committee. Has invited jo-ann's take the pulpit and share one of those remarkable essays. Seeing without looking. Now if you left your left brain at home today don't worry. You won't be needing it. Just drop your logic on the floor. And prepare to take a fresh look. You'll find that through a bitter and protected protracted struggle with reality. Joanne findley has a merge. As the vanquished. And she couldn't be more grateful. And seeing without looking joanne tries to explain why she makes no sense. Joann. My my. Reflection today's called seeing without looking. When i was a child i fell under the spell of onions. I have no memory of this onion addiction but according to family lore. As early as i could persuade my fingers to obey my will. I was a pillar of onions. In the early dawn unsupervised hours i would leave my bed. And head straight for the drawer that house the potatoes and onions. Grab a likely candidate and start to peel. First the translucent powder parchment then the layers one after another. I peeled. And i cried. Peeled and cried. As much would seem from the bitter onion fumes from the frustration of finding. Nothing. Nothing inside the onions wrapping paper but more of the same. And indeed the same only less. Sorted by the stubborn unionist of the bulbs i'd finally smash their cores to a pulp. After several occasions of this carnage the onions were moved to safety out of my reach. But throughout my life in one form or another i have made a career of onion peeling. Today i'd like to talk about how the paradigm of looking harder and trying harder frame my approach to life's mysteries. And how am i insistence. On. Hard cold truth. Rainbow existence of the poetry. That was my birthright. Ally confused a search for truth. With my angry lonely longing for love. And how i came to discover a state of grace. Beyond power. And even beyond love. The first let me peel a few onions. In my early twenties i'm in paris studying french literature and i'm asked to write a paper on a surrealist poem. The pieces one of those opaque stream-of-consciousness affairs something along the lines of. Blue asparagus riding on the metro with a pipe-smoking fish. Undaunted i grab that poem by the scruff of its neck. And subjected to the harsh light of reason. Producing an interpretation. That transformed utterly the rare into the commonplace. My case was so airtight. That the professor grudgingly gave me an a for earnestness. Buddy and in a minus with a commitment in colloquial friend with the comment and colloquial french. A little pool by the hell don't you think. I became none-the-less a devoted student of literature and those strong-arm tactics continued character characterized. Not only my approach to the fluid and fragile literary medium. But also my relationship to life in general. The paraphrase poet laureate billy collins. I tied every poem to a chair and try to force a confession out of it. In this manner i sent and some perfectly innocent poems to a life on death row. Not only did i squeeze meaning out of every mystery but i burdened reality itself. Forcing meaning. Portent and consequence. Onto its already tottering legs. This trend of violence continued into my 30s with the creation and one of my short stories. Of a nature assailing hero. Mr sudsbury founder of the traveling cavalcade of bubbles. Had done every trick. And variation that could be performed with bubbles. But his obsessive pursuit was to create a square bubble. He wanted to violate the stubborn spherical will of nature herself. Like mr sudsbury force not surrender was my modus operandus. Threatened by chaos and unpredictability i became attached to beliefs of order and causality. Armed with the assumption. I'm a one-to-one correspondence between thought and reality. I to woodforest nature to do my bidding. Violence was my first and last resort. I wielded my mind like a sledge my eyes like pry bars. I was in bondage not just too intellectual violence. But the physical violence as well. It was a measure of how a lost lonely and unloved i felt. But i enjoyed the fist fighting that was a way of life in the projects where i was raised. It's a assurance. It's intimacy. It's honesty. The relief from the bib & tucker platitudes that pass for human connection. Abri facade. I mentioned that i grew up in the projects but in fact. I was raised on both sides of the tracks. Growing up i lived on weekdays with my parents and sell philadelphia ghetto and a ghetto in south philadelphia. And on the weekends with my grandmother's welty sister my aunt still. In new york's waldorf towers. In the 1st and south philadelphia was joanne roselli and even my name changed. When i got to newark to joan findlay. Now back to a yellow formica and chrome table in south philadelphia where thankfully i was getting my first lesson in seeing without looking. My father diamonds he was called by friends and family alike. Made an illegal boom-or-bust living as a gambler. He book numbers and horses and red card games. At age 10 i remember diamond showing me a deck. Of what appeared to be ordinary playing cards. But which he claimed were marked cards. Spread them across the kitchen table. Face down and asked me to see if i could see the markings. That perceived by a train i would disengage themselves from the general background pattern. To reveal the number and suit of the hidden cards. Applying my eyes like pry bars i stared at the mandalas on the backs of the cards with grim determination. I saw nothing. The mosaic appeared perfectly regular and without relief. The harder i look the more i screwed my eyes into the pattern the blurry or those cards became. No. Diamond said. You're staring at the cards you're looking so hard. You can't see. You have to look at them as if you were in love. Make. Googly eyes. I had no idea what happened to your eyes when you were in love. And began to suspect the diamonds was having a joke at my expense. But then his body and face went slack. And his eyes seemed to glaze over and lose their focus. Spreading their gaze like melted butter over the entire kitchen. He spoke as if in a dream announcing the number and suit of each card before he flipped it over. Iocene my first miracle. Put that in your pipe and smoke it he said not jubilantly. But softly full of wonder. It wasn't about force. He was talkin about. Surrender. College astronomy 101 gazing through high-powered telescope at the clear night sky. The horsehead nebula is a stunning arrangement of neon bright celestial gases. In the shape of a powerfully arched horse's head and main. Our professor fixes the telescope on the nebula. And invites me to look. Pressing and i to the instrument i subject the heavens to my. Hungry scrutiny. Nothing. Darkness. Now sza professor. Leave your focus and front. And gays from the sun. Play. Place the far corner of your eye on the eyepiece. I saddle up and look awkwardly from the corner of my eye. There it is. There it is. A rainbow in riotous a list of mardi gras. I switched to the frontal view. The horsehead disappears. Glimpse from the corner of my eye it reappears. Intense frustration i want to hold it in my i i want i want i want. Like i wanted the hopalong cassidy gun and holster when i was seven. And like them i have the absurd imposed to wine until i get it. But the horsehead nebula does not yield is beauty to a full-frontal assault it can only be glimpsed in the corner of the eye. It's a characteristic. Of the human eye that more of this particularly heavenly light is received at its edges. The nutter center. Square bubbles and frontal assaults not daunting enough i elevated my jihad to the coercion of. Flesh and blood. This time i wanted a horse to cross its legs. I want the horse to move size ways to balance is 1,200 lb on two pairs of scissoring legs. And i want him to do it with grace lightness eagerness and a plum. I apply a heavy hand to his mouth still fled to his flank and back this up with a generous dose of the old do or die. Does depriving the horse of his momentum and balance. And any possibility of carrying out my desires. Do a quick buck could say goodbye to bad rubbish still the beleaguered be stumbles clumsily sideways trying to accommodate my fears will. Weeks and months of this futility pass. But eventually the great-hearted horse taught me how to do a half pass. To get him to cross his legs i would have to convince him. That. I was a person of character. I would have to be as patient. As kind as humble as he. Ask him allow him to do me this big favor. I could not ask him to do anything that i was unwilling to do myself. Ask him to surrender his will and i must surrender mine. Together we must find a way for both of us to move sideways. Rather than our habitual forward. Safely easily even prettily. Soft eyes soft i saw popeyes chance the coach echoing the mantra of dressage. Just for men and tension and soften your eyes. I lay aside the fierce determination holster the pry bars. I fall in love. The horse. I love. Love love the horse. And i love love love his rider. Without any thought for myself. So yes. I make the google eyes. And make a wish. I put that wish in my pipe and smoke it. As the horse and i springs sideways in an elegant buoyant heart-stopping have pass. I float above the spectacle horse and rider moving as a single entity. And i wonder. Who is riding the horse. This was not a case of mask. But one of mystery. All i done was consent. Don't do call this enlightenment it was clearly a moment of extraordinary grace. And experience of freedom. An introduction to the paradox. That the fewer choices i made. The freer i felt. When i can approach my life in the spirit of choiceless awareness. And what a tall order that is. My life becomes large with potential. And to the extent that i can enjoy possibility. Without foreclosure. To the extent that i can let things be. Myself included. I am powerful beyond imagination. I am free. Free from meaning. I no longer have to believe. Everything i think. Yes now i knew. But when you know something in your head but have not felt it in your heart wait awhile. Life will help you. Life threw a hand grenade under my concepts of reality and meaning when i under. When i became intimate with alzheimer's disease. In my thirties i undertook the care of my great aunt stella was by then in the middle stages of dementia. She suffered from memory loss hallucinations and disorientation. And i suffered and railed from the loss of her. Might really heavy-handed strategy and dealing with her issues was to attempt to call her back to reality. Buy engkeng anchoring her in the present. She'd be sitting in the easy chair in her living room and suddenly announce. I want to go home now. I take her on a tour of her house look i'd say to my aunt you are home this is your house here's your closet with your clothes in it. I'd show her the photos of her dead husband her dead dog i tell her the year and the name of the president. I hammered these nails into her mind again and again. Nails with your thing could only hold what i thought reattach her. To a place of belonging and the conviction. That she was she. And that she was here. In this here and now at this moment. And that those things. Counted for something. Again and again i drove in those nails. Convince somehow that i could get them to hold. But they wouldn't they couldn't stay put. In the rotted wood that was her mind. Or was it that i was hammering against the very grain of reality. And then. Oh my goodness. I saw. I knew. That my demented aunt. And i. We're just exactly. The same. We were made of the same stuff. We were made of memory. And belief. And when. When what we experienced. Life itself was only as real as our memories. Would have us believe. Stealing from the past. Borrowing from the future. I had described an imaginary existence. Not just for instill. But for myself as well. Boy. What i called myself. My so-called life. Was nothing other than a tangle of memories. The selected and yes scentifier. Images of my imagined past. Projected onto the present. And into the future. I'd use thought like geometry. To describe and still in space and time. But geometry. Is nothing more. Then arbitrary precision. A way to get sworming reality. To hold still for just a second. Life was screaming by. Indiscreet packets that bore no resemblance a ship to each other. But the ones i gave them. Without the imposition of thought and memory there was no real. At least not one available to my reckoning. The only difference between ants telling me. Was that i still retained intact. Enough selected and sanctified memory. To project myself into the imaginary past. And the imaginary future. And she did not. In the kangaroo court of consensual reality. And still. Could no longer testify. And i was at best an unreliable witness. I couldn't be a remote memory france dell. And finally i stopped crying. And so i became a turncoat a traitor to my own cause abandoning my insistence on truth and meaning and be coming for a while. The perfect fool. And extravagant liar. Pain in my heart. I knew myself to be. And i love that fool and i loved that liar and i loved my new aunt. Now that's don't ask to be taken home to the place where she already was i packed her into the car drove around for 15 minutes and returned her to her door. You're home i didn't know. She was home. She was satisfied. When she insisted that bobby kennedy had come for a visit i no longer explained over and over that he was dead. And couldn't possibly have been sitting on her sofa sipping tea. I simply reminded her that he was a democrat. We celebrated and stills birthday four times a year on wrapping the same gifts each time. And i arranged with some local shopkeepers. For her to engage in her favorite activity. Shoplifting. Katherine mansfield is this. Anything that we truly accept undergoes a change. The suffering becomes love. That is the mystery. With my full acceptance of ants does alzheimer's my own identification with treacherous memory. I suffered deeply in both senses of the word. First i suffered the death of my illusions. And then in the second sense of the word suffering. I truly accepted the grief of losing as still as i know her. I allowed that good grief to abide in me. I suffered that good grief. And it was as katherine mansfield promise. Transformed into a wellspring of tenderness. My aunt. Myself and the world. For years i persisted in the headstrong belief that as long as i rolled carefully from the bottom i could squeeze meaning out of life like toothpaste from a tube. Years of chasing meaning like a quarter in the sofa crack pushing it ever ever farther away with my probing. Those years of frustration and defeat. Are largely if not entirely behind me. Success in this life i have known to. But never enjoyed. Any joy. Any love. I've known. Has come to me through recording. The rights. Andreason's. The heartache. And failure. No mystery. But i attempted to penetrate. Was this deep. As the wonders of the human heart. And no part of all the knowledge i have acquired. Is as rich. And hope or meaning. As a single. Well shed. Now i have a new way of seeing. Seeing without looking. I am still a pillar of onions but now convinced that last that they will never yield to my scrutiny i turn my prying eyes away from their fumes. And lightly trace my fingers across their braille. Knowing them for the intimacy of touch in the way beyond reckoning or dividing. And if when peeling onions tears flood my eyes. Those tears are not from the sting of onions. But from their beauty. For the beauty. An apprehended yet implicit. In every single thing. Every onion. Is an altar. Alters are everywhere. Adele and you militie. I kneel and worship. I lay my fingers on life's wrist. I placed the corners of my google eyes against the telescope. I still believe in love. But letting go of the happy ending. I return my heart to its innocence. In no sent to is not knowing. Not knowing this freedom from meaning. Is the ultimate grace. I fall in love with what is. Life poses for my fingers. Streams into the corners of my eyes. Love comes unsummoned. On tiptoes. Over the shards of my broken heart. Love takes its way through the smoking ruins of humiliation suffering and defeat. And their spawn. Trust. And despair. They are here in my heart and welcome to. Come in come in all of you i say. I sip some tea with darkness. Despair reminds me of what i love. And that i must lose it. But it is despairs mirror twin crust that i invite into the guest room. I trust. Broken as i am. I trust. That some part of beauty. Some part of beauty. Beyond harm. Beyond change. Some part of beauty beyond harm beyond change. Lies within me. Is ultimately. What i am. Abide. A chad by sacred litany. Don't know. Don't know. Don't know. Life keeps telling me. Don't believe everything you think. It's relief. When i stop fighting reality i know myself to be part of it only. And just what it is whatever that is. I keep learning. I am grateful for the suffering and the failure. In my humble dies the temple fires. Auralite. I feed them with a tinder of my broken heart. In my better moments. I am at peace. Unafraid. Almost free.

uufvb_org

2011May08Sermon128.mp3

I begin this morning. What's a tough. But true story. Elie wiesel. Was just a wide-eyed and innocent adolescent. He and all the other jews. Of the transylvanian village of cygnet. We're jammed into cattle cars one april 9th. In 1944 by ss troops. And shifted ship ship ship. To auschwitz. Years later having somehow survive that experience buzzell promised himself he would never forget so he recorded. His death camp experiences in his haunting book night. Of all the horrors he describes in that slim little volume. The one that i can never remove for my mind's eye is that even execution. Experience. A free fellow prisoners. It seems that the ss have captured two men. And the young boy. And had sentenced them to death by hanging for allegedly collaborating with the polish underground. To make an example of them the nazis had the prisoners of auschwitz included these including vsl assembled before the gallows. In the camp yard. As the three victims were stood up on chairs and had their next placed into the nooses. The two men cried long live liberty. But all eyes were on the child. Who remain silent. Diesel then only a teenager himself remembers. The boy. As having a refined and beautiful face. He was lividly pale. He's alright. Almost home. Biting his lip he had the face. Of a sad angel. As the sign was given by the officer-in-charge. Take the chairs out from underneath the three prisoners. Buzzell heard a man behind him in the crowd mournfully asked. Where is god. Where is he. There was total silence. Throughout the camp. On the horizon the sun was setting. All the assembled prisoners were then forced to slowly march-past the gallows. These el rights. The two adults were no longer alive. Their tongues hung swollen blue-tinged. But the third rope was still moving. Being so like the child was still alive. For more than an hour he stayed there struggling between life and death. Dying in slow agony under our eyes. And we had to look upon him. Results. Full face. He was still alive. When i passed in front of him. His tongue still red. His eyes not yet glaze. Behind me i heard the same man asking. Where is god now. And i heard a voice within me answer him. Where is he. Here he is. He is hanging here. On these gallows. Ezell's friend francois. Mauriac. Who knew the details of the authors deeply religious jewish childhood later wrote about what this execution. Famous author. From the time when wiesel's conscience first awoke. He had lived only for god. And he had been reared on the talmud. Dedicated to god and to the eternal. But in the death camp nietzsche's cry became an almost physical reality for these l. God is dead. The god of love of gentleness of comfort the god of abraham of isaac and jacob. Had vanished forever beneath the glaze of that tortured child. As we sell himself wrote. Never shall i forget those moments which murdered my god. And murdered my soul. And turned my dreams. It took time magazine until the mid-1960s to declare on its cover that god is. But for many whose lives have been torn asunder by the grotesque evils of the twentieth century the heavens. Had long since been emptied of the all-knowing all loving all-powerful and caring presence of goodness justice and light. The old guy. The rancid smoke that drifted up from the ovens at auschwitz. Rose to a dark and empty existential sky. And the theological message which many in our postmodern age. Heard ringing out of the stillness of those heavens was that the the all-powerful. All loving god of the old judeo-christian bible the god. Who is supposed to be in charge of everything. And i promise to wisely look after his people. Indeed all human affairs. Was dead. In reflecting on the many tragedies of our twenty of the twentieth-century my colleague tom michaelson. Rights. There is a god sized hole. Increation. This has been a difficult century for god and western culture. The staggering violence of totalitarianism. Led many toward moral numbness or cynicism. And others toward practical atheism. Humanity it is widely been said in our postmodern age is now on its own. And in the face of this world's many evils. Awesome there is little to do. But to weep and mourn. For the world. This remains i would assert the tortured theological context. In which we in the 21st century must-do religion. The unspeakable evils of it of nazism. Followed by other genocide. And national insanities. In places like cambodia. Rwanda kosovo and the sudan and. As i speak this morning hundreds. The civilians being killed in libya. And syria by their own government. By their own leaders. How in the face of such horror. Can we believe either in the unquenchable nobility of humanity. Or in an all-knowing all-powerful justin loving god. Who is ruling the universe. For me and many others including most unitarian universalist of my acquaintance. The strictly proportion god. Of the old and new testaments of jewish and christian scripture. The omnipotent god these l believed in as a child. But not in auschwitz. Is dead and gone. The divine power and personality who pulls all the strings of life in history. Manipulating earthly events for us. For his inscrutable divine purposes. For many people of faith including me. Is lost. This concept of god. Is completely enough. You all remember the old spectacular stories from when you learned many of you bible when you were a child. God of the bible that. Fantastic cosmic personality male of course. Fiercely patriarchal. Discard was a wise and willful. Ruler of earth as. As as. Claudia said he could be a. Kind old man or an angry old man. This micromanaging god in the bible could and would manipulate people and events and nature to get what he wanted. Without batting a cosmic eyelash god could cause seized apart. And then sled them back over evil pursuing armies god could speak through burning bushes. Give commandments down from mountaintops lead entire nation by generating huge pillars of fire for them to follow god could destroy or save. Whole cities based on whatever he wanted to. He allowed exiles and enslavement cause pregnancies and illness. Carried on loud and lengthy arguments. With reluctant messengers like moses. And jonah. You all know the story. He was a great and powerful god yet strangely i got in a very human form. More powerful and wise that us for sure but nonetheless remarkably like us in his ability to anger or to mercy. His communications and his desires his thoughts and perspectives even his prejudices and is quirkiness. Either god made us remarkably close to his image or we made him remarkably close. To ours for the god of the judeo-christian bible. Is very human in his dimension. I have two main theological problems with postulating the existence of such a god first of course. As a conscious and sentient being in this creation i simply see no such. Wise wonderful. Supernatural god operating either regularly or reliably in my universe. I see no powers of fire no red c style miracles i received no clear commandments from the mountaintops. Nor watch any anyone like jesus. Bringing the dead. Back to life. What's more i don't see evidence. That's some all-powerful being as wisely or justly directing. History. There. Was no all-powerful god in heaven to stop auschwitz. Nor to stop the slaughter in darfur. Orin. Today syria. And because my unitarian universalist faith has to be based on my actual experience. With the world. I must respectfully reject this ancient idea of god i just don't see the signs. Of any such god anywhere in my creation and so i will not believe. The second problem i have with the old idea of god. Is it requires with the allegiance call ac odyssey. The odyssey. Is the timeless theological attempt to reconcile. The assertion that the universe is ruled by a good all-knowing and powerful god. Reconcile that with the undeniable reality of so much evil and tragedy and injustice in the world. The vexing questions all theodicy attempts to answer. If god is so good and so powerful than why do so many tragic and evil things. The odyssey's however frame. However articulated have never spiritually work for me. Just one example. Every time a destructive or deadly hurricane hits anywhere in florida fundamentalist christian preachers from the panhandle to key west. Who are devoted this old idea of god in charge of creation. Suggest. The destructive winds and waters come to us to do harm because god is angry at us for something we did. This is a stupid. Idea. Theological. What's my colleague in bethesda maryland preached the sermon the problem with religion i said what is that he said quality control. It's a bad idea okay. You know every time the hurricane goes around virginia beach pat robertson says that's because of me. Great theology. Sorry. All theodicies any theological attempt. To reconcile. The realities of evil and tragedy and randomness. The idea of a perfectly controlling god will always fail. Can anyone believe there's a god really heaven who would allow 6 million jews. Play slaughter.. Would anyone believe. Any god. Allowed. He or she were. Many of us facing this theological reality. Feel like poet james kavanaugh who wrote i have lost my easy god. The one whose name i knew since childhood he was a good god. He was a predictable god. He made pain sensible and patients possible in the future foreseeable now he haunts me seldom this god. Some fierce umbilical is broken now i live with my own fragile hopes. And my son rising the spare my easy god is gone and in his stead the mystery. Of loneliness. And love. All i. The old simple gods of history and childhood. You're paying. Argon. We live in a postmodern. And yet time magazine was once again. Wildly wrong. When it declared. God. Yes the primitive conceptualizations of god. But the yearning. Forgot. For some sense. Of the divine or sacred. No matter how brutal or cynical the times become no matter how silent or hostile to heaven. Sometimes seem to us. Most of us can't quite get this yearning. For something larger than ourselves out of our consciousness. That there is. This unquenchable hunger in the human heart. This deep yearning in the human soul the snagging inclination in our minds to wonder if perhaps perhaps arisen. Something larger something. Lovelier than ourselves. Purposefully. Purposefully aster. Increation. I fully understand that there are people sitting before me. Who self-identify as atheist or humanist or at least severe agnostics. Or some of you the very thought of god. Is of no spiritual use. And that of course is an honorable spiritual. Perspective as long as you lead a good life. But for many of us especially. In those tenderly fleeting moments when life's. Qatar. Holy. Healing beauty and mystery do break in upon us. As when we witness the birth. Of a new child. Or captivated. As we are so often here in florida. Beautiful sunset. Or witness enact. Radical generosity or love. We are held in the or held in the arms of human love. We wonder still if there isn't something something we can reliably call god or spirit. Breathe through our world ending. This purpose. Just creation with. The idea and the yearning of god. Timelessly across all cultures. There is something universal i think. In the urge to human beings have. To know and then to attempt to name. Something larger and lovely or something more sacred. And themselves as long as we have the. Mysterious. Live life. As long as we find ourselves. So wondrously alive in this astounding creation no matter how much pain or tragedy we may experience this yearning. I am reminded of the modern. Acidic tail which is told. About three old rabbis. At auschwitz. After many months in the deaf. They decide finally. Put god on trial. For allowing the innocent children to be massacre. Of course. Find god guilty. Of these murders. The god of israel that god was supposed to rule the world and protect his people the rabbi's conclude. Broke his part of the covenant real bargain. Yet a moment after the three old men conclude their trial. In their shack at auschwitz. One of the rabbis glances up. I'm through the dirty windows sees the setting sun and says why my friend. It's time for our prayers. And they bow their heads. And they pray to god. Question and yearning of god. Powerful and persistent as life it's. Not even the ardent. Ernest an absolute humanism that i grew around my philosophic solder in college. Has been able to protect myself from this impulse. Has the longer i live the more i fully experience to my world. Just couldn't get away. Something i call god. Steele's gently into my heart regularly and i've never able. To defend myself. Good thing like the old rabbis at auschwitz. No matter how senseless life may seem to me how i'm just. I will never be able to get god out of. My soul. Perhaps some of. This. Is secretly true4u even if. You call yourself. Used to fly a lot as a minister and i had a colleague edward frost from atlanta when he was sitting next to a seat made on a plane and somebody asked him what he did for a living he said. I manufacture rawhide dog chews. And the reason he said that he's there was never a follow-up question. I never had that wisdom when i used to fly when somebody would say what do you do i would say lima minister. And then number of times somebody on a very long flight and i'd be over kansas or something on my way to los angeles with salo that's good i don't believe in god. Couple of times i engaged this person in conversation by asking. Will which god is it you don't believe in. And invariably the answer was this old god i'm describing this old proportion got avenue in old testament. And after they said that i don't believe in that god either. And i would. Converse with him about spirit. And wondering if there was some way of there. Responding to the universe end. Once i kind of describe the god that i was unable to chase from my soul. Many times they would say well if that's what you mean by god i uncomfortable with that concept it's just i thought everybody believed in this old angry. Parents who was running. The universe. If you take time to engage most people in conversation about god. It's not the thing. Denied all sacredness or divinity it's that they don't like the old old concepts. Of the patriarchal. Here's the neat thing. As unitarian universalist we have so many creative spiritually enriching ways to think about god. And this diversity is not only logical it's good. For i believe that god is above all else a radically. A personal reality when i was in seminary had this old. German. Comparative religions professor named frederick spiegelberg. He was a dignified old man if you google famous theologian. The one thing i took from my course with him. I is whatever several things actually. But he said. That. God is in the realm of the inexpressible in your ear of fool if you ever try. To tell someone else. Or impose someone else on someone else you are idea of god. He would implore us. He said. Be content. To know and name your own god kind of inside as a feeling. But please don't try to transfer argue to someone else your sense of god they must discover their own sense of life. Ultimate sacredness and not try to fit themselves into the box which is yours. And over the years of my ministry i've. I tended not to heed that advice i think it's important to talk about god but. Did the basic. Of. Of his remark was good. God is a fiercely personal reality and you don't need to justify it to anyone you don't need to even be able to articulate it. But if you have a sense of the divine on the sacred. Or something you call god. Rest with that and don't worry about. Proving. I've had ardent. Empiricists from unitarian universal circle hook me up with what do you mean by god prove it. I don't have to. I don't have to darn it. This is religion that science. I don't have to define it. I don't have to. Explain it to satisfy you. That's not the way god works. All of this is my way of preface in my briefly sharing now my own personal idea of god and what god has i experienced it means to me. It is my own experience and i don't want any of you to cleave to it or expect. That you will find this. Circulation. Just perfect. I want to share what the word god means. To me it's a way of perhaps stimulating your thought. And you're feeling about what it might mean. To you. That which i called god is a very personal mystical and largely intuitive reality in my life. It's something i feel more than think. I cannot describe it in precise rational or scientific terms. But rather in poetical. Experiential and metaphor. One that may not. Once it may not make a whole lot of sense to you. That which i called god is not as you might well guess from what i said about the old biblical understandings my god is not a supernatural personality. Nora cosmic consciousness nor a divine intelligence it is certainly not. A ruler of the universe no such god of history makes any sense to me. My god rather is an elusive. Life-giving spirit. Sunk deep down in my world and my being god is to me and elusive but terribly powerful and real. Spirit of holiness of. Of healing and grace. That i find dwelling. In common. Ordinary. Things. An indwelling presence. Is another way to say it in the world. A present which is there for me as a positive spiritual resource and source of energy as i strive to live my mortal life on this earth. Sun degree. And love. Contentment. And joy and. One of the original hebrew meanings for the word spirit is breath. Of life or. Wind. The spirit of god that i see and sense and seek to serve in my life is like a faithful wind. The blows like we have. Always here. In general we have a lovely wind blowing us. The ocean. God for me is a study reliable. It's there i can. See it. It's their civil iable. That which i called god is a faithful everyday presence of presents with. Blesses and stirs and energizes my world like. Caressing summer. Breeze. let me be clear about this. The spirit of life is sustaining. Beauty and goodness and purpose of love which i feel pulsing through nature. And in all things and i see in people and even in myself. This thing i seek to know and celebrate. Serve as best i can is not in charge of the universe. It is not in charge. It does not. Control. The world it does not rule it. It does not it cannot manipulate historical event there is no master plan for humanity. Nor conscious intent for my life or your life i don't think. I cannot and do not pray to this god. To steer or change or fix things in my life or in. The world's history. And there are to be existentially sure other powerful and countervailing forces. Sunk down in deep in our world there are forces of emptiness. Horses of angst and cruelty and sorrow and ugliness. Pain you all know these things they are real and they are. Deep down. In our world.. You need look no further. Then the killing fields of our world. I know about. These. Our world is not ruled. My goodness. And love. That which i call god is existentially restrained. And restricted by other realities in this creation. But this does. Cosme despair nor cosme. To mute. Or to disavowal you this spirit. That sustain. Now i fully appreciate that for some such a god such an elusive mystical spiritual presence. Death comes to us like wind. That does not change faith and does not shape history and does not ensure happy endings. That this god for many is not powerful are personal enough or. To be of comfort in usefulness but for me this is the only god possible in so fragile and unpretty. All creation is the one you and i live in. The fact that which i called god cannot and does not do all things on q and conformity. To my wishes and desires or yours. Does not for me at least diminish its presence. It's preciousness. And its potential. To help me find a satisfying way of human being. For me even though the spirit i feel and everyday things. Is not all-powerful our all-knowing it is holiness enough it is a sweet and saving presents. It is reliable. It infuses my life with grace and power and goodness enough. It's enough to save me. Save me and countless moments. And that's why i said that which i called god is not personal. In the sense that i don't have a direct conversational. Human-like relationship with the spirit. But my relationship with this great and gentle presence is nonetheless fiercely personal everyday i awake. I strive to serve in to see and to celebrate and to serve this spirit. Whenever i'm. Watching the other hibiscus right now along a1a faithfully burst into song are. Communing with dear friends over a messy. Candlelit dinner or lending myself with others of goodwill to some. Social justice cause or struggling in my own quiet moments of the night. To be the best person i can be. I do fall into hush relationship. With my god. And try to draw my life and being closer to the spirit. That which i call god. Does not come rolling out of the clouds at me or. Offer me 10 simple commandments. I'm old. Tablets. My relationship with that which i call god. Doesn't mean the things automatically go my way. As my colleague tom michelson is right. There is often a god. Shaped hole in my heart. And a god-shaped hole in all of creation. William wordsworth. Spoke to me when he wrote. I have felt a presence. That disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts a sense. Sublime of something far more deeply infused whose dwelling. Is the light of setting suns. And the round ocean. And the living are in the blue sky. And in the mind of humanity. Emotion. And a spirit that impels all thinkin things all objects of thought and rolls. Rolls. Through. All. My colleague clark dewey wells once poetically talked about his god as that dearest. Freshness. Indeep downswing. That life. Giving presents that sings out of the muck and mara love this life. A spirit that is available. And a spirit. More to the point. A spirit. Calls me. Beggs meat haunts me haunts me. To participate in its holy. Work. And it's holy ways. This is called process theology. The idea that. God. Invites us to be partners. With. It's spirit. In the creation of a better world. I love this idea to become. Co-creators. 2. To become a part. That spirit. That spirit. Which i called god cannon does of course. Operate for life and love quite without me. But it also begs me it calls me into its purpose and its greatness. And becomes itself. Stronger and lovelier the more. Strong and loving i become. God is changed. By me. And i am changed. By god. Theologian. Dorothy soleil boldly said. To believe in god means to take sides with life. And to end our alliance with death. It means to stop killing. And wanting to kill and to do battle with apathy which is so akin to killing. To take sides with life she goes on. And to experience how we can transcend ourselves as a process that has many names and faces religion is one of those names. Religion can mean the radical and wholehearted attempt. Simply to take side. Westlife. We enter the spirit of god. We participate in god. Whenever and however we hear the call and lend ourselves. Lend ourselves. To taking the side. Of life. I love. And goodness. For example. If you stand faithfully by someone's deathbed holding their hand soothing their brow and singing to them. In the night. It is your presence. You are loved your physical embrace. That is god. And then the opposite. Spiritual realm. The opposite is true. If we fail to bring our best and most loving selves to some earthly or human moment. Then god is diminished. By our refusal of the spirit. God regularly needs us. If god spirit. Hyster grow. In the world. And the spiritual irony of this. Life. Is it on a daily basis the great. Spirit of creation is dependent upon us. It asked it welcomes. Encourage. The needs are. Energies and gifts. To help make the world right. I am sure the old primitive gods. Are all dead. To me at least. The world is at best a fractured place of triumph and tragedy holiness and hellacious mess. Sacredness in suffolk suffering the world is torn between forces of light and love and goodness and. Apathy darkness. And cruelty. And i refuse to believe in such a world that anyone. Or anything is ruling. The heaven. And deciding everything.. But i believe deep to my bones. Deep to my heart. Creation is nonetheless. Eternally easter. With a holy presence. A presence of gentleness. Presence of purpose. A presence of grace. Presents. I believe there was a holy spirit on the winds of this world that seeks to bless. And nurture all who are open to feel it's study power. And it's healing. And i pray. The call it whatever you will. Describe it in whatever way that works for you. Please be open. To the sacred mystery. That lies just beyond you and within every. Part. Of your body. And your soul. Dog hummer sold. Had it right. When he simply said god does not die on the day we cease to believe in a personal deity. But we die. On the day when our lives cease to be illumined. By the steady radiance. Renew daily. Of a wonder. The source of which. Is beyond. All.

uufvb_org

2012Jan01Sermon32.mp3

So my dad. Move down here a couple of years ago. He's been trying to get me to come down. Am i yeah yeah yeah. And then. I feel like he might have conspired with your minister. Cuz i got a call from scott. One day. And. He said i would love to have you come preacher. And i washed your sermons online your congregation must be enormous. I like this guy so very much. Knows me too well. And it's not enormous. But. It's a. I didn't exchange a few conversations with scotten and i'm sorry that we're we're actually just missing each other by a few hours i have to go back wax i'm going to lombard to him. Help teach a class as one of our seminars. And so on. Not going to be able to meet scott in person until. Sometime in the future but. I just feel so. Great. Haven't spoken with him. That you know this is the place that my dad is. Has chosen to make his home i really. Really. I really like scott. I really like it's visioning. End. I was invited to this housewarming party the other night which was. Great you. You're so friendly and so welcoming and i i just wish you the best. For your community i know that you've been growing quite a bit and. Liberal religion have a very important role to play in our nation. I was just so welcomed in so warmed by you and. So glad that my dad is found a home here. So thank you very much. Hiya. I downloaded a fu podcast sermons by joel osteen. Yo some of you have never heard of him. 9. 2 people who haven't heard of him. She's the senior minister at lakewood church. In houston texas which. Regularly caesar weekly attendance of. Over 40,000. Somewhat like my congregation at home. His church and rockets. Osteen has authored a couple of. Best-selling books has more than 7 million copies in print. Night. I downloaded it sermons because i really i wanted to hear. What. Kind of message. To draw. People together to. Come to service with 14,000 or 16000 of there. Closest friends. I'd heard that he was a preacher of something called the prosperity gospel. Where your. Faith. Actually leaves you to material riches as well as spiritual ones. I've heard of that priest before. But i was actually quite surprised by his message in that there was almost no mention. Jesus. Other than a ritual introduction where people raise their bibles in the are repeating opening words together and an entreaty at the close of the 30-minute service. There were at most maybe two references to scripture. And these were given as biblical support. The message that he had delivered rather than an exposition. Of the situation that jesus was facing at the time. Endemic. But really only has a lens through which he was asking the audience to evaluate their own behavior. What's striking about osteen's message was how it nearly parallel the entrepreneurial motivational speaker t harv eker. Who also fill stadiums as he tours the nation. Almost point-for-point they echoed one another as they championed the belief of positive thinking of projecting what you want. Silencing that critic who tells you that you're no good. The only significant difference. What were they found the authority to support these claims. Osteen claims that god sees you as perfect and who are you. To deny god. Becker. Ask his followers to look at successful people. And study the story that they tell or don't tell themselves. Similarly. A movie called the secret. Swallows sounds. So right. A book by that same name the secret it's swept the world. Two years ago for claiming to share an ancient discovery. I have been handed down through time from one powerful individual to another. They even include and untraceable quote by emerson. Which seems to imply that he was a member of this illuminati ask organization that. Secret. Does the law of attraction. Or what you think and feel causes a reaction to occur in the outer world. No i don't mock this principle. Itself on many levels i believe it if you carry negativity in your mind and heart you will not be surrounded by positive thinking people and you will find yourself very unsatisfied with your life. Look at. Each setback is an opportunity to learn if you. Support people. You give them recognition. They will most likely help you succeed. There's nothing particularly new or revolutionary hear it. Seems so intuitive it is hard to call it an inside. Peter parker wants calls himself a great deal of trouble by saying. Jesus's message was not true because jesus because it had always been true. But the desire for a leader to come into our lives and show us the way is a very strong desire. As intuitive as this message seems we still find ourselves unhappy. We still consider ourselves failures unfulfilled. And we want it to end. At least one of these speakers osteen. Becker. People behind the secret day. They have a program for their audience a regimen that. They're supposed to fall. Repeat. Drilling into their mind affirmations and goals. I don't think that this can hurt. But with so many people preaching the same message whether it is chris dick or entrepreneurial or somehow a cult. What does this say about the human experience. The present current. Personal improvement is certainly one that i favored over the calvinist message of original sin. Androgynous. I do like to believe that i have agency that my life while not perfect can be improved. I don't like the idea of a supernatural force that has somehow condemned me forever. But even these two seemingly contradictory worldviews have a similar origin. Like the devil and the angels that sit on either shoulder one seems to say that you are substandard and there's nothing that you can do about it. And the other. Says you are substandard. But with a lot of hard work there's something that you can do about it. And the only main difference is the story that explains why we feel this way. The inquietud. The restlessness. The existential loneliness that we have felt from the beginning of time is perhaps. The greatest challenge that we face in our lives. Any motivational speakers and religious leaders have audiences because many believe that somewhere out there. Is the answer to the person that i want to be. A saved person. The rich person. The loving person that happy person. Where the buddha. To come today. He might have a talk show host. The oprah network is looking. Maybe the buddha wood. Come with a. Package five cds that are downloaded on itunes. You want to be fair i do think that there is a difference between the teachings of the buddha and the messaging. Prosperity offered by. Osteen and ecker. Any number of similar speakers and preachers who emphasized. Material evidence is. How we see our satisfaction the buddha would not agree with the crude idea. That by focusing on a material object. In your mind that it will appear in your life. But he does assert. That the state of your mind does determine the world around you. The way you see it. The way you interact with it. Still. If the buddha wrote his self-help manual 2500 years ago. And it certainly has been a best-seller why are we still looking for the exact same message. Today. If only in a different form. I don't believe material makes you feel any better. I don't necessarily believe that it. Is a satisfaction that is filled with in you whatever that could possibly mean. For me the missing component. Of these stories. Is the element of relationship. I study buddhism i go on buddhist retreats i lived in a buddhist temple because i do believe in the power of meditation. Priming unitarian universalist. Because i believe that the message of freedom from suffering. Isn't engaged practice of relationship. I don't need a lot of money. I don't need. A lot of power or fame. These on their own won't bring me happiness. For contentment. What i want to know. Feel. Is that i have been seen. But i've been heard. But i've been listen to. Did i have been respected. Our spiritual practice. As unitarian universalist. Is define empathy. Does not to worship a god it is not to worship ourselves. It is to look into the eyes of another being. And to love them. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to like them. That is difficult. But that is also different than loving them. Martin buber wrote. Jesus. Jesus's. Feeling for the possessed man. Is different from his feeling. For the beloved disciple. But the love. Is 1. But it is not a oneness of love that is out there. Existing eternally that we tap into or out of. And goes on without our. Participation regardless. Note the oneness of love. Is not. Distinct. To relationship. But it depends. Opponent. Uber. The concentration infusion into a whole being can never be accomplished by me. Can never be accomplished. Without me. I require a u. To become. Becoming i. I say you. All life. Is encounter. The encounters. We have with one another are constant. Our faith practice. Is to engage them. Most often we don't. The unhappiness of the world. Is result of our refusal to acknowledge the encounters that we are having. Everyday. Person at the light. Person at the coffee shop the person. Sitting next to you at the pew in the pew. We have a very difficult time. Looking at one another in the eye. Particularly when we are angry. My favorite passage. By howard thurman reads it is a strange freedom. To be adrift in the world of men without a sense of anchor anywhere. Always there is a need for mooring. The need for the firm grip on something that is rooted and will not give away. The urge to be accountable to someone. To know that beyond the individual himself there is an answer that must be given. Cannot be denied. The deed amanfour forms must be weighed in the balance of another's hand. Very spirit. A man tends to panic. The desolation of going nameless up and down the streets of other minds. Where no salutation grief. And no friendly recognition make secured is a strange freedom. To be adrift. The world of men. Always. There must be found. For bringing into one solitary place the settled look. From another space. Forgetting the quiet sanction. Another's grace to undergird the meaning of the cell. Be ignored. To be passed over as of no account. And have no meaning is to be made into a faceless thing. Not a man. Susie strange. Freedom. To go nameless up and down the streets of others minds. P**** salutation greets. I know sign is given to mark. Place. One calls one zone. Until we come together to knit a quilt. Of meaning out of the various stories of our lives this morning. Each of these different stories call out to us from people from around the world. Come around. Power. Cities. From the pew next to you. Simi. Hear me. Respect me. Love me. Do we have that courage. Will we be the mooring in the world for those who are adrift. We be available. For those who seek to be made accountable. These are tough questions are really. In some respects it is all the same question. I mean we all have our own troubles. Our own fears of walking named leslie up and down the streets of other minds what if no salutation greets me. There's an odd strengthen seeing another. Not becoming the other. Happing swept away by the other but simply sitting. And witnessing. Their existence. It is the best present that we can give humanity this year. More than money more than any sense of fame. Muster our courage to look. And our desire to be whole. To recognize that the pursuit of wholeness. Lies in the mutual recognition of another. Becoming i. I say you. Looking in the mirror and telling yourself that you are a winner. Or that god thinks you are a winner. For that. By surrounding yourself. With winners. Is enough. It won't solve the anxiety of our human condition wholeness is not an individual. Adventure. For me the message of jesus. Is not of an eternal god that exists with or without me. Butt of a man. Each encounter looked back into another person's eyes no matter what the relationship and said. I see you. Hear you. I love you. And for me the message of the buddha is not of a man who sat to relieve his own suffering. But a man who simply wanted to be comfortable. In the company of aldi. It is a discipleship i pray that we have the courage to take up as a community. At the denomination not for ourselves. But for everyone. The whole world. Including our cell. Becoming i. Sau.

uufvb_org

2013Apr21Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. What a week has been a. Having lived in boston for 10 years of my life. Call the president watertown on friday during the latest huge. My heart has been open in full all week and i know many of your hearts have been similarly affected. Everyone in this great land and everyone in the commonwealth of massachusetts including that nineteen-year-old boy. One of my colleagues daughters went to prom with two years ago. Everyone in earth. We are glad. This morning. We were carnation standing on the side of love. Seeking to become our best individual cells even as together. Wework. To make a better world. Please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Roll. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful state of humanity. Whether you were feeling on top of the world this morning. We're down in the dumps or with the lakeland heart. We are delighted to see you just as income. In all of your particularity. We hope you will find our earth day service this morning meaningful in richmond that you'll find something here this morning. The nurse is your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed hope and. Living life in the days ahead. Today we celebrate earth day. Unitarian universalist association has a history of environmental consciousness. Our seventh principle states that request for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are apart it was added to the other principles during the 70s. The 1970s r6 source of inspiration and learning includes. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered tradition which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature and it was at it during the 1980s. Are 2006 study action issue is titled the threat of global warming climate change this is just the latest in a series of 30 resolution advocating environmental reform that have been passed at general assemblies since 1962. Now this fellowship celebrate thursday intentionally each year because we are a uu a designated green sanctuary and for those of you who are fairly new to our fellowship let me share with you a little bit of our history back in 2006 the social justice committee asked the board for its blessing to pursue the uu ministry of earth program to become an accredited green sanctuary congregation. The process involved in extensive audit of our environmental practices in several facets of congregational life and not just those areas you would associate with green practices like water and the energy usage or recycling for green cleaning products and using office paper with recycled content they were included of course but they audit also included awareness of the environment. In our education programs and in our community involvement. The audit our newly-formed green sanctuary task force developed a three-year plan with 14 objectives. Which we accomplished and this fellowship received its green sanctuary certificate in june of 2009. And we continue to be mindful of green practices in our everyday congregational life. If any of you are interested in getting involved in this aspect of our fellowship please seek me out during your coffee hour today or give me a call at home sometime this week. And now it's got lights are chalice will you join with me in reading the words printed both on the screen and in your water service acknowledge only this server believe in this love the earth as you love your mother be kind carmen wise loving the world remember in our world the sweetest fruit is still alive. Good morning for you and given nancy's introduction i should give you a little bit of background as to where this list comes from a few years ago to sanctuary committee gauge religious education a curriculum entitled journey for the planet a kids five-week adventure to create an earth-friendly life and last summer that is the curriculum that we used with the children on sunday mornings so is i was preparing the list of things for the children to do. This was one of the resources that i used so here is my list for our children their parents and for all of you number one turn off entertainment devices and computers when not in use number to celebrate birthdays with a car free day number 3 instead of gifts give friends and family day of action cards which include details of what they can do such as volunteering for a cause giving blood giving a donation for a cause etc number for pack no garbage lunches using reusable containers number 5 use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins why cloth why ways to treat number 6 encourage your family to compost food waste number 7 keep your showers to a minimum of 5 minutes maximum. with a friend go for a bike ride or play games and lastly before buying things follow the terrific trio peq quality product quality because they last longer packaging is there a lot or a little is it made from recyclable materials and easier threatening us consider the cost to the earth can it be recycled is it locally-made is it non-toxic. That means it has no poisonous substances is it biodegradable can it be broken down by living organisms like insects bacteria or funshine i know that you do a lot of these things but in case you don't i am sure there's maybe one or two tips that will call you before or the friendly. This morning i wanted to tell you birthday sunday i want to tell you about one of the most. Absolutely best and most delicious summers of my entire life. Summer which i now realize was comprised of pure glorious. Adorable accidental simplicity. It was the summer of 1988 for a major change in our lives as a couple that spring collins and i had bull sign from our jobs in new jersey collins from several years of work as a computer programmer for the film standing shirt company. At the church of the larger fellowship located in uua headquarters. That was the beginning of september so our plan was from new jersey and calvin simmons he find a job in boston sold immediately. A little rustic camp that's a cottage for those of you who can't do new england speak we had a little rustic cottage that is the lake northern leg. And i bought a couple but i bought this modest camp there i paid a whopping $5,500 for about a half an acre land with a couple hundred feet of showing frontage it was very basic uninsulated to rome. The running water came to unfiltered straight from the lake by drinking water came from the artesian spring was located beneath this great big rock that was back in the woods. The shower which were fighting a semblance of privacy was attached to a nearby tree the stove was a rustic old dual hot plate the only heat for those cool summer nights was provided by a trash stove and the refrigerator was felt anxious and tiny. And we had mice and the toilet collins's least favorite aspect of this cancer rustic charm was basically a bucket with water and chemicals in it required daily. So the building was basic. Supernatural setting if you're against the lake. Right on the clear cool lake with high green hills around it with about a dozen pairs of noisy loons nesting that summer. The setting was magical. Each morning that summer we awoke to the sun pouring into our tiny little bedroom for across the leg. Serenaded we buy song birds perched in the high trees we begin each day by drinking strong black coffee. White mugs. Every morning dangling artistes off the swimming. sometimes a sunfish would come up and. Take some of the skin off our toes. Each night we went to sleep to the sounds of the loons. In the embrace of the moon and countless stars that shimmered across the water. All day long for that language summer breeze through through the open windows whenever it rains at the thin roof came alive with the sounds of dancing water. Thunder and lightning with shake the whole structure. Everyday we swam. And red went canoeing and jogged. 4 miles on the dirt road and the nap. And then we compared our dinner usually out still outside of the stone barbecue pit and listen to all things considered for cars. There was no television. And because we were on strictly reduced budget that somewhere inside our work. Simple hearty food and drink cheap beer. And smoke even cheaper little cigars one per day on the dock. This was the summer we live without most of the comforts that we had them as americans had grown accustomed to another i can tell you with a full heart that modest. Sort of homeless summer with all of its imposed and chosen simplicity. We were surrounded by a welfare the satisfaction that i have never again experience. Simple little rustic cabin we had so very much. Much more abundant than anyone could ever ask for so much simple natural will. And went after so many wonderful summer weeks and finally came time to close up the camp take out the pump out of a leg. The move to boston. Sadly said goodbye to that magical time. That summer i learned that less. Can definitely be more. In my sermon the year ago this sunday earth day 2012 when i shared my belief. In the very near future humanity all of us. Will need to begin to learn how to live on earth more simply. I quoted the noted environmentalist bill mckibben from his book early. Witch spells that earth. We're mckibben matter-of-factly states that do the steady increases in human population growth. Conductivity. Exploitation of our planets limited natural resources and climate change. The stables which humanity is known for so many centuries. With the sustainable economies environments which humanity had has sole on the soup encounter.. That or is it is already lost. And now all this left for humanity to do is to scramble. To cobble together a sufficient response to the ecological havoc. We have already brought there by possibly managing. To maintain a compromised global habitat. And a compromised quality of life i quote now from a fearful but optimistic mckibben. .. The time has already, he writes. The time is already passed for urgency. If we are to save ourselves. And the planet we must create and environmental and lifestyle revolution. We must regularly remind ourselves that we and the rest of humanity must change the way we live on this earth and change it fast. I take it on faith. And many knowledgeable environmental people with whom i've interacted reassure me this is so. I think it on the faith that despite the widespread and some cases irreversible global environmental environmental damage has already occurred. There is yet sufficient time. An emerging environmental understandings and sustainable technologies. For humanity to change its ways. Adopt new lifestyles and consumption habits. Double permit us to both live well and to protect the fragile ecosystems of earth. For future generations and then mckibben end. But will be requiring the new and insistent consciousness. And a new commitment on all our parts. And other parts of all governments. At all corporations that all agencies. That are responsible to help shape our shared human future on this planet. Uncorked. A year ago i wanted to say. Because i think it is irrefutable. The mckibben is right. About the urgent ecological situation we find ourselves in at this time. What humanity needs over the coming years and decades is a new and insistent theology of relinquishment that is my phrase. Theology of relinquishment. A new ethic of voluntary simplicity a lifestyle of purposely living with less. A theology. Overlake worcester. An ethic of felicity. And a lifestyle of purposefully. Living with less. As we radically adjust the way we live on our mother earth to save ourselves. In the very near future. During our lifetimes. Nevermind the lifetimes of your grandparents and great-grandparents. Jefferson county. In our lifetime. We must systematically learn how to live with smaller and less. Each of us as citizens of a stressed and drinking planet. Will be morally and ethically required individual choice and collective conviction. To live more modestly and gently and responsibly unearned and this means. Making goo with smaller homes. Smart eyes smaller diaz. Smaller wardrobes. Greatly reduced energy consumption including much less wasteful use of air conditioning and heating. That's discretionary travel. For carpooling that transit bicycling yay. Less wasteful packaging. Throw away bottles and containers and much more radical recycling and reusing a glass paper plastic metal and rubber. End of the overview drastically responsibly reducing our consumption habits what they call are carbon and human footprint on the earth. Let me just give a few quick everyday example of a kind of purposeful simplicity's i'm talking about. Preparing wholesome local foods from scratch. Greasy fast-food or highly processed frozen meals. Dinner by candlelight. Turn off the electric lights computer and television when you do so. Take long evening walks with knuckles rather than sitting at home watching tv or being glued to the internet burning up electricity. It's going to be hard for me but. Read your newspapers online rather than getting the heavy news been freely god i love my this morning. Create a composting bin i bought one yesterday on your property and cut way down at your bags of garbage i got next door neighbors with two kids. A list of simple changes you can make in your lifestyle. It will help heart rate. As i observed in passing last year. This new ethic of voluntary simplicity which means purpose was living with less will not be an easy sell for in the cultural habit of consuming using and taking whatever they can afford whatever they can manufacture. The adidas shoes. To live with less and decide you reduce the outward accoutrement of our lifestyles seems downright an american in our culture for the good life. Yeah that's who we are. More. In all the ways that matter ultimately for us as creatures of earth. Lester moore that's our message to you today. Lifestyles whole new world and satisfaction enjoy can and will open for us just as happened to collins and me that summer and emmylou constantly kind of stripped away down to a new and liberty liberating simplicity. The good news for all of us as we face the leaner more challenging times ahead. It's true that out of this is a parallel. Out of this relinquish. I would have this doing with less. Go through this living room honestly will come a new uncluttered original a new quieter fullness a surprisingly abundant future in all the ways that matter that will bless us at least as much as has our wasteful property. And the first thing that is required. Italy not fear the moderate and reasonable lifestyle changes that will be required of us. Although under stress and clearly and environmental crisis our world remains. Full of abundance and plenty. And surely if we paired out our excess. There is enough still for every man woman and child and walks this amazing person. The new technologies will help us to that. All that is required. Is that our hearts trust. As mine did over that simple main summer. The life of les. Can be upset. Of more. As residents of the treasure coast unless you're not paying attention you know that our lagoon is an extremist environmentally speaking because of agricultural and domestic runoff of fertilizer and pesticide at least half of which, from our laws about half of it is that cultural of the other half of our lawns here on this side of the lagoon because of that we had a massive die-off of. And we have county commissioners in this county who shall go unnamed in this venue we are going to control pesticides and fertilizers would hopefully. Now wednesday in the paper bin my object piece i'm going to be talking about this about the willful conversion of these saint augustine grass in augustine grass lawn into more sustainable natural environment. And when i first got in the house was rectangular standard cinder-block. In about five trees unlock. And look pretty horrible because tammy was just a little. So my wife was. Green combine black phone. But i've got a better back patch. That's what i said. And. We pick some of the stuff. We learned to live in puerto rico. Circling the environment. And once we got back here. We decided we want the same thing. Why do trees. Transplanting a lot of trees. And in back of that is. Hell yeah it is. Architectural. Controlled natural environment. When you're 60 is control when you're 70 is okay.. And you don't need to water much. I know and we will use rain water. I spent the last tuesday with the leading environmental storian from the university of florida all them all the interior ministers were trying to learn about this stuff. Edwards aquifer this tape is dangerously dropping in miami or having to put the pups for the drinking water system 40 miles inland because the saltwater is encroaching into the aquifers. Every aquifer in florida is in danger because of big sugar because of big because of big citrus and because of us watering r1. So what color should i have now as a family of three to five-year plan. To eventually have an irrigation system the house we just bought has an irrigation system we hope to soon not be using that. And some other people were hoping to create large islands where we in a used pebbles and other things other than st augustine grass which doesn't require the water doesn't require the fertilizers and pesticides. Neighbors feel about what you've done. So. Nobody said any but i have had some. I'm not into it. Naturalist garden. How would someone get started what are three or four things i can do to get started if they want to take their typical model crop lawn and begin to turn it into a native environment. Together. Stone island. Plans together. Some kind of shady tree. It started building around that so they are protected by the shade. Yeah because there's canopy. People need to mix the certain types of plants. I have a 80 different kinds of plants in my yard i just got them all they're all mixed together. I think they all like being together you know what i mean. Find the desert. Part of the lawn in your yard. And keep that but start fixing all the bad areas. Any other good with islands or you can do it so you can do a little at a time like maybe an island every year and also there's the expense issue buying things are cheap. And people will get these up. Pass along plants and lonnie's plants if people just give you are not the kind of plant that. Have any kind of while i'm not even home. Just just a yarn like that itself. Prison salon opportunities for wildlife. Gymnastics for two just just be there. Liquor store. About dragonflies. When you spray your yard monoculture. Dragon lines. When there's been some rain and then the mosquitoes. Swarming and getting to be a problem you'll see about two weeks later they'll be swarms of dragonflies and i'll be out there just. The nickname for dragonfly around here. I guess it's the most important thing to do is just stop the chemical spring. Because 99% of insects in your yard. Are not harmful they're just passing through. Do you fertilize at all the lawn that you've left the monocrop. I got quite a few plants in. I only i only fertilize my potted material okay. Don't forget so much degrees coming to leaf litter falls on somebody.. Very few plants need pelletized fertilizer. And of course if you cut your lawn and leave the grass droppings don't nag them but leave them in the in the in the lot itself. Self-fertilization when i see. When i see something with the big mower and then. Putting 7 cans of grasp. Certain types of native florida plants spread rapidly and and is it people knowing natural gardener like you are higher up in national guard they can find the right plants that will grow fast. Yeah in the atrium i put a lot of those kind of plants like a simpson stopper. Little tiny flowers and don't singing there's no curb appeal. But a lot of insect is coming out. How many insects. The fruit the purge. And then. Start popping up everywhere and wild coffee i noticed that your yard. Fantastic. Honey bees. Wild coffee wild confit. That would be a great plan to put his in there. People are starting to use them. Great and i hope that some of you will talk to these two afterward we don't have enough time to go on anymore but would you please give them. Good morning my name is gail parmentier i served his congregation as chair of the fairtrade corner. Environmental sustainability is a major component of the fair trade movement. And this earth day besides claudia's wonderful list for giving you another 10 things you might think about doing. Half of them are about doing it here at our fellowship. Do as much as you can every little bit helps are you ready jim. Number one turn out the lights. Please be part of the light patrol around this building you will be amazed how many lights are left on it here number to adjust the thermostat on your group leaves the room turn the ac back up to 78 or if it's winter the heat down to 65 see the thermostat control 2. 3 close the window coverings on the eastside the southside and the westside keep the sun out if nobody's in the room. Since 2010 the fairtrade corner has used profit to put heat-reflecting tape on. 19 of the windows in this building and as long as we're you're still buying will keep doing that thank you our power bill for this building is over $3,000 a month. They are going to be watching it for me to see if we can improve that. Here's another idea can you coordinate meeting times you just your group really have to meet in person or can you sandwich to meetings together do you really need to drive your every single day or two or three times on one day can you carpool. Now. Recycle aggressive cds pelukan. After today they will be all over the building next to the wastebasket you can put all kinds of paper in them please no more aluminum soda cans in the trash we can recycle them. I am on a coffee making team with rick and clarice health in. Every 6 week when it's our turn and they coffee they bring in a bucket and take the grounds home for their garden that means there are five other week somebody else could be taking the coffee grounds home just bring your buckets and we would love to have a composting program around here but it's takes a person or a family somebody who's willing to take on that responsibility would you like to do it let us know. I'm trying to not read all this cuz it's getting late and i'm looking at my notes for hang on just a second. Use your carlos can you possibly. Have a goal of one-day-a-week you don't even start your automobile can you walk or ride your bike instead. Ride with a friend. How about changing your light bulbs to cfl or led the led bulbs are getting very affordable their dimmable now they don't have mercury in them they last a long time. Use less water we all know to turn the water off while we're brushing our teeth turning off the water while you're showering. It doesn't have to run the whole time i know i've lived on sailboat in the bahamas where we collected rainwater it was very precious. I also live in an rv where the volume of the output is just two significant so get wet. Watch yourself turn the water back on and rinse it off it works install an on-demand water heater or other more energy-efficient appliances you all know they're there they save you money and they saved our resources and left ball turn off or unplugged does your printer really need to be on 24/7 when you go on vacation can you unplug almost everything and how that all those chargers we have these days they don't have to be plugged in all the time. And they take they take power. They do we know we are speaking both literally and figuratively to supplier this morning and we know you use our conscientious people. We hope you can think of one or two new little things that you can do and most of all turn off the lights and fix the thermostats in this building thank you. We send you on your way this week. But the words of native american author. Actor and poet chief dan george. The beauty of the trees. The softness of the air. The fragrance of the grass speak. The summit of the mountain the thunder of a sky the rhythm of the sea speak to me. The faceless the stars the freshness of the morning at the dew drop on the flower speak. Stirring the fire. The taste of salmon. Betrayal of the sun. And the light that never goes away. They speak to me. And. My heart soars. Being cranky and get outdoors this week. Enjoy this wonderful world.

uufvb_org

2013Jun30Sermon128.mp3

Good morning everyone and welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We are current location here. Open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best selves and as we work together to make a better world. Please know that everyone was welcome this morning just as you come to me. Whether you were young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shaded humanity whether you were feeling down and thumbs this morning or on top of the world. Or somewhere in between we are delighted to see you just as you come to us this morning. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful if the rich and then we'll find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feed your soul and gives you a nude hope and troy for the living of life. I continued my 2013 summer sermon series 7 sermon spread over the months of june july and august on the seven principles of our unitarian universalist faith with a service focused on the third principal acceptance of one another and i need to remind you. As you know we have these seven principles prominently and handsomely displayed in our foyer and because our building is frequently used for public event thousands of people here in the treasure coast see the principles of art. This reaction always pleases me and yes i secretly hope some of them are moved to return on a sunday morning to learn more about our faith and our congregation for i believe we have a religion that needs to be shared and groan. But there is a problem also inherit with the immediate positive reaction we get to the seven principles. And that is a fair worded in a rather grand and glowing religious language that are so idealistic but kind of hard to disagree with hard to get your hands around. In fact i have a rather iconoclastic and controversial colleague from texas is named as the reverend doctor davidson lore who has little use for these seven principles of our denomination he sarcastically. Play when she means that these principles lack both profundity and religiosity they come he apprised from the secular culture and from the secular values of american liberalism they do not distinguish unitarian-universalism. In an open. Inclusive. Non-judgemental and power runaway. With genuine acceptance for the different perspectives beliefs and conclusions. Federal express biotics. And with sincere encouragement. For all regardless of the various. Spiritual and intellectual pads they find themselves. This is why the whole markantone of any uu congregation must be. A sincere openness to diversity of opinion and belief. Introspective. And a genuine interest. In the spirit and spiritually supporting those who reach different conclusions than your role and more on that top business in the minute. U.s. navy for example we have members who follow along a wide and interesting spiritual spectrum. We are people here who self-identify as humanist. Atheist and agnostic. And just plain old downright confused we are folks variously interested or not interested in christianity judaism. What is the meanest love and all the other great religious and philosophical traditions of the world. And we have mothers. Who's spiritually is decidedly in purposefully eclectic. Which is to say they played wisdom and comfort and sustenance in their life from a blending. A variety of traditional and non-traditional sources. And he refused is eclectic unitarian and universalist refused to theologically labeled cell or put themselves into any faithbox i for example regard myself as both of humanism and a theist figure that one out. You need to know that this commitment of ours to diversity inclusion and acceptance is as old as unitarian-universalism itself. In the 1500. Early unitarian pioneer francis davi. Who was the founder of our unitarian movement in transylvania of all places and there is a picture of him at the diet of torta and he isn't that isn't 1568 he's arguing there with the calvinist about the unitarian values of tolerance reason diversity. In the 1500s david famously said. We need not think alike. To love alike. Famous saying the unitarian universalist to level one. Now the calvinist. With their rigid hierarchy polizzi ology an absolutist doctrines about god and jesus we're not in prince. Imprisoned and finally. We're his insistence that good people. Cool. should be allowed to reach different theological and ethical conclusion about the nature of god the teachings of jesus and the purpose of life. And have their freedom to variously practice these diverges police. Toledo early martyrs of our fame. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth is built on the rock of francis david famous proclamation. Level one. And a vehicle historical importance. Apartment heating of religious toleration. Which was the first toleration in the western world sign in 1558 by the first and only unitarian king in human history the king of transylvania. He declared at a time with the protestants and the catholics were regularly going to war and transylvania with one another. Religious doctrine that every person in the kingdom. Had the right to freely embrace the religious beliefs and doctrines that they found on their hearts. Any harm or injury upon another person who believe differently. This is the first human history as far as i know. Two more free church movement. Our little face tradition has since it's very beginning. Insisted that all persons in our congregation must be free. Spiritual ethical and religious conclusion. And then there's more of necessity enjoy our denomination. Holy places of diapers and genuine tolerance and acceptance and open and respectful dialogue between people thinking differently. This is why you your communications a lot of such dynamic unlikely places. We're spiritual differences are not only tolerated. Irritated actually welcome. But this is not always easy or wonderful as it seems i like the way my twentieth-century colleague in old crusty fellow he was married with six times table. Once he put the challenges of diversity of belief and acceptance of human difference. This way.. If you think you were coming to a church which projects only your own views. Then you probably will not be happy here. Sooner or later you will meet at unitarian universalist great against your own theological political social views. Irritate you. We hold the uu complications attracts variety. And respect. And we believe that whatever may be the majority viewpoint in any given moment the minority must be respected. And kept engaged in dialogue. So central to. Unitarian universalism is our principal. Acceptance. Diversity and tolerance. In our congregations but now i arrive at the deconstruction. What's a critical analysis part of the sermon. Surely this uu principle guards about openness and freedom intolerance. Certainly it has complications and lemonis. One of the easy criticisms that the religiously orthodox throwing us is ou unitarian. You can't be taken seriously as a religion because you're so old. You don't stand for anything. In your church anybody could believe anything they want or not taking you serious. And if you take the third principle of ours at face value and as a solitary and isolated information. It would indeed seem to suggest that we must accept and embrace and encourage. Pretty much any idea or any believe that comes in the door of our congregations but in reality. This is not the case. It is far from the case. Because the third principal i am passionately persuaded. Must be seen in close intellectual and ethical relationship. To the other six principles. Are seven principles are and must be seen as an interrelated and independent set of affirmation that can operate independently. What kind of category of ideas and beliefs are acceptable arc arrogation to see the third one. But then the other ones they talk about some very specific ideas. Yes our religion must be done in a free and open a way but look at the number for principal. Free responsible search for truth or destructive or inhuman ideas and beliefs have no place here. And i'll be talking about that in a moron in two weeks when i returned to the pulpit and talked about that sport principal about the tension between freedom and responsibility. But the other in addition. In addition to our discernment about unacceptable or irresponsible religious thinking we have principles 126 and seven all of which as i previously observed are strong and historically tested the illogical and ethical statement of our tradition about human life should be understood and how it should be shame again. First two principles the last two principles place clear limits. On which ideas and beliefs are acceptable here. Let me give it to create an obvious example of the kind of beliefs that would not be acceptable in any unitarian universalist congregation. Because our first and second principles are very clear. About universal human equality and worth. Anybody who would come to one of our congregations asserting racial or ethnic inferiority of any other minority group would not be welcome here nor with those ideas do not. Well unitarian-universalist on open to a fairly wide range of spiritual as a plug-in and respected. The nearly six centuries of our history and the seven principles would flow out of that nearly 600 years. Do place very real limits on what kinds of ideas are acceptable here. Unitarian universalist congregation you are not free to believe quote on quote anything you want. There are all kinds of immoral and inhumane ideas it will not be tolerated here. It is true that was in constructive humane and the reasonable limits you are free to think for yourself. Build your own fate express your own conviction even if they are not held by a majority of people here. In other words. Our congregations in our congregation there are very real boundary to the acceptable but those boundaries are far wider and more flexible than you'll find in an orthodox congregation orthodox congregation might be here. And one other critical. Because as it says we encourage one another to spiritual growth that means that in our congregations are places. Where we critically engaged at the key phrases critically engage one another's ideas and beliefs in religious conversation. If we are truly doing our job as an act of faith community we challenge one another not just accept. About our religious thinking and our religious practices. Let me tell you a personal story about this. Back in the 1990s. When i was working as a senior executive at denominational headquarters on beacon hill in boston. I had a woman working for me named sarah. Who is donnie unitarian-universalist was clearly a free thinker. And she loved working in the open and accepting atmosphere that actually existed at our denominational main office. But one day over lunch with some of us she launched into along and impassioned explanation. Has something called numerology. Now for those of you who don't know what numerology is i quote the online encyclopedia wikipedia. Numerology of the purported define mystical or other special relationship between a number and some coinciding observe or perceive events. Normal alongside astrology and ciliary simile definite tori arts. Neurology it right was centuries ago popular among early mathematician but it is today regarded as a pseudoscience by all modern scientists so. After i patiently listened to sarah go on and on about virology as a way to understand for her the global future of our world for some time she asked me what i thought but i had to tell her the truth. Sarah i said i haven't played tree-mendous facing eminent scientific or spiritual sense to me to my mind there's no. I just responded and immediately said to be. Explain to her that no literal though i am not mean i have to be open to all beliefs and ideas. The comes down the road at me. Yes being a unitarian universalist means if you are naturally tolerant of an interest in diverse ideas but that does not mean you must give any and all ideas and beliefs is credence or value or legitimacy or support yeah we have very open mind but not so open that we let things fall out of them. They're limited by reason and logic for the century-old principles of our faith and by the free and responsible search for truth which limits the ideas that are worthy of serious consideration or support. And that leads me to the next thing i want to observe about this third and fourth principle of art. If we practice the third principle thoughtfully and wisely it means that encourage one another's diversity of thinking we also truly engage one another's ideas and believes in genuine conversation and critical analysis. Quality control not all religious ideas are you not all are put summer demonic and stupid i won't tell you which ones i think you should let me give you just one example.. I know that in our congregation there are many of you who are morally opposed to the death penalty because of our first principle. I also discriminations full of people who support the death penalty in some situations because of our first. When was the last time we is a faith community truly engaged the issue of whether or not the death penalty is right or wrong in florida. Can be difficult but if we were supposed to be doing for one another is interrogation. We need to take the risk to truly engage one another's disagreements and ethical conclusion said hopefully in in our insides. Starting this september running through april season really is here i'm going to host a series of monthly ethics and issues brown bag lunches bring lunch and i'll bring a topic we're going to start in september with the death penalty. The our talking about our feelings and thoughts and truly trying to engage one another in the gravy ethical and moral issues of our case that. So where does all this leave us with history. As with all the other six principles it means that we strive to live by this idealistic third principle about accepting an encouragement. But we must also keep in mind other countervailing values and consideration it doesn't stand by itself it stands with the other six here in this community yes we accept one another's ideas but only up to a point. And we encourage one another but only within some responsible boundaries. Simply put as open and inclusive as you want to be we cannot accept everything we cannot encourage everything because the other principles of our faith constrain and lemon what is the true what is real and right. So let us continue to practice here in this building and beyond these walls our free church tradition with as much openness and inclusion as we can but let us also never failed to critically get respectfully engage one another's ideas beliefs and conclusions and honest and fearful wet and honest and fearless ways and will enable us separately and together. Do all move toward greater understanding greater wisdom. Greater responsibility. That is a lot hard hard work but i can say that our tradition has been doing this for 550 years. And that work with each other's diversity. Always mean to you. We will keep a place for you. Wherever you make them. Stay in this home. Love. If you have come to know. Go in peace and bring home two hearts that you're in this week. We will keep a place for you. Until you return. Smiles and size of days gone by our blessings before deer. Voices now a memory. Call. To us here. Go in peace and bring hope this week. Then we will play keep a place here for you. Modern love.

uufvb_org

2014Jun08Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We're so glad that you have chosen to be with us this morning. We are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. People seeking to become our best selves even as we work together. Make a better world. Please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you were younger old gay or straight black or white. Or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you have a gaged or a phd. Whether you are a visitor this morning. Oregon a member here for decades. Whether you were feeling on top of the world. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you. Just as you come to us and all of you. Julie hagerty. And need. We hope you will find the service meaningful and enriching. Haven't you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feed your soul and give you a renewed energy. For the joy. The living of life in the days and weeks ahead. Welcome. Whoever you are wherever you come from. Welcome. Come and join your hands and voices with ours. Come and help us remember that life is good and worth living. Pavlov. Possible. That do the moral arc of the universe may indeed be long. It does been toward justice. Come and help us realize together. And life is good and worth living that love is possible. And that we can bend. The universe moral art. Towards justice. Let us worship. Now might be a good time for me to officially introduce today speaker. Craig ross aven. Is it ohio boy who. Thanks to the air force ended up in spokane washington attending eastern washington university. His early passion for emergency medicine. Yes you he worked as an ambulance attendants while i drink is collegiate years. Gateway to a calling to religious leadership. So he enrolled in starr king school for ministry in berkeley california. His first call was back in ohio at the olmstead united unitarian. Fellowship in north olmsted. A suburb on the westside of cleveland. In the ensuing years he served in numerous capacities for you churches in the cleveland area. And worked in the computer industry before returning to full-time ministry. As you enter minister of the east shore unitarian universalist church in mentor ohio. In september of 1991 he accepted a call. From the first jefferson unitarian universalist church. In fort worth texas. And 18 years later became associate minister main line unitarian church. And devon pennsylvania. Bye 2011. He was serving as you ua's director of witness ministries. Charged with promoting public witness and social action. Then like so many of us you move south. The 2013 reverend ross haven responded to the need for an interim minister at the unitarian universalist society. Of the daytona beach area. Which is actually located in ormond beach. Today as a result of a pulpit swap. We enjoy having reverend craig ross haven join us. I know you will appreciate his message. As well as the opportunity to meet him personally in our fellowship hall after the service. Now reverend ross open. Like to. Share with you a reading from. A book titled stories in the postmodern world. Orienting and disorienting. Stories are told in every culture and they are being told and will be told in the postmodern world. And stories are told for many purposes. Let us ask ourselves about one particular thing that stories do for us. And think about the way that is changing in the postmodern world. I am thinking about. The way in which store he's helped us find ourselves. Find out who we are. The way used to be was that my life was a story. And i found myself by fitting my story into the great story into which i believe it fitted. In between my story. And. Some the gray story. Came all sorts of other stories but especially the story of my role model some keep person. Who would already discovered the way he or she may sense out of life by being part of the great story. Thereby serving as an example. Or inspiration for me. As i grew experimented and learned about life. Now however there does not seem to be any single story. Into which. I can fit my life in the old-fashioned way. The postmodern world is a world of the interweaving of many stories. And a world in which we recognize the positive value of stories in which we do not take part. The very stridency with which so many people are still trying to deny. This is a sign that the old way is not working very well. By the way i thought the director of religious education for a story to parallel the theme of the service was spot-on. Weather in politics or religion we quickly sense a great fear of moving away from the traditional way. In which we organized our lives. Theoretically at least around the various stories in which we were actually. Engaged. Let us begin with a story. During the 1940s a boy was born and raised in south dakota. As child he attended the lutheran church where he was taught that god so loved the world that he sacrificed his only son. So that we might have eternal life if only we believe. The boy believe. He saved us allowance so he can. Contribute to the missions his church sponsored in africa. Do that the people of africa could learn of god's sacrifice for us. And thereby also have a chance for eternal life. However when is the young man he went to college and then later seminary. He learned that the jesus portrayed in john 3:16. Was that the jesus. He learned that his minister had known this all along but had been afraid to share his knowledge. He became quite angry because he felt that he had been deceived all those years into believing that the jesus portrayed in john. Accurately reflected the life and mission of jesus. His anger and disillusionment led to his turning his back on the church. The boy now a man. Bi-curious turn became a professor of religion. His name is marcus borg. He tells the story of his. Disillusionment and anger. Eventual return to the church in his excellent book meeting jesus again. For the first. Time. The story of the christ the story of orthodox christianity is just one of several grand stories that have been central. To our culture. We discover who we are by locating our personal story with wiz within one of those larger stories. It says if these large stories provide the map and boundaries by which we learn where we are where we're going. Who we are. They are orienting stories. Romani people particularly europeans in the 19th century. In early 20th century the socialist story the story authored by karl marx became a substitute for the traditional religious stories of judaism. And christianity. Many believe that the blueprint provided by marx and his followers would eventually create a golden age. In which poverty and corruption and even the state would disappear. But for almost all this story has lost its luster. In the grim realities of its enactment. And they too have become disillusioned. Another orienting story. Is that at the liberal dream of progress. The dream that advances in education the arts. And people standard of living would gradually transform the world into a heaven on earth. A golden age an age of peace and prosperity. The liberal christian faith in the rain of god the jewish faith in god's care for god's people. If both been shaking though if not destroyed by the atrocities of the 20th century. The century in which we became embroiled in not one but two world wars. Conflicts that involve gas warfare. Genocide. In the firebombing of cities. Liberal dreams of future utopia are now seen as simply dreams. Is hard to overestimate. Overstate the devastating affected wwii had on that liberal story that dream. A progress. Yet another orienting story has been that of the power of technology. We used to believe that we can engineer our way to lasting prosperity. Some of us are old enough to remember the glorious predictions of the past. When we happily imagine that the widespread use of clean and safe nuclear power. Would eliminate pollution and provide inexpensive power for everyone remember. I remember confident predictions of labor-saving devices and every home in. Factory that would yield such great advances in productivity. That our greatest challenge would be how to spend our leisure time. How's that working for you. Technology was a magic carpet that would fulfill our fondest hopes and grandest dreams. But today we live with the knowledge of three mile island chernobyl. And the severe pollution of rocky flats colorado. Contrary to the fanciful predictions of too much leisure time. Most professionals at least in this country. Are spending more time at work rather than less. Finally imagine if you will that we are living in greece during the golden age the hellenic era. And everyone knows the gods live on mount. Olympus. What would happen if one of us. One of us who is particularly strong and adventurous managed to climb mount olympus. What if after finally arriving at the top. She were to discover that there were no gods. That is our situation today that is our dilemma today. We have discovered that our grand stories the stories within which we have located ourselves. The stories within which we found meeting and hope and purpose. The stories that oriented us are not in fact. Back. But fiction. We have been to the mountaintop and discovered. We are alone. The result is not only loss of faith in that one story. Level loss of faith in all stories. We have come to suspect that all the mountaintops are empty. That there is no promised land. That's a mythical pot-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow. It's just an empty tin can. Rh has been one of the bunking the old myths. It is a confusing time for finally disorienting time. I was born in the 1950s and came of age during the 60s. In the fifties it was still possible to believe in the american dream. But even then the gaps of the story we're becoming more obvious. More and more people came to question the myths. The doubt that the promise gods existed. Those who still believed. It didn't matter really what story. Came to be seen as square. Serious. Earnest. Responsible. They believed. Pat boone john wayne. Eagle scouts represented this group. Ably. On the other hand there were those who understood themselves to be hip. Skip to the fact that the mountaintop. Was empty. In the 1950s allen ginsberg began a career in marketing for a major corporation. He wore the regulation gray suit and reptile and successfully played the role of organization man for a few years. But then he quit his job. And started writing angry question. Poetry. He had become here. Skip to the fact. Did the path envision for and by people like him lead. Nowhere. I came to find my. Meaning and value not in the grand stories of the time. But know what was left after they were destroyed. Debunked. For me one of the point most poignant lyrics of those years with the course and bob dylan song ballad of a thin man. Something's happening here in your really don't don't know what it is do you mr. jones. The mr. jones of my youth were telling me and my fellows that we were simply lazy. And i'm discipline that we had abandoned the american dream. Not because we didn't want to compete but because we couldn't compete. In a similar vein those women who began to question the role of women in society. Betty ford and germaine greer gloria steinem to name just a few. We're often portrayed as sore losers who are simply crying sour grapes. Obviously if they had just been more attractive and could have married better they wouldn't be complaining. You got me hip to the real story becoming wise to the fictions required to maintain the status quo. Was profoundly liberating too many. The great liberation movements over time the women's movement the civil rights movement the gay rights movement all required. A degree of disillusionment. With conventional wisdom. In order to begin. I suspect that all social reforms and revolutions originate from disillusionment with. The raining story of the day. But something more has happened in disillusionment with one particular story. What is different now is that we have become too dissolution suspicious of all. Grand stories. Not so long ago in what. We can call the modern world. If we became disillusioned with one story. We would simply abandoned it in favor of another story a better story. But those days are gone. Today we live in a postmodern world. A world where we have become doubtful of all grand stories. As a result we have trouble telling our own story because we have trouble believing in any. Dory. Today we live in a world with fewer heroes because we have trouble believing in heroic stories. We used to fit our little story into the big story by finding some role model a hero. Someone who made sense of life by successfully fitting into the big picture. But today. Many if not most of us can't fit our lives into one single story. Despite the stridency of those who claim that it is precisely that which is what is wrong with us. We see too many signs. We can't help but see shades of grey where we used to see just black and white. Today we have too many. Chef chu's many stories. Weaving them together picking and choosing in order to find ourselves. Another factor that has made it more difficult for us to believe in any particular story. Is our suspicions of our motives. Both freud and marx showed us that we must be prepared to look behind beyond our apparent intentions. If we are discover our true motivations. We have learned how easy it is to hide one's. Intention from oneself. Roy thomas all of the reality of our unconscious motivations. Wellmark spot us to see true the self-serving rhetoric. All those who benefit from the status quo. The discipline of sociology shows his how what might appear at first glance to be individual actions and preferences. Are all too often actually characteristics of one's class race or gender. I've learned that the value i place unpunctuality the extent to which i readily volunteer my opinion. And the clothes i think her appropriate are all characteristic not so much of me. But of a middle-class heterosexual male of northern european heritage born in the 1950s. This state of affairs is both liberating and discouraging. It is liberating than that we are much less likely to become true believers. Unquestioning followers of demonic story such as hitler story of the aryan master race. However it is discouraging and that heroes are harder to find. And that meaning. Is more elusive. All those solutions may be far more elusive in this purse postmodern age. At least we are less likely to seize upon a solution that is wrong. Though he's not a hero of mine i do admire some of the phrases of the journalist hl mencken. And he once observed. For every problem there is a solution. Which is simple. Elegant and wrong. I believe that today's skeptical attitude toward easy elegant solution provides an opportunity for us to discover. Albeit on a much smaller scale. Better answers to our questions. Contrary to popular understanding jesus did not tell moral fables. Allegories. The parables he told. We're not moral tales that he fit into his culture story to reinforce its norms. On the contrary they disoriented his listeners. What he said and did surprised and shocked them. But in the process enable them to discover a truth. Then otherwise they never would have even glimpsed. One of the central themes of postmodern theology. Is that what is most important can only be discovered when one story. Broken. Our imagination can only exceed the limit. Of our orienting stories when those stories. Phelous. Only then can we notice the reality that we had heretofore overlooked because it didn't fit into our story. Dylan and the other artists of my used help me question the conventional wisdom of my time. To discover what i otherwise. But not have seen. Lyrics of dylan the fiction of ken casey the essays of tom wolfe all led me to question the conventional wisdom of my time. I learned that i could discover my own meeting. I understand now why dylan warned don't follow leaders. The spell that had enchanted me had been broken. The enchantments of the guiding myth of the culture had been dispelled. In the absence of conventional enchantments i learn to make my own magic. The cast my own spells. To look with my own eyes to listen. And hear the beats of my own drummer. I'm grateful that i discovered the unitarian universalist church in my early 20s. It was and continues to be the ideal place to question. The question is cover and authentic meaning and value. I am a unitarian universalist because in our communities i have not only been allowed but encouraged to explore what it means to be human. Religiously. We provide a sanctuary. The sanctuary for those who value the authentic over the convenience. The sanctuary for those who doubt to question. Who hunger for wholeness. What are the characteristics of a postmodern sensibility is a healthy suspicion of anyone or anything that purports. Explain it all. I'm suspicious of saviors and grand schemes i'm eclectic in my theology. 20 years ago or so there is a bumper sticker from the. Orthodox christians who said i found it. And unitarian-universalist responded with a bumper sticker that said i found it too it said to keep looking. I have a variety of beliefs not all of which are consistent with one another. My theology is eclectic. I've learned not to be bothered by the lack of integration. After all emerson wrote that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds. I imagine it would be comforting to believe someone or something could explain it all. But i honestly don't think i can believe that. No matter how hard i may try or how much i may want it. David herbert donnell is the author of an acclaimed biography of abraham lincoln. In the preface. Lincoln emphasized david donnell emphasizes lincoln's pragmatic approach to problems. He wrote. My policy is to have no policy became a kind of model for lincoln. A model that infuriated the sober doctrinaire people around him. Who are inclined to think that meant he had no principles either. He might have offended his critics less if he had more often use the analogy. He gave james g blaine when explaining his course on reconstruction. The pilots on our western rivers steer from point to point. As they call it. Setting the course of the boat no farther than they can see. And that is all i proposed to myself. And this great problem. Donald concludes the section of the preface by noting that. Lincoln had a quality. That jon keith called. Negative. Capability. Negative capability that is when a man is capable of being in uncertainties. Mysteries. Doubts. Without any irritable reaching after facts or reason. Can you repeat that. Negative capability that is when a man is capable of being and uncertainties mysteries doubts without any irritable reaching after facts or reason. Almost tempted to entertain grand schemes. Going to attempt at attempt to explain too much. When i'm most uncomfortable with uncertainty mystery. And doubt. But uncertainty mystery and doubt are always with us. I can never hope. To escape. Indeed i shouldn't even try. Far wiser is lincoln's method of setting the course. No further than one can see. Mn tolerating me uncertainty. Of not knowing what's round the bend. Instead of imagining that one can. We live in a postmodern age. Each of us needs the negative capability that keats define. We need to be able to tolerate uncertainty. Mystery in doubt. Without irritably insisting on certainty. We need to be able to find our way as best we can. Content with knowing what we can. But content as knowing content as well as knowing that there is. Much we are unlikely to ever know. It seems to me that part of our mission as a unitarian universalist congregation. Is to offer a haven. Sanctuary for those who are prepared. Tolerate. Uncertainty and doubt. I believe this is one of the things we do best. In the meantime let us help one another continue to seek the truth. Even though we know it will always be partial. Coronavirus. And income. May it be. Let us leave with these words of edward cyril in our minds and hearts. Humbly we stand in the base of death. Confidently we stand with life. Our strength is the strength of many. Indeed it is the strength of all humanity throughout all time. Because we share one fate and a great compassion. May understand and go with us and pistou. That we may live together in charity compassion peace and joy. In this spirit let us. Individually and together. Go forth to live and to love. May we share this journey together toward greater wholeness. As a congregation and as a religious movement. With hope and with love. Mattyb song.

uufvb_org

2013Jun02Sermon32.mp3

Welcome to universalist. River mcdonald's minestrone treasure coast you use society in astoria. Did you circle. Heretic rebel and singing to flower. This morning. Whatever frame of mind. Comfortable. Plumbing parts. Best self. Reverend roberts wisconsin. You for your warm welcome. I would have responded to claudia. I used to think i knew a lot. Ask me anything. You all know that bertrand russell's i wasn't mathematician philosopher story. Agnostic atheist pacifist. He writes this dedication. At the beginning of a history volume autobiography. It's a tad. Chauvinistic. But even with that. Profound in moving. So i read it on every possible occasion. 4. Bertrand russell. Three passions simple but overwhelmingly strong. A my life. The longing for love. The search for knowledge. And the unbearable pity. For the suffering of mankind. Passions like great winds. Recourse. Ocean of england. Reaching to the very verge of despair. Laurel. First. Because it brings ecstasy. Ecstasy so great that i would have often sacrificed all the rest of life. For a few hours of this joy. Sordid next. Because it relieves loneliness. Terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness. Looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. Because in the union of love. Siena mystic. Figurines of the heaven. Cease and poets have imagined. Is what i saw. Human life. This is what a blast. I just found. Passion i have sought knowledge. Wish to understand the hearts of men. I wish to know why the stars combined. I have tried to apprehend the pythagorean power. I wish number hold sway about the flop. A little bit but not much. Achieved. Love and knowledge so far as they were possible. Upward toward the heavens. Always pretty brought me back first. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine. Victims tortured by oppressors. Musically people i hated burden to their sons. Whole world of loneliness. Poverty and pain. Make a mockery of human life. How to alleviate the eagle. But i cannot. And i too suffer. This has been my life i have found it worth living. I'm gladly woodbridge. It's the chance. Football formations. Bertrand russell. Cast for mrs. russell. And he dedicates this autobiography. In his dying time. You write this beautiful preface about having known. So much loneliness and his wife. Irest. Fulfilled. Nurses beware. Before my message. Retired down here. 06 after about 40 years as a methodist minister new york and connecticut around. Four churches on. Seem to be pretty much. Fixation. So after a desperate search. Desperation and i've been there pretty much ever since they taken anybody i was. For me there was doing something done in several places north. Call a brainstorming breakfast just sit around and think out loud this place. Sullivan. Can we do to improve. Each topic. Will you really need to go. Eventually i had to say. Can anyone bring up a possible improvement. Without requiring but i've taken some of them since i've been here. Bureau. New rabbi came to town about two years ago. And the three of us. An understanding. Members of the mosque. Are you doing. Respecting each other. Youversion. Listening to each other reason for this was to try to overcome the profiling that we knew was going on regarding muslim religions. Now we would like to see that happened here in this area and south of us. Michael. Naughty mom knows the doctor who's ahead of the earlier in the islamic center here and the milbourne in mom and i believe the palestinian is come down to our meeting. Create and respect. So we're hoping to the south of us. But in our community so hopefully. Have always had a close relationship for me. I should say they have had a close relationship ever since i began. Was about h20. Prior to that i was a devotee of billy graham. Surprised. College across the street from where i intended troy high school. Are there a heaven charlottesville group of engineering students invited. Girls that i was interested in. Many people warned me that education and sinking simple and simplistic fan. Once i started searching for reasonable faith. Ancient mariner. everyone he met his life-changing encounter. A work in progress. Safe for my entire career. But finally i found a church. Were you can't see ever text you. The word that captures for me the relationship between. Is negative. Reminder as in did you ever. Is reason for lower.. Relationship between space and do suggest unsettled. And unsettled on. Sounds like a terminal condition in this our religious. Terminal. Where we are plugged in. Where we have stopped on our journey for respiratory change transporter directions. Commentation. Settled somewhat unsettling. Jason deli i want to talk about. Or where it leads meeting. Set to the corinthian church. We don't go by just one. Eyesight can also mean there is something. We may not know for certain what it is. Or even. We keep on searching. Blind related to space questioning. We don't want to go there anytime. We have a wednesday morning discussion my church i started discussion. Our seventh year. Wolford the rifleman. Discussion and on sunday mornings. We are merely a search for truth. Truth of the universe as much as we can do it. Differences of our insights enriching. Jesus said to his followers you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Cher. The truth of our reality. As much as we can. Set us free. Often reminded of the words of a tortured marriage. Edward albee's who's afraid of virginia woolf. Georgia martha. With the truth we don't have much hole. Found it. We are damned. First two months of marriage. I want. Steak. Truth is. Definition about commitment. The word slacking route to do with choosing to. Has become prediluted in the west. Commercialized. So today for maybe a haagen-dazs rum raisin or a perfume. Can be cultivated to die for. So religious passion is pretty scary. But it is part of the definition of religion. No commitment were passion may seem like religious strengths and weakness. Williams. There is a lot we can do an experience in life. Taking the plunge. It's a tired old confirmed one woman on happy by marrying when you can make so many happy if i stay married. I used to enjoy trying to come. Open totally uptight moment when a couple was about to take their vows before me. You feel like you are perfection. Really what is human and mixes lovable. Perfect people are rare and challenging and unhappy human and with whom we can laugh and cry. Someone might say to about relationship. Truth of the universe. People can be pretty darn. Coursebook religion and commitment. Totally self-serving. Church's fixed on an afterlife. I don't know. What i wanted to be true about the universe. And there's a definite relationship that might be wishful thinking but i have to hope my wishes as evolve for the input of many. Merch by trial-and-error. Error. I like the idea of. Good amount of weight. Now this i believe. Because i wanted to be true. I definitely want. The universe. Pencil. Play sound more like. Can we say we live in a moral universe. And we're surviving for awhile anyway he's developed the brains of other primates. Two more then i can know for sure. Well we can go on for some time working each other over with what we seek is. We have to commit to some truth and maybe even stake our lives and what we want to be true proven. Because it won't be true. Sweetheart. Are people basically good. The jewish and christian scriptures start out with. Are we basically good is that something we can know without being committed to it meaning acting like it is true and if it is i don't want to know otherwise. Pieology. Is known as the founder of the greek school of cynicism not sure he was around the time of play-doh. A magical ring on your finger and twisting it. Does our morality upon prevailing. Bring it up those cameras at the intersections. Advances in life is not to be in a hurry. This point in my life i know where i'm going. Fema purpose question why are we here. Why are we here. Non-stop. Purpose of life. Robert browning's words say that man's. Reach must exceed his grasp. What's a heaven for. Seems to me that we are in our large brains. Once our physiques are not flooding this week. I heard wonderful quotev. Criminal minds playing. You know the plane. Show some tv.. Yeah right so like a lot of people i had to be nice all day so i like a little borat might see you as my lord ordered criminal minds helen keller was. Dedicated to a purpose helen keller was right wasn't she. Dedication to purpose. You tell me yours. I'll tell you mine. Will be the richer for it. Making tacos on between my face and my do. Remind me of robert frost at the tap. In a lover's quarrel with the world. Migraine. Neither gives the other the last word. Anguilla. Purpose and commitment and passion what we love. Maybe the enterprise two-face custom. To be true. We have to go for cruise. Is it our curse. Is the northwest. Is it the hound of heaven. Brothers and sisters. Play your face. Your doubts. Your face. And maybe all the princes. It's all gift.

uufvb_org

2010Dec19Sermon128.mp3

Instead of a sermon this morning which i'm sure you're were all dying to hear. We're going to share. Some stories. And songs of the season. The first story comes from my colleague frank rivas. Of minneapolis. It's one of my favorites. He writes. My little sister renee. Was 10 years younger. That i. When she was in kindergarten i considered her to be the most obnoxious child on the planet. So i decided to give her a lump of coal for christmas. I know the people generally consider it santa's responsibility to give lumps of coal to bad little boys and girls but i had learned. Over the years not to trust. Santa's judgement. I had seen it over and over again the old man went easy on little kids even obnoxious ones. So the responsibility. Haha phil to me. I searched the yellow pages. Went to the nearest coalyard and picked out. An exceptionally large chunk of coal. Wrapped it nicely in a box. With a bow. Hahaha. And placed it under the christmas. Our family encouraged recipients of guests to lift. Shake and guess its contents. As soon as the gift. Place under the tree renee was fascinated. What weighs so much. Sound so loud. Why are christmas morning tradition the gifts were sorted into 5 piles. Ben. When are the time going around the circle as many times as necessary. We opened our gifts for everyone to see. Renee. Open mine first. Ashley unwrap the ribbon. Paper and box. Her excitement grew and so did my anticipation. The moment of reckoning was at hand. From her first plants at the coal. She loved. She screamed alight and hug me profusely. How was i to know that only a week earlier in her kindergarten class she had learned to grow colorful crystals on coal. Bah humbug. How was i to know this was to be her favorite gift by humbug. There is a moral to this story. Frank evans. Watch out. For this season. There is a spirit in the air. That can turn even the most vindictive thoughts. Into good. Deeds. Duran's. Oh holy night. Is a thank you. For all the caring and. Love that i received from. Oh holy night. Long live. My second story comes from the reverend carl scoville who was four years the. Lindsay classic new england minister of kings chapel in boston does anyone know carl. Yeah. Plenty and sparse. In any case he tells his story. This christmas story. Because i grew up in a house without central heating. And i've always felt that a cool house. Is a healthy house impervious to cold. And conductive to the flow of blood. My daughter is however. Do not share the sentiment. Edit x they became articulate upon the point is they were growing up. One christmas when i refused to turn up the heat. Sufficiently high. To raise a winter's supply of orchids. My youngest daughter proclaimed in the parsonage behold. A decree went out from carl augustus. That all the world should be frozen. At least went to his or her own room to be frozen. Nonsense i told her. You're much better off here than if you were living in china or russia. I don't recall her precise response. What she intimated to me that my argument was moot. Something in her tone of voice suggested that the matter was not settled. That christmas eve. When we held our traditional services of song and scripture at king's chapel. We added a small new feature on the old communion table we placed a creche. A terracotta crush. Terracotta figures. Ameri. And joseph the child cradled in his mother's arms. Shepherds. Cheap. And the kings as well. We had never had a crush in king's chapel before. And i felt that if we were to introduce one. The muted colors of these terracotta figures. Mightily veni puritanical. Objection. Well. There were no objections. The new crash. We went through the family service at 4:30 p.m.. And the holy communion at 5. And the big carol service at 10:30 p.m.. And i have nothing i heard nothing but words of appreciation. But after the last service was over at after i've finished reading the crowd. The sexton rushed up to me and said. I think you better come down to the front of the church. What's the matter time i ask. One of the pieces of the crash. Has been stolen. He said to me. Which one. I asked. It's jesus. Oh lord i thought. The first time we put out a terracotta crash. Somebody takes a piece. As we walk down the aisle of the church i couldn't help wondering who would do such a thing. A drunk. A nut. An objector prankster. We got to the chancel. And looked at the crash and sure enough. The baby was gone. From jesus's from mary's arms. And then i saw that someone. I placed a little slip of paper. Underneath the cradle. I got it. And it said. We've got jesus. Turn up the heat at the parsonage by midnight and he'll be returned for the morning service. I need one up at the parsonage. The infant reappeared. And everything returned to normal at king's chapel. Well not quite. Carland story. The benevolent despot of the beacon street parsonage. Shift unless less certainly upon his throne. That is not surprising. Carolands. No monarch. Indeed no despot can ever be sure of his rule. After a child. Husband. Here ends. R s. Elena moussa. Tucson everett name mom. Arizona. Time to san jose. In russia. It is said there was once an old woman. Who refused to help the wiseman. When they passed by her home. Looking for the baby jesus. She used called babushka. Which means grandmother. And this is her story. Babushka lived all by herself. In a little house. Where she was forever sweeping and cleaning. She had no time for friends. So she was always. Alone. Once it was said. She had been both young and happy. With a husband who loved her. And a baby whom they both love. But her husband and child got sick. And died. Long long ago. After that. She became. Isolated and fairly bitter. One dark night. She was sweeping the floor by candlelight. When three wise men. Riding camels. Stopped and knocked on her door. Babushka lookout. Scowling. The waisman asked if they could come in and rest. And if she might offer them a little food. They would pay her well. Babushka had no kind words for them. And no food either. I'm too busy with my housework to be making meals for strangers. Go away. One of the wise men try to. Blaine. We have heard that a child has been born. Who will be a new kind of king. One who will teach love to all people. We followed that bright star. Just find his birthplace. And offered gifts of gold. And myrrh and frankincense. Can you please help us find. Babushka laughed bitterly. How should i know of a newborn can you see the castle anywhere around here. Get your camels out of here before they dirty of my yard. She turned her back. Getting slammed. The second wiseman call through the door. You don't understand. This is not an ordinary king born to wealth. We will find him in a humble place. Can't you help. The bush got hurt. But she didn't. The wise men got ready to leave. But the last one stopped by the window and spoke. Good lady. I see that your heart is sad. If you come with us. Truly when you look upon this child your sorrow will turn to joy. Again she heard. Pretended she didn't. That night she swept until her back ache. And then she sat down to scrub the hearthstone. But she couldn't scrub the thought. About newborn child. Out of her mind. What do these strange men know about baby's forehead. Frankenstein. Myrrh. What good are those things. Baby. Before she knew what she was doing. She had opened a small chest that had been under. And she was looking at things that she. A little blanket. A knitted cap and mittens. String of wooden beads. And a doll. Made from scraps of cloth. These were things that she and her husband. Had made. Long ago. Holding these precious things in her hands. She suddenly began to read. And when her weeping was done. She knew. What she needed to. The child these men are seeking should have more fitting gifts. Then the one that the ones that they are bringing. She muttered to herself. These things from my chest. Our sympathy. But they're good. I'll catch up with those men. Surely someone must have noticed which way they went. But on her way out the door. Babushka saw that the camels had indeed tracked mud on her walk. Thinking it a shame to leave a dirty doorway bhai. She took up her broom. And swept the dirt away. She then went off in such a hurry. That she forgot to put her broom down. It is sad that she never did catch up with the wise men. She wandered all over looking for the newborn king. Getting her gifts to one child or another. All along the way in her travels. She gathered other toys. And suites. And hat. And mittens. Simple things that children love. Even now. In the cold time of the winter. She flies through the air with her broom. And a sack full of gifts. Looking through windows. And if she sees a sleeping child. She leaves again. And if the floor is not. Please. She sweeps at. Before she goes. There is a wonderful myth. Whose origin is appropriately obscure. It's called. The rabbi's gift. A monastery had fallen on difficult. They're only five months left. The abbot. And for others. All over the age of 75. Clearly. It was a dying community. The deep woods surrounding. Monastery. There was a. Little hut that our rabbi from a nearby synagogue used for contemplation. The next time the rabbi came to the woods. The abbott visited him. And ask if by some chance. He could offer any advice that might save the monastery. Different can you give me a piece of advice. To save my dying order. No i'm sorry the rabbi responded. I have no advice to give. The only thing i can tell you is. That the messiah. Is one of you. When they haven't returned to the monastery he was asked. Well what did he say. He cannot help us. The only thing he mentioned as i was leaving. Was it the messiah is one of us. I don't know what he meant. In days and weeks and months that followed. The monk hundred monks pondered what he meant. Whether there was any significance to the rabbi's word. The messiah is one of us. If so sad one. He probably meant the abbott. A leader for more than a generation. On the other hand. Brother george. He's a man of wisdom and kindness he could be the one. Certainly he could not have meant brother thomas. He gets nasty at times but. But come to think of it he's almost always right. Maybe the rabbi did mean brother thomas. He surely did not mean brother jacob. He's so passive. A real nobody. But then. He has a gift for somehow always being there. When you need them. Maybe he is the messiah. Of course. The rabbi couldn't possibly have meant me. I'm just an ordinary person. Suppose he did. Suppose i am the messiah. As they contemplated in this matter. The old monks begin to treat each other. With extraordinary respect. On the off chance that one of them might be the messiah. They began to treat themselves with the utmost dignity. At strangers visited the monastery from time to time. They sent senara of spiritual strength and care. Permeated the atmosphere. And was strangely compelling. They began to bring their friends. And some of the younger men who came to visit the monastery. Started to talk more and more with the old monks. And after a while. One asked if he might join. Then another. Add another. And before long. The monastery has become a vital center. Spiritual hope. Hirons the fourth story. As this christmas. Season approach night. I began to remember some of the wonderful gifts of my. Childhood that i received on christmas remedy. Shiny new blue schwinn bicycle i got one year. When i was i think 7 or 8 or 9 i got this cape canaveral launching pad thing you know that with a rocket would shoot off of it and the motorized. Carts with take the rockets back in for that was a great gift for. 2 days until. What are they my favorite one of my favorite birthday gifts i have with me. This is a theodore the bear. My uncle lloyd was a dear man gave me this on my first christmas. It has. It's up i'm 61 this is. Reseda. Defeating everything what happened to the eyes. I kind of love that the death didn't i. Can you see it. It seemed better days. Helium. He sets every morning now. On my. Beth at home. He's always there. That's theodore. What the best christmas gift i think i ever ever got. Was. Christmas of 1981. It was something entirely non-material my entire family my three brothers and their. Wives and children and my parents marsha and wendell. We all went up to this little cabin that we had in northern wisconsin north of merrill wisconsin. Which we had built. It had no running water the well was right outside on purpose. It had no electric lights we had kerosene lights. It had no interior toilet. We built a glorious outhouse which we called tina's place. And the summer we built the cabin we built tina's place it's the only outhouse in america that we knew of the headache. Handsome plate-glass window from florida ceiling so that while you were out there doing things you could enjoy nature. Wayback. And the interesting thing about this was. We were up there from christmas. The 26. Until new year's day. Very cold. More than two feet of snow is on the ground we trundled in. With the toboggan pulling all of our food and of course our cross-country skis. We crossfit mesquite everyday. One of the unique features back to the outhouse if i may. Is it my mother had figured out that the way to keep the toilet seat warm was to have a hook. For the toilet seat behind the wood burning stove. If she made a quilted bag so the whenever you needed to go to the outhouse you would take the toilet seat off of its warm perch. 100° flip in the bag put it under your under your arm. Turn the loft at tina's place and you were cozy wozy rosie. I have the eccentric family. The point of my story. Is that we were together for five or six days skiing. The beautiful northern woods. And cooking many wonderful pot meals on the on the old. Woodstock which we got from a family farm. That had. Collapsed really the building was collapsing. Got the stove out of their restored it cleaned it up put it back. In this new cabin. Doing board games. Listening to garrison keillor on national public radio that's saturday. Parking. And talkin and. We didn't know it at the time. That wasn't fact that winter of 1981 that christmas of 1981. Was the last time we were all together as a family. For my father was to dilate in may that same year. And now my brother. Eric is now also gone. Having died this year that was the last time. We were all together as a family. This holiday season. I want you to know that the best. Christmas gifts you have. Maybe like theodore a little bit. But really there immaterial thing. Time. And love. Spelled with. Adan family. And friends people you care about. In the simple ways. Not in front. Of the flats. Tv returning to last week's game. But. With one another. Face. Face. This holiday season. May all of us be blessed by the best presents possible. Time. With people we love. Time to laugh. Time to hog. Time to sing on yes time to cry like the bushka. Time to know how precious we really are. 200. That's the best.

uufvb_org

2012Dec09Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. We're now in the busy december season i'm glad you've chosen to share an hour of your day with us. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. And you are welcome. Please no. Just as you come to us in all of your particularity in need. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight. Black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanness. Whether you were feeling on top of the world this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We welcome you. We hope you will find our service meaningful enriching that you will find something here this morning. That nourishes your spirit. And feed your soul and gives you renewed energy and joy. For the living of life in the days ahead. Are opening words. From my colleague. Marianne hatchin. Welcome to this place of possibility. This is loves hearth. The home of hope. A refuge for mines and search of truth on folding. Ever beautiful. Everest range. Here compassion is our shelter. Freedom. Are protection from the storms of bigotry and hate. In this place may we find comfort and courage. May our site become vision. To see the unseen. To glimpse the good. That is yet. These words are by uu virginia deweese. Cedar rapids iowa. Why i'm a unitarian universalist. Because if this church had a steeple. If it be in the shape of a?. Because here. The minister makes me feel like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Instead of an ingredient for a blender. Because. Here. There are people who backbone things. Like saving the whales housing the homeless and combating global warming. Because the atmosphere. Isn't. Pollution. Because. They leave me alone. When i don't feel churchy. Because they seem glad to see me. When i do feel. Church. Because every hello isn't the preface to a request. Because when i'm broke. They won't foreclose on my soul. Because when i contribute. They don't act surprised. Because i can laugh. Out loud in this church. Because i can cry. And people care. Gently. Because sturmans here have real questions not rhetorical one. Because if i interrupted the sermon with a comment. There would be dialogue. Not chaos. Because here. Discussion groups. Really. Because here. At last. I can look forward to sunday. Why i am a unitarian universal. Some of you know. I began my ministry way back. In 1974 so long ago actually. The type my sermons on a green hermes manual typewriter dear god i've been at this a long time. I began my ministry that charming little uu church way up in houlton maine. The town there's that there's a church and it was always snow on the ground to there's three seasons in houlton maine. There's winter mod in the 4th of july. This is a town where interstate 95 abruptly ends at the canadian border. When i got there the first church of houlton unitarian universalist had 41 stalwart members on the books with about 10 children. In the nurseries in the sunday school. It was what they call a family church not because it was the size of a typical extended family but literally. It was a family church a family chapel. It took me about three months to realize that over half the church were direct descendants of aaron a name is putnam who put down roots there in 1811. Because not only were the two families in church that were named putnam putnam. Inman was putnam. And kate's was putnam and archibald they were putnam and campbell was putnam and willie was putnam and peabody was putnam and holden was putnam they were all damn putnams. Well you can perhaps imagine i was hopelessly a young and energetic person. I like became very active and very widely known in the community very quickly be especially because. Up a little local college records it's now gone. Where i taught classes and served as the chapel. In any case before long the church began attracting scores. Of new young couples and families more than half the faculty of the college started coming the president. Including another family called the degenhardt's. Ed & dawn who owns several mcdonald's restaurants in northern maine. And brought them their 12 children. 12 children from all over the world multicultural families. Avoided their multicult mother multicultural arrival caused a stir in that congregation. Well within a year attending to jump from 30 on a sunday to between 60 and 80 on a sunday and we could barely fit in the little parlor what's 12. Nevermind doesn't matter it's the little parlor there on the right which is where we used to meet cuz. We couldn't hit the sanctuary for god sake. It got so crowded in that parlor. I will never forget the day one sunday one of the descendants of aaron and amos putnam her name was inman. Walked in the parlor so all the children all the people crammed in that little church. And she said an exasperation. Who are all these people in my church. I will never forget the the moment. keep in mind. The one that church hired me they expressly wanted me to bring new people into save the congregation save the truth keep it alive. But as soon as i managed to do so the old-timer started to say. Who are all these. People. In my church. Now i'd like you to fast forward 39 years. The vero beach florida. Now just like houlton maine in those early years in my ministry since my arrival we have been growing rapidly as a congregation. Hear the actual numbers. In the last two-and-a-half years or adult membership has grown from about 180. To about 250. Which is an almost 40% increase. And bill sunday attendance and member giving are also up substantially. It is no small measure of pride that i tell you that these groceries testickes make us one of the fastest-growing. Unitarian universalist congregation in the united states and canada. But none of this is an accident. Holy three years ago when i was in conversation with your search committee several members of homer hear julie and. And the dotty. And that dick. When i was in conversation with them and earl kirkbride. Your leadership was very explicit. But it was seeking a minister. Not it was going to be a caretaker minister. But who had the inclination the energy level ambition experience to make this congregation grow. Those extending unitarian universalism and its values. Here are the treasure coast that's what they wanted. Do during the search process i had some other choices all around the country. But i decided i wanted to come here. Because i was persuaded that this particular congregation and its leadership. What's the one where my talents and passions could be put to good use. So i accepted your gracious invitation to become your minister. And i just want to pause to let you know that that is one of the best decisions i feel i have ever made in my life. I love being here. Just bought a house. I love being. Now just. I do. Now just two-and-a-half years later we can take pride that we have successfully increased both our hospitality. And our outreach to this community we've clearly communicated unitarian-universalism. Too many people seeking a spiritual home. We welcomed some additional 70 members and other friends. To this hospitable mission-driven community. We are clearly on our way. To be coming at least a 300-member church. One with increasing visibility and respect. In this rather conservative christian community and the board is focusing. How we can identify ourselves. Brand ourselves if you will in this community so we can have more outreach. And i want you to know that i. A true i truly appreciate. All of your support and encouragement. For our efforts in the. But. I was nonetheless startled the other day when the dearly beloved member of the fellowship. Who am i forewarn her i'd be anonymously sharing this anecdote with you. She said she didn't mind. One of our members spoke up at a committee meeting instead i was so upset last sunday i looked in the choir and there was a woman sitting there i didn't know i know all the choir members in this to say. Who was that stranger. There's so many new people around here i don't know. If this congregation gets too big. She didn't mean it. I was just made of course that this highly valued member was expressing discomfort. With our growing numbers but i was not terribly surprised because whenever a congregation. Of any denomination or faith group. Gross. Many folks inevitably feel unsettled. And i'm sure of what to make of all the changes. When i was at river road wheatley had a burst of of growth we grew v 150 members. One of the members suggested we bring in maps to direct them to the rockville church 18 miles away. That was his answer to church grow. I swear to god it's true. So i missed i'm not surprised i've seen this and every church i served. So i want us to pause for a moment at this pivotal point in our congregation history and we are to pivot point. And reflect together on what all of our recent growth means for us. And even more importantly how we can shift our thinking. About this congregation and its future that will enable us to move ahead all of us. With contentment. And satisfaction and joyous. Continue to grow. The first thing i want to point out is that whenever a car negation grow significantly everyone needs to begin to think about one thing differently that is intimacy. Intimacy. Most of us various church experts tell us seek out of church because we are on some level looking for a sense. A real community caring and connection that our culture at large will not provide. One church expert describes a church as a third-place. Not like the home the first-place. Where your nurtured by your family not by the workplace where you're compensated and and work comfortably with others. But a third place. In your life. Where you voluntarily go to fight voluntarily go that's the key word. Define companionship community and purpose in our lives. Congregations like this one. Provide a safe and welcoming place where people can come. Define friendship and connection and carrying a real sense of group belonging. And purpose for their lives now. Over the early years of our fellowship. When your numbers were below 150 adult all of this was rather straightforward and simple. Back when the current gation met and it's cute little building on 43rd avenue and many of you who are newman on even know where that building is it's now part of. Temple beth shalom. Outback. You guys were in your cute little building on 43rd and how many of you ever attended church there. Okay. Right and all and how many view of never letting that word will not part of us then. On 43rd. Avenue. Back in the good old days. You guys could come to the fellowship on sunday and pretty much know everybody there. In coffee hour you can move around reconnect with your friends and pretty much here all of the news. Of the fellowship. All the personal news. This is a great strength. Emjoi of what church experts call the pastoral church size. Which can be emotionally described compared to the famous cheers bar in boston you know the song where everybody knows your name that's the pastoral church. Listen to church expert roy oswalt describe the family emotional dynamics of the pastoral church. The pastor of church has a sense of itself and now i called him. As a family. Where everybody knows everybody else. But when a congregation he goes on begins to have 130 to 150 people more coming every sunday we're right now in about 180 and then the winter will be over 200. Then they begin to get nervous he writes. Members wonder about the new faces that they don't know and people who don't know them. And some can anxious that they are beginning to lose. The intimate fellowship. They prize so highly unquote. This is undoubtedly one dynamic that some of you have been feeling. Lately here. In the past few years we have grown. From the size of a pastoral church. What is not called a program church a larger and more complex congregation. With anywhere from 150 to 350 members. And it's marked a program church. By many cells of activity. In other words. In a program size congregation like ours it is impossible. Literally impossible. To know everyone and everything and so and this is the key point here. You have to seek out intimacy. And community that all-important sense of belonging. In the many small groups. Where people truly get to know each other in the current gation that shift. The body of the whole a committee-of-the-whole too many small groups. So in our growing congregation people of necessity must find intimacy and community. Not so much in the worship service or even in the coffee hour. Put in the covenant group. Or the book discussion group. Or the singing in the choir or participating in the circle dinner program. Or being part of the religious education committee. Or the 55 plus singles group federal kirkbride started. Or any of the other groups that's where you find your intimacy it's called small group ministry. Let me see this another way. When we were a smaller pastoral size church uufp was a lot like a cute little village. Where everybody knew everybody else. And all the goings-on of the community just like miss marple and the little. It'll do english villages where you know everything. But now we are a larger program size church more like a big bustling city. Where you see lots of faces you don't know. As you move around on sunday and therefore you have to return to smaller neighborhoods. To get a sense. Of that intimacy and belonging which makes any community meaningful. Does this image make sense to. And by the way the megachurch is the really big ones. They cannot survive unless they have hundreds and hundreds of small bible study groups. And community service groups that the only way people. If you wonder how a megachurch feels warm to people it's only because they have these small cells. And that's what we need here to. Intimacy caring connection belonging. Have always been one of the hallmarks of our congregation and must. Biso. We highly value the faq. But we are warm and caring community. But actively tends to the human needs of its members. But because we are getting bigger. And welcoming more people here on the treasure coast. To our faith. We must create different kinds of opportunities. For the kind of clothes and caring connection that make a religious community meaningful. The whole point here. Is it in terms of intimacy. Nothing needs to be lost. When the congregation grows. It's simply needs to shift. Into a different venue. Alright. The intimacy is the key shift but then there's something else. What else needs to change. When the congregation gets larger will the second answer. Is programming and governance. No don't anyone rollie arises sounds like i'm going into boring territory but you know me i'm never boring. But i am going to talk about her institutional structuring because it's important for all of us to understand. How membership growth requires us to do things differently than we have in the past. When we were a cozy little pastoral church. First as i've already alluded. What a congregation grows to our size. There needs to be a significant shift in the kinds of programming offered to the membership. A growing program congregation needs to greatly expand the small group ministries. So that all of its members can find safe and stimulating places. To explore their faith. Clarify their beliefs. Express their personalities and find intimate caring connections with others. And the fact thanks to pete. Kersey and jen sutton and others we now have a raft of covenant group. Hear it. Supposed to. A gaggle of covenant group. That's a great start for this expansion of scroll. Small group ministry now we have the book discussion groups. The men's and women's breakfasts and lunches the adult enrichment courses that we offer. But the truth is. That is we continue to grow. We will need and want to create many more opportunity. For members. To truly engage one another and small manageable caring groups. In a word expanded our small group ministry. Will be the key to our success. As a congregation. And i'm sure you all get the logical. These small cells allow people place. Come in. And make friends and stay. The old rule of thumb is if a new member doesn't make seven friends. In the first year of their vomit with a church. They come in the front door. And 12 months later. But then there's the tricky or so that's the programming. Pretty straightforward. But then there's a tricky or changes that will be required in our governance. If we continue to grow. That is a shift in the way we make decisions here. As we fully grow into a program sizecon. Years ago. When you were a family-size congregation and then a pastoral size caragacianu. You tended to make decisions the way all small uu congregation make decisions basically. As a committee-of-the-whole. Whenever this congregation face big decisions in the past. Buying your first property. Building your first building. Hiring your first minister. Taking the huge leap. To buy this bigger facility. Starting bridges early learning center the celebrated speaker series the emerson center. Whenever you face big decisions you pulled the whole congregation together. And painstakingly moved the whole group toward consensus or at least. A solid majority vote now. Because we are a unitarian universalist congregation. Committed to our seven principles one of those principles if you'll see in the back of your orders of service. Is the 1 2 3 4 5. The fifth. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process. The use of the democratic process. Within our congregation. And society at large. Because we believe in that the leadership of the current gation always involve the entire membership. In making. Key decisions. As we did recently in adopting our new five-year strategic plan. And then moving ahead with a capital campaign. To restore our building and build the elevator shaft that's too short. But that's a fixable problem. All the church management experts who write about best practices point out that is as a current gation crows. It must shift its governance in the direction of delegating more decision-making to responsible subgroups. Within the current gation so the current gation is a hole. Doesn't dissipate is spiritual and emotional resources. Trying to function as one big family sitting around a dinner table. What's up with the spaghetti sauce all over it. Trying to decide every last thing about his future. 25 years ago i had a church that was about 320 members and at the annual meeting once we spent an hour arguing over whether or not to buy a snowblower. That is not the way you grow a church. That is not the way you govern. One example of this best practice that we visit we recently adopted here at uscb was a decision. To make. To delegate to a new sunday fund committee. The authority to pick. The local social service agencies that will be the recipients of the money as we collect. Each sunday in the offertory. Some of you will recall that in the spring of 2010 just before i came. You spent a fair amount of time and energy as a committee-of-the-whole. Entire congregation struggling with the cumbersome process to pick. These organizations for the coming year. That was the first year you gave away your plate collect. Now a small group of capable leaders accomplish this task. But only after seeking brought input from the social justice. Task forces. And the and the current gation is a hole. The way we now make these decisions. By getting congregational impulse and then delegating final decision making to a smaller representative committee. Is a far more time and cost effective. Processing the old. Family style process and it frees up more of the conjugations energy to focus on spiritual things. Not snowblowers. But spiritual and emotional things. Don't make a difference in life. Of the congregation and the town. You won't get why this governance shift is so important. We will of course always be a democratically led congregation. Which will faithfully seek the input and ideas of its members and communication is always a problem we'll always try to keep the carnation. Involved in knowing what's going on which is why we told you this sunday about. The problems with the elevator. Shaft. But we will regularly also delegate decisions. Two smaller representative leadership groups. For the sake of good process and efficiency. Now i must honestly tell you that the shift in uu congregational governance. Toward allowing much more delegation. And diffusion in the decision-making process is sometimes a difficult one. For those of you who were here. When you operate as a committee-of-the-whole on all decisions. If a current geishas used to deciding things like a family. It may resist. This maturational shift. Of governance. Indeed i've seen some uu congregations on the cusp of growing too healthy program side. Get paralyzed by their family decision-making process and one of the ways they get paralyzed. Is it five beloved members. If bible of members are upset about something they say oh my god we can't proceed we have five upset people. Went on a family operates that way nothing happens. It has a church grow that has to not have a tyranny of the minority if it cannot be primarily focused on making sure that every last member is happy. That's impossible. With 250 members we will never have a unanimous consensus. A nanny. Do always be some objections. Annette's i've seen churches are size get paralyzed. Because they're held back in a governance that no longer fits what they need to do to grow. In any case. I have explicitly brought this up today to help us all think about these governance and decision-making and delegation issues. And realize the necessity to embrace a new way of doing things. To keep us moving for. So there you have it. Three ships. Involves thinking and behavior. That are necessary for healthy and growing congregations the first. Is it we need. To look. For intimacy and belonging. Primarily and small gatherings and groups. Where people can really connect with one another and soulful. And significant ways. Second. We need to create more small-group programming to ensure that the venue's exist. For these kinds of life giving an enriching connections between people and. I have open doors. For like right now a lot of our new members are being added to covenant. Open door. So they get to know people feel a part of it and stay with us. And third will need to shift the way we govern ourselves. The way we make congregational decisions. We need to trust leadership groups like amy thoma is so wonderfully doing the building project project for us right now. We we have to trust the committee of people. Who's doing that. And delegating responsibilities more of us. Committees to councils. And that will continue to see current what. But not let us make up the gears. The work. We need to. Dybala. Letgo. Decision-making and stay involved with. These shifts in the way we do church. Will enable us to keep on growing. Opening more people here on the treasure coast. To the most important thing we have. The good news. Of unitarian universalism. And that your friends is in the end the only reason to grow a congregation. You don't grok arrogation to say it will bring in more pledge units and will balance the budget that never happens by the way. As a church grows its per member cost guess what. Call what's up. So if you want new members to pay your bill that's not it. The only reason to grow a congregation. Is to share our faith. So that more people can be blessed by its generosity it's kind of sad. Compassion we have a vision for humanity. But a lot of churches in this town do not have. And we have responsibilities of living that's phase-out in our. Again sometime to gation seek to girls they can balance their budget. Build a bigger building. Increase their staff or. Prove their status in the community but none of these. Are worthy reasons to. The only good reason to grow this place. It's so that we can welcome more people to the principles and purposes of our faith. So the day with us can live that faith out and let it bless. Their lives. Perhaps i do not say it enough good friends. But i believe that unitarian-universalism well only one of many worthwhile religions. Organized here in the treasure. Was there many wonderful houses. Ours is none-the-less of faith. With a unique and loving vision. A more inclusive. Vision for the human family. I want this congregation. To grow not so that i can. Rag at ministers meetings about how well we are doing. I want this conversation to grow. So that will be ever more able to bring the compassionate vision of unitarian universalism. To our neighbors and to our world. And the more people we welcome into these doors the better able. We can serve the principles of our faith. The more we were able to lend our hands. To the ennobling. And the saving of our world. I'm pretty certain. We will never be the largest. Congregation in this town. Community scada screamed on that. A lot. Of the bigger congregations. We're here. Century before we got started 30 years ago. And many of them effectively cater to religious ideas more to mainstream taste. But if we keep our doors wide open and welcoming. And if we do church. In ways that are truly hospitable and meaningful to newcomers. We will continue to grow both numerically and spiritually. Steadily expanding our ministry and are caring to the world. And all i can do is end by saying. I pray. It will always be so. I leave you with the words of my colleague and friend john curotto. We have been blessed this morning by who we are. In the hope and promise inherent in the community we can build here. Remember that hope and promise. Remember that you are unique and needed part of it. Livets beauty. Tell its story. Go in peace. Return. With light.

uufvb_org

2012Nov18Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning. I miss sunday before thanksgiving i know some of you were traveling others if you will sit tight. And i would remind you that if you'd like to join a group here at the fellowship. Sign up for that today on the rolling cart. It'll be a for thanksgiving dinner traditional thanksgiving dinner. This week. And we're glad you're all here with us this morning. The units at the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach please know that you are welcome. Just as you come to west this morning. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some. Other wonderful shade of humanity whether you are feeling on top of the world this morning. Or kind of down in the dumps or somewhere in between know that you are welcome just as you come to us. In all of your particularity and need. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. You will find something here this morning to take with you that will make. The living of the days i had more joyful and more purposeful. For the sun and the dawn. For the moon and the evening which we did not make. For food which we plant but cannot grow. For friends and loved ones we have not earned and tenafly. For all things which come to us as being from sources beyond ourselves. Of life and love and friendship we lift. Up our hearts. And give thanks this day. Thanks to all of you. My message saying the sermon. Is the thing. Giving happens not. In spite of. Adversity. Because of it. This tuesday i believe it was when your times there was an obituary of a poet named gilbert. Come i have never heard of. This poem was in the obituary. I was overwhelmed by this poem it's a little tough. But i heard you to treat this as your thanksgiving meditation. And to enjoy. Silence that will follow i will end the silence with a. Jack gilbert's pawn. Sorrow everywhere. Slaughter. Everywhere. If babies are not starving someplace. They are starving somewhere else. With flies. In their nostrils. But we enjoy our lives. Because that's what god wants. Otherwise the mornings before summer dawn would not be made so fine the bengal tiger would not be fashion so miraculously well. The poor women at the fountain are laughing together between the suffering have known and the awfulness. In their future. Smiling and laughing. With while somebody in the village. Is very sick. There is laughter everyday in the terrible streets. And the women laugh in the cages of bombay. If we deny our happiness. If we resist our satisfaction. We lesson. The importance. A verdi opera. Morning. Just days before our festive. National thanksgiving holiday which i hope incidentally all of you or recklessly enjoy with whatever family and friends. Can gather. Around you. I want to offer a sermon on logical spiritual theme of the week. That is the idea of grey. Let me begin them by letting the spiritual cat right out of the bag i am passionately persuaded. And you've heard me say this before. The gratitude. Basic. I'm ostentatious heartfelt gratitude. Just for the gift of life. Is one of the most important possessions a human being can. Without a lively sense of gratitude for the miracle of finding yourself alive in this world. Without a simple heartfelt sense of how lucky you are to have a chance. Hang around. In this amazing yet. Difficult creation of ours. Without gratitude we eventually lose energy in perspective. That is required. To living a joyful and full and responsible life a grateful heart. Simply put is a spiritual engine for life. Well and passionately live it is that simple. What is not simple however is freaking out where this kind of. Life-enhancing life-saving gratitude come from comes from. And just how we as individuals can possess it in our daily lives. Through thick and thin. First let me tell you. Where i am certain life-saving gratitude for living does not come it does not arrive. From as a natural byproduct from pleasant. Affluent. Or comfortable external circumstances. In fact the illogical studies on the contentment life reveal. That satisfaction does not as one might logically think correlate. With wealth. Possessions privilege comfort effortless living luck even good health it does not correlate with any of those things did you know that. This undoubtedly is bad news for america's 1% of affluence. For the truth is richton privilege and downright lucky folks are no more likely be happy than anyone else. A personal point one of my uncles and my mother's side he shall go unnamed he's long dead. He was a wealthy successful highly. Admired man in a great big obituaries new york times in the baltimore sun in the washington post. He lived a life. Ring. In comfort and opportunity and charm he was as they say. Survey after survey confirms it. The external trappings of an easy life have nothing to do with how grateful or happy or. If you doubt this. Just look at the american people. By almost any standard most americans living here in these first years of the second millennium. Have more to be objectively grateful.for than the overwhelming majority of human beings like those women in the cages of bombay. Could ever dream. Although things have gotten somewhat economically tougher for many americans over the last couple of years. Our national standard of living is comfortable i we have a high-quality. Even the relatively a steer. Our food our housing our schools are environment our transportation entertainment. Is unparalleled in human. You all know this. You all know or should. That the overwhelming majority of people living on this planet would swap their standard of living with anyone in this room. In a heartbeat. Recently an evening news on absolutely heart-wrenching story about the thousands of people. Who spent 12 hours a day scouring the reeking garbage dumps. Of malaysia. So they do not starve to death. As an american i find this image. People picking. Garbage. For 12 hours a day. To be virtually. So you think that finding ourselves in the midst of so much unearned bounty. Beauty and blessing. That we americans would be the most grateful appreciative and satisfied people on the place. Planet fitness. You all know is not true. Just listen to the talk tone and tenor of the folks around you. On a daily basis here on the treasure coast. Americans profoundly blessed and privileged as we are love to complain we are as one author noted a culture of complaint. We cultivate our complaints about almost everything. As a foolish habit of the heart americans love to wine. About all the ways in which life does not singularly and systematically devote itself. To our own personal immediate needs i had a colleague in boston when i was. Gemelas notepads with messages i didn't the whole pad. Said would you like some cheese with that whine. The words of my colleague l perry he was an old can of a farmer. Minister up in pittsfield maine he wrote this one thing. About americans. In the fall we complain about the cold and all those leaves to rake. In the winter we complain about all the ice in the snow in the spring we complain about all the mud in the rain in summer we complain about the mosquitoes on the heat but in what season. We rejoice and give thanks that this earth. Seems to possess. Just the right climate. To permit the existence of life. And oh yes. Maybe we americans have had so much in so many ways for so long that we've lost all perspective on how truly blessed and lucky we are. At the most elemental levels of our living maybe our abundance the sheer volume of our wealth and prosperity and comfort. With the we've grown accustomed to has blinded us to the sheer wonder. And simple privilege. Of it all. It almost seems like the more we have the less satisfied we become. You know don't text me i can't give up any of my. It seems. Like the more we consume and demand the less our appetites can ever be satisfied. I have i hate to say it but spiritually. We americans are like a bunch of spoiled teenagers half the time. The more were given the less satisfied we become. Gratitude simple heartfelt gratitude for simple everyday blessing of being around. Seems radically disconnected from the outward trappings of our privilege. It is counterintuitive. But maybe if we americans had to live with far less maybe if we had a harder time with the outward demands of life and had to struggle a lot more. Maybe we'd be more appreciative. For the basic blessing of our lives maybe. Perhaps gratitude. Defense of steroids. Sincere and sustaining requires. Personal awareness. Of life's deprivation and scarcity. To take full wise. Mature hole. In our spiritual lives. Tell you to. About life-saving credit. Found. In the midst not of these. But in deprivation and. There is a lesson. You're the first claudia has already alluded. The time for all ages. The story of the first american thanksgiving. When in the autumn of 1821 the pilgrims settlers. Share the feast with their kind. Native american neighbors. You're like me when you visualize this event in your mind's eye you imagine a pretty pleasant. Peaceable scene. Like the one claudia did. Of this and like this nineteenth-century painting of the same if this is the kind of image. We have. Of that. What i was a schoolboy in wisconsin anyway that's what i believe happened. Well-dressed pilgrims. I'm proud wampanoag indians gathered under bright autumn little trees. Sharing tables overflowing with plenty of bounty of the harvest. Enjoying a carefree days they imagined as a boy. Companionship. This is the cheerful myth. That has grown up around that for. Thanksgiving but. As claudia said. The reality was fired if. And far more pain. The only accurate elements of the sanitized thanksgiving story you and i got in kids is a genuine apparently. Friendship and goodwill that existed between the pilgrims and the wampanoag. In that fall of 80. 21 the rest. The true story is filled with tragedy and. The historians among you know how truly rough this story is. On november 20th 1820 the little ship mayflower. What did i say. 016 how can i make that mistake. It's printed here right. 1620 fellowship mayflower landed not in plymouth but on cape cod. With 100 men and women and children who would venture to the new world to died on the crossing. Disappointed to discover they were 300 miles north of a more temperate virginia where they were headed. After a few weeks of trying to scratch out a living on the exposed spit of land. What is now provincetown massachusetts not a good. Spend the winter. The winds and no protection of trees. The settlers sailed across the bay right across the bay. To the richly forested and somewhat protected mainland in plymouth. Where they hope to find food and safety to ride out their first winter. Which vital member in those days was already underway.. Snow on the ground. The next few months. To prove nightmare. The winter was snowy and cold and harsh. And they're hastily construction elders the county put on many of them stayed on the ship but they started to build these kinds of structures. And i couldn't find out how many they were able to build. The first winner probably only one or two. The pilgrims. Survived. I'm small portions of salt beef and hardtack leftover from the sea voyage. And they do all developed scurvy. Cuz no fruits or. Available. Almost all the pilgrims fell sick. Fully half of the. 50 men women and children. Died. Horrible deaths. Before spring. William bradford one of the pilgrim leaders told the terrible tale in his diary in old english. So they died sometimes two or three a day he wrote and of 108 / 7. Scares 50 remained. All of these the governor said. In the time of most distress there were about six or seven sound persons. Who took their great commendations to be spoken spared no pains night or day. With abundance of toil. And hazard of their own health. The wood. Excuse me made them fires dressed their meat washed their load some clothes. Clothed and unclothed them in a word did all the homely and necessary offices for them. Which dainty and queasy stomach. Cannot. The historical record clearly shows that without the help of the local local wampanoag indians. Who generously shared some food with the pilgrims that went. And as claudius shared. Show them how to plant and cultivate native corn. Next spring and summer the colony would without the indians have been wiped out. By starvation. And disease luckily for the 50 pilgrim survivors. The first summer was a warm and generous one. The fall harvest was so good that by late november as bradford put it they were safely gathered in. Are there storms. Begin. And here is the part of the story. The spiritually stunts. Inspires. In spite of all the many hardships and horrors that had endured that first year and then. Despite the incredible grief. The every family. Who took that journey and every person who took that jeremy had suffered. The survivors decided not to feel sorry for. But to mark their good fortune. To express their gratitude yes. God. And to reach out to their neighbors in. True respect. Friendship no no one would have blamed. Have they. On the first anniversary of their arrival he decided. To hold a morning. Service of mourning and grief. Rather than a noisy feast of celebration. They could have withdrawn morosely into the gathering of terminal darkness. I've been swallowed by their enveloping sadness but instead these. Party pilgrims put on. Read it. Blowout. A food and festivities. No turkey. Incidentally in spite of the fact that there were turkey in. The feast was. Lobster. And quail. A native fruits and. And for themselves and their indian friends. Cheap. Chief. And 90 other weapons. Again bradford's account. Harvesting cotton. Our governor sent for men outside length. So we might. After amor special matter rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. And although it may not always be so. As it was this time with us. Yep by the goodness of god. We are so far from what. That we often wish others. Partake of our plan. It seems to me what makes the real thanksgiving story so remarkable and meaningful is not so much. Easy draw and plenty. What's the indians and the pilgrims. Apparently shared with each other. Over those three days. But rather. The painful backdrop. Of the very real loss. Grief. A misery. Which the pilgrims. Spiritually. Did not allow to block. Gratitude. Somehow in the face of the. Profound deprivation of lost. Those pilgrims were able to choose gratitude over bitterness. Generosity over greed. Thanksgiving over self-pity. The miracle. Thanksgiving soren kierkegaard. The existential. Once observed. It takes real courage to grieve. But it takes. Religious. To rejoice. I've known other. Pilgrims. Of the heart in my life. That's why i ride with my. Brave people. 12 olson chosen gratitude. And happiness over grief. Grudge. In the face. Profound. People who have taught me. In my rather charmed. Easy life. How to live gracefully. With a simple appreciation. But a simple. Lovelife. I want to tell you about one of these pilgrims of heart. A dear colleague of mine. With whom i work. 12 years. Her name is the reverend ginger luke. And i went online and got a picture of her. There she is. She's the minister of congregational life at the river road unitarian universalist congregation. In bethesda maryland which i left. Almost three years ago now.. With you. And she was my clothes callaghan ministry for. Tiger 12-year time. That i served there is scene. But laid in my tenure there just before i move down here. Ginger got the most horrible news any parents can get. Her only child catherine. A vibrant thirty-two-year-old wife and mother of. You darling little children. Who would just graduated from the university of michigan with a doctorate. And was ready to begin her very complicated career and. T-rex. Was unexpectedly diagnosed in a routine medical check-up. With an aggressive form of breast cancer. Another day the diagnosis came in in the office all of us. Shared gingers hope that the cancer would be treatable. And that under even the worst circle. Her daughter katherine would have a shot. Many years. Of life. But to everyone's complete shock most especially her doctors at the university of michigan hospital. Katherine became gravely ill and almost immediately died. 6 days. For she died she was in our church ushering her little children around like any other person. Days later she was. As you can imagine ginger was just devastated. Goodbye the sudden. Horrible inexplicable loss. In the current gation we gave her three four months. Go to michigan. Take care of mike. Her daughter's husband. Two children. My point of telling this terrible story. Norwalk. Hunu ginger. Would have blamed her head she in one way or another emotionally or spiritually folded her tent. And begrudged life for this terrible and unjust. Twist. 8:30 at some people. Who's lewis a daughter or a child or a husband. Ginger. Is a pilgrim of the heart she is a resilient. Ungrateful. Soul. She has a pilgrim heart. But in the face of this unfathomable tragedy. Refuse to give into grief or bitterness. A pilgrim heart that knew how to get through that first winter. That had descended suddenly around her. Chicho's. To move toward a renewing spring. Gratitude. Hope and love. Listen to this poem. By ellen bass. The thing is. To love life. Even when you have no stomach for it. And everything you have held dear crumbles like burnt paper in your hands. Your throat filled with the silt of it. When grief sits with you. It's tropical heat. Thickening the air heavy is water more fit for gills. The lungs when grease. Wait when when when grief weights you down like your own flesh only more of it. Obesity of grief. You think. How long can a body withstand this. Then you whole life. Like a face between your pulse. A plain face. No charming smile. No violet eyes and you say yes. Yeah i will take you. I will love you again. The months that followed catherine. Explicable early death. Terrible hard one. But i must tell you that like those brave surviving pilgrims. She had the spiritual strength. Quickly reimagine. And recon. To her life. And again. Say yes to. So what is my message to you this sunday before thanksgiving. In the year of our lord 2012. It is a message no one should shout. For can only enter the human heart. Quietly. And it is simply. We are all pilled. On a perilous journey. Cannot. And will not, so. An easy life. Without. Extreme pain. All of us. Suffering. And sorrow. Lost. No one shall escape. But i am persuaded. But the spiritual possession that will see us through the hard passages and bitter winter. Is simply a grateful heart. A brave and resilient heart. That is willing. To reimagine life. And turn toward the sun. And see what is still good. And still possible. So i pray that. Wherever you are next. Whether you with family and friends many miles from here. Or close to home by yourself. What was loved ones. May you be able to find on your lips and in your heart's a simple word of faith. For the life. You have. The imperfect. The life that. Sometimes. Has a bitter taste of silt. For it is ever and always as 12. Century christian mystic meister eckhart once.. If the only prayer. You said in your whole life is thank you. That would suffice. Have a wonderful thanksgiving. And bianca.. So when the season when we are encouraged to count our blessings let us give thanks. For storms. That acquaintance with the coziness of our hearth and homes. For misfortunes. Which reveal to us the loyalty of our friends. 4 problems. Which awakened our imaginations and call forth larger effort. For conflict. In which we may discover the healing power of love. Four defeats. Which make unavoidable acknowledgement of our human imperfection. Even for increasing years. And loss of strength. And all reminders of our mortality. Whereby we are reminded of just how fragile and precious. Is the gift of breath let us give thanks for all these things which we would not have wished. To happen. But without which. We would not have grown. Or discovered. Or loved. Or lyft. Blessings to all of you.

uufvb_org

07Jun2009sermon128kbs.mp3

uufvb_org

2015Feb08Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. What a beautiful morning. so much in albany new york where i'm flying friday morning where it's 9 degrees and snowing but hey. Welcome. The unitarian universalist fellowship not of albany but a vero beach. What a beautiful morning. And we are congregation as. Graphic set of open minds loving hearts and helping hands. People becoming hopefully our best individual cells even this together we work to make our world more humane. And good place. And you are welcome this morning no matter how you come to us this morning whether you're young or old. Gay or straight black or white. Or some other wonderful shade of humanity what do you have a ged or a phd. Whether you're a visitor with us this morning and i see several or have been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling absolutely on top of the world this morning or rather blue or somewhere in between. We welcome. And all of your. Circularity and charm. And we hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. There you will find something here this morning pick with you. That would give your life more meaning and purpose and joy and responsibility. In the days and years ahead. Friends in case you haven't noticed it is a perfectly lovely day here on the treasure coast of florida. And you had lots of perfectly respectable options of where else to spend this morning lounging in bed with a naughty spouse in the sunday papers. Sharing a lazy brunch with the neighbors even walking the beach with that warming sand between your toes and yet. You chose none of these pleasant habitation. Rather you chose to be here now in this sacred space with all the. Good people. Why. Why did you come to this place. There are many good reasons why you came to be reminded of the beauty of life. And the unimaginable gift of finding yourself alive in so wonderful a creation. Far to remind yourself. Of the high and holy demands of social justice. Community service. And human compassion. Where to take stock of your personal life. And renew your promise to work tirelessly at being the finest. The most caring person. But you can become order pause from your weekly rounds and find renewal in the music. In the silence and in the word spoken. On behalf. Orchard greet old friends. Make new ones. And be a part of a community that promises to care for you. And everyone else. Through thick. Or claudia to model. For our children. And our grandchildren that it matters how we live. And instill in them the compassionate values that will guide them for their whole life. No matter what has brought you here. Welcome. Welcome to this laboratory for good and purposeful living. Welcome. To this place. Of love. Welcome. Well dear friends is finally time for me to come out of the closet. I am. No i did that 35 years ago. I'm a puritan. I can't hide this any longer both in terms of my family heritage. Most dramatically on my mother's side and my religious heritage that would be unitarian-universalism i'm third generation. I have puritanical roots. And this is storacle fact shapes much of what i am as a person today. And the truth isn't whether or not you know it or appreciate it yourself puritanism. Shapes much of what you are as an american. And of the unitarian universal. If you're one of those. It is fat is a fascinating an important story let me begin by briefly exploring my own dare what i say someone interesting. Family background. In the year 1630 my great-great. Great great great great great great grandparents. Impoverished puritans. By the name of john and sarah reed. Edie came to america. Here is the actual genealogical chart put together by my uncle. Re-read. There they are at the top john of rehoboth massachusetts and here i am at the bottom. And that you can see that we've got the whole thing mapped out so that's just totally cool. 11 if you were by the way album in taylors apartment tear in the middle here. So. You and i are kissing cousins man. I mean that's an unusual name. So as an american i descend from john and sarah read my end of my family doesn't actually have portraits of them. Quarterly america only the very rich could have their portraits done. But i imagine they look somewhat like this if we have it maybe we don't there they are. This rather austere puritan couple iphone. In google images. In any case my earliest read ancestors landed in america. In the harbor of salem massachusetts with with john winthrop great fleet of a 11 ships. Carrying some 700 puritan. Fling largest persecution in england. They settled as a couple in rehoboth massachusetts just a bit southwest of cape cod. Where john served the community of constable that means he was a cop. And. He kept the public house. That would be a bar. With his wife sarah. They had 13 children. Two of them died in infancy and another was killed as a young adult in a battle with local indians. The large reed family thrived all over massachusetts but tragically my great-great. Great-great-great-grandmother marieezy of salem and here she is. That is an actual picture. Her. She was although she was a pious and respected member of the salem community was. Along with her sisters. Rebecca nurse and sarah coil hung as a witch. During the hysteria. Of the salem witch trials one of puritanism darkest and most. Shameful chapters one as you all know in september of 1890 to a handful of hysterical teenage girls. Accused some of the elders of the town of being possessed. Edema. And one of those. Is my descent is my ancestor here. Britannia for the 10 years i worked in boston at the nomination to headquarters in the nineties and i did not know this history. I lived in a pre-revolutionary house built in 1758 and every morning i rode the commuter trail and would glance at gallows hill. In salem. Where she was murdered. Bye. The. Founders. Church. Today. Course. Unitarian. In 1711 almost 20 years after her hanging her children i descend through her daughter mary best. The family was concept was cut with. I can't even say it happened sated. With 20 lb of silver. Fire officials in salem for what they admitted. 20 years later was her wrongful. In any case the family on my mother's side eventually migrated to maine. We're my read ancestors remain for several generations until they moved. Do my home state-wisconsin as farmers and lumberjacks. In the 1780s. So i along with millions of other americans today have my family roots in puritanism. And so does unitarian universalism. And here is that important side of the story. The puritans were a group of english protestants in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Score just satisfied with the pace of the reformation in england. And who rejected the puritans did many of the entrenched beliefs and hierarchical practices of the church of england. And we're seeking to live a quote-unquote pure christianity. Because the church of england vigorously tried to suppress and persecute them. For their beliefs and practices. Most of the puritan clergy. Officially left the church of england. And became what we're calling called non-conforming ministers. Along with the unitarians who are definitely non-conforming and other free thinking. A clergy. Many of these puritan leaders decided to flee america. Were they hope to practice their religion without interference or compromise. And so it was. The thousands of pious. Deeply religious puritans who like to call themselves the godly. To distinguish themselves from the i assume ungodly. Included my read ancestor. They landed on the shores of new england in the 16 and 17. Centuries. And because of both their prominence and their passions. Face shape. Both american religion. And american culture. In their image. Now this puritan legacy is i grant you a complicated. When you think of the word puritan not a lot of warm fuzzy cheerful things occur. But i will attempt to reflete articulate three key features of this legacy. But i believe our great import of great importance to us and of great value to us. As both you use an america's first. Unlike the church of england. With its rigid top-down ecclesiology hierarchy in governance. The puritans established independent. Local congregations which were democratically governed by what is called. Congregational polity. Now so when do it as new england was settled. Local puritan congregations with pretty much spraying up at every little town and settlement. And we're often called the what were the first parish churches. Would draft their own covenants. Where in the members of the congregation. Would publicly promised to practice their religion with one another. As purely and properly as they could. Here for example is the covenant of the first parish of salem massachusetts witch is today a thriving uu congregation. This is written in old english. This is their covenant. We covenant with the lord and with one another. And do bind ourselves in the presence of god. Two walk together in all his ways. According as he is pleased to reveal himself to us. It is blessed. Word of truth isn't that. The key point here is that the puritans. Place ultimate religious authority as one historian put it. To that convincing power of truth. Evidence in the understandings reached and tested overtime. By ap overtime by a body of loving individuals mutually pledge. Faithfully to seek and to he truth together as a church. An ongoing community. So long as their earthly life shall last. So the puritans refused to relinquish authority for the shaping of their faith. Do any pope or bishop or ecclesiastical council. They insisted that the people. Each local community. Would decide by means of reason. And scripture. Ultimate truth and goodness for themselves what it meant to be a true christian. Was a local. No. Even though all the original puritans are long gone except on thanksgiving when we wear those silly hats. This is exactly how we still do religion. And strive to arrive together and individually at what is through and golden loving here at the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach it's a puritan bottle. We are a puritan style independent. Holy self-govern congregation of local unitarian universalist. Who promised one another. In an ongoing covenant to grapple with what we must believe. And together live out our religion as fully and faithfully and responsibly as we can. And so while we do occasionally look to you your way headquarters it's it's in boston. For guidance and direction. It is we. The people in this room if you're a member of the congregation. Who are ultimately responsible for how we serve one another how we serve our community. And how we live the high ideals of our faith. That. Pure puritan. Alright so we govern and shape our religion just like the puritans did and the second aspect of puritanism. That informs and and enliven our faith is this. The puritans emphasized the moral importance of the common good. The welfare of the whole community over private wealth over private privilege and. Better. Capitalism. Tea party eat your hearts out. That's out of the text i was just an ad lib. The puritans emphasized the moral importance of the common good. When the great fleet. Caring my read ancestors arrived in salem harbor on june 12th. 1630 before they went ashore. To begin building their new communities are the 11 little ships of the fleet were lashed together. And john winthrop who later became the first governor of the commonwealth. Of massachusetts 01 durward the commonwealth. Of massachusetts. Get it. Because that is what the puritans helped to create. Place of commonwealth. Before they landed winthrop. Stood of the foredeck of his. The flagship the arbella. And delivered a sermon which has become famous in american cultural life called a model of christian charity. That sermon which is often quoted by american politicians and miss quoted by american politicians as reagan did in his farewell address at the end of his presidency. He missed the point 160° but nevermind. It's a famous sermon. Winthrop stirring vision. Was for a shining city. Set up upon the hill. Which is a biblical reference actually from the book of matthew. Where everyone would be knitted together in a community of compassion and concern for one another. The city upon the hill that they were going to create and salem and elsewhere. Would be a close and caring community where every citizen's basic welfare. Would be the concern of the whole community. Here are winthrop actual words. As he dreamt of the new jerusalem the new city of god and goodness they would build together on the shores of massachusetts let's see that slide i'm going to read it to you. We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us to provide for our prosperity we must follow the council of micah. To do justly. To love mercy to walk. Humbly with our god for this. And we must be knit together as one we must entertain each other in brotherly affection we must be willing to abridge ourselves. Of our superfluities for the supply of others necessities. We must delight. In each other winthrop street. Make others conditions our own. Rejoice together. Mourn together labor and suffer together. Always having before our eyes our commission. And community. As members of the same body then. God will delight. 212. Among us now this is a powerful communitarian. Statement. That was the first american vision. Of community. The original puritan dream. For the ideal community. Was a community that would be infused. And informed by charity. And compassion. And caring and connection. I'm going to talk more about the struggling american life today between individualism and communitarianism in just a few weeks. Those early puritan settlers rugged individualist as they were in many ways. Did in fact the historical record shows share their meager resources of food and medicine and housing and other basic. With one another in those first difficult years when they were getting established. In cold and rugged new england which is absolutely miserable and cold today as they get another 18 in. Snow. They did that sharing so that no one would necessarily necessarily suffer. And the one piece of this compassionate vision. It is important to note. Was the need the puritans felt to quote restrain capitalism. To ensure for the common good. One historian describes puritanism emphasis on community over capitalism this way. The puritan ideal called for the subordination. Of individual advantage. To the common good. Puritan laws put restrictions on the amount profit traders. We're allowed to realize in their sales transaction. And beyond civil penalties for profiteering. Churches impose their own. Discipline on merchants. Deemed to charge too much for their wares. Number of early american businessman. Br. Historian note. Finding they could not operate under the puritan regime. Return. So. One way of thinking about the early puritans. Is that they were americans america's original advocate. For compassionate community. Restrained capitalism and social justice. For all. Dow today. A twenty-first-century you use. We continue to be inspired i think and animated by this moral emphasis. On the common good we live. The time of anomic individualism. Individualism has the upper hand. You're we continue to be inspired by a larger and more compassionate vision. Here in vero beach all of our social justice in community. Outreach project. And we do a lot of those. Reflect. This puritanical ideal. We would like nothing better than through our efforts with others. Here in this town to build a shining city set upon a hill even though there's no he'll highest elevations about 4 ft for god's sake. But. If it's better 40k shining city set up on the hill right here in the sand flats. And everywhere else in america i pray it. This is what winthrop and my puritan relative. Ramped-up. They showed us the way. The real community. Unreal source. Justice alright third point. The puritans at least are armenian and unitarian. Branches of puritanism. Adopted positive doctrine. Of the nature of humanity. And the possibility through the use of our god-given reason and conscience. I'm continuing moral. Spiritual and intellectual growth. For each individual's and for. Each individual and for the congregation. As a whole. The hangin with me is this part of our history. History of puritanism. Gets a bit complicated. A great split occurred between the armenians and the unit the unitarians. And the calvinist. It gets complicated. In the late 1700s a clear split in puritan theology developed. Between the predestination. Original sin. Judgmental calvinist those are the guys who were really no fun. And the free will. Salvation by character armenian. Who are largely hopeful humanity affirming unitarian. So you had the calvinists and the unitarians and the armenians. Where is the calvinist thought that each individual salvation or damnation. Was predetermined. Spite all-powerful and angry angry god and therefore they asserted. But there was nothing an individual could do about his his or her ultimate destiny. The armenian unitarians taught the importance of free will. And believe that human destiny. The cosmically speaking even was not predetermined. And it by choosing to live an upright life of compassion and good works. The bible light again of your own reason and your god-given conscience. A person could achieve not only refined character. But salvation. So where is the calvinist darkly insisted that only a sliver of humanity. Woodbine salvation by a whimsical god who said we'll all save a few but most of you are. The hell with you. Where is the armenians in the unitarians positively insisted. But every human being every child of god who naturally possess. The qualities of god. Was free and capable of achieving salvation. By working and striving for personal. Improvement and elevation in goodness. Some of you have heard the old expression the protestant work ethic. That's strong ethic of work and discipline that many believed accounts. For america's and northern europe's economic success in the world well. Armenian unitarian branch of puritas puritanism. That only applied this ethic of diligence and purpose to work life. It also applied to one. Religious and moral and ethical life. To be a good and true and faithful puritan. In the unitarian center. Man that you constantly worked. As one of god's children. Again by means of your reason. And your conscience and your free will in the fact that you can do good works. You work. As a puritan unitarian. To improve your standing in the world as a person. In short over your lifetime to be a never better person in the eyes of god. They believe that was possible. Should be the. The life workable. So why the 19th century. As puritanism began to fade away as a distinct movement. Both the unitarians and the universalist. Thoroughly imbued with this puritanical spirit. Of moral and intellectual and spiritual self-improvement. They constantly our forebears talked about the duty of evermore living a truly christian life. And thereby achieving what they called salvation by character. I believe it was nineteenth-century unitarian great william ellery channing who did the. Responsive reading once famously said. Be careful how you live. It is the only sermon. You will ever preach. Let me see all this just a little differently. What the early unitarians in the early universalist were teaching. In seeking to achieve in the religious life. Was pure puritanism. Puritanism. The early unitarian and that means early unitarianism and universe. All believe. There should be a clear and noble congruence. Between what you believe. And how. You live. Puritanism. They all believed that and this idea. About truly living your religion out in your daily life. Ties us to another important movement within protestantism that being. Pietism. Pietism. Which has its roots in german lutheranism in the 17th century like puritanism. Had an amazing and powerful impact on christianity as a whole. The pietists who like the puritans were fed up. By the arcane and in french. Garbage of the has a procedure the roman catholic and lutheran churches in germany. They emphasized that each individual christian was responsible. To live quote a vigorous christian life. Of devotion and compassion to the true teachings of jesus found in the bible so one way of thinking about the german pietist. Is there where the first. Christians to use that popular phrase wwjd what would jesus do. What the pietist word effect saying is. If you call yourself a christian. You should live like one in your daily rounds. You should live a life and have a soul that reflects the pure compassion and goodness. The forgiveness and the mercy and love. The jesus of nazareth. Taught. And died for. This is the message. And the approach. To the religious life. But the early tate italy unitarian and universalist both took to heart. Even as they began as we moved in the 20th century. To move spiritually away from the confines of christianity as we began to be influenced by humanism. And by the religions of the east. Unitarian universalist fruitvale to christian stories important but that's only one piece of the spiritual. And the message. The message that grew up in our in our movement is is removing the 20th. 20/20 in. What good is it to have a religion. What good is it to call yourself a religious person. If you don't actively and passionately live out that faith. In your day-to-day living. And so our liberal tradition from its very beginning. In america was a faith tradition that insisted on piety. We are pietist. We insist. That your life reflect. Your values. And that. True for us as individuals and is also true for the congregation. So. By the 20th century as the unitarians and the universalist merge together into unitarian. H became a modern faith tradition. Hermleigh, committed to the idea that our religious beliefs and values. Must be reflected. In the content of our lives. One of our movements favorite statements began simply was this. Don't tell me what to believe. Show me how you live. And. Our minister hearing reserve the minister of our church in st. paul minnesota in the 60s. Famously articulated the sermon title that everybody's in the movement stole. He put up on the church marquee one sunday. If being a unitarian universalist were against the law. Would there be enough evidence. Chicken victory. What a great sermon title. What he was saying of course. Is it if you're truly a unitarian universalist. Truly committed for example to the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Or justice equity and compassion for all which are. Our principal say or a better world filled with more peace and decency. But that fact should be evident to everyone around you. As you live your life and serve life. So. Whenever i teach the essence of unitarian-universalism at the saturday workshops. That we offer for new and potential members. I don't scare them off by saying we're neo-puritan. But you now know that. But what i do say. Is it. Being a unitarian universalist is a lifestyle religion. And everyday practical ethical religion. The demands that each of us in the current gation is a hole. Live out our beliefs and principles and daily base. The question we must ask is not exactly so much what would jesus do. So that could be an important question. What should i. As a unitarian. Universalist. Again. In this church in this space you need ever-growing congruence. Between what you say you believe. And how you live your life. In our tradition. It matters more how you live. Then what you say. No. Some of you may think all this sounds just great and makes you proud to be a unitarian universalist. But i must remind you that this liberal commitment of ours to strive constantly. To ensure that our lives. Reflect our beliefs. Can be very demanding and heroin work. Some outsiders when they look at our seven principles. And see how much freedom we give each individual in this tradition. To determine what is true and right for them. They mistakenly conclude that being a you you is very easy say compared us being a roman catholic we have to do this at the believe that. But the truth is. That because. We like the puritans and the pietists. Expect each individual to constantly work on themselves. And grow a soul in a principled and congruent way toward a better and more loving and compassionate self. This serious religion of ours. Can be incredibly challenging and demanding. If you think unitarian-universalism is all fun and games on your own terms. You're in the wrong place. Alright. It's time for me to put a wrap on the sermon about our puritan roots. As an american in the 21st century unitarian universalist. I'm grateful. To my puritan ancestors for several things. First i'm grateful that my puritan relatives came across the ocean and survived that i really do appreciate their genetics. Secondly. As a unitarian universalist i thank them for passing down these three fundamental strengths of our liberal tradition. Insisting on congregational polity. Committing. To the common good. And challenging me and all of you to grow a bigger soul. Has become. A better. Person. May we never lose sight. Of these noble legacies we have received. From our puritan forebears. Even us together. In these early years of the 21st century. We find ever new and creative ways to make our world. A kinder. And better. And more loving. Habitation. For every last.

uufvb_org

2011Jun12Sermon32.mp3

First of all let me say this. On this my first occasion at this podium as a. Sermon provider. Cuz how excited and pleased i am. Both to have this opportunity how honored i am that. That you'd be willing to come here and give me your time to hear my music. Thought. I recognized as i stand here before you that i'm up. Succeeding a line of people that are part of our fellowship. People who have grown from distinguished names like. Dottie and pete. Needle art. Bonnie and. And and many others that have share this podium and it's grape. With great pride that i'm here too. I want you to know that i'm very excited. Have so much farting moment myself. An opportunity for me to talk with you about some of the things that have. Frankly have been. Major. I'm just one second here. It's my mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. Hello mom. Mom yes. Yes mom it's. It's me it's earl. I know i should have called. I'm sorry. Can you find. Mom not now. I need you to forgive me mom. Mom no. It's not about jesus forgive me it's about you for giving me okay. Mom. I will talk about this later right now i'm supposed to be giving a presentation to unitarian universalist fellowship. Yeah yeah. You've been there that's right you've been there you. That's right yes that's the emerson center right you know exactly what i'm talking about. Yeah it's. Well. Mom. All is not here today. Marian is chichi's in the choir loft. Mom. It's not i could spike. Okay. Mom look. I've got mom. Well. Okay my my topic is self-forgiveness i'm going to be. Discussing some of the process that i go through. Well. No mom it's not all about jesus. I never. Mom i never understood that i met. It never really made sense me that. That somebody can go out there and dying my sins would all be i mean i didn't connect death and send somebody else's death and mass and. It just seemed to be a lot of mumbo-jumbo to me. How do i. Oh mom. What the church did make it fairly simple. I told me but i was a miserable offender. They told me i was a shape. They told me that. What was that line. We're not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under that table. Mommy remember princess. Yeah princess the cocker spaniel. I rest my case it just didn't make sense. Yeah it's kind of like they held out this character they said if i would give up my self-esteem and let them control it and then make sure i got forgiven. Well that was a pretty tough message for kid to get implanted in him. You're right. They do have a pretty good gig. And it's right. I can guarantee they do a lot better than real estate agents that's for sure. Mom look i got to go now i'm supposed to be giving a sermon here. No mom i have not seen anthony weiner's tweet. No mom i would not send it to you if i did. Yes mom you're forgiven for asking. Well. No your you got a good point i mean i'll probably look pretty. Pretty together i think most people probably think i don't have any problems with. Self-forgiveness i mean. Today i'm wearing a blue suit that's a. Synapse. Red tie from some book about dress for. Assassins. Probably put forward pretty good image. I don't know it is a problem for me. Yeah they. They do it's called the myers-briggs. Yeah. Oh i don't know mom is ian tj ntfc. Ian something-or-other i did it all has to do with being an extrovert. Well. No. Do have my issues i do have to despite. Demeanor. And there's a. And i need to talk with you about that mom it's. I've always tried not to feel like a miserable offender in fact. I don't want to feel like she feels either. But we're all told to be she just bust my friends i look at my generation. I mean yeah we were trained to be sheep. Your generation 2. Yang grandma and grandpa. You know i guess the sheep business has been going on for a long. of time. It is pretty easy to be a sheet when you're. When your sheet they have pretty low expectations for. That's right you got to shepherd. Shepherd can lead you around if you go astray the shepherd. Brings you back in. Just kind of get you back in with the group. It's it's never really your fault when you have a shepherd in charge. You just bleed out i'm sorry i'm sorry. Bring you back in. Yeah it is it's it's should mention that. I need to explain this mom to the people here. It was that evangelist that i work with back in the ad agency days. We traveled all over the country and we did a lot of things with the advantage listing. A big entourage went with us. Yeah there was a lot of. Saving of souls that went on in the process of it. And on every everybody their fancy themselves as being good strong christian. And then. We would. Have a service there.. Many many people often times hundreds of a comedown front with all leave. And we go somewhere and we start partying down. And all the things we've been preaching against were all the things we were doing. And at the end of the day. The end of this loosey-goosey life. We just send up a little prayer that said yeah we need to be forgiven and. Bingo bango it was all taken care of. And then the next night it was bingo bango again. And just. Wellness. It was not a real proud moment in my life but i'm after all it was a 1970s. Lot of things went on during that. Convenience getting forgiveness was just. Well it was way too easy. We could we could. Yeah. A prayer. My forgiveness and that was about it. No. I was never real happy as a sheep. I think i was always too headstrong maybe maybe an eagle perhaps i may be too bold and roll. Prince auto refer to myself as a buzzard. It's true. Whatever it was the traditional church. Didn't seem to be able to help me. I need to find my own way for myself. I couldn't dump it on the shoulders of some guy who got. Kel-tec 2000 years ago. You know absolutely jesus would probably be pretty awesome. Upset. Wake up now and find out that after all these years. He's been taking the rap for all of our transgressions. Okay mom you made your point. Maybe it is all about jesus. Look mom i got to go i've got to get on with the program here okay. Mom you want me to put you on speaker phone we could do that. Yes. Yes mom there probably. 100 people here. Mom i hear what you're saying you know you're using those f-words again. That's right forgive and forget. Sure i'm going to talk with him about forgiving and forgetting. Well. I do think people find it far easier. To forgive and forget. The faults of another's. As for ourselves. We often seem to have trouble forgiving. And forgetting is tough to. Yeah we do we we we cleaned our transgressions and we cling to the grievances we have against others. Afraid that if we if we forget. We won't we won't retain the lessons. We needed to learn from it. With that kind of attitude will it really does become hard to move on. I've been reading up on it. Come to believe that. If we all worked on her self-esteem. It would all feel more process more comfortable. With the process of self-administering self-forgiveness. It isn't it. It's truly hard it's hard. To get rid of those self-critical. Attitudes yet. Yeah we need to do it. I mean after all we live with ourselves 24/7. Good point. I mean if we can't have good relations with ourselves. What foundation do we have. I have good relations with anybody else. It's it's. Anything we do in life. Come from having a good self relationship. Yeah. I'll tell him that. My mom said that we need to start treating ourselves. With the same compassion that we used in treating others. Don't you got a. Got a bit of a point there. Talking today with a group hear about some of the church words that we use. Rattle around in my brain here all these years lady has some pretty good words that you shared. Over the years. I believe you're the one that told me that. You can go to pity city. There's no point in staying there. No mom i don't think i was in need of the new testament or the old testament. How about. No matter how far you've gone down the wrong road. Turn back. Yeah. Also i think you said. Well that's why they put erasers on pencils. Dial mom yeah you're always a fanta. Wisdom and insight. I just. Time from time to time. I just need to take some time. Imagine how it would feel to just forgive myself. For the things i've done the things i've said. Often times the things i don't know that i've done and i'm set i've said. But you learn to be able to accept myself. Just the way i am. Yeah i do have a process. Well not my princess is kind of like this month. It started back in high school and miss peacock told me how to organize a term paper. I getting a bunch of index cards and putting things on them. And sorting them around i'll do the same things with the things i can think about that i need. Forgiven. Sorted this way i'll sort that way i sent back porch. Maybe glass of wine. Yeah okay. And willa end and go through them one by one by one. Sort them around look at the mall. Think about them for a while. And then i get up and throw them all in the garbage can. It's kind of my symbolic way of saying you know. I need to dispel these things for my life and i need to move on. Now that's it. It's not always an easy process in fact i find it. Sometimes i have to do it every few weeks sometimes every few months. I just need to stay in touch and know how often i need to do it that's okay. Long is once in a while i focus on releasing the guilt and shame. It has gotten in my way in the past. That's my processor you're right i don't think it would work for everybody i don't propose it everybody. Do it the way i do it. But if i don't do it i know where i end up. You're right. I'm a miserable offender. I've often found that sometimes to replace some of these words that tainted me. That i liked harking back to the words that you've given me the other. The thoughts the messages that come across my path along the way. I like to find ways of saying positive things make affirmations that i purposely injected my life. Then help me remind myself of my worth my dignity is a human being. And. Let's travel something here okay. How about i give you a second. And you give me. A better way of saying i'm more positive way of saying. He helped me with that come on. Come on mom. Here try this. I am my own worst enemy. What would you do what would you how would you turn that around. Come up with something that was more positive. Maybe. Hey nobody does a better job of taking care of me than i do. Come on mom you can do it now this time to give you another one here okay. Manga people waiting come on. Alright. A statement i have to be perfect. That's good. She said nobody's perfect but i'm pretty damn good. No mommy said darn good that's right okay. How about another one. I cannot believe i'm that stupid. Mom. Mom. Okay mom. I cannot believe i'm that stupid you are. Mom. Her response is i cannot believe you're that stupid. Mommy that much better the first time. What happened there. Hi mom. Yes you'll do better the next time that's for sure and you know that's the spirit that's what we're getting to. Your mommy always tried to teach us boise important it is to live in the present. Anticipating the future. Aren't you the one who used to say to us. I'm not going to waste now. Thinking about. Then. I knew it had to be you mom dad never for that brilliant. Let me let me take me to mom. Just share with you something i wrote. That i want to share with my friends my fellow you yours. It goes. We need to move. Beyond self-condemnation. We must rewrite our life stories. Only this time. We'll leave out the guilt and shame. We can cast our lives in the most favorable light. A flattering light that focuses on our beauty. We move away from judging our flaws. And start loving our feelings. Feelings are neither good nor bad. They're just hours. We can give ourselves permission to be human. Eyeglass will never again be half-empty. At the very least. It will be half full. And we will commit ourselves to making it overflow,. We will not ponder whether our new life story is built on fact or fantasy. That's not important. Instead we will realize that our old story was never productive. And the new story is needed if we are to achieve the self-esteem. We so rich. Deserve. There's more mom. It was our new stories firmly in place. Servings the foundations of our new selves. We will give ourselves the gift. Then only we can give. The gift self-forgiveness. What do you think mom. Do you like that. I just told him that. Yep mom i will i promise you all. I'll call you later okay. How's brother larry doing. Going to duke this week for the second opinion. Will goodwill it will be praying for him. Tell him i love him mom and. Mom i love you too. Thanks thanks for being my. How did you my friends. Thanks for indulging me while i talk with my mother. I think you'll agree she's incredibly insightful woman. Inow. Where do we begin. Lay down the challenge that we all start working on determining. Our process. To rewrite our story. To learn to live our lives. The fullest. Once we cultivate our self-esteem. We will build our capacity for self-forgiveness. And along the way. We might just learn to soar. With the eagles.

uufvb_org

2012Oct07Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship morning. My name is judy perry. And i'm a member here and we are so glad. Please know that you are welcome. No matter how you come to us this morning. Weather. Black or white or some wonderful sight of humanity. Whether you are. Top of the world. Or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you. You are welcome here just as you come to us in all your particularity and charm. Welcome. We hope you will find this service. Meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit and feed your soul. And gives you renewed enjoy for the coming week. Good morning to you all. My name is pete kersey. Remember the board. Chairman of the worship committee. Had a stand-in for neil standard. The music you just heard dona nobis patchen translate to grant us peace. Something that our late friend neil stannard. Wish for fervently. Today's service worship. Is bass. Piranha sermon. The neil road. Earlier this year. The first of all. As most of you know. Neil had a flair for colorful clothes. This coat that i wear. Today was one of meals for special occasions. The occasion pictured here was a radio station party where he wore it that's where he work. Today. I wear this in his honor. And after today. It's going to be donated. To the wardrobe of the theater guild. For there. Neil sherman had been delivered to three other uu congregations around the florida and neil was to have delivered it to us today. But. Fate intervened. Neil died of a heart attack at the age of 55. However. His memorial service was this past september 8th the radio station he work for i want to tell you that. Has set up a scholarship program in his name to benefit. High school seniors wishing to further their studies and acting. Two things that neil was interested in. The station so far has raised $1,600. And if you would like to contribute to help further that memory the website address. Is remember neal. org. What remains now to honor his memory neil's words and thoughts. And some of his favorite things. So we percent words from neil. And from two of the people he quoted a lot. Mahatma gandhi. And why her ray bradbury. First from mahatma gandhi. In line with the sermon which talks about our form of government and elections quote. What difference does it make. To the dead. The orphans and the homeless. What did the mad destruction is rock under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy. It may be long before the law of love international the machineries of the hearts of one people. From those. Of another. Unquote gandhi. He also said. As soon as we lose the moral basis. We cease to be religious. There is no such thing as. Man princeton's cannot be untruthful cruel or incontinent and. Claimed to have god on his side. Andy said. The only tyrant i accept in this world. Is the still small voice. Within. Unitarian author ray bradbury's book. The martian chronicles. Was made into a film. New features. Last. In his book now and then the movies got it right. Deal ended his book with these words. Ipsy ideas. Propounded by r12 selected film could be synthesized. And one philosophy of living. It would be the statement made across the centuries by the martian. To astronaut commander colonel wilder. Pronouncements of man. And men's religions. Have failed to do. It doesn't bother me with the concept of us. And them. The martian says. There is no secret. Anyone with eyes can see the way to live by watching life. Observing nature and cooperating with it. Making common cause with a process of existence. By living life. For itself. Deriving pleasure from the gift of pure. Life is its own answer. Accepted. And enjoy your day by day. Live as well as possible expect no more destroying nothing nothing nothing. Leave unsullied and untouched. Hold it is beautiful. Hold that which lives in all reverence. 4life. Is given by the sovereign of our universe. Given to be savored. To be luxuriated in. To be respected. Neil continues. Survival is not enough. The question must be asked. Survival as what. Life of continuous endless cycle offense followed by revenge revenge until someone somewhere stands up in fresno. This wrong i will not avenge. Back to the statement from the martian chronicles. Quoted above. Life is to be lived for its own sake. Hurting and humbling no one and nothing. After saying this to colonel wilder. The martian then goes on to say. You're intelligent. You know as well as i what has to be done. Are we. Do we. Will be. If god. Had meant for us to vote. He would have given us. Candidates. That's what mule road. That's the title of his sermon. And i'm going to read that sermon to you. And he said. The title by the way is not in original. And continuing our program of borrowing from popular entertainment. Here is a marlon brando scene. Not from the godfather. Streetcar named desire. But from an early 70s picture called. Look formula. Randall plays an oil magnate who conspired to keep the formula for synthetic oil secret. From the world. Idea was not all that far-fetched by the way who wrote the book. And the film was exploiting that fact that nazi germany. In 1944 and 45. In his story. Marlon brando's character wasn't. For the capitalists aren't necessarily evil. Is wide open to debate. But this character. Most definitely is evil. And this scene he's trying to justify himself to a los angeles police lieutenant. And he said. The first obligation of power. Italy. Human beings my friend. Very complex paradox very very dangerous. I don't want to be l a h. I mean. But can't wait to find some nuts. Tell them what to do. And they all want to be brought under control. Do they. Want to be brought under control. Do we. Proponents of the so-called american dream tells us that there's a part of each of us buried down there. To call the shots for our own lives. Maybe so. But there's also. That would love to find some nut. Problems. Go away. Who make it all better. I mean isn't that the basic motivation behind great many religions. The savior or the prophet or the creator himself will step in. And make it all better. Yes. Well. There's a whole different sermon getting started. Yeah we won't go there today. Let me digress from neil's sermon. Since he was talking about a whole different sermon. His collective sermons were being put together possibly for a new book he would contemplate. He wrote one now and then the movie which received high compliments from several luminaries. Back to the sermon now. Neil road. Today we're talking about politics and there's one thing i can tell you about the current president. Neither of them are going to make it all better. Here's something else. As the world as we know it will not shatter into a million pieces if the one you do not prefer is not. Wii u used. Mini things. But there are many qualities. And one of the most vital is skepticism. We do not accept anything that is told to us at face-value whether it's spoken by a priest the professor or least of all. Buy a politician. And so we resist the labels placed upon us by experiment. There are the flag wavers who insisted any criticism whatsoever of our country. And there are the bleeding hearts. Who say that. Anyone who dares to question our current president is by definition. Both of these are nonsense. Any religion. Is a crime. A police the crime of laziness that the worst. A crime of. Willful. Ignorance. Ruu pulpitis no place for anyone to stand and tell you who to vote for but i can outline just a few of the issues. Our current president before obama. Falls on the side of certain issues that most of us. Publicly. How he got there deliberately or accidentally. Concerns me not. He's there. Because he embraces the idea that people who behave or believe differently than you or i do. Have the very same rights. Did you or i do. Economically. Well. I'm anything but qualified to discuss that. Except to say. Regardless of how much or how little of the present economic quagmire was inherited from the previous administration mr. obama's cures have been somewhat less than overwhelmingly effectively effective. Would mr romney's ideas work any better. Maybe. Maybe not. Question not appear in our constitution. Capitalism. And socialism. That does not make either of them synonymous with evil either. Although a lot of people would like you to believe one of the other is absolutely obscene. My two cents. I'm a capitalist socialist. Meaning i do not consider mutually exclusive. I don't think. Is my teacher. maclee. Eyesight has my hero in this regard. I honestly believe that in his slightly over three terms in office. Of course he didn't dare call it that. Because as we noted earlier there are people trained to go into virtual. At the mention of one of those words. And i think if dro far wiser man than i share the belief that's neither capitalism or socialism works by itself. Capitalism makes more money. Four more people. Did any other economic system. There's no safety net to catch those who are not caught up. And that's why people were literally dying in the streets when roosevelt took office. Capitalism by itself. Was feeling. As for socialism. It aims at providing that knit. But all too often. Socialism rather than. Nearly succeeded in spreading the misery around equally. The personally. I think the combination of the two capital socialism. Results in the system of checks and balances. Something our founding fathers would hardly approve of. I know alan greenspan or john maynard keynes. My theories on economics are necessarily over simplified. But you know what. So are most of the ideas on conservatism and liberalism that are being argued in their current campaign. And frankly i don't know many people who are either text or textbook liberals. They both have ideas. Unconstructive. And ideas that are negative and destructive. One writer who really put it into perspective was ian rand. Some of you may have heard a presentation on this ran that neil did in which. I try to separate her valuable and inspirational ideas from her more arbitrary not to say groundless opinion. One time when she really got it right. Was in her comparison of conservative and liberal values. At her very best. Which is not always how she thought her wrote. At her very best. She could be clinically objective about a subject. Escorted by barbara brandon in her book the passion. Kabayan brand. She is clinically objective about this subject. Listen carefully to these rose words. Both. Conservatives and liberals. Hold the same premise. The mind-body dichotomy. What shoes opposite sides of this lethal fallacy. The conservatives want freedom to act in the material world they tend to oppose government control of. Production industry trade business physical goods. Of material wealth. But the advocate. Government control of man's spirit. I eat man's consciousness. The liberals. Want freedom to act in the spiritual realm they opposed censorship they oppose government control of the arts of the press of education. But they advocate. Government control of material production. Business employment. Wages profits physical property. They advocated all the way down to total expropriation. Beach camp wants to control the round it regards as metaphysically important. Each grinch freedom only to the activities it despises. So sad and i'm ran. In the book. The passion of iran. So. If we accept. Miss trans premise. I can't go along with the conservative desire to tell us what to do in our private lives. What we can do and we can do it with. What constitutes morality in what does not. Nor can i go along with a liberal program. For me. The pox on both their houses. I crave freedom to follow whatever drummer who has beat resounds in my head. In my personal life and my business life. Regulate me not either. Beyond the regulations that enforce one central idea. My freedom ends. Where yours begins. And vice versa. I stated earlier. That is not my place here to tell you who to vote for. I'll go a step further. I wouldn't if i could. Both of the nominees. Both of them worried the dickens out of me. From the romney i'm hearing way too much super patriotism. Not good. Kelsey. I love my country and what it stands for patriotism but. America is the greatest nation that ever existed and if you don't believe it will prove it to you with guns and bombs that kind of super patriotism. It frightens me. Sinister idea of the other side and bigger government is the answer to the concept of nanny state. That whole idea. Strikes me as cowardly. Lazy. Total cop-out. Some liberals. Are obsessed. With the idea of equal opportunity. That's wonderful. Would like any other idea. Extreme not everyone is going to make the same amount of money or live in the same kind of house or have the same number of cars equal opportunity. People who start at the same point will not necessarily wind-up. At the same point. And that's not a statement of race or class prejudice. Individuals bring different gifts and different ambitions to life. And those different gibson different ambitions will bring different results. Nothing wrong with that. Those who work in sale should not necessarily be rewarded. Neither should they be abandoned. Of conservatism and liberalism. If you ever ever. Find a candidate or an organization that combines. But good luck in finding. Which brings me to my last point. Should one vote. Does it make a difference. Of course your local elections you can actually see that happen. But nationally. Did you. Have anything personally to do with choosing mr. obama or mr. romney. Neither did i. Is the whole process. Written. Wow. If i dive into that conspiracy theory will be here all day. In terms of that particular conundrum i'll go with the oversimplify but nonetheless. How many people died. For my privilege. And it is a pretty. Not a right. So i shall vote. No matter my doubts. But let me close out this morning. What i think is a truly revolutionary idea. It's mine. Utterly impractical. It may be impossible utopian. But give it a listen. Why not. Imagine the world is divided up into nations that voluntarily answered. I grant you. Because most nations and most people's are immovably wedded to the concept of national sovereignty. What's on our purposes this morning imagine it anyway. Imagine that the people of each municipality village town city what-have-you. Elect their own mayor or headband burgomeister whatever. The point is this person he or she is elected by the person who the people who know him or her. Then all the mayors of a certain state or province. Let's just use american terms for simplicity steak. All the mayor's get together. Again she is elected by people who know him personally. Governors of a given nation. And finally the heads of state get together and elect from among their ranks the planetary of state. The person who would be the world leader. Sort of like the present secretary general of the united nations except. At this position would have authority. Just as much authority as granted by the consent. Of the governed. For the space of one term. One term only. Length open to discussion. With a system of legislative and judicial checks and balances. Modeled on our american example since that's one of the very best features of our republic. What i've described is a pyramid form of government. The head of state let's call him. The grand poobah. Would not be elected directly by each and every citizen of the world but indirectly. Each of the leaders in each level would have been elected by those who know them personally. Now does this sound utopia. Generation around the entire world. Brave enough to set aside their security blankets. Religion. Race nationality. What isn't the worldwide electronic web. Is not today. Tomorrow. If not tomorrow. The next day. For the next year. For the next decade. It wouldn't be easy. What what worthwhile endeavor was ever easy. It may not be possible. Never know. Don't try. Here's one more movie quote for you. The character charlie anderson played by jimmy stewart. In the movie shenandoah. 1965. He said. If we don't try. We don't do. And if we don't do. Then why are we here. Amen. Anderson. Our final song this morning is called a parking glass it's an irish number the song by bill murphy. Daniel is far as we know had no irish in his blood but he sure had irish in his soul. He could be found at kelly's irish pub every friday night lifting is glass playing. Phil murphy is here now. It will let him tell you about the song. First of all. I think neil was the kind of guy. When it had to be done. He also was the kind of guy that did what he wanted to do. As long as it did not harm or hurt. Anybody else. In my mind i can hear. Words to the song. Here's to you niall. Should not. Has our finale this morning as you may recall neil always ended his presentations in a certain way. And now my video recorded in his last appearance here. Here is neil. With the standard closing. Accuse something service. And now our closing words these are the same closing words i use. Everytime i conduct the service. They were written in 1967 and i long for the day when they are no longer appropriate. That day is not a promise. They were written by bob considine who is a reporter newspaper man and a broadcast. Again these were written in 1967. At the height. How's the vietnam. As long as our men. Fight. Sweat. Fries. And i. An actual or cold wars. Sacrifices wintertime should make our food sticking our throats and our luxuries a torment. Let me never cheaply use the words. Porridge. Or. .. To describe the means by which a picture. Weems appalled. A gridman bucks a line. A golfer's thanks. Pot. Or. A fella. Make. This is where the worship ends this is where the service. Begin.

uufvb_org

2014Aug31Sermon128.mp3

Blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. How fortunate are those who become poor in spirit. For they shall experience. The radical blessing of infinity. Possibility. Blessed are those who mourn. For they shall be comforted. How fortunate are those who are able to mourn. For they shall be strengthened. And become comforters themselves. Blessed are the meek. For they shall inherit the earth. Fortunate are the gentle. For an honoring their connection to the earth. They receive the power of creation. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. For they shall be satisfied. Fortunate are those who hunger for what is right. And just. For they shall be filled. And complete. Blessed are the merciful. For they shall obtain mercy. How fortunate are the merciful for their hearts will be opened. Blessed are the pure in heart. For they shall see god. Blessed are the pure and open of heart. For they shall see divinity everywhere. Blessed are the peacemakers. For they shall be called children of god. Blessed are the peacemakers. For they shall restore harmony in the world. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Fortunate are those who are challenged in their devotion to justice. For they shall know. The beloved community. Good morning today's time for all ages is the good samaritan retold by marilyn mcfarland. One day a lawyer asked jesus. Master. What must i do to live for eternity. Jesus said. What is written in the law. The lawyer answered. You shall love the lord with your god with all your heart. And with all your soul. And with all your strength. And with all your mind. And your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said. You have answered right. Do this and you shall live. But master the lawyer said. Who is my neighbor. Jesus answered with this story. A man was walking on a lonely stretch of road between jerusalem and jericho. When a gang of thieves jumped out from the side of the road and demanded his money. The man resisted. He needed that money to buy goods for his family. One of the thieves scooped up a rock and hit the man on the head. Wounded the man grown and fell. The thieves glanced around. No one was in sight. Take everything one said. They stripped off his clothing stole his money and hit him again before they ran away leaving the man half dead. After a time. A priest came walking down the road. She saw the man lying on the dusty ground and he hurried on by. Soon another man a levite appeared. He too saw the wounded man lying in the hot sun naked and bleeding and he scurried away. A long time past. Flies buzzed over the man who would soon die of his injuries. But someone else was traveling that road. He was a samaritan riding his donkey. Now the people of samaria we're not friendly with the people of the wounded man's country. Famous trusted and even hated each other. This samaritan though did not hesitate when he saw the man on the road. She did not stop to think whether the man was a friend or not. He saw that this was someone who desperately needed help. And she felt compassion. Samaritan took healing oil and wine from his bag and clean the man's wounds and covered him with a robe. He gave him a drink of water and helps the man on to the donkey. Slowly they walked to the next town where the samaritan found an in and made the man comfortable. Before he left the next day he gave money to the innkeeper to pay for the room and to take care of the man until he had recovered. When jesus finish telling the story he asked. Which of these three men was the neighbor to the man who fell among thieves thieves. The lawyer who had asked who is my neighbor said. The one who showed mercy. Jesus said go and do the same. May we all endeavor to be good neighbors. Like authority often quoted one of the dozen-or-so scriptures versus he had committed to memory. In fact. Heathrow out of scripture that had knows nothing to do with the topic at hand. But what can i say. After all who was i to question the mind of god. And of course he went to church every sunday. And yes he was deacon. In fact. Past chairman of the board of deacons of decatur heights baptist church. This esteemed position entitled him to a front-row seat. And whenever i was visiting on a sunday morning. Along with my local cousin's we called them. The georgia cooter's. We would line up like a little duckies behind our grandpa and parade south along sycamore drive. Past five neighbor's house across the street. And inside the church for sunday school under worship service. Now the preacher decatur heights baptist. The reverend earl also another earl fuller. Talked a lot about hell. He told me about a vengeful god is he slammed his fist on the furniture and pointed his finger the bible he held tightly in the other hand. God. Vengeful. I wonder if god had a strong. That was granddad's name for the leather strappy hung in his bathroom. For the purpose of sharpening his razor. He threatened to use honest many hundreds of times. But i never saw him once raised it against the skin of a cooter. Overtime i came to know that my granddaddy. And maybe even god. Weren't all that frightening. In fact. I started to like both of them. And this jesus fellow they talked about. He was supposed to be god's son. A child of god. And they told me that i was a child of god. So getting that make jesus my brother. And if he was my brother. Maybe he was a cooter to. Jesus seem really cool off and wish he would come home with us for lunch. It'd be nice to talk to him and ask him some personal questions. Maybe he had a better idea for hiding string beans under the rim of my plate. Earl take kronos scripture verses seeing dark and scary he liked to quote stuff from the book of revelations. Not me. I found some verses that suited me better. God is love love one another doing the others be kind to those who persecute you. Turn the other cheek. I shared my versus with my granddad. He predicted that i'd make a fine baptist preacher someday. How the years past. And soon it was the summer of 1963. New hope baptist church in raleigh. Now my home church. Called an emergency business meeting wednesday night in lieu of the regular prayer meeting. It seems our congregation had received a letter from some folks at the black baptist church down the road. They wanted to know. If they showed up at our church one sunday morning. Interested in worshipping with us. Would they be welcome. Queen of the baptist church it also taught me to sing the lyrics were. Red and yellow black and white they are precious in his sight. I saw no reason for a meeting that day. The answer was obvious. But as i heard the debate began i soon learned differently. And that night. I did what jesus did. It's described in the shortest verse in the bible. It reads. Jesus wept. Skip ahead to college. And a newly discovered progressive episcopal parish. Where i learned that god wanted me to work on voter registration. Lots of committed church people got together to tackle this assignment and here's where i started meeting unitarian universalist. Wonderful people. Now skip even further ahead. De 1993. My life's journey has sold a business. And placed me on a sailboat. And then delivered me to vero beach. There was only one problem here though. My familiar liberal episcopal tradition. What's harder to find here. Still around the community i met some wonderful people. Books like joyce and when levy. We volunteered together for the theater gill. We also socialize frequently. One night they took me to dinner on their boat. Earl you belong with unitarian-universalist joyce told me. Clearly you're one of us. Finally it dawned on me. My brother jesus had been listening to joyce. It was about time i did so as well. So i became a uu cooter. And i haven't regretted it yet. Thank you. Wanted to share this reading. By joy jordan lake. Get us going this morning. Frankly i've never been wild about the story of jesus at the home of mary and martha. Not because i live in fear that jesus would say to me what he said to martha. I would not be accused of too much time in the kitchen when i could have been listening to jesus. Since my husband and i believe in egalitarianism marriage and he insist on eating foods beyond the realm of my own special ability special. Best realities. Pop-tarts cheez-its granola bars. He performs the culinary seats in our house. What worries me. Is it i'm not at all sure that jesus would commend me as he did marry either where i in mary's situation. Here's the thing. Jesus makes me nervous. God almighty is one thing but jesus makes me uncomfortable. Jesus would make everyone uncomfortable as far as i can tell. Imagine asking the guy home for lunch. Not only does he not lend a hand in setting the table or pouring the drinks. He's got your other would-be helpers spellbound at his feet imbibing the profundity of the ages while the pot roast withers and the salad wilt. How does one prepare for jesus's visit. Would you clean the house more thoroughly than usual. Or let's be honest would you clean the house for a change. Would excessive cleanliness suggest that you've been neglecting some spiritual advancement opportunities. Would you borrow fine china to show your deep and abiding respect for the messiah. Or use paper plates to symbolize an equally deep and abiding lack of interest in material goods. Would you impressed him more with a menu featuring maine lobster and edible version of pouring perfume on his feet. Apparently he always knew a good wine when he saw one. Or would you fare better slapping peanut butter and jelly on stop & shops cheapest bread. Carefully calculating the money you save and buying groceries for a homeless family feud befriended. Jesus might praise either choice. Or condemn either. You might say good and faithful servant or you whitewash sepulchre. Depending on nasty little intangibles like motivation and intent. It's that lack of ordinary predictability that makes me nervous. Other people have the grace to smile and politely mumble something big when you make a social faux pas but sends you stumbling into the mop closet so their private lives. Jesus on the other hand. Strides in quite intentionally. And before he has so much as said his backpack down asks another gift how her face husband or was he just a living. Is proceeding with a delinquent child support payments to his former wife. He'd welcome the uninvited entrance of neighborhood ravel. Who would insist on groveling at his feet and staining the carpet with dubious smelling foreign substances. The kind of guessed you'd like to leash to the barbecue grill and leave there for a while. Jesus called them as he saw them. Public opinion swayed him no more than the storm stirred winds and waves. A desirable trait for a little league umpire but a regrettable lack of cat for a dinner guest. I think i'd serve peanut butter on fine china. And french wine in paper cups. If i could screw up the courage i tell him the truth. But he makes me nervous. And i'm not sure what he expects from me. Then it might occur to me to apologize for not inviting everyone to dinner who might have wanted to come. Then the few of us would sit down on the floor i think. The dogwood depositor 87l beside him no doubt and anoint his feet with her fond drool. Maybe he'd smile. And while he scratched her behind the ears and pulled off a tick or two he teach us once more. What god's love is like. I'd listen. And wish i knew whether to wipe is now slimy feet with my hair or just say something theologically astute and intellectually dazzling. He couldn't point to the nearest child and suggest i learn about god from her. Maybe then. I just sit and listen. Eat peanut butter off fine china and drink french wine from a paper cup. And take what comfort i could in the fact. It's somewhere. Tangledeep within my discomfort. Was a heart willing. To be mad nervous. By jesus. Well this morning it's fair to say that i am a little over my head. Out of a religious tradition that i have studied for years. That exists in the heart of the founding of this country. And its influence our culture as much as anything else you could name. But it's been part of my life since birth. Out of this tradition. I'm trying this morning to lift up. The three or four of the most significant gifts that is offered me. And i don't know if it's really possible. To do that. And unlike the other. Religions in this series i am also aware. But for many unitarian universalist. They have been wounded. By the christianity. Up there burst. And so it's a little different. Talk about christianity in this. And this in a uu congregation then in then other world religions. Throughout most of our unitarian universalist history we have understood ourselves as christian. The single sermon that most defined our religious movement. Was once preached in 1819 by william ellery channing. It was called unitarian christianity. The sermon by the way goes on 442 single-spaced. Pages. That's how they did in those days. Channing argued for the use of reason in interpreting scripture. And understood the bible. To contain truise relating to the unity of god rather than a trinity. The unity of jesus. The universalist notion of the goodness and mercy of god. And the nature of holiness as love to god. Jesus. And benevolence toward others. During the 1930s and 40s things changed rather dramatically with the rise of the humanist movement. Which found a solid and supportive home. In our denomination. Overtime. Humanists agnostics or atheists grew in number in our congregations and became more numerous than liberal christians. But then the 1980s came and the pendulum began to swing the other way. More and more people began coming to our church looking for a spirituality that often has something to do with. Reclaiming or rediscovering meaning in christian imagery and symbols. And language. Summer. Quite surprised to discover. But unitarian-universalist have offered a liberal version of christianity. For centuries. We just can't ignore this man. In the skinner house book christian voices in unitarian universalism. Peter huff in his essay talks about jesus's and i quote. On canning ability. To awaken in others across a staggering array of centuries and cultures the transcendent desire for authentic. Human existence. Humanist. Atheist. Whatever our path. His teachings are profound. As religious liberals we have understood christianity not as a religion about jesus but as the religion of jesus a religion based on his teachings. His resistance to injustice. And his compassion for all but particularly those. Who are oppressed. As religious liberals. We tend to agree with gk chesterton when he remarked that christianity is probably a good thing that's just never seriously been tried. As religious liberals we lift up a christianity that calls us to create a more just and loving world. And deliberate rather than confine or diminish the human spirit. The jesus that we know. Would have had no part in condemning anyone else's religion. Or denying loving glbt persons the right to marry or to adopt children. He would have had no part in denying services to children of undocumented immigrants. Censoring books that acknowledged sexuality is part of being human. No part in supporting children having access to guns. Koozies really. What child needs to learn how to shoot an uzi. No part in the senselessness of developing nuclear weapons that can kill hundreds of thousands of people. No part in a justice system symbolized by a woman holding two scales while blindfolded. Take off the blindfold and look at the inequities he would have said. The jesus we know. Understood loving god as loving your neighbor. As creating right relation and justice among human being. As bringing the divine realm into the human. By the force and debs. Of our love. So how can i possibly. Choose the greatest gifts of this. Tradition. To my life. It has breathed through my life. But here goes. I'll start with the stories the parables. Bearers of such profound truth. These teaching stories have offered and continued. To offer insight and challenge to my life. Nearly all religious traditions have stories. But the parables of jesus stand as unique forms of wisdom teaching. And for me. There are the stories that i am most familiar with. And i've heard over and over again. They're the ones i know by heart. So they come to mind easily. When i'm trying to understand my world. And find some guidelines in difficult moments of decision making. One of these parables in particular has been helpful repeatedly. As i have struggled with the demands of professional ministry. I know well the phrase you can't please all the people all the time. Heaven knows i know that by now. I displeased. This please people all the time. There's no way please everyone interface community as diverse as ours. But what is difficult for me and for most ministers i know. It's how much it troubles us when someone is really unhappy. With us. I suspect that's not unique to ministers. I'll bet many of you know exactly what i'm talking about you do the best you can. At whatever. Most people are happy or satisfied with you or your presentation or whatever. And then there's that one or two who make it clear that you haven't measured up. You tried hard to keep it in perspective. But it ends up hurting them less. And sometimes. The hurt gets so big. That it outweighs the fact. That most people like whatever it was you did. So i remember jesus's parable of the hundred sheep. If one of them strays. The shepherd leaves the other 99 and goes off in search of the stray. And once found. The shepherd is more delighted over the one stray. Then the 99 who never strayed. It's just so true. In our hearts we want. Everyone. To be part of the fold. Secondly i would have to say that the words attributed to jesus and refer to as the beatitudes. Have served. As a powerful teaching passage for me. You heard my own rephrasing. This morning. Found in the gospel of matthew their part of jesus's sermon on the mount. They're not easy of interpretation. Much less easy to put into practice. The beatitudes are not rules or laws to be obeyed. They are rather blessings. To be contemplated. And made incarnate in us. They're meant to be received with love. Received. Like a tiny seed. Each held in hand to see whether it bears fruit and meaning in our lives. To paraphrase simply. The beatitudes offer ways of living that promote. Happy blessing. To be poor in spirit. Good morning what is lost. To be lowly and meek. The hunger and thirst for justice. To be merciful. To be pure of heart. To be peacemakers. To love justice with such passion. That we are willing to suffer persecution for the sake of making it a reality in our world. Now also part of the sermon on the mount is the prayer that i have come to call the prayer of jesus considered by many. To be the greatest prayer ever. Prayed. For more than 2000 years this prayer has fed religious speakers. And i feel it. When i say it myself. I am aware of the collective spiritual energy that is gone into trying to get inside these 54 words at least as we have them in english. In order to somehow move closer to the essence of the divine. The words. Where jesus's response to the question of how best we might pray. He talked a bit about. Cleansing our hearts before prayer. About how important it is. To forgive others before we begin praying. For years i had difficulty with this prayer. It was just waited too much theological baggage for me. I couldn't get past the address. Our father. Which art in heaven. And then i begin to begin to wonder if there wasn't. Some way that i could be part of this beautiful prayer that is meant so much to so many. Until some years ago i was old enough to try a rewrite. That would allow me to participate in the beauty and power of this prayer. But also kind of keep the rhythm of it. And then of course a few years later i discovered the even more multi-layered meanings of it that appear in the aramaic version the language that. Jesus actually spoke. But the point is that this prayer has become part of my daily prayer life. I recited everyday. In my words. The buddha said that we are the sum of our thoughts. At least daily my thoughts include the aspirations of this prayer. It is my hope that overtime. I may be able to exemplify this prayer in the living of my life. With increasing intention. Integrity. And shortness. Spirit of life who art in earth. And a nos and throughout the universe. Holy belie presents. By wisdom come. The love be known making of earth a haven. Grant us this day the bread of life. And forgive us when we do not live in harmony with the. May i be forgiving. May my heart be compassionate in my mind be strong and resisting temptation. And learning from my mistakes. May i grow in understanding and gratitude. Serving the glory of life. Forever. I'm in. Answered. I guess i would have to talk about the gift. A radical inclusivity. It is the arena in which i have to say christians themselves have fallen the farthest. From what jesus taught. I'm frankly pushing myself these days to have something other than a -2 numb reaction when i see a cross hanging from someone's neck. I want to have a positive response reflecting my high regard for living christianity. But the wearing of the cross has too often connoted exclusion rather than inclusion. The teachings of jesus were radically inclusive. His actions were radically inclusive. He welcomed the sick and the poor and the sinner alike. To share his table. And walk is path. One of the most popular stories about jesus concerned his encounter with a woman accused of adultery. Ancient law required that she be stoned to death. We all know what he said. Let. The one who is without sin cast the first stone. And no stones. Forecast. Jesus simply understood that we are all imperfect and we all make mistakes. What he asked us to do was to recognize that great truth. And substitute compassion for judgment. And realize. But the possibility of healing is open to all if our eyes and hearts can open. He was radically inclusive. In the best universalist tradition. In his belief. But all of good heart and goodwill. May be redeemed. One of my treasured novels is titled a dresser of sycamore trees. The main character is a pastor serving a small church in vermont. At one point in the novel. He's thinking about a conversation has had with a priest from another town. Regarding. Artificial flowers. His little church is decorated with donated artificial flowers which the visiting priest says he's simply must get rid of. Because. Quote god doesn't like a phony. But the pastor thinks. But if these are what is people like and use themselves well then they must be okay with god. But then there's the light up 3d picture of jesus in the garden of gethsemane. It strikes him that that goes well beyond plastic flowers. And so he writes in the novel. I found it packed away in the storage room behind the oil furnace one saturday morning when we met to clean up the church basement. It probably laying there for 30 years. I suspect that a past rector had attempted to contribute to the beauty of holiness by moving it one step closer to the trash. Oh boy i tell her. If they get their hands on this. Nottoli stealthily. I slid the thing into a box justin for the dump. But a woman with her mind on rummage sale two-sided but all dumped bond bound boxes had best be edited first. Until the picture was discovered a second time. I do not think that some of my fellow laborers would have been more impressed by piece of the true cross. They wiped the glass carefully. An anxious hand took up the plug would it work. It did. I'm a little ashamed to admit that i'm more or less hoped it would explode. I was also a little ashamed to speak up when they begin to wonder aloud. How such a thing could ever have wound up in the garbage. But my confession embolden mean. As they went on to discuss the proper place for such an object. To mutter. Not upstairs. Yeah here as often in the past they knew something i didn't know. The picture was indeed venerable. And numinous. Like those russian icons reputed to weep inexplicably. It seemed to endow all those who stood nearby with some of its electric radiance. It may even have spoken to me. Don't you realize it seemed to say. But these people have been pulling me out of the garbage for generations. They have dogged lee rescued me from the dumps where your kind. Was always trying to throw me. Because. I am a little embarrassing. A little accessible. Too accessible. A little too much. I tell you if it were necessary to suffer and die for a second time as utterly tasteless as that might be. I would. I have loved this passage from the book because it leads us right into the heart of jesus i think. A little embarrassing. A little too accessible. A little too much. And every time we are tempted to ignore jesus or more particularly. His message. Someone drags it out and reminds us. Someone issues a challenge. Alright those wwjd what would jesus do bracelets are mostly for show. I don't know how many people who wear them really ask themselves that question and then carefully seek an answer but you know what. It's a darn good question. It adds another decision. A dimension sees me to decision-making. A parallel for us might be asking ourselves here. Whenever we have a decision. As a church community. Or even us living into our unitarian-universalism how does this reflect. Our unitarian universalist principles. Living christianity is powerful stuff. The jesus that history has recorded. Does make me a little nervous. As the author of this morning's reading put it. This jesus is always asking me. To embody compassion. And live a whole lot larger than i do. What jesus had to say. And the ethical system and social vision he espoused. Could be. Truly. Living christianity. Or what nineteenth-century unitarian theodore to parker referred to as the permanent. Versus the transient. In christianity. Unlike the author of my reading this morning. I think that somewhere tangledeep within my discomfort. Is a heart willing to be made nervous by jesus. At least. Every once in awhile. You know i have a curious question how many view of eversong that. Isn't that. 3 you've been here before. Amazing. I don't hear it sound very often than what fantastic words. So my closing words are adapted from a very ancient piece to him of jesus. We want to be saved. And we want to save. We want to be free. And we want to free. We want to hear. And we want to be heard. We want to join with others and we want to be joined. We want to pray. And we want to be prayed for. We want to bless. And we want to be blessed. We want to be given to. And we want to give. If we look at each other we find a mirror. If we seek each other. We find a door. If we travel to meet each other. We find a road. The mirror is our soul. The door is our listening ear. The road is the path of our beloved community. And now please. Go in peace. Go making peace. Live kindly. Love mightily. View the world through the eyes of compassion and with a global heart. And always. Bell. To the mystery.

uufvb_org

2014Nov23Sermon32.mp3

Good morning and welcome welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship vero beach we are so pleased. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful enriching that you'll find something here this morning to take with you that will make your days and weeks ahead to be more joyous and meaningful and responsible. For the sun and the dawn. For the moon and evening which we did not make. For food. For friends and loved ones we have not earned. And cannot buy. For all things that come to us as gifts safeen from sources beyond ourselves. Gifts of life and love and friendship. We lift up our hearts and give thanks this day. Mornings reading. Is from christian scriptures. Luke 12:15 221. And jesus said to him. Position. And then he told them a parable. Philander richmond fourth pleasantly. Any thought to himself. What should i do for i have nowhere to store my crops. And he said i will do this i will tear down my barn. And build a larger one. Stor-all migraine. And i will say you have a good laid up for many years tikkis eat drink. And be merry. But god said to him. This night your life will be demanded of you. Can the things you have prepared. Who is will they be. So. Is he who lays up his treasure. For himself. And is not rich. Ford. God. Herein. Good morning reading. So this morning as we approached the busy holiday season that begins with thanksgiving and ends with christmas i want to talk about stuff. End the relationship physical emotional and spiritual we have with all of the stuff. Everyone knows that america is the world. Consumer. Economy. And there's simply no other way to say it their friend we are an enthusiastic lee materialistic depends on everybody buying and consuming. Lots of stuff. It must be obvious why i would broach the subject now in the year. We are entering the holiday season when are habitual american spending against. This is the festive family-oriented time of the year when all but the poorest of americans. Golden absolute orgy are close to 10 and consuming. Stop. I want online recently to look up the actual facts about american holiday spending. Trillian. Dollars in the months of november and december on stuff including food for ourselves and loved one. It is widely as it is widely reported in the media every autumn. Just holidays spying season is in fact the engine for the entire american consumer economy. Most retailers from the big box stores right down to the little store owner depend on this holiday buying season 2. Profits for the year. Indeed each year leading economist issued dire warnings about what would happen if american consumers even curtail or restrain a little bit their holiday by suggesting it's downright on america not to get caught up into this fever pitch of consumption. No. It used to be that americans patiently waited until the day after thanksgiving. The black friday. Run screaming down the aisle a few. But now i've courses you all know. We now have what is everybody can call the cursive thanksgiving day consumer creep. With more and more shameless retailers doing their damnedest. To entice americans away from their sacred hour at their family tables. What does stark fluorescently isles of these vast american emporium. Stuff. And ever more stuff. Stick with your stuffing. Forget the stuff. Outrage and disgust here i unashamedly join the summit. Decrying the seeming endless consumerism of this holiday season suggesting as i will this morning. That there's something fundamentally unhealthy and irrational and destructive about our rabbit american acquisitiveness. Most especially at this time of year. Simply put. Most of us do not have a proper and healthy relationship. With all the stuff. We are ever more steadily acquiring in our lives. In there now classic unplug the christmas machine. Requiring more and more stuff that we really don't need every christmas i quote them. The christmas machine. Has the power over us because it knows how to. It speaks to the deepest profoundest and sacred desires of the human heart. But the commercial message of christmas appears as promises that bring tears to our eyes. Look at the bouncy we are promised by the december magazines in the christmas commercial our family. Our children will be well-behaved and grateful. Beautiful and nurturing our husbands will be kind generous and appreciative we'll have enough money you'll be truly loved. And then niger one no wonder we stop we listen and we want to believe the problem comes. We long for can be procured receive more christmas presents. Will finally be safe and satisfied in the world. And then they end the key to unplugging the machine. Is knowing what you really want. People who take time to identify their real longings and a realistic about which of those longings can be satisfied by christmas holiday. That gives him great joy and satisfaction unquote. For some years now there's a hundred and social activist bill mckibben. More than $100 on presents relying instead on simple homemade gifts or on presence of service and time. Expresses their love to family and friends, kevin. Several years ago a few of us in the northern new york and vermont conference of the united methodist church. Dollar holiday. The church leadership voted to urge foresters not to spend more than $100 per family on presents. Stacking cord of firewood. The first year i made walking sticks for everyone. Last year i made spicy chicken sausage family. And then he writes the hundred dollar figure was a useful anchor against the constant seductions of the advertisers a way to explain to children why. So far our daughter sophie does fine at christmas. For stocking is exciting to us part to her the tree is exciting skating on the pond is exciting. It's worth mentioning however so she may not understand the level of her impoverishment. It is modest. And yet at the same time it's pretty radical. Christmas it turns out is the bulwark of our nation's economy. And so it hits the nerve to question whether it all makes a man. Who said we should give all that we have for the poor. Showering each other with motorized. Hyrax. And then the end. It's radical for another reason too. If you believe that our american consumer addiction represents our deepest problem. But it's the forest that keeps us from reaching out to each other. And building a fair society the forest to drive so much of our environmental degradation. Christmas is the nadir. Store advertising works is powerful dark magic. Christmas morning with everyone piling downstairs to mounds of presents consumption is literally made. Sacred. Kira under the tree with roots going back to our into prehistory here next to the crash. With a figure of an infant and infant child of god. We press stuff on each other stuff that becomes powerfully connected in our heads. Two-family. And even to salvation. Unquote. Known as admirable as high-minded as this vermont movement is i suspect a hundred-dollar family christmas buying limit maybe a bit to a steer for most of us. Honestly certainly it is for me. Accountant i have been trying to do over recent years has to genuinely cut way back. Christmas spending buying and consuming especially the stuff we do for each other. Let me just give one example. Where is the nearest before we used to buy are wide extended family and friends what we thought were tasteful. And rather expensive tangible gifts for their homes in a beautiful vases and artwork and stuff like that. Not only is it a healthy welcome. And renewable. For who does not appreciate the vitamin c-rich oranges and grapefruit. Family wisconsin they are all getting scurvy in january. As the authors i have earlier quoted point out what happens to many of us at this time of year. It is that we get seduced by the misguided belief that somehow acquiring more and more stuff will somehow bring us the love satisfaction the contentment. The first to crawl over the confession booth this morning to help me. What are the election. In my case. Symptom of an irrational and largely unreflective acquisitiveness i love necktie and because one of the ways i can't hurt myself. Another other unnecessary clothing slacks and shirt i like the all temporary wayne new clothes make me feel but i needed one actually i was black. Now i rest assured. Only one who has an unhealthy relationship with some sort of stuff right now. We all have unhealthy and unrestrained relationships with self able to defend ourselves against the relentless tide. Of expanding consumerism. And decide here at some point this morning and must also be sad. Set acquisitiveness the desire to acquire wealth and possessions and comfort. Is a natural part. Of what it means to be human. People everywhere in some cultures choir sings we are animals in the jungle. To suggest that we can completely change or eradicate this natural tendency to have things. Is unrealistic. But many of us nearly unstageable lifestyle of acquisition and accumulation in lifestyle that spirals out of control and more and more things in describing our national addiction to two possessions and consumption indiana sas. For every voice in our land echoes thoreau's famous please simplify simplify. A dozen cry. Amplify. Amplify. You all know the shameful statistics about the excesses of american consumerism. We are far and away the most acquisitive people on the earth. For a couple of generations americans have been driven by a seemingly insatiable list to consuming have our country which makes about 4% of the world population. We consume over 40% of its resources. One way of thinking about this is it be consumed over 8 times our share. Vastly more than we should be responsible toward one another. I recently read a new york times that one of the hottest business sectors in america is. Storage. Unit facilities. I invested $40,000 in this by friday. Perhaps another symptom of american possessiveness. And they were literally in danger of suffocating if that stuff ever came down. In this morning's little-known and i think very powerful scripture reading jesus warns his disciples against covetousness. Against tearing down their barn. To build bigger. And bigger ones. And here i think it's a spiritual key found in this piece of scripture at the end of jesus dead. He who lays up treasure for himself. Is not rich in the things of god. Know what i think jesus meant by this. Is it possessions consumer goods personal wealth. Have the power to become like gods in our life and empty and idolatrous gods idols of the spirit if you will. The have the power to distract and distance us from that which is truly holy in our lives from that which is of god if you will. This is at least as spiritually relevant to us today as it was to the people of judea. Shopping in america is 4 many more than a pastime or logistical necessity. The shopping mall. Rs1 social critic put it shimmering temples of our affluenza. Here is a spiritual point dear friends. Sitting amidst the clutter of more more things which madison avenue. Distract you. From the things of god. Sustaining holy things. Which lie about us in our daily living which alone have the power to bless in satisfya. And if your humanist erupt any philosophical it has the things of ultimate worth the things that are holy. Stop. Affluence. Possession. Have the pernicious power to keep us from seeing and feeling. And knowing the true treasures of our living and one of these treasures. I've been talking to you about them for the entire five years i've been your minister. Relationship. With self. What's family with neighbor. With nature. With community and with god is mystery of all. It is simple relationships. Where we find. The greatest holness. Sa scott sas scott russell sanders again. If we imagine the fullness with urine for can be reckoned in dollars or yen or purchased in stores there will be no end to our craving. We can however shift the focus of our expansive desires. We can change the standard by which we measure prosperity. We can choose to lead and materially simpler life. Not as a sacrifice. What is a path toward greater fulfillment. We could cut back here. Dramatically on our consumption and the size of our house. Without suffering any real deprivation. We could read the surplus for others to use and free ourselves from the burden of lugging it around as ellen almost had to drop to her knees or the weight of my neckties. Star needs and the needs of the planet coincide and here is where russell arrives at the spiritual number of what i'm saying through this morning. Less burdened by possessions. Less frenzy by activities we might play more with our children. Look after our elders. Plant flowers. Read books. Music. Come to the local birds and trees we might take better care of the land. We might lie down at night. And rise up in the morning without feeling the cramp of anxiety. Instead of leaving around like grasshoppers from notion to notion. We might sit still and thinking a connected. About our families. Our communities. And about the meaning of life. Spiritual practice my friend and colleague ken brown. Who's one of our ministers on the west coast. Wrote an essay for that book on voluntary simplicity. And i'm sure you're all familiar with the voluntary simplicity movement which began in 1936 when richard gregg coined the phrase. I called him. Voluntary simplicity involves both an inner. Outer condition. It means singleness of purpose. Sincerity and honesty within as well as avoidance of exterior clutter. As many possessions irrelevant to the chief. Purpose of life. It means an ordering and a guiding of our energy. And our desires it means and here's the key phrase a partial. Restraint. In some directions in order to secure greater abundance of life and other directions. It involves deliberate organization of life for a purpose. Please remember that phrase partial restraint. Probably more talking about the stuff in our lies it doesn't mean you have to like henry david thoreau. Drafty cabin on some little pond and and shoe leather for dinner it doesn't mean that. It means rather for us scaling factor. Shifting the nature of our relationships with possessions and luxury than simply doing. Westland. Take this christmas of 19 2014 for example. If you're like me this bill mckibben a family christmas pledge. Is a bit too radical. But if you spent a thousand last year maybe you and your family. Compare back to 500. Instead of buying the latest iphone or motorized iraq i don't own motorized tyrek i just. Leave mine in flutter like many of you women have shoes in the bottom of your closet and nevermind. Instead of buying the latest iphone or the largest flat screen tv. How about giving each other gifts the truly and rich the heart and mind like theater tickets. Museum passes. Or dinner alex for your brother and his wife who live in wisconsin fly not do that instead. There are lots of healthier less materialistic. Holiday choices we can make. I want to quickly quote mike callaghan. Too often we think of simple living in voluntary simplicity only. Simple living isn't about ridding oneself of things as much as it's recognizing what is an important file in your life. What is simplicity's greatest practitioners mahatma gandhi. Had a simile broadview when he said. Civilization in the real sense of the term. Consist. Put in the deliberate and voluntary reduction of why this alone. Promotes happiness and contentment. And scott russell sanders points out that beginning to live more intensely. To change your relationship with and dependence upon stuff. Does not necessarily mean you have to be, some pure austere monk. Who has relinquished everything except a pair of sandals. Panda rice bowl. He quote you says. The simplicity. Is not the enforced austerity of the poor. I seek instead of listen to this phrase i seek instead the richness. And deliberate life. They gathered and deliberate life which comes from letting one's belongings and commitments. Be fewer in number. And higher in quality. What i think is a real important point. Each of us must decide how to do this ourselves. Moving to a more simple lifestyle means making an intentional decision. But it must be your own decision. And your own definition. As different people have different purposes in life you right. What is relevant to the purpose of one person may not be relevant to the other. And the degree of simplification. Is a matter for each individual to settle for him or herself there's no i think. Cookie cutter overlayment that we can place on everyone's lives. Let me speak personally for a moment. I will never consciously urge you to do something from this pulpit that i myself and not prepared spiritually or emotionally to do myself. I'm preaching the sermon this morning because i personally want to develop. Is simpler less cluttered less acquisitive more responsible life. I want to have a less covetous relationship with possessions and things so i have more spiritual time and space and energy my life. To develop those sustaining deep relationship. So i talked about jesus called. Things of god. Again. Elemental relationships with self. And loved ones and family and friends.. Nor do i think i must be. To relinquish all or even most of my obvious privilege and possessions as an american. So i don't think i have to do some radically self-sacrificing pure nobility. It's just too much for most of us human animals to give up. But i do believe my life. I'm more appropriate and responsible balance. Between relinquishment and possession. Through a process of discernment and discipline and intentionality. I can begin to choose a simpler more modest life. Which again not only will make me better but will also provide more goods and services for others around the world. Again each of us must find our own pattern of voluntary simplicity that works for us. Whether it's simplifying our diet or our clothing or are making our home smaller. Or reducing our general patterns of consumption. Each of us must freely choose. This is not something you can impose on people. To modify restrain our relationship with stuff. And the good news. When our hearts learn to hold all the stuff more loosely. Winning our daily living we loosen our hold at all the possessions that's so seductive. To have and hold and even when we do not truly need them. Again wife's holiest treasures. Seriously become available to us. As jesus said paradoxically. It isn't the act of giving up. Did we get new riches in living. Living more simply and more responsibly. My salvation. Enjoy a purpose in this life i'm positive will not come through another 25.. Necktie. But rather. By mike wiley spending an evening with zero friends over a messy dinner table in soft candle. Or walking quietly by myself in riverside park listening to the song. And the palmetto trees responding gently to the embrace of the wind. Or by joining with others to work locally to an some small piece of human. Injustice or any quality. Are my waking up gently in the morning next to my mate. Who is the love me so irrationally all these years. And silently whispering my feta tude. These are the sacred things of life. These are the things of goodness and contentment. These are the greatest possession of living. So don't. Down. Your barns. Good friends and build bigger ones. Don't build houses by fancier cars stuff your closets with clothes you'll never wear. Eat or drink or taken to your body with your body does not need. And don't rent a storage unit. Off-site from your house for more. Instead. Choose the wisdom of the heart. To intentionally make room in your life. For larger and lovelier things. Voluntarily relinquish some of the stuff. The clutters your life. So you can easily morsi that everyday riches that are so gently and abundantly about your feet. Unclutter your hearts. Unclutter. Your closet. Are all. Shell you own. The stuff. Appheaven. And i say and mean. And i send you to your thanksgiving with this. Go in peace. Speak the truth. Give thanks. Respect the earth and her creatures were they are alive like you. Care for your body it is a wonderful gift. Live simply. Fiat service. Be guarded by your faith not your fear. Go lightly on your path. Walk. In sacred manner. God bless.

uufvb_org

2012Jun17Sermon128.mp3

Celeste wall. I suddenly lost my balance. I wasn't at first aware that anything had changed in my life. Or my physical health that matter overall i felt fine. But all of a sudden i found myself dizzy. Especially at night dizzy. That unsettling feeling would happen to me every time i would lie down or try to get up out of bed suddenly the ceiling and walls would be spinning all around. And if i wasn't careful. Putting my feet over the bed. I got up to suddenly down i would go. Alarm at the sudden and unpleasant change in my life. On short notice i went to the doctor's office where i could only see the. Assistant. Who really couldn't offer me an explanation. So we decided that i would just monitor it for a week or two. But a day or two later a little light went off in my head wait a minute i change blood pressure for. Go you don't suppose that could do it through you. So sure enough as soon as i changed medication. My loss of balance and the anxiety which came with it this. Another point of my sharing this little personal medical drama of mine is to point out. Does my recent spell of unwelcome dizziness. Powerfully reminded what an important possession. Simple balance is in one's life. I think it is irrefutable. That when any of us lose our balance. When our lives become off-kilter or imbalance in any significant way. Nothing feels right. And we get anxious we don't feel ourselves and we want to get back. So that equilibrium place. And the curiosity here is that as it was with me last on them. It is not until we lose our balance. That we realize how important balance. This morning i'm offering you the final installment of my 12-part year-long sermon series 12 gates to the city. Spiritual pathways. For entering the holy city of your own life and bill sang the classic image of the. The new jerusalem and its reestablish. The gates will be open for the p. To come in. Am i series has tried to provide you with 12 different visions of ways. You can enter the holy city. Of your own life and all 12. Sermons are wilt bill as of tomorrow be on the website. Can go back and read them all if you want to or watch them on video god help you with that. Today i'm discussing the quality of balance because i'm passionately persuaded the balance. Is an essential ingredient. In any healthful. Youth healthy. Productive or useful life. Balance which i will define here as the awesome deceptively quiet quality. Of having the various components of your life. Proper symmetry and right relation to one another. It's having all your components in right relation and symmetry to. Balance allows you to move through your life. Purpose and grace. And energy enjoy now. I realize the balance is not the sexiest sermon topic under the sun. I mean who after all would disagree with the assertion that balance. Like moderation and restraint. Are good things to have. The silverline moderation isn't really too exciting there was a bee moderate oakwood that's really exciting to hear. But i want you to pause this morning all of us together and think about the balance that exists or does not exist in each of your lives. Right now. I want you to devote a little reflection time to stop. Because. I believe that maintaining proper balance in your life. Perhaps one of the most. Precious possessions you can ever have. Edit the one time in addition to being. Precious is also problematic. Let me count the ways in which a balanced life is problematic. The first problem with balance. It seems to me. Is it when we actually managed to achieve it. In the tricky and uneven flow of our daily lives. We are not even aware that we actually have it. Balance at least as i have noted in my own life is is a subtle and elusive thing. That i may not recognize it even when it's staring me right in the face in my own life. Balance it seems to me doesn't come with a voice. But somehow shouts in our heads hey congratulations scott. You're doing great right now you've clearly managed. Two intricately fed all the complex demanding idiosyncratic and irritating pieces of your life together. In just the right pattern of health and rhythm. You're so clever. It doesn't happen that way. We obviously feel pretty good center. Might be a word. When our lives are in broad and basic balance. And clearly we all get message. From both our own bodies and spirits and from those. Closest to us. When we are successfully juggling and integrating as i did in the meditation. All of those dimensions of life that. The cry out for your time and attention. But. When we quietly achieve that on ostentatious gift of a balanced life. We may not fully. Recognize the extent or importance or value of its. Because. That achievement doesn't declare itself. It just doesn't. The second and i think related problem with balancing humans. Is that. Frequently it is so elusive and shifting a reality in our lives. Balance in your life. Is a possession i think that can come and go for the. And come and go in different intensity. Just because we achieve balance at some particular. or point in our lives. Even four months at a time. Doesn't assure us that we can keep it or recreate it later when things get more. And i am further certain the balance is not something spiritually. We can on one big momentous and magical day achieve once and for all. Retrieving balance. You can't have it just so now i'm a balanced person is going to stay that way. Forget about it. As they say in new york. It would be nice. The fact is that we have to constantly and consciously work. Our whole lives long at maintaining. Reasonable balance in our lives. And what's more and here's another problem with. Balance in our daily living. Is not an all-or-nothing proposition it's a matter of degree. So when we get ourselves in trouble. In terms of maintaining proper balance in our lives. The problem is not that we have absolutely no balance. The problem. Is the. Have somehow without meaning to have allowed. Some aspect or multiple aspects of her life slip out of equilibrium and we're like that jugular trying to keep everything. Running around trying to keep all the balls in the air. It's not that we dropped them all. But. So it's a matter of. A perfect everyday example of this i think. Is balance in eating. And drinking. Now we all pretty much know what a balanced or healthy diet consists of it's a sensible mixture of fruits and vegetables. Grains and meats and other proteins. And healthy things to drink which might include a moderate amount of alcohol. And we all know how because of our body's desires. And our personal weaknesses. At consuming. Preacher as consuming creature. We all know how easy it is. To eat too much. Of something. Or drink too much of something or not drink enough of something or not eat enough. So a good and balanced diet it seems to me for each of us is a matter of degree and personal predilections. In my case that includes no ice cream. But for some of you a balanced diet includes. Ice cream hopefully not gal over today but some ice cream. So. It seems to me that we all fall someone out of balance each and every day. And that's just when it comes to what we take into our bodies. Total balance life is always a matter of degree. And it seems to me that. Sometimes it's hard. To know when to step into our own live. And consciously assert. More balanced. Like. Show me decide to go on a diet or decide to stop drink. Alcohol. It's sometimes hard for us to know when. To step into our own lives. And assert more conscious. Let me put it another way. Sometimes our lives do thank god her gently and insistently shout out to us. That we are badly out of balance like happened to me. This autumn when i was suddenly very dizzy. It happens when become aware that some aspect of our life is wild wild. Askew. Only realizing a loud clap of some aha moment. That we are drinking too much. Or working too much or sitting from the damn computer too much. Or eating too much ice cream. But more usually and dangerously i think. We fall victim to spirit robbing life endangering in balance in our living. Slowly. And incrementally. And sometimes by the time we realize things are badly out of balance it may almost. Too late. I'm reminded about the old allegory. Of the frog and the water. The hot water. If you suddenly drop a frog into a pan of very hot water the allegory goes the frog will immediately feel the discomfort and jump right back out. Saving his life. From the clear and present danger than you're boiling water presents to him. But if you place that same frog in a pan. A comfortable temperature water on the stove and then slowly incrementally. Turn up the. The frog will not notice. Not notice. The gradually. Approach. Danger and sleepily beloved. In action. Until. This is the way. It happens. We get cooked. Buy alcohol. Or obesity. Or addiction to video games. We suddenly find ourselves. No one means to let booze or junk food or the internet run their lives. They just slowly become overly dependent on these substances. For their well-being. And the feelings of well-being. It seems to me that the most dangerous imbalances we intentionally. Let creep into our lives happen. Just that way they cry. To our lives slowly. Without much conscious awareness and i part on our part we fall out of right relationship. And symmetry. And when we do hopefully finally realize that our lives are out of whack. And it was spending way too much time in front of the computer at 3 a.m. in the morning for example. It often requires that we take very concrete. Intentional steps. To move our lives back. Symmetry. And health as when we. Limit ourselves. The computer or go to alcoholics anonymous. Start of the. And we all know what terrible costs the truly imbalance life can bring to a. When i was in college i might undergraduate degree is in urban studies urbanology. I spent an intense spring semester as an intern. Aerosol alinsky style organization organization for a better austin. In a biracial neighborhood on the westside of chicago they were trying to. Prevent white flight. Real estate. We're trying to break what kind of scare the whites. And. Destroy home values and all of that and we were working. Keep the whites in the blacks living together. And the the executive director of that highly. Organized. And praised organization. Was a man. Hard-working guy named tom gaudette. Who was widely respected in. I too was taken in by tom's passion and purpose for us and productivity. I admired him for his unflagging dedication and a relentless. People empowering work. When i first joined that organization i was sure the tom gaudette. Was what a smartass active noble social activist look like i wanted to grow up just like tom godette. Though i probably wouldn't have said it at the time. I really wanted. Just like. Progressive crusader tirelessly fighting evil and transforming the world at least chicago. For justice equity freedom. And superman kind of stuff. None of this day i think tom go dead. Did great work. His life. He was an exceptional guy who made a big difference. But i now realize as i did even before my internship with him ended. That he was a lousy model. For healthy and balanced live. He worked 18 to 20 hours a day and rarely without a cigarette in his. A bottle of scotch nearby odessa floor. He almost never went home for a meal instead eating stale donuts for breakfast. And cold dinner out of a pizza box or chinese restaurant box. When i came in early in the morning usually he would already be there usually in the same rumpled clothes. But i saw him in. The day. Before. Tom was famous for holding staff meeting. From 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.. Three nights a week to quote unquote. Invigorate creative thinking and add excitement and urgency to the undertaker. That's what he said. Who is staff. He worked hard and accomplishments and he died. In his mid. Yes it was a saddle of his own passionate choosing. What is total lack of balance. Or care for the idea of balance. Prevented him. From serving humanity caring for his own wife and kids for several more decades. And you know what. For all his accomplishments tom gaudette did not manage to save either himself. Or the great. Have you all known someone like tom godin. Some of you known people like that. Wildly out of balance. When it came to life essentials of work. Food drink sleep family wildly out of there. Alright so let's. Approach this critical. Business of balance. At the simplest most straightforward level. I believe that in order for a human being to have a well-rounded balanced and healthy life. I like graphics i think they make things. And please hear this. This pie chart applies to those of you who is retired. As much as it does for those of you who are younger and still working. I believe that in order for a human being to have a well-rounded balanced healthy life. One needs pretty much on a daily basis to have more less equal amounts. Three fundamental human activity. First. Work. Or service. That is focused engagement in the duties and business of living. Whether you're on the job at home or in an office in school or even in retirement as a volunteer. Or caring neighbor. Or a professional godparent i know some of you were professional godparents who spent a chunk of everyday being a god parent grandparent. Work service time is time you spend everyday fulfilling your duties and responsibilities and obligations to life. Contributing. For the welfare of others. And not focusing on. Work. Weather wherever and however you find it whether you're a stay-at-home parent. A high-power. Lawyer or regular volunteer at the hospital in your 80s. One of the things. That makes for a meaningful life. Now i realize. The some of you who are still in what is known as the workforce. At least occasionally have to give more than a third of your day more than an 8 hour.. To this. And that's certainly happens to me as a minister. When. Something is a lot of death or illness in the car. Everyone understand the variable work demands a temporarily. Controller are we out of this or a day out of this kind of balance. But of course the truth is it if you habitually overworked. If you habitually do too much of that yellow cigar green whatever it is. It's going to. It's going to take its toll and be a very. Very serious thing on your life you've got. Control. Your work. Recall p. Don't control it. Workaholics. And then we need something at the bottom called sleep and rest now the old health standard was it a human being need approximately 7. Hours. That was the old standard. But recent physiological studies and even our federal government which some people around here hate a lot even our federal government. Says that we and our children. Need 8 hours of sleep or body downtime. And surely you all know how your body regularly craves and demands the great restorative. To sleep. Without sufficient sleep our bodies our minds and our souls get dangerously out of whack. Leaving to all kinds of illnesses and inefficiencies in the rest of our lives. Now i realize that some of you seniors still believe the old myth. That is you get older you need less sleep you've all heard that. Not true. Not true. New studies reveal that is not true. The elderly need as much sleep as a very young. No it is true. Pay attention you younger. That really intelligent creative and productive. Can sit in front of their computers all night reading doing research and communicating. And maybe not pay a price in the short-term. For all those sleepless. The truth here is that even hearing quiet good old sedate vero beach. Most of us need to discipline ourselves to intentionally get more sleep. Tonight. Sleep is not wasted. It's vital downtime. Restorative time that our bodies need. And if we're to do that service. In though in the word in the. World. Our bodies need sleep and rest. So don't. Short change.. And then approximately 8 hours i think the last part of a balanced life. Is what i call personal time or leisure. A third of the day what you have. The way i like to say it. That's your own command. You know what the kids aren't demanding anything the boss isn't demanding any. Leisure time. Time. Your own command. So if you want to read poetry or. Build widgets or whatever you like to do is that your own. Command. I need this third of the day to tend to ourselves that our household. To pursue pleasures and activities. But maybe. Stop your silly to other people stamp-collecting it's always seemed like such a silly thing to me but not to those who like to do it hey it's time is it your own command do it doing if you like it. Take a break from service and working. Sleep. Do what. You really like. And a quick aside here. You'd probably be all disappointed. If this exercise. Fanatic of a minister you had didn't remind you. Set apart of personal time and leisure has. I almost. Made an hour slice in there on the blue section. Said exercise by thought that might get the. The thing to copper. So i left it out. But you really need to devote federal government again says you need an hour everyday to walk today at to dance to. The garden. Swim in the pool to do water aerobics. Weed your garden take a spin on the bike whatever. Apart of leisure and personal time has to be. Let me talk about this precious. Balance thing. Move from the. From the. The pie chart. To dualism another way of thinking of. It seems to me that a balanced life should be balanced between expenditure in your life. Which is the process of. Whoring yourself out. Giving yourself away. Sharing yourself and your resources with other to make a world and on the other side. Replenishment. In your life with holding yourself. Husbanding. Your resources. And selfishly taking nourishment of all kinds. So you proceed through your days. With health and strength. This balance may be what american saseb white was alluding to when he famously wrote this. I rise in the morning. Torn between a desire to save the world and favorite. This makes it very hard to plan the day. The key of course. Is to refuse that all-or-nothing hobbesian choice. Between either expending yourself like tom gaudette did or replenishing just replenishing yourself as some selfish person. The key is to blend both the expenditure in their punishment both the saving and the savoring. I wish my friend tom gaudette. Have been able to. Just know how to replenish himself to go home to his wife and his kids in to enjoy a quiet meal that was actually hot. And the. But he never did. So that is a. Seems to me this is the key dualism. So listening to all of this. How are you doing in the balance of your life. How have you been able to have you been able to achieve. The spiritual quality of a of a life and write relation. How are you doing. Take a look take a look at how you live this week. How are you doing are you living in some sort of. Appropriate measured balance. I hope you're doing something like that. And if you are if you can honestly say yum. Doing pretty well give yourself a congratulations in a bravo. Everyday balance will go a long way to making you healthier and happy and more responsible. But. You're thinking truthfully about your life you realize that your living way out of whack right now. In any number of imbalance waze. Which work to diminish your relationships in your life. I hope you will promise yourself. If you know you're out of whack right. I hope you will promise your. To work in a disciplined and intentional way to begin to bring the various components. The expenditure in the replenishment. The various components of your life. Back into some sort of symmetry that will allow you to. Feel that rhythm. Of rightness. Look i may be a fool for telling you this in public this. But it is the truth and you deserve it to hear it from me. I believe is the minister of this congregation one of my most important jobs. Weekend and week out is to model. By the measured way. And balanced way i strive to live. What a healthy energized. Looks like. For both children and adults that's one of my most important jobs as a minister. The model for you. How to balance your life. I know a few months you of my uu college. And i'll hear it tomorrow at phoenix. When i get there. Some of the ministers i've been working so hard i've been working 80 hours a week i can hardly i'm so glad to get the summer. I don't want to say to them and who are you doing this for. Are you doing this for the people in your car negation. They're getting a good minister was working 80 hours a week that's what a good minister does. Burnt ember herself up in a self emulating burst of self-righteous sacrifice. You idiots. And i'll say it to a few i even have a workshop that i've done traveled. I've traveled the continent working with groups of 20 minutes turns the workshop is called. Exercising. Health. In the practice of ministry so i'm actually kind of an expert in this. It seems to me that. The. Ministers or anybody needs to have this life and balance and if you're working 12 or 14 hour days working yourself. To a frazzle you are not doing anyone a favor and if you're overtired position i don't like to operating on my shoulder. I'll tell you that sew-in in the same thing would be true for all of. Even as a volunteer. If you're over working as a volunteer i don't want you i don't want you volunteering at the. In buddhism. They talked about. The middle way. Or. The middle path. Which is sometimes summarized in buddhist writings as. The practice of non extremism. A path of moderation. The path of moderation. Is always away from the extremes it seems to me of self-indulgence. Selfishly and singularly taking only care of yourself. And what they call self-mortification. Literally killing yourself. As time goes by. Collect. Or access. Or exhaustion. To take the middle way. Is to have the wisdom to strike a life-sustaining balance in your life. Do understand your human limits both physical and mental. And to respect. The way you are as an animal built. No as i said earlier this morning. Doing the quiet work in your own routine life of making sure that you stay on the middle way the middle path. May not strike you as the sexiest way to live a life. But let me assure you. Set a balanced life. A life that of moderation in all things. A balanced life need not be banal. Or boring. A life lived in the middle way. On the middle path. Does not need to be mundane or mediocre. Balance in your life. What you achieve quietly. And without fanfare without drawing attention to yourself. As you establish symmetry and right relationship. But the various dimensions. Of your living is an exciting liberating way into the holy city of your own life. Or even experience calm. And joy and satisfaction. Be somebody who has something to give the. That is what the. City of your life. Balance in your life. Empowers you both to serve the world. And to save earth. That's the key. To salvation itself. Middle balanced way. It really is that simple. And it really is. And i say and mean to you.

uufvb_org

2015Apr12Sermon128.mp3

Spring. Can you feel the summer humidity coming back in. It's almost here. Today. I begin my 60-year as your minister. Who woulda thought. I'm delighted to welcome and good morning to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased. You're beginning this day with us we are congregation of open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become. Our best individual selves even as together as a congregation we worked to make this world a better and more humane place. And please know that you were welcome precisely how you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd. Whether you're a visitor with us for the first time this morning or have been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling absolutely on top of the world. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you just as you come in all of your. Secular humanist. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And you'll find something here this morning. The nurse is your spirit and feed your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose. Enjoy for the living of life in the days ahead. Poet brian andreas. If not what you first think. There is no effort of will know firm resolve in the face. Of this thing called living. There is only paying attention. Hold your cup. In the cool air. And then that moment you choose to spread your love. Like a cloth upon the table. And invite the whole day in. Let us be with this day. I do think i'm ready. I've been riding a great deal of miles i've got a first time i did this 10 years ago. In sedona i bought from a native american artisan i good luck necklace that i've had on for a few days. Why we're at everytime i go across the country and then i. Leave it on the rear view mirror the car when i'm not doing biking. And i've got my good luck biking sleep pants. But the bicycles all over i wear these every night i washed them periodically i wasn't so i've got all my and i've got would eat what he gave me a little union pacific good luck charm for the back of the bike bag. Cuz i'm along the union pacific tracks for much of the time for the first week and a half and see all the trains and i'm all set with my i'm not superstitious but i do have my good luck charm. And. This coming friday morning at about 6 a.m. i'll be flying out of west palm airport with my two fellow local riders and who they are as a picture of them. The same one in the brochure that's mike vincent. Retired division chief of broward ems on the left and then the middle across the cliff melvin from the united christ by the sea church. And i'm the shorter older guy on the right. Now this morning mike and cliff are riding their bikes into christ by the ct where do you think they got that idea. And they're talking to their account that congregation about the same things that annabelle mentioned. Cliff is preaching about poverty here in our county. So starting next sunday morning will dip our rear wheels in the pacific and start pedaling east and by the way as i told you every sunday for the next five i will come via the miracle of cellphone video to you just to say hello. I pick up john curotto this thursday he's going to be preaching the next two sundays here he's a wonderful jazz musician and a wonderful preacher. And i know that you will enjoy him as ever as will his girlfriend olive detering. And i hear is what we're doing it's the same information that you have in the brochure we're riding extra miles to impact poverty. And again iu. You feel like. Joining us in participating in the house the tear-off is in the. Is in the. In the brochure. It's going to be a lot of physical and challenging work will physically and mentally. We are riding fast across america to raise awareness not just about poverty here in indian river county but all across. The nation. 3 years ago on my first ride to beat hunger when i was doing this kind of puzzled solo project. We managed to raise more than $26,000 for harvest and additional 26,000 for an international program called stop hunger now and then you do remember the day when we prepared 100,000 meals. The word mediately cent. To haiti. Now this time however as likely began to think about this ride the three of us we decided to focus our efforts exclusively here. In indian river county. It is saddening an appalling to us that here in this affluent community with so much wealth. And so much privilege. That we have some of the highest poverty rates in the united states of america. The biggest gap between rich and poor. All the metropolitan area. In the united. I would be honored and pleased if some of you would be joining us on the ride by making a. To harvest. So far we've raised our approaching 20,000 of our $50,000 goal. And i probably promised you that every dollar will go directly to the program of the harvest food & outreach. So from a charitable standpoint. A ride across america. Beginning next sunday will end with a gala splash party at waldo's restaurant on tuesday may 26th i'll be back here preaching on may 24th. But we encourage youtube to the block in the splash party at waldo's all the proceeds all the proceeds from that event will also go to harvest food & outreach. But i wanted to. That's who are our whole effort is very purposeful but i wanted to spend the rest of the time we have together this morning to talk. In more personal and spiritual terms about my intention. For this big and demanding ride this is my fourth. Charity ride across america since night 10th 2005. And everytime i take a challenge i like this i set personal goals for myself. Not just the fundraising goal. As important as those are and not just the physical fitness goals. For which i i do have high expectations that i'll come back stronger than ever. But the most important goals that i have really are spiritual ones. So for this ride as for the previous three i have over recent weeks come up with a list. A personal spiritual goals or practices. But i intend to cultivate and honor everyday as i ride and i want to share them with you now and say a little bit about each one in turn. You will see that i have connected each of these spiritual practices. To a virtue of the human heart. That is listed in the bracket so here are my eight. So i'll hit the first four of my eight spiritual practices. Keep the hungry and for close to my heart everyday that's the virtue of empathy. Set up and pay attention that's mindfulness. Greed all i need that's the virtue of hospitality and kinship. Find something to enjoy and appreciate about every companion. That's generosity. Refuse to complain and whine. That's gratitude. Enjoy the flat tires. That's adaptability and patience and i know i've talked about that before. Leaning to the headwinds that's fortitude the virtual fortitude. And keep a smile on my face. That is joyful. Alright let's go back to the previous slide if we can cuz i want to take these intern. Keep the hungry and poor close to my heart. As i've already said. Because the whole purpose of our ride is to address abdul scourge of poverty and hunger. Those fellow americans in need will ride with me. In my heart as i travel the 3500 miles to salisbury beach massachusetts. Sadly. Let's get the next slide sadly this will not be difficult. For the simple fact is that hunger and poverty hot every american community and region. Of our country including all of the ones i will go through. As i assume all of you know poverty and hunger are regularly experienced by about 20%. Of our population. With another 20% of the population. Living near poverty. Paycheck-to-paycheck. Indeed and many impoverished places in our nation both urban and rural. The hunger and poverty rates are higher than that. The last time i crossed america on a bicycle in 2012. When my route took me on the southern route from costa mesa all the way back here to vero beach. I was frankly shocked. And how much poverty i saw. From my bicycle everyday especially as i pass through. The poor and impoverished small towns. The. the desert southwest. And the deep south. So what cyride amor northern route this time especially through many of the smaller prairie. At farmington. That are currently as you know suffering such economic decline in our land some of these towns are literally shriveling up and dying. I promise to keep all of my fellow americans in my heart most especially those i will see along the way. Clearly suffering from poverty and want. In our daily blog videos which cliff and mike and i are going to make. Which you'll find posted every day on my facebook page simply go to scott alexander vero beach. You'll see the the post will be giving. Facts about poverty and hunger in america as well as telling the story of how each day is going on the ride. May we all over the months of this ride and beyond keep. The poor and the needy on neighbors in mine and i in our hearts. And do whatever we can. To get help them lift themselves really out of poverty for you know you just can't the whole basis of harvest. Throw food and money at. To work with them. To empower them to. Partner with us in and get out of poverty as a hand up not a handout. All right that's the first spiritual practice my second one. Set up. Pay attention dummy. Which is mindfulness. Now those of you who were here three years ago on the sunday the same sunday by the way three years ago when i. Begin the first ride to be hungry. This spiritual practice was high on my list also. What in the world would be the point. Of traversing this vast and beautiful nation of ours. If you don't promise yourself to keep your eyes open sit up and pay attention. Here i am in 2012 somewhere in arizona i think in that kind of vistas typical. Taking in the breathtaking beauty and openness of the dead of the western desert. Mindfulness is not some fancy highfalutin thing. It is simply paying attention. Deep and focused and purposeful attention. To the moment into the place where you find yourself. Mindfulness does not require anything spectacular or mystical for many of us. We simply have to sit up. In the moment we are in. Look around case. Smell. Feel touch. The surroundings. And breathe in the full yet simple holiness. Each place at each moment. Mike monk the retired military guy who will be the leader of this right i'll be riding with anywhere from 20 to 12 people at any given point including. John walsh's son jim was doing the whole ride with me i'll be picking him up next saturday. And jim will be riding with. The entire way. Anyway the writer try leader told the story i last time i was with him of this ernst while type a personality cyclist. On one of these cross-country rides. He was so focused on getting to the next motel. That with his head down heart and legs pumping furiously hannah's bike bonked into the back of a semi tractor-trailer truck that was parked on the shoulder. He literally ran into wasn't badly hurt. But that's not going to happen to me. I'm not going to be so focused down on the road that i miss a semi tractor-trailer truck that's parked. I'm going to sit up alerted eager. On my bike everyday regardless of whether. And study the landscapes in the sky listen to the birds smell the flowers and the trees and taken my companions. And absolutely everything about me. 4. Only when we are fully mindful. Do we and live fully in the moment. Do we experience life in the fullness and the beauty with which it was in 10. Alright. My third spiritual tract. Read all i need. This is the virtue of hospitality and kinship. It's a very simple low-cost that i believe high-return spiritual practice. But i've engaged them every time i've ridden across america. And it is accomplished simply by giving a simple greeting with a word or a wave. To every stranger that i pass along the way. Here i am in 2012 with my good friend steve schwartz from manhattan. New jersey actually who i met on that right that's the thing you don't you meet wonderful people needs ride to become lifelong friends but here we are waving at someone that we are passing out in the desert. You know in america today many observers including noted sociologist robert putnam is important book. Bowling alone. Have noticed that the social capital. The social capital the collective strength. Of our connections and networks to one another as citizens of the same place. Have grown weaker and dangerously threadbare in america. I believe the simple act of offering a simple yet heartfelt greeting. To everyone you meet. Is not only an act of hospitality you can do at publix here in vero beach. It is something value in affirmed by all the great religions of the world. Spiritual act of affirming the kinship and belonging that we have with those around us. Greatly increases the social capital and trust and care. I'm a whole world. Enrique's. This upcoming ride that is now just seven days away i'll make i have it just to say hello how are you. As i pass people. And as goofy as it might sound i extend the spiritual practice of hospitality even to the cows and the horses that i passed every time i've done this ride my the companions i'm with her maze when i say hello girls hello girls and you know what those animals all the heads turn. Why not. We are all we are so connected to everything in life. Even the cows. And the horses get my attention despite the kafaz. Of these riders i don't know of the venture capitalists from manhattan new just looked at me. All right number for. Find something to enjoy and appreciate about every companion. Now. Let me tell you a truth. About a ride like this. Because random and yes yes somewhat crazed cyclists from all over the united states in the world sign up for such an adventure. These are weird weird type a. And i have no relation to that description at all. Here is the motley crue i went across the country with last time we called ourselves the dirty dozen and if you're counting there's one extra because one of the staff people is in there. In any case we were tough and quirky and divergent collection of personalities if there ever was one. And it would be foolish and disingenuous of me to try to suggest to you that. Spending 32 days with 12 strangers from all over the united states and europe. Is a seamless inharmonious a process as one big happy family that's simply not. People come with all sorts of curious personalities and operating style. And it takes an effort on the part of every individual for the group to gel. And to enjoy one another's company. That is why on this ride as i have with every previous one i'll make a regular effort to find just as many things as i can. To enjoy and appreciate about. Every rider even those who regularly irritate me. It is a practical virtue. To be generous toward and accepting of others. Not only does the group function better as a result. But i will have a better and more satisfying experience. Because of my. Generosity i know this to be the case. I absolutely know what to do. All right number 5. Refuse to complain and whine. The three years ago before i started out of the first ride to beat hunger i showed you this purple. Stop complaining band that i've just put on this week. And i told the story that it's a simple idea comes from a unity minister the reverend will bowen who grew tired. In kansas of listening to his congregation wine about everything in their lives being like kids. He's also a devout devised this thing where. You put this on. And every time you catch yourself bitching about life. You have to move it for the one wrist. To the next. And your supply on psychologists say it takes 21 days to form a new psychological have it. So the whole thing is you're supposed to go 21 days without catching yourself whining or complaining about anything and then you can take this off now i passed out 240 of these last 3 years ago spike you still have yours on. Yeah mike is still working on it. And the truth is that it's very hard it's very hard to go 21 days without complaining i. I absolutely promise you that on this trip like this there is plenty to complain about. There's bad diner food. There's less-than-perfect motel rooms there's rough roads there's waitresses you move like molasses. They're boring a hotel continental breakfast that are inaccurate maps. And the inevitable mistakes the staff will make there's plenty to be irritated. Play legitimately complain about. Each of the three times i've crossed america there's been a fellow rider or two. Who seems to devote most of their spiritual emotional energy. To complaining and whining about absolutely everything that is not precisely to their liking. Not only does this behavior the worst was a german guy who's a german engineer from rockford illinois. Not only i'm not picking up germans isle of dreams dreams and my best friend germans are not necessarily autocratic or complaining. Not only does this behavior make these individuals unhappy and also makes them disagreeable. And people do avoid them. So i hope this little purple band will help. Remind me not to whine and complain and by the way any of you can go to the dollar store and get it and get a band and put it on your wrist or even a large rubber band if you want to just do this while i'm away. To work on your own life. Back here complaints. Are like cold wet blankets dropped drop over the breaks over the soul and draped over all interactions. Consoled as a spiritual practice i aspire to be as complaint free as i absolutely cannot i can line a little bit to myself privately. But what i'm not going to do is give them voice. If i advise you and your lies. Children. Spouses. Your coworkers. Do. The same. Shut up it's not so bad. Alright. I will try not to complain this is day 2 by the way through something called box canyon in california. Stunning place. I will try not to complain because it really is like the old cyclist saying suggest any day in a bicycle beats a day in the office. If i can routinely keep my complaints to myself and that's me by the way i'm number two in that in that paste line there. My heart and mind will move on to other better more constructive things. And i will benefit. Not. Alright. Next. Enjoy the flats enjoy the flat tires i know i've talked about this before. Here again is what i mean like. Mean by. On a ride like this when hardship and inconvenience come your way like when bike tubes and definitely get punctured by all the sharp objects. On the highway that's especially true out west where the. The steel belted tires breakup on the trucks and all his little wires just millions of them. Sometimes what is many as 20 flats a day between twenty riders any case. Whenever a flat happens. You have a choice between one of these two approach. You can resent resist and vociferously complain about the whole unwelcome experience of having to take 10 minutes to change your tube out. Or. You can settle into what needs to be done and enjoy the process with your companions now here i am with my friend steve and you see he's got a flat in the middle the desert so there we are bikes are dumped and we've got 10 minutes to talk. And look around and help each other find the wire. You can enjoy the whole process you're going to get to the next motel. You're going to get your lunch it doesn't help. To complain and complain. So this. This virtue then is the virtue of patience and a depth adaptability. No as a type a personality myself i know that comes as a great shock to many of you. As a type a personality these are virtues that i find. Hard. It's hard for me to be patient. Adaptable. But whenever i hear that unmistakable from the tire. I will say okay scott. Relax appreciate this little unexpected break from your ride. You'll get on the road again but in the meantime enjoy the moment as much as you can. Talk it up with your friends. Even this unplanned moment. Has a rhythm. And a rightness to it. Alright we're getting towards the end of my list lean into the head winds. Even though the prevailing winds across america always blow from west to east the way the jet stream. Because of the circular wind patterns around high and low pressure system. Every bike trip across the country encounters some headwinds. Sometimes which i assume you can understand. Long-distance endurance cyclists do not particularly appreciate when you get a 25 mph headwind. It can take 12 hours to do 120 miles instead of 7 hours to that. A strong headwind. Out of the west. Out in the west particular. Can be at a 20 or 30 or 40 mile an hour. And it really can can change things a bad headwind can really change things let me show you what i mean. Here's our heroes are right leader mike monk actually that's a fake picture about how tough the winds can be honest. Point here. Is that to spend a month in the spring of the year i am worried about tornado season 2 but to spend a month in the spring crossing guard state. Means i'm going to have some tough tough unexpected and unwelcome headwinds and other. Demanding. Road and weather conditions. Putting rain. And sleet. And snow and tornadoes and dangerous thunderstorm thunderstorms and bone-chilling cold. As with every cross-country spring trip i've taken this one will include some days that will involve really tough conditions. When the only thing you can really do is find the fortitude. To get through the day. Surely it is a useful spiritual practice it when you encounter headwinds and other difficulties. Define that strength within and just say i'm going to just do this i just. Going to do. All of your lives require 422. Various venues. This one will. Cause me to need fortitude. Last. Keep a smile on my face which is the virtual joyful. Maybe some of you think this is a silly inconsequential airhead kind of a thing. But if you do you probably don't know that recently leading psychologists have identified. A constellation of benefits that come with regularly smiling and here they are. The amazing benefits of smiling first is contagious. It makes those around you feel better too. Smiling lowers stress and anxiety it helps you calm down and carry on. Smiling releases endorphins. The chemicals in your body that are released that make you happier. You'll be more attractive. A smile makes you better looking. And makes you suggest that you are personable even easygoing and empathetic even if you aren't. Smiling strengthens your immune system. Somehow leads your body to produce white blood cells that help fight illness. Depression. And you'll be more approachable. People are more willing to engage with smiling people. Smiling will make you more comfortable. It just helps an awkward situation. You seem more trustworthy people trust smiling people more than those with flat or angry facial expression. And number 9 you'll be a better leader smiling is a highly effective leadership technique. People trust and follow those. Who smile more. I believe it's smiling is more than an involuntary instinctive reaction. Two pleasant things that happened around you. It is a spiritual practice. To smile. And that only makes you feel better at also lifts and calms and reassures. Those around you sometimes. On a ride like this it's some very difficult or demanding or painful moment. Simple smile has the power to lift the collective mood of the group. And help everyone get through the day it really is that powerful. The second time i crossed america in 2008 i rolled most days with a guy. Santa barbara california. It was about my age. For the first half of the trip. Martin was so anxious about being strong and fast enough. That he had a perpetual frown on his face. He finally realized somewhere in. Somewhere in the west east texas. That. He could smile settle into the ride and have a good time. Above all else on this 33-day adventure of mine i want to have a good time. With my companions. And having a ready smile on my face. Can help to ensure joyfulness. Alright. Let's. Yeah alright let's do that that's my list again. So you all know the spiritual practices. And the virtues of the heart that i hope to practice as i do this right. I trust that have use as you've listened to me this morning it has occurred to you because you're all very clever people. That my not-so-secret purpose this morning by giving you this list. Is to say to you that every one of these eight spiritual practices can of course be applied. Do your lives right now here in vero beach you don't ever have to get in a bicycle. To have these eight spiritual practices. What spiritual practice means to a unitarian universalist. Is it you aspire. Careful and compassion intentionality everyday. Just simply act in certain ways that are helpful. And what can i tell you it matters profoundly that we try to do our human best. No matter. What are tasks or challenges are. I of course asked as i do this ride. Reach of you keep me in your thoughts and prayers. As i undertake this adventure. As i'll be keeping all of you. In my thoughts and prayers. You know the difference between a twenty-five-year-old rider. And a sixty-five-year-old rider. Isn't the sixty-five-year-old rider that being me. Realizes fully. How very vulnerable. I am. I am fully aware of all the very real danger. That are out there. On this ride. I will be a smart. And as careful as i can. Still i know. But despite every reasonable precaution i take. Things can and probably will. Go wrong for me and other writers and often they go wrong. In a heartbeat. But life is too short. As a chalice lighting words. Suggested to you this morning. Life is too short. To let such dangers keep you. From your passions. And your possibilities. I love to ride. I love to support. Worthwhile charities. And i love. To challenge my body and my mind. And my spirit and so off i go by the way the bike i'm i'm riding next week is already in california sitting at the motel the ramada inn in costa mesa this is a duplicate. But the time but i'm ready. I will miss you over coming days. Enjoy the next five sundays with our special pulpit guests. And please follow my progress every day on facebook. Not only will it be a fuss up to a 4 minute video but every morning i start i will start this little gps gizmo. And you'll be able to look at where i am on the satellite map you'll literally see the. moving and i'll give you my average speed in my speed in the elevation it would even give you my heart rate if i wore the monitor but i'm not doing that that's too much information for you people but you can follow the ride every morning just get up with a cup of coffee. Click on my facebook page and take a look to see where i am you can look at either the map of where i am or the actual satellite. A photo that was taken several years ago so i can stop at a gas station you can see that it's just absolutely amazing technology. That we have so i will stay in touch with you. And you stay in touch with me and all i can say is i leave is. God bless you all. I meant. The fortune light-hearted i take to the open road. Healthy free the world before me. Fortune. Logan road. I inhale great draughts of space. The east and the west are mine in the north and the south. Carmine. Whoever you are come travel with me. However sweetpeas laid up stores however convenient the swelling we cannot remain here. Together the inducements shall be greater. We will sail pathless. And wild seas. Clippers. Forward. After the great companion. And who belong to them. They too are on the road. To see nothing anywhere but what you may reach it and pass it. To look up or down no road but it stretches and waits for you. But we didn't want you to go away. Without cheering you on. And show thanks. And a choir. We have something to sing to you. Tom is going to play it through first. So that you will see the melody. Which is very very well-known. If the melody is this land is your land this land is my land. , play it through first. And then we'll sing it just got.

uufvb_org

2014Sep07Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. And welcome back does first sunday after labor day and i put this tie on this morning it's not live without these for a couple of months what am i doing to myself. But i'm glad to be back and. I'm glad to see so many of you here this morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased you decided to start this day with us. We are congregation is the graphics head of open minds loving hearts and helping hands people individually seeking to become our best selves. Even as together in this community we work to make. This world a better place. And please know you were welcome. Just as you come to us no matter how quirky you are. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd. Whether you were a visitor this morning or have been here for decades. Whether you're feeling on top of the world right now or down in the dumps or somewhere in between we welcome you. And want to make you feel at home here. We hope you'll find our services morning meaningful and enriching and that you will find something here this morning to take with you. The feed your spirit and nourishes your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose for living life in the days and weeks ahead. Years ago i set the unitarian universalist principles into a responsive reading. This little thing is the most widely used thing i've ever written it's used by people all over the denomination in a regular basis. I'd like us to begin our worship by sharing this it will be above also. There it is. Your part is indented. And let us through this together. In a world with so much hatred and violence. We need a realtor.. In a world with so much brutality and fear. In a world with so many persons. Abused and neglected. In the world was so much dogmatism and falsehood. In a world with so much tyranny and oppression. In the world was so much inequality and strife. In the world was so much environmental degradation. All the distance. Ar parts. And in the world. With so much uncertainty and despair. Renee. A religious spirit. Is a pilgrim spirit. A spirit in search of a way of life. To live. That is authentic. And true to itself. Call to some serious engagement at the world it is not about standing still. Or the status quo. Religious living. Is about movement. It's about journey. A religious spirit. Is by nature. A question. Spirit. For most of us. That questing takes the form of primary questions. Questions of meaning and purpose. Questions sacred and secular. Questions of destiny. And destination. Questions of how. And why. And whence and whither. Where. To live. And die. How important these questions are. Will they make of us philosophers and dreamers. Poets and singers. Thinkers. Mathematician. Builders. Warriors and explorers. They even make us theologians. The questions you ask. Can be very. Very. Important. In many churches as you know. The challenge of faith. Is a fairly passive. Or receptive. Activity. The beliefs of tradition. Systemically stated. An organized overtime. By theologians. Enter doctrine or dogma. They are simply handed down. They're handed down to the believers. Who live in accordance with those beliefs. Membership and practice in such churches. Is largely a matter of conformity and acceptance. Of an already defined. And unitarian universalist tradition. We have intentionally chosen a different basis for religious community. Our way is not based. On any fixed body of doctrine. Or dogma. It has been our common practice going back over four centuries. To the first unitarian communities in europe. Not. To adopt. A set of creedal formula. Orville caballero. As a condition. Of membership. Instead. We have fashion together a style that is decidedly not. Passive. And not the sole province. Of professional theologians. How are unitarian universalist church. Takes a different approach to religion. It is an approach. That values connection. Over conformity. Diversity. / division. Reasoned ethics. Over blind. We simply do not ask those who would join our church. Do you believe as we do. We know there is a much more important question for us all to engage on our journey. The root question upon which any personal theology. Or church community must be based. We only asked of those who would walk with us. Do you. Love. So wednesday. So this morning as we transition from summer into fall and coincidentally as i begin my fifth year as you're settled minister. My how time flies time flies when you're having fun. On this sunday we transition from summer into fall i begin a brand new sermon series. Which i will preach on occasional sundays over the coming months about the six official sources. Of our unitarian universalist faith now it is my educated guess. But a majority of you had absolutely no idea until i announce this sermon series. That unitarian-universalism even had an official list of sources. But it does. Most of you are pretty familiar with our 7 official and guiding uu principles we print them faithfully every sunday in the order service. And incorporated them into the opening words. This morning. And here they are projected. Over again. These are the seven principles which hold us together as a faith community. As found in the by-laws of the denomination the unitarian universalist association. But just a bit of important history if i might. These seven principles of ours were not as i am sure you understand found on ancient tablets centuries ago on a mountaintop. Nor did they descend suddenly from heaven into the hands of ralph waldo emerson. And henry david thoreau or any of the other great you use of the past. They are rather the result these principles. Of hundreds of years of evolution of our free church tradition. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries here in america. Both the unitarians and the universalist drafted various faith statements and covenants all documents. Which articulated their liberal christian beliefs. But our current and there is a modern list of seven principles didn't begin to take shape until during world war ii. When the american unitarian association lane plans. For the expansion of our faith following world war ii. Commissioned the most famous articulate minister of the time the rev a paul davies. Of washington dc he was a great man. Many of his sermons were published in the washington post on monday mornings after he preached and he was. He was sort of the. Famous famous preacher of the day. They asked him to head up a committee. Charged with coming up with a statement that would quote. Set the theological ground for the girls. Of the movement. And here are the five guiding principles they came up with in the mid-1940s as the world was being ravaged by world war ii. And i'm just going to read five principles. That will guide our unitarian faith individual freedom of belief. Discipleship. To advancing truth. The democratic process. In human relations. Universal brotherhood. Undivided by nation. Race or creed that was pretty amazing during world war ii. And finally allegiance to the cause. United. World community again. Hard beliefs. Can 1943. These five liberal principles worked well for the denomination in the years following world war when we experience. Incredible rapid growth in our congregations especially in the burgeoning baby-boomer suburbs. Of america's expanding cities. The church i serve river road unitarian bethesda by 19th 63 had 600 children and it's sunday school it was just an amazing time of growth for us. Indeed in 1961 when the separate unitarian and universalist denominations finally merge. These five principles were incorporated with a few other affirmations and ideas. End of the bylaws of the new denomination. But just a few years later in the late 1970s when especially women in the movement. Demanded a more gender-inclusive statement of our principles and purposes. Do you weigh spent several agonizing years carefully drafting a new statement. Of 7 foundational principles which after much debate and revision. We're finally officially adopted by the delegates of the general assembly in atlanta. In 1984 and this is the seventh the list of the seven principles and i've already shown you. That is the document adopted in 84 which we still use 30 years later. Now. The seven principles which will undoubtedly be revised again. By the denomination at some future point. Because our free faith is is as the reading today implied is not a static thing it's a voyage. They will be revised. These seven principles none-the-less are today they serve us as the center and soul of our faith tradition. Because these seven statements do reflect our core values and beliefs. As a religion. They guide us as we strive to live out our lives in this troubled world. The men if you will remember that last summer the summer of 13. I preached the 7-part sermon series. One by one on these seven principles. And if you amidst that series and are interested in reflecting on each of these principles more deeply just go to our website. Click on recent sermons and scroll back to last summer and you can you can look at all seven of of them. But enough on the well-known principles of our faith. As i've already said this morning i'm beginning a series on the sources. Of our tradition. After enumerating are seven principles the bylaws of the denomination. Immediately go on to identify. 6 official foundational sources. That gives shape to our faith. And here they are. Just maybe an unfamiliar document to some of them just going to read them through. The living tradition the bylaws say which we shared draws from many sources first. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder affirmed in all cultures. Which moves us to a renewal of the spirit. An openness to the forces would create an apple life on it that's the one i'm going to talk about this morning. But then that's followed by. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men. Which challenged us to confront powers and structures of evil. With justice compassion and the transforming power of love. Third wisdom. From the world's religions which inspire us. In our ethical. And spiritual life. 4. Jewish and christian teachings. Which college to respond to god's love. By loving our neighbors as ourselves. Next humanist teachings. Would counsel us to heed the guidance of reason. And the results of science. And warned us against idolatries of the mind and spirit. And lastly sick. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions. Which celebrate the sacred circle of life. And instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature and actually this six source was added a little later. As neopagans in our movement said hey how about this important. Set of traditions as well. And then the statement adds. Grateful for the religious pluralism. Which enriches and the nobles our faith we are inspired to deepen our understanding. And expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant. Promising to one another our mutual trust. And support. No. You may well wonder why our free sinking denomination has bothered at all to formally enumerate six sources. Which informant shape the tradition well. It's because like all faith traditions ours needs to answer.. The epistemological question. The epistemological question. In religion is simply this i've you heard this from me before. The question is by what authority. Does your faith tradition. Say something is real or true. Is good. Or right. Because epistemology which is kind of a fancy academic and philosophical word it's simply means the methods or grounds or siri. Acknowledge. So the episcopal epistemological question is this by what authority do you do you say something is true in your religion. I think it's. Obvious to anyone who thinks about it. That if our religion any religion cannot answer that question in a reasonable sound or authoritative manner. It isn't real intellectual and spiritual trouble you've got to be able to answer this. You know who says. If you if your face says i believe in purple unicorn. Someone has every right to say do you want. Why what source do you say that true or real. For many traditional christian religions as i'm sure all of you understand indeed for most of the christian congregations here in vero beach. The epistemological question for them is answered in a way something like this. In mainstream. Christian epistemology. The source of authority for our religion is the word of god. And the teachings of jesus as recorded in the bible. And as interpreted by church doctrine. And tradition. Now this in all of its various christian articulations is a clear. And reasonable epistemology. Is it reasonable. Indeed in the 18th and 19th centuries both the early christian unitarians and the early christian universalist. Had biblically-based epistemology. Very similar. To that one though they may have interpreted the life of jesus differently than a calvinist. But they still had an epistemology. Approximately as this one. Both early unitarianism and early universalism. Relied almost exclusively on biblical scripture. Albeit their unit of albeit their liberal interpretive understandings. To understand the nature of god and the teachings of jesus. As the source for ultimate truth. And ethical behavior we were biblically-based traditions. But with the arrival of the 20th century. Both unitarianism and universalism as faith traditions began to genuinely open. And be influenced by religious humanism. And the other great religions of the world in other words we stopped around 1900. Being stuck in the in the in the in the christian narrative the christian narrative nothing wrong with christian narrative it was just too limiting for us. So we began to expand our spiritual narrative way beyond the confines of the life of jesus. And most especially we were interested in learning from the eastern traditions of buddhism hinduism and taoism along with modern 20th century american humanism. So. With the arrival of the twentieth century we began to embrace. How much wider and more inclusive spirituality and epistemology. And began to move far beyond. The ones comfortable confines of biblical and christian roots. Unitarian universalist as they increasingly encountered the wisdom of other religions and philosophies of the world. Especially the teachings of modern human ism. The sources then. Moved way beyond christianity and began to look a lot more like the the list that i put up before. This one it looks more like this with the expansion of our understanding beyond christianity. Now. You will see that in honor of our distinctly judeo-christian roots. That the extra the fourth one flip flip the fourth one if you can. Well that's there it is you'll notice that in honor of our judeo-christian roots. The fourth source of unitarianism is jewish and christian teachings. And i will address this all-important fourth source later in the sermon series. But as i'm sure has already caught your attention. Modern you use while honoring and valuing their judeo-christian pass. Do not see jewish and christian teachings biblical teaching. As the first and foremost epistemological source of our faith they listed fourth. But the three other sources can you go back one slide to the. There it is. These are the first three. That they mention. And what did they list as first and therefore arguably thought of his foremost. Source. The topic i'm doing today. It's very interesting i think very telling. The first source of unitarian universalist faith. Is direct experience. Direct personal experience. Transcending mystery and wonder on and on. No. To me although this whole statement is useful and important. But i'll get through every part of it. Quickly. By far the most important part of the statement are the first two words. Direct. Experience. You remember that your festival logical question i posed earlier by what authority does your faith tradition. Say something is real or true go to write well in our faith tradition. The single most important source of truth and wisdom and moral guidance. Is not something written in an ancient book or brought down on ancient tablets. But it's your own direct personal experience with the world. Nowthis epistemological assertion. That gives great authority and credence to your own personal and direct experience with life. That's us radically apart from most american faith traditions. Which we have already observed believe that the single most important source of truth and wisdom in life. Is the holy bible that reveals the law of god. And the teachings of jesus. To the faithful. But for us unitarian-universalist it is our own direct and personal experience with the world. That must first and foremost be consulted. And trusted as we shape our spiritual and our ethical lives. In our faith tradition than each individual is urge to engage the world. And use a needle to very important words. Their own reason. And their own conscience. Their own direct experience. To determine what they must believe. What is a voltimand value and how even more importantly how they must live. This radical trust. And empowerment of the individual. Is foundational to understanding our faith. Here in this faith community then no one is ever going to tell you. How to understand the world. Or shape the purpose and meaning of your life no one can do that for you if we say you must do that for yourself. Will be with you and will help. Think it through but we can't do that for you that's work. Each individual must do. Epistemologically then we trust. That your own heart. And your own mind will over a lifetime show you the way. To what is real and true to what is good and right. Here we truly believe human beings can be trusted. With that spiritual and ethical freedom and responsibility we trust you. To do that work to find what is real and true what is good and right. Now as i'm sure you can all understand and some theological quarters specifically. And mainly christian conservative ones. Wii u use have been sharply criticized over the centuries. For having given so much authority to each individual to discover their their own truths. And chart their own spiritual journeys it has been passionately suggested by the orthodox. Play more conservative tradition. The human individuals when left to their own intellectual and spiritual devices. Can wander off. Into dangerous and erroneous theological and ethical places. And i might agree with this fear about the open epistemology of our free church tradition. If this first source of authority one's own direct experience. Was the only source we list. But if you will notice. And this is very important for understanding our faith tradition. We immediately follow this first source about direct experience trust in your own experience. With five other sources. Five other solid time-honored sources of religious truth and ethical precepts. That bind unitarian-universalism to all humanity's great spiritual and ethical traditions in a judaism christianity humanism neo-paganism. The prophetic leaders of the world those are all external sources. That rely on the wisdom of human history. It is very important to remember that the individualism and the freedom we so boldly lift up. In the that this is the second half of it with this indirect experience is. Is constrained offset and balance. What is other sources of our faith which rely on thousands of years of diverse religious insight and wisdom from all of humanity's great traditions. So what i'm saying this morning is it if you look at all of these six sources put together. You are not free. In this liberal religious community to quote unquote believe anything you want. For you constantly need to blend. And compare your own direct experience. The first source. With all of these other next five. So did you get this. This. Crucial. Epistemological balance in our tradition. Between your own personal direct first-hand experience your reason and conscience. In the time-honored spiritual and ethical wisdom of all of humanity's great traditions. It's a balancing act between these epistemological sources. Alright. So now that we have. That epistemological balance question settled least it's settled in my mind. We can move on to the rest of this first source statement so we're going to go on now beyond the two words direct experience to the rest of the statement. Because. You have to answer the question direct experience of what. I need direct experience of purple unicorn snow. Direct experience. Of that transcending mystery and wonder affirmed in all cultures. Which moves us to renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces. Which create a top whole life now that. Quite a spiritual mouthful isn't it. How do i. Did the denominational leaders drafting the statement back in 1984 how did they come up with that. Which was subsequently officially voted on and a general assembly by delegates representing every congregation in the movement. I think it is obvious. It should be obvious to you that they struggled long and hard and i can tell you that they work diligently. For more than a year. To come up. With an inclusive but hopefully meaningful statement. The could be embraced by unitarian-universalist across the wide theological and philosophical spectrum of our movement. While still using the language which are former uua prison is bill sinkford call. A language of reverence. That would reflect our spiritual siri that's seriousness as a movement in other words. Without allegiance to either the theorists in our movement or the humanists in our movement or anybody in between. They work to find. A way to affirm. That ours is a spiritual movement. Concerned with deep and holy and sacred and ultimate things. Without excluding anybody or being too specific soy a humanist can look at that and say will. I can get along with that statement and a new england you know. Conservative christian unitarian at king's chapel in boston. That the transcending mystery wonder that to me as god and the teachings of jesus so i can get along with that so. The political genius if you will of this rather broad and inclusive statement. Is justice that most unitarian universalist can look at it and consign. Some meaningful way. To interpret that for the. In the context of their own spiritual search. No some might dismiss this rather vague spiritual statement. As a terrible example of what happens whenever a committee of people is put in charge. Drafting a. I mean this was an impossible task impossible task transcendent fourth which would have irritated the humanist they said transcending mystery. Possible document to create. But given our broad and interesting theological diversity i think they actually did a pretty good job of coming up with a statement. That will work for us. In any case it is my hope that everyone in this congregation no matter. Where you are and your individual spiritual path. And no matter. How precisely you understand. The purpose of life on this planet i hope that everyone can read into that first source. Something that is meaningful. For them personally tell you how i relate to it. As i have regularly shared from this pulpit over the four years that i've been you're settled minister. In my own spiritual life i regularly experience something that i can only call a. A fragile yet reliable spirit of holiness. Purpose and grace. That is sunk down deep down into everyday. Things on this planet it's not in charge of creation. But it's reliable and it's there and i see it in many ways. I feel this life-sustaining and loving spirit on a daily basis. In the manifold beauty of nature. In the goodness and compassion of persons and communities. In the love and care of my family and friends. I even sent it deep within my own heart. As i seek to grow in my own capacity to become more loving. More compassionate more gracious. And more joyful. In my spiritual life. This. Spirit of holiness. And health that i feel so present it gives me hope and meaning even though it cannot conquer all the evil in the world. God knows there's so much wrong with our world. It's there. Elder shores me that my life can have both purpose in troy. For me the sacred spirit the breathe through my world is very much a transcending. Mystery and wonder and it does leave me. To renewal of my spirit and an openness in my heart to the forces which create. And i pull life support so that's how i personally relate to the statement. And i hope that each of you whether you call. It god or spirit or. Love. Or justice or beauty or holiness or something else. But you have some spiritual something. Which is larger and lovelier in more lasting than yourself something that transcends you. Which calls you in your spiritual life calls you back in a few to purpose and decency and goodness and love i hope you. All have something. Something like. Burning in you. What is essential to remember as unitarian as a unitarian universalist. Is it here in this tradition. We first and foremost expect you again. To rely on and trust your own direct experience. To inform and animate and inspire your personal faith. Well at the same time we expect you to honor. And respect all those other great sources. Of of human wisdom. That the six sources identify. But first and foremost we ask you to use your own reason. And your own conscience and imma be talking about this next week and my sermon on the banality of evil. Because so often in our lives we have to know how to listen to our conscience. To avoid evil. We asked you to trust. This. To shape your own spiritual and ethical conclusion. As you responsibly live your life. Yes our liberal faith gives you a great deal of freedom to chart your own spiritual course. But always always within the light of the other five sources enumerated. So the bottom line is that in our free church tradition. Your personal face. Should arrive free and unfettered. From within your own heart and mind and yet constantly be nourished. By the wisdom of the human centuries. It is both and you see. In our face tradition. We say trust your own mind and heart but at the same time. Listen to the mind and the heart of universal human understanding is expressed in all the great world religions. And traditions. This interplay. Between the self. And universal human understandings. It's in the center play. That we find. Proper balance. And this interplay. Is enough to keep all of us busy. For a spiritual life.. And i say and me and you on this sunday. I'm in. I send you on your way to your week with these words adapted. From the pueblo indians of new mexico. Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe. Even if it is a tree. The stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do. Even if it is a long way from here. Hold on to life. Even if it is easier. To let go. Hold onto my hand. Even when. We are apart. God bless.

uufvb_org

2011Dec18Sermon128.mp3

Because we have our young folks with us this morning you're going to have to do without a sermon. We just have four stories. And the first is from my life the parsons christmas tree. Some of you may not know that i began my ministry almost 40 years ago in a little frozen town houlton maine all the way up in aroostook county almost to canada. The parsons christmas tree. It was the middle of the afternoon one day in early december 1975 and it was my first christmas. As a minister of the first church of houlton maine. Where i began my career right on seminary that's the building a darling thing department tears visited that building this summer. My office was right there on the fire. Right front i had lovely clear glass windows there. I was diligently working away at my desk at that cozy little church. When i heard someone open the the front door noisily and stomp his feet loudly getting the snow off there was already at least a foot of snow on the ground in houlton maine believe me. Into my office barge bread donald president of the congregation retired president of the leading bank in town. Any declared in a booming cheerful scottish voice of his. I think today is a day we get the possum christmas tree. And without really asking me if it was convenient to my schedule. He just simply laid out our plan. In an hour's time. Fred and his buddy henry white. Treasure of the church retired railroad worker and a widower like fred would pick me up at home. And they would we would drive out to fred's camp. Way down and the beast tremont very rustic cabin away way down in the woods. And we pick out a christmas tree from the. Hundreds of acres he owned down there. For my living room before dark then we go back to the camp. And have a big. Bachelor dinner. Cooked on the coast on a cook stove. I raced home to change into my heavy winter clothing that would be required and was actually ready when henry and fred arrived in their pickup. About a half an hour of driving down icy backroads. We were way down in the maine woods. We park the truck. On the edge of a plowed road. Wrapped on our snowshoes loaded up our backpacks with the food and an axe to cut the tree down. And began tracking together again in more than a foot of snow. Down the lawn logging road that when did its way down to his camp on the be stream. To my amazement about halfway down fred simply stop this tracks and said. Possibly i want to show you some friends of mine. And he stuck his hand out he said ticket edd. An out-of-nowhere about half-a-dozen chickadees came. And landed on his hand on his various fingers. I have never seen birds in the wild. Trust. Someone like. Before i had never seen that. After we i suppose he bribe them with food occasionally i don't know how he did it. After we arrived at the camp we put down our packs we got a roaring fire going inside the cookstove. And then we went out in the woods with our snowshoes to find the parsons tree. We quickly settled on a rather how shall i call this sparse fir tree. Some of you may not know that trees in the middle of maine woodsworth all rocky b they don't grow like. Christmas light variety christmas tree this is the kind of tree that you have out in the woods in aroostook county. We chopped a trees look pretty much as pathetic is that one. We hauled it back to the truck at our snowshoes in the gathering darkness was about 4 it gets dark and houlton maine about 3:30 actually. We snow shoot our way back to the camp. To prepare and enjoy our dinner. A stake of course. Potatoes baked. And i guess you could call it a salad and. All single malt scotch actually. Was required by fred. Now the best part of the evening of course was the conversation we had there was no electricity in this camp so all the light was the soft diffuse. Kerosene lamp light. And you can hear the crackling fire. The stories that fred and henry always told that you need to know that. Over the four years i knew these two wonderful older men they were in their late seventies and i was 24. They told actually the same dozen humorous stories. To each other and me every time we got together like this. The amazing thing was with the same 12storeez they patiently would listen to one another like if if henry was telling it fred would be sort of smiling in anticipation as a story i knew the damn story about the the deer turns they put in somebody made an olive stories. And they would patiently wait till the other ones finish the story as though they had never heard it before that as soon as the punchline came they would both roriswe if laugh and it was just wonderful. I came to wonder over these years i've knew these two wonderful kind old man. If it wouldn't have been more efficient just to say let's tell number for and then i'll ask then why go through this.. But they didn't they always were just retail these same. Same. Stories. In any case. Are afternoon and evening deep in the maine woods was magical. I felt warm and safe in the embrace of these two sweet old men. And i truly enjoyed their companionship they're both. Long gone now of course. And the next day my sparse and if the truth be told rather pathetic looking christmas tree. It went up in my living room. And that christmas i cherished it. Primarily because. Where i knew it came from. It came from their love and care for me. The person's christmas tree reminds me each and every time christmas rolls around. The best and most enduring presence. For each and everyone of us are those simple. Heartfelt. And always monetarily insignificant gifts generously given. By those we love and care for. Emil shared. A story told. A carol son. And it's redecorate. If you need anything more than that. This december. You're missing it all. I don't have stories of chopping down trees or snow show me snowshoeing across the snow. Because when i think of the holiday season. I think about some of the traditions that i grew up with as many of you do. And these are traditions that we may or may not continue to observe depending on where our religious and spiritual journey has taken. I was born in colombia a country where the majority and brace catholic tradition. And caplacizumab after all is the state religion. As children. We believed it was a nino dios the infant jesus who brought us gift on christmas eve. Colombian catholics don't just go to midnight mass. They prepare for nine days following a colombian tradition that dates to the 1700s. Starting on december 16th. Adherence recite the novena or advent prayers that relate the events that occurred during the 9-month pregnancy of the virgin mary. Overtime. As you can imagine the traditional wording for these prayers has changed. But i grew up with my grandmother and my great-grandmother. Who prefer the traditional prayers so we prayed. The traditional prayers. Many colombian families today continue to observe this tradition. Even as american customs such as the christmas tree santa claus and even the turkey dinner. Have been incorporated or 10 to supplant the old traditions. I remember. That each of the nine evenings of the novena was spent at the home of a different relative or friend. The plant the prayers were read. And then the instruments came out. My great-grandmother played an instrument called a deeply it's a 12-string guitar. And she played we took out my daca we took out tambourines and we sang the vegan sikos or christmas carols. We would gather around the passivity or nativity scene that was a miniature recreation of a small village to include the stable and the holy family around the manger. And this nativity scenes. We're phenomenal people would go all out it was almost like a competition. Took recreate these little villages and people would act actually bring in all different types of lichens. And greens to decorate their manger scene. Each family would set aside a section of their living room. To do this. As children we always look forward to playing the tambourine in maracas during the vegan ceco's the traditional yummy foods the tamales than a tia which was a sweet. Creamy custard in my grandmother would always make this delicious raspberry sauce. Would go with it. Nwa loss. Which. I would need today but their deep-fried cheese fritters and they were delicious we shared we shared all of these foods after the novena. But above all. All the kids would wonder who that year was going to have the privilege of placing the baby jesus in the crib on christmas day. So we were all on our best. When we move the united states baby jesus was eventually replaced by santa claus as the bearer of gifts and the passivity was replaced with a christmas tree. But we still read the novena and sang the begun sikos. We did that until we were about in middle schools. When preparations for christmas shifted to watching the corny holiday movies. Still love. Sharing a traditional colombian meal. Decorating the christmas tree and going to church on christmas day. My parents often packed us onto the subway to go to rockefeller center to see the huge christmas tree and watch the ice skaters. When i move back to columbia to teach up for college graduation. The idea of santa claus and reindeers in the tropics. Seems a little bit too much. I thought of cultural imperialism linked to increasing materialism and that just didn't work for me the holiday celebrations lost a great deal of their appeal for me. And have never seen the same. That is until. Children. The holidays have since become a time for family. Reflecting on the year that has gone by and the year to come. A reminder to be grateful for what we have in an opportunity to reach out to others. This afternoon steve and i and tyler orcutt will be driving to the airport to pick up our daughters who are returning from college for the holidays. Lauren and gabby grew up without much emphasis on santa claus and i better be careful here. And santa respecting our skepticism kept his distance. But we always had a christmas tree and as much family as we could assemble. When the girls were very young and important part of the holiday. For two or three years. Was their participation in the theater guild annual christmas show. Along with their participation through music or plays in this fellowship services. I know that the sense of community and family. Or being surrounded by caring adult adults. Even when they had to sit through boring services. Has had a big influence on them. Their memories of their shot childhoods and their character. In many ways the fellowships filled the void left. By the waning of the traditions i remember from my childhood. As i suppose every generation must find its own traditions. Regardless of the holiday accoutrements. Christmas has been and will continue to be. A time for gratitude. For family. For reaching out. And anticipation of a new year. Full of possibilities. Feliz navidad prospero ano nuevo merry christmas and a happy new year to you all. My father wendell w alexander. Was a naval officer. And a hard hat salvage diver who spent the last half of world war ii. Auto narregan warship in the mediterranean trying. Mostly unsuccessfully. To clear the harbors of scuttle. French warships. After the war ended. He and his ship returned to new york city in the autumn of 1946. With his fellow officer and war buddy lloyd ewing who immediately introduced my father. To his kid sister. My mother. Marsha. Ewing. A social worker. From rochester new york. 7 weeks later talked about the greatest generation they were also the quickest generation. 7 weeks later. On december 22nd my mother and father were married. In the office of a baptist minister outside of philadelphia. And exactly 10 months later to the day my eldest brother george was born. In milwaukee wisconsin with my birth following 18 months later. And my two other brothers after that. All during my childhood. One of the biggest and most anticipated family events of the holiday was the christmas party we simply called it the christmas party. Which happened with great planning and excitement and fanfare every year in the alexander household in wisconsin. The saturday before christmas. To water my parents wedding anniversary on the 22nd. Our big house in the woods. Homes with frenetic preparation for the christmas party. Massive amounts of rich holiday food and drink were procured for the more than 60 guests that always attended. And a school bus. Was rented. This is an actual picture. Two of the far friends from milwaukee. We rented a school bus to bring my parents friends from milwaukee down to racine. And that was years before anybody knew about designated drivers. Our house was decorated from top to bottom with wreaths and holly and ribbon and pine cones. At all things christmas. And the boys. This was 1956 there were only three of us then the boys. Each. That's me in the middle. The boys were each assigned their task to make sure that our big party came off without a hitch. When the big of evening arrive with the house toasty warm and full of the aromaz and sites of christmas we all got dressed up. The boys in rather unfamiliar coat and tie. My mother and father in their best evening wear. Ennis boys we first help to unroll i don't know where we got this thing we had a long red carpet. And we would roll it down. The. The path. To the world. School bus was parked at all the other people were parked to let our guests know. How special. We thought they were. Soon the guests begin arriving out of the december cold. And some magical years of course it was gently snowing. Everybody was elegantly dressed for the evening. The christmas party was so special and exciting to me over my childhood years. The guess all made a fuss about us toe head blonde boys. And we we just loved this party. I have so many wonderful memories of those rockets christmas parties that's my mother at the piano. And that's my uncle lloyd who introduced my father to my mother with the drink in his hand. Again scotch i'm afraid to report. We love these parties. The food the laughter the downright. Odd characters among my parents friend. But the thing i remember most vividly was the singing. Every year that was nothing but singing in that house kind of like your house in columbia with all the instruments. My mother and that's her at the piano she also played guitar and. Oregon we had an organ in the house as well. Was particularly musical as was my extended ewing plan my aunts and uncles. All of them were singers. Who showed up each year ready and eager to bella way the night. It was never long on the christmas party evenings before the carols began like this scene here. What the singing. That night in our house was never restricted you see to the predictable holiday favorites they were always sung but. At my christmas parties we would have odd songs kind of thrown in by. All people. One particular christmas party song i remember which was sung every year by my uncle lloyd again that's him with the tie. I am the glass. He just sang at singing every year with unabashed its scottish custom and believe it or not the song was the titanic. I never understood why my lloyd my uncle lloyd love that. Sad nautical ballad every year because it didn't have anything to do with christmas or baby jesus. But every year before the evening was out we all had to sing the titanic you know the song. So it was that i had it was sad when the great ship went down to the bottom of the little children. It was sad when the great ship went down. Back to me a christmas song what can i tell you. My parents bless their hearts have been gone now for many many years. One of my brothers my youngest brother eric is also gone. And my other two remaining brothers well we live hundreds and hundreds of miles apart. And my memories of that big friendly house in the woods on james avenue. Fade a little bit with each passing decade. But i will never forget our christmas parties. Which remind my heart every time this year. That all of us children and adults alike. R32 sing. We are always free to sing. At the top of our lungs off-key. Irregularly. About the baby born in the manger. About the angels. And the shepherds. And the stars and when the spirit moves. The thing about the thai. Merry christmas everybody. Merry christmas. And this morning. I get the absolute joy of telling you the tale. Of the snobbish. A favorite christmas story concern the ox. Who. Sherrod the stable that knife in bethlehem. Was joseph. And mary and the baby. With considerable amazement. He witness the birth. Opposite of the shepherds and the arrival of exotic strangers. It hurt all the time. How about the stars and the angelic choruses. And finally watched the next morning. Has joseph and mary fled. With their son. 4 days. All the other animals in the stable. Could talk about nothing but their curious. Human guests. Well the ox. Silently chewed his cud. Over in the dark corner of the manger. Finally he couldn't stand it any longer all the fuss they were making kenny came out of the corner to grumble. I don't understand. All this looks like. How are you told no i really don't know why you are also interested and that upon the family. They had been anyone worth knowing they would never have stayed in this broken-down stable has for the baby. It was very like any other baby that i ever saw born just the way babies are born they were very ordinary people i would say very ordinary people. No. Oxen. Are very long-lived creatures in this one was no exception. He was still present 30 some odd years later. The witness the sad end of the stable born child. At the hands of pontius pilate. And his cruel roman soldiers. The ox then turned and remarked to his companions. I do it all the time. Pet shop. He was. So very ordinary song. Wholesome fairy. Ordinary people. It was then. That the donkey. Who had carried jesus many interesting miles during his lifetime. You are right. This man may have had a humble birth. Humiliating death. An ordinary birds. An ordinary death. But he certainly lived. An extraordinary. Life. It's the wise donkey. Who carries for us all. A hint. As to how our christmas time this year. Can be more significant. Most of us in this room this morning can confess to being even more ordinary than the family from nazareth. No wise man knows shepherd certainly no choruses of angels attended our cradles. And our deaths shall undoubtedly not. Be remembered as is g. What do you standing thing. About the christmas season. Is it we can make it a time of extraordinary living. If we choose to. We can touch. Other people around us with unusual neighborliness. Unusual generosity. Unusual expressions of love. And tenderness. And care. We can remember and perhaps even take your heart during the rest of the year the unusual message. Of jesus. The good news. He has shared. With the people of his time namely. Heather is something we. Can do about justice. Something we can do about peace. Jesus message is if there is love waiting for us. To bring to birth. Love for someone. Somewhere on earth. Who needs are simple compassion. Unconcerned. Christmas comes with a message. That no matter how ordinary we may feel ourselves to be. We are capable of developing. And extraordinary. And. If only for a season. Living with a standing generosity of spirit. This christmas season i would have you remember the story of the snobbish ox. Who missed entirely. The meaning and the point. Remember. Even more. The wisdom of the donkey. Who reminds us that. Ordinary folks. Like us. Can be extraordinary messengers. Of that which is best. And brightest. In this creation. You. Can help make christmas true. In your little corner of creation. You. Can bring the spirit of the season to birth. Right. Who are you.

uufvb_org

2014Sep21Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are carnation. I've open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual selves. Even us together here we work to make our world a better place. And please know that you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old gay or straight or transgender. Black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity whether you have a ged or a phd. What are your first-time visitor with us this morning or have been coming here for decades. Whether you're feeling on top of the world or down in the dumps or somewhere in between as you come. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching you will find something here this morning nourishes. Your spirit and feed your soul and gives you a new purpose and energy. For the living of life in the days of head. Are opening words this morning come from jewish tradition. Community. Of mercy. And he'll come. And you shall know peace. Enjoy. Please join with me and responsive reading number 594. The back of your hymnal. I do everything the old-fashioned way. Principles and purposes for all of us. Reaffirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Happy birthday. We affirm and promote justice equity and compassion in human relations. Acceptance. We affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We affirm and promote to the right of conscience and to use of the democratic process. We affirm and foremost a goal of world community with peace liberty and justice for all. We will meet at 8 tomorrow. Diversity and discrimination. Please forgive me if i do not present. Illogical. Everyone knows. I'm certainly not capable of logical thought. Is a stereotype. Discrimination. Is based on stereotypes. Rather large tails books. Have been written about discrimination. I will be speaking mostly in general. Define successful. I hope that i will make you think. A little bit. It is my contention. What's a human animal. More unusual. He makes you feel better. But it is better. Set the other poor soul is a member of some particular group or community. Of course all bets are off if the individual is unduly same as representative of class. Many women unfortunately. Whatever sauce. Search. Best of us consider ourselves tolerant and accepting of others. At the expense of another's. Extreme. Detroit private property starfighters reason injure or kill the name of a favorite sports team. So much in this country but watch out for england. Herschel's tolerant and accepting of others. It is any wonder that many of us see nothing wrong with maintaining good and healthy discrimination toward others. Such important things as sex or skin color or religion is involved. Most of us are very carefully taught as children. Except. And against whom we should just criminate. If we don't learn. Church anywhere. Present company. Course. Or some particular group. Individual. History of mexico. We managed to lay down quite a track record. First colonists. Socio-political. Arable land. Order to survive. They took it. And a very powerful ally. Smallpox. By the time the disease run its course among the indigenous and very susceptible population. Easily manageable. The indians us became the first community against which reopened. Irreligious. Christianity. Savages. Baseball scores. We persisted in this blatant discrimination and driven the indians from any useful land on the arid worthless reservations. Listen live in peace so long as they stay there. Of course if we subsequently found some use for the reservation land. I'm off of it into an even more desolate. As the number of colonists increased. The popular religious beliefs. Quakers. Catholic. And they were forced out of many of the established communities. If they didn't agree to leave willingly. Someone killed. Arable farmland so we started to develop. Colonist. Who's going to stoop to picking someone else's cotton. The obvious solution was to enforce slave labor from africa and elsewhere. The obvious solution. Were the africans themselves. Tribal warfare. Entrapta beating anime. They sold the slaves to the white man for a tidy profit. Dirt by a nominating one problem and increasing the treasury at the same time. Guys. Replacement object. For general discrimination. Which lasted unabated for three centuries. Huckleberry finn. Show the unique inside. Enter discrimination problem. During huck's raft trips down the mississippi with the escaped slave. But the slaves blood is just as red as his. Pocket known many slaves. But he'd never. Sheenam. To be as human as he was. Civil war. 200 east rose to prominence. European immigrants. European immigrants came and drove. Despite the fact that virtually all the citizens of this country originally came from europe. The new arrivals were subjects of discrimination until labor more fully assimilated into american society. Same time. Religious groups especially situation catholic community. Objects for unbridled discrimination. Couldn't be worse than being an irish catholic in new york. Women were another matter. But thanks to some of the advances made during the 19th century. Women in america. An education. Many of them now find. But the word man and the declaration of independence. Really met both men and women. They began demanding the right to vote. Eventually it ain't that right. What was many more years before they earned the right to enter the general workforce. And even longer before the glass ceiling 40. Penny started to receive parity. And pay in advancement. I don't remember much of world war ii. Remember the civil rights marches. Yelp right discrimination the flag still suffered. Especially in the south. I remember the feminist movement. Even though i was not intimately involved in it. I never did burn a bra. But i understood the arguments the women in our society were making. The protest the violence. And the killing of innocent civilians in this country. I remember president kennedy's assassination doctor martin luther king junior's assassination. And the riots. Across the u.s.. I also remember listening why. To president johnson. Proclaim to the american people. But we were definitely store cambodia. At the time. Of that broadcast. I happened to be in vietnam plotting bomb damage assessment of our airstrikes in cambodia. So much for presidents and their proclamations. What result in the country went looking for some other group. The could become the new whipping boy for national discrimination. They found it. In the homosexual community. Primarily inflamed. But the ongoing aids epidemic which scared the pants off of almost everyone. Well maybe scared the pants back on. The religious right. Headlong for playing the homosexual is an abomination. Yep cursed of there.. Homosexual it remained in the closet for so long. So perhaps even some of them could come to believe that. No one at the time. People believed it. Many phonies. Claim success in retraining homosexuals. Which the media willingly spread far and wide. Meanwhile the average homosexual state fast in the closet. Orphan becoming an outcast losing one's job. Or even being killed. No one really cared if there was one less homosexual wandering around. Homosexuals couldn't have anything to do with children. Please for the primary force. Used to enforce discrimination against the gay community. Arrest. For those determined. Pk. Major. In this country. Compton cafeteria riot in los angeles. And the stonewall bar riot in greenwich village. Each of these lasted four days. And serve to change the general police attitude toward the gay community. No politician wanted to see another. Attitudes. For beginning. A bill was introduced in the us congress in the mid-1970s. Asian lesbians what the various civil rights bills that done for african americans women and others. It went nowhere. In 1994 stripped-down version. It also did not progress. In 2007. Representative barney frank. Introduced a new bill. That would offer protection from discrimination to lesbians gays bisexuals and transgender individuals. It was called the employment non-discrimination act. Ender for short. There were three general proposal. Put forth in congress. 1. Don't the whole idea because president bush and vowed to veto it if it made it through congress. Remove the protections on gender identity. And try to get the bill through. Keep the bill lashes. Knowing that it probably would not pass. Hector macho camacho nice arguing they decided on option 2. The bill passed the house with flying colors. When the bill got to the senate. It was intentionally killed in committee meetings. Today. I just being ignored in the republican-controlled house. Today we seem to be living in the mantra for your society. The defense of marriage act has been ruled unconstitutional by supreme court. Marriage is slowly. Surely. Being instituted across the country. There's even an ongoing lawsuit here in florida to force the state to allow gay marriage. And the pentagon pressured. To allow transexuals to serve openly in this country as they do in every other country around the world. It now appears that the transgender community is the current discrimination target in this country. Everyone else is at least emotionally acceptable. Shuffle friends both locally and online who are transgender. And i feel rightly or wrongly. Put some more people know about that plastic community. Better life will be for all of them. Transgender leads a very stealth life. Desperately attempt to hide their actual condition. Out of fear of being mistreated or even killed. Should they be discovered. And every year. I do a transgender day of remembrance service. That honors those who have been killed in this country during the previous year. There are usually about 20. Skills for no other reason. Disabled transgender. Who is doing all of this discriminating. In the political arena the republicans. In the social arena. The religious right. In your own neighborhood. The uneducated. How are they doing it. Are using scare tactics. And widely spread innuendo. And outright lying. Why are they doing it. Because they can. Because we need the tolerant and educated. Are willing to shift back. And do nothing about their discrimination. Mission point. I love this one. June 2013. California legislature passed a landmark bill 1266. Which essentially said the transgender children in california schools. Have the right to be treated according to their innate gender. Without prejudice or discrimination. In august of 2013 governor jerry brown signed it. Affect. In january this year. Immediately after the bill was signed. Coalition of conservative groups formed under the umbrella organization privacy for all students. Led by republican strategist frank schubert. They begin to hammer away at the bathroom meme. Spread lies about transgender students. I used other scare tactics to sway public opinion against the legislation. The fact that the same rule. Had been followed for several years. Previously by two of california's largest school districts. Without incident or complaint. No concern to them. The media maestranza juicier aspects of the pas france. And gave them for uncovering. New organization pacific justice league was formed. With more money and a broader reach. Lies and propaganda were increased and a petition drive was launched to place the issue on the november 2014 ballot. By which time they hope to have invited the entire population of the state to vote against. They garnered. And thanks to a friendly court decision concerning the deadline for presenting the signatures. Signatures for verified. The final count was insufficient to force the issue to balance. Patrician drive pittsfield. The world has not ended yet. Can i send you on your way with these words for my colleague lauralyn bellamy of atlanta. If hear you a phone freedom. Into the world. If hear you found comfort go and share it with others. If hear you of dream dreams. Help one another that they may come true. Is here you have known love. Give some back. To a bruised. And hurting world. Hi man. Going to cease.

uufvb_org

2010Oct17sermon128.mp3

uufvb_org

2015Aug30Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. My name is nelly miko's i have been a member of this fellowship for almost 2 years. And today i'm serving his pulpit host. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. Our mission. We occurring liberal religious community encouraged spiritual growth and seek justice for all. We are so glad you have chosen to be with us here this morning. We are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. People seeking to become our best selves. Even as we work together to make a better world. Please know that you are welcome just as you come to it this morning whether you are young or old. Gay or straight. Black or white. Or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged. Or a phd whether you are a visitor this morning. Or have been a member here for decades. Whether you are feeling on top of the world. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you. Just as you come to us. And all your particular tea and need. We hope you will find this service meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something. Here this morning that nourishes your spirit. And feed your soul. And give you a renewed energy and joy for the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. Good morning. And welcome to royal brave souls who came out in the space of. Threatened inclement weather. Thank goodness that erica decided to go away. My opening reading this morning comes from the book theology of blaze by tom owen toll. And he says. As unitarian universalist. We embrace being fully rational. Holy spiritual in fully compassionate. Heating ezekiel's a parrot imperative to go into the gaps we deem it not merely tolerable but desirable as theological non-conformist to livwell amidst the intractable qualms and nasty confusions at the heart of reality. Speaking of gaps says toll. I'm reminded of our family excursion to the riveted. To the sistine chapel in rome during a sabbatical my mind's eye remains riveted upon the dazzling panel in michelangelo's ceiling mural. Depicting adam and god. Adam raising arm in the direction of the infinite one whose extremity intern stabs down toward the dewey creature. Index fingers on both hands reached or the other but do not touch. Everything trembles in mid-air between these outstretched. Fingers of humanity and divinity. Tirelessly striving to connect. Perhaps bond. And so it go. In that zone where we stretch but do not grasp. One another. It's precisely where the bulk of our existence has lived as unitarian universalist. Theology. The reading this morning also comes from tom owen told and his book. Theology ablaze. As from a chapter entitled the secret. And to quote she puts in here. One from i'll be gentleman. The sacred is present and available to us. Whenever we look. What are willing to find it. If we remain open and expecting. Watching out of the corners of our eyes keeping our ears cocked and putting away all preconceived ideas. Our lives will emanate. Another quote from margo adler. The earth tradition say. That all is holy. Body-mind the imagination birth sex death. And that the stuff of the sacred is all around us. Right here. Right now. In the material world. Divinity is eminent in nature it is within you as well. As well as without. You don't have to die to get the good stuff. Which doesn't mean. That other worlds beside the material. Do not. 2 prayers. Just might be relevant. I'd like to start out with what might be a typical unitarian universalist prayer. Dear god. If there is a god. Please save my soul. If i have a soul. Amen. Let me say first of all that that prayers like the lord's prayer and the 23rd psalm in the old children's prayer now i lay me down to. With a believer our wonder. And comforting prayers. For most of us never learned as children. Indian curry with him warm and fuzzy memories. Before most of us. Now on our personal journey and religion. Well here is. Commentary. On the 23rd psalm of the old. The lord. Is my shepherd. So let's take a look at the job of the shepherd. In the days of david and others of that era. Are the shepherd tip of locked safe from the wolves and fedor fattened and cheered annually or fleeced if you will. And some went to the dinner table. Some of us. May find ourselves. At the dinner table of the unscrupulous.. Who are busy sucking your wallets dry lord please. Bre sheppard. I shall not want. It is said that the lord helps those who help themselves. At this stage in our lives you use 10 to not seek the heavenly assistance. If you are want. Is to follow some religion other than christianity or no god at all. The lord's prayer might make you realize that. You want something different. That is just as honest. Justice comforting to you. And to your fellow being. He maketh me. To lie down. In the steel pasture. Change. Change. Thank you. Very nice. Green pastures. Meadowlands. And the like. Very comforting. Easy on the eyes. Gentle on the soul. You might hesitate a little bit over the maketh me to lie down part. Find for docile sheep with no other thought in life but the gays. Gray's adoringly at your shepherd. Most of us know laura a whole lot more about doing as opposed to just. Being. Alita's me beside the still water. Still waters are good. Peaceful lake with plenty of. Greenery around it. What you do many people prefer a babbling brook. We're rushing river even better. Sound rippling waters makes music to the ear. Do lord. Peter stone backpack. If you would please. What does really mean. Is it you're being led away from troubled waters. And then do a life more calm and less stress. Troubled waters or everywhere. And you do all the help you can get. Delete yourself. Away. From them. He restoreth. My soul. Now this could mean to replace the soul. Replenish the soul. Who put the soul back where it belongs. A mysterious thing. The some this is the essence. Of the personality of a person. The thing that leaves the body upon death and migrates to its next stage of being. Providing of course. There is. We might wish to consider though that put this restoreth my soul might really mean is the process of relieving you. A worries and frets. And bringing peace. To your head. He leadeth me. The paths of righteousness. For his namesake. Here. Your setup on the straight path. Delete it honestly. Worshipping. What about all those. Who's wonderful side. I said life offers. And the fascinating twists. Turn. That happened along the way. No reason that you shouldn't be righteous. And adventuresome. At the same time. Yay though i walk. Through the valley. The shadow. Nikes. Holding phrase. Patel's. Dangerous place to live. One which threatens the end of life. At any moment in time. The shadow of death. It's certainly not something to be taken lightly is. Sometimes the shadow looms over us when illness. Or sudden accidents. And you wonder. You going to survive. I have the experience. But never fear. Because. I will fear no evil. Art with. This. You learn as a child. But the lord says. Don't worry about it. I will protect. Here's where the psychology of prayer comes in. Even if there is no deity paying attention to your prayer for him. The mere fact that you are reaching out. Can put your mind into the proper frame to be receptive on ideas on how to better your. If you believe that the lord is with you. There's an even better chance. That your newly gained positive attitude will help out. Eventually. Those who doubt. What point does such things as the holocaust. What are the biggest eagles in history. Thrown down onto literally millions of people. Video of those went to their death. no evil due to their faith. The evil was not stopped for several years. You could argue that god deals in long-term effects. But that leaves the individual alone and gas. For air. It leaves you with a puzzle. Those who question. A-rod. And my staff. They comfort me. Here's another power. Does this mean that the rod and staff will be used to whack the evil doors. And keep them from your door. The mere presence of the godly rod and staff would be reassuring. If you could see it in action. I'll preparest a table before me. In the presents. But mine enemies. You know. That smacked a little bit of. In your face. Someone like putting your thumb at the tip of your nose. Waggling your fingers. Vigorously towards your enemy. Where you going to be the famous middle finger salute. This seems like hahaha you can't touch me now. I'm safe and i'm sticking my tongue out at you. Now anointed my head with oil. My cup. Wonderful. Back in the days with this prayer was brought for. Anointing the head with oil. Pretty heavy-duty stuff. Basically meant that. The person so honored was to be a leader. A person who is an authorized and empowered agent of god. Kings and prophets were anointed. Anointing was also very soothing fact. Oiling the skin and that arid desert climate. And if your cup runneth over. Well obviously. You had more goods and you really need it. And could not want more. If you really want your cup runneth over. You'd better remember though. The lord helps those who help. Themselves. And don't wait on the deity. Shirley. Goodness. And mercy. She'll follow me. All the days of my life. Wonderful. All the days of my. However. Do you know anyone who has lived a life so far that was not full of. Heels. Valleys. Pull up challenges. Treats. Full of disappointments enjoy. All goodness and mercy. Truth be told. Sounds. Little bit on the boring. And i will dwell in the house of the lord. Forever. So we come to the ultimate gift. Everlasting life. But of course what is. We don't know. No one has ever come back to tell us about it. All we have is just version. Envision in the bible. And what various profit. The heaven of clouds and harps and continuous choral groups. Sounds a bit much. I got a kick out of mark twain's version of heaven. Where he relates about a solo flying through space toward heaven. Racing a combat along the way. Landing at the wrong heavenly gate work nobody knows what to do with him. Yeah after being treated to the vision of beings from many worlds and alien ships coming through the gate. The different gates of heaven he finally found the right gate though. They're newcomers got their wings and their harp and they joined the chorus. For a week or so. Then. We're terribly terribly bored. And wandered off to find the next 210. Only to discover that the next of kin. We're no longer interested in him. Hopefully. If there is a heaven. It's far more interesting. Then what the bible. And the prophets. Have set. So now let's take a look at the familiar. The lord's prayer. This. Is a really. Beautiful. Simple. And comforting. Another one that you may have learned as a child. The one taught by jesus. At the. Sermon on the mount. Jesus is said to have told the multitude that this prayer. Was not one to be trumpeted from the pulpit. It was designed for the individual to take home and quietly pray. And it starts. Our father. Which arctan. Let's explore this. Our father. This is a supernatural father. Representing the best. That a father should be. And by the way. What a father instead of a mother. Anyway we're told our father is actually listening to each of us as we pray to. Somehow. I suspect. But this deity is far more interested in the past that we human beings are creating. As opposed to the individual lives within that group. As far as being in heaven. It's said to be up there or out there or over there wherever there happens to be let us postulate for the sake of argument. But there is indeed have. Brawl. Should be a place. This lord has to. Hollowood be thy name. Halloween. L'estrange pronunciation. Merriam-webster dictionary gives its blessing to that pronunciation though but only within this prayer. Revered. Sacred. A name to be honored. However i rather think that beard. Might be a better adjective. To be brought into play here. Afro look at the history of the christian in the jewish god or for that matter the gods of nearly all religions. Some of the worst wars. Were and are between the gods. Pitting one against the other. And that continues today. We humans have learned very little from our past. Regards religion. Hallowed. Honoured. Revered. Maybe not. Like kingdom come. It's just saying the kingdom is here. If so. It's not terribly impressive kingdom. Is it severely reese. Coverage of the earth. Adjust. Quite strange. In many corners of the land. If it's a wish for a kingdom yet-to-be i would wish that when the kingdom comes it wipes out all the evil that walks outrageously through many areas of earth with racial. And religious. But i fear. This is not the case in. I will be done in earth as it is in heaven. But let us ask what is. By will. Is it the wheel in the bible that says it's okay to go grab children of your enemy and dashed their brains out against. Or is it the willet says suffer the children to come unto me. Is it the wheel that parted the red sea for moses and the chosen people or the will that let them wander 40 years. In the barren wilderness. We assume that will rot in heaven is joyful and peaceful. It's always say but that will. Be done on earth. Give us this day. Our daily bread. Warm. Comforting words. Especially for those who have no daily bread. But let us not forget the thought process of teach a person to fish. Perform. And they're set for life as opposed to giving them their immediate needs. This. Nhd. Give us. That's not teaching the art of sulphur la. How satisfying uses prayer. And forgive us our trespasses. We're not talking about the trespassers like walking onto another. This is forgive trespasses like those that causes. We're going against the law. Forgive. That's an important. It says that what you have done in the past it's okay just don't do it. And we are good to go. Payment for violating another. Wellbeing or property. As we forgive those. Who trespass against. This. Is truly a holy thing. A secret. Honorable thing to do. When you forgive someone. It doesn't necessarily mean that you. Forget what they have may have done. Just a few no longer hold it. Action. Against them in your heart. Forgiveness is good in many respects. But you have to admit that most of us are not very good. At this forgiving. So the printer says. As we forgive those. Who trespass against us. Let us be gentle here. And say yes. I forgive you. But i may not trust you ever again. And lead us not. Into temptation. I certainly would not think that this heavenly being. Deliberately. Leta center. This line probably came about due to the old greek roman and pagan god who were forever. Tempting. Poor mortals into doing what they shouldn't do. But deliver us. From evil. This is very similar to the first prayer about i will fear no evil for thou art with. But in this case it says remove us from the face of evil as opposed to letting us stand firm. In the face of. That would be really nice if wherever evil threatened it would just be removed. Unpleasant. But think about this. People have been uttering exactly this prayer. For something like 2,000 plus years now. And how much evil has been removed. It's almost like that game but wack. Remove one evil. Another pops up. Sometimes disguise. Until reveal this. How much actual progress has been made. You have to concede. Not much. Vine. Is the king. If there is a kingdom. And there is a king. Who will tell us what to do. How many of us are into the concept of king. These days. Freezer. Is beastie. The power and the glory forever and ever. No power to the people. Glory goes to the king always. So here we are no power no glory amen. Fend for yourself. My friends. Had enough. How about the simple children's. There should be a. A picture of a childish. You got that. Nope. Didn't get that. Well. Imagine a child asleep that's supposed to be up there. Now i lay me down to sleep. I pray the lord my soul to keep. If i should die before i wake. You don't look bad as that sounds to an advil. The truth is little kids. Hardly pay any attention to the words. It's the interaction with the reader of the prayer that. It may bring some warm memories. To your mind. Let me invite you now to reach for your hymnal in the pew slot in front of. Go ahead pick it up. Turn the number 409. Sleep my child. This is the feeling children get from that prayer. I'd like us to sing that first verse together. Stay seated this will be brief. Tamil play the tunes reminder how it go. Sing. My child add. Isn't that a lovely song it really is just a beautiful. It's like a prayer. I think the process of praying for someone's well-being is always a good thing. Especially if they know that you're doing so. There's also something about the essence of the the good vibes that's such a thing sends through time and space. It's all good. It might even help a little. If only psychological. It certainly can't hurt. The bottom line for praying. I will stick with a simple thought of take care of yourself. And those you love and care for. Pray to some supernatural being. Totally up to you. I say to you. Namaste. I celebrate and honor the spirit of the divine. Which resides in you. And you. And you. And me. And everyone else in the world. Amen. Go in peace.

uufvb_org

2013Sep01Sermon128.mp3

Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach this weekend is the official end of summer in new england it was also like a switch being turned off but here we maybe have but six more weeks of summer. Welcome to our congregation this morning we are a people of open mind. Loving hearts and helping hand working. Belmar best self unit has together we worked to build a better world and please know that you are welcome. Justice you come to us. Rihanna roll gay or straight black or white or latino. What's the weather wonderful feeling. Absolutely on top of the world this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between we welcome you. All of your particularity in charmed. We hope that you will find the service meaningful enriching. Find something here this morning. Renewed energy. The living a flight in the days and weeks ahead. Our opening words are an ancient plenty prayer. Native american culture. Earlier mother breathed fourth wife all night sleeping now all waiting in the east now see the dawn. Our mothers read and waken leaves are starting all things moving new day coming life renewing. Eagles soaring steve the mother season morning. See the new mysterious morning something marvelous and sacred. What happens everyday. Antarctic. I am focusing on the seventh principle. Existence. Listen to this meditation by robert terry weston that you use minister. Call the web of life. We will enjoy about a minute of silence following the meditation i would ring the bell. And our meditation. The web of life. There is a living web. That runs through us. Walden university. Linking on stage with each and through all life onto the distance stars. Each of us knows our little corner of the world. And live as if. This were our all. We know more see the farther reaches of thread than we see the future. Yet they are there touch with one thread no matter which the pothole i'm a trace to distant land its firm continuing spread yet. Lose its filament as they reach out. Or find that lasted coming back to us. We move you and ions in a farberware self but only dimly conscious of the rest. As they are close to us inside your feeling. Do objects move up for a time they sending out then sometime. As we look unawares the fog lifts. And there's the weather. Shimmering beauty. Reaching out past all horizons. We catch our breath. Stretch out our eager hands and then it. In comes before gannon. Go on. Feeling a little foolish dowling. But our hands were right. The web is real. Are falling. Is that be soon. They can come in next week our choir is back with us after their summer break so will also welcome choir back next week. Morning as summer officially comes to an end with this labor day weekend so does my blockbuster sermon series on the seven principles of unitarian universalism. Principles are as follows a seventh principle. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are apart. I think of is our inclusive spiritual ecological principle. I want to remind you in overall terms what i've been trying to do with the series. As you know we have these seven principles prominently displayed in the lobby. Because our building has frequently use for many public event thousands of people from the treasure coast come in and see the principles and many say something like wow these are things i really believe in also. List positive reaction always pleases me and yes i do hold some of these people who come in a thursday night for a concert come back on a sunday to discover our religion because i believe our religion. Guided by these principles needs to grow and needs to be shared. What's the problem. With these principles quick-reaction favorably but we get to them is it as they are worded they are rather grand and glowing statement. So idealistic it's hard to disagree with them. I have a rather iconoclastic and controversially colleague from texas is named as the reverend doctor davidson lawrence i told you. With little using these principles he calls them the seven dwarfs of our movement or the seven banality. By which he means for him these principles laugh clarity profundity and religiosity they come he appliance. And the secular culture and from the secular values of american liberalism. They do not distinguish unitarian-universalism as a religion. Or at least not one with a clear and compelling spiritual path. Or laughing spiritual insight unquotable. The walleye passionately do not do not share reverend lourdes live and categorical dismissal of our principals i do think he's put his finger on a problem. Each of these principles. Are undeniably wildly hopeful statements about life. Creation and the human condition. And i think they need some deconstructive so critical analysis. If they're really going to some limits if they're really going to help us be a serious religion. In a serious time. So with all that said let's turn to this all-inclusive spiritual affirmation about life. It was listed last. What are denominational principles were last revised in the mid-1970s. The first thing i need to point out and i will admit i do so with great pride isn't as far as i know. Little caesars 7th princeton boulevard. What's the ferry further ecologically minded statement of belief. Articulated by any major or established world religion the first. Although blade and more on this in the moment. Menifee east and west are now beginning to talk about the human need to honor preserve and protect our creation and our planet earth. We unitarian-universalist led the way almost half a century ago now. You know understanding we. Urgent spiritual and moral importance of seeing creations as a beautiful and precious whole. The demand our reverence attention and caring kind of like. The first time we saw the whole earth from the spacecraft that could you could see mother earth it's kind of sad revelation that we had. Not only. Did we purposely and thoughtfully add the seventh principle to the six other ones which would carry forward from other statements of faith earlier and unitarian universalism. About about the same time we had in the seventh principle. We expanded our denominational list the spiritual and ethical sources of our faith tradition. And i wanted to show you these are listed in the five laws of our denomination. The faith tradition draws from many sources. And i want you to just quickly kind of look at all those. The ones in the middle are all kind of predictable. prophetic than women like jesus buddha wisdom from all the world's great religions. It's the furthest in the last one of the last one we had it about the same time with jay we had in the seventh principle. The first one you will know.. That transcending the screen wonder. Google. Spirit of openness of the forces which created full life and then the seventh one. Spiritual teachings of earth center traditions by this we need native american tradition and pagan tradition both agent and neo. This was a very important 6th edition. As a religious leader in the school but i'm very proud. Leadership ethical and spiritual within the religious world urging an ecological epic account now. But i believe such an ethic and a consciousness. Will be absolutely required of humanity in this twenty-first century and beyond we are to survive on this beautiful and fragile planet of ours. With a life in the world worth having and claudia story about the trees of kenya. Our perfect example. Going to have a world worth loving. Have a new ecological. As i serve two weeks ago when i reflected on the stick principle that dreams of a world season liberty and justice for all. Since our very beginning as a in the earliest days of america unitarian-universalism husband and inclusive and global safe. Which has seen and affirms the unity of life versus the wholeness of life in person. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries has our nation was being established. Play the european settlers would venture across the atlantic in hopes of establishing a new social order different from that which they left in europe. It was the unitarians. And the universalist. Two separate liberal christian 7. Areas of the universal. Who offered spiritual vision. All the worlds and humanities wanda's like no other tradition. At a time when the calvinists and the puritan. Focusing exclusively on desolation select few. Would be able to inherit eternal life from an angry and judgmental god. Do unitarians soul whole different world. The song creation meatatarian does one beautiful holistic that one. And the universalists emily saw humanity. As god's good and fast holy family a family whose every member would be valued and embraced. And save other kind and loving father in the end. And so since our very beginning as an american faith tradition. We unitarian-universalist have always. Spiritually an ethically speaking. We have been global thinkers. Unitarian and universalist. We are immovable sees the unitary nature of the unity of all things. Until this decidedly ecological consciousness of ours. Which sees all the interconnections of life shouldn't surprise us and listen to these i want online and trying to find a quotation from the from the 19th or 18th century. We should confirm for you that this is not new to us. When i came in the famous words of nineteenth-century unitarian minister, starkey. He was an anti-slavery california claret i went to thomas starr king school in berkeley california. He was credited with keeping california out of the civil war by was just think slavery. And he was an avid explorer nature. One of the first white people to visit yosemite in the sierra nevada and right politically about his travels to have these words. He is describing the interdependent connection. Between the tiniest plants and animals on earth. And the massive forces of the cosmos listen to him. The minutest organizations on the earth's surface. Are so related to the largest and wildest forces of nature. As to show a wonderful delicacy. And subtlety of law. Winn-dixie common plants and shrubs growing so easily we have no idea how the general order of the globin sky is tone to their necessities. With regard to a, wildflower. We may see the force of gravitation which rules is fibers in the earth as franklin's is stock is graduating. Google wallet support say constellation. It shall not prevent the juices. The rising to the cells. Ucare. Cherry life to its leaves. Super bowl and heat of the sun. The constitution of the year. The size of the sea. The swiftness of the earth swirling in the diameters of its orbit. Are determined with admirable relation. Need keep rain and wind relation to flights and gloom and the changes of the season. Bowstring. Adulteration. Even a slight percentage. In the mixture and partnership of these greek forces. Would destroy the possibility of the daisies life. But these bronny and furious powers of creation. Are ordered to defend themselves carefully. To the needs of the most delicate structures. And every flower. This is so nice and index. Of the adjustment between the forces of the universe. The one might believe looking at it exclusively. Lowe's in the solar system were built by the almighty. Factory. Turn on the violinist. Later. Since our very beginnings as american face movement. Weed seed. Holistic beauty and interdependence. Oldest of creation. And now in the 21st century. What are planet and all interrelated ecosystems are so clearly endangered as they never have been before. Our little fish commission we are only a quarter million. Still lead the way. In the religious and spiritual world. Play affirming the needs of the spiritual and ecological and ethical consciousness. Who's truly global. Know-it-all carrots. Many of the world eastern spiritual traditions such as good as in taoism confucianism hinduism. He'll also rightly be understood as having since their ancient beginning. Largely ecologically-friendly worldviews. Exactly until very recently. Have been largely silent. On the need for the preservation of our playlist fragile ecosystem. Similarly it is love. It is holy book the colorado. The environment and human beings were understood to be god's representative on earth. And if not charge this one with a timely sustaining it at these are charged with not destroy me. But much of christianity and judaism especially orthodox judaism. In orthodox christianity must be understood i think i called the rabbi in town this week. These traditions is having snorkeling at the side of the. Weaker ecological worldview. 1 weird places humanity at the center of creation. And possibly this world you. Encourages. An irresponsible exploitation of our planet and its resources. As has happened. Large leaf. This human-centric worldview of relief judaism and christianity. This day i think it's sadly led many of these traditions. Do real out to believe they do not need to concern themselves really with the worldwide effort. Our playlist. Fragile ecosystem. Ecological an interdependent world you has its beginnings as i take you to waldo. In the very first blog of jewish scriptures which as you know describes the origin of humanity in this way. God after creating man and woman in this own image god blesses them and god says to them. Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion. Over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air have dominion. Over every living thing that moves on earth. I have given you every plant god is important to a stat. And every tree with seed and its fruit you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth that you ever heard of the air into everything that creeps upon the earth and everything that has impressive like i have given every green plant for food. The lady religious and cultural scholars. Believe that it was precisely this fiercely. Homocentric worldview this radical and ancient view. The views humanity at the center of the universe and is the purpose for all this creation fall of them for us. Unlike, don't flatter yourself. it's not about you but the old testament was saying was it is about you just for you. Minion. Is this view has destructively allowed humanity over much of the centuries. We believe the earth is not a holy interdependent. Equally precious life-forms would rather. It is all rolling species personal. Playpen. Created by our god. Solely for our purposes of exploitation and pleasure. Confounded compounding the spiritual problem of humanity arrogantly placing itself the center of the universe. Is the idea within some christian conservative circles. This physical world and this earthly life. Are hopelessly corrupted. So true believers don't worry about this world they're worried about the next one where their salvation will be achieved. I once heard a furnace orthodox christian declare that he had little or no interest in working with others to save our world. Because he was going to be safe. His family was going to be worrying alfred e neuman mad magazine. So. All this we explain. Play somebody conservative until very recently. Opposed. Progressive political and social and economic efforts. To deal with global warming expedition. Over recent years christianity and judaism. Even in their orthodox expression. Have begun to experience ship. In their spiritual in ecological worldview away from the ancients and there is a primitive understanding in the old testament that the world exists only for us. The more holistic ecologically responsible worldview of reverence and independence and sustainability not following our lead mainstream christianity. Tyrion methodist of the light beginning to articulate the clear need for religious people. To be spiritually unethically in responsible relationship with all of creation. Epic recently this shift and religious worldview. Has mercifully they take it. Heck hole in evengelical and very conservative circle something you may not know it. In february of 2006 for example. 86 despective evangelical christian leaders. Call under faithful christmas locks. Push that this. For federal regulation. That would reduce human-generated carbon dioxide to address global warming. I called him that 2006 evangelical.. The same love of god. Same love for god and neighbor that compels us to preach salvation. To protect the unborn. Family and the sanctity of marriage and to take the whole gospel of jesus christ. 2 / deworld also compels us to recognize that human-induced climate change. Is a serious christian issue. Wires connection. I am pleased to report that now there's several. Interfaith organizations like the national religious partnership for the environment this is their logo up there in the far-left national-religious partnership. Their logo. This is the sign of the covenant. Between me and you. But every living creature that is with you. For all future generations. This organization is comprised of jewish. Catholic mainstream and evangelical environmental organization. That are working together. And now i called to their website. Incommons biblical faith. But you only upon their own distinctive tradition. In-service environmental sustainability and justice. On freaking world vision. For the universal effort to protect humankind, home and well-being under it so i'm reporting real progress across the full spectrum. World religions. Even the group's you think would be the last. Because i'm bored. I get it. I'm bored. Unitarian universalism. More committed to the seventh principle of ours. I am pleased that there's a noticeable greeting taking place within religion. Tell most people if they from all corners of the globe now seem increasingly spiritually aware. Humanity needs a shared global environmental and spiritual as consciousness. I'll need your dependents and reverence as it moves into its future this is a cause of great mobile. Unitarian universalist should be proud. Historical theological and ethical leadership. We have exhibited in this dawning understanding. No. Sunday to go my dear colleague the river bud murphy from daytona beach. It is run or intellectual and scientific sermon of the reason i asked him to bring that sermon to you cuz i knew i would never you never get it for me you got it from him. He shared with you the latest cosmological thinking. A weeding theoretical astrophysicist. Who's ian even celebrate. The entire universe as an interconnected and still mysterious data. Time space and energy. And i think it's spiritually valuable which is why i had to come and bring that astrophysical sermon with you. It's valuable for us to both understand is intellectually and feeling emotional. We are profoundly interconnected to. But this morning i want to bring the idea of the interdependent web. Downhill much more practical literacy level. For me the key. Ivana ring and living the seventh principle of ours is to understand deep within our bones and then out. Then we human beings must take. A much more humble. And modest place in creation next to every other living thing you must. Reject that biblical view that places us in the center of the universe and makes the whole world are playpen we need a much more humble and modest. Play. Clearly 21st century it is perfectly clear that humanity can no longer afford the dangerous illusion. And that's what has been since the dawn of human consciousness. He dangerous spiritual and ethical illusion that we are the center of the universe. That was made by god and then we can do with it whatever we wish based on whatever needs you think we have. It is crystal clear to anyone paying the least bit of attention. To our world. Species are to survive on this planet. Quality of life worth having. We homo sapiens. Find more humble and constrained way of doing our business on earth. Here is our footprint. Our carbon footprint in our other footprints. Giant. We need a very different way of doing business. Humble. Stream. Helia where you can no longer be the bull in a china shop when it comes to our world environment. The bottom line. And i trust that every last one of us in this room knows this is true. The bottom line is the humanity now the urgently needs a whole new epic. Modesty. Responsibility and care when it comes to our relationship. The rest of creation. Millennium. Bill. Not. Luckily there are hopeful signs that already talked about in religion. The humanity is. Slowly and in some ways rapidly waking up. To this new spiritual and ethical urgency. Are we now are adapting new technologies and lifestyle. Like the incredible when i took my last bike ride across america i saw the houses. A gigantic mendel. In california in oklahoma. Not here. But i'll west. And i believe with all my heart. The 7th prison for cars. Constructively points away is new way of doing business on our planet. Yes. The interrelated ecosystems of our earth are still under great visible strep. And excessive human activity and population growth have already done much damage to our planet much damage to that web of life. That they're just a rhombus but i for one am still hopeful. The humanity can take this new ethic of care through the frost.. So many others it is. Interconnectedness. Intuit part and wisely learn. To live on the earth georgia. And i further believe. Because we unitarian universalist have long understood this fully interconnectedness we still have a special responsibility. You're the treasure coast for example to those who don't want to spend money. I need to know what. Public dollars problem we must speak up. And act up in our lives on the half of the stragglers. Let us this day. The fall. Promise one another please to work tirelessly on the hat. Of our planets still open future. Despite all its stubbornness. Humanity is still persuadable. Our species candler. New ways of living on this earth and let us unitarian universalist. Renee. I'm just pet. Calculator. Emergent. And with each other. We join with the earth. Anaconda. We join with each other. Empathy. And when she spend each other. We join with the earth. Go in peace. And yet insured. There's something for each and every one.

uufvb_org

2015Feb01Sermon32.mp3

Morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of what day is this. You'll thank me for this later. What a super sunday. No. for football for us in this arena. A human hope and aspiration is super to be together again. Little sprouts. The words to express our gratitude for this place for here let us cheer. One another along. The large and lasting questions of the day receiving inspiration. Defending every precious penalized what's debilitating shame and guilt. Even as we take time out this day. To celebrate the manifold over. By the spiritual possibilities. Play the spiritual possibilities that lie before us for this is our religious home and it is super. To be together. Please know that you're welcome this morning as you come to us whether you are young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Gheed repeat visitor with us this morning or been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling on top of the world this sunday or down in the dumps or somewhere between. And we hope that. Will be enriched by the hour. We hope you'll find her service meaningful enriching. I need to find something here this morning to take with you in the days and weeks ahead that will make your life more joyful. More hopeful more responsible more meaningful. My favorite poem from cape cod poet mary oliver. Hello sun in my face. Good morning. Best preacher that ever was. University place from ever darkness us with warm touching hands lights good morning good morning good morning watch now as i start the day. In happiness. Well as soon as as soon as lee reads the reading from chuck swindoll this morning you'll understand my sermon title. So i've shared with you he is a christian minister an inspirational writer chuck swindoll his words. The longer i live the more i realize the impact. Attitude is more important than. It's more important than the past. Then education than mommy. And circumstances. Then failure. What other people say or do. It is more important than appearance or giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company. A church. A home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice everyday recruiting the attitude embraced for that day. We cannot change our past we cannot change the certain way. We cannot change. The inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play the one string we have. And that is our attitude. That life is 10%. What happens to me. And 90% of how i react. 2. I'm sure we'll just with you. You are in charge of your attitude. Here ends the mornings reading. Florida. Even more importantly the attitude. Ashley persuaded. Emotionally react to life in all the little and big stuff that happens to us. Can make a huge difference and how successful even navigate. With a little example of what a big difference in attitude can make from my own life if i might depend on the projection. They get the pictures embedded in the service and then they can. Was me april two thousand years ago california. Dipping my rear wheel in the pacific ocean about to begin my very first 30-day charity ride across america. April 19th. Exactly 67 days from now. I will lord willing be the same beautiful spot. Be with your crazy son who's going all the way across the country with me and united methodist minister in a couple others are in town going with me. Beginning my for charity ride across america we hope to raise between 50 and $75,000. For the harvest food outreach center a wonderful nonprofit agency. Which addresses hunger and poverty. Here in the treasure coast. The sunday before i go on april 12th. When i preach about that experience but a little story on my cell. Attitude in ordinary life situations can make. I'm at 1st right across america 10 years ago. I enjoyed most aspects. But i hated it every time i got a flat tire. No flat tires i will tell you are something across country cyclist routinely experience. Call the road debris that litters our highways. I had something like 20 flats almost. I have to tell you that every time welcome. And feel the tire suddenly going flat i would curse to myself saying. Anytime in a cell. I would be sure that i've been singled out for persecution by the road. I would get off my bike grumpy. And grumble and gripe my way to the several steps it takes to get the tire for sharp objects. Because of my attitude to be totally frustrated and miserable. If other things about the trip including several issues with the staff. Greatly irritated me. My point here isn't many points on that first ride. I allowed myself because of my attitude to be well unhappy. But three years later when i was planning my second charity ride across the country. I decided well before the trip command. I need to seriously adjust. Not my bike. Not much higher. But my attitude. About several frustrating aspects of cross-country bike travel that i then understood. Including my ornery attitude about flat. Until spring. I came up with a list i'll i wrote it down short list of spiritual practices. Which were really nothing more than attitudinal premises. Choose. Irritating an unwelcome circumstances occurred. I'm a simple promise i made myself about flats was it whenever they occurred. Even if it was the third time that day in colerain. I was going to appreciate. And enjoy them three years ago wanted the ride and not let flats ruin my day. And so for that entire trip and every trip i have subsequently made. Whenever a flat intrudes upon my ride i have a conversation with myself that goes like this. Okay scott. We've got a flat tire. Take pleasure in this little unscheduled break from the exercise. And you work on the flat together. Look around at the landscape i would say to myself. Give each stephanie repair process don't rush. And in the end when you're ready get back up on the bike with a smile and resume writing. A flat tire is not going to ruin your day scott. You've got all day.. Lunch will be waiting for you like. And as just one more interesting and enjoyable piece of the day's adventure. Play somebody else on that second and third ride i've been able to inspect this attitude into the guys that i'm and the gals that i'm with. I've instilled this in many riders will this is a nice little break isn't it. This may seem corny and contrived to some of you. But i'll be damned simple little promise to myself. Didn't make. The trip and every subsequent run much more enjoyable. This morning i want you to know that as i approached another cross country. Its share of irritation. Difficulties unwelcome circumstances and cranky personalities. You know that 10% stuff that happens to us. That i am as we speak in the spiritual emotional process of making another attitude. List of promises to myself. Help me enjoy what will be an arduous physical experience. And the sunday before april 12th we're going to have our annual meeting on that day. I want to talk further about the attitudinal and spiritual promises i'll be making myself. As i travaris this great and beautiful nation. But for this morning's purposes i want to know that is a cyclist. I've already learned to appreciate the flats and live out of the 90%. Of my life. But i'm in control of. And in that way enable need not to get all bent out of shape. But i have to stop. And fix a flat tire. I want to read you again the words of chuck swindoll who is convinced life is 10%. The longer i live the more i realize the impact of attitude on life attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past that education money than circumstances other people think or say or do. Terence gorski. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice everyday regarding our path. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. Play on the one string we have. And that is our attitude. And then he has. Vincent life is 10% of what happens to. At 90%. How we react. And so it is with you. You are in charge. He's on spothero. I really pass up the opportunity to express this conviction to others for example. I swear this is true about 9 days ago. I walked into my neighborhood 7-eleven store to buy my daily supply of diet coke with some of you nutritional purest think i shouldn't be drinking. I'll be having in my desk. Text here. Anyway. I overheard the clerk cuz i walked into 7-eleven. Complaining to the customer she was serving set. This is so bizarre. As i couldn't help but listen to customers about the same thing. Without thinking. So i looked her in the eye. Life is 10% of what happened. She looked at me a little startled. Well sorry i suppose you really weren't looking for a sermon this morning. I should mind my own business and then quite unexpectedly. Ashley. That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me all day i just like kim looking to stay a little differently. If she would move.. Customer. But. I can always answer attitude by just thinking about it. Alright. What are we really talking about here when i say that we're all free to choose our attitude the 90%. Guitar string. In any given set of circumstances at 10%. I am not talking about optimism. Optimism. Is the belief that everything will always work out. I'm talking about positive thinking. Positive thinking is not everything will work out positive thinking. Is choosing by wave your attitudes to make the best of every situation no matter how difficult. That's a key difference. Do you want proof. Well i haven't from no less an authoritative source the researchers at harvard university. Here are the summary findings of the harvard study of adult development. A sixty-year-old longitudinal study. The follow the lives of nearly 900 men and women from adolescence into their elder years. In order to learn what successful aging is and how it can be achieved in this is from the washington post. Bi-rite. If you want to live a healthy to head to a healthy old age. It's going to take more the people at harvard tell us. 10 diet and exercise. What also counts is your attitude toward life. And your attitude toward those around you. It seems the researchers reported. Tell if you can forgive. Be grateful. Reach out to others and keep your sense of humor. Your elder years should shine. And then the article goes on to spell out the specifics. The study identified two types of elderly persons. The happy well. And the sad sick. The happy well are people who celebrate life. And continue to love and learn from those around him. And the sad sick. Who are ill and the spiral of self-pity. The study revealed that it was social aptitude. Sometimes called emotional intelligence. Social class that leads. Again. The study found that a person could be afflicted. With all kinds of physical vicissitudes of old age. But still be happy. The director of the study george vaillant. He called lucky. Lucky you at the age of 17. Pressure. Arterial fibrillation. A cardiac pacemaker. And was recovering from back surgery. All that severe yet lucky. Complaints. He was happily married. Successful businesses and always made time. Coors family and friends. And was as jorge velasquez always grateful for his life. He certainly was ill. But he did not feel sick. Thumbs up 40. Character is attitudinal qualities that he found. Enable healthy aging. And i was going to protect these up but you'll just have to figure it out in a linear way because i'm just going to read them. The four attitudinal qualities that provide healthy aging one. The ability to anticipate and plan. For the future. Capacity for gratitude and forgiveness. 3 capacity to love and hold others empathetically without clinging too tightly. And for the desire to connect with people. And not. Harbor resentment. And then he conclude. These four factors in one life are more or less controllable. Faith in ourselves. Not in the stars. Ourself is. Successful. Don't really surprised any of us. Oh sure we all at some point like to take an intellectual potshot at old norman vincent peale. For his simplistic doctrine of. Power of positive thinking i mean. Surely we all realized the habit of looking on the bright side. Can only take us so far will real adversity. Anyone who's been around life for a while and suffered at the hands of the inevitable vicissitudes universities that we all experience. A positive attitude about life. Cannot fix or change everything for the better. And that is a limitation of optimism i've already discussed if you believe you just can think your way and everything working out. You're livin on. Some other planets than i do. No one. Is going to wake up whistling cheerfully for example the morning after the death of a loved one. What's the day after getting laid off. At work or receiving a tough medical diagnosis. Positive thinking has its limits. We can successfully we we can't. Successfully move through life simply by continually thinking good thoughts and plastering. A broad smile on our faces every morning sometimes. A lot more than positive thinking to get us through life tough spot. Is there anyone in this room who seriously doubts. The spiritual and emotional efficacy. A+ life. Attitudes. You all know people amongst you your family and friends and coworkers. Find positive thinking attitudes and behavior. Who are surprised fun to be around. We move through life with good and generous and creative energy. Kimberly you all know other people. With habitual negative attitudes and behaviors that i had a wonderful graphic for you this is eeyore. With a little rain cloud over his head. You see why i miss my big graphics. Personal rain cloud over his head. And he's always looking like a sad sack. You know those people with their own personal little clouds of negativity which they nurture. Have an atmosphere of impending doom hovering right over their heads. Because of these dreary attitudes they managed to spiritually and emotionally shoot themselves in the their own foot. And make their lives gray with negativity and foreboding now. I don't think there can be any doubt that some people are. Play powerful determinants like personality brain chemistry and upbringing. For the positive and hopeful. And probably equal numbers for predisposed because of parental upbringing brain chemistry and personality. To the negative. The pessimistic. Take me for example. For better or worse i am most of the time norman vincent peale irritatingly positive nephew nephew. I can't help this positive dental mine. First i know that if there is such a thing as optimistic jeans i was born with them. Matters worse i had a happy loving and secure upbringing and an update. Optimistic can do family. As result of these two intervals and factors positive attitudes and thoughts come easily to me even. When i'm up to my neck in you know what. The director of that harvard study i quoted earlier affirms that this is how i optimus are made. From safe and secure child. This is really good news for all of us. The people with negative childhood experiences. Negative. Can overcome. Their predilection toward negative thinking. I call him. I was astonished at how much of an older person's healthy aging. Or the lack of it is predicted. Actors already established before the age of 50. What seemed even more astonishing. Was it these factors are more or less controllable. The past can forget. But never determine. Old age. Amigos. A happy childhood is certainly a plus. But even people with unhappy childhood change their lives and learn to embrace life. It isn't the bad things he concludes that happen to us that dumas i wonder if it isn't the bad thing. It's a good people who happened to us at any age. The facilitator enjoyable. So while genetics and personality and upbringing in early experience. Things in terms of our inclination toward positivity or negative. The good news that the scientists are telling us. Is it we are each none-the-less capable as free volitional human being. To regularly choose. Change the camber of our heart. And in our attitudes about what happens to us shift things in a more positive direction. Psychologist dr martin in his wonderful practical book. Learned optimism. How to change your mind and your life. He affirms with the harvard study on successful aging. That is it. We human beings. Have a great deal of control over our positive and negative thinking. Graphics. A little bit more. He says pessimists believe. The bad events. Will undermine everything i say do. As are their own fault. Where is optimist believe. I will be just a temporary setback. It's confined to that one case and it's not my fault. That's the difference between optimist and pessimist. They look at the same fact. And they see different. Dr. siegel to assert that these two habits of positive and negative thinking have great consequences. Literally hundreds of studies the pessimist. These experiments also show the optimist too much better in school at work and on the playing field. And then. Pessimistic attitude may seem as deeply rooted as to be permanent. I found whoever the pessimism is inescapable. Pessimist can fact learn to be optimist devices like whistling a happy tune. Or melding cheerful platitude. But by learning he says a new set of skills. What's his talking about here. Is the power of the internal conversation. So we are free to have with ourselves. About like i did with my flat in internal conversation. About shaping the attitude you will have in any given set of circumstances. I call him again. Habits of thinking about things. Need not be forever. Individuals can choose the way they think about things. You can learn a set of skills that free you from the tyranny of pessimism. And allow you to be an optimist. And then stickelman goes on to suggest that learned optimism is simply a matter of a pc. A simple formula here it is. The abcs of positive thinking. When we encounter adversity. That's the a. When we encounter adversity. We react by thinking about it. Beliefs. So we have. Adversity that congeal into beliefs. Either positive or negative beliefs that may become so habitually we don't even realize we have them unless we stop and focus on them and those beliefs abc have consequences. These beliefs are the direct cause. What we feel we do next they can spell the difference between dejection and giving up. On the one hand and well-being and constructive positive action on the other. So we have adversity we get beliefs about those ideas at the diversity of working for and control those beliefs. Those beliefs have. And then stick to the core information of his learned optimism. He suggests that when we have pessimistic beliefs or attitudes about some. Difficult or adverse events in our lives. We are free to dispute our negativity. We are free to engage in internal deputation. With our own ideas and attitudes about what is happening to us and what is possible. I called him again. Rather than talking or disturbing negative beliefs a more lasting remedy is to dispute. You must learn to argue with yourself. Give your negative beliefs and argument. Directly disputing adversity. And those are that the bad events will last a long time. Undermine everything i do and it's my fault. He says argue with that. And change your customary reaction from dejection and giving up. 2 activity and good cheer. Searching here that we can learn to be more positive in her thinking. Is backed up but i don't know how many psychologists i have here. But many practicing psychologist and therapist who also believed. The choosing to change one thought pattern. And thought behaviors in the direction of positive thinking. Can lead to positive changes in your mental health. Many scientists believe that one successful path to mental health. Is the chain your behavior first. And hope that the the feeling. Follow the behavioral change. So this is the smile when you don't feel like smiling or take a walk when you don't feel like getting out in nature or go to a social event when you feel you want to crawl into a hole. And eventually your feelings will or may follow you. In that direction that's a whole school of psychology now. At least a little bit suspicious of this is sershon of doctor signalment in others. So we are substantially free in our day-to-day living to control and shoes are attitudes and beliefs especially when something. Happens to us. But i'm convinced they're onto something of profound spiritual and emotional. Important but i'm not sure there's a real difference between the spiritual and emotional. I believe that regardless of how you are personally predisposed. Optimism and pessimism. You know how were you falling that continuum. Matter where you fall. You can become more positive. And in your in your attitude you are in control. I believe that regardless of how you were personally predisposed. That you are at least somewhat capo. Shifting the camber of your heart. Toward more positive. Beliefs attitudes and thoughts. And i believe that much of your spiritual and emotional and physical health. Depends on you trying. So the bottom line. My friends isn't norman vincent peale dead. What's right. Life. Is 10% what happens to you. And 90% of how you react. Positive thinking. Which is not optimism is choosing the best attitude you can about what happens to you. Can make all the difference in the world. Make all the difference. In your world. So remember you are always free to have internal conversations with your shell cell. And the shift your attitudes in the best possible direction. All i can say in closing is. Try it. And by the way. Have a nice day. Life is so strange. What's a good news. Is it life. Is 10% what happens to you. What percentage. 90% of how you react. Be of good heart. Have a great day.

uufvb_org

2011May01Sermon32.mp3

It's a pleasure to hear the choir singing such inspiring words. And those inspiring words are part of a long history and unitarian-universalism of being committed to social justice. In fact these hypnos here. They speak a lot about working toward social justice. That there would be no more war. That we would know freedom in our lifetimes. That we might build the beloved community. Together and in partnership. With other communities. There's a whole section in this hymnal called commitment and action. A whole section of him. A whole section of readings. Social justice is a part of the dna. The part of our unitarian universalist heritage. But as we work collectively for social justice. Each person also has the opportunity to do internal work. The internal work of face and character development. Balancing action. With reflection. Bread. With roses. There were women in the great 1912 textile workers strike and lawrence massachusetts who inspired the song bread and roses which will have the pleasure of singing later on. These women carry picket signs and 1912 reading we want bread roses too. Symbolizing their demands not only for a living wage. Or decent human life. Before the luxury of roses. Of beauty. Of art. Creativity. And so would inspire james oppenheim's poem which became the song bread. And roses. As we go marching marching bring the greater days. The rising of the women means the rising of the race. No more drudge and idler. 10-minute oil where one. Reposes. Butter sharing of life's glories. Bread. And roses. Bread. And roses. It is a song of solidarity. It is a song that sang no more would there be one idling and reposing whilst all others are toiling. Tallwood sharelife glories. It implies a part of life's glories involve struggling together. That the one who is not in the struggle. Is not experiencing life. In all of its glorious. All of life's bread. And roses. Bradfield bellies. You can't eat roses. But there's something more that humans need beyond simply bread for our bellies. Just like the story of little spirit. She was waiting to be fed but bread would not fill her belly. It was only after telling her story of suffering and listening to that child who listens to her. The little spirit realize she was fed by relationship. Fed by connections. Do you want bread. It is a reality of life. But the human spirit also deserves roses. As we go marching marching unnumbered women dead. Go crying through are singing their ancient call for bread. Small art and love and beauty judging spirits new. Yet it is bread we fight for. But we fight. Four roses 2. Rose's as oppenheimer puts it. Being art love beauty all of these things that spring out of relationship out of connections out of an awareness of our interdependence with all of life. Roses are the joys of living amidst the struggles of life. The parts of ourselves that we can share with one another that we can appreciate and one another. Cumin. Too human. But i don't know about you. But i think we live in a numbing lee busy world. And it's really easy to live in abstractions. In the hustle and bustle will be specific relationships. Turn into lumping people into abstract categories. And them. Immigrants. The poor. The homeless. Yeah we're all connected but. The suffering of others are of our mother earth are just into the concerns of the bread of day-to-day living. And even with the best of intentions social justice work. Instill perpetuate. The haves and have nots system. By having only acts of charity from a distance. Without ever having to be challenged. Without ever having to talk. To the oppressed. Other. And short there may be bread for the bellies but the system will still perpetuate indignities and oppression that no human should suffer. Then maybe bread. But there's no roses. I likely have. Had this wonderful opportunity of working in a congregation bais community organizing group and interfaith justice network. And we get together and as congregations would come together as clergy. Which is where i hail from. And working towards focusing on issues of justice of changing the actual system. I'm speaking to the powers in the principalities of the end saying as a whole face community in lee county. Saying we need change and we want it to be real change. There's that scripture that many of my christian brothers and sisters and my jewish brothers and sisters are guided by and micah 6:8. Love mercy. And walk humbly with thy god. And in that we are together and in with some of our congregants we've done exercises where we ask our congregants to say. Now we have all these ministries and programs in our churches and our faith communities that we do well so let's talk about how we do justice let's talk about how we love mercy and let's talk about how we work on our spiritual and ethical development. And in so many congregations part of the exercise that we find is that. Many of our faith communities are doing great work with spiritual development. With religious education with ethical development however words we use. And we use a lot at unitarian universalist. And they're doing great work with with loving mercy with being charitable with with doing work that. That is helping people short-term. What is the work of justice. Which is the first that accordingly the holy requires of us. It's doing that systemic change work that is so hard to do because it's so big it's so overwhelming. Use it as an exercise to show one another what we are inspiring ourselves to do which is to effect systemic change. The other cool thing about this group is that as we work together. We're working an incredibly divisive community in lee county. Or your conservative or liberal you're gay or straight. You're an immigrant. Or you're not or your legal or you're not it's there's all kinds of abstractions and categories. But what this work does it builds relational power. Suddenly humans are speaking with humans about the things that matter most to them. And these are the acts. The change system. It is the roses it's the beauty of relationship. That build power. That can make change. I also come to share the gift of a view of of my relationship and working as an allied to the coalition of immokalee workers. Which is also in my neck of the woods. You might have heard about them. They describe themselves as a community-based organization of mainly latino mayan indian and haitian immigrants. Who work in low-wage jobs throughout the state of florida. They strive to build strength as a community on a bass. Basis of reflection and analysis. Constant attention to coalition-building across ethnic divisions. And an ongoing investment in leadership development. To help their members continually develop their skills and community education and organization. And they fight for a fair wage for the work that they do. For more respect. On the part of their bosses and the industries where they work. For better housing. So that there are not violated through their workers rights being ignored. That they have the right to organize without fear of retaliation. An end the involuntary servitude. That are in the fields of florida. The coalition of immokalee workers has worked tirelessly to lift up the dignity of the human spirit. And i don't know have any before. Oh i see some hands raised. In my experience it's it's very different it's very different from the community where i live in lee county. And in immokalee there are many many charities who do fantastic work. Helping those short-term issues of hunger. Of healthcare. Working on housing. But what i appreciate about the coalition of immokalee workers is it. Part of the work that they're doing is about empowerment. Addressing the more longer-term issues of empowerment against oppression. Stable community center they have a media library have a radio station. They have. Meetings of women who get together and they have. Different language groups to get-togethers to speak in their indigenous languages. And i particularly love the women's group because one of my friends. Who's a white male he babysits for all the the woman's children. The coalition offers not in money your food but empowerment. Not charity. But engagement. Not bread. But roses. The powerful sing. Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes. Hearts starve as well as bodies. Give us bread. But give us. Roses. Give us some roses respect us respect our power do not try to save me with your charity or your pity. Feed my heart for the roses of respect. A collaboration. Of engagement. The women sing we are not an abstraction our pain is real and our battle for life and respect. Is real. And the social justice work that we and our unitarian universalist congregation can do. Can transform everyone. Not just the oppressed other. A relationship of collaboration denotes the sense of openness. And flexibility to what the partnership. Will produce. I know that i my little spirit has been fed and changed and my partnership and collaboration. What is fed means the forming of relationships in which. I am not there to save. Anyone. And i think that that is difficult. And some unitarian universalist social justice circles. I was brought up unitarian universalist sunday school singing. The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. If i had a hammer. And i was somehow given this great mandate that each and every one of us could make the world a better place. But never made explicit was the implication. As a white upper-middle-class girl. That there were those who were voiceless and powerless. And somehow it was my job is a great privileged white savior to save them. To show them.. Right way to live. But working in solidarity. Closing the gap between us and them has led me to deeper engagement in my own life calling and why i care about justice. So far and engaging in social justice work i have been fighting my own voice. Doing my own work. Facing my own internalized racism. Uncovering my own acculturation as a white person. I constantly struggle. As a as a helper as an overfunctioning person. I want to save i want to make everything better i want to fix things. And suddenly i'm realizing. And this work but no one is asking me to mend their lives. What's being asked of me. Is to do my homework. And to be in relationship. What time consistently led to is the simple phrase. It could have been me. It could have been me. Sent to the states to work for my family and send money home. It could have been me who made that hard decision. To do that knowing that i might be drugged. That i might be raped by the coyote who took me across the border. It could have been me enslaved by the boss. Forced to work endlessly in the fields of tomatoes. Watermelon oranges and treated like cattle. It could have been me. Forced into domestic labor. Unprotected by labor laws. The slave rendered. Invisible. It could have been me. Could have been me turned into an abstraction. An abstraction it's so overwhelming to well-meaning religious liberals. That my suffering is washed into a mental category. It's such a shame. And filed away. When i think. It could have been me. I'm no longer a special savior. But i'm a breathing hurting caring human. Who cares. About another breathing. Hurting. Caring human. I will never. Ever know the sufferings or the experience. Of any other. Of any of you in this room. All i can do with my own experience. And yet. You could have been me. I could have been you. The poet crooked dalton reveals. In the specific. Uniqueness of of individual experience. A universal. My veins don't end in me. But in the unanimous blood of those who struggle for life. For love. Little things. Landscape. And bread. The poetry of everyone. It's the roses. I start love the beauty the poetry like this that comes out of an engagement in the struggle for life for love. The poetry of everyone. And this is a work that gives me not only bread which is. Satisfaction of commitment to important work. Proceed my human spirit. I've been working with the coalition of immokalee workers as i told you and one of the things that they've been working on is getting local supermarkets to pay an additional penny per pound for the tomatoes they pick in the fields. And a sign on to a code of ethics that says that anyone who buys tomatoes from growers will say there will be no abuses in the fields workers will be treated fairly. They will be. They will be honored as. Dignified human beings. So the coalition has been working on a local supermarket publix which is the supermarket that gives so much to the community. They give to a lot of charities. But the coalition is asking them to engage in that deeper involvement of changing a system. Japan additional penny per pound. Not for bread. But four roses. And publix continually has said no. We had a rally in tampa in the spring. And which three marches from publix has conversion to one large rally. And they're all different kinds of people maybe some of you were there. And we all got together and engaged in the act of beauty. We're one of my presbyterian colleagues. She gathered together everyone and we made a pageant together. Where the coalition was up on the stage and publix a representative of publix who was. Not really a representative but was dressed up as a. As someone who would be in charge. In this pageant was being asked. By all these different allied groups please please come to the table. And so they had the students come forward marching and asking and so they had all of the clergy and the faith-based organizations marching and asking and then they had the use in the high school use come forward and they had the farm workers and the laborers from all over the country who care who came forward and made that ask. And then they had the children of the farmworkers all come forward. And make the ask. It was something to behold. The symbol of how are coming together as allies can be transformative. And it's sad to me that an organization in our community this grocery store called publix. Keeps it all as an abstraction. Is disconnected and denies the relationship. Of how we might come together at the table that welcome table. And humanize one another. If only they knew that it's not just about bread. But it's about roses. Generosity of the spirit. The idea that we deserve more than just survival. We deserve joy. Creativity. Beauty. The gift. That are granted to our. Human. Sisters and brothers. So give us bread and roses. Not a luxury. But roses as an essential part of the salvation. Of the human character. The human spirit. If your repressed or suffering do you want distant charity. Do you want pity. Or do you want companion score with you and la lucha. And the struggle for life. I see some nods okay we got some responses back there. We might all take a note from the mujerista theology which is the. Spanish speaking. Usually up hispanic-origin field agent or female. To talk about. The in life struggles in the luchadores also community relationship-building the ways of celebrating. So there are there are many reasons. To join me in the work with the coalition of immokalee workers or to find ways of engagement in your own community. And your own backyards of working against systemic oppression and injustice. But if you come to save other people. You will probably leave unsatisfied. If you come ready to be changed by supporting others. Then you may be feeding your little spirit. If you come ready to leave the experience of meeting other people. Care. And we even got into the larger fabric of your life. You will be fed. A video of rally doesn't give anybody bread. But it's roses. Delivering a manager letter to your local publix asking them to come to the table with the coalition. Think about that fluttery awkward feeling you have when you do something new in a little risky. Create something different. And you. Changes you. Find something you believe in that calls you to stand on the side of love. And it's these little actions that change hearts and minds. And might turn them towards love and beauty. The fruits of human connection. And this is how. Larger systems can shift. Is by humans thinking differently by humans changed by love and relationship. A my congregation when we receive our offering we speak the words who are by the reverend lynn unger whose words were also sung by a choir this morning. Come come whoever you are. She says by the work of our hands in the work of our hearts our love is made real. Grateful for all that is given and grateful for all that is shared. So let us be grateful for the human spirit that hungers take connect. With our fellows and struggle together. Be grateful for life. Charis and all of its glories and failures. Because it is truly worth. Fighting for. Engaging in this struggle. Is making your love and gratitude real in the world. Let your gratitude be no longer and abstraction. Give thanks for life. By reaching out beyond. Beyond the bread of mere survival. And you're in for more. Four roses. And so my prayer is that you shall. Amen. And blessed be.

uufvb_org

2012Aug19Sermon32.mp3

Reverence. Compels me to confess that i do not know exactly what riverence is. So. As i begin my comments this morning i asked you to journey with me in an exploration of this word which is in our language to use. Why the journey. Because it seems to me. That reverence is fading out of our conscious world. We have not lost our capacity for reverence. That capacity belongs to all of us as human beings. What we're losing it seems in our modern american life and our relationship to our natural world is the meaning of reverence. In both the language of words. Animal language of behavior. There is a backstory to this sermon. Some of you are old enough to remember a few years ago when the den. Phil sinkford caused a denomination wide stir. When the urge unitarian universalist to reclaim a vocabulary of reverence. He believed we were in a place in our history and in our maturity when we needed a conversation about of language of reverence. In a series of sermons and talks in articles. Sanford city was struck by the fact. That the association's purposes and principles our mission statement contained no traditional religious language. I noticed a printed on the back of your order service. The statement of principles has inclusive generalizations about human dignity justice and the interdependent web of all existence but omits mention of god. It's her as well as abroad ethic referencing for said. But does not do much to capture our individual searches for truth and meaning. In an interview for posing to change the statement of principles. Nor was he saying that any new language were ever invoked must mention god. So long as it as he put it allows us to capture the possibility of reverence. The name holy. To talk about human agency in theological terms. He said explicit religious language would better acquaint people with life's religious death. From the religious right. Well. Given our penchant for discussion. Many unitarian universalist evidently responded to president sing fruits. Call for conversation the unitarian universalist association office receive more emails. Letters and phone calls. Issue. Some unitarian universalist felt the hot breath of creeping creedalism. Or suspected a return to traditional guide language. Other seem to look forward to the discussion and to some change a member of said like for you used to be able to express in spiritual language us and guide us through the world. Well as an active paris minister at the time i gave a sermon response to reverend sinkford call. And then these many years later. I was spurred by another contact conversation as so often happens. And they were talking about justice and reverence. And so that combined with my own experiences in recent years. Just call me back to the topics discover again what it means to me and where i stand now. To begin with. Step with me if you will outside the walls of this particular. Lovely house of worship. There's a philosophy professor named paul woodruff who wrote a book called reverence. And he argues in that book pretty persuasively seems to me to think that belief. His working definition reference is this. The sense that there's something larger than a human life. Accompanied by a capacity to have the feelings. Respect and shane. Wendy's are there white feelings to have. Which means i always the appropriate response again. Definition woodruff maintains reverence crosses all religions. Reverence right lies behind civility. Ceremony and all of the graces that make life in society bearable and pleasant. It has to do with politics and power. And a sense of our humanity in common with others. Without reverence he says things fall apart. People do not know how to respect each other and themselves. An army cannot tell the difference between what it is and a gang of bandits. Without reverence justice can be arrogant and rough. And tear people apart. Without reverence we cannot explain why we should treat the natural world with respect. Without reverence. House is not a home. Boss is not a leader. Instructors not a teacher. Without reverence we would not even know how to learn reference. Call woodruff. And i agree with paul rodgers. That every aspect of human life gives occasion for reverence. Reverence does not rest upon religious belief indeed believers may hold their belief with arrogance. Even violence. We must look further than our own houses of worship to see how we might share reverence. With people who do not worship with us or share our faith. As a minister in a particular religious tradition however. Having stepped outside i step back inside. Our walls to cast my i first on my own religious home which has been my home for many years. Where are we. Who are we. In this important conversation. I have placed my trust. My definition of face i have placed my trust. In a religious tradition unitarian-universalism. Which at its best. Honors reason. And reference. Reason. Few of us remember the first day i walked into uu church many years ago fuel is one of walk through the door. Wu fellowship or church or remained. Where it not for the ideal of freedom of sauce and conscience. When we entered our first uu church building we found a place where we didn't have to check our minds or our personal experience at the door. Where we were free to question and to search. And perhaps. Even to change our minds over time. As our lives unfolded and as we listened with unstopped ears. Two others share their thoughts and experiences in community. Reverence. Reason a knowledge do not decrease wonder. And a sense of mystery in which we live in the world in which we live. Many you use would agree with physicist chip remo when he writes. We can think of all scientific knowledge that we have of this world will ever have. As an island in the sea of mystery. Or with a scholar poet named w mcneil dixon who said. If there be a skeptical star i was born under it. Yes i have lived all my days. Incomplete. Astonished. Reason and reverence. It's been my experience over the years that unitarian-universalist have expressed well. Indeed eloquently. Our commitment to reason. Freedom of conscience and ethical practical. This has been our history and our great story. Some of you will disagree when i say we have been less eloquent. In speaking with power about what is deepest and dearest. About the focus of our ultimate commitment. About the source of human good. About what is so precious to us that we cannot betray it. Without losing our own selves. For me this requires a language of reference. So today is i did years ago i think you'll sing for gas the right questions and pointed to significant challenges we face as a faith community. I believe we you use have talked to ourselves for too long we spend some of the congregations i've been in. Engaging with the larger universe of religion with misunderstanding and sometimes even with disdain. I believe we have the obligation to engage the conversation with others. Because the world is too dangerous a place to be left in the hands of fanatics be they religious or secular. We have an obligation to offer our understanding. My colleague david bombal who some of you know. Has written a contrary to what many of us think. In america today we live not in a secular world in which religion functions at the margins. But in a post secular world. Interesting concept. In this post secular. World religions everywhere. In tv shows. Politics books commercials. Religious language has become the common and trivialised currency of public life. Used by politicians to support political agendas. And marketers to sell soap. And cereal. In such a world. Once powerful religious images and metaphors that enable religion to stand in critical opposition. Two widely shared assumptions. These images are stripped of their meaning. And become servants of the status quo. So again. The sinker was right to begin the engagement. Was that and said that was our time in our time we must have a language of reverence iguana communicate with other people. But i think he was wrong when he said that we could kind of go back and reclaim classical metaphors of the christian and jewish. Traditions which are are predominant religions. Or take on old theistic language. We need a different language of reference. Particularly if we want to speak to this generation. Which is fleeting not from religion. But from secularism. In search of deeper meeting. Language has power. When it reflects the vision. To which it must give voice. Manifesto. Created 19:33 it's a big part of our history. Was an invitation at the time. To re-envision religion. For a modern time and to challenge some of the assumptions of religious community. So i think now we're in the time when we're challenged. To find a language. That's adequate to the vision that's emerging around. We have. Strong intimations of such language in our own tradition it has roots in the transcendentalism of ralph waldo emerson and henry david thoreau. It has roots in the naturalistic mysticism of ken patton whose words we heard at the beginning. And it has roots in what is called a creative interchange theology and the in the work of henry nelson wyman. But most importantly for our time in addition to those routes. The language is rooted in a vision of reality. And humanity's place in the natural world that's emerging from the natural sciences. Invitations to reverence are all around us in the world and in our own deepest experiences. It is our challenge to find the language to use. To reflect the power of our encounters. With what is a continually incarnating world. And to tell the story. And we do have a rich religious story 2. So let me tell you a story. In the beginning. Physicist john polkinghorne has written. What's the big bang. As matter expanded from that initial singularity. Equals. After about 3 minutes. The world is no longer enough. To sustain universal nuclear interactions. At that moment it's gross nuclear structure got fixed at its present proportion of 3/4 hydrogen and 1/4 helium. Expansion and further cooling continued. Eventually. Gravity condensed-matter into the first generation. Of galaxies and stars. In the interiors of these superstars nuclear kukri started up again. And produced heavy elements like carbon and iron essential for life. Which were scarcely present in the early stages of the universe's history. Some of these first generations of stars and planets condensed in their turn and on at least one of them. There were no conditions of chemical composition and temperature and radiation. Permitting through the inner plate. The coming into being of replicating molecules. And life. Does evolution began on the planet earth. Eventually it led to you and me. We are all made of the ashes of dead stars. John polkinghorn. Now i'm not a scientist. So what does imagine. That our society other societies you and i. Understood this story as our common creation story. Common creation story. Doesn't belong to one tribe. Or one place or one time. Common creation story. It's both common and uncommon it's common because it's a story of everything that is. How the universe began 16 billion years ago. 15 billion years ago. And how it evolves into some hundred billion galaxies of which the milky way is one. Does everything exist. Distant galaxies to the tiniest fragments of life as a common beginning and a common history. At some level and in some remote or intimate way everything is related to everything else. We are distant relatives to the stars. And kissing cousins. With the oceans. And other creatures on earth. The common creation story is uncommon because in the words of theologian sally mcfague it is the wildest. Most outrageous most awesome tail conceivable. From an initial explosion and infinitely dense matter energy than a billions of years ago the entire universe has evolved into its present complexity. Diversity. Size and age. The common uncommon character points to one of the stories critical features. A particular kind of unity. And diversity. When it's based on radical relationship and interdependence on the one hand. And on the other hand produces the most stupefying array of diversified individuals. It staggers the imagination. It is fact as well as poetry to declare. Out of the stars have we come. This is a story. A radical non separate. And this is a story for our time. Story based on science. Jaden fuse with sacred meaning and all. It is a religious story. A vision of reality. That contains within it. The sources of moral ethical. Transcendence. Self understanding. It is a universe story. But for us with welders it is first a planetary story. The part of the common creation story that's most important to us concerns the evolution of our own planet we've. We are not tourists on earth is some religious traditions would have us believe we are not just passing through on our journey to a better place. We come out of the earth. We go back to it this is their home. Science has told us. That if we were to look at the great flow of creation as the length of a day 24 hours. We human beings arrived late. A few minutes before midnight. Only recently have we begun to realize the implications of this. Application. Our lady of our arrival suggests the whole show was not put on. 4 hour dentist. This does bring us back to reverence. The central message of ancient greek reference was. Remember that you are human. When we forget our humanity. We either take on the airs of a god. Or we act like a beast of prey. We are being irreverent. The greeks said we come back to reverence. When we recover a sense of our humanity in common with others. I would broaden this to say we come back to reverence when we give up our illusion of separateness. And recover a sense of our connection to all life. In the end. Seems to me that reverence is about coming back to our true selves. To our right size in the universe. Reverend so difficult to articulate. Is an attitude. A feeling. An awareness of our non separateness from all life. It's an acknowledgement about inescapable limits. Reverence must stand in all of something. Something that reminds us of our human scale. And our human limitations. It is ironic. That i use so many words to speak of reverence. When the feeling of reverence and all is in articulate. You feel when you are in all. That you are human. That your mind is dwarfed by what it confronts. That you cannot capture in a set of beliefs or words. That you'd best keep your mouth closed. And your mind open. Reverence declares itself through silence more deeply than through speech. Yet. We need a language. To express the experience that lies behind the words. We needed to express our curiosity and our wonder. Fear and gratitude. I love the world in which we live. We need a language. Express on only are inescapable limits. But also are inescapable responsibility. We need a language to inspire us of the with a vision of what might be. And what may be. If we will change our behaviors. To create a society which we care for each other and for. The earth. We need a language of reverence. To tell a common story. Which win embraced. Celebrated and acted out of. Is a story of hope.

uufvb_org

2014Jul27Sermon32.mp3

uufvb_org

2011Oct09Sermon32.mp3

Here's what we think we know. That he wrote walden. And a treatise civil disobedience. He wrote about the maine woods and other. Treatises authored many wise sayings and sade commentary on life citizenship and government. Social justice. Linden woods near concord massachusetts and did time. What cannot be said to be a hard time for non-payment of a poll tax. Well. Yes. We think we remember that he was an avid walker and runner. Wrote a fascinating piece on what he called. What's a pencil maker and surveyor. And gathered a number of bugs and butterflies for the harvard collection that are still in possession university. Again. Yes. And we may be tempted to include that he was a very social and popular and successful writer. Always his own person and perhaps the ladies man. Emptyhero that spared surrounding woods from a devastating fire. Sorry. No no no no and no. To the contrary he was deemed. And strange. Do to slow sales his publisher shipped to him the unsold copies of walden. Which was most of them. That he stored in his attic. For a long time he mimicked his hero emerson and words ideas and mannerism. Had no luck at all in love or romance. Never was married and due to a wrong impression that he never lived was known largely around concord as the man who burned the woods. Do vegetarian he was a troubled one. Sometimes said he i could eat a fried rat with good relish. Word necessary. But not even when necessary. A certain woodchuck once gave him a strange thrill of savage delight. And strongly tempted was i to devour it raw. Not that i was hungry then he went on except for the wild. It. And henry a loner. He fell in love or thought he did on rare occasion was someone quite inaccessible. Related most comfortably to women somewhat older than himself and there is no evidence that any relationship ever was consummated. In a day for the walking was, he trudged great distances daily always with a sharp eye on every natural thing as did his mentor emerson. Give serve dangerous creatures at close hand without harming them. He was flushed critter into the open field and was quick enough to head off its escape. In every direction till the poor thing was exhausted. Then knelt beside its terrified. Panting. And inspected it up close. Before leaving it to resume its own life. But he then put into writing what he had seen of that living pulsing. Brother animal. He was also an avid collector of butterflies and other insects. Harvard heard of his skill and arrange for him to provide hundreds of species and thousands of specimens. Now this is course entail the deaths and the time came when henry no longer conscientiously could do so. And his work for harvard came to conclusion. Then came the incident in the woods. The road trance far and wide around concord and once saw a woods fire already in progress. He had to think quickly and assess that beat in all likelihood he could not explain himself and it were better to get help. It would be larger by then but more manageable for additional hands. And as luck would have it someone saw him running towards town. And as the fire grew it was assumed that weird strange henryville owner has started. Rumor grew faster than the conflagration and when all was said and done henry was stuck with an unwanted reputation that he never could shake. He was. The man who burned. So instead of an elephant popular and pop that it compelling town voice. The rule was no not so much as a writer. To those people. And he was understood. Henry. Either. Harrison to was a walker and uses daily brakes for thought. Meditation. A meaningful conversation. It allowed very few others to walk with him. He turned down people who say mr emerson. But one of the select few was henry. Emerson began many letters journal entries and even his feigned address. Do the divinity school at harvard with references to nature. Especially what he had seen during his daily walk. And henry came up with delicious little. Title walking. Taking as he said from days of the crusades. When vagrants in france. Hoping to be fed by householders. Allison taylor. To the holy land. To help defend the faith. And people were not fooled by these beggars since they walked idly and without purpose. Visceral urges all often enough. Allison to sumter about our environment. Taking time to drink and breathe in all sights and sounds that calm body and soul. Enter the alert to the remarkable mystery that involves us. And if you did not read that. It should be next. On your list. And then there was. Walden. Just a few years ago was the 150th anniversary of its publication he said he wrote it for all those who lead lives of quiet desperation. What she said. What's most people. And on august 1st 1850 for a man named wor. Alger. Was the first person. To put down a dollar. And buy a copy of the rose new book. And since that time. People have paid anywhere from pennies or up to 10 grand. For good first edition. But henry did not live. To see his success. It took five years for the first edition of only 2,000 copies. Disallowed. Out-of-print. Till after his death. 3 years later at the tender age of 45. The civil war. By comparison longfellows. Song of hiawatha. Came out a year after and sold 40000 copies. In his first two years. No wonder that the day after walden's formal release. Henry noted in his little journal. His main thoughts. And activities for the day. Engine 6. Curse words he said. Text walden was published. The elderberries needed tending. And the waxwork. Was yellowing. That's what you get for being way ahead of your time. It has been said that as literature. Is not america's greatest but it is among our most american. In today's idiom i would say it rage against the machine. Do henry's literal words were that the average person even back then. He said the average person has not time to be anything but a machine. And ever since we've been railing against our workaholism and frenetic way of american life all to no avail of course. And now the internet. Anyone who authors nature. Or plays a significant role in the conservation. Not only has quoted but owes a great debt. The henry thoreau. Vanessa book isn't. Or wasn't just about nature. 1 chapters about communications. Broadway. And is titled read. Where in tsa it was the chief of his time. And the sensationalist news articles. But she said distracted americans too much. Sound familiar. And then another delicious note may still apply. Dimensions to rush to construct the telegraph. From maine to texas. And concludes. But main and texas. It may be. Have nothing important to communicate. It is also assumed that he was quite the free spirit. And besides talking a couple years in a hut on the pond. That he fearlessly roam far and wide well yes. No. Human to err. About to get down in the dumps as well. He went to walden pond after having moved to staten island and then back again. He was not a success. And after his brother's death. He came back to concord. We're a friend and nephew to the great unitarian preacher. William william ellery channing urged them to go hang out in the woods. And that wasn't a very independent venture the land was owned by emerson. Only hung out as much as possible like followed emerson around. Sometimes. Doing odd jobs and handyman. The emersons wife. Estate prices these days keep in mind. And moved in on the 4th of july. Nor did he sit up there for 2 years straight. But took off for the maine woods. And returned to wrap up his stay at walden pond. He came back to town or shall we say. Back to emerson's house. Independent. So he spent a couple of years by a pond that was not far from town. Only one night in jail for non-payment. He reminds me of kramer. In the in the sitcom seinfeld. The creamer whom george costanza accused of having a fantasy camp life. Without paying for it and sex without dating. Now i don't tell people who want me to live in the woods. Camp out on the beach that jungle gym i am not. Nor am i tim allen. I do not do well in the woods and when i try to fix houses. And to his credit the role was quite at home in nature. And not a little handy around the house. His. And anyone else's. And though he wrote grandly and poetically of wilderness and the wild. The maine woods. Scared. He has never seen such darkness. Before. Or felt so alone. Any fear that 1.2 he would fall off. Mount katahdin. And so he sat in it all in the darkness. Feeling a loss of identity. Are we. Are we. And compared to those in massachusetts. He cared much less for the indians in maine and he saw them as sinister and slouching. We began to see and edge. To being civilized. And finally declared the best place to be entirely wild. Not too civilized. And saw himself as a border. Person. Between the two. Finally he came to make the remarkable comment that quote there is such a thing as too much wildness. A statement that made the great john muir think less of thorough. Now just what this is really hard about thank you for your patience for that little. Through the life of a remarkable person. It is not what we are at our worst. Or are most contradictory. That makes us valuable to each other. To society. It is hot it lasts comes up. From the best that we are. And the most notable things that we managed to say or do. From time to time. Let us remember that all that is good. Isn't no wise perfect. Our personal craziness. And the battle against our demons. Pale beside the love and goodness. We managed to bring to the table of family friends neighborhood. Community society and the world. But we are left mostly to attend little corner. Where we are. It all counts. And that's what henry did essentially unknown in his time. Little photo. And largely off to himself except for a few friends. The choice one. They were indeed. And at the time who could guess. That people ever would care about what came to be called nature. Put yourself abroad now. When heroes. For the first time. Slight and stupid frame. At the age of 20. To speak at the concord lyceum. Adventure just say. I wish to speak a word. Who ever could have dreamed. The life about to be lived. Henry was just taking care of his little corner. Finding lessons in the natural world and speaking his mind. Applied nature to life and the world the government taxation and social justice. And then precisely 100 years after his death martin luther king jr.. Dictated a protest. From a jail in albany georgia based on the rose civil disobedience. It also inspired resistance leaders in south africa during the darkest hours of a partake. And the danish underground in world war ii. Rebuking their own nations policy of captivity for safety's sake. After all the row had said that resistance against tyranny was a necessity for the free spirit it risks being ever free again. And gandhi first redwall in johannesburg in 1906. And spread its ideas. Among the cause of indian independence. We never know what are loan and solitary voices may inspire just those around us. Or in a far greater circle. Weather in our lifetime. Or after. Clearly his days of mimicking emerson and henry. Became his own person. He should not be one whom we applaud regularly without. Really knowing much about him. Indeed we often confuse his words for someone else's. Or quote him without knowing it. With everything he said. But you can't ignore henry. No matter what you do. He had great thoughts. Spoke his mind about them. You can still. 4 pennies. Or for 10 grand. But if we stop thinking that we knew who he was. And what he said and read it again. We too may become. Revolutionary. Probably not. But being at the border. Between wild and tame wouldn't be so bad either. And while we're at it. It wouldn't hurt. To think of henry. And now and then. Speak a word. For nature. Bad and i think the rest of the congregation did too. Everytime john is taking the indulgence. Giving a brief response. Janta me the real take away from your sermon more than the tales about about thoreau's life is that affirmation and reassurance. Did you gave us to all be quirky on people i just want to. I want to repeat your words. It is not what we are at our worst or our most contradictory that makes us valuable to each other in society. It is what it lasts comes up from the best. That we are. And the most noble things that we say or do let us remember. That all it is good is in no way perfect. Our personal craziness. In the battle against our demons. Pale beside the love and goodness we managed to bring to the table. Two-family. Friends. Neighborhood. Community. Society and the world. And i think that's. Really true as i read those words i thought of this one one of my favorite poems is a john updike poem. Where he describes a pear. Pay fines on a wild pear tree and the rebecca and mark he'll appreciate this it was an a farm that did not use pesticides and insecticides for the pair. Horribly misshapen. By you know. Things that happened to it without the cultivation that of the ones that you see in publix witcher perfect so. As i read this. Does poem tear like a potato you must imagine it in my hand. Misshapen. Us. Was it worms having once bitten and then we'll sit away or some tanker. Known only to nurseryman. Whatever the reason. The pair. Fresh plucked from the tree word liens and struggles in the gardens beveled corners. Is a heavy door. Had. Who is faceless face puckers. And frowns around a multitude of old problems. It's furrowed brow and evil squint and percy mouth and pinched in reptilian ear. Re scrambling. Feature for feature as i rotate. Just wait in my hand this. This friendly not of fruit flesh this. Pair like a potato. Wanted to grow. And did. It had a shape in mind. And if that shape in transit was waylaid by scars. Baicells to mean to join in. Leaving its death. Between bulges like quilt buttons well. It kept on going anyway. Our brains are like this. No doubt having swelled in spite of traumas of languages we never learned of grudges never said. Aside but coronavirus end. Like parasite that died but forever snack. The rhythms. Whereby cell. Lynx up. Cell. Plato's. What's a manner of speech. Perfection. And idea. The body and soul make a run at. Falling short. They fill this world instead with the lopsided jumbled that he is. The congregation. Of the failed. Yet not answer your phone. Like. This. 4.

uufvb_org

2012Dec02Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. What a beautiful day to be in the treasure coast i hope all of you get outdoors this afternoon so very beautiful here and welcome. The unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida we are so pleased you have chosen to be with us this morning. And he wants you to know that you are welcome just as you come to us precisely as you come to us. Whether you are young larold. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. No matter what your abilities or disabilities might be. What are you are feeling on top of the world or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you. We welcome you and all of your particularity and charm. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And you'll find something here to take with you in the days and months ahead that will make your life a more joyful and a more reflective and compassionate thing. As i thought about my sermon this week i realized it's the second installment in a two-part sermon series the first of which. Was preached arthur by you last sunday. This i'm kind of picking up on some of his theme. My meditation today listen to this poem. By john holmes was preached. Five beta kappa. At the harvard graduation. In 1956. It is entitled the eleventh commandment. Listen to parts of the poem. And then the silence that will follow. When moses came down from the mountain and the cloud. The air above him empty at all still. You stood. There have been trumpets in the fire. But he was hole. He was moses. Older than older. Remembering what he saw saying to himself. A white light in his face when he must say to the people. Remembering the law. Moses would say everything. God had said to him to the people waiting below in the valley to here. But there was one more commandment. More than 10. Only an auditor very old. An old man with moses's many years could know that. After the ten commandments. One more. He had been up there a long time hearing what he heard. He had carried up there all he had ever known. Now you must honor before and after god's word. What both knew. And shining. Moses went down. He read from the tablet. The last word. Listen. Those. Were those who were to be the new world. Heard the law and moses began again with the first word. Listen. Time-pass. You can hear time passing. And then begat. But not daughters with hearing or somewhere there's only a few musicians and poets but most forgot. And the generations became lookers at. And sears. Lost. Lost. All the shouts and the lovely sing. Sound. Of the wind in olives. Birds and children the shepherd's whistle. The priests at noon praying. And we cannot hear now. The ancient rivers in spring because. No one who listened. World of the sound. Nor the trumpets nor the wordless songs the girls sing. In their mother's house has more wheels on the ground. But there are trumpets in trees. River song. Listen. The shiver of wind the shoes of children trees never stopped. Listen. Do not shut it out. You cannot shut it out. Listen. To the length of all life and one voice. But it is loud. But it is meaningless ugly. But. Only the. Noisy. Make noise. The noisy. Like noise. Noise. Is the most unremembered of all sounds. It forgets itself and is gone as soon as it came. You listen. To the stillness voices of the mind. Who is the herald in the speaker hero. The maker of music the stick that beats the drum no. The listener. I figure that makes a zero. The number 10. The one that there's be dumb. Let us devise honors. For this good listener. Who while the world and time we're running away stayed. Independence and without them you are and lived and is living to listen. Another day praise the good listener yet. Nvm he is that man. Who is all that he has heard. The good listener is strong. The talker week the talker. Talkin. Drains away his strength. Feels the listener. To hear a speaker speak. He is calm always of the great lengths. Receiving the turbulence into his own peace. It is not enough. That one's own inner voice. Make of ones. Life. Alarm monotone. I me mine. To be because of me rejoice. A man but little less and less. And none what does he hear the news. Who has only heard. From his own. Island it is a treasure of dust. On the wind. When he unlocked. His word hoard. And then the poem. Moses's commandant open. The world's mouth. To honor the memory of life. One listener. Is man multiply. Man. Taking in x breath. To be in one body ancestor ender. Heos 12t thus. Attention. Man. If he means to live. She'll hold his whole mind. At ready awake. With this. The law. Began. So moses brought the 11th. Commandments. Down. Knowing his will stir his blood hasten. That the word be said aloud the word be known that on all men might take hold and fasten on it and here. Hear it in all. Tongue. Listen. So. I'm at breakfast the other day at panera. With the wonderful new member of you uscb who asked if he can have a little one-on-one time with me to stitcher great let's meet at panera. And after a little introductory chitchat he says to me so scott. The main reason i want to talk to you this morning was to find out if there's room for a fiscal and economic conservative like me. In this congregation. No i must admit that i'm always a bit discouraged and taken aback when such a question of inclusion is asked to me. Because it suggests that person has stumbled upon some. Illiberal. Intolerance or explosion in the congregation. And wanting every member of course the feel totally at home in affirmed here. The answer i immediately want to give such a question is. Of course of course there's room for economic conservatives in our congregation. Being a you you means that you are liberal when it comes to your approach. To matters of the spirit. It has nothing to do with your political economic or philosophic beliefs but. After nearly four decades of serving a variety of yoohoo congregations i know full well why this question came to me here in vero beach the way it did innocently enough. A hammer. Over coffee. For the truth is that many economic and political conservatives who start attending one of our congregation. Eventually somehow get the message covertly or overtly explicitly or implicitly directly or indirectly. The theater conservative ideas are really not welcome in this. Liberal. Congregation. Despite our characteristic openness and tolerance for differences. Sometimes you use god knows. Generally without meaning to. Consent. Intolerance. Inhospitable messages to those with social political or economic perspectives. Which differ from the liberal you you norm. And you all know this is. Let me make this point for the other reversed perspective. Pretty regular somebody comes up to me and you use setting and says. You know what i really like about this current location. Here everybody thinks just like i do. It's so refreshing to be around so many smart intelligent thoughtful like-minded enlighten people. The most often when something is said to me like this i really just let it go. But. If i. If i really want if i'm going to respond. Step2 this at length with you now. Let me say that in every uu congregation i've ever served over four decades in my ministry. Including most certainly this one. This is simply not the case that everyone quote and quote thinks and believes alike. Well that's true that every values survey of you use ever done. Reveals it is a people. We are people in our congregation do tend to share. To a remarkable statistical degree. Basic values for living. And wild is further true that many if not most in our congregations tend to cluster around a basic. Social political and economic liberalism american outlook. It is not true that there is anything even vaguely like. Broad and electrical or philosophical or moral consensus. In our congregation. And i would hasten to add. Nor should there be. Whether you are talking theological or philosophical outlook. Political perspective economic theory or social convictions. Despite the surface appearance of a general consensus around here. In fact no such thing exists. Here in this congregation and an any of our more than 1050 other congregations in the us and canada. If you actually take time. To engage those around you insincere inquiry. Genuine listening. And significant conversation which is what liberal churches are supposed to be about. You will discover. An amazing diversity of thought belief opinion and perspective. Pitbull eyes. The conformity you might think exist here. Perhaps the easiest and. Most least controversial diversity to identify around here. Is our philosophical. And theological diversity you can have people sitting here. With buddhist outlook christian outlook mystics rationalist agnostic skeptics as well as a downright confused. But most of us are kind of spiritually a collect. That's who the unitarian universalism really is. But most of us are. I think are pretty comfortable with the thought. But here we can with equal respect and he's and interest. In the same service hear the words of jesus. Or the dalai lama. Or may sarton or even winnie-the-pooh we're okay with that. But our diversity here goes much deeper and broader and in some ways much more challenging. That are theological. Spiritual rainbow. Trust me. We are not. Of one political social economic and moral mind around here not even. Despite the large number is fading obama-biden stickers that are out in the parking lot this morning. You would be sadly mistaken. You think that everyone sitting in this room this morning voted. A second term for our president. You would similarly be mistaken if you think everyone here agrees with your personal social and moral conclusions about healthcare. Abortion. The death penalty. Federal welfare and tax policy global warming or peace in the middle east. No matter whether you were talking theological beliefs. Economic theory political perspective or social. Policy. Wide and deep intellectual diversity. Existir. Much more than perhaps. You might be comfortable. You know 30 years ago it was the gays and the lesbians who were in the closet in our congregation. Hiding in plain sight because they feared judgment. Rejection and ostracism today the only people in the closet here are republicans and economic conservatives. You laugh. The truth is you don't have to listen in on too many of our casual coffee our conversations around here. Before you'll begin to hear direct and derogatory remarks about the republican party for example and their policies. By individuals who seem to assume that everybody shares their fealty. To a liberal political. I suspect. But this is what has happened to our new member who asked me innocently over coffee. If there's really room for him here. That's what he was asking. And he's probably already heard. His conservative perspectives being summarily ridiculed or dismissed. Without conversation. Without deep engagement. This is a real problem in our movement and it's a problem here at your uscb and that's why i'm talk. And it's disconcerting. And i would add ultimately spiritually unacceptable as. The situation of liberal exclusion and intolerance. Lead me to the second. And the most perhaps crucial part of my response to those who say what i like about this current location. Is it everyone thinks. And believes the way i do. If you think the being part of a liberal religious congregation means that you're going to only need people who mirror and reflect and confirm and celebrate your opinion. You missed the whole point. About what it means to be a religious liberal. You missed the whole point. So what is the essence of that liberal religious way. I would suggest that has two essential and interconnected components. First being a religious liberal means that you have. 1. A broad. Ready consistent generosity of spirit. And 2 and eager. Open flexible and genuinely humble intellectual methodology. Now that i realize that's kind of a mouthful. Let me break this. First. Liberalism we got the computer fixed. This is what it means to be a religious liberal. Abroad ready inconsistent generous. Spirit. An eager. Open and flexible and genuinely humble there is a big word. Intellectual methodology. First degeneres. Spirit. Have a great thing encyclopedia of philosophy on my desk and my shelf. And it describes. What a liberal person in the immoderate modern american sense of that word means. It's not only one who affirms and values human liberty and egalitarian. mmm. Whenever and wherever possible which is the most classic understanding of the word liberal. But liberals also approach all questions. All persons. And all human dilemmas and now i quit the encyclopedia. With a bountiful. Generous. Open. Hearted. Spirit. A bountiful. Generous. Open hearted spirit. It means if you call yourself a religious liberal. You aspire to approach all life. And persons and questions. With a big and kind spirit. Trusting the basic goodness of persons. Granting others the maximum responsible freedom to be who and what they are including their thoughts. And doing what you can to be generous and supportive of others. No matter how different from you. Or their ideas appear. Tubi. And you all know what the opposite of generosity is when it comes to religious spirit. We have a pastor in this town who shall go unnamed who is now preaching homophobic sermons. Where you staying at all game lesbian people should feel miserable in their sin everyday this is not. Generous. This is not kind. This. Is rigid and cold. Hard. A true religious liberal on the other hand. Is open and generous and kind of truly tolerant up to diversity even those diversities would you find uncomfortable like sexuality. Or other diversities like colors face. You just need to. Embrace. And i are generally. Thoughtful about. And embracing all human express. The second mark of religious liberalism. To have that open. Flexible methodology. Being a religious liberal is not a matter of pledging allegiance. Circular set of left-wing or liberal beliefs. It is rather an epistemological methodology. An epistemological methodology now. For those of you who listen to me over the last couple years is. Fanci freez i've used before david intimidate. It simply means. What epistemology means. It's the study. The theory or method of knowledge. Epistemological epistemology ask this question. How do you know something is real or true or right. Why what intellectual method. Do you move toward your beliefs. Your ideals your convictions. What is your stance. For truth. And doubt and certainty. Religious liberalism in general. And this congregation in particular is built upon. An open-ended questioning tolerant the verse and above all. Non-dogmatic epistemology. Anon dogmatic way of doing the spirits business if you. Being a religious liberal unlike being a religious fundamentalist. Means the deep to your spiritual and intellectual bonds you understand. How complex. And elusive. And ambiguous. Truth. And reality can be fundamentalist do not go for ambiguity in fact they hate ambiguity. Religious liberals embrace ambiguity. And the gray area that lies always between white and black. It means that even though you may have strong liberal convictions in principle. You hold your own religious and moral. And social beliefs. You hold them cautiously. And modestly. Hold your own convictions and ideas. With a certain skepticism a suspicion toward your own thought process. Tentativeness. Even when you are passionately convinced. You are right. Being a genuine religious liberal further means and i'm going to be blunt here for this is really hard. For some unitarian universalist and yes some members of this congregation. To hear. Did you approach all questions. And all human concern. With a genuine willingness to seriously consider other contrary beliefs and perspectives. No matter how radically dissonant they clash. With your long-held and obviously correct views. Let me say this just a little differently. Being a religious liberal liberal on this is really crucial means that you have enough intellectual security. Enough intellectual maturity. Insecurity in your own. Deeply held beliefs. To step back from those beliefs. Long enough. To genuinely consider the ideas of others that is what true listening is. Being religious liberal needs no matter how passionately and surely you hold some of your beliefs. No matter how committed you are those. You will always treat the beliefs and perspectives of others. With real respect and genuine consideration. It doesn't mean you're going to necessarily change your mind. But you have to step back from your own spot just a little bit. This open intellectual methodology. Primary tenant. And the crucial operational principle of our faith. You'll notice that the fourth guiding principle of our face. Thought in the back of your service every sunday. Is the free and responsible search. For truth and meaning. The free and responsible search. Cruising meaning. Means that you're you're really searching you're not just. Set in your own ways you're really genuinely searching for truth and you'll hopefully find more clarified throughs for yourself. By considering. Other. Views. No. Most of you who have been unitarian universalist for anytime. Have heard such liberal methodological affirmation. 4. And many of you i hope. Are nodding inside your own liberal heads. In agreement with summer at least most of what i've said this morning. But not so fast. Cuz they're still is a substitute and real problem here. And that problem here frankly is the genuine. Intellectual openness and respect and consideration. For ideas and perspectives. Of others. Is almost as hard. For liberals to practice. As it is for conservatives. The liberal way as i have described. Genuine openness to ideas you disagree with. Genuine intellectual security about your own ideas. Which enables you not to be threatened. Or rigid. When you encounter people who see the world. Far differently from yourself. Genuine respect. For perspectives which deeply challenge. Your own most deeply held. Sometimes, as hard for unitarian universalist as they do for southern baptists. Let me just be out and say this. Over the course of my nearly 40 years in our ministry. I have met more than my share of unitarian universalist jihadists. What i mean by this. Is i've met plenty of illiberal liberals. And i bumped up against plenty of intolerance and dogmatism. In liberal circles. Justice i haven't fundamentalist one. Let me share one example of illiberal liberalism that is fairly safe. Over the years of my ministry i've met you use. Cool declare that it's fine for the minister to talk about anything from the pulpit. Sex. Drugs pornography death anything except jesus god or prayer. One colleague tells the story of being angrily confronted by a woman here in florida on sunday. After he preached throughout the neighboring current gation and she said young man we don't use that word in our church. Fearing he'd accidentally slipped with some barnyard epithet. He said what did i say and she said. God. You said god we're human experimentation we don't use that word around here you can't say that word here. So much for the freedom of pulpit. So much for liberal openness. And diversity of spiritual expression. How i asked does any such. Intolerance and dogmatic liberal remonstration. Differ. From the spiritual and moral dogmatism that happen in a fundamentalist christian carnegie. They do not. Let me tell you another even more painful story about liberals. Acting it liberally it's from the last congregation iserve. Just outside of washington dc in a quick but i'll be aside here if i might. It's much easier for me to tell shameful stories on the last group of unitarian universalist that i had to deal with that it is to tell shameful stories about you. It's much safer they're not writing me a paycheck anymore okay. Would you can extrapolate forward if you wish. Here's my story. I was serving that dc-area congregation a very socially justice committed current location. Legislation that year was put forth in montgomery county maryland where the church was located. To create a living wage a minimum wage of over $13 an hour much higher as you all know than the existing federal standard. Now the economic justice task force of that congregation comprised of about a dozen. Very passionate social activist became. Strong advocates in montgomery county for the fair wage proposal. And ask the congregation is a whole to formally go on record as a congregation. By voting at the annual meeting and supporting this local living wage initiative. But if the open congregational hearings we had about this we had dueling economist or saying. You know i'm not sure the best way to ensure a living wage for everybody because virginia doesn't have a living wage and that mean that employers will take jobs for montgomery county and they'll flee to virginia there was a genuine debate. About. The best way to lift. The wage of all people in the region. In any case. Many members of the current gation express doubts about the efficacy of this proposal. And them as they did members of the economic justice task force became increasingly outrage. But not all unitarian universalist in the community didn't see their way they were outraged. And they were even more mad at me because i refused to take a stand i didn't i wasn't opposed to it. But given the realities in the car gation i just wasn't sure which side the land on. So i didn't. And let me tell you this. Passions what even so far. But after a few months of the vigorous debate of the current gation one member of that task force. Who was then bless his heart on his deathbed said there was wife don't let that bastard alexander bury me he wouldn't come on the living wage proposal. Imagine barium they wouldn't let me bury him. Because i didn't agree with him under the economic wage. Unbelievable don't let that bastard bury me he says to his wife. Sheesh. My point of telling this painful story is to remind us all that our faith tradition. Challenges us always to practice. Leupold. Truly. Liberal methodology. Debate. And engagement on the great issues of our day. Whether it be a living wage proposal. Healthcare legislation. The death penalty. Debates over taxation welfare. Order local-level beach replenishment or whether to fund lifeguard. It doesn't matter. As unitarian universalist we must always practice a truly open. And respectful epistemology. Where everyone holds their own convictions. Yes with passion. But also with modesty. And gentleness. And skepticism about our own thinking. And entertains the convictions of others. With genuine consideration. I haven't thought about it that. Let me think about that and get back to you. And please hear this dear friend. Being genuinely liberal in both tone and spirit. As you dialogue in arguing even and i wish we had more arguing here. I wish we had more sincere engagement of differences. Rather than just dismissing of everyone or you don't really think that. Yes i do. I wish we had more real genuine dialogue. There is away. To have moral passion. And a liberal spirit as well these are not mutually exclusive ideas to be passionate. Have conviction. And also to hold back from your ideas to back from them. And be truly open in liberal. The hour is almost up. And maybe the sermon has gotten a bit away from me. You know with a little negativity of the examples about illiberal liberalism i really don't want to scold. Or center anyone this morning especially cuz you still write my paycheck. So i want to return to my original positive intent. We are unitarian universalist. We are part of a long. A noble religious tradition. That has for centuries been guided not only by an open and generous spirit. Four-person. But also an intellectually open and respectful methodology. That is always kept us supple. And respectful and i pray modest. Before all ideas and perspectives. As modern religious people we promised one another right here in our 7 principles. To always engage in the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Which requires us to hold our own passions. And perspectives with a certain modesty and thoughtfulness of spirit. As we move into the future. Mindful of how. Very intellectually pernicious are the many dogmatism directions of human thought that abound in our culture just listen to talk radio if you want to be sickened about the inability of people. 222b open. We may we in this environment. We commit ourselves each of us to be truly open and eager persons. Braids and undaunted. Whenever and wherever we find it by both controversy and conversation. Complexity and contradiction dialogue and disagreement. Let us always dive deep and respectful with one another into issues and ideas. Let us always cherish our doubts. Critically examine our own convictions be able to step back. From our own ideas. And truly. As the poet this morning advocated halo. The eleventh commandment. Listen. Always always. Listen. And i say i mean. I meant.

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02Aug2009sermon32kbs.mp3